OmenifenIgbo:
Thats Oseloka Obaze, The SSG. He is a cousin to Dubem Obaze

Correction ; I read him wrong,thought he said white hair.
You are correct.

My people, I am back after two months ban by an oil licking apc mod.

E no go better for am.

I miss Anambra thread die.

Together We lift this state high.

themano:


Oseloka Obaze. Secretary to the State Government

Are you sure bro? Thought Obaze is fair complexioned. Thanks anyways

Ilovenigeria:

Sorry, I lost my parents on a new year.

so sorry for your loss. May God grant you the heart to bear this huge loss. Is well

Campaign thing at Eziowelle!

By Chukwujekwu Ilozue
Awka — Arrangements have been concluded to invite competent world-class architects to design the multi-city concept envisaged for the Awka Capital Territory by the state government, according to the Chairman of Board of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Mr. Chika Egwuatu.

Egwuatu disclosed this when he led the seven-month-old board members and management staff of the authority on a familiarisation visit and to present an Awka Capital Territory Model to the Chairman of Anaocha Local Government Council, Ikenna Ejiofor, and his officials.

The ACTDA boss pointed out that the advertisement for the bidding of the contract for the designing of the multi-city concept would be awarded early 2015 as soon as governor Obiano approves the Development Control Manual prepared by the Board and being vetted by an eight-member Ad-hoc Review Committee set up by the state government.

Egwuatu, accompanied by the Board's Managing Director, Mr. Joseph Okeke, Mr. Willie Okafor and Mr. Don Ifejika all architects, , as well as a management staff, Jude Oguguo stated that for the first time in the history of South-East Zone, Anambra would be the first state to use an aerial photography with 10 centimetres resolution to capture items on the ground within the Territory.

He lamented that absence of a Master Plan since 23 years of existence of the State has accounted for the haphazard construction being witnessed in the State and pointed out that such developments risks removal, adding that compensation or swapping mechanism might be considered for payment of genuinely acquired land.

He recalled that two indigenes of Anaocha Local Government Area have played key roles in sourcing and piecing together relevant materials for the packaging of the Development Control Manual, and stated that the Awka Capital Territory Model took cognizance of good aspects of Dubai, Seoul and Kigali models,and when completed, the Territory would wear a new look.

Egwuatu revealed that multi-city concept would entail developing modern cities in different places within the Territory and provided with all the necessary facilities, except that the Awka capital city model would have in addition, three arms zone, to accommodate the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government.

He noted that Anaocha falls under the 10 kilometres radius covered by the Awka Capital Territory and that necessitated the visit to brief the Council boss and his team about the plans and projects of the Authority and to seek synergy between the Authority and Council.

In his response, Anaocha Council Chairman, Hon. Ejiofor who expressed delight with the appointment of the 10-member Board in May 2014 pointed out that the speed in producing Development Control Manual within six months lends credence to the fact that the governor picked accomplished professionals who determined to achieve the vision and mission of the present administration.

Ejiofor , surrounded by his Deputy, Secretary and some supervisors and top government officials of the Council assured the Authority of all necessary support, noting that his Council area has made a mark in the area of effective planning and development.

He appreciated the speed with which the governor has been pursuing his programmes and expressed the hope that the planned multi-city concept for the Awka Capital Territory would be achieved under the Obiano administration.

investnow2013:
Campaign thing at Eziowelle!

Thats Umuoji,Idenmili and the man with kola is the Igwe Umuoji,HRH Cyril Enweze Ogbu n'echendo,Ochilozuo Umuoji and the Eze Iweka of Obosi.

100% son of the soil oo, anambra kwenu! asim kwenu! I greet you all, hope am welcomed.. Been away from home for too long, too westernised please can someone give me a critical analysis of obiano projects and areas where he needs expedient support from anambra good citizens, I think this govt is headed in right direction

ccollins:
100% son of the soil oo, anambra kwenu! asim kwenu! I greet you all, hope am welcomed.. Been away from home for too long, too westernised please can someone give me a critical analysis of obiano projects and areas where he needs expedient support from anambra good citizens, I think this govt is headed in right direction

You are welcome,brother.However, it will be easier for you to go through the thread and figure out by yourself how Obiano is doing and even how the previous administration performed. As you can see,nobody has the time to start explaining things for you. Daalu.

