Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has disclosed that he has officially moved into the new government house.
The newly constructed government house, which consists of over 36 buildings, including the government house, the governor’s and deputy governor’s lodges, and other lodges for support staff, has been described as the best government house in Nigeria.
Some commentators likened it to the seat of government in Abuja, Aso Rock, while former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, described it as a mini-city.
Addressing members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Anambra Central during a rally to endorse his aspiration for a second term in office on Saturday, Soludo revealed that he has fully vacated the makeshift lodge in Amawbia and moved into the new government house.
The facility, which was recently commissioned by President Bola Tinubu, has been codenamed Light House Awka.
The government house project is regarded as a major achievement of the governor, as the state had operated from a makeshift government house for about 30 years since its creation.
Soludo had often stated that Anambra was the only state where the government house was domiciled in one town, while the governor resided in another.
While the government house was in Awka, the governor lived in Amawbia. With the new project, Soludo now lives and works in the new government house in Awka.
Addressing his supporters during the Anambra Central Senatorial Zone rally to endorse him, Soludo revealed that he had moved into the new government house on Friday and enjoyed his first night there.
He said: “Let me announce to you that I have officially moved into the Anambra Light House City (New Government House). I moved there officially yesterday (Friday), and I slept there last night, woke up this morning, and simply strolled to this venue (Alex Ekwueme Square).”
The new Anambra Government House project had been stalled for over 20 years, starting from the tenure of the former governor of the state, the late Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju.
The project was deferred by the Ngige, Obi, and Obiano administrations until Soludo came on board and decided to take the bull by the horns.