₦airaland Forum

by Ubani Newman Ubani (UNU)

Ordinarily, one should not border to react to an uncoordinated words and write-ups of a political jobber, who lacks what it takes to criticize a government or an administration. However, if some people are not controlled they may think they have succeeded in releasing media venom and make useless arguments that is aimed at deceiving the gullible masses.

In the 21st August 2018 edition of The Sun newspaper (online), one Mr. Chinedu O Nwosu wrote what he titled "Leadership Failure in Abia" where the writer claims things he cannot substantiate. His write-up is so empty and naked without facts. His claims do not exist, and can only be described as a job of a half baked media jobber. It is a pity he has failed his sponsors.

Hence, it is pertinent to note that my attention has been drawn to the useless write-up credited to Chinedu O. Nwosu and emanating from no other newspaper other than The Sun. It is no longer news that The Sun is notorious for maligning Abia State government. Of course reacting to such write up amounts to magnifying a bear parlour discussion, but in order not to allow the media concoction thrive, Mr. Nwosu should be told that he is yet to learn how to do a hatched man's job. He and his sponsors should know that there is no way any sane human being could compare the administration of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu with the experience Abians are having with Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D, who has shown doggedness in combining academics with good governance.

We are sure the writer is not living in Abia State or has not visited Abia since 2015. He has not also asked questions about the happenings in the State, since Dr. Ikpeazu became Governor of the State. Every Dick, Tom and Harry are witnesses to the revolutionising administration of Dr. Ikpeazu with unparalleled achievements in all sectors of the economy, especially in the five pillars of development of his administration which he enunciated during his campaign. Dr. Ikpeazu has lived up to expectations and beyond.

It is crystal clear that Governor Ikpeazu is a visionary leader, who knows his onion. He has taken the State back to its glory and made Aba, the SME capital of Nigeria. The Governor is gradually growing the economy of the State through empowerment of different levels. For instance, he opened three skills acquisition centres in the three senatorial zones for the youths to learn modern carpentry, bricklaying, fashion & designing, building among others. He has succeeded in changing the psyche of Aba artisans and has remained the chief marketing officer of the 'Made in Aba" products.

In the area of security, the Governor has ensured that the State is secured. His relationship with the security apparatus is superb, no wonder the State was recently rated as one of the safest States in the country by the Amnesty International. Nwosu's claim of rise in restive activities of the youths and crippling of certain segments of the society is totally unfounded, misleading and should be discarded.

Another issue that proves that he does not know what is happening in the State is his claim of troubles in the ruling political party; the PDP. If there is trouble in the ruling party why do we witness mass exodus from other political parties to the PDP in Abia State.

Experts have said and it is true that what the Governor, Dr Ikpeazu has done is incomparable. Just take a look at all the roads done and their qualities and compare it with that of OUK been talked about by the political jobber. It is obvious that the difference is clear, even as non of the Orji Uzo Kalu's road projects outlived his time in office. All the roads done by OUK got washes away before the end of his administration.

It is unfortunate that Nwosu does not know that the slogan "God’s Own State" was not given to Abia State because of OUK but has been there from day one of the creation of the State as enunciated by the founding fathers of the State.

I do not know what the political jobber means by "no viable project has been commissioned in the State for many years." If viable projects include bridges, two of it has been commissioned in the State by Dr. Ikpeazu while others are ongoing, if it includes road constructions, someone should tell Mr. Nwosu Political Jobber Writer that numerous road projects have been commissioned, most of them with cement pavement technology. Some key roads that had defied construction have been completed including Ukwumago-Faulks road, Aba

In agriculture, trade & commerce Governor Ikpeazu has oiled the wheel of unprecedented progress, and wonders have taken place.

It is my request that people take to tour the State and see things for themselves. Though Governor Ikpeazu is yet to declare his interest in running for the second term, Abians have endorsed and adopted him as their consensus candidate in 2019 elections. This is a testimony to the fact that he is working.

Abia people and residents should jettison the unguarded words of some misguided elements and sustain their confidence in OVI, he would not disappoint the Abia electorates. Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is much more poised to take Abia State to the Cannan of its hope.

Abia a di wala nma!

UNU writes from Mgboko Amairi ancient Kingdom of Obingwa, Abia State.

According to the information made available by the Abia State CPS, former Nigerian Super Eagle player, Captain Uche Okechukwu will lead other ex-Super Eagles players against ex-Enyimba players in a novelty match for the official reopening of Enyimba FC International Stadium Aba, on Sunday 26th, August, 2018, at the World Class Enyimba FC Stadium, Aba...



The Stadium, which is rated to have the best turf in Nigeria, is rebuilt by the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration in Abia State.

Plan to be there...

#AbiaOnline

AWADEC; PARTICIPATION OF ABIA WOMEN IN DECISION MAKING AS A BEDROCK TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT


#AbiaOnline

The 2018 series of the Abia Women’s August Delegates Conference AWADEC, organized by the Office of the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs will hold on Thursday the 30th of August 2018.

In a release made available to the press, the conference with the theme: “Women Participation in Decision Making, the Bedrock to Sustainable Development” will feature a keynote address on the roles women can play in expanding the political horizon, and promoting qualitative and responsive leadership.

According to the release, over 3,000 women delegates from various Local Government Areas, professional women groups, women organizations, and welfare associations, will attend the event.

The AWADEC which is in its fourth season, will feature cultural exhibitions including folklore, dance, artwork and cuisine from every part of the state.

The release further directs delegates to arrive the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Library Avenue, Umuahia on Thursday August 30th 2018 before 10.00 a.m. to complete registration procedures before the arrival of the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu.

#AbiaOnline

Abia State Government with Vicar Hope Foundation and Tender Loving Care INC is celebrating the 2018 "World Health Organization Day of the Elderly" with A Special Party for Elderly.

Chief Press Secretary to the Wife of the Governor, Mr. Eze Ajuzie made this public in a release from his office. According to him the event will take place today, Tuesday 21st August 2018 while venue is Michael Okpara Auditorium, Okpara Avenue, Umuahia.

Mr. Ajuzie informed that, the Chief Host is Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State, while the Hostess is the wife of the Governor of, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu and chairman of the occasion is His Excellency Rt. Hon. Eric Acho Nwakanma.

By Jude Ndukwe

“The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity” -André Gide

In his recent piece titled “The Politics of Blood(y) Tonic”, Alex Otti, the failed gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, at the 2015 governorship election in Abia State, embarked on a warped journey of self-adulation and a deafening ululation, delivered with the exuberance and delinquency of a political straggler desperate to help himself like Shakespeare’s Macbeth to achieve an ambition for which he has shown little capacity, temperament and virtues to actualize.

Since he lost the 2015 election, Alex Otti has been relentless in his campaign of calumny, painting every other person as a sinner deserving of immediate and eternal punishment except him. Although he appears with the mien of a harmless and innocent sheep and the gait of a graceful cheetah, Otti’s true characters usually show when he is on his unholy mission of self-canonisation at the expense of others.

This makes him appear so honest and so sincere but the reality is that one does not need to come too close to him to see that he reeks of deceit burnished in sophistry and laced with flattery. Perennial and consecutive defeats at the 2015 gubernatorial election, the Federal High Court, through the Appeal Court to the Supreme Court, seem to have caused him to master the art of hypnotizing the fickle-minded and sending his vulnerable followers to a state of delirium and revelry each time he dishes out his mendacious sermons as he did in his article in question. This confirms what Dr T.P. Chia said about such people: “Hypocritical humility is the highest form of lying. Honest arrogance is the lowest form of self-promotion”. Going by his antecedents and recent actions, it would seem as if Chia had Alex Otti in mind when he made that indisputable statement about characters like the former banker turned politician.

Let’s take a cursory journey into Otti’s article and see where he cleverly hid his hypocrisy while painting others bad.

First, in the opening paragraphs, Otti claimed he went to see an unnamed “wealthy political stakeholder” who had invited him shortly after he declared his intention to run for governor in Abia State, and that “As is customary, I brought some drinks and kola nuts along. I had struggled with this practice as what I was used to was that when visiting someone, the host would be the one to offer drinks and kola. But my friends insisted that in the “business” of politics, it was the guest that provided these things”.

The question here is, how could Otti have known and admitted to what is customary, yet, would pretend he has been struggling with the practice? Outside politics, it is common practice not only in Nigeria but also elsewhere, that, for different purposes, people take gifts along while on a visit to some of their hosts. May Otti tell us if he took gifts including drinks and kola nuts to his in-laws when he was seeking the hands of his wife in marriage or not? It is not only self-serving but also hypocritical to give the impression that while others do it, he was only ‘forced’ to do same.

Let us even assume without conceding that this age-long practice in our African culture which is meant to symbolise the high esteem which the visitor and bearer of the gifts holds his host is strange to Otti, why did he succumb to it if he was a man of principle like he tried to paint in the essay? If he could reject the practice of “Blood Tonic Politics” which he claimed his host tried to impose on him, why did he not show the same character in turning down the advice to go see his host with gifts since he did not believe in it? The truth is that, that story looks like a native soup Otti cooked and served without remembering to add salt and went about town claiming to have served a delicious dish only for his guests to quickly remind him not to jubilate too far and too long for his soup is tasteless despite the rich condiments in it. He even lacked the simple courage to mention the name of the so-called “wealthy political stakeholder” because he knew he was lying. As a man who is always afraid and retreats with his tail between his legs when confronted with the true position of things as against his own version, Otti was obviously afraid of a backlash of the truth hitting him hard, hence, when spewing falsehood, he avoids mentioning names to avoid being busted, yet, he keeps churning out such stories just to feather his own nest.

After having qualified stakeholders as a set of people with penchant for primitive accumulation, Otti in his usual act of double-speak still went ahead to claim that “…investments would be attracted such that qualified stakeholders would be appointed to boards of those companies”. Ordinarily, one would have thought that Otti would appoint only technocrats to such boards if he ever had the opportunity of doing so, but he still ended up saying he would appoint qualified “stakeholders”. The import of this is not lost on the discerning. What Otti was simply saying was that it would be the turn of his own set of “stakeholders” to take control of government machinery if he ever gets to power, his pretences notwithstanding.

