₦airaland Forum

The success of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's healthcare policies is tantamount to his clear-cut understanding of the people's need.

The Free Home Healthcare for the Aged is one of his most successful healthcare initiatives. Rather than being humped to and fro hospitals, they are being cared for in their places of abodes, free of charge.

Good thinking!

Thank you Governor!!

#MyIkpeazuSuccessStory
#Abia4Ikpeazu
#AbiaOnline
#LookAbia

https://abiaonline.com.ng/2018/12/14/the-success-of-governor-okezie-ikpeazus-healthcare-policies-is-tantamount-to-his-clear-cut-understanding-of-the-peoples-need/

TRANSGENERATIONAL LEADERSHIP: THE OKEZIE IKPEAZU EXAMPLE

“The era of listing roads and other infrastructure as achievements of a Governor is gone. These are basic things that leaders with access to State funds are required to do and it should not be celebrated. I do not want to be remembered for the roads I built and I have built 70 so far and will yet build more. I want to be remembered as the Governor who...
https://abiaonline.com.ng/2018/12/13/transgenerational-leadership-the-okezie-ikpeazu-example/

Okey Igbokwe wrote..

IMO state used to be a leading light in academic excellence in Igbo land.

But since Okorocha came, she went out of reckoning and dropped to a miserly 5th places in annual WEAC and NECO rankings. Anambra took over under Peter Obi and maintained first position nationwide all through his tenure. Willie Obiano came and she dropped to second-rate 2nd position and have remained there ever since.

Abia state which used to be a constant feature in 3rd or 5th places in the past suddenly jumped to 1st position as soon as Okezie Ikpeazu came and has continued to command that position year in year out.

Meanwhile, Okorocha said the reason why he want his son in-law Uche Nwosu and all his family members to succeed him is to consolidate on the good work he had started. Does he want to consolidate Ndi IMO to his constant failed 5th position? It is so funny that with all his acclaimed achievements in education, budgets and free education, IMO state under him keep fetching firewood and water for others. Ndi IMO don't want his undignified consolidation. They want to return to their respected 1st position.

We must ask Peter Obi and Okezie Ikpeazu to teach us the magic wand they deployed to improve the quality of education with their administrations to give other states a pole position. Among the current state governors in Igbo land, Okezie Ikpeazu remains the best for now.

Willie Obiano, what happened? Peter Obi bequeathed top position in education to him. But he agonizingly let it slip from him. He has been maintaining second position since he came. Perhaps, serving Buhari and massaging his ego is better for him than improving the well-fare of Ndi Anambra.

Ndi Enugwu and Ndi Ebonyi state, what is happening? Seeing you in the undignified 9th and 10th positions in this year's WEAC and NECO rankings is totally un-igbo. Not only that these states have slipped down to these positions from regular 6th and 7th, they have never made an effort to wrest even the 2nd spot. It is so disheartening. We want improvement from Ndi Enugwu na Ndi Ebonyi. So that we can collectively shame those who said that Ndi Igbo don't go to school but apprenticeship and trading. Dave Umahi should stop working to please Buhari or help him with his grazing reserve pipe dreams but concentrate on how to compete with other Igbo states and be at par with them academically. Ndi Ebonyi are very smart in education only if you give them the right platform and encouragement. Umahi is not doing that.

Ugwuanyi should stop his billboard achievements and concentrate on substance and tangible results. What is the purpose of those colorful billboards when the standard of education and position of Enugwu state in academic rankings doesn't reflect them? It makes a mockery of everything. Ndi Enugwu want substantial, tangible results, not noisy billboards. Make an effort to improve the ranking of the state in national exams.

2018 WEAC and NECO rankings:

Abia 1st
Anambra 2nd
IMO 5th
Enugwu 9th
Ebonyi 10th.

APPLAUDING GOV. IKPEAZU'S ECONOMIC BLUEPRINT

By Kingsley Maduforo

The outstanding performance of Gov. Ikpeazu as the Governor of Abia State has given him a harvest of endorsement for a second term in office.The shower of endorsements is not only from his political zone,Abia south,but from the entire state of Abia. The resolution was reached due to his outstanding performance in transforming the economic and infrastructural decay in the state and the re - affirmation of the call for justice and equity in power distribution in the state.

Currently, Gov. Ikpeazu is running at the velocity speed of high developmental stride,more especially the new Enyimba Economic City project.Recently, the federal government and Abia state government signed Definitive Agreement for the Enyimba Economic City project. The aim of Gov. Ikpeazu is to create an economic hub central to the nine South - South and South - East states,with easy access to good roads,rails,seaports and airport,to enable the transformation of South - South and South - East region into a manufacturing and industrial powerhouse that will drive commerce,entertainment,education,health and logistics. With this and many other,Abians have come to appreciate his efforts towards promoting and making Abia the power house of SMEs in Nigeria. The state government is really serious in diversifying the state economy,one vital approach is reviving our local industries. This, indeed is the best time for our local industries in the state to grow. Gov. Ikpeazu has encourage our local industries by developing the sector with advanced equipment and the right infrastructure,as away of promoting the patronage of made - in - Aba products.

Aside from providing solution to the unemployment rate in the state,diversifying the Abia economy will also encourage the production and consumption of local products.Which will lead Abia state into the path of the much - desired economic prosperity. Right now,the present administration is harnessing both human and material resources towards the promotion of made - in - Aba brand so as to enable it compete favourably in local and international markets. This success will sustain both economic and infrastructural growth in the state.

Abia state economic pulse has quickened, infusing both local and international markets with new economic policies laid down by Gov. Ikpeazu.Private investors are now trooping in the state because of the huge returns we are getting from our local products.Diversifying the economy from agrarian to urban economies in multiple sectors contributes to growth. The share of GDP contributed by agriculture and natural resources shrinks with the expansions of the manufacturing and services sectors which create jobs,lift incomes and raise domestic demand.

Before now in infrastructure, Abia was sitting on a keg of gunpowder,waiting to explode.Our roads were in very bad condition,but right now the story is different. Infrastructural renewal being one of the five cardinal pillars of this administration,has given the state a facelift. The governor's concentration on road construction shows that road construction or rehabilitation is the way forward in solving the drowning economy,especially in Aba which provides the largest markets for South - South and South - East and serves as the SMEs capital of Nigeria. Again, this sector of public life is essential to the overall socio - economic activities of the state.

For this, the road to 2019 is already clear for Gov. Ikpeazu, his achievement speak loud and people are wondering how the magic is being done.His superior performance when it comes to infrastructure,education,health,security and trade and commerce has already put his name on a springboard,and has sent the opposition into coma. The opposition are currently bereft of ideas on the strategy for a vibrant propaganda. Gov. Ikpeazu within less than four years in office has not only done well but has secured the future of Abians by addressing the patent needs of Abians.

Finally, the super story remains, Gov. Ikpeazu's giant strides have accelerated his endorsement for a second term bid in office.This can be seen with high level of acceptance accorded to him across the state,even in the camp of the opposition. This indeed serves as a clear evidence that the road to 2019 election will be a smooth ride. so let us vote Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu again for continuity.

Kingsley Maduforo, is a Senior Special Assistant(SSA) to Gov. Ikpeazu on Media.

Looking very smart in his made – in – Aba attire, he beamed with smiles and off handedly responded to questions with the smoothness of an academic, though with humility that radiated from inside of him. The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, shares the story of his life with Charles Ajunwa and Ahamefula Ogbu, recalling his growing up, how his parents imbibed in him the virtues of integrity, honesty and hard work, among others

What kind of upbringing did you have?

If I introduce my parents to you, you won’t know, my father was a primary school teacher and my mother was a nurse and they had only three children. I happened to be the very first; so for them, they were concerned about an upright person, a trustworthy son, somebody that his friends can rely on and somebody the public can trust, somebody who should have the discipline of character and somebody who should not be an abrasive person, capable of relating with people in such a way that you add value and blessing. Then, also somebody who is capable of living a life of sacrifice, living for others much more than just being self-centred. Most importantly, a lover of God and a strong believer in the fact that God is the author and finisher of our faith.

My mother for example, all along worked for mission hospitals even when she had the opportunity and chance in the regular government hospitals that would have earned her pensions after retirement. During the civil war, she chose to work with Biafran soldiers. After the war, she also went to work for Christian hospitals where she rose to become the matron of the hospital and was managing the under-five clinics. All her life, she chose to work for people; that gives you the typical example of the family I come from. So I think these are the values my parents imbibed in us and they have continued to lead me as very important signposts along the way.



Growing up, who exerted the most impact on you among your parents and what were those?

If you had asked me this question as a teenager, I would have said my mother but as I began to grow into adulthood, I started to appreciate my father the more. Unfortunately, he died at 62, so recognition, appreciation and influence over me became much more, far more profound as the days go by and his lessons in life are timeless; standing for those things which are right, helping me to take decisions on time; I don’t have problems choosing between what is right and wrong, I don’t have any problem deciding what is right and then teaching me not to be influenced by my friends and teaching me to be a leader in the pack in terms of character, making sure there was no iota of pride in me, telling me that I am to lead through service and should be able to make my mark. As a teacher, my father would insist that you must excel because if you go to someone else class and he is the headmaster, how come you would not be among the first three or first as the case may be. But my Mum taught me the virtue of patience and listening intently before you speak. At times, I do not know whether it is a virtue or quality, at times I stand absorbing everything everybody will say and just walk away and then I recall once in school, it was a Chemistry class and I had a friend of mine who thought he was the best and leader of the pack in Organic Chemistry.

