If the dead could see, Harold Mordy Douglas, first colonial commissioner of Owerri District, would be rejoicing in his grave that the modest administrative block he completed in Owerri, the present day capital of Imo state, on May 11, 1902, has become the official residence of successive governors of the state.

Several administrations that came after him, particularly those who ran the affairs of the city after the country gained independence on October 1, 1960, had tried to modernise the ancient building that the colonial masters had bequeathed to them. Some turned it into an official residence instead of merely using it as an office block.
For instance, the first civilian governor of Imo State, Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe, lived and worked on the same land where Douglas built the colonial administrative block in the city.
But before then, the facility has been transformed into a modern government house, and named after Douglas. A major road in the now sprawling city of Owerri, is also named after the colonial administrator
Quite significantly, each administration in the state, tries hard to expand, modify and modernise Douglas House. Ikedi Ohakim, immediate past governor of the state, did his best to give the building a face-lift.
But when Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, assumed office on May 29, 2011, he commended his predecessor for building a main office for the governor, but he however thought that Ohakim’s best was not actually his best.
He has built an exquisite administrative block inside the government house complex. The building is made of glasses and marbles, and the governor is currently furnishing the facility to meet his own taste.
The multi-purpose hall and almost all the buildings inside the government house were knocked down by Governor Okorocha, and in less than six months, several magnificent buildings have sprung up inside the Imo Douglas House. One of them is the expanded and modernised executive council chambers which is named after Mbakwe.
The expanded executive chambers are beautifully decorated with Italian tiles; the conference hall could boast of accommodating over 1000 people at the same time, and this is besides the impressive press gallery.
Another amazing edifice inside the Government House is a twin building which is a replica of the building housing the governor’s office. The twin- building was also built in less than six months, and it houses the offices of the deputy governor, and the First Lady of the state.
Before Governor Okorocha assumed office, both offices could easily pass for a poultry house. But today, a VIP lounge where the governor entertains his guests exists in that same site.
Also, a functional chaplain now exists inside the Government House, courtesy of the reconstruction of the former banquet hall, adjacent to the helicopter pad. The pad used to serve as the lawn tennis court built by the Ohakim administration.
The beautification of the compound is another seemingly wonders to behold. Apart from the lush green plants that adorn the compound, a 20 -meter water fountain sits opposite the Sam Mbakwe expanded executive council chambers.
Imo state deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso who also doubles as the commissioner for works noted with satisfaction that the building which would serve as guest houses of former governors of the state, has reached its foundation stage.

http://www.dailyngnews.com/2012/07/okorocha-flaunts-new-government-house.html

Mr man, that's Rivers State Gov't House! Can't you see Point Block in the backgroud ?

I've never really liked its look though : it doesn't have that grand/stately/mansion look, but rather looks more like a conference centre.