One might not blame him after all because from the look of things, it is obvious that Alex Otti is under immense and intense pressure from his “stakeholders” to pay back all they spent on and for him in the run up to the 2015 election to the extent that he was able to hijack a party as large as APGA in Abia State and even became their governorship candidate just within about three months of defecting from the PDP where his insincerity was detected in time and denied the ticket. His hijacking APGA was done at the expense of those who had laboured so hard to build the party from scratch to the little it can be reckoned with in the state. Even political neophytes know that hijacking such a party at that level in the manner Alex Otti did required humongous resources and horse trading.

Why is Otti not telling us how much he paid his APGA “stakeholders” to the extent that they hurriedly surrendered their entire party structure to a stranger like a people hypnotised? Or does Otti think we are all as gullible as his followers? Who does not know why he is so desperate to become governor? Otti is greatly indebted and he might be thinking being governor is the easiest way for him to have access to public till and settle his “stakeholders”. It is this primitive mindset which he has that makes him think the same of every other person.

While Otti “also promised to empower our children to acquire relevant skills and knowledge that would make them confident to challenge their peers in other emerging societies like China, Turkey and India”, the sitting governor has already surpassed this dream as our children are now household names in the world. When some of our children went on skills acquisition and improvement tour of China recently, they easily displaced Chinese workers in the factory over there because of the “relevant skills and knowledge” which the governor has already imbued in them, and the confidence resulting from his aggressive marketing of their products worldwide. What we have already achieved in Abia is what Otti is promising the people. That is a reflection of a man who lacks ideas and innovation.

If there was anything like “Blood Tonic” politics in Abia State, that has since stopped because the current governor has deployed the State resources to the massive provision of verifiable infrastructure, education, with our children coming first in WAEC for three consecutive years; health, agriculture, security, which saw Abia State win the recognition of being “The Most Peaceful State” in Nigeria, etc.

No other testimony can be a greater confirmation of this fact than the gale of awards from credible institutions coming the way of the governor: Vanguard Newspaper Governor of the Year 2017; Authority Daily Newspaper Governor of the Year 2017; Verbatim Magazine Governor of the Year 2017; and the latest from even an APC-led federal government as the MSME Governor of the Year.

With the serial and unending endorsements also coming his way by the common people from different communities in the state, it is certain that the sitting governor has all classes of people cutting across the different strata of the society including the masses as his own “stakeholders”. If Alex Otti needs blood tonic to replenish his spent blood as a result of the trauma he suffered from his serial losses during and after the 2015 elections, he should feel very free to visit any of the general hospitals in the state either newly built or revived by the sitting governor for first class medical attention. As a citizen of Abia, he would be courteously attended to not minding the baggage of crisis of identity he still carries about.

---jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk

#AbiaOnline

The Abam Onyerubi Clan in Arochukwu LGA has staged a grand civic reception in honour of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, which the people used the event to adopt him for a second term in office.

In their speeches at Central school, Ozu Abam, the member, representing Arochukwu/Ohafia in the National Assembly, Hon. Uko Nkole and President General, Abam Development Union, Dr. John Onyeani Egbuta commended the giant strides of the Governor in all parts of the State including Abam, appealed to him to complete the Bende-Idima-Abam road. They thanked the Governor for his support in attracting the Ngwu bridge construction and other achievements.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Kenneth Kalu stressed the need to utilize the economic potentials of Abam clan. He assured the Governor of their support for a second term and thanked the Governor for the completion of the collapse Ndiememe bridge.

Responding, the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu thanked the Abam Onyerubi clan for hosting him and conferring a chieftaincy title of Ikenga of Abam on him.

He assured them that his administration would complete all the projects he embarked upon within his tenure, maintaining that he would soon commission the bridge attracted by Hon. Nkole.

The Governor who told the people to form a committee that would come up with a template of developing the clan, said that he must
find a pathway to develop Abam quickly. According to him, the essence of governance is to affect the people positively.

At a dinner organized by the Law Students Association of Nigeria, ABSU yesterday at the popular signature event center in Umuahia, Chief Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr was singled out for recognition and award.



The event which had in attendance the Governor of Abia State ably represented by the commissioner for Education Prof.Ikechi Mgbeoji, Honourable members of the House of Assembly, the Abia State Head of Service , Sir Onyii Wamah, Manager Keystone Bank, Umuahia, Mr Austin Akuma, Dr. Uchenna Onyeizu, Chief Emeka Ubani among others, was a great avenue for Abia State University Law Students to interact and share views with their senior colleagues and other top government officials.

The award given to Chief Erondu was in recognition of his humanitarian gestures and his love for academic activities which has seen undergraduates and graduates benefit from his pool of kindness. Erondu who is an alumnus of the institution, is known for empowering young Abians in the State.

The visibly elated Erondu in his remarks, encouraged the Students to pay more attention to their studies. He recalled his days in the institution and how hard work, focus and God's grace endeared him to many. He added that the award will strengthen him to go further in his quest to touch many lives.

Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Dean of Law Faculty, Prof. Sam Erugo, Dr. Hagler Okorie and other senior lawyers graced the occasion.

#AbiaOnline

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu says his government will partner with the Kano State government in exploring ways of buying leather materials for the modern shoe factory in Aba.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said this while receiving in audience a delegation of the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abdulahi Umar Ganduje and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who called on him in Government House, Umuahia.

He said the State Commissioner for Industry would soon lead a delegation to Kano, to negotiate for raw materials that Aba artisans would be using for the production of shoes, belts and other leather products.

Dr. Ikpeazu, who congratulated Governor Ganduje on the chieftaincy title to be conferred on him by Eze Eberechi Dick also expressed joy that Abia people in Kano are doing their business in a conducive environment under the leadership of Governor Ganduje.

Speaking earlier, the Governor of Kano State and the Emir of Kano sued for cooperation across tribal and religious differences.

The Kano chief executive informed that they were in Abia to receive a chieftaincy title on Governor Ganduje, from Eze Eberechi Dick. They thanked the Governor for coming to condole with when they lost am elder statesman, Maitama Sule and commended the relationship between Abia State Governor and the government of Kano State.

#AbiaOnline

Teachers in Abia State have used the opportunity of their interactive forum with the Governor to endorse the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for a second term in office.

Speaking on behalf the the teachers and Education Secretaries in the State, Mrs. Ngozi Nwogwugwu said they are happy with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as he has paid their salaries.

They thanked the Governor for retraining teachers, renovating schools and clearing of the salaries of primary school teachers. Mrs. Nwogwugwu pointed out the benefits associated with the exposure the Governor gave teachers through the retraining of teachers by Australians.

Addressing the teachers at Michael Okpara auditorium, the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu assure that "we must solve our problems through wage bill management" and reiterated that problems of salary payment will have been tackled by the end of December.

He said the newly built model schools in the State will be commissioned next month, maintaining that he will ensure government works on the psyche of Abia teachers, with a view to raising their self esteem as well as build a befitting environment for Abia school teachers.

Ebere Uzoukwa

It was a gathering of political leaders, stakeholders and youths of Obingwa who thronged on Wednesday under the invitation of the youthful chairman of the council, Hon. Sunday Amaechi Hanson, to among other things brainstorm on how to deliver Gov. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu as he prepares to declare his second term bid.

The Obela, Abayi Ohanze country-home of the Obingwa-Capacity Chairman, Abia State Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria(ALGON) and Deputy National Chairman of ALGON, Hon.Hanson was indeed the right venue for leaders, stakeholders and youths to ventilate and declare their positions and unflinching support in a profound manner for their brother, son and youth friendly Governor, Dr. Ikpeazu.

The council boss in his charismatic manner first entertained and dazzled his audience with a comprehensive account of his stewardship before canvassing for support and commitment for the reelection of Dr. Ikpeazu in 2019.

Hon. Hanson who preached peace, unity and togetherness among the youths and political leaders, urged those who may not have benefitted directly or indirectly from the government of Dr. Ikpeazu to exercise patience hence the governor, according to him, has developed an elaborate welfarist and empowerment plans that will surely impact meaningfully on the lives of Ndi Obingwa and the entire Abians in due course.

While also speaking, Hon. Ebere Uzoukwa, also known as Ochiagha Obingwa, appealed to the youths to shun all forms of thuggery and electoral violence on the ground that elections are no longer won on the alter of violence and thuggery owing to stringent innovations INEC has introduced to rejig the electoral system.

Hon. Uzoukwa, who contested the December 2016 Obingwa council chairmanship under the platform of All Progressives Congress(APC), explained that he decided not to challenge the outcome of the council election in recognition of the fact that the exercise merely involved brothers and friends that would one day reconcile their political differences.

He commended Hon. Hanson for his performance so far and encouraged him to always use his good office to mobilize the youths and stakeholders for future political engagements.

The journalist cum politician who applauded Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on his wonderful but impressive achievements, however, urged Ndi Obingwa to disseminate what he called 'the message of good performance' which symbolizes the governor's revolutionary records, to their brothers and sisters across the three senatorial zones of Abia for the purpose of convincing them on the gains of re-electing Gov. Ikpeazu for a second term in office as Governor of Abia State.

In their separate goodwill messages, the members representing Obingwa East and Obingwa West State Constituencies, Hon(Barr) Solomon Akpulonu and Hon(Barr) Thomas Nkoro commended Gov. Ikpeazu for his sterling leadership and vision he brought to bear in the course of re-writing the his history of the God's Own State in terms of infrastructural development and good governance.

The two lawmakers, therefore, promised to assist the council chairman in mobilizing Ndi Obingwa ahead of 2019 by hosting subsequent gatherings to further sensitize the youths on how to mobilize towards ensuring total victory for Dr. Ikpeazu come 2019.

The rally was attended by notable Obingwa political leaders and stakeholders including Chief Roland Nwakanma(Grand Total) who is also the Deputy General Manager, ASEPA, Aba zone, Hon. Uche Irondi, General Manager, Abia Housing Authority, Barr. Ugochukwu Amaraizu, SECLOG Obingwa LGA, government appointees from Obingwa and youths from different platforms.

