Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ikeuwa Omebeh, has admitted that prayer took place at the state’s international airport after initially insisting that a video showing worship at the facility was generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
Omebeh made the remarks during an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday, following criticism of the state government over allegations that the airport had been turned into a worship centre.
Asked about the video showing people worshipping at the airport, the commissioner insisted that it was not genuine.
“Yes, I am sure it is AI generated because this is the airport that the former president used the other day about three weeks ago. President Goodluck Jonathan, on his way travelling to book a local government in Calabar,” he said.
However, during a subsequent exchange with the interviewer, Omebeh acknowledged that prayer had taken place at the facility.
“I will agree with you that there was prayer,” he said.
The commissioner maintained that the gathering did not amount to a church service, distinguishing between workplace prayer and a formal religious service.
Omebeh was challenged about his initial claim that the video was AI-generated, pointing to comments attributed to the Commissioner for Special Duties, Valentine Okeke, who reportedly said airport staff gathered for communal prayers before resuming official duties.
He had earlier maintained that the airport had never been used as a worship centre.
“In all ramifications, it is not true. It has never been a worship centre and we don’t intend to use it as a worship centre,” he said.
The exchange ended with the commissioner acknowledging the presence of prayer at the airport while continuing to reject the characterisation of the gathering as a church service.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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