So, course assessments were conducted and scripts distributed; we use to have three course assessments and each used to have 10 per cent before the exam, I had nine and a half and the guy had nine and he was buying coke for everybody. I just kept quiet while he was busy celebrating as if he was leading the class as at that time. I learnt from my Mum that you can still be ahead and level-headed. I thank God that she was alive when I became Governor and she called me by the side and said that she was not happy or excited that I was governor that she was excited that I was going to make a difference and that if I knew that I wasn’t going to make a difference that it was going to take away the shine off whatever I called an accomplishment, that she was only excited because she knew I was going to make an impact. Those were some of the words she spoke the few times I had time with her before she departed that has registered in my mind; that she wasn’t excited because I was governor but because she knew that her son was going to make an impact. These are things I can’t forget.

Were you a village or city boy growing up?

I grew up in the village. I am essentially a rural person, I can crop cassava from stem till harvest. Each time in the farm, they will give me a portion as equal to what they will give my younger sister and other women so I farm it; I am essentially a rural person but the most important thing is that I later learnt when I was a university lecturer that what I enjoyed most was to mentor people. In fact, it is part of what drives me as a person and that is why I have it as a quality not to tell a lie to people but most importantly, to those that are younger than me because they look forward to me and when they look into my eyes and I say this is yam, please let it be yam. God gave me the grace to say sorry to anybody, it doesn’t matter your age in any relationship I have with you. If my driver catches me on any wrong side of fact, I will say sorry, if my house help does the same thing, I will say sorry; nothing will make me go away without doing that. The first reason is that I strongly believe that every human being is a spirit and that the power beyond that spirit is beyond the circumstance where that circumstance has placed that person, it can change tomorrow, anybody can go down.

After all, it is God that elevates people and God puts people down and nobody has God’s power, so whenever I do something wrong I will say sorry and I will do it from my heart; I don’t have any airs around me and if you want to mentor people, you must be willing to give service, you must lead, if you can’t hold the hands of those you are leading, then you can’t do social mobilisation that is required and that is the reason why we have huge gaps in leadership all across our country and in Africa. African leaders don’t spend time doing social mobilisation.

You grew up in the village, where did you acquire sophistication and simplicity?

I think going to school should give everyone one advantage, it is to educate your mind, it is not to come with a paper, it is to educate your mind for you to develop capacity to do indepth analysis quickly and respond adequately but if your analysis is wrong, then you can’t get your options right. I dare say I went to school thoroughly in Nigeria. I went through the rigours of a first degree, did a Masters by thesis and course work, did a PhD again by thesis and course work, so we were one of the few people in Calabar in those days that did 600 level courses. Actually, I was qualified for double masters but I decided to ignore the other one. All these put me through very serious mind training and it makes me sufficiently dynamic, gives me an air of confidence that is within me. More often than not, people tend to underrate me.

Were you a stubborn or compliant child?

I wasn’t a very compliant child because my area is Biochemistry so I was very curious as a person. I could get a lizard and dissect it even from my fourth birthday and I can get so busy doing it that I won’t want anybody to distract me. My father was a perfectionist, so I wasn’t a deviant but I wasn’t a very regular docile child. My father was a perfectionist who insists you draw a straight line without ruler and I will argue that daddy why after they have discovered ruler you are still making me draw a line without ruler but I have since discovered that whether in an interview or you want to drop a written note, you find yourself drawing a line without ruler. My father would say you must do homework before you play soccer but when I look at the home work and I know I have a good grip of it, I can decide to go and play soccer first and of course in return you will receive serious canning. With my father, if you commit an offence three times a day, he will cane you three times. I am sure wherever he is, if you ask him about me, he would be proud that his style turned me out the way I am.

What indelible disciplinary action did your dad take out on you that you will not forget in a hurry?

I remember very well when he was heading a school in Umuogele in Iheoji, Aba South and his friend came to see him and he served him Coke and Fanta; so he sent me to his office, which was opposite where we were living but he forgot to give me the key. So when I got to his office the door was locked and his visitors were waiting and I did a 100-meter dash to fetch the opener. I climbed into the office, I saw the opener on his desk, picked the opener but as I was about to leave, I saw my friend’s ball which he had seized so I brought out the ball also. When I returned home and told my father that I couldn’t find the key but I managed to find my way into the office and brought the opener, I gave him the opener and he was very happy of course. Immediately I gave him the opener I went out to play the football with my friend. When the visitors had gone, he came to the balcony and saw us playing. He asked me to come back and I did, he asked me where I got the ball from and I told him I saw it in his office. I lost count of the number of lashes he gave me. He flogged me 48 or more. At 48, I lost count, maybe I fainted or something. My grandmother begged and begged and begged, he wouldn’t let go. She packed her things and left that night. Nobody could pacify my father, I couldn’t pinpoint my offence, was it that I climbed into his office or was it just the ball I took? Meanwhile, I was seeing myself as a hero, who had solved a major problem in the family. I can never forget that day.

How did you meet your wife?

It was in my second year in the university and it was in a house party. She was in the teacher training college and her best friend at that time was a cousin of mine, so I didn’t know they invited her but before that time, our parents were very good friends; they were at the Missionary hospital together, her parents were nurses. I think at a point, my mother was living with her mother at Ife because my mother trained as a nurse at Ife. As a student nurse, she was living with them. That day, I saw her at the ballroom party and then as a second year student, I told her I wanted to marry her. I don’t know the kind of marriage a second year student would know at that time but 10 years or so after, I made that promise, I fulfilled it.

You must have been having your fair deal of ladies before seeing her, what made you stick to her?

The first thing is that I saw in her someone who was capable of tolerating me because I am somebody that once I apply my mind to an assignment, I want to be left alone to deal with it. I don’t like distractions and I don’t like to be disturbed. I am a very patient man but my wife is infinitely patient. Anybody who is more patient than me must be something else. I also saw that she was capable of raising my children. I could trust her with my children because I also knew that there would be things that would take me away from the home very often and till now she hasn’t failed or disappointed me. Finally, I needed someone who could do certain things because in our house we talk about everything, my mother shared her view about the kind of wives she would want me and my younger brother to bring to the house. The first was that our family was a small one, just three people; we need builders, lovers, people who will tolerate each other, tolerate me and my siblings. You can’t take me and leave my siblings.

Then somebody who would appreciate our parents for raising us and most importantly, somebody who is not coming with an air because at that time, both our parents belong to the middle class, but my parents in-law were a little bit stronger because as at that time, if you graduate with a degree, my parents in-law will buy a brand new car for their son that graduated but my parents couldn’t have given you the gift of a car or even if they could, I don’t think my father would subscribe to that but despite that, my mother insisted we must bring somebody who would not bring anything to the table and must abide by humility, integrity and fear of God and my wife had a good measure of all these. So I think even as I speak today, she is the most qualified to be my wife.

You always accomplish things you set your mind on, how come you never broke the patience of your wife or you didn’t even try to?

I didn’t try to and I didn’t need to break it but she is extremely patient just that I am a gadfly. I have my lines and I keep to those lines, so she is infinitely patient.

What would you describe as your lowest point in life, what has given you the biggest pain?

The loss of my father which came at a point I was defending my PhD thesis; I thought my father would have seen the icing on the cake, what he has made of his boy. I thought he would have been around to see some of those things. I have this burden of debt that I couldn’t give back. I was only able to buy him aftershave old spice so could that be the only thing anybody can get after spending your time and energy shaping and panel-beating one person to make him come out good? So I was really touched when the news came that he was gone but I think looking back, we are trying to live our lives within the guideline and frames which he had prepared because quite curiously, at three, he had told me everything, almost everything. I am not confused about anything in life to say what would my daddy do or have me do at a point like this. At each point, I know what he would want me do. Then, God blessed me with a mother that lived long enough to see some of the things I would have loved my parents to see.

What has given you the biggest joy, your highest point in your life?

My doctorate degree in Biochemical Pharmacology. That time, I thought… it took everything and then when I started publishing my works. My first published article was in Indian Journal of Medical Sciences in 1985 where I studied garlic and its effect on cholesterol and liver lipids and all those kinds of things. When you write a paper and the world recognises that this thing is good enough to make contributions to knowledge. I have a very strong passion for academics. Of course, some of you know that I still teach but beyond teaching, I lead two research groups and I have over 20 published articles between 2015 and now in Biochemistry. I am still involved in research.

How do you relax?

That has changed over time but my friends, my people are the things that keep me happy. More often than not, I stay awake till about 4a.m. not because anybody is compelling me but with my friends. I have kept tab with all my childhood friends because they are the people you go back to and they are the people who keep around you not because of what you are but because they know you, so at times when I have them around, we talk but I love soccer. Up till 2015, I use to play soccer every Sunday but I have not done that most recently.

And your favourite team?

Enyimba International and Man U.

Assuming you were to change any part of you, what would that be?

It is a difficult question because what am I changing into so that I won’t use original and exchange a fake. I like the organism called Okezie Ikpeazu and the way it functions.

Any guilty pleasures in your life?