The major highlight is the CONFIDENCE VOTE passed on Gov. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and his ADOPTION by Obingwa Youths as their SOLE Governorship candidate in the 2019 Abia.

ALEX OTTI IS A POLITICALLY BARREN & WISHFUL THINKER.

By Chinyemike Torti

The scourge of the Nigerian political space, has been the unbridled intrusion and emergence of uncongenial aspirants, who pretend to be endowed with the breast plate of political righteousness to ‘save’ the Republic or state. They huff and puff about some imaginary pie in the sky or dubious low hanging fruits, they would harvest for citizens if elected to public office. Dr. Alex Otti recent castigation, of Abia state government fits into this mold. As a retired banker and economist, one had expected him to provoke a debate or dialogue on the policy direction and economic blueprint of the government of his vision.
In a desperate effort at besmirching the PDP and Abia State Executive Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, the erstwhile money changer at Diamond Bank that carved a niche for himself in the heroic book of gubernatorial failures, did not make any pretense at enlightened commentary but oozed out a rancid and wishy washy hoopla, fuming with street language, intellectual thuggery, and conversational terrorism. He betrayed a pathetic narrative, likened to the grumblings of an abandoned, marginally attractive spinster bereft of a spouse. The critical mass of the civil society, turned up their noses ,because he reeked with false hood, ignorance, reckless, dumb and illogical appraisals.

The centerpiece of his conversation since his 2015 misadventure is to dwell on theatrics, rooted in demagoguery, distortion of history and barefaced misrepresentation which has been his nemesis and will always be. In his recent outing, he oozed out his trademark tissue of lies about ‘tacky’ Abia infrastructure, civil servants unpaid salaries, healthcare, Enyinmba City and a litany of salacious beer parlor gossip.

In trying to denigrate Abia, he made a heavy weather of Aba roads, as deficient, with an epithet of infrastructural decay He lied, that we have the worst road networks in the federation. We state without any fear of contradiction that for the first time in the history of Abia state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu set in motion and pioneered THE CATERPILLAR revolution- an audacious, vigorous engagement to endow Ndi Abia with top of the range, well paved roads.

What Dr Okezie promised at the electioneering campaign platform, has matched the lived life in the communities. For instance he was sworn-in on May 29, 2015 which was a Friday. By the next working day, Monday, June 1, 2015, he flagged off seven roads within the Aba metropolis. By the next day, Tuesday, June 2, 2015, he reverted to Umuahia where 3 roads, were flagged off.

As we speak more than 134 road projects are either completed or ongoing. The list of of completed road projects are herewith stated. Kaduna Street, Umuahia, Kamalu Road, Umuwaya Road, Umuahia, Road II, Federal Lowcost Housing Estate, Umuahia ,Niger Road, Umuahia Ukaegbu Road, Aba Umuola Road, Aba, Umuocham Road,Aba, Umule Road, Ommene Drive, Aba Jubilee Road, Aba Ehi Road, Aba, Hospital Road, Aba,Ube Street, Aba.Adazi Street, Aba Okon-Aku Main Bridge, Ohafia LGA,George’s Street, Aba South . Echefu Road,. Enuc Road, Osisioma LGA St. Michael's Road, Aba Azikiwe Road, Aba Pound Road,
The inventory continues with: Aba-Uwalaka Street Link Road to Factory Road, Umuahia, Ubakala Street, Warri By Club Road, Bende Road, Army Checkpoint, Bank Road, Abia Tower Round About, Umuahia,. Owerrinta Road, Aba. Week's Road, Aba Park Road, Aba,School Road, Aba East Road, Aba, Okwunauka Road, Aba, Cameroun Road, Aba Queens Road, Aba. Ehere Road, Obingwa, Umuojima Road, Imo Ndikpa Bridge, Umunneochi, Umuojima-Owerrinta Road with Spur from Owerrinta to Umuocheala, Isiala Ngwa South/Obingwa . Bata-Railway Crossing-Brass Junction, Ibadan Road, Aharandu Road, Aba South . Onyebuchi Road, Umuehigbu Road, Road 2 in low cost Housing Estate Umuahia Road 8 in Low Cost Housing Estate Umuahia. Ugwuezi road Abiriba (ring road phase Ohafia ,Asphalt Overlay of 1.3km dualized Aba Owerri Road (2.6km single lane and channelization of Aba Phase I), AbOkobo bridge along Abam-Ndi Oji/Ndi Okereke-Arochukwu road Erosion Control Works at (6) Spots Along Uzuakoli-Akara-Ohafia Road (10km), Bende LGA including Imenyi. Ovom road, Ogbor Hill Aba, Mosque Street Aba, Umuatako road Aba Asa Umuka-Ugwunagbo Obohia Junction road, Ugwunagbo. Owerri road off Okigwe road Aba.Chima Nwafor road Aba.Abam Street, Unuahia North. Awolowo road, Umuahia North. Nbawsi-Umuala road, Isiala Ngwa North.

Herewith are awarded and on-going road projects viz: Expansion/Rehabilitation of Ururuka Road from Obikabia Junction to Umuobiakwa, Obingwa, Construction of Old Express Road, Construction of 3 No Roads Government Station Layout (ICC, ASUBEB Building Road and JAC Building) Umuahia North LGA. Rehabilitation/Reconstruction of Nbawsi Road from King Mortuary to Umuala Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa,Construction of Agbama Housing Estate Ring Road, Umuahia,
Construction of 3 No Roads in Federal Lowcost Housing Estate, Umuahia Construction of Eke-Eziama Obuzu Ngodo Road, Umunneochi, Construction of Abiriba Ring Road phase 2 with Spur to Amaukwu, Ohafia,Construction of Eluama Amilo Acha and Amino Otamkpa, Isuikwuato, Construction of Umuovom-Okwueze House of Assembly Road, Umuahia North, Rehabilitation/Reconstruction of Abia Nkwo Ahiaba Umueze-Udeagbala PH Express Express Junction with Spur to Umuimo Junction on Aba-Owerri Road, Construction of Ebenma/Egege Road, Construction of Osisioma Interchange (Flyover) Aba Rehabilitation of Umuaro-Umuokoro-Mgbokonaya-Umuokegwu-Omoba-Umuerie-Umuekia Road, Obingwa/Isiala Ngwa , Construction of Ariam-Usaka Ring Road, Ikwuano LGA, Construction of Umuagu-Ossa Ukwuowo Obikabia-Ohuru Ring Road, Obingwa LGA Construction of Unueze-Agbor-Ubani Ibeku Modern Market Road, Umuahia, Construction of Ozuabam-Ndi Okereke-Arochukwu Road, Arochukwu LGA, Construction of Amuihe-Umuokehi-Umunkaru Afugiri Road, Umuahia North LGA, Construction of 3 No. Roads in Umuahia (Umuana 1st Gate, Unuana-Ahiaeke Road and IBB GRA Dual Carriage Way), Umuahia North LGA Construction of Bende-Idima Aba Road, Arochukwu LGA. Construction of Ebem Layout Road Ohafia, Expansion of Aba-Obikabia Road, Isiala Ngwa North. Reconstruction of Uratta-Umuekechi-Obekwe-Ogwe Road, Ukwa Construction of Umuobiakwa-Itukpa Crescent, Obingwa. Construction of Umuojima-Owerrinta Road with Spur to Owerrinta Umudigha Road, Isiala Ngwa South Construction of Abiriba Junction to Etitiama Nkporo, Ohafia ,Construction of Umuobiakwa-Owo Onicha Ngwa Road, Obingwa LGA,Construction of Amaoba-Nnono Ndoro-Oboro Road with Spur to Ikputu, Ikwuano LGA. Construction of Amuda Isuochi Community Road, Umunneochi LGA. Construction of Lohum-Nkpa Dto Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway, Bende/Umuahia, Dualization/Expansion of Umuahia-Aba Road , Ururuka (Phase II), Umuahia North/South/Isiala Ngwa North/South/Obingwa, reconstruction of Umuahia Railway crossing to Eastern Comfort Hotels, Umuahia, construction of Ariam Usaka Ring Road, Ikwuano, Reconstruction of Emelogu Road, Aba. Reconstruction of Ohazu-Ozumba Streets, Aba. Reconstruction of Faulks Road, Rehabilitation and Expansion of Ifeobara Pond with 6.5km underground drainage to waterside Aba. Rehabilitation of Trinity College-Afara Technical Secondary School Road, Umuahia North Construction of Umuocheala/Abayi-Ihie Road, Isiala Ngwa South Construction of Abayi-Ariaria Umuojima-Umuakpara Road Spur to Umuidiagha, Construction of Nbawsi-Eziala-Osusu-Okpuala Ngwa Road, Reconstruction of MCC road Aba Reconstruction/Construction of Udeagbala Road, Aba. Reconstruction/Construction of Kent street with Spur to Aba Shopping Mall, Aba, Reconstruction of Aba Area Command Access Road, Aba Construction of Ibere Road by Ngwa Road, Aba. Rehabilitation of failed sections of Roads in Aba Municipality (Total Area 19.914km), AbaReconstruction of 3 Roads within World Bank Housing Estate , Umuahia North LGA,Construction of Obinwa- Omauzor Abattoir Road, Uratta Aba, Construction of Agbozu Cocoa Plantation Road, Uratta Aba,Construction of Nbawsi Urban Roads, Isiala Ngwa,Construction of Umuaro-Nenu-Obot Akara Road, Obingwa LGA, Construction of Road in Uratta Integrated Market, Aba, Osokwa-Aro Umuehie-Omoba Road, Isiahia-Umuode Road, Obehie (Foundation Hope) Umukalu-Umuturu-Obaha-Obohia-Ohandu-Umuibe Road. Amaise-Umuobiakwa-Ohanze Road , Owoo-Ahiafor-Agburuike-Ohanze Road, Reconstruction Umuaro-Umuanunu-Ekwereazu-Nto Border Road Ovom/Umuogele Junction-Ukuenyi-Abala-Ika Akwa Ibom Border, Eziala-Nvosi-Eketa Road .Mgbokonta-Amachi-Umunkpeyi Road, Umunkpeyi-Amaiyi-Okpokiri-Umuehim-Umuru Road . Amachi-Nenu Road . Construction/Rehabilitation of 10km length of Rural Road(s) in each of the 17 LGAs of Abia State...