Beautiful song (Igbo Amaka)




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCyIiyOLV3o

Ozoemezina – Day Obiano Held Rite of Passage for Igbo War Dead

At the end of the Nigeria – Biafra war, folks on the eastern divide greeted each other with the prayer – salutation, ‘happy survival!’ It was a natural impulse that surged on meeting with a relative, friend or associate whose fate in the harrowing events had remained unknown to you. The scary signatures of the conflict were everywhere; intruding into your psyche even if you wanted to avoid them – malnourishment all around, blown up bridges, buildings pock marked with bullet holes, abandoned artillery pieces and cases of spent cartridges, queues for essential commodities and so on. It was merciful providence to be alive. A short while into the new season, prolific writer Cyprian Ekwensi published the novel, Survive the Peace. It was an artistic recreation of the transition from the trauma of war to the sobriety of peace. From the life of the characters, the post – conflict stage could be daunting without the right attitudinal responses. As it were, a key demand of pacification of a brutal past is coming to terms with its memory.




Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State led Ndi Anambra and representatives of the other south –eastern states of Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states to do just that on Monday, January 12, 2015 at Ekwueme Square, Awka at the formal burial ceremony for Igbo victims of the civil war. With the theme ozoemena [never again], the religious cum cultural event held with some trappings of a carnival. Setting the tone in his welcome address, Chief Tony Onyima, Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism clarified that the programme ‘is not a rallying call to hate or to remember the wrongs we have suffered but one to build a spirit of forgiveness and ensure the security of our children through peaceful existence and love of our neighbours. It is a rallying call on me and you to remember that people sacrificed their lives for us to enjoy our own today.’

Coming at the period of the annual armed forces remembrance week, the Awka memorial did not appear strange in spite of its novelty. The celebration took on expanded scope with the inclusion of non combatants among those being honoured. Thus, women and children who were victims of the pogrom that preceded the war or who died as victims of battle operations were also beneficiaries of this collective tribute. It had taken three months of planning and organization by the ten member committee headed by Col Ben Gbulie to kick off the programme intended to be an annual event. Alongside Gbulie, two other members of the committee, namely Col E.M. Udeaja and Col Emma Nwobosi were all captains in the Nigerian Army before Biafra’s secession.

The Bishops of the Catholic and Anglican Dioceses of Awka, Most Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor and Most Rev Alexander Ibezim respectively, led the order of ecumenical service, assisted by the state leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN]. There were Bible readings, responsorial psalms and commendation hymns at intervals of the ninety minutes long memorial service. Governor Willie Obiano read the first lesson taken from the book of Job [19: 1. 23-27]. On the heels of Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor’s pungent homily, the capacity – packed square radiated with fluttering flames as candles were lit and raised in memory of the dead. Unlike the scenario of Leopold Sedar Senghor’s “In Memoriam”, when the poet as a student in France could not find any known names in the cemetery to remember on All Souls Day, everyone at Ekwueme Square had someone to intone a hymn in his or her honour. And not to be left out of the celebration was the man after whom the public space was named, former vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme, who defying the limitations of old age, actively participated in the proceedings.

Delivering his speech richly punctuated with fraternal compliments of umu nnem, [brothers and sisters], Chief Willie Obiano offered an insightful and incisive picture of the raison d’etre of the event. ‘We believe in the centrality of God in the affairs of men. We are bold enough to accept the cruel verdict of fate and bury our dead with fanfare. Our culture upholds the centrality of ‘burial’ as a crucial epilogue in the narrative of life…My administration is committed to lifting up the standards of our shared experience. We shall continue our bold efforts to ensure that we are not only united in times of adversity and grief but in times of victory and peace. With this ceremony, I urge you to mourn no more but rather celebrate the bravery of these great spirits who lost their lives yesterday that we may find peace today.’

