Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, a United Nations Mayor of Peace, entertainment magnet and President of 2Flame Entertainment Ltd, a Nigerian based record label popularly known in social circles as Don Lulu was on Sunday in the United States of America honoured by UMUADA Ndi-Igbo Inc. a diaspora based Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

Presenting the award to Mayor Lucky Igbokwe (Don Lulu) During the organisations 2019 summit held in Baltimore, Maryland the founder of the organization Chief (Adaozo) Grace Aguda alongside the National chairperson Dr. Chinwe Okudo and Baltimore chapter Coordinator Captain Lizzy Oshodi were all full of praises for Don Lulu, they described him as one of the strongest Ambassadors of Ndi Igbo both at home and in Diaspora who had stood as a pillar of strength for not only the organisation but Ndi Igbo in general within Nigeria and beyond.

In her speech Chief Grace Aguda narrated how the organisation came to Don Lulu with it's challenges, "we came to you when we were having challenges with our international development programs, you did not hesitate even when you knew little or nothing about us.

You became a development partner of UMUADA Ndi-Igbo Inc. and with your support, we were able to touch lives back home in a different kind of way. Today, we appreciate and honour you, thank you for your partnership, your support and selfless service to humanity".

Don Lulu who attended the event with his wife and son Master Rain Igbokwe, thanked the organizers for finding him worthy of such an honour and promised to give more support to not only the group but to humanity in general.

Mr. Igbokwe, is a philanthropist of repute and founder of Don Lulu Foundation, he hailed from Umuawa, Ohuhu in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State.
He is a member of the united Nations International peace initiative, and has so many awards to his credit, including the prestigious UN-Polac, Mayor of Peace. (UN-MoP)

The National Industrial Court sitting in Owerri has ordered that Deacon Sunday Akoma (aka Nmehie gi gwam) be returned as the chairman of the National Union Of Road Transport Workers Abia Chapter pending the determination of the matter filed by the suspended chairman challenging his suspension.

In suit no: NICN/OW/15/2019 filed by Deacon Sunday Akoma at the NICN against NURTW, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, Eugene Eze Job and others challenging what he described as his arbitrary and unconstitutional suspension as the chairman of the Abia chapter by the National President, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin.

The plaintiff had argued that he did not commit any wrong or constitutional breach to warrant his suspension.

In his ruling the presiding judge justice I.S Galadinma on Monday 3rd June 2019 ordered that status quo be maintained pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The legal implication of the order is that Deacon Sunday C Akoma remains the legitimate chairman of the union pending the determination of the matter before the court.

It will be recalled that Deacon Akoma took the union to court challenging his suspension as the state chairman of the Union over allegations of mismanagement of unions funds.

The National Working Committee led by the national chairman Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin in disregard to the matter filed by Deacon Akoma on the 10th Of April 2019 and pending before NICN challenging his suspension appointed Eugene Eze Job as interim chairman of the union in Abia state on 2nd of May 2019.

The matter was adjourned till Monday 9th of October, 2019 for accelerated hearing.

Hon. Solomon Adaelu, Member Representing Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbor Federal Constituency In The House Of Representatives has made a case for the application of modern scientific and technological practices as opposed to the current and near old order being used in our governance, financial, educational and technological sectors in the country today. The legislator who is the Chairman Bipartisan blockchain group. National assembly of Nigeria in his proposition said that advanced generations around the globe has advanced in their use and application of modern technological methods of doing business and Nigeria cannot expect a globally accepted development while remaining resistant to advanced technology and modern sciences.

He insisted that the 9th NASS must ensure that those who will chair committees on science and technology must be people who are armed the with prerequisite knowledge of modern scientific and technological methodology.

Stating that we are in an era of the most disruptive technology man has seen.

Hon. Adaelu lamented that the
“The internet has been upgraded.

The fourth industrial revolution is here. We are not just paying attention to what is happening globally.

How many of us were truly beneficiaries of the third industrial revolution? The era of information exchange, the dotcom era? How many members were able to buy shares of Google, Amazon, Facebook, and other blue-chip companies before and after public listings?

He introduced a new and emerging global protocol of value exchange, where trust and decision making
is completely removed from presiding officers.

He said, “In true democratic fashion, the people decide
how they want to be governed and directly participate in the creation of the laws that bind
them.” He made a case for the decentralization of banking and other financial services using the Block Chain Technology.

Insisting that no nation has ever achieved economic growth and advancement without investing in science and technology, he advised that Priority attention should be given to science and technology.

Our attention has been drawn to a malicious attempt by some faceless individuals who go with the name: Abia Group For Good Governance (AGG) the publications which were intended at tarnishing the image and reputation of Mr. Obinna Oriaku, the hard working immediate past commissioner for finance, Abia state through some misleading publications online and in the newspapers, one of such sponsored publication is an article Captioned: Why Obinna Oriaku Should Be Dropped From IKpeazu’s Cabinet.

These groups of faceless individuals from our findings are nothing but those who have benefited from the corruption that has pervaded all institutions of government and will do everything humanly possible to frustrate every honest effort at ridding our system off such practices that has prevented the state from positive advancement, that Mr. Obinna Oriaku has introduced measures aimed at ensuring that every genuine worker gets his deserved pay while blocking fraudsters whose daily trade is to harvest from the corruption they have intentionally implanted in various government units, departments, ministries and agencies is commendable and rather than recommend him for sack we as a group of patriotic Abians are recommending him for reappointment to a higher office given the thoroughness and professionalism that he has brought into the state financial dealings since he assumed office as the manager of the state’s financial cubicle.