Read more at https://abiaonline.com.ng/2018/08/17/alex-otti-is-a-politically-barren-wishful-thinker/

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ABIA AS BEST MSME FRIENDLY STATE: GOVERNOR IKPEAZU'S FOOTPRINT.

The presidential Villa banquet hall played host to men of Timber and Caliber on Thursday, 3rd August, 2018 as Abia State was recognized and decorated 'Most Friendly MSME State of Nigeria'. It was such a frenzied moment in which Abia was given a resounding and remarkable ovation as had seldom been given except in recognition of such an honour conferred in appreciation of a visionary leadership as Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's.

Following the downturn of economy, especially the fall of oil price world over, every functional government started diversifying her economy with a view to boosting the economy to ensuring a sustained better livelihood for its citizens.

While some State Governors may still be pondering over the necessary actions to take in order to arrest the trending economic misfortunes that bedeviled our nation, at least, for the nearest future, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has gone very far in improving the economy of the State through various actions geared towards promoting Micro, Scale & Medium Enterprise (MSME).

Initiating, the Governor identified 'MARKETING' as a key factor to changing the narrative and fortune of the Abia State economy. His sustained effort cum focus towards marketing/promotion of the Made-in-Aba products changed the psyche of the Abia artisans, who were known to branding their products with made-in-Italy and Made-in-China tags, to confidently and proudly start branding with Made-in-Aba or Proudly Aba-Made tags, hence triggering the turnover and the recognition of Abia as the MSME capital of Nigeria.

It is no longer news that Governor Ikpeazu sponsored 30 Aba based youths and artisans to China where they learnt automated shoe production. He didn't stop there but went ahead to acquire modern automated shoemaking equipment for mass production of shoes in Abia State. His unrestricted interest in ensuring that Aba artisans succeed made him to assist them get orders worth over 2 billion Naira in direct sales, including 50,000 military booths, uniforms, 25,000 shoes for IDP camps, ballot boxes for Local Government Area polls etc.

As a result of Governor Ikpeazu’s promotional activities, the Aba shoemakers now export more than one million pairs of shoes weekly to neighboring countries. Unlike in the past, the products are proudly branded as “Made in Aba” or “Proudly Aba Made” and are sought for in the international markets.

Dr. Ikpeazu's aggressive promotion of Made in Aba brands, locally and internationally, with fashion shows held in Abuja and New York City in USA respectively has really changed the narrative of business in Aba and Abia entirely.
Knowing also that good road network is key to business growth, Governor Ikpeazu has fixed many roads of great economic importance, including the Brass-Faulks-Ariaria road. He also arrested the Ifeobara pond and delivered Ukwu-Mango from its flooding that had defied all attempts by previous administrations to arrest.

His efforts at promoting Made in Aba brands received support from NGOs like Ford Foundation who funded and launched international marketing campaigns for Made in Aba brands at zero cost to the State via CNN and other international media platforms.

It was in appreciation and recognition of the Ikpeazu-led administration effort focused on promoting Made in Aba (Made In Nigeria) products that the Federal government signed far-reaching executive orders to ease of doing business, fast track budget submissions, and promote made in Nigeria products.

The workaholic Governor is not relenting in meeting up with the expectations of Abia people, hence he has commenced the initial works for the emergence of Umukalika leather and garment cluster. Also, currently under construction is new ultra modern mechanic village at Ogbor Hill, which is expected to be completed early 2019. In addition, Ikpeazu’s administration is in partnership with private sector operators to construct the biggest mall in the South East for Made in Aba Products at Etche road Aba.

Ikpeazu's government, in partnership with the Federal government, also launched Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP) that provides up to N100,000 to selected Abians who are grouped in cooperative societies. So far, the programme has funded more than 18,000 Abians. The State is set to increase the cash amount to N100,000 per participant.

The current administration under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has organized MSME Clinic in partnership with the Federal government where about 3000 SME operators exchanged ideas with major stakeholders in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

In order to give impetus to young entrepreneurs, Governor Ikpeazu supported the South East Entrepreneurship Development Centre with the headquarter in Umuahia, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) programme, with N100m take off grant.
It is worthy of note that the administration has commenced the processes necessary for the establishment of Enyimba industrial city with 9,200 hectares of land set aside to host the most ambitious industrialization programme ever executed in the South East region of Nigeria. A project, which has already attracted interest of investors from China, Singapore, South Korea and Nicaragua.

There is no doubt that these worthy footprints of Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has really positioned Abia State for greater economic breakthrough. What the Governor is doing in the State is what is expected of any functional government. If Governor Ikpeazu could achieve this much in MSME alone, it then means that he has achieved much.

In the light of the above, it is now glaring that the cap of governing the State actually fits Governor Ikpeazu and there is need to ensure that this good governance continues. Abia people and residents are therefore enjoined to support the Governor and vote him again in 2019.

Ubani Newman Ubani (UNU),
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor,
(New Media),

06/07/2018.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUofHFQBer8

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Isuikwuato youths have staged a One Million Man match in support of the reelection of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The group, which stormed Government House under the aegis of Ekwedasike Youths Movement, Isuikwuato Chapter lauded the giant strides of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Speaking at Government House during the match, the coordinator of the Youth movement, Mr. Chima Agbaze highlighted some Governor's achievements in Isuikwuato, including, revitalization of Isuikwuato water scheme, awarding of Acha and Ovim roads, upgrading of Isuikwuato General hospital among others.

According to him, the essence of the visit was to support the call for reelection of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and endorse him as their only governorship candidate in 2019.

Responding, the Governor, represented by his Executive Assistant, Elder John Nwangborogwu commended the youths for showing solidarity to him.

He urged them to ensure that they are not lured into violence but ensure they promote equity and peace, adding that, equity demands that Governor Ikpeazu completes his two terms in office.

The Governor encouraged the youths to ensure they collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote the Governor again in 2019.

By Moses A. Orji

Of late, Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has been the butt of a sustained, well orchestrated media attack by Orji Uzor Kalu and his media outfit, The Sun Newspaper. Reading from the front page editorial of the The Sun of 21st March, 2018 captioned 'As Abia descends into rot' and juxtaposing it with an earlier publication by the same newspaper in less than a month (27th February) in which the same tabloid praised Dr Ikpeazu as having done enough to deserve second term, one is left with no option but to concede to the fact that you cannot retain your colour and remain with the chameleon. For those of us who come from Abia State where Orji Kalu held sway as an unprincipled chess player for eight years, there was no element of surprise.

Perhaps Chief Orji Uzor Kalu needs no introduction in Nigeria's contemporary politics. He belongs to the political clan who craves publicity and media attention, and often takes bizarre and high-risk adventures just to attract it. For the records, it was Orji Kalu who travelled to Kirikiri Maximum Prisons to demonstrate his ability to negotiate the release of Major Al-Mustapha against all odds. To the prison officials he boasted his clout and connections, and did not factor-in the inherent contradictions in undermining a judicial process on a matter that was before a court of law.

Also, when General Buhari, now President, declined to negotiate for and on behalf of the leaders of Boko Haram who had nominated him, our own Orji Kalu jumped into the ring and elected to play the role instead. He quickly reeled out his credentials to buttress his candidature. He was so enticed by the lucrative prospect of being a third party claimant; he threw the caution to the wind. Again, while serving as the Governor of Abia state and visitor of the state owned university, Orji Kalu bulldozed his way and commandeered a university degree for himself contrary to the laid down rules of the institution. The above oddities are just a tip of the iceberg to assist our memory in situating the Orji Kalu persona.

It does however appear to me that Chief Orji Uzor Kalu is this time seeking attention from government but is going about it the wrong way. He is fully aware that Dr Ikpeazu is laying the foundations for the sustainable growth of the state he once ruined, but he wants to be in the picture. He had earlier offered the Governor an automatic ticket for a second term in his own party, the APC. But the former governor seems to be running away from the crux of the issue. The feelings which the heyday of Orji Kalu evokes are so repulsive, and a flashback would easily reveal why the political elite would not want him back into their fold.

For a start, Orji Kalu never wanted an Ngwaman to be Governor of Abia state. He once told Dr Sam Eke (SAMEK) and some other guests that an Ngwaman would be governor only after his own (Orji Kalu's) daughter, a toddler had taken her turn. But after being choked of political relevance and scheming to warn himself back into the hearts of the same people he had dismissed with contempt, Kalu began to make a volte face. In his Daily Sun interview of September 18, 2104 Kalu had this to say...'looking at it from the point of morality, the next governor of the state should come form Old Aba zone'. That was the truth. But it was coming from the lips of a dying man. It has been said that if there is any sin that should not be forgiven, it is the sin of hypocrisy. With the rugs successfully pulled off his feet by his successor, Kalu began to talk about political morality.

History turns on a small hinge, and contemporary history lends credence to the fact that leaders are judged more by their principled commitment to certain ideals. If Chief T.A Orji, as a sitting governor had not stood his ground on power shift in Abia politics against all promptings and persuasions to the contrary, perhaps we would not have seen this day. As history would surely confirm, Ochendo has not only emerged from the ashes of his predecessor as Abia's equivalent of a Chris Ngige but has also successfully midwifed our own Peter Obi or even something better.

The story on the lips of everyone is that the sun is on the rise again in Abia State. Rather than descending into riot, Abia is now enjoying a good mention all over the country and the Governor appears to be heading towards a revolution on all fronts. Perhaps, we should all pause for a moment and ask Chief Orji Kalu to point at one legacy he left behind to write his epitaph. There is this Presbyterian hymn which has it that, 'we shall all be remembered by what we have done'.

Maybe I will continue to remember how the former governor and his family evolved a dubious but ingenious system of administration through which they milked Abia dry. It was christened mamacracy, because the mother was designed to take all the blame since authority apparently flowed from her. I will also not forget his Orji Kalu foisted his younger brother as the most suited man to represent the enlightened people of Aba at the National Assembly to the chagrin of Ngwa intellectuals. Nnanna Uzor Kalu, a stupendous ignoramus and convivial fellow became our standard bearer for eight years and his elder brother did not bat an eyelid.