Amidst interjections of ‘Akpokuedike!, his title name from his admirers, Obiano glided from the philosophical to the historical and contemporary. ‘History presents us with a long list of ethnicities and nations that have risen through horrific experiences to strengthen their ties of brotherhood and reaffirm their humanity through symbolic events …In the Jewish example, we see the firm resolve of the world Jewry to ensure that the tragic history of the Holocaust is permanently etched on human memory…Many major cities in Europe and America have a Holocaust memorial built to perpetuate the memory of six million Jews.

Instructively, the people of Rwanda have quickly recovered from the genocide that marked the Hutu and Tutsi conflict of the early 1990s to build an ambitious economy. They have erected the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre which opened in April 2004to perpetuate that memory, renew their pact with their past and solemnly declare to themselves and say – never again.’

Preaching the homily, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor situated the issue of remembrance from a Christian perspective, pointing out that without an ethics of remembrance, memory could be abused. ‘I heard that our celebration today is understood by some people as a way of placating the spirits of departed and forgotten Igbo sons and daughters who are now blocking the progress of the Igbo nation. To open up the path of Ndi Igbo to peace and prosperity, these aggrieved spirits need to be celebrated. This interpretation is indeed very far from our Christian belief about death and life after death. It also violates the challenge from the Book of Job to continue to trust God and know that in the mystery of God’s love and justice, virtuous and upright people could suffer. The high point of this mystery of God allowing the suffering of the just is seen in Jesus Christ, whom it pleased God to crush with suffering.’

The close of the ecumenical service only brought the first part of the ceremony to an end. At the lighting of a thousand candles, the Square reverberated with the thunder of cannon shots. It served to announce the act of burial and further marked the traditional salute to bid the dead farewell among the Igbo. Accompanied by a select number of dignitaries, Chief Obiano strolled to the spot of the memorial plaque, acknowledging cheers with swinging motions of his milky fly whisk. The plaque unveiled, the programme transited into the second part, the condolences and funeral festivity.

A burst of musical instruments erupted from various points of the arena, moving the already roused crowd to excitement. Delegations of market associations from the five south – eastern states jostled for space even as dance groups competed for air dominance. By this time, Obiano had taken his seat at the obi to receive the callers on condolence. Market groups, delegations from the twenty – one local government areas of Anambra State and a host of civil society groups, took their turns paying tribute to the war dead. More cannon shots boomed.

Dance and drama reigned as masquerades, as diverse in costume as in role, made their appearance. The izaga simplified definition of onomatopoeia with its zig zag movement as it walked on long stilts. Agaba or okwomma wore its warrior expression but kept its elastic valour in check. Ugo, the golden bird enacted a few dance steps, preened itself here and there and filed out, postponing full performance to another day. But you could not deny the ijele its majesty, its pomp and pageantry. It stood out in size, stature and colour. A spirit of class, it left you wondering after its graceful poise; its breadth and depth. Ajofia was unique in its forbidding image. Adorned in pitch black animal wool, it struck a beastly note in movement and ghoulish mood in appearance as it continually emitted smoke. It is a mask that makes rare appearances and had reportedly last accompanied the Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Emeka Ojukwu on condolence at the funeral of his in law, late C.C. Onoh.

The War Memorial Centre is to eventually have its permanent site along the expressway close to the Central Bank of Nigeria complex even as compilation of register of war casualties continues.

In the estimation of some analysts, the impact naturally accruable from the ceremony has been downgraded by the non participation of other state governments in the zone. Chief Victor Umeh, APGA national chairman, believes it was a worthwhile outing. ‘We will get there’, he says. ‘It will be an annual memorial. I’m optimistic the other states will come aboard. It takes the courage of one man to show the way.’