We are aware that the sponsors of the attacks are people who are today frustrated because of the reforms that he has brought into the system which to a great extent has brought sanity into the states financials and have professionally unplugged the nectar which they connected into the state’s coffers, he has put in measures that has checkmated salary padding and other financial malfeasance that created over bloated workforce and humongous wage bill, making it difficult for governments to meet up with civil servants salaries.

These set of individuals never wished the state progress and can go to any length to eliminate any obstacle in between them and the states purse including formulating unfounded lies and propaganda.

Mr. Oriaku is a thorough bred technocrat who right from his days in the banking industry had always insisted that things must be done rightly and has refused to allow a few corrupt elements to mess up any system that he is involved in, the discipline, professionalism and reforms that he has introduced into the Abia economy had saved the state millions of naira and that had endeared him to Governor Ikpeazu hence the futile efforts of some corrupt elements in the corridors of power to place him on collision course with the governor by claiming that he has the ambition to contest for governorship come 2023 so as to give way for them to have a field day and turn the states treasury into their honey pot.

Mr. Oriaku is an accomplished banker with an unblemished record of honesty and transparency, who possesses a track record of sterling performance, he had maintained close working relationship with different state governments and had always come out highly recommended.

We are not surprised about the attacks because we are aware that corruption will always fight back once it is attacked.

We want to use this medium to inform the general public to disregard the smear campaign against him, and to also inform Abians that Hon. Oriaku had maintained an impeccable reputation in the discharge of his duties and needs to be encouraged.

Hon. Oriaku is an asset in Dr. Ikpeazu’s administration, we challenge the cowards behind the attacks to come open and join the hard working finance commissioner to sanitize the system and rid it of corruption for the betterment of the state and its citizenry.

Sign.
Kelechukwu Amaefule
Secretary
Abia Integrity Group Against Corruption

My attention has been drawn to various campaign posters of me circulating in the social media of my purported aspirations to the National Assembly in the forthcoming elections._

_I am totally overwhelmed by such thoughts by my well wishers and detractors, but suffice to say; that I am neither an aspirant nor interested in any elective office at this time._

_I kindly implore all to please disregard these posters._

_*Chief Obi Aguocha (Udo Ji Agu - Ohuhu) 0706 690 - 6833*_

The outcome of the primary elections held on the 8th of December 2014 which produced Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party has remained a matter of litigation almost three years after.

Not because the litigants enjoy wasting their time and resources in courts or that they harbour idiosyncratic odium for Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD the beneficiary of that process, but they all have in unison echoed the injustice in the process and the irregularities in Dr. Ikpeazu’s tax papers and called for his disqualification even before the primary elections, the unfortunate scenario however is that Abia our state is and will continue to be the loser if political parties refuse to follow the standard tenets of internal democracy and moral justice in the conduct of their internal elections, if a winner emerges through a free and fair process it will save us all the energy, time and resources that would have been wasted in judicial battle.

Come April 13, 2018 Abia will once again go back to the supreme court to determine who will eventually emerge as the governor of Abia state, while many will see this as a mission in futility given the previous matters bothering on the same tax matter which the supreme court had given judgment in favour of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Barrister F.N Nwosu and his team had insisted that the judiciary must give them justice and that he barrister F.N Nwosu is the only candidate that legally completed the primary electioneering process with Dr. Ikpeazu and that in a situation where Dr. Ikpeazu is disqualified as he is praying the court, he should have been the beneficiary of the PDP primaries of 2014.

What Barrister Nwosu is praying for is still predicated on the same subject matter that Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah went to court for and lost at the Supreme Court, does he have chances of succeeding in his journey to justice? Only the five man panel of Justices chaired by justice Bode Rhodes Vivour will determine that on April 13th, 2018?

But what has remained unequivocal is the fact that irregularities exists in the papers duly submitted on oath by Dr. Ikpeazu, but if that is enough to disqualify him as stated by the party’s guidelines can only be determined by the supreme court which on several occasions have excused him from the obvious irregularities on technical grounds.

Though our judiciary has not lived up to the best of standards in dishing out justice, and it is no longer in the sphere of rumour mongering that judgments are up for grabs by the highest bidder, but it will also be too risky to dismiss the chances of Barrister F.N Nwosu who has been unfluctuating in his quest for justice.

He has remained adamantly on track and has demanded that he be heard even when the appeal court refused to hear him, he appealed for his rights and it was granted, friends and even relations have deserted him because he has refused to let go, he has in the course of this judicial voyage disobeyed kinsmen, benefactors and even family members.

For barrister Friday Nwanozie Nwosu nothing short of hitting the final judicial destination will pacify him, but whether the case will go in his favour or will also end up as another academic exercise is left for Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour and his five man panel of Supreme Court justices to adjudicate.

Uche Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

A popular online media practitioner and the Editor-in-chief of Abia Breaking News and ABN TV, Mr. Ifeanyi Okali Ubaka has called on his Ohafia kinsmen to join hands in developing the ancient town.

He stated this when he granted audience to a cross section of Ohafia youths who paid him a courtesy visit at his home town Ebem Ohafia yesterday for his robust contributions towards the development of the entire local government through objective reportage of their activities in his media platform.

Mr. Okali said things are going wrong which require all hands on deck to put in the right perspective. He decried the number of unemployed youths in Ohafia, describing it as a cause for worry. He promised to continue empowering the youth and the vulnerable in his capacity. The visibly touched philanthropist also advised other well meaning indigenes of the area to invest more in area youth empowerment.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the level of infrastructural decay that has confronted the community and called on politicians to do more for their people instead of engaging in orgy of praise singing. He lamented that most projects in Ohafia came about through the efforts of the communities.