The truth is that the memory of Orji Kalu and his mother will continue to attract a storm of adverse publicity being a true reflection of the blighted image they have carved out for themselves. Whenever the name Orji Kalu is mentioned, the memories that come alive are: schemer, rabble rousing, brinkmanship, chicanery, megalomania, grandstanding, name dropping, distorted orientation and the likes. Kalu is never associated with the congenial attributes which mark out well bred leaders. Rather than grandstand, it is this solemn truth that should engage the minds of Kalu and members of his family.

Since he left office as the governor of Abia state, Orji Kalu has tried his hands on several projects without success. He had formed the Njiko-Igbo. In the year 2013, he granted an interview in Conakry..."I am not in any political party. My focus is on the unity of Ndigbo which I am championing through a nonpartisan movement called Njiko-Igbo. It is a platform for the repositioning of Ndigbo, most especially on a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction come 2015". And when he began this his pet project, a Yoruba friend of mine, a journalist, told me the project was dead on arrival. I was surprised that a non-Igbo could interpret the Igbo heartbeat so accurately. The truth is that Kalu has so embarrassed the Igbo nation that no Igbo son or daughter would want to team up with him. As lofty as the idea may seem, where is Njiko-Igbo today? Is Kalu now not campaigning for Buhari's second term in office, with his personal resources I am told?

Having lost steam in Igbo land, and in his quest for publicity and a platform, the man Orji Kalu then formed a new group called The G.37, said to be committed to crusading against political prostitution, corruption, moral decadence and crass materialism. In league with OUK to campaign for this ethical revolution were the likes of Gbemi Saraki, Olabode George, Musliu Obanikoro, etc. When the news hit me I told my audience that I would not be surprised if Chief Zebrudayya borrowed an inspiration from the group to do a befitting satire.

The fact remains that we may never fully appreciate the sweat of the hen dancing in the rain. Kalu's chicanery robbed off on virtually all his political associates. His weak character propelled him into riding rough shod over the political fortunes of Abia sons and daughters of nobler parentage. And today the chicken has come home to roost, with Kalu fighting the battle of his life in his quest for a political foothold.

Rather than mount undue pressure on his editorial team, Kalu should concentrate on his well mouthed multi billion dollar business conglomerate. While serving as Abia Governor, Orji Kalu established the following business concerns: an airline, a shipping line, real estate and road construction firms, banks and insurance firms, hotels and furniture companies as well as a flourishing newspaper publishing company. While Kalu has mounted the media pulpit a talk down on us, the injury he inflicted on Abians is yet to heal completely. The issue of backlog of unpaid salaries dates back to his days at the helm. Abia's Information Commissioner, John Okiyi Kalu, alluded to this when he said..."we have never gone public to inform our people about the origin of the salary and pension payment challenge in the state which dates back to the 1999-2007 era".

I don't see Kalu, the former Governor making a headway if he chooses to rely on gimmicks and rabble rousing as a comeback strategy. He carries with him the burden of a reckless past which sticks to him like second nature. He has been profiled, and can no longer take anybody by surprise.

Trying to discredit a pacesetting government that is focused on the path of recovery and greatness is like laying a wreath on a crown. My only consolation is the realization that Abia's journey to greatness has begun in earnest. Dr Ikpeazu's government is not only executing ambitious, enduring and quality projects, he is also spreading the projects across the length and breadth of the state according to priority. This is in sharp contrast to the Kalu era when bush paths and farm routes at Igbere were given priority while major routes in Abia North and elsewhere were abandoned.

I am also happy that Dr Ikpeazu is determined to break the vicious cycle which has held Abia down. With his vision for the future, and with what is on ground already, I have no doubt that Abia will catch up, and that the governor's place in history will be an enviable one.

END

ABIA ASSOCIATION OF TAILORS & FASHION DESIGNERS ENDORSES IKPEAZU FOR SECOND TENURE

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The Abia Association of Tailors & Fashion Designers has endorsed the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for a second tenure in office.

The Association gave the endorsement during a courtesy call to the Governor at Aba Government House lodge.

The leader of the association, Comrade Nwaigwe who spoke on behalf of the members of the association, appreciated the Governor's giant strides especially in Made-in-Aba promotion, where they said that Dr. Ikpeazu understood the psyche of Abia artisans and has thus restored their confidence in the creative works and the representation of the Made-in-Aba brand.

They equally noted the infrastructural prowess of the Governor which had granted access to hitherto bad road networks in Aba and assured the Governor that they were ready to throw their weight behind his reelection for second tenure.

The organization, which disclosed that it has 62,000 members across the State, requested to be brought together in a cluster like the shoemakers and be given grants and loan from Bank of Industry and others agencies.

The Association further requested for a bus to enable its members campaign side by side for the Governor's reelection

Responding, the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu commended the association for identifying with his developmental strides in the State and promised to bring them together in a cluster, adding that, he has no other business in government if not to improve their lives. He asked them to chose a secured area for their cluster, so that the procedures and steps to bringing them together in a cluster will commence.

Governor Ikpeazu said his government is poised to encourage and support Abia artisans, hence, he would ensure they should be in season at all time to engender economic growth, stressing the importance of them doing business from January to December.

The Governor also promised to give the association a bus as requested from the members.

Mrs Gertrude Ukoanam (the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Deputy Director/Regional Coordinator South East) visited Multiskill and Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Abia State to discuss plans to export products from the various production units of the Centre.


MULTISKILL AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, ABIA STATE TO EXPORT ITS PRODUCTS

She was impressed by the Governor’s vision for this programme and the quality of the finished products.

She assured the center of her organisation’s support to access especially, the United State of America’s African Growth opportunity Act (AGOA) programme that enhances market access to the US for qualifying Sub-Saharan countries.

One of the strategic plans to ensure that trainees are motivated to stay on the programme as well as transit into self-employment is the concept of exporting what they produce at the various production units.

Earning part of the proceeds appeals especially to the Libyan returnees that are being rehabilitated at the Centre.

Plans are also underway to export to countries within the ECOWAS region.

NAN
Football fans in Ebonyi have extolled the patriotism and unique character of the late Super Eagles midfield maestro, Sam Okwaraji, 29 years after his demise.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former Eintratch Frankfurt of Germany star suddenly collapsed and died on Aug. 12, 1989 during an “Italia 90” World Cup qualifier against Angola, at the National Stadium, Lagos.

The fans, who spoke to NAN on Sunday in Abakaliki, alleged that in spite of the nation’s football authority’s erasing Okwaraji’s memory in its activities, fans across Ebonyi, Nigeria and Africa still remember him.

Obinna Nwankpa, a defunct Ebonyi Angels striker, recalled with nostalgia the events which made Aug. 12 unforgettable in the annals of the nation’s soccer history.

“I was inside the `main bowl’ on that fateful day and most fans due to the tension generated by the encounter, did not notice when Okwaraji slumped.

“It was a fellow midfielder, Ademola Adeshina’s hysterical shouts on the referee and the medical team for attention on Okwaraji that drew players and spectators’ attention as life was draining from him,” he said.

Eche Ezechukwu, a striker in the 1985 Golden Eaglets who won the maiden U-17 FIFA Championship in China, said that Okwaraji’s unique lifestyle motivated him to pursue his soccer career.

“Okwaraji remains the only Nigerian player who paid for his flight expenses whenever on national duties and truly saw wearing the national colours as an honour.

“He remains in death, a role model for Nigerian players because the sort of tension and grief generated by his death in the country that day, had not been experienced till date,” he said.

Jude Asokuh, who claimed to be Okwaraji’s relation, lamented that several promises made to the Okwaraji family by the federal and some state governments had not been fulfilled.

“The governments only erected several statues of Okwaraji at the National Stadium, Lagos and other places, organised activities in his name within that period, while decorating his grave at his hometown Umudioka, Orlu in Imo.

“Several financial among other promises made to his family were not fulfilled and football authorities in the country cannot even maintain the simple task of keeping his memory alive,” he lamented.

A businessman, Chief Orji Ndah, collaborated Asokuh’s assertion, saying that such treatment for departed and retired ex-internationals accounted for the non-patriotic disposition of active footballers.

“Players have families to cater for and future to secure and this make them demand for financial commitments for national duties because they will be forgotten immediately they retire or die.

“It is shameful, for instance, that the football authorities no longer remember Rashidi Yekini, a player revered around the continent and whose goals brought honour to the country and joy to several homes,” he said.

A civil servant, Ifeoma Anukam, urged Nigerian footballers to have alternative careers as exemplified by Okwarji.

“The late Okwaraji, in spite of his busy football schedules, was an international lawyer and possessed degrees in several disciplines, a situation that could have alternatively secured his future if he was still alive,” she said.

-Sun

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Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has declared open, the 46th/11th Biennial Conference of the Methodist Church Nigeria, with the theme "Strive for Peace & Holiness"

Speaking at Wesley Cathedral, Methodist Church Nigeria, 38/46 Park Road, Aba, the Governor described Holiness as great virtue that Christians aught to work towards attaining...



The Governor, who was Happy that Abia State is more secured now than before said the security situation in the State has attracted many conferences including that of the Methodist church Nigeria made monetary donations in support of the conference and announced the donation of bus for the women arm of the church.

Earlier in his address, the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kalu Uche said the essence of the theme of the conference was to draw people close to God, stressing that believers must pursue peace and holiness and do the will of God.

The Prelate said there is need for all Christians to pursue peace and holiness and acknowledge God. He used the opportunity to commend the Abia State Governor for his giant strides in Abia, especially in the area of infrastructure.

Most Rev. Uche called urged his members to be ready present themselves for elections and as well as charged the eligible citizens to get registered and obtain their PVC to enable them exercise their franchise. He said what Nigeria needs now is restructuring to true federalism and creation of State Police.

He also urged federal government to take fighting corruption to every side and shun witch-hunting opponents.

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The Abia State government has held the 2018 International Youth Day programme at Dr. Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, with the theme "Safe Spaces For Youth"

Speaking at the event, the Abia Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu said Abia people are known with their strength and informed that the strength is made manifest in her youths. He therefore enjoined the youths to learn at least one skill to enable them succeed in the present economy situation of the country.

