Three days after being suspended by the Abia state Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the suspended General Manager (GM), Abia state Tourism Board, Miss Onyekachi Jackie Atuloma has refused to comply as instructed by the Governor.
The former Tourism Board GM, who took to her verified social media handle, insisted that the already lined-up programmes of the board must hold contrary to Gov. Ikpeazu’s directives that all activities of the board should be taken over by the Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Barr. Tony Nwamuo.
Information gathered revealed that Ms Atuloma who has since locked her former office, refused to make appearance to formerly hand over as instructed by the Abia state Governor, Dr. Ikpeazu about 72 hours after her suspension, even after being contacted to do so.
Investigation by National Ambassador, revealed that Atuloma has since changed the venue of the event to National War Museum and Where-Else Event Centre Umuahia as her the former venue; Michael Okpara Auditorium is owned by Abia state government.
She insisted that all activities of the board already lined up must hold using different names and venues inspite of Gov. Ikpeazu’s contrary directives.
In her words: “Plans for the World Tourism Day remains on top gear and unchanged. There is no cause for alarm, the event will go on as scheduled under Ola’s Event Management in collaboration with Flo FM, ABN TV, Platinum Mortgage Bank and other well-meaning partners. The dates remain the same and time.”
A source disclosed that Atuloma has been sighted severally within government offices in Umuahia, lobbying to get reinstated, while some of her partners for the event are pulling out due to the recent development and the danger it portends to their corporate image.
Some of her partners maintained that they cannot be a party to illegality as corporate entities, adding that the new arrangement by Atuloma is in deviance with Gov. Ikpeazu’s directives and is capable of causing security breach in the state.
Investigation further revealed that there is panic as some of her sponsors like Platinum Mortgage Bank among others who allegedly made huge commitments, do not know their fate with the recent development.
Meanwhile, a security expert who pleaded anonymity with National Ambassador, said that the peaceful atmosphere in the state should not be jeopardized, adding that the unauthorized programme could cause security breach in the state if unchecked.
However, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MTAC), Abia State, in a release made available to newsmen has announced that the state would commomerate 2022 World Tourism Day on Tuesday 27th September 2022 at War Museum Umuahia, Abia state.
Time: 10:am prompt
The release described the 2022 theme: ‘Rethinking Tourism’ as apt and timely.
Recall that the Governor of Abia state, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu through a release dated September 21, 2022 and signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr. Chris Ezem, directed the immediate suspension of Atuloma Onyekachi Jackie as General Manager, Abia state Tourism Board, ordering the Honouring Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture to take over all activities of the Board till further notice.