He lampooned political office holders for not attracting developmental projects to the area rather get themselves preoccupied with 2019 general election while the people are left to develop Ohafia through their personal efforts.

He said "If you are an Ohafia politician and you don't have your people at heart, don't try to step out to contest for any post. I will personally expose you if you do. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH IN OHAFIA".

The activist described Ohafia as a sweet home and advised all proud sons and daughters of the land contribute their quota towards the growth and peace of the town.

_________
Follow "OHAFIA MY SWEET HOME" on WhatsApp to make your own contribution https:///GHeXKTq9ttwE0bEKUaZIOu

A popular online media practitioner and the Editor-in-chief of Abia Breaking News and ABN TV, Mr. Ifeanyi Okali Ubaka has called on his Ohafia kinsmen to join hands in developing the ancient town.

He stated this when he granted audience to a cross section of Ohafia youths who paid him a courtesy visit at his home town Ebem Ohafia yesterday for his robust contributions towards the development of the entire local government through objective reportage of their activities in his media platform.

Mr. Okali said things are going wrong which require all hands on deck to put in the right perspective. He decried the number of unemployed youths in Ohafia, describing it as a cause for worry. He promised to continue empowering the youth and the vulnerable in his capacity. The visibly touched philanthropist also advised other well meaning indigenes of the area to invest more in area youth empowerment.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the level of infrastructural decay that has confronted the community and called on politicians to do more for their people instead of engaging in orgy of praise singing. He lamented that most projects in Ohafia came about through the efforts of the communities.

He lampooned political office holders for not attracting developmental projects to the area rather get themselves preoccupied with 2019 general election while the people are left to develop Ohafia through their personal efforts.

He said "If you are an Ohafia politician and you don't have your people at heart, don't try to step out to contest for any post. I will personally expose you if you do. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH IN OHAFIA".

The activist described Ohafia as a sweet home and advised all proud sons and daughters of the land contribute their quota towards the growth and peace of the town.

_________
Follow "OHAFIA MY SWEET HOME" on WhatsApp to make your own contribution https:///GHeXKTq9ttwE0bEKUaZIOu

The suspension order slammed on Umuahia North local government Chairman Hon. Chidiebere Nwachukwu by the Abia State House of Assembly over allegations bothering on misappropriation of funds has has been lifted.
The Abia House of Assembly today the 7th of March 2018 through Hon. Akpulonu announced the lifting of the suspension order and absolved Hon. Nwachukwu of any complicity in the offence he is being accused of, the house after due investigation asked Hon. Nwachukwu to go on with his normal duties in his full capacity as the chairman of the council.

In an interview with the embattled Chairman he expressed gratitude to God and thanked all those who stood by him during the critical period.

Abia State Pensioners are obviously having a terrible period because of the inability of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to pay them their monthly allowance for the past 12 months. The pain of staying months without their monthly allowance, is becoming a motivating factor for them to vote against Governor Okezie Ikpeazu during the upcoming 2019 election.

Speaking with Chief Emeka Alozie from Arochukwu Local Government Area, he expressed deep disaffection with manner they are been treated by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and promised that him and other pensioners are already preparing to vote massively against Ikpeazu come 2019.

“We are deeply hurt, the governor is playing with out intelligence, he is dealing with us like we are lepers. The governor has promised us more than 10 times that he will pay us, but at the end of every time frame he disappoints us. We are having the worst experience as pensioners in Abia State.”

“Our members are already fighting hard to get their PVCs by getting registered for those who have not, we understand that we can decide our fate by voting the right person that will care for us. As for Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, he has failed us and we know he can’t do better if he is reelected”

“Our members are dying in large numbers because of poverty, some are sick and can’t take care of themselves because they don’t money and the governor does not care. This is wickedness and God will judge them” he concluded.

It should be remembered that some aggrieved pensioners matched the street of Umuahia 2 weeks ago demanding for the resignation of their union leaders for their inability to make Abia state government pay them their money.

Source: http://www.abiafactsnews.com/worst-experience-pensioners-abia-state-2019-will-teach-governor-lesson-abia-pensioner-cries/

Uche Aguoru Is a Journalist, a prolific writer, a social critic and an advocate of good governance. A native of Amaogwugwu Village, Ohuhu in Umuahia north LGA of Abia state.

Education... Primary.... Umuhu central school

Secondary.... Ohuhu community secondary school all in the present day Umuahia North LGA of Abia state.

Tertiary...Federal polytechnic oko in Anambra state, studied mass communication.

Institute of journalism. Enugu

Career.... South East bereau chief of City Reporters and The Realm Newspapers.

Contributory editor National Ambassador Newspapers

Senior Political editor.... Abiafacts newspapers.

Community service.. Publicity Secretary Ohuhu Solidarity Forum.

President ... Youth Wing Ohuhu political forum.

Awards... Pillar of Exemplary leadership.

Excellent community leadership award.

Fellow institute of journalism (FIJ)

Marital Status... Married to Mrs Ijeoma Aguoru and blessed with three children namely Kenechukwu Davis Aguoru, Paris Nneoma Aguoru and Chinedum Ritchie Aguoru.

We gathered that the Abia State Government led by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu allegedly spent above Five Hundred Million Naira (N500M) to host the Abia Media Tour that held few days ago, this N500M was spent on the media jamboree despite the salary backlogs in the state.