(Laughs long) I don’t think I have. I had an active youth life as an African boy who grew up with privileges as son of a teacher in those days. Privileges in the sense that I had parents that were respected and then wherever I went around and introduced myself as son of so person, people look at me with seriousness, not now that many teachers are no longer respected that much. Then as an adult, I also had psychologically and socially balanced adolescence and youth life. I tried all kinds of things every young man would try and thank God that I had the courage to drop those I didn’t need for the rest of my life. Then, life is like a journey of somebody on a pilgrimage; when you want to plan to cross the desert, if you had two bottles of water, you carry them as you are trekking and you consume all the water in one water bottle, and you had water only in one, the best thing is to drop the empty water bottle so that you conserve energy. So what I don’t need, be they habit or anything, I drop them going forward. I will go back to teaching and full time gospel because I like to teach in the church actively almost every weekend, two weeks in a year. At times I marvel at that. What is left of me is teaching and spending more time in the vineyard of God.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/12/08/okezie-ikpeazu-my-dad-once-flogged-me-till-i-fainted/

Thank You Dr Okezie for Enyimba Economic City and always implementing strategies we promote for the betterment of Igboland. To be honest, any Abia person campaigning against this man is shortsighted! I want Abians to give Okezie 90% vote in 2019.

The below post was written in 2015 December by my humble self. Two out of many suggestions to Igboland governors, Abia State Govt embraced and implemented.

God bless Dr Ikpeazu. Read and enjoy!

***************

SURVIVING WITHOUT OIL: A BIAFRAN CASE STUDY

Most Nigerians against Biafra agitation accuse Igbos of planning to take away their means of sustenance: OIL. In their argument, they posit; "Igboland is landlocked hence sustenance aside oil will be a herculean task". This line of thought is not nursed by the northern and western Nigerians alone but even the people of SouthSouth, formerly of the Eastern region.

In such petty argument, they opine, "their plan is to incorporate south-south and take away our oil". In conclusion, they resolve: "south-south must not join Biafra". They also go to the long length of sponsoring media reports as well as using mushroom groups to issue press releases on the resolution not to join Biafra. Few, eclipse in an ecstatic condition when such announcements are published and argument advanced.



This being the case, they argue, Biafra case is already dead on arrival since the only hope (oil) they want to enjoy won't be available for Biafra. This argument is now advanced by all Nigerians excluding the Biafrans.

Essentially, this argument is flawed. The current agitation is not on the premise of who controls the oil but on two things: regional autonomy and Economic regeneration.

Under economic revival comes the issue of Oil, Industrialisation and technology. In all Igbo think tank groups I belong that has the responsibility to advance strategically the economic blueprint of Igboland (mind you I used Igboland not South-East because Igboland includes some part of SouthSouth and all part of the south-east), oil has never been included in the blueprint of economic regeneration. The design is based on two major BENCHMARKS: Industrialisation and Technology: The Asian case study.



INDUSTRIALISATION
First, there is a need for an integrated development of Igboland, which would be transferred to Biafra whenever they are granted freedom. There won't be states anymore rather we embrace districts and adopt the ASEAN (Association of South-Eastern Asia) formula to grow our developing economy and then diversify to Technology in which our model will focus on Japan, USA and Chinese technology. This is the same pattern China used to become world power today. However, Chinese template won't be permissible in our contest due to incongruence factors hence, we need to disengage Chinese cultural factors and upload that of Igboland. That is the only modification needed.

The ASEAN countries were all small countries in Asia but attracted industries in Europe who could not maintain high taxation and high minimum wage. They closed shop in Europe and all relocated to Asian countries. Today, they are the industrial region of the world. They were able to produce goods at an affordable price.



These production pattern works for Biafrans because it fits perfectly into our strength and character and can logically be referred to as our unique selling proposition. All structures, business acumen we can use to grow are already located in Onitsha and Aba just like Guangzhou and Shanghai. What we need is importing the equipment that would give that Shoemaker at Aba to deliver a quality finishing. Once we can produce quality shoes with good design at an affordable rate, Biafra will compete favourably with Italian and Brazilian Shoes. Considering that Nigeria is a consuming nation, they would be one of our greatest suppliers. They will import goods manufactured in Biafra. This will be replicated in the clothing line. There won't be much need to go to Turkey, China, India or Pakistan. We will create more incentives for those who buy locally made and high tax for those who imports. It is even happening now. To construct a bed in Nigeria (Lagos) is N100,000. To construct same bed in Enugu N50, 0000. Transport it with Young Shall grow at the cost of N10, 000. Your cost price for purchasing made in Biafra would be N60,000. You save a whopping N40,000. This is all facts that you can run and it will give you the same result.

TECHNOLOGY
The technological advancement would be divided int two: This is for automobiles that will be situated at Nnewi called Technology Centre for Automobiles (TCA), and our Silicon Valley will be located at Enugu.
Google would soon open brainstorming centre in Enugu.

AGRICULTURE
An average Igbo man is a farmer. That is why you will see a yam barn in all Igbo homes. However, there would be a rapid shift from Subsistent farming to commercial agriculture and Ebonyi state has been earmarked as the Agricultural powerhouse of Igboland with advanced agricultural technology made available. Recall, Abakaliki rice is the best in the whole world. It is very rich in nutrients.



TOURISM
Imo State will remain the tourist zone. If you visit Owerri, you won't want to travel to Seychelles or Maldives. With the development of Oguta Lake in Imo state, most Nigerians would prefer to visit Biafra for a holiday instead of Ghana. I won't dwell more on this to avoid Nigeria copying our intellectual property.

However, it is important to note that the above plan will commence in full force shortly after we realise that some states in south-south are not ready to join Biafra. Thus, this plan is the default setting to fall back if some south-south states want to remain in Nigeria.It is their right...No force.

Conversely, If they do want to join Biafra, all plans will remain but economic capital will move from Anambra or Abia to Rivers (Port-Harcourt) while the capital of Biafra goes to Calabar (Cross-River)

So empirically, the south-south will take all the administrative and economic landmark of Biafra, a position they can never get in Nigeria.

Remember in this structure, I did not mention Oil. This is because the oil in Biafra is not for export but internal consumption. So the argument that this agitation is based on control of petroleum that would soon be irrelevant in the market is flawed. So any futurology in which oil is a major income generating avenue is a bad futurology.

Thus, please desist from the argument that Biafra is interested in oil or the most ludicrous one, opposing Buhari. No! Biafra plans to show Africa that a country in Africa can move from perpetual developing country tag to developed country.

It is the hope and dreams that the new country will be the envy of all Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

Written by J Duke Anago

#A_MUST_WATCH
APGA SENATORIAL CANDIDATE, CHIDI AJAEGBU EXTOL THE VIRTUES OF GOVERNOR OKEZIE IKPEAZU...

...Says Ikpeazu is the best thing that has happened to Abia state

Ajaegbu further discredited Alex Otti's claim of victory at the 2015 polls, stating that Ikpeazu's victory was never in doubt.

©Blessing Gabriel Ogonna


https://abiaonline.com.ng/2018/12/11/apga-senatorial-candidate-chidi-ajaegbu-extol-the-virtues-of-governor-okezie-ikpeazu/

Press Release

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State will depart Nigeria tomorrow, Tuesday 11th, December, for Cairo, Egypt to attend the 2018 Intra-African Trade Fair, organized by the African Export- Import Bank (Afreximbank).



AFREXIM Bank is in strategic relationship with the Abia State Government on the promotion of Investment and Industrialization.

The Bank is also one of the strategic partners of the Enyimba Economic City.

While in Cairo, Governor Ikpeazu will participate in strategic sessions on promotion of the Agro-processing value chain in Africa, as one of the keynote speakers.

He will also participate in several meetings with International Finance organizations and Foreign delegations as well as use the opportunity to further promote the Enyimba Economic City project to the Investing Public.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government and Abia State Government recently signed Definitive Agreements for the take off of Enyimba Economic City Project. The endorsement of the agreement between the Enyimba City Economic Zone Limited and Nigeria Special Economic Zone Company, took place at the Presidential Villa Abuja and was witnessed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Ikpeazu and other top federal and state government functionaries alongside representatives of host communities.

The Governor is expected to return this weekend.

Enyinnaya Appolos
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
10/12/18

Ikechukwu Iroha.

The interview granted to Sun Newspaper by the factional Candidate of APC in Abia State governorship election, Mr Uche Ogah, has further exposed his shallowness, ignorance and lack of capacity to lead a local government area in Abia State.

In his words, "I won him (Ikpeazu) at the poll and in court in 2015, but I assure you, he won’t be lucky in 2019".

Only a shallow minded man will claim he won election at the poll that he did not contest. The court case he instituted did not give ruling in 2015 either. Obviously the man does not know what it means to obtain an electoral mandate through a general election.

Pathetic shallowness!

When we demanded that Uche Ogah be allowed by his handlers to speak directly to people, we were only calling for Abians to be given the opportunity to read , hear and find out the low intellectual capacity of someone that is gunning for the number one position in Abia.

The Ogah interview with Sun has exposed him and vindicated us. Let him appear on any live radio or TV program in Abia State and further UnCloth himself in public instead of hiding behind his hirelings.

When asked the reason why he thinks Abia should vote for APC, he said "Abia stand to gain more from APC administration if elected both in Abia and in the centre because being in APC which is the ruling party gives us the opportunity to be at the centre"

It is noteworthy that Uche Ogah did not mention a single thing he can do differently that Ikpeazu is not doing. Being at the center has not helped many APC controlled states who are still grappling to develop. On security, there is no APC state that is more secured than Abia or that has managed her economy more than Abia. Peaceful environment drives investment. APC has no agenda other than making things difficult for Nigerians. Common citizens are finding it hard to feed under APC due to hash policies that skyrocketed prices of foodstuffs.