For Chief Emeka Onuorah, Chairman, Njikoka Local Government of Anambra State, a milestone was recorded with the event. ‘This is history updated. But it is not only history refreshed. With this initiative of Governor Obiano, history, religion, culture and philosophy find a confluence. There’s a lot to learn from it all.’ Onuorah also pointed to the psychological relief of knowing that your burden is shared by others as another important benefit. ‘I have no doubt that many hearts troubled by the events of the war will feel pacified after today.’

Written by Ifeanyi Afuba from Nimo, Anambra State.



Beautifully written.

uth-East Traders Join APGA to Queue behind Jonathan

The decision of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to adopt President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as the party’s candidate in the February 14, 2015 Presidential election, yesterday received a boost from the unanimous decision of traders in the South east geopolitical zone to adopt President Jonathan as their own candidate in the coming presidential election.

The traders who came together under the aegis of the South-East Amalgamated Market Traders Association (SEAMATA) also resolved to adopt all the candidates standing election on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as their candidates in the coming general elections.





In a Communiqué issued at the end of a Special Meeting in Awka, the traders revealed that the unfolding political dispensation became clearer to them after their interaction with the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, who is also the BoT Chairman and National Leader of APGA, prompting their decision to queue behind the party in the coming elections.



Gov Obiano addressing SEAMATA

The adoption of President Jonathan and other APGA flag bearers as the association’s candidates in the coming elections was done by Voice Vote following a motion moved by Chief Christopher Talibe from Abia State and seconded by Mr. Festus Onowu from Enugu State at the Special Meeting at the Women Development Center, Awka.

Speaking on the occasion, the President-General of SEAMATA, Chief Ezenwankwor said that their decision to throw their weight behind President Jonathan and other APGA candidates in the forth-coming elections was influenced by the intense lobby mounted by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

SEAMATA President making his Speech

While declaring the traders total support to the Obiano administration, Chief Ezenwankwor commended governor Obiano for his determination, magnanimity and support to the traders in the South-East geo-political zone and assuring that sooner than later, Ndigbo would take their rightful position in the country.


SEAMATA Members during the Voice Vote
The association whose membership cuts across Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States applauded the strategic vision of APGA under the party’s current leadership and vowed to do everything within its powers to support the party.

Reacting to this development, governor Obiano thanked them for resolving to adopt President Jonathan as their preferred candidate in the coming election and assured them that only President Jonathan would guarantee a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria, devoid of discrimination and other forms of extremism.

Governor Obiano also assured them that the State government had commenced the construction of a world-class international market at Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of the State, which would not only help to decongest the Onitsha markets but also provide traders in the South East the greatest opportunity to grow their businesses.

Governor Obiano also announced that government had harmonized all the levies and fees aimed at ensuring that there was no incidence of double or multiple taxations, while promising them of improved sanitary conditions and more waste management containers and receptacles at various markets across the State.


The governor also assured them that he would organize special seminars where financial experts would educate them on banking transactions, and enjoined them to ensure that all levies are appropriately paid into government accounts to beef up the State’s internally-generated revenue.


Obiano popularity keep growing.

Odenigbo these are the pictures that goes with that message you just posted. The occasion was held at the International Women Development Center- Awka

investnow2013:
Ndi Igbo have been Looking for An Igbo Nationalist & It seems That They have Finally Found One!......Obiano!!!!! Chiba Igbo nine!!!!

GBAM!

It took so long but he's the first Igbo leader in a while that appears to have the courage to lead the people above playing politics

chino11:
Odenigbo these are the pictures that goes with that message you just posted..

Nwanne,daalu.

Chris uba going for senate on the platform of pdp?isn't that hilarious?

asha80:
Chris uba going for senate on the platform of pdp?isn't that hilarious?

It is brother. I hope he looses. Who is even APGA's candidate for Anambra south?

Zonacom:

It is brother. I hope he looses. Who is even APGA's candidate for Anambra south?

This is Your Man for The Job!. Ernest Ndukwe of Oraifite in Ekwusigo Lga!

asha80:
Chris uba going for senate on the platform of pdp?isn't that hilarious?