Based on our interaction with one of the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s highly valued media professional from Lagos who wants to remain anonymous, he described the media jamboree as a waste of Abia State scarce resources considering that the so-called projects inspected were low leveled and does not match with other projects executed by even nearby state like Ebonyi state.

“These projects are obviously child’s play with what other state have executed, just go to Ebonyi state and see the wonders Umahi has done and he has not called for a media tour. But, your governor being a local champion, called a media tour to showcase few completed roads and so many uncompleted badly constructed jobs. He just wasted Abia State resources, and I can tell you it will not go far” he said.

When we asked him averagely the worth of the of the media tour, he has this to say;

“I cannot really say, I was paid some few millions to come and see the projects and my station will be paid millions to aired it, I am aware that the PDP National Chairman also came and participated in the tour, I saw other prominent individuals from Abia State in the tour. I will place the tour at about N500M, if not more considering the activities I saw. I was paid money in advance, my flight ticket paid for, my hotel room paid for and I was still given money to go back. I see all these as waste of Abia State resources because these projects are not worth to be showcased for now” he concluded.

Based on the information gathered by Abia Facts Newspaper, more than 150 traditional rulers from all over Abia State participated in the tour, PDP national executive council relocated to Abia State, close to 100 clergymen were invited and so many notable Abians from all works of life.

All of these people were accommodated in hotels in Umuahia and given logistics allowances which ran into millions of Naira.

Just recently, Abia State Teachers lifted their 2 weeks strike due to backlog of unpaid salaries and the government has spent above N500M for media tour, why is Abia always in the news for the wrong reasons?

The lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District, Mao Ohunabunwa, has described report that he empowered women in his constituent with frying pan and camp gas as mischievous and deliberate spread of falsehood.

Senator Ohunabunwa, who spoke through his Special Assistant, Uche Okoli described the report as a distortion of fact and misrepresentation of what happened.

Okoli said that the senator conducted a skill acquisition training programme in 2017 which was handled by Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN), adding that after the training, each person was equipped with the necessary tools needed in the area of training with a financial support of up to N50,000.

“Politics of lies and falsehood only makes a mockery of the individuals involved, the picture being peddled around only tells a part of the story.

“In 2017, the Distinguished Senator Mao Ohuabunwa in line with his commitment to teaching Ndi Abia North to fish instead of giving them fish, embarked on Skill Acquisition Training programme for Abia North Women and Youths in Partnership with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) and part of the skills included making pastries; the beneficiaries chose the skills themselves.

After the training they were given working tools and grant to start up the business with a firm commitment from Senator Mao Ohuabunwa to facilitate access to SMEs loans as the business grows from subsistent stage to SME,” Okoli said.

The Senator’s aide further noted that the picture trending on the social media ‘is only an edited part of the story to suit the narrative from the usual suspects to achieve an agenda best known to them’

“We are not bothered about the narrative these individuals are pushing, the distinguished senator cannot be distracted, his focus on empowering the people of Abia North is already paying off as these women empowered with these equipment are very grateful and they are already impacting positively to their families. Other youths who were also trained in Solar Power and other skills are bringing in results” he added.

Okoli added that the second phase of the programme is ongoing.

One of the beneficiaries of the skill programme, Mrs Ogechi Nwosu from Isuikwuato local government area said that she makes about N3,000 daily from her pastry business.

“I am doing well, I make doughnuts, chinchin and so many other things, the training changed my life and the start up cash of N50,000 went along way to help me stabilize my business,” another beneficiary, Mrs. Victoria Akanu from Ohafia noted.

* says Abia Govt. not indebted to Councilors…[i][/i]

The Abia State Councilors Forum has described as untrue a newspaper publication alleging that Councilors elected on platform of the People Democratic Party, PDP, has turned to beggars and hunters.

The story which was published in a local newspaper circulating mainly in Umuahia the State Capital, alleged its investigation revealed that the Councilors were been owed backlog of salaries and allowances.

The story which was published on the page 15 of the newspaper on February 5, 2018, also alleged that the Councilors were selected and not elected. It stated that their salaries were also reduced from N189,000 to N89,000.

The story also stated some of the Councilors are now on the run because of the loans they collected to execute their elections campaigns, which they are unable to service.

It accused the Councilors of inability to execute projects in their various political wards due to lack and no payment of their statutory allowances.

But in swift reaction on Thursday, the Councilors debunked the claims by the Newspaper, describing it as a propaganda machinery of the opposition political party in the state.

The group stated that the owner and publisher of the paper became disgruntled “when he was not offered a position he requested for as chieftain of the PDP in the State”.

The group in a statement signed by its Legal Adviser, Hon. Barr. Clinton Iheonunekwu and Hon . Prince Nnaemeka Friday representing Abia South zone, Hon. Bankaria Enweremmadu for Abia Central, Hon. Chris Nkumah Ifegwu for Abia North zone and Hon. Ugochukwu Osita for and on behalf of Councilors Forum, maintained that they were elected massively in a free and fair election conducted on December 17, 2016.

The Statement read in part, “Abians witnessed that the Local Government and Ward elections were conducted in a free and fair manner across the State.

“It is only the Rising sun that knows what he means by selection and not election. Again, he alleged the reduction of our salaries to N 89,000 and most of us turning beggars and hunters, for these we hereby state that the government of Abia State is not owing us any kobo as we are up to date with other workers in Abia State.