When asked what he can do differently that Dr. Ikpeazu is doing, he said " So many, at least you can see the little I have achieved in the private sector. The people know that I have the Midas touch "

His response lacks specifics. It has become an anthem for him to point to his insolvent factory each time he is asked similar questions. Uche forgets to tell us that none of his businesses is working owing to bad management which led to his factory and his petrol stations to become insolvent. His inability to pay his workers for over 13 months salary arrears led to the closure of the Uturu factory and all his petroleum tank farms have remained empty of products since 2016. His so called midas touch is actually a better way to describe failure in private sector leadership. Secondly, Private management of business is different from public sector governance and management of people. They have different aims. While private companies are for profit maximization, Governance is about service to the people. Uche Ogah should go back to history and tell us which private individual has ever succeeded as a good manager of people. Moreso when he is apparently battling to remain solvent and pay off his obligations to lenders.


Uche Ogah claimed that there was no Nigeria before the coming of Buhari, that there was nothing to show for the 16 years of PDP reign. It is true that whoever joins APC automatically becomes shallow. Uche Ogah hobnobbed with President Jonathan and was praising same man the way he is doing to Buhari today. He has shown that he is not honest, sincere or trustworthy. Only a petty being will eat your food and insult you when the going becomes challenging. He has become a desperate politician who must insult his benefactors to gain favour from new comers.

Uche Ogah was a member of PDP for 19 years, he nominated his brother Dr Ogah who was a commissioner for health under Governor T.A.Orji. His godfather, Dr. Orji Uzor, was a Governor under PDP for 8 years. It is so unfortunate that Uche has succumbed to the powerful juju that is used by APC to brainwash their members to see black and call it white.

Uche Ogah took a swipe at Ndi Igbo by justifying the neglect of the entire region by the Buhari's administration. He said that Igbos deserve such atrocious conditions because Igbos gave Buhari just 895k votes while Northwest gave him over 10 million votes. What Uche is saying indirectly is that Igbos lost out for making their choices which actually is their right. Whoever thinks like Uche is actually a dangerous commodity for governance especially knowing that he publicly campaigned for Jonathan of PDP and also claimed to have voted for PDP in 2015 Presidential and Governorship polls.

Human beings!

Uche denied the subsidy scam that he is involved by telling Nigerians he was not invited by EFCC. All lies, Uche was actually arrested by EFCC over the matter of Master Energy and alleged bank fraud. He was also accused in a published probe panel of involvement in subsidies scam.

The person of Peter Obi he insulted in the interview is our beloved son that we all respect. We know his track records and can't compare him with Uche Ogah that couldn’t successfully run a fuel station in Abia.

MR. OBINNA ORIAKU IN A DISPLAY OF EXCEPTIONAL BRILLIANCE AND PROFESSIONALISM INGENUITY

By Chidi Maduka

The venue was filled to the brim with egg heads from the finance industry, each came to showcase his/her knowledge of financial expertise and knowledge, in an economy grappling for breath, the theme was “Unlocking the potentials of non-oil sector as a sustainable source of Government Revenue” and the occasion was, the annual meeting of National Council on finance and economic Development (NACOFED) held in Kaduna.

It was a 3 day event that started with a courtesy visit to the host Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the team was led by the Hon Minster of finance along with other members of the Local Organizing Committee. The event was declared open by Governor El-Rufai, while the Minister of finance Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed opened her address by calling on State Governments to reduce unnecessary overhead costs and enthrone fiscal discipline in order to increase Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, for proper resources management with availability of scarce resources.

As it is the norm, every State featured the drivers of their economy or the best hands in the management of their individual States Revenue. One after the other, all the resource persons that participated in the event which includes the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmad Idris, Kaduna State Commissioner of Finance Suleiman Audu Kwari, Mr. Wale Akinterina, Commissioner of finance Ondo State, Prof.. I. Garba, Vice Chancellor Ahmad Bello University Zaria, Ali Mahmood Sali Yunusa, Chairman of the Commissioners Of Finance Forum and Commissioner Of Finance, Adamawa State, Umar Waziri, Accountant General Kaduna State etc. while members of the Panel includes Dr. Armstrong, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance and Dr. Lawal Silas of Federal Ministry of Finance Abuja all delivered their papers.

In line with the theme of the conference, our own Commissioner for Finance Mr. Obinna Oriaku in a show of exceptional brilliance, display of knowledge and expertise in the finance industry anchored the presentation of the paper “Application of E -governance in promoting revenue mobilization at sub-national levels” which was handled by Dr. Kabir Kabo Usman and by the time Mr. Oriaku was through, it was a loud ovation from every corner and a standing ovation for a man who is in no doubt acquainted with the challenges of the modern day economic ultimatum and solutions there in.

It was endorsement galore after the conference for our own finance commissioner and little wonder he is defiant and focused about driving the State’s economy to a safe destination, despite the challenging political terrain.

Obinna Oriaku had all along displayed the right attitude towards ensuring a healthy, improved and advanced approach towards achieving economic sustainability and his introduction of e-payment had to a very large extent checked salary fraud and saved enormous funds for the government, his show of passion and patriotism is exceptional and he deserves our encouragement and support.

Congratulations the exchequer of Abia economy and thank you for making us proud.

Chidi Maduka is an economist and a social commentator

FG, ABIA STATE SIGN AGREEMENT ON ENYIMBA ECONOMIC CITY

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu led a delegation of host communities of the Enyimba Economic City from Abia South in Abia State for the signing of definitive agreements between the Federal Government of Nigeria represented by the Nigeria Special Economic Zone Investment Company Limited and the Abia State Government represented by the Enyimba City Development Company Limited, at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa Abuja on..... Read more https://abiaonline.com.ng/2018/12/07/fg-abia-state-sign-agreement-on-enyimba-economic-city/

A woman was in tears as she knelt down to appreciate her loving husband. The woman who had nothing but praises for her partner took to her Instagram page to write;

“My backbone, my support system, my earthly god, my father, my friend, my confidant,my world, my hero, my wings, my number 1 fan, lover of my soul, father of my children, key to my heart….God is truly a mysterious God he looked at this helpless girl and blessed me with this rare gift. You call me the Gift but you are the gift. Thank you, thank you thank you for all you do.”

“This makes me so teary! They are still good men out there and not all are bad. A good man will always have a wife that worships the ground that he walks on”.

“Men please learn from this and stop beating and maltreating your wives so that their prayers will work for your coconut heads! Una no dey hear word!”

Newman Ubani

...also the most affected in any case of attack on the family. This is because, they are not only vulnerable but have the best affectionate feelings of mothers, who understands the pains and pangs of child bearing and need to protect them.

It is important to note that the prayers of this woman and her team has been yielding great and wonderful results and has also sustained the Governor in office for almost four years now. Even in times of challenges, especially the several litigations that took place for almost three years. God of heaven who hears prayers of the saints, especially women... Read more https://abiaonline.com.ng/…/the-power-of-a-praying-wife-mr…/

To God be the glory!

Amen.

UNU,
07/12/18

https://abiaonline.com.ng/2018/12/06/journalist-rejects-uche-ogahs-appointment/


Re: Ogah's media team: I was not consulted nor my approval sought before including my name.

My attention has been drawn to the purported announcement of Uche Ogah campaign organization to an effect that I am a member of their media and Publicity Committee.

Let me put the records straight that I was not consulted nor my approval sought before going to Vision Africa Radio to announce my name as a member of their media team.

As the Chairman of Correspondents Chapel of Abia NUJ i am not supposed to play politics.And even if you want to include somebody' name should contact the person and get his approval in this circumstance my approval was not sought before going to press.

I hereby call on the Uche Ogah campaign organization to remove my name and tender apology using same medium otherwise I will take legal action for such embarrassment.

How Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu Changed the Narrative

Blessing Ogonna Gabriel



Picture 1 depicts our past, when our roads were not motorable. We depended on wheelbarrows/trucks to move from point A to B.

The beauty of our present has totally erased the rot and ugliness of our past.

Not so many still remembers how Faulks road, Ehiere, Umuola, Ukaegbu,Kamalu, Ibadan, Onyebuchi, Agharandu used to be.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has changed the narrative.

We're absolutely better today.

Project 4 + 4 is a done deal!

#IAmIkpeazulated
#TeamOVI
#Vote4Continuity

We won't forget: Owerri Road by Okigwe road.
Paul Kalu

Owerri road was a nightmare to residents and commuter before 2015. The residents of the area usually park their vehicles along Okigwe road and Ekenna because there was no way they could drive home without the swamp their road turned into trapping their vehicles.

Then came the Dr Okezie's caterpillar touch in 2015. The story changed. It became the first road Abia used cement technology to construct with an overlay of asphalt. It has drainage on both sides and the road has knocked three yeas plus but still looks like one constructed last month.

Okezie have done a lot in road infrastructure but can do more.

#LetsDoMore in 2019 so that #AbiacanshoutAlleluia
#OVItill2019

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has urged Corps members deployed to Abia to embark on meaningful ventures that will add value to the lives of their host communities.



Dr. Ikpeazu who made the call during the closing ceremony of the 2018 Batch "C" Stream 11 Orientation Programme for corps members deployed to the state at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Umunna, Bende LGA reminded them that no effort would be too small in the collective responsibility of developing the state and nation at large.

The governor represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Comrade Ike Anyatonwu urged them to contribute their quota to the over all development of the state not minding were they were posted.



Dr. Ikpeazu reassured that his administration would continue provide all the necessary support, care and enabling environment for them to serve effectively in their area of primary assignments as well appreciate outstanding corps members that will embark on various community development projects.

According to him," as ambassadors of the scheme , you have become the mirror through which people will assess the relevance of the scheme to National development, the governor said.

He however warned them to desist from conducts that would tarnish their image and that of the scheme which their predecessors and initiators have laboured to preserve.