No more Crisis! Oh! I mean Chris!, Whether Uba or Ngige, But we need Ume & Ndukwe!

investnow2013:
No more Crisis! Oh! I mean Chris!, Whether Uba or Ngige, But we need Ume & Ndukwe!

Those crisis Ubah and Ngige know they have no hope.

We now know their game plan is to prevent polling from taking place in certain polling stations, then they will go and stuff the votes with those materials claiming they scored landslide million votes in selected polling stations where voting materials never arrived and where nobody voted.

Just as people remained vigilant to ensure no fake votes were injected from polling stations where no voting took place, we are watching with wide open eyes to make sure only the actual votes are included in the count.

Ikengawo:


GBAM!

It took so long but he's the first Igbo leader in a while that appears to have the courage to lead the people above playing politics

Seconded. The signs are there,but i won't be giving it to him yet. Time will tell, i just pray he stays on track, and learn from Orji uzo kalu mistakes.

investnow2013:
No more Crisis! Oh! I mean Chris!, Whether Uba or Ngige, But we need Ume & Ndukwe!

Ndukwe? Yes. But Umeh? I am not sure.

pazienza:


Seconded. The signs are there,but i won't be giving it to him yet. Time will tell, i just pray he stays on track, and learn from Orji uzo kalu mistakes.

You can't compare Obiano with Orji Uzo Kalu!. Why Abia / Aba is in this sorry state is because of his 'Lack' of Wisdom & Lack of Pure 'Love' for the State & it's People, unlike Obiano who from day '1' declare that Anambra-State will be no'1' in all Human development!

Hate him or love him, eselu enu ego is a problem. If the courts allows him to go on with the election, nobody can stop him from clinching that seat. I'm very sure of this. PDP has used him for elections in Ekiti and osun not to talk of his own base. Chris is a grassroots politician and thuggish. I wonder why Andy will let this slip. The courts should please intervene and allow Stella to contest. PDP will win Anambra south but the courts will determine the candidate

What is Peter Obi up to in Anambra PDP?

Former Anambra Governor, Mr. Peter Obi is in the
news once again. The governor performed wonders
during the last governorship election in Anambra
State by delivering Governor Willie Obiano as his
successor.
While many people cried foul over the conduct of
the Independent National Electoral Commission,
(INEC) during the election, Peter Obi went away as
a hero. This time around, he is involved in the
attempt to impose Hon. Uche Ekwunife on the
Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) for the Anambra
Central Senatorial zone.
In the list of candidates for the Senate published
by INEC, the names of Prince John Emeka, Senator
Annie Okonwko and Chris Uba, were listed for
Anambra North, Anambra Central and Anambra
South Senatorial districts in that order. The name
of Peter Obi’s new political god daughter, Iyom
Ekwunife, was conspicuously missing.
However, despite the fact that her name was not in
the list of prospective senatorial candidates for the
February 14, 2015 election; Ekwunife has
continued to campaign for votes through the
length and breadth of Anambra Central senatorial
zone.
And as Ekwunife continues to campaign, Obi
continues to boast about how he would use the
chief of Army Staff, Major-General Kenneth Jacob
Minimah and Inspector General of Police, Suleiman
Abba; to deal with governor Willie Obiano, Chief
Victor Umeh, Dozie Nwankwo and other close
supporters of Obiano in the election.
There are apprehensions in Anambra State
especially in Anambra central Senatorial zone that
Obi’s boasts may not be an empty one after all
especially against the background of what
happened during the 2013 governorship election in
the State.
The question everybody is asking in the state is
whether Peter Obi has become the new political
hatchet man for the PDP in South East, because the
way Ekwunife is going about her desperation to be
senator points to the likelihood that the election
would be rigged.
http://dailypost.ng/2015/01/16/leo-sobechi-peter-obi-anambra-pdp/?wt=2

That's not Obi's style. We've seen him for nearly eight years.