Dr. Ikpeazu disclosed that the State has established skill acquisition centres scattered across the State where youths are trained on various modern skills and advised the youths to make good use of the opportunity to excell.

Speaking, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Chief Ike Anyatonwu thanked the Governor for approving the International Youth Day celebration and described the day as a milestone of youth empowerment in Abia State.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Lucky Igbokwe told youths to be ambassadors of peace in the State. He urged the youths to the become job creators so as to contribute effectively in the development of the State.

The occasion featured cutting of Abia Unity Cake

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The Nigerian Red Cross society has decorated Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as the grand patron of Abia State chapter of the Nigerian Red Cross society.

Accepting the position during his investiture in Government House, Umuahia, the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu said his administration will stop at nothing in providing basic Health care to the vulnerable members of society.

The Governor said the Dial-A-Doctor initiative, the accident response team of the Abia State passengers Integrated Manifest Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), primary healthcare and healthcare for the elderly and Abia Emergency Medical Service (AEMS) are some of his healthcare interventions which are geared towards increasing life expectancy above the national level.

Performing the investiture on the Governor, the National President, Nigerian Red Cross society, Elder Bolaji Anani said the honour was statutory to State Governors.

He appreciated the efforts of the Governor in saving lives through healthcare Interventions as well as other humanitarian activities done by the State government and Vicar Hope Foundation in the State.

Highlights of the event was the conferment of AWARDS on some members of society who have distinguished themselves in humanitarian activities.

A responsible government is one that work to attract projects that promises economic development, such that play important role in fostering entrepreneurship development, providing employment and reducing poverty. No wonder the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu identified regional economic growth and diversification as key objectives of economic development.

Today, under Governor Ikpeazu's watch Abia State is launching her first ever "Abia Finished Leather Cluster"; a project targeted to encourage the Aba/Abia based entrepreneurs, limited liability companies and enterprises that use leather for the production of finished or semi-finished shoe, bag and belt products for the local use as well as for export to foreign markets access funding via Bank of Industry (BIO).

This project, as attracted by Abia State government, and being championed by the Bank of Industry in collaboration with Ford Foundation, is packaged to create both direct and indirect employment under Micro, Small Medium Enterprise (MSME).

The program limit is geared at N500 Million for the first phase of the program.

It is therefore much commendable - the effort of the Governor Ikpeazu-led administration in ensuring consistent growth of Abia economy through diversification and engagement of economic growth friendly initiatives.

While we still enjoy the accolades accompanying the recent award of recognition on Abia State as "the Best MSME Friendly State of Nigerian", it is pertinent for every Abian and resident to get their PVC ready to vote Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu again come 2019.

UNU,
13/07/2018.
#AbiaOnline

In 2015 Governor Okezie Ikpeazu PhD then PDP gubernatorial candidate said, ‘… I will provide capacity building opportunities and resources to SMEs across the State to facilitate their growth and development…” Right from his election as the 4th Executive Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu Ph.D. has not looked back on this promise; he has continued to implement policies that have massively impacted positively on entrepreneurs in Abia State. For obvious reasons, Aba has remained the focus of the MSME drive of the State government. Aba is unarguable the MSME centre of Nigeria. By World Bank Statistics there are over 1 million persons involved in just the leather and garment sector in Aba, apart from other sectors like metal/steel fabrication, light manufacturing, cosmetics, etc. He popularized the axiom “If you get Aba right, you get Abia right”. Over a million leather products leave Aba weekly and find its way into markets and shops across the West African coast.

To achieve maximum impact, the state government has focused attention on two major products for which Abia has comparative advantages – leather and garment.

Ikpeazu identified four major challenges facing the MSMEs in the state
Market Share
Infrastructure
Access to Capital
Branding
Automation/Quality

Following this finding, the team began with branding, hence popularizing the sing song “Made in Aba’. Governor Ikpeazu himself became the Chief promoter and marketer of Made-in-Aba products. He has driven this campaign to such a feverish height that it has attracted the attention of global and national players. Today, Made-in-Aba has become a household slogan for which Governor Ikpeazu is known. These concerted efforts to return the glory days of Aba as the hub of MSME by all stakeholders through this massive campaign, has elicited the interest of key stakeholders like the Federal government, development partners, organized private sector, donor agencies etc. The Federal Government Nationwide MSME Clinic debuted in Aba with over 3000 operators interacting with key stakeholders and policy makers in the sector. In 2016 Ford Foundation, an American based donor organization partnered with the State government to put together the 1st Aba Development Summit aimed at developing a robust roadmap for MSME development in the state. Ford foundation followed that up with an ICT Hackathon to build the ICT backbone for MSME development in the state, in addition to sponsoring a 50 million Naira international brand campaign for the promotion of Made-in Aba products.

This campaign has taken Governor Ikpeazu and the Aba tailors and shoemakers to China, New York, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, and Abuja etc. for major fashion events. The idea of rubbing shoulders with international brands, which was like a pipe dream, boosted the morale of those artisans and entrepreneurs in Aba. Governor Ikpeazu has led them to this presidential Villa, many prominent Nigerians and bodies who have endorsed their products.

The result of these campaign efforts naturally led to increased market share and the demand for Made in Aba goods increased drastically. Orders came from the Military, Para-military and many other governmental and private entities. In 2017 the army ordered 50,000 military boots from Aba. In 2016, Aba shoemakers recorded increased sales of over 1.5 billion Naira cash into their pockets.

As one of the enablers of MSME development, Governor Ikpeazu is improving critical infrastructural around the major MSME centres of Abia State. Today, over 80 roads have been constructed or reconstructed to support MSME operations in the State. These roads lead directly to centres of production. With the support of the Vice President, Ariaria Electricity Distribution Network Ltd., has been licensed to provide uninterrupted power supply for the over 30,000 shops in Ariaria and its environs, the hub of shoe making and other allied products in Aba. The government has begun the development of Umukalika Leather and Garment City to house major leather and garment clusters. In its efforts to leverage on all opportunities available, the state government is partnering with the Federal government to establish the MSME shared facility centre in Aba.

Governor Ikpeazu believes that demand will naturally drive quality and this has happened, the government has established the Abia Marketing and Standard Board to ensure quality and standard control of the products coming out of Abia.

For Governor Ikpeazu MSME remains the major engine room that drives economic growth, create massive employment, support innovation, creativity and ingenuity. With more orders and more people employed, came the need for increased investment in the sector. Today several financial institutions have offered facilities to entrepreneurs in Abia particularly Aba. The Government signed an MSME support facility of 1 billion matching fund with Bank of Industry. This week, Governor Ikpeazu will launch a 500 million Naira facility for Aba Shoemakers by Bank of Industry; the Governor has midwifed several of such facilities for Abia MSMEs. Following the decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria to establish the Southeast Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Umuahia over 100 young entrepreneurs have been trained at the Centre. To show commitment to this capacity building effort, Governor Ikpeazu released an initial sum of 100 million naira as start-up to the first set of graduates of the centre. He leverages on every opportunity to support his people. Under the Social Investment Programme package GEEP, over 18,000 entrepreneurs have received facilities ranging from 50,000 – 100,000 to support their businesses.

A major step to Governor Ikpeazu’s effort to improve the quality of Made in Aba products is the investments in automation. In partnership with a Chinese Shoe Manufacturing Company, the State government is training 100 Abia youths in automated shoe production, the first batch of 30 have returned and equipments for a full production line has been paid for and is on its way to Abia for the establishment of a fully automated Aba Shoe Factory.

Governor Ikpeazu went ahead to partner with the federal government to set up an MSME one-stop-shop. It is on record today that Abia is the only State with a full-fledged Ministry of MSME development with a commissioner at the head. The overarching goal is to develop policies that will deepen and mainstream MSME development in the state, while the One-Stop-Shop provides capacity support for entrepreneurs.

Having set a strong foundation for development of MSME in Abia, the Governor has initiated the big picture with a plan to massively industrialize the state. The Enyimba Economic City Development Project, spanning a space of over 9800 hectres of land across 3 Local Government Areas, is the most ambitious and audacious industrial development east of the Niger. Preliminary designs have been completed; initial MoUs with key private sector leaders both local and foreign have been signed. The project promises to create the largest pull towards massive industrialization, job creation and economic development of not just Abia State but Nigeria as a whole.

In recognition of the Governor’s leadership in the MSME sector, the Business Day Newspaper in 2017 awarded Governor Okezie Ikpeazu the “Best Governor in the promotion of Made in Nigeria goods.

Looking back over these 3 years, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu can be said to have discharged himself creditable in pushing the frontiers of MSME development to enviable height in Abia State.

Chinenye Nwaogu writes...

It was indeed a very colourful event yesterday, the 6th day in the Month of August when the compendium made in honour of the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State tagged "The Scholar In Governance" was unveiled. The occasion was truly graced by the creém the la creém within and outside the State.



The book, among other things narrated the live stories of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the way he navigated through the huddles, his continual rise in his chosen career and the secrete behind his success stories. It's a book that will spur any youth to stick to that lofty dream, idea and aspiration and surmount whatever challenges to attain the goal.

Albeit, one may say the yesterday's event was for the elite class, nay, the good news is that this Friday, the 9th of August at Signature Event Center in Abia Hotels, Fimbers Road Umuahia, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu will by 9.am interact with fellow Abians, youths being the target and tell them his life stories. You will get to know how tender Okezie Victor Ikpeazu was when he first gained admission into the University and in awe what he did when he stepped his legs into the University of Maduguri. You will get to know that he was like every other youth yet, only focus, determination and Grace separated him from his peers.



It is a programme any youth will regret not to attend. It is a programme where you will speak with Dr. Ikpeazu one-on-one without restrictions. It is a programme packaged with surprising mouth watering packages for some lucky students, NYSC corps members and young entrepreneurs. You may be the lucky one.

Also, tis inspire leadership event being organised by Caring Heart Foundation will seek to provide framework for how the youths can actively be engaged in the leadership of today. You can also register only via /inspireconversations

Therefore, avail yourself, the opportunity to attend this programme and go home with a renewed vigor to push until that dream become a reality.