In her address, the State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Francesca Ifon said the corps members have undergone rigorous moral, physical and mental reorientation in the past three weeks which have repositioned them for the next phase of the service year.

She urged them to accept their postings in good faith as their postings have been done in line with the laid down rules and policies of the scheme as majority of them will be posted to the rural areas where their services are mostly needed.

The state NYSC Coordinator commended the state governor, Dr Ikpeazu for the unflinching support to the scheme and thanked the security agencies and the host communities for their contributions towards the success of the orientation camp.

#AbiaOnline

The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has resolved amicably, its little differences that led to the suspension of the State Chairman, Sir Johnson Onuigbo.

Speaking in a joint press briefing, the Chairman, Sir Johnson Onuigbo said that the party had resolved the little misunderstanding it had and he has been fully restored to continue his services as the Chairman. He stated that the PDP in the State is now better, stronger and more positioned to sweep the entire 2019 polls.

Sir Onuigbo said ”The Governor intervened and we have reconciled. PDP is on track. It was the enemy that came to cause disunity among us but we have reconciled as one family". According to him, the reconciliation has made the opposition parties to be jittery as the party is out to bring victory to Abians once again, adding that the opposition is now in disarray as they had wanted to take advantage of the crisis ahead of 2019.

Also speaking, Hon. Ibe said that the party had reconciled its differences. He said the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu waded into the misunderstanding and brought about the reconciliation, adding that the party is now more united and formidable.

ABIA ONLINE NEWS

The Executive Chairman of Aba South Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa has thanked Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu for coming to the aid of the victims of the 'Nkwo Ngwa' Market fire incident in Aba South Local Government Area.

The Local Government Chairman showed the appreciation when he led a delegation of his people and the traders to the Governor's lodge in Aba. He commended the Governor's quick response to their plight, saying that such a quick response is highly commendable. The Chairman said "Dr. Victor Ikpeazu is a big blessing to Abia State and has to be supported for a second term; we must ensure he's re-elected with other PDP candidates in Aba come 2019! PDP all the way".

He equally thanked the PDP candidate for the Aba North and South federal constituency in the forthcoming elections, Rt. Hon. Uzo Azubuike who he said has contributed a lot to support the victims since the incident. Also appreciated was the Honourable member, representing Aba South in the State House Assembly, Hon. Clinton Ebere, who they said has done noble in supporting the traders.

Responding, the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu identified with their plights and said it was not easy to recover from such an incident, describing fire outbreak as a great disaster that needs to be curbed. He assured that his government would do everything necessary to assist them to ensure their businesses are established again.

It could be recalled that fire engulfed the 'Nkwo Ngwa' Market, Aba some days ago and destroyed goods and property.

HIGH COURT JUDGEMENT: UCHE OGAH'S ACCUSATIONS UNDER SCRUTINY

Ubani Newman

Following the FCT, Abuja High Court's judgement that has scuttled the chances of the factional APC governorship candidate, Mr. Uchechukwu Samson Ogah, from contesting the forthcoming 2019 elections as his faction lost out in the case, he, Oga has responded to the judgement, describing it as "...nothing more than a cesspit of manipulated falsehood and illegality, trivial in substance and form".

Uche Oga went ahead to assert that the judgement was "procured by Ikechi Emenike and his PDP collaborators from the FCT High" and committed what could be regarded as 'contempt of court' by referring to the judgement as a comic one, saying "we are sure that this 11pm comic Judgment will not stand".

He accused the highly respected High court Judge that presided over the matter, Hon. Justice Amaka Ogbonna, of bias and concluded that "It is obvious she satisfied her pay masters and turned Justice into a comic". Uche Ogah further informed that his team " had filed a Stay of execution and a notice of appeal to set aside this comical and obnoxious judgment" as well as claims to remain Abia APC gubernatorial candidate.

A critical look at Uche Ogah's response to the judgement against him shows desperation by a misguided element, who should have known how to handle legal matters. This was the same man who secured the same high court judgement by Justice Okon Abang and rushed to Umuahia to be sworn-in as the Governor without considering the Appeal and Supreme courts.

Referring to the judgement as a comic Judgment and accusing the learned Judge of satisfying her pay masters, especially using the words "It is obvious..." communicates a lot to the right thinking members of the society. It is really a grave accusation which. Anyway, he knew how he obtained the Okon Abang’s judgement and must have been referring to that.

One equally wonders why he should bring in PDP into this matter. When has PDP joined the case? Is PDP the 3rd or 4th respondent? What business has the vulture with the barber? Uche Oga is advised to look for his political pants from the place he took his political bathe and stop joining PDP with his woes.

Uche Ogah's claims to remain Abia APC gubernatorial candidate is equally laughable because, the court remains the final arbiter and Abians are wiser now and would vote for the candidate they are sure has no issues with the court.

The administration of Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D has affected many lives in Abia positively and is poised to do more in the next tenure. The Governor has built roads, revamped agriculture, promoted and projected Made in Aba products, changed the narratives of business in Abia, renovated and built schools, arrested erosion menace in many communities amongst other achievements. These he has achieved in spite of economic challenges and myriad of court litigations obviously aimed at distracting him. He has done it before and he will do it again till 2023, for the grace of God is sufficient for him.

'Obughi ya ji onwe ya...'

UNU,
02/12/2018

IKPEAZU IS STILL ON DUTY TILL 2023

With the ban on electioneering campaign lifted by INEC, the coming days, weeks and months will witness aggressive politicking with each candidate marshaling out strategies on how to convince electorates that they have better plans and programmes for them. Our political space and airwaves will begin to witness undaunted pressures from all and sundry.

In Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu Ph.D. will be presenting himself once again to the people of Abia State for re-election for a second and final term as Governor of the state. Speaking to the Deputy British High Commissioner recently the Governor insisted that his re-election campaign would be premised on his records of achievement as Governor and in all the other offices he had held prior to this present position as Governor. He opined that since 2015 when he was elected, Abians have experienced the changes and massive developments, which he promised during the campaign rounds 2014/2015.

In 2015, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D. transversed the length and breadth of Abia with his development template that was not just homegrown but one that many Abians felt was practicably implementable and one which was spiced and flavored with local understanding of the issues and challenges faced daily by the people of the state across the spectrum. The template developed essentially from Governor Ikpeazu’s understanding of the environment having spent some time working for and with the people, interacting with them and understudying the real issues was based on 5 development pillars and 5 enablers. Three years down the line, how has the Governor fared in driving home this development template and trajectory?

Governor Ikpeazu came to the office with obvious advantages. Everyone will agree that for someone to have concluded and bagged a Ph.D. under 30 was no mean feat. It also goes a long way to speak about the character and quality of the person involved. Governor Ikpeazu had the backing of the Ukwa Ngwa nation, a people who had never had the privilege of serving the state in that capacity. The massive support and mobilization from his base and the tacit support of the then Governor based on the Abia Charter of Equity a major binding agreement played major roles in his emergence. I must add too that these conditions are also present today.

Within the last 3 years Governor Ikpeazu has manifestly proven to sane minds of his capacity to lead a united Abia. For the first time since the return of Nigeria to democracy, Abia state has under the stewardship of Governor Ikpeazu enjoyed relative political peace and tranquility. Many of us are conversant with our very recent history in the State. Ikpeazu has piloted the affairs of the state with such stoic equanimity and candor that almost all the leaders and founding fathers of the state, political and business leaders are working harmoniously together for the development of the state. Within the arms of government, the executive, legislature and judiciary, Governor Ikpeazu’s obvious maturity in leadership has come to play resulting in an cooperative yet effective relationship between the various arms of government. This may yet be the first time in our history when there seem to be a very cordial relationship between Abians at the federal level especially the legislature and the state government. Even when we have a minister from another party, it has been a very cordial and cooperative relationship that has placed Abia’s interest well above personal or parochial interests. The era of usurpation, antagonism and intimidation has become a thing of the past in Abia under Ikpeazu’s watch. I’m sure the few dissidents have not taken time to understand the value of the convivial atmosphere Governor Ikpeazu has created in Abia. Just recently in a neighboring state we witnessed a near rape of democracy when the state legislature was turned to a centre of absurdity due to clash of interests and expression of inordinate ambitions. At all times the mien and humane nature of Ikpeazu has ensured that Abia remained peaceful. This has also reflected on the internal security of lives and properties of Abia and Abians. Today, Abia is ranked as one of the most secured states in Nigeria and the tops the chat in the South East. These conditions, which are important to guarantee development, do not come by mere wishful thinking.

In the second year of his administration, when naysayers took to the social media platforms to sell lies and deceit, in response, Governor Ikpeazu popularized a quote “let them facebook, while I face work”. Right from the first day of administration, Governor Ikpeazu has never let anyone doubt his commitment to aggressively rewrite the infrastructural history of the state particularly, our centres of trade, commerce and economic activities. So, the focus on Aba was not accidental. The Aba redevelopment and infrastructural improvement programme is and remain a deliberate plan of Governor Ikpeazu to increase the productive capacity of Aba and artisans within the city. So as at the last count, over 70 roads have been completed while the state government is exposed to over another 50 at various stages of completion. This is coming at a time the economic fortunes of states in Nigeria is nothing short of dim. At a time it was on record, that Abia was the only state within its financial bracket that had about 4 grade A construction giants working simultaneously. In the area of road construction both urban and rural, while the Governor had acknowledged that not all that was planned had been done, but we have moved forward as a state in terms of road infrastructure.

