Abia Deputy Governor is hale and hearty, performing his functions – Adindu

The Abia state government has denied rumours making the rounds that the State’s Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu is either seriously sick, removed from office or involved in a ghastly motor accident.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu, said that the rumours are the handiwork of idlers out to distract the state government from its task of transforming the state, stressing that Deputy Governor is hale and hearty and at work, performing his functions.
“In the last couple of days, some unscrupulous elements in Abia State have been spreading various story-line of rumours against the person of the Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu,” the statement said, pointing out that “One of the versions said that the deputy governor has been unceremoniously removed from office. Another version said he was involved in a ghastly auto-crash. Yet, another said he was seriously sick and was battling between life and death in an undisclosed hospital.”
According to the statement, there have been several versions of the rumour. “At first, our immediate reaction was to ignore it as a mere hoax and hogwash which will filter away with the wind the way it came. This position was informed by our new approach to information management under which we deliberately try to lift the state away from all manners of distraction that come in the form of propaganda, media war, sycophancy, etc, while focusing on policy issues, projects and development communication.
“But, since the rumour has persisted for days now and changing in narratives and content, we have no choice but to announce to the world that our ebullient deputy governor is hale and hearty and has been in attendance in all government functions in the passing week. In fact, on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, the deputy governor represented the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in the maiden state meeting with traditional rulers, where issues of community security were addressed.”
The statement stressed that “the Abia State deputy governor is hale and hearty and full of life and has been discharging his duties with his usual passion.
“We do not know the intention of the idlers who have been spreading this false rumour. But, let it be made known to them that Abia State under the leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has gone far beyond them. They are lagging behind. The moving train will not look back,” Adindu concluded.