Bhttp://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/inferno-destroys-goods-property-worth-n300m-anambra/ad news from onitshs today
Goods and property worth over N300 million were destroyed in a fire outbreak in Onitsha, Anambra, on Friday, witnesses said.
The fire, which burnt down a two-storey building at No. 9 Nweje Lane in Odoakpu area Onitsha, started around 1.30 p.m.
Reports showed that the building and goods belonged to one Chief Gibson Chukwujindu, who is the Director of Gibson Interlink Nigeria Limited, a known dealer in tailoring and clothing materials.
The Chief Operating Officer, Okpoko Fire Service Station, near Onitsha, Mr Ikechukwu Nzegwu, told NAN that the only occupant of the building escaped unhurt but that the entire structure was reduced to rubbles.
“We were able to save a three-storey building by its side, belonging to a widow, Mrs Theresa Ekwunife, which had already caught fire as well as other buildings in front of the burnt and collapsed one,’’ Nzrgwu said.
Ekwunife said that some people contacted the Onitsha Main Market Fire Fighting Station but the officers did not come because they complained that their vehicle was grounded.
She appealed to the Anambra Government to equip the fire service to enable the agency to effectively do its work.
“I must not fail to thank Okpoko Fire Service Station officials for a job well done,’’ she added.
Efforts to speak with the owner of the property and the goods, Chukwujindu, failed but one of his workers said goods estimated at N300 million were lost in the incident

.

investnow2013:
You can't compare Obiano with Orji Uzo Kalu!. Abia / Aba is in this sorry state is because of his 'Lack' of Wisdom & Lack of Pure 'Love' for the State & it's People, unlike Obiano who from day '1' declare that Anambra-State will be no'1' in all Human development!

Orji tried for Aba, atleast that's what most Aba residents told me.
And believe it or not,Aba is not as bad as most people portray it. The City can be better,but it's not just as bad as people portray it on the net.

Orji had that Igbo unity spirit,but his greed got the better of him, this is what Obiano must avoid.

Obi of Onitsha is so powerful that GEJ cannot visit Anambra or SE without paying Obi of Onitsha homage. Obi of Onitsha represents the class of authority that Oba of Benin, Emir of Kano and Oba of Ife has. The only difference is that the Obi of Onitsha is by far more educated to Ph.D level and retired as a director in Shell over 2 decades ago..

Below is the Obi Palace mini Arcade..

As I read through the sentimental criticisms against mr. President on the social media trailing his intimidating popularity as a candidate of one party compared to those from coalition of many parties, I cannot but relate it to this traditional African wisdom.

It was the legendary Anambra born late high life music maestro, Osita Osadebe who titled his ingenious song; "Osondi owendi". For the sake of our brothers who do not understand Igbo language, I will attempt a translation but I must state quickly that the quidity of that song can only be savored within its original language.

Permit me to attempt the translation in pidgin English. "Osendi owendi" thus translates; "e dey sweet some people, e dey pepper some people".

It is obvious that Mr.president has done well otherwise he would not be able to command the popularity he commands presently.

Come February 14, Mr.President will be re-elected Osondi Owendi!

President Jonathan today made a stopover at the palace of the Obi of Onitsha to receive royal blessings. The President was in Onitsha, Anambra State for his re-election campaign.
The President is moving ahead, great doors are open unto him, thou many enemies abound.

Cletus Ibeto, the man who spurned Saddam’s money

On January 22, 1966, the 13-year-old Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, was in high mood. He was going to Crusader Secondary School, Isingwu Amachala, Umuahia, following in the footsteps of his two elder brothers, Cyril and Louis Ibeto. His box of new clothes and provision were all packed and his friends gathered to bid him farewell.

His elder sibling, Cyril, arrived and went to have a discussion with his father for over 30 minutes. He came with a message from their maternal uncle. Soon after Cyril left, Ibeto’s world crashed. His father had made a decision: Ibeto would not be going to secondary school again! A man should not put all his eggs in one basket. His two sons were already in secondary schools, his last son should chart a different course—not academics!

Shocked, deflated and traumatized, Ibeto resorted to all the tricks in the world, refusing to eat for days, climbing trees as if he would jump to his death, crying, begging, inconsolable, but his father has made his decision. Young Ibeto’s fate was sealed behind the close doors and he was helpless to do anything about it.