One area Governor Ikpeazu has distinguished himself is in how he has managed bi-partisan relationship between the state and federal government to leverage on certain opportunities to the advantages of Abia. Even, official of the federal government including no less a person like the President himself and his Vice Prof Yemi Osinbajo has come to acknowledge that Governor Ikpeazu means well for Abians and does not play politics with the development of the state. He had always placed the interest of the state well above personal or primordial sentiments and sometimes has had to subdue ego to ensure Abia gains. So it is not a surprise that Abia remains one of the focal states and in fact the leading state in the east in the implementation of several federally introduced social inclusion programmes. A quick reference is the issue of tradermoni, while the Vice President was crisscrossing the country launching the programme Abia is one state that has been allowed to begin implementation of the programme. today over 10,000 rural traders have benefited from the small scale loan. The Home Grown School feeding programme, GEEP, N Power, Conditional Cash Transfer etc. and other programmes like that have flourished in Abia seamlessly without any form of bickering between the state and federal government. When voters marshal out in 2019 to cast their votes, they remember that under Ikpeazu Abia has become a reference state in our national life and that all national programmes from education, health, agriculture, youth empowerment, women issues, trade and commerce, investment has had Abia as a priority status. Beneficiaries of these programmes coordinated by the Abia Social Invstment Office numbering over 100,000 individuals and families directly and indirectly will remember Governor Ikpeazu whose skill and leadership has ensured the success of these programmes.

Governor Ikpeazu will be running on the record of his successful promotion of Made-in-Aba products campaign. Prior to this administration, Aba remained an unsung, unnoticed and ill motivated hero. The entrepreneurship of Aba was even mocked and the artisan had no one, no leader who held their hands to lead them to prosperity amidst myraids of challenges which included – access to finance, power, infrastructure, market share, ownership, branding etc. taking the bull by the horn Governor Ikpeazu with his team began with aggressive marketing to bring global attention to the productive capacity of Aba. The records of achievements speak volumes of the success of this programme. Today, in Aba power issues is being resolved, finance institutions are providing these entrepreneur cheap funds at single digits, market share has increased, infrastructural upgrade is ongoing, automation has come and international collaboration is coming by way of capacity building. The Aba artisans and entrepreneurs will not forget the Governor who has exposed them to the world and gave them confidence to stamp their products “proudly made in Aba”. Such feats are not rhetoric rather, conscious effort of a committed leader.

In several of our human capacity indicators this administration has consistently proven that Abia can work and is indeed working. Back to back in 3 years Abia has maintained first position in WAEC and some other national examinations. In the health sector, through several initiatives aimed at deepening access and universal coverage Abia has remained on the map for good. Abia has remained a reference point for good and international donor organizations now fancy including Abia in all their rollout programmes. Just recently, the World Bank released the results of the national survey on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria. 5 states made the most improvements in the past 4 years, Abia was no 3 as one of the states that improved in the 4 thematic areas chosen by the World Bank.

In 2019, when our rural women go out to vote they will remember Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, who through her NGO, the Vicar Hope Foundation has provided succor to the vulnerable in our communities. They will remember, the homes built for widows which today stands over 40 across the state, they will remember several health, social inclusion, skill training and empowerment programmes that the Wife of the Governor has introduced to improve the livelihoods of Abians especially the women in rural communities. They will remember her conscious and committed effort to touch the lives of victims of several conditions with a view to ameliorating pains and difficult situations.

It is very easy for people to ignore committed efforts of leaders for several reasons. However, no sane Abia can say that the Abia of 2018 is same Abia bequeathed to Ikpeazu in 2015. While he acknowledge that all has not been done, Governor Ikpeazu can beat his chest proudly that he can face Abia electorates to judge him on the records of his achievements.

In our next series we will deal with economy, investment, agriculture, youth development and other areas the government has proven her mettle.

To be continued…

Abia Social investment Programme led by Mr. CHINENYE NWAOGU always set the pace for other states to follow. One of the former American president F. Kennedy on assumption of duty asked his Cabinet "what can we do for Americans not only what we will gain". The above question have always been the pattern the State Focal Person is leading in all social investment Programmes in Abia

Yesterday Beneficiaries from Aba South LGA from the little salary they receives monthly visited two montherless babies home in ABA to pay Christmas homage.

The children from the homes were very happy that Beneficiaries from the zone visited them.
Many more of this will continue in Abia through Npower Beneficiaries. We thank the state focal Person Mr. CHINENYE NWAOGU and his team for providing enabling environment for Beneficiaries in Abia to operate.

In a Special way all Beneficiaries from Aba South, all those that made the occasion successful one. To Aba South Coordinator Arou Emmanuel continue with the good work.

OTTI’S CRY OVER PLANNED ATTACK ON HIM IS HEIGHT OF HIS POLITICAL DISINGENUOUSNESS

By Jude Ndukwe

Since his well-deserved loss at the 2015 polls, Alex Otti of the fragmented All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and a factional gubernatorial candidate of the party, has become so disillusioned that in his incurable desperation for the coveted Abia State Government House, he has abandoned the finesse and decency which the noble banking profession once bestowed upon him, and has embarked on a spree of ill-advised crudeness, base insults, outright falsehood, unwarranted scurrilous attacks on leaders and people of Abia, and threats of violence on everyone including himself.

Since the graduation of Alex Otti’s political fortunes from “dwindling” to “diminished”, the man has only managed to clutch on to anything including sophistry just to manage to stay afloat. It has since become his stock in trade to imagine violence against himself and go ahead to actually execute it all in his desperate but facile bid to paint the Abia State government in bad light.

Otti has actually insulted and riled every leader and the masses in Abia State at every slight opportunity to the extent that he is now afraid of even his own shadow. Just recently, he boasted that he “no be gentleman again ooo… I have dropped the garb of gentility” and claimed like a tyrant that he has fast become even without power that he was going to come to Abia State with “red eye”. In one of his most infamous essays titled “Politics of Blood(y) Tonic”, and as always, Otti had roundly insulted Abia elders, leaders and founding fathers, both living and dead, including religious, traditional, political and leaders of foremost socio-cultural associations etc, calling them repugnantly disrespectful names.

It will also be recalled that during the 2015 election campaigns, this same Otti whose name is now synonymous with deceit, careless and callous bickering, had claimed a non-existent assassination attempt on his person, but up till tomorrow there is no police report on such an attempt, and, in fact, there can never be because there was none other than the one that existed as a political gimmick only in the jaundiced imagination of this political Lilliputian.

Today, Alex Otti is repeating the same scenario having realized that he has opened his mouth too widely and rabidly, to the extent that he is now afraid of even his own shadow.

The fact of the matter is that those close to Otti should immediately check him in to a psychiatric facility for proper assessment as the spirits of our founding fathers whom he has roundly insulted might be behind his recent hallucinations. Or better still, he should be advised against doing himself any harm by executing a phantom assassination attempt on himself just to vainly curry the people’s sympathy.

He should be reminded that having been abandoned by thousands of APGA members who have seen through his politics of infantilism, his resort to setting his shadow against himself and turning around to cry wolf where there is none as a way of keeping himself in the news, is stale, ludicrous and asinine.

The truth is that the Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, cannot condescend so low as to allow himself to be distracted from the good works he is doing in Abia by the antics of an anthill who is also at best nothing but a political pinweight desperate for attention having lost relevance.

Let it be stated clearly that Abians are well aware of Alex Otti’s plans to cause mayhem in Abia State and then turn around to blame it on others. We wish to place all Abians particularly the security agents on notice, that we will not tolerate any act of brigandage or political thuggery from anyone irrespective of status or political affiliation. Anyone who is planning to unleash mayhem either on himself or the good people of Abia should better have a rethink because such a person will certainly have him/herself to blame as we shall bring down the full weight of the law against him/her.

When Alex Otti is eventually cured of his hallucinations, and he decides to report his own attack and assassination attempt on himself and his allies to the security agents, he should also not forget to mention the three principal and only suspects involved in the plan: himself, his conscience and his shadow!

He should quit his political disingenuousness and embrace his assured defeat at every level once again!

-Chief Sir Jude Ndukwe, Ochomma Oha 1 of Okwulaga Afaraukwu, KSJI

OPEN LETTER TO UCHE OGAH; LEARN FROM HISTORY, WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.

Ikechukwu Iroha

This letter to you today, is to openly let you note my concern and give you a piece of history as well as allow you an ample time to retrace the genesis of your travails in this political environment as the factional governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Abia State.

History has a way of playing back at us. Going by what befell the Donatus Nwankpa's faction of your party at the Federal High Court in Kubwa,Abuja, it is safe to say that the uncharitable attitude of yours in 2016 towards the People's Governor of Abia State Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has began to pay you back in your own coin.

The purpose of this article is not to make mockery of your ignorance of what politics entails, but to bring you to speed and ask that you take a walk down the memory lane to learn few things about the law of Karma.

In case you have forgotten Sir, let me remind you the background of what is currently hunting you.

At the early hours of 30th June 2016, we were seated at the Abia State University Auditorium, Uturu, ahead of my principal Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, who was enroute to the institution to deliver a lecture as an eminent lecturer, when my phone rang. The voice at the other end was shaky but was enough for me to get his information. He said that you (Uche Ogah) has just been given a certificate of return and is headed for Abia State to be sworn in as the Governor.

Like a shot in the back, I was still asking why, how, when? I didn't know when the line went off. I entered a car with my friends and colleagues Mr Newman Ubani and Nelda Okafor. The interaction in the car centered on how INEC could act so fast on a decision at the court of first instance even when Dr. Ikpeazu had appealed the judgement.