“The government has even gone further to increase our monthly allowances from N1.350 million to N 2 million for which we will ever be grateful to the government of Victor OKezie Ikpeazu, PhD.

“May we state categorically clear that in spite of the biting economy of the Nation, activities in huge proportions are ongoing in all councils of Abia State as no Local Government Chairman has ever complained of lack of funds.

“The industrial peace prevailing in Abia is here to stay because our performing Governor and government are committed to our people.

“The Governor of Abia State has earlier commenced his ‘ONE WARD, ONE PROJECT” agenda. He has also commenced the recruitment of staffs in our Local Government Areas which he equally gave one slot each to all the 17 LGA Councilors to employ one person each from their ward. Only the Rising sun sees hunters and beggars in his domain and constituency and not in the Abia State Government”.

Source: https://www.abnews247.com/2018/02/not-beggars-hunters-abia-councilors-insists/

The attention of Ochendo Youths Foundation has been drawn to a false poster of Senator T.A Orji for president trending online, while we are aware that this is the handiwork of unscrupulous politicians and their agents well known by us and are willing to do anything possible to get the attention of Senator Orji.

Senator T.A Orji is a busy man who is more focused on his duties of attracting development to his constituency and Abia state than to waste time on such perverted minds.

We therefore wish to use this medium to inform the general public to disregard such publication as not coming from either Senator Orji or his agents.

Sign: Obiefule Harry Ukaegbu

A few days ago the state government through the Local government service commission declared open the purchase of forms for employment at the cost of one thousand naira per document, typical of every hoax transaction, the bait is always tempting, thousands of unemployed Abians began the 1000 naira contribution to the purse of the state government through a dedicated bank account domiciled at ECO BANK PLC with account number 1362002300, while I appreciate the governments seeming intervention through the commissioner for information by coming out with a press release discouraging people from further payment and advising a refund for those who have already paid, but the directive was not enforced as our interaction with the Permanent Secretary of the local government service commission reveals that the directive was not transmitted to the commission either verbally or via any letter and at such they are not aware of any counter directive stopping the sales of such forms, deeper investigation reveals that over twelve thousand job seekers have paid in to that account causing the commission to run out of forms and unable to give out more forms to those that have paid and receipted, while more are still making payments into same account.
While it looks in the surface as a cheering news, My worry in the whole process is that in 2010 Abia state engaged in sale of forms for jobs, it ended up as a scam with those who paid losing their investment and the managers of the fund enriching their accounts with the proceeds from the sale of forms, it’s a familiar scam known to all in the state and this one has not come in a different format except for the volume of sales and the spread of proposed employment windows.

My investigation revealed that each local government was allocated 50 slots for employment with a directive to the council chairmen to accept only recommendations for employment through the stake holders within their local governments at the ratio of 35 for school certificate holders into grade level 1 to 6, while the state will handle the recruitment of graduates into level 7 and above also on testimonial from party stalwarts and government officials , the question that comes to mind is, if the government that has been complaining of over bloated labour force and huge wage bill as reasons for their inability to meet up with monthly salary payments and council staff, secondary and primary school teachers, pensioners and workers in parastatals and agencies are still being owed from three months and above, what is the economic balance in recruiting more staff if you are unable to pay those already in your employ, when employment slots have already been given out to council chairmen with a directive, is it not fraudulent asking gullible Abians to make payments for employment that has already been concluded?
Is the Abia civil service now a criminal enterprise that extorts money from helpless and unsuspecting Abians with the promise of a non-existing job offer, why issue a vague order to the local government service commission on orders of stopping payments without a follow up enforcement order?

Since the job openings as advertised is only 850 slots and with a clear instruction on how the slots will be shared why go ahead to deceive the gullible public into purchasing employment forms, does it not amount to hoodwinking the unemployed and desperate Abian in search of how to make a decent living?

Who authorized the payment of the money and who are the signatories to the account, what was the money meant for abinitio, and what purpose was the fee meant to serve if not for purposes of capitalizing on the frustrations and helplessness of the poor and unemployed to rip them off?

When will the state government come open with a clear and fair employment policy designed to serve the generality of Abians on merit rather than selective treatment based on political party affiliation, fraud and parochialism?

Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

The Economics of open grazing by brute force, hunger, deaths and blood

By Uche Aguoru

While we examine the security implications of the open grazing and cattle colony proposals of the federal government, it is also very pertinent we look at the economic implications of the activities of the herdsmen.

Subsistence farming is an age old agricultural practice same for pastoralism, what subsistence farming represents to the Hausas, the Ibibios, the Tivs, the Idomas, the Yorubas, the Efiks and the Ibos in Nigeria is what cattle breeding is to the Fulanis.

Why then would the Fulani herdsmen consciously and callously release their cattle to feast on peoples farmlands and set fire on acres of farm land with cash crops not yet harvested and still go ahead to impudently demand and get compensated in a situation whereby the owners of such farmlands reacts by killing, injuring or even chasing away a cow?

If there is any area in the life of the present administration where they have scored very high points, it’s in the area of agriculture where to a large degree the country is moving towards attaining food sufficiency and have even gone ahead to experiment on the exportation of agricultural products to gain foreign exchange, the agricultural sector has contributed greatly in reducing unemployment in Nigeria by engaging over 63 percent of the total Nigerian work force, research has shown that over the past 35 years, the Nigerian economy expanded by more than +3 times in size, The agricultural sector contributed about 40% to this expansion relative to Oil & Gas, in the last two years almost every Nigerian state today has a rice production policy aimed at producing rice in commercial quantity and that agrarian policy gave birth to what we have today as Ebonyi rice, Anambra rice, lake rice etc. flooding the Nigerian rice market.