In those days, the young Ibeto felt his future was over, but today, if you count ten of Nigeria’s richest men, Ibeto’s name would be found somewhere in the middle of the list. How did this come about? It was to find answers to this question that took Mike Awoyinfa and I to Bundu Ama Creek, in the outskirts of Port Harcourt, where Ibeto had reclaimed 30 hectares of land from the sea to build one of Africa’s largest cement bagging terminals. But the interview was finally shifted to his exquisite Ibeto Hotels, Abuja, where as the “chairman’s guests”, we were treated to a bit of luxury the place has to offer.

Ibeto is being featured in the elite category of our book titled, Nigeria’s Corporate Caesars, featuring Nigeria’s topmost business founders. Ibeto Group, made up of over eight major companies, is employing above 5,000 workers and still counting. The companies include Ibeto Industries Limited, a photographic processing chain spread all over the former Eastern Region; Kings Palace Hotel which was the forerunner of the current Ibeto Hotels Limited, a hotel chain that include a 100-room five-star hotel in Abuja, with ongoing construction of branches in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Nnewi where a 250-room hotel is under works.

Others are Odoh Holdings Limited, a property company that manages Ibeto’s large property holdings; the Union Auto Parts Industry, makers of Union Battery brand, that started with the manufacturing of automotive batteries for Nigerian market to exporting batteries to all of the West African countries, United States, India, South Korea and Indonesia. “China is our only competitor now,” Ibeto asserts.

At the time Ibeto came into manufacturing of automotive batteries, there were about a dozen local and foreign auto battery manufacturers in the country, but today, only Ibeto’s company is still in business, waxing strong. Indeed, Union Auto has added a subsidiary, Union Recycling Plant which extracts the lead from used batteries and refines “them to international purity standard.”

Apart from manufacturing of automotive batteries and their recycling arm, Union Auto is also manufacturing motor accessories including auto light covers, reflectors, fan belts, front grilles, wheel covers, break pads, break linings, clutch linings, break shoe kits and PVC materials.

Ibeto said that during the Gulf War II, his company received a lot of pressure from Saddam Hussien’s officials who badly wanted Union Recycling Plant to export the lead products refined by his company at very lucrative terms, but the company turned down the tempting offer because Ibeto believed that such leads would go into production of dangerous weapons of war by Saddam. This was far more ethical than a business decision, but Ibeto argued to his astonished management that even though the group desperately needed the fund to inject into the construction of the cement terminals at Bunda Ama Creek, they also had a responsibility not to escalate the war and perhaps, in future attract international sanctions.

Another money-spinner in the group is Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Limited which started with the Expresso Oil brand of lubricant, but has now diversified into establishment of a tank farm that at the time in 2000, boasts of the largest storage facility in Apapa, Lagos with 36 tanks with storage capacity for 1.3 million litres. Today, the company’s capacity has expanded with massive tanks with combined storage capacity of over 20 million litres.

The ever restive Ibeto is also a big player in commodity trading through his company, Palmex Agencies Limited. Since he won the battle for the re-opening of his cement terminals in Port Harcourt, closed by draconian and intemperate President Olusegun Obasanjo regime, Ibeto has truly joined the league of cement kings, especially with his acquisition of Eastern Bulkcem Company Limited and Nigerian Cement Company Limited, (Nigercem) Nkalagu.

The irony of Ibeto’s battles with the Obasanjo regime was that it was Obasanjo who banned the importation of bagged cement and in a bid to create jobs in Nigeria, asked stakeholders to build bagging terminals as well as invest in Greenfield production—total manufacturing of cement from limestones. But four months after commissioning the N12 billion bagging terminals, with patronage booming, Obasanjo closed the company. It took the coming of President Shehu Yar’Adua administration to reopen Ibeto’s factory and by so doing, his financial floodgate.

“Of course, cement is one of the best businesses in the world,” enthused Ibeto. “It is better than crude oil. If you are talking about the development of infrastructure, you need cement. I don’t know any other business that is better than cement. And the competitors are not many because it is a big budget issue.”