Abraham Adims writes from Umuahia.

#AbiaOnline
It was a gathering of who is who at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, where the ABSU made a public presentation and launched a book titled "The Scholar in Governance: A Kaleidoscope on Dr. Okezie Victor Chibuikem Ikpeazu" in honour of the State Governor.



In his speech at the occasion, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu extolled the management of ABSU for honouring him and assured that he would continue to make them and Abia proud. He said his administration is committed to promoting education in the State and commended the school for maintaining an uninterrupted school calendar for three years.

Governor Ikpeazu equally assured that he would sustain the promotion of SME in the State.

Also speaking, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal appreciated the giants strides of Governor Ikpeazu as well as described him as a good friend and detribalized Nigeria.

Reviewing the book, a distinguished academic and Vice-Chancellor, Rivers State University, Professor Blessing Chimezie Didia, said that the 184 pages and 13 chapters of the book "The Scholar in Governance: A Kaleidoscope on Dr. Okezie Victor Chibuikem Ikpeazu" was a well researched book. He appreciated Governor Ikpeazu for venturing into politics and urged all to read the book.

Ealier in his speech, the Chairman of the occasion and former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, said the book is a candid appreciation of the Governor's brilliance in governance. He appreciated the fact the Governor started well in office and encouraged him to sustain his style of leadership.

In a remark, the Vice Chancellor, ABSU, distinguish Professor Uche Ikonne said the book is an empirical and expository appraisal of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu’s philosophy and life experiences, his vision for Abia State and their cumulative impact on the socio-economic fortunes of the State. He said the Governor's efforts in promoting Made in Aba products, offering himself to teach in ABSU, provision of nine vehicles to ABSU among others cumulated to the institution deciding to celebrate him by presented a book in his honour.

The occasion attracted the Governor of Sokoto State, Amino Waziri Tambuwal, representative of the Ebonyi State Governor among other dignitaries.

Photo News:

On Monday, August 6, 2018, all roads will lead to the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, for the unveiling and public presentation of the book, THE SCHOLAR IN GOVERNANCE: A Kaleidoscope on Dr. Okezie Victor Chibuikem Ikpeazu, under the distinguished chairmanship of Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The book will be reviewed by a distinguished academic, Professor Blessing C. Didia, Vice-Chancellor, Rivers State University.

The Scholar in Governance is an empirical and expository appraisal of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu's philosophy and life experiences, his vision for Abia State and their cumulative impact on the socio-economic fortunes of the state. It dissects and analyzes Dr. Ikpeazu’s performance in two and half years as the Governor of Abia State and found out that, being a distinguished scholar and consumate academic, Governor Ikpeazu came prepared, with a shared and transformative vision, Okezuo Abia. This inclusive and all-encompassing blueprint seeks to transform Abia into an economically vibrant state and uplift the lives of its people.

The Scholar in Governance reveals that Ikpeazu inherited a state with poor and dilapidated infrastructural network and in dire financial stress, coupled with nationwide economic recession. It also unravels Dr. Ikpeazu’s multi-facetted travails and how he ultimately triumphed over them. His magic wand being an in-depth knowledge of the State, its people and their existential predicaments, coupled with an irrevocable commitment to service above self.

The book likened Governor Ikpeazu to Socrates who believes that the secret of positive change and transformation is to focus all of one’s energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.

Little wonder he has succeeded in overcoming the vicious circle of underdevelopment which hitherto had appeared to have an irredeemable grip on the State. He has embarked on and completed projects that were considered to be impossible tasks by successive governments, both federal and state. These include the control of the notorious and hydra-headed perennial flooding along Faulks, Ukwumango, Ama-Ikonne, Ariaria axis, construction and dualization of the 4.6 kilometre Brass Street / Faulks Road; the 6.8 kilometre dual underground drainage from Ifeobara to Waterside; the reconstruction of Aba Road, Umuahia, the ongoing reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road, Aba, as well as a state of the art Abia Investment Complex which facilitates ease of doing business in the state, etc.

The book also beams its searchlight on the revolutions in agricultire, education, trade and investment, and reveals that, with improved security and infrastructural network, and the attendant ease of doing business, Abia has started witnessing resurgence in growth and development. Appreciating Governor Ikpeazu’s unprecedented developmental feats, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, enthusiastically remarks, "on each of my visits to Abia State, I see something new, something different and something innovative. I am proud of Governor Ikpeazu and the passion he brings to governance”.

In this work, the Abia State University serves Abians and the general public a delicious delicacy encompassing the Vision, Travails and Successes of a Philosopher-King Midwifing the Abia Dream. The University solicits the support of all Abians, captains of industry and members of the general public.

More-so, the Governor has magnanimously dedicated all proceeds from the project to the erection and equipment of an ultra-modern post-graduate research laboratory in Biochemistry at the Abia State University.

May we all herald and savor this book and the cause to which it is dedicated with delight as Dr. Okezie Victor Chibuikem Ikpeazu triumphantly leads Abia to the promised land.

DR. SAM AGU
Director, Business Resource Centre, (Entrepreneur),
Abia State University, Uturu.

Most leaders, especially politicians and political offices aspirants wait for election periods to start organizing empowerment programmes and other social activities obviously targeted to seeking support of the populace for their selfish and self-centered ambitions. For them, "empowerment" has become the "theme" of a new brand of political campaign strategy. I have seen desperate politicians bribe their way to getting uncompleted roads commissioned, I have seen them telling outright lies and engaging unthinkable measures, including inducing youths with N1000 each to get them crowd their campaign grounds just to score cheap political points.

Hmm! Can they deceive us?

In the case of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Wife, everyone attests the duo has maintained a formidable increasing tempo in organizing human capital development/empowerment programmes for the youths, women, and even the aged. Dr. Ikpeazu is perhaps the only Governor that has repeatedly visited all the LGAs across the three senatorial zones for one social event/empowerment or the other since his inception as Governor. For Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, empowerment/social events has almost become a weekly traditional occurrence, just like it was another opportunity for the Ukwa East LGA this week.



It was jubilation galore at Ukwa East Local Government Council on Tuesday, July 31 2018 as the graduates of various skill acquisition programme of the Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu and Vicar Hope Foundation (VHF), smiled home
with various equipment to start-up their personal businesses.

Vicar Hope Foundation (VHF), a pet project and brainchild of the Governor's wife has been in the vanguard of attending to the needy, providing succour and protecting the right of women and the children, especially, the girl-child. Being aware that the best empowerment is the one that puts food on someone's table regularly, the wife of the Governor through her pet project has, vigorously embraced empowerment of women on skill acquisition in various Local Government Areas.

Springboard programme of the wife of the Governor from which the graduands were trained is well-conceived and designed to create jobs in the rural areas and multiply economic activities in hinterlands as well as empower them for life.

Of course, one of the cardinal objectives of the Okezie Ikpeazu led administration is to empower the citizenry so that they would be able to contribute their quota to the development of Abia State. This is what the Governor's wife is doing, and thus complementing the efforts of her dear husband.

Mrs. Ikpeazu's commitment in vigorously pursuing and supporting the vision of the Governor is quite commendable, especially in these days of economic challenges. Mrs. Ikpeazu has not relented in empowering women. This, she has been doing through her pet project, the Vicar Hope Foundation.



Recently, a set of 50 trainees of the same Springboard Skill Acquisition Programme, powered by her humble self with support from the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission and with technical assistance from National Directorate of Employment graduated in Ikwuano Local Government Area. So far, there are hundreds of graduands who have benefited by the training and empowerment, and Mrs. Ikpeazu and her team are still determined to meet their programme target of 1,065 trainees over time.

It is pertinent to advise the beneficiaries to take the programme very serious as the programme will certainly reduce the unemployment rate in the State. There is a growing need for the beneficiaries to heed to the charge of the wife of the Governor and take the business very seriously. In previous time, beneficiaries of such things tend to sale their equipment and go back to square-one, so these ones should endeavour avoid such temptation. Good a thing they were cautioned.



This gesture of the Governor's wife deserves appreciation. And the best way to show this appreciation is to sustain support for the Governor and wife and ensure they remain in power till 2023. To do that implies that every Abia person or resident of voting age should obtain his voter card and use it to vote Governor Ikpeazu in 2023.

ABIA MUST CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD UNDER IKPEAZU.

UNU,
04/07/2018.

#AbiaOnline
#LookAbia

I read the news article credited to the former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, wherein he accused the incumbent Governor of Abia State Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu of not being in charge of his government. OUK went ahead to mention that Ikpeazu still pays attention to Chief T.A.Orji who influences his decision. He also said that President Buhari has built more roads in Abia than the State Government.

By a mere glance through the heading, you will know it was written by someone who is trying hard to impress some persons in APC to be allowed to enjoy his loot that was stolen from Abia purse. There is no known agenda order than attack so as to score some political points.

Have you wondered why OUK's boisterous attribute comes alive each time he is reminded by the court that his #7.2 billion fraud is still pending in their rooms. He must always speak to be noticed and pardoned by the EFCC arm of the APC.

For those that lived in Abia during the time of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, his petty attention seeking diatribe wouldn't get any attention whatsoever but for the unsuspecting public who may read the news innocently, may be pushed to have an iota of believe.

While it is his stock-in-trade to lie and dish out every concoction against his perceived enemies, it is important OUK is reminded that his show of shame should not go beyond the former Governor Chief T.A.Orji whose only sin was to refuse to be controlled by the powerful diabolical Orji's dynasty.

To make it clear, Ikpeazu is the Governor of Abia State, he is in charge of the Government and Abians do not have any doubt about it. Abians know the truth about Ikpeazu's strides in developing infrastructure in the State. Ikpeazu has successfully built and commissioned over 60 roads in Abia with many at their different level of completion.

Some of the roads attributed to Dr. Ikpeazu in Abia State are Federal roads that fail to get the attention of the Presidency. Aba road Umuahia, Aba/Owerri road in Aba and Port Harcourt roads are Federal roads that the State government is handling, having considered them too important to the overall success of our made in Aba drive and even development of the State.