The National Bureau of Statistics, said the Gross Domestic Product growth rate for the country recorded the economy standing at a 1.4% increase in growth rate in the third quarter of 2017, Evidently, it is therefore safe to say that agriculture having contributed significantly to the growth of the economy is the most important and resilient sector in the Nigerian economy today.

Nigerian cassava production is by far the largest in the world, producing more than Brazil and almost double the production of Indonesia and Thailand joined, while Nigerian yam production accounts for about 70% of the world's total yam production thereby placing us at the world’s largest producers index, with Palm oil positioned as the most widely consumed vegetable oil in the world, Nigeria remains the third largest producers of the commodity across the globe.

With all these recorded achievements in crop farming, poultry, piggery, goat, and fish farming scored an encouraging high in the livestock subsector.

The shocking reality is that till date Nigeria still imports cows from other countries for local consumption, 70% of the cattle being reared in the country came from countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, a Nigerian bred cow produces just a litre of milk a day while a cow in Saudi Arabia or Brazil produces 30 to 40 litres daily.

What then is the appeal that will provoke the federal government placing premium on cattle rearing as against other flourishing farm products to the point of proposing colonization policy for herdsmen and their cattle with the obvious knowledge that they add very little value to the growth of the country’s economy and agricultural GDP.

Do the prevailing agro-economic indices justify the protection and shielding being given to cattles and their herders even after committing gruesome mass murder and destroying cash crops and agricultural products worth millions of dollars?

What then justifies the silence and kids glove treatment of the authorities over the wanton destruction of lives, cash crops and properties?

Why has the security agencies not arrested or questioned the leadership of Miyetti Allah cattle breeders association after openly encouraging the herdsmen to violate the open grazing law, admitting to and defending the mass murder of innocent Nigerians?

Today our farmers are afraid to access their farms, our agrarian communities have abandoned their homes and farm lands for cattle’s and their herders and vacated their communities for fear of being attacked and killed, farms and crops are being destroyed and set on fire by the herdsmen, affected states and communities are resorting to self help by threatening to arm their youths, hunger is looming, inflation is threatening, and criminality and break down of law and order is imminent.

Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

Groups in Abam Clan in Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency has endorsed Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and the member representing the constituency in the National Assembly, Hon Uko Nkole for second tenue in office.

The group which include Federation of Abam Youths Students Association (FASA), Abam Youths, and Abam Traditional Rulers Council in Arochukwu Local Government Area of the state have also vowed to protect their votes during the 2019 election.

The groups adopted Ikpeazu and Nkole after the former flagged off the reconstruction of the collapsed Ndi Ebe Abam Bridge, which was attracted by the federal lawmaker as his 2017 constituency project. 

Proposing the motion for the endorsements at Nkole's residence in Ozu Abam, Abam Youth Leader, Mr. John Kalu Irouwa said there were rewards for their impacting positively on the lives of the people.

Flagging off the project, Ikpeazu said the government shared the burden of the damaged bridge with the people of clan, and commeded Nkole for drawing the attention of the Federal Government to it.

He appealed to the contractors handling the project to insist on using the right materials and its timely completion, adding that the government would provide them the enabling environment to deliver.

Similarly, Nkole said he went into partisan politics to empower the people and to attract democracy dividends to the constituency, adding that he had impacted each of the 183 villages in the constituency

Nkole, who said he had vowed to make 20 people from the clan millionaires within his period of stay at the National Assembly, commended the governor for performing the function .

Appreciating the groups for the gesture, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lawmaker appealed to the people of the constituency to remain in their support for  the party as vechicle for development.

In his remarks after the flagging off of the project, the Project Manager of the contractors handling the project, Gerald Frank Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Gerald Akali assured of use of quality materials.

Similarly, the President-General, Ndi Ebe Development Union, Chief Sunday Awo lamented the hardship the people had faced since the bridge, which was built in 1960 collapsed five years ago.

Source: https://www.abnews247.com/2017/12/groups-endorse-ikpeazu-nkole-2019-photos-videos/

The Senator representing Abia North senatorial zone in the Red chambers distinguished senator MAO Arukwe Ohuabunwa has attracted some notable projects to be sited at different locations within his senatorial zone.

Some of the projects has been awarded to different contractors and domiciled in different ministries.

The list of the projects,the ministries and contracting firms handling such projects are as follows:

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF YOUTH & SPORTS: AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION MINI BASIC SPORTS STADIUM AT AROCHUKWU LGA, ABIA NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT TO MESSERS BEE-HARRIS INVESTMENT LIMITED.

AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER AT UMUNNEKWU IN ABIA STATE; CONTRACTOR – IKONADU CONCEPT LTD.

AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER AT NDIOJI IN ABIA STATE; CONTRACTOR – CENTRE ENERGY SERVICES LTD.

AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER AT UBURUIHIE IN ABIA STATE; CONTRACTOR – WELLNESS ENERGY RESULT LTD.

AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER AT USAKA UKWU IN ABIA STATE; CONTRACTOR – CLINTON ENTERPRISES NIGERIA LTD.

AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER AT OROR AROCHUKWU IN ABIA STATE; CONTRACTOR – ARCZEE LTD.

We also gathered that the Managing Director of Anambra/Imo river Basin Development Authority recently visited the Abia North senator to discuss Abia North projects domiciled in his agency which includes

The Ndiebe Bailey Bridge
Arochukwu Water scheme and Reticulation
Umunneochi Water Scheme
Nkporo Water Scheme.

