Okezie Ikpeazu has probably set the tone for a new phase of leadership in Nigeria with his unprecedented move to drop a commonly used title and to stop a disturbing trend in sycophancy.
The newly elected Abia State governor has directed that “His Excellency” be removed from addressing him.
In statement sent to The Trent by his media aide, Godwin Adindu, the governor said he would like to be simple referred to as Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State.
“The Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has formally directed that the appellations; His Excellency and Executive , be dropped in all official and informal communication with him,” Adindu said. “He would rather prefer to be addressed simply as Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State.”
The governor also directed that no billboards, posters or signages with his pictures be put up by contractors, political groups, or loyalists and that congratulatory outdoor adverts be removed because they are “defacing the environment of the state”.
“The Governor wants all public communication to be concentrated on the work and policies of the state and not on the person of the Governor and has therefore directed all contractors, political groups, individuals and party loyalists not to put his portrait on billboards, posters and signages but to only use the pictures of ongoing projects in their billboards and posters.
“The Governor has also directed the general public to remove all congratulatory posters and election billboards littering the environment as these public posters are defacing the environment of the state.
“He has further charged the people of the State to be partners with Government in ensuring a healthy and beautiful environment. He is also, by this directive, re-assuring the good people of Abia State of his mission of service to the people and therefore urged the citizenry to key into the new vision,” the statement read.