One of our greatest surprise was that INEC through its national commissioner in charge of South East, Mr Lawrence Nwaoruku presented the certificate of return to you Sir, when Dr ikpeazu, through his team of 4 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, had applied for an order restraining the beneficiary of the court verdict , Mr. Uche Ogah, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from executing the judgment of the federal high court.

What was more confusing was that Justice Okon Abang gave a ruling on the 27th day of June while INEC already crowned you on the 30th, leaving pundits to wonder how you managed to get the INEC to turn the law upside down despite the fact that you never contested any election in Abia State nor did you contest the outcome of the primaries that produced Dr. Ikpeazu.

After receiving the certificate, you headed for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where you took a chartered plane for Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State capital, on your way to be sworn in as a Governor in Umuahia.

Fast forward to this day, Sir, the judgement of Kubwa is just one of those paybacks from Karma.

I have read on social media and other reputable platforms how you have been able to apply for stay of execution of the judgement that seems to recognize Chief Ikechi Emenike as the authentic APC candidate for Abia gubernatorial race in 2019.

Sir, the joy and happiness over the stay of execution entered by your team of lawyers defeat your person and belief as someone who does not believe in due process. Your stand when it benefited you, was that the appeal court should disregard the stay already entered by Dr. Ikpeazu's team. I recall openly asking that you allowed every level of the court processes to follow without having to come to Abia to disrupt the peace that was existing. You were addressed as the Governor, you disregarded every known legal procedures, you went ahead to tarnish the image of Abia (Your own State) before the world, all in your quest to benefit from another person's effort.

I am so shocked that your team is celebrating what you never agreed for another person. You will ordinarily feel cheated, you will feel victimized if you are denied the stay and INEC goes ahead to substitute your name with that of Chief Ikechi Emenike. The same INEC you pressured upon to act on the dictates of the FHC in 2016.

Sir, it's either your lawyers are extorting you or that your past is playing tricks on you, but I can easily come to your rescue with my advice that you stay off politics until you learn the ropes and stop being People's Bank for their selfish desires.

I heard from your inner team members that you are being pushed by outside forces to move ahead, Sir, the truth is, you don't have anywhere to go and your masters know that. They are pushing you as they did in 2016 until you spent almost all your resources, to the point that you couldn't pay your workers bills for months, resulting to insolvency that propelled the shutdown of all your investments in Abia State. They have started again. As a concerned Abian, it's time to quit and face your business.

Your lawyers are lying to you. Before you know it, you have spent the remaining money to their benefits while you'll retire home and wonder what came over you. Bear in mind that history is simply playing out, before you know it, you will be dragged to every level of the court till you feel the same thing Abians felt when you distracted the state government for over two years.

Sir, what you are seeing is apparition, there is nothing for you in APC. This court process is just the beginning of your failure at the poll.

Take my advice seriously. I hope this meets you well.

GOD AT WORK....

ABIA APGA AND APC

1a) APGA: Prince Nnanna Ukaegbu vs Revd Augustine Ehiemere (factional party chairmen)

1b) Chikwe Udensi vs Alex Otti (factional gubernatorial candidates)

2a) APC: Emmanuel Ndukwe vs Donatus Nwankpa (factional party chairmen)

2b) Ikechi Emenike vs Uche Ogah (factional gubernatorial candidates)

In Abia APGA & APC, there is no cause for control, everything is under alarm. They are all in a war of attrition against themselves within their own parties.

"If they don't know how to control their own families, how can they look after God's people?" (1st Timothy 3:5. Contemporary English Version, CEV)

"If a family divides itself into groups which fight each other, that family will fall apart" (Mark 3:25, Good News Translation).

There are no sentiments in this, it is the Word of God, and the Word of God can never fail! It WILL SURELY come to pass.

- Chief Sir Jude Ndukwe, Ochomma Oha 1 of Okwulaga Afaraukwu, KSJI

EMBRACE PEACE, MOVE THE PARTY FORWARD - Mrs. Ikpeazu

#AbiaOnline

Wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu has enjoined PDP women in the State, especially those who could not win during the just concluded primary elections to embrace peace for the party to move forward.

The wife of the Governor made the call during a town-hall meeting she held with PDP functionaries, women in government and female stakeholders in all the 17 Local Government Areas of the State.

Mrs. Ikpeazu charged them to preach peace in the party, churches and communities and brighten all the corners. She urged them to ensure nobody leaves the party aggrieved and informed that the PDP umbrella is large enough to contain everyone.

She urged them to work together with the stakeholders in all the electoral wards in the State to secure victory for the PDP in the forthcoming general elections. The Governor's wife said that the women and the entire PDP in Abia State has achievements cum projects to campaign with. She reaffirmed the public opinion that the Governor has performed creditably in all sectors of the economy, also that through Vicar Hope Foundation, government has built befitting houses for indigents, paid hospital bills, built markets, intervened in various health issues and created jobs amongst others things; maintaining that Governor Ikpeazu's administration has affected many lives positively and it is poised to do more. She appreciated the women for coming.

Also speaking, the Director General, Women Mobilization, Chief (Mrs) Nnenna Obewu Onwuka described the women as 'the foot soldiers' of Governor Ikpeazu and assured that they are the political goal keepers of the Governor.

She emphasised that women have enough tangible achievements with which to win election and assured they would penetrate all nooks and crannies of Abia to campaign for the Governor.

Contributing, some women Leaders at the meeting reiterated that since the Abia North and Central had governed Abia State respectively for 8years, equity demands that Governor Ikpeazu, who has performed creditably irrespective of judicial distracts he dealt with, should complete his tenure as others did.

They vowed to reach out to other women for the Governor as well as sustain the Governor in prayers to ensure he is returned as the Governor in 2019 election. They thanked the wife of the Governor for inviting them to the meeting.

#Wickedness:

MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN

A Basic 4 pupil of Model Primary School, Umudike in Umuahia Abia State narrated his ordeal to the teachers of the above mentioned school who approached and interrogated him when they noticed that he had some degree of burns and blisters on his face. He said he was inflicted with a hot cooking spoon by his guardian, who happens to be his Aunt Mrs Blessing Ochiegbu by name, a native of Lokpanta.

He further revealed how he was being molested by this same woman. According to him, he trekked to and from school on daily basis from a distance of about five kilometers; not only that, he arrives school by 11am because he goes to his Aunt's shop to deliver some goods before reporting to school and with a tattered look because he has only one school uniform(which he wears till evening after hawking egg-rolls for his Aunt), one rubber sandals(spoilt though) and one exercise book(which he uses for all the school subjects).

The worst of it all is that he comes to school with stale fufu and very small quantity of soup.

This is the height of wickedness

#NairaEverywhere:

ABIA SOCIAL INVESTMENT OFFICE TAKES TRADERMONI TO RURAL COMMUNITIES

It was a naira rain for small scale traders in several rural communities in Abia as the State focal person Social Investment Programme, Mr, Chinenye Nwaogu with his team of enumerators began massive enumeration of rural traders for the Tradermoni recently launched by Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo. Following a deal reached between the Abia SIP Office, Bank of Industry and the Office of the Vice President 30,000 small scale traders in Abia State will benefit from the 10,000 loan to boost their businesses.

Speaking to newsman, Mr. Nwaogu who is also a special adviser to the Governor of Abia State on Job Creation stated that the scheme is part of the effort of Governor Ikpeazu to leverage all available platforms to provide support to Abians especially those in the MSME sector. It will be recalled that during one of his visits to Abia State The Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo praised Governor Ikpeazu for his smart approach to governance in leveraging all federal government, multilateral agency's programmes to provide succour to Abians. As at the time of filing this report over 10,000 Abia traders in many rural communities have been captured and paid under the new scheme.



Mr Nwaogu assured Abians especially those within the lower rung of the social economic bracket of the commitment of Governor Ikpeazu through the Social Investment Office to support their livelihoods. He further expresses appreciation to the Governor for his tireless efforts and encouragement to the SIP Office. He paid glowing tribute to the Wife of the Governor for personally ensuring that rural women benefit from the scheme.

Traders in several markets were seen jubilating and praising the Governor and the SIP Office for attracting and implementing the scheme in the state for their benefit. They expressed deep satisfaction that the state Government did not divert the funds but made it available to target beneficiaries.

By Kingsley Maduforo

"The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: if it fails admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." - Franklin D. Roosevelt (1932).

Franklin D. Roosevelt was speaking of the 'New Deal' which helped bring the United States out of the Great Depression, through infrastructural development programmes, that stimulated economic growth and translated into socio-economic uplift through increased employment and poverty alleviation. Before the present administration came to power, Abia State faced major challenges with regards to both social and economic development. There is a complex interplay between socio-economic development and local-economic development aimed at addressing backlogs in service delivery, infrastructure and poverty alleviation. To stimulate growth across the sectors of the economy of the state, infrastructural development is a key driver of the sustainability of social and economic development.

One of the major challenges Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu faced upon taking over the leadership of Abia State was how to clear the backlogs of salaries inherited from the previous governments. Ikpeazu believes that for there to be a sustainable growth in his administration, he most prioritise issues and take them one by one. Clearing the backlogs of salaries was in the list of issues that required urgent attention.

But mischievous elements called the opposition in Abia, has taken to social media to mislead the gullible that the present administration under Gov. Ikpeazu is owing salaries ranging from 18 to 30 months, which in every sense is not true but lies of the opposition. The opposition in Abia State today knows very well that they cannot win any election in the state, they are bereft of ideas, so they settled to using lies and propaganda to run their campaign thinking they can tarnish the image and popularity of the man of the moment, Gov. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu. The party in opposition should have a history and verifiable records of people-oriented programmes and achievements. It is offensive and a demonstration of arrogance of the worst type for the opposition in Abia to wait for election and mount rostrums and make outlandish promises. It is not enough to promise to bring the moon to the ocean; it's more important to explain the science of achieving that beyond human feat.