It is highly regrettable that Abia have not moved beyond where the military administrators left it since 1999, it is even shameful that all those that have led Abia from 1999 till date despite their aboriginal status have not deemed it fit to place Abia first before self.

Abia is a state blessed with the best of natural resources and human capital deposits, but as at today it is debatable if the state is ranking higher than any other in real term development across all sectors except in criminal political ingenuity.

I make bold to say that all the Abia political gladiators have not thought of Abia beyond political gains,
No doubt politics is the catalyst to development, but playing politics devoid of economic, infrastructural and human capital developmental mindset in place, is a very dangerous and destructive road to travel.

But I have come to the very sad and unfortunate realization that in today’s Abia, all political gladiators have made politics without developmental mindset a set standard, and it’s being practiced from 1999 till date.

I find it very untrue that a leader elected by the people will mount the saddle of leadership of a state without an inclination of what to do to advance the state beyond where he met it, but we have seen that happen repeatedly in Abia, thereby raising the salient question that we all have silently nursed within our inner beings,

‘’WHAT IS REALLY WRONG WITH ABIA?

Selfishness and greed may not be unconnected with the current sad reality being faced in our state today, while lack of vision and creativity in governance by our leadership has relegated us from the premier league to the monkey post division and we have collectively hired amateur players as captains in major political league matches.

I am yet to see one governor in Abia that has a carefully researched infrastructural and economic developmental master plan as we have in some other states, all we have produced in Abia are political wizzkids with doctorate degrees in electoral fraud but F9 in developmental arithmetic.

Who can we hold accountable for our collective misfortune, is it that Abia has refused to develop or have we intentionally refused to develop Abia?

Why is it that all the political gladiators in our state only come together once in four years only to talk about whose turn it is to govern Abia without talking about developing a framework of a people-centred development strategy? Why is it that nobody has made it a priority to discuss Abia’s political, economic and infrastructural development, but we are always quick and eager to discuss rotational governance and turn by turn leadership?

Why is it that 26 years after creation no government has deemed it worthy to call for Abia economic summit, or talk about Abia beyond political gains?

Why can’t the Alex Otti’s, Uche Ogah’s, T.A Orji’s, Orji Kalu’s, Okonjo Iweala’s, Kalu Idika Kalu’s Aruma Oteh’s, Ike Nwachukwu’s, ihejirika’s, Acho Obioma’s, Okezie Ikpeazu’s, Enyinnaya Abaribe’s, F.N Nwosu’s, Emeka Nwogu’s, Emmanuel Adaelu’s, Benjamin Apugo’s, Onyema Ugochukwu’s, Bernard Enweremadu’s, Max Nduaguibe’s, Colonel Akobundu’s, chikwe Udensi’s, Acho Nwakanma’s, Nyerere Anyims, Ikechi Emenike’s, Empire Kanu’s, Reagan Ufomba’s, Senator Nkechi Nworgu’s, the J.J Ogbulafor’s,Senator Adolph Wabara’s, Sam Ohuabunwa’s the Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi’s etc. come together with each setting aside their selfish political ambitions, their grievances against one another, their political wounds and victories for the sake of our Abia?

I have this certitude that if we can sit in a round table to discuss ABIA, we will not be in court almost three years after elections struggling for who will govern the state, if we can sit together to discuss ABIA, it will erase electoral suspicion and birth political trust, if renowned economists like Dr. Alex Otti, Kalu Idika Kalu, Dr. Okonjo Iweala, will come together and give Abia the economic blue print needed to move Abia to the next level, industrial giants like Dr. Uche Ogah, Elder Emmanuel Adaelu etc. will have the opportunity to sit together and plan on how best to effectively industrialize ABIA, why can’t general Ike Nwachukwu, general Ihejirika, colonel Akobundu etc. put heads together and brainstorm on the best way to tackle insecurity in Abia, will it be out of place to see Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator T.A Orji, Senator Enyi Abaribe, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Senator Emma Nwaka, Senator Adighije, Dr.ACB Agbazuere, Chief Acho Nwakanma, Chief Acho Obioma, Senator Nkechi Nworgu, Senator Adolph Wabara, Chief B.B Apugo and other notable Abia Political high players to come to a round table to altruistically discuss the political standing of Abia as it is today, I am almost certain that the outcome of such a confab will lead to the end of Government of my pocket to my pocket and for my pocket which has become the set standard and major reason why many go into politics with the mindset of do or die.

Until we discuss Abia, we will continue to produce accidental leaders whose loyalty will remain with those they rode on their backs to office rather than the people, until we discuss Abia, our political reasoning will still be trapped in clannish sentimentality, Until we discuss Abia no matter the best of ideas and intentions of whoever that will come to govern Abia will still be met with stiff opposition and frustrated by those that has made Abia treasury their milking pot, the truth remains that the human and material capital domiciled in Abia can never be maximized to the interest of the people until Abia is holistically discussed and the way forward charted towards conscientious development, until we discuss Abia, the masses will keep complaining, while the political elite will be smiling to the bank, until we discuss Abia, nepotism will continue to be the standard while competency and merit will remain withdrawn in Abia political curriculum, if Abia is not discussed, I am indubitably certain that we all will still gather as usual to blame each other over our collective political misfortune after each electioneering period.

For us to get Abia right, Abia must be discussed

Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

HOPEE Foundation a globally recognized Non-Governmental Organization will on Saturday, September 23rd, decorate Mr. Lucky Martins Igbokwe, (A.K.A Don Lulu) with an award in recognition of his services to humanity and youth developments.