But then, if you want to be rooted in solid wealth, Ibeto says it is a great folly to close your eyes to investing widely in property. “The white man calls the money you have in your bank “liquid cash” and property is called, “real estate”.”

Once his eyes opened to this wisdom in 1987, Ibeto says he has gone haywire in investing in prime property in all the prime areas of Nigeria. “You cannot believe what I have in real estate,” he told us. “And that is between 1987 and now. And any one I have would be choice property. I found out that money is coming out of these real estate investments. Plenty money! Nigeria is indeed a land of opportunities. Real estate is one thing that would outlive you.”

But every rosy story came with it thorns. Ibeto has waded through many thorns. Go back to his beginnings. Once his parents determined that Cletus should be groomed as a trader, his father parceled him out as an apprentice to one John Akamelu, at Onitsha. He arrived at his new station still wearing his school uniforms and becoming the butt of jokes. “School boy,” became a new name they gave him in a market where people looked at going to school as the refuge of weaklings who could not brave the competitive world of trading.

Probably to whip out school sentiments from him, his master did not spare the rod. Today, Ibeto still has as a trophy the mark of his master’s whip lashes on his laps. But Ibeto was a brilliant trader and competitor, before his apprenticeship was cut short by the civil war. At 17, Ibeto was conscripted into the Biafran army, becoming a batsman to a Biafran captain who died at the first battle, betrayed by a saboteur. Ibeto survived the enemy’s ambush only because he had been sent to go and get food.

At another battlefront, Ibeto was shot, but he survived after months in hospital, although the bullet is still lodged in his lungs. After the war, Ibeto’s trading dexterity came to the rescue. To raise trading capital which ultimately became the foundation of the multibillion dollar octopus Ibeto Group has become, his elder brother, Louis gave him a leather handbag and a Biafran round neck suit which he sold along with a packet of APC tablet he picked at an evacuated hospital.

[b]The magic of translating a few pounds in 1970 into today’s multi-billion corporate empire is the secret of what defines Cletus Ibeto as one of Nigeria’s Corporate Caesars. In the narrative of his life’s odyssey, Ibeto seems to have crossed a decisive rubicon in business when he profited from a policy change during President Shehu Shagari regime. Under the liberal regime of President Shehu Shagari, goods could be imported without import license. But as Nigeria’s external reserve dwindled the government introduced import license.

While other importers stalled at the fence, monitoring the state of things, Ibeto moved to secure N3m import license at a time a dollar sold for 68 kobo. He sub- sequently imported 65 containers of vital motor spare parts. By the time other im- porters went for import license, the gov- ernment has tightened the screw and it was virtually impossible to get import license. To worsen matters, Shagari’s government was toppled and the borders were closed, but by then, while nobody could import anything, Ibeto’s containers were already in the Nigerian ports.[/b]

Ibeto became a virtual monopolist for motor spare parts. “That was the turning point for me,” he declared. “Come and see the line-up of people who wanted the spare parts. I was packing money with cartons. There was no armed robbery then, no kid- napping. ..It was a seller’s market. And the mark up was almost 500% but people were buying! In fact, within two days of the ar- rival of the containers, I made four million pounds!”

Ibeto still has to fight a final battle. After a painful betrayal by a friend he partnered with to open a bank, owing to his limited education, Ibeto fought to sit for a WAEC examination at 48 and subsequently grad- uated from University of Nigeria with a degree in Accountancy, at age 54! And, all these while, he was already a billionaire!

But he is not just a billionaire, Ibeto is today the godfather of billionaires. Ask Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of Innoson Group, Nigeria’s first vehicle manufacturing, (not assembling) compa- ny who points to Ibeto as his mentor and the mentor of many other Nnewi billion- aires. “If you run into financial problem and go to him to help, he would help you out. Ask any of the big business persons from Nnewi and they would tell you the same thing. He has helped me too.”

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Lovely story! This is one man i'm proud of!!