It is on record that Gov. Ikpeazu upon assumption of office cut his salary by half in sympathy with workers who were owed arrears of salary and encourage his assistants to follow suit. He set up a new body called the Integrated Payroll Verification System (IPVS), saddled with the mandate of conducting staff auditing so as to ascertain the actual strength of the workforce and also to expose the rot in the state civil service. We call it 'war against ghost workers syndrome'. The state has saved millions of naira through the exercise. It is a whole new climate change in Abia, a kind of revolution executed by taking drastic steps aimed at giving meaningful service to the people.

Finally, on the payment of salaries in the state, it should be noted that Abia State pays higher salary than IMO, ENUGU, ANAMBRA and EBONYI States. Even with the high rate of salary payment in the state, Gov. Ikpeazu has reiterated that he will not downsize the Abia workforce as most States did and are still doing. The bottom line remains: the 67 MDA's that make up the core civil service in Abia state are up to date on salaries. While modalities are in place to clear the few months arrears owed pensioners and secondary school teachers, the primary school teachers are up to date with their salaries. The government is still delivering on key programmes outside the wages of 38,000 workers in the state.

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu understands that for the required increase in output and promotion of the state economic growth to be achieved, the state civil servants constitute a very vital catalyst. He is therefore putting all mechanisms in place in order to ensure that they put in their best.

Kingsley Maduforo, a Media/Political Analyst, writes from Umuahia.

By

Ikechukwu Iroha

When factional APGA Governorship Candidate, Mr Alex Otti, started journeying through the nooks and crannies of USA, Europe and African countries in furtherance of his campaign to occupy a non vacant position in Abia State Government House, I knew he went with his usual packets of lies garnished to mendaciously deceive Abians that are currently far from home.

His goal was simply to obtain hard working Abians by all means possible, to fund his dead on arrival second electoral expedition which is destined to end in failure. And as usual, he traveled with no single Abia Leader of note as all well meaning Abia leaders have long advised him to allow the incumbent complete his equitable two terms in office to further spread good dividends of democracy as he has been doing since 2015.

While it sounded funny at first, I have long confirmed from a member of his team who joined him to Lagos last week, where he regurgitated an old documentary showing selected Abia roads and passed same off as current state of the roads, that Otti indeed continued on his usual perfidious campaign tactics of lies, deceit and OBT.

It is important to note that neither Governor Ikpeazu nor anyone working with him ever claimed that he has fixed all bad Abia roads requiring attention. It is only political desperation that would lead a character like Otti to elaborately embark on a mission to deceive Abians and in so doing de-market his state with lies in far USA, Europe and Lagos.

"Iyke, Immediately our principal (Alex Otti) asked that a documentary be played for our people in Lagos to know the state of Abia roads and I started seeing old videos of faulks road, Ukaegbu, Ariaria etc I looked so stupid before those of them that normally come home who noticed those were fake videos, but none could tell him to stop. I couldn't stomach it again. I saw in him a man that could go any length to deceive the public and I am done with his campaign of deceit and calumny" ...that was a message sent to me by a member of Alex Otti's team.

Could this be the reason it has been difficult for Otti and APGA to campaign in Aba and environs, knowing that it will amount to political suicide to play such dirty fake documentary trick on Abians who are resident in the state and are benefiting from the infrastructural development strides of the Ikpeazu's administration?

I have tried carefully to capture an imaginary picture of a factional candidate of a party, using a fake documentary to gather people in Europe, USA and Lagos, even when many of them have been following reports from home on the giant strides in Abia State under Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, just to get them to part with their money and support him.

While it is not astonishing to people like me who also listened to Otti at the office of Aba Chamber of Commerce in 2015, make false claims on how he secured a loan of $100b from International Financial Corporation (IFC), as a private citizen, to develop Aba, this show of documentary shame will appear to me to be a new low for even a man with his reputation.

Anyone who gathers our hardworking and enlightened businessmen and industrialists at Aba Chamber of Commerce to openly make such level of mockery of their intelligence, can easily lie to anybody anywhere, in desperation.

In 2015, the same fake documentary could not win Mazi Otti the Governorship position in Abia State but certainly hoodwinked mostly non Abians to part with their hard earned cash to support his doomed campaign. Only him will know what he is now telling his 2015 victims; may be that is why he continues to lie to himself and the gullible that he won the 2015 election but was robbed by the judges of the Supreme Court and Olisah Metuh, his favorite fall guys.

APGA that has been seriously battered and tagged ‘a yahoo yahoo party’ where party leaders at all levels defraud loyal party members, is yet to tell the World the agenda and manifesto of the party in Abia State outside extortion of party members and playing of fake videos to whip up emotions of Abians outside the shores of the State.

Has anyone heard from APGA or their factional candidate, Alex Otti, what they plan to do better than Governor Ikpeazu and how? All they dwell on is what the Governor has not done as if the Governor was ever expected to solve all Abia challenges within 4 years.

Let them also show a documentary of the before and after images of the 67 road projects completed by Governor Ikpeazu and the 94 ongoing projects that includes Faulks road and the first ever flyover in Abia State. Otti shouldn’t forget to show our people living outside the state ongoing work at PH road Aba and other projects with contractors actively back on site.

Alex Otti's case is that of a man whose house is on fire and he is busy pursuing rats. Everyday, aggrieved members leave APGA in droves while their factional candidate is busy trotting the globe with fake documentaries. Who will vote for him in 2019 when he must have lost all his local supporters and APGA members, including his former aides and allies?

For free, let me advice APGA and their factional candidate; unless it is for the attendees to contribute money for Mr Otti as usual for his campaigns, if the video shown in Lagos, New York etc is meant to change people's mind as to who to support, APGA just failed. Those in the audience that can transport themselves back to Abia for election or Yuletide will also abandon APGA sinking ship once they discover Otti lied to them, after seeing the true picture of what Ikpeazu has done so far as well as his willingness to do more.

It was late President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana that faced with an “Otti” as an opponent made tbe following statement: “Those who would judge us merely by the heights we have achieved would do well to remember the depths from which we started...”.

Certainly, Governor Ikpeazu has not solved all Abia problems in 3 years but we are no longer where we were in 2015 and he is ready, willing and able to do much more in the coming years.

#ZONED_OUT: HOW ABIANS IN NEW YORK SHUNNED DEDE ALEX OTTI, BOYCOTTED HIS TOWN HALL MEETING

By Ubani Newman

Another sign that points clearly to the fact that the defeated 2015 Gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Dede Alex Otti, has lost it all in his bid to be the Governor of Abia State. By implication, Otti has no relevance in the political space of the State come 2019. This is evidenced in the total rejection and boycott of his planned Town-Hall meeting with Abians living in New York, USA.



It was really a sad day for Dede Alex Otti in far away New York, the United States of America. He couldn’t live up to the hype as was received by a very scanty crowd in New York city. A look at the man Dede Otti shows that he has worn out his welcome everywhere and is grabbing at straws now. His 'deals' in Diamond bank is in public domain. Abians have woken up from their false hypnosis of 2015 and have rejected him 'intoto'.



Recently, it was revealed that the quest for power made Dede Otti to decide to testify against the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency Ayo Fayose to seduce the APC-Buhari government ahead of the 2019 general elections for his hatched plan, which aimed at using 'federal might' to secure victory for himself during the 2019 general elections.

The outright rejection of Otti by the good people of Abia in New York has added more woes to his troubles and misfortunes. For instance, the APGA members in Abia are confused who their who their party real candidate is - whether Chikwe Udensi or Alex Otti. Even the party leadership in the State is highly divided and the court would later decide who the original candidate is.
With these encumbrances, it is crystal
clear that Otti is going nowhere in 2019. IN FACT, HE IS ZONED OUT OF THE RACE!



Truly, Abians in diaspora know that Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has performed excellently in all facets of Abia economy and is poised to do more in the next four years as the State Governor. These Abians in diaspora are very much aware that Governor Ikpeazu's entrepreneurship policy has returned Aba to its former glory, thus becoming the SME capital of Nigeria. And many youths has undergone several skill acquisitions, including, modern carpentering, garment production and modern brick laying amongst others. They are equally acquainted with the fact that in agriculture, poultry clusters has been established, millions of palm oil seedlings have been raised and mushroom production farm established too in the State. A lot has been achieved in health, environment, education among others. Nobody can deceive them with "CHANGE MANTRA".

These achievements of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has been given more credence by the number of opposition party members who defects to PDP virtually every day in Abia State. Dede Otti is equally aware that all those who were his backbone in 2015 have all abandoned him and joined the moving train piloted led by Governor Ikpeazu. Dede Otti could now be best described as a political orphan and a drowning man trying to grab ordinary leaves and some herbs/roots on the sea shore.

Governor Ikpeazu's achievements were the only charm that attracted these crowd of followers who have vowed to ensure he is returned to Government House Umuahia to complete his projects.

Dr. Ikpeazu's credentials to return to office next year include his milestone achievements in various sectors of his development pillars, and the Abia charter of equity which allows each Senatorial zone to govern Abia for eight years each. Abia North did it from 1999 to 2007, Abia Central took its turn from 2007 to 2015 and Abia South commenced in 2015 and will conclude in 2023 by God's Grace.

UNU,

27/11/2018