Instead of lying to appeal to public sympathy, OUK should use his loquacious tactics to talk to his friends in APC and Federal Government to pay more attention to most of our federal projects in Abia. Irrespective of party affiliations, Abians will appreciate the Federal Government once roads like Umuahia-Ikotekpene road, Umuahia-Bende- Ohafia road, Ohafia-Arochukwu road, Aba-Ikotekpene road etc are remembered. OUK should also use his contacts to tell NDDC to improve on the quality of road projects in Abia.

Abians are comfortable with the standard deployed by the People's Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, which comes with drainage and Stone base. OUK has forgotten that it was Ikpeazu that controlled flooding in Aba with his method of building wide drainage and deployment of the celebrated Cement technology that has a lasting life span of over 30 years.

It was Dr. Ikpeazu that rebuilt the Enyimba stadium that he (OUK) fenced and painted without considering building a single toilet in the Stadium. A walk to the Stadium will put shame on his face only that the aim is not to shame him but to remind him that Governor Ikpeazu emphasize more on standard. OUK on the other hand should show Abians any road he built that is still standing.

Abians can not be hoodwinked by OUK's pettiness and desperation in the name of patriotism. It is very obvious that OUK is not happy with the success Ikpeazu is recording in Abia which are testaments of his purposeful leadership.

While OUK is basking in the euphoria of acute Iberiberism, the Federal Government recently awarded Ikpeazu the best in terms of building the economy through MSME. The Vice President Prof.Yemi Osinbajo has not failed to announce his admiration for the young vibrant Governor at any fora.

Is it not also surprising that an Orji Uzor Kalu is talking about control and influence? I think the basic reason is because OUK thinks Abians do not have healthy strong memories. It was during OUK's regime that the office of 'Mother Excellency' was introduced in Abia. We are yet to forget that aspect of his administration where every appointee must get Mama's affirmative nod before anything is approved. I know Orji Uzor is talking from experience as someone that was never in charge of his government but he goofed because Ikpeazu is not OUK and will never be.

Each time an article is credited to OUK, I strive to read between the lines to see where an apology is given to Abians for his bad Agboroish and purposeless leadership he offered even when our neighboring States were enjoying dividends of good governance.

Has Orji Uzor Kalu apologized to Abians for labeling Pensioners 'Dead Woods' when he could not pay their pensions of which the State Government under the good leadership of Dr. Ikpeazu is tackling and will surely bring a lasting solution to make sure there will be no time in history our pensioners are insulted the way OUK did.

OUK should not forget in a hurry that Abians still remember his inglorious days as a Governor of Abia, which was characterized by pettiness, diabolism, lack of direction, building of substandard projects, bribery and corruption etc. It was during this time that words like Okija Shrine, Igba Egusi, Mama Nweke...were introduced into our lexicon.

In a saner clime, when somebody like OUK who has been a Governor of Abia State mounts a podium, he should be talking about how to develop the State. Though such line of discussion may sound strange to many Abians since there is no project anywhere that could be attributed to his regime that is still standing till date owing to his method of using wheelbarrow and shovel to construct roads with the help of his unregistered money syphoning companies like Slok.

Orji Uzor should not apply any 'directionlees tactics'. Instead of writing long essays, he should rather use the time to visit Ahia Ohuru in Aba and get himself a good material that will make a proper jail cloth. He should pay more attention on how to avoid prison even if it means returning the #7.2 billion he allegedly took from Abia coffers.

©Ikechukwu Iroha writes...

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday dismissed the no-case submission filed by a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, in response to the N7.6bn fraud charges pressed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Justice Mohammed Idris, in his ruling, said Kalu had some explanations to make particularly on certain documents tendered by the EFCC as exhibits in evidence against him.

The same fate befell similar no-case submissions filed by Kalu’s co-defendants.

The ex-governor is facing 39 counts alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Limited; and Ude Udeogu, who served under him as the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Abia State Government House.
The EFCC first arraigned them before Justice Idris on October 31, 2016.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which the EFCC opened its case, calling 19 witnesses and tendering a load of exhibits.
At the conclusion of the prosecution’s case however, the defendants filed no-case submission, arguing that the EFCC failed to link them to any crime.
They urged Justice Idris to dismiss the charges and set them free.
The judge, however, disagreed with them in his Tuesday ruling, holding that they have explanations to make as to the fraud allegations pressed against them.

The judge held, “The prosecution called 19 witnesses and tendered a number of exhibits which have been thoroughly examined. Going through the evidence of these witnesses, it appears to me that if taken as unchallenged and uncontroverted, some link might be established between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants and some of the alleged offences in the light of Exhibits B1-B18; in the light of Exhibit D34; in the light of Exhibits D51-D68; in the light of Exhibits A58-F93; in the light of Exhibit H; in the light of Exhibit J2; in the light of Exhibit L; in the light of Exhibits N1-N15; in the of Exhibits P33-P34; in the light of Exhibits Q1-Q30; in the light of Exhibits T, H and U.
“I will stop there and I will say no more.… I am of the view that the defendants have some explanations to make in the light of the exhibits and the evidence so far led. Again, I will say no more. The no-case submission is dismissed.”

The judge called on the defendants to open their defence, reminding the parties that he had September ending deadline to finish the case.
Kalu’s lawyer, Mr Gordy Uche (SAN), however, pleaded with the judge for a six-week adjournment to enable Kalu to go for a surgical operation.
“The first defendant has a medical appointment for surgery and the lead counsel in this matter had actually written a letter he wants us to bring to the attention of Your Lordship with respect to the surgery,” Uche said.
He pleaded with the judge to adjourn the case till September 10, 2018.
But the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), pleaded that the case be heard in the first week of September, bearing in mind that the judge had to conclude the case by the end of September.
Uche, however, said it was not realistic, explaining that the six-week adjournment was to avoid a situation where the case would come up and Kalu would not be available.
In a short ruling, Justice Idris said he was constrained to grant Uche’s request, thereby adjourning the case till September 10 for the defendants to open their defence.
In one of the charges, the EFCC alleged that Kalu, who was Abia State Governor between 1999 and 2007, "did procure Slok Nigeria Limited – a company solely owned by you and members of your family – to retain in its account, domiciled with the then Inland Bank Plc, Apapa branch, Lagos, an aggregate sum of N7,197,871,208.7 on your behalf."
The prosecution claimed that the N7.1bn "formed part of the funds illegally derived from the treasury of the Abia State Government and which was converted into several bank drafts before they were paid into the said company's account."
The prosecuting counsel, Jacobs, said the ex-governor violated Section 17(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, and was liable to be punished under Section 16 of the same Act.
Apart from the N7.1bn, which he was accused of laundering, the ex-governor and the other defendants were also accused of receiving a total of N460m allegedly stolen from the Abia State Government treasury between July and December 2002.
The prosecutor said they breached Section 427 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.
On their part, Udeogu, Slok Nigeria Limited, one Emeka Abone, said to be at large, and another fellow, Michael Udo, also at large, were accused of collaborating with Kalu to conceal the "genuine origin" of allegedly stolen funds.
The EFCC said they are liable to be punished under Section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

The stage is set for what I will term "a reward for visionary leadership".

History is about to be made as Abia, under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's leadership is set to be decorated and officially recognized as the best Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises (MSME) friendly State.



Today we are witnessing the first ever National MSME Award in Nigeria since the creation of Adam and Eve. The reason for this prestigious award and recognition is not farfetched as the unprecedented giant strides of the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D cannot be swept under the carpet.

Contained in his campaign manifesto, Governor Ikpeazu's vision for Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises (MSME) was soundly and clearly stated: " To provide capacity building training and resources to the SME's across the State to facilitate their growth and development."



Apart from maintaining his position as the Chief Promoter of MSME in Abia, the Governor has achieved the following feats:

1. Sponsoring of 30 Abia Youths to China to learn automated shoe production,

2. Acquired modern automated shoemaking equipment for mass production.

3. Assisted Aba producers to get orders worth more than N2b in direct sales, including 50, 000 military booths, uniforms, 25,000 shoes for IDP camps, ballot boxes and others for LGA polls etc.

4. Aggressive promotion of Made in Aba brands, locally and internationally, with fashion shows held in Abuja and New York City in USA respectively.



5. Occasioned by Governor Ikpeazu’s promotional activities, the Aba shoemakers now export more than one million pairs of shoes weekly to neighboring countries. Unlike in the past, the products are proudly branded as “Made in Aba” or “Proudly Aba Made”.

6. His efforts at promoting Made in Aba brands received support from NGOs like Ford Foundation who funded and launched international marketing campaigns for Made in Aba brands at zero cost to the State via CNN and other international media platforms.

7. It was in recognition of the administration’s focused effort at promoting Made in Aba (Made In Nigeria) that the federal government signed the number 3 far-reaching executive orders to ease business, fast track budget submissions & promote made in nigeria products

8. Ongoing initial works for the emergence of Umukalika leather and garment cluster

9. Currently under construction is new ultra modern mechanic village at Ogbor Hill, and expected to be completed early 2019. In addition, Ikpeazu’s administration is partnering with private sector operators to construct the biggest mall in the south east for Made in Aba Products at Etche road Aba.



10. The government, in partnership with the federal government, also launched Government enterprise empowerment program (GEEP) that provides up to N100,000 to selected Abians who are grouped in cooperative societies. So far the program has funded more than 18,000 Abians. The state is set to increase the cash amount to N100,000 per participant.

11. Organizing MSME Clinic in partnership with the federal government where about 3000 SME operators exchanged discussion with major stakeholders in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

12. In support of our young entrepreneurs, Governor Ikpeazu supported the South East Entrepreneurship Development Centre with headquarters in Umuahia, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) program, with N100m take off grant.

13. The administration has commenced the processes necessary for the establishment of Enyimba industrial city with 9300 hectares of land set aside to host the most ambitious industrialization program ever executed in the South East region of Nigeria. A project, which has already attracted interest of investors from China, Singapore, South Korea and Nicaragua.



Ably represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, the Governor is set to, on behalf of Abians, received the prestigious and first ever award of recognition on Abia State as the Best MSME friendly State of the nation.

UNU, reporting live from the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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