Mr. Igbokwe a multiple award winner, a United Nations Mayor of Peace, and the president of 2Flame Entertainment ltd, a Nigerian record label reputed for discovering young musical talents and developing them into big and celebrated artistes was chosen by the organization to be honoured in the selfless services and human capital development category alongside four others will be receiving the award at Best Western Plus Towson Baltimore North Hotel & Suites,1100 Cromwell Bridge Rd, Towson, Maryland 21286.

To receive the award alongside Don Lulu are, Prince Okenwa, Rev Danny Haas, Senior Pastor of First York Assembly of God’s Church and ACF Baltimore for their outstanding contribution to humanity.

A release from the Hanover, Pennsylvania based Ngo, signed by the founder and the president, Dr. Maduabuchi Prince Gabriel said, “the 2017 gala and awards night will afford us the opportunity to appreciate men and women from around the world that has made impact in the lives of indigent ones either through our organization or on their own.”

The statement further stated that the organization is founded on the premise of bringing hope to the world through skilled acquisition projects that are designed to help the poor and needy.

“Our vision is to provide Healthcare, provide food and teach people how to farm, help orphanages, and empower women with skills and trade, while teaching the women and the youth to provide for themselves and their families, especially widows, the organization also empowers school children with school supplies and educational needs and materials.

Hopee Foundation has lined up a number of activities in service to humanity in Nigeria, beginning from December 2017 which includes the delivery of beds and cribs for the orphans in Methodist church Uzuakoli Motherless babies’ home, free medical services amongst other humanitarian activities.

The brutal killings as evidenced in a video report in my custody have left me shell-shocked. I totally condemn any form of extra-judicial killing, torture, lawlessness and anarchy perpetrated by any group in Abia State. At this very delicate period in our nation’s history; posterity will judge us for the roles we play in achieving lasting peace. The indiscriminate and unsavoury action as captured in the video is fortuitous and spells grave consequences if it is not quickly addressed. The flagrant disrespect of our constitution which upholds the sanctity of human life cannot be condoned especially under a democratically elected government.

The reckless abuse of power by the Military personnel as seen in the Video paints a very discordant tune. It totally goes against the initial statement issued by the Army Chief in respect to the framework of Operation Python Dance II in Abia State. The chicanery, double-standards and blood-letting exercise which flout the rule of law must stop. There must be a show of will on the part of the Army personnel deployed to Abia State to quell an avoidable crisis. No constituted authority is above the law so everyone must shun vices and provocative actions that may spell doom for our land.  I therefore demand that every Army personnel who have ignored the extant laws of the land be brought to book. This video has left a sour taste on our lips. We may be sounding the drumbeats of chaos and catastrophe if all those involved in this bloodletting are not dealt with.

I call on all well-meaning and peace-loving indigenes of Abia to join hands in working for a quick resolution of any crisis in our land. Abia remains a component of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We abide by the statutory laws that make us one indivisible nation under God. This is a time when we must decide not to bow to the tirades of those who want to foment trouble and paint Abia in a bad light. Our commitment to the constitution of Nigeria is a sacred trust which we must uphold in the face of these challenging times.

In line with the issue at hand, I also call on the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to give peace a chance. The Situation at hand now demands for wisdom. There is no use engaging in an unwarranted display of power when every issue can be resolved through dialogue. As long as we keep looking at all the issues in a pragmatic way, we can chart a course that will bring positive outcomes. It is time to sheathe the sword and listen to the voice of wisdom. Our collective pursuit is to make life better for our people and this will not be achieved without the use of dialogue.

The South East Governors should also be proactive in engaging the youths before any issue escalates. As leaders in their respective States, they can champion the values of peace and equity through dialogue. There is no need to allow situations such as this to arise when there are various machineries that can be used to stop it in its tracks.

I want to state unequivocally that the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu who is the Chief Security Officer of the State has failed in carrying out his assignment. This crisis could have been nipped in the bud if there was a proactive measure to address it. The Governor needs to do more in order to salvage the State from being in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. The mantle of leadership is demanding and he must brace up to surmount the challenges that we currently face.

I am committed to working with anyone that is genuinely pushing for lasting peace. I will continue to speak for the voiceless and take the necessary steps to stop this furor from being entrenched in Abia State. The South East with a strong reference to Abia State fully renounces any act that promotes unwarranted disharmony and death in our land.

The current challenges may look precarious but I call on all well-meaning individuals to continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of Abia State and our nation - Nigeria.

Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu

A governorship aspirant for the 2015 elections in Abia State, Chief Emeka Kalu has said that he has no qualms with the Abia State government, other than the fact that he wants the right thing to be done.

Kalu who spoke with jungle journalist correspondent on the phone, stated that it was unethical for the government to resort to personal attacks, first against Dr Alex Otti and now himself, simply because they want to see the State funds used properly to serve the interests of Abians and not diverted to personal use.

In his response to media reports emanating from the government against his person, Kalu argued: “First of all let me address this issue of communication with Gov Ikpeazu. As an individual, I respect every political office that has to do with the government. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s media aides are talking about secret messages, when there is nothing secret there.

“In the trending response, you purportedly alleged that I sent you a text message making requests to organize rally and a press release in support of your government, amidst other inconsequential and frivolous claims; but you failed to state if in the said text message to you, whether I specifically demanded for money or any form of selfish favour. Of course, I did not ask you for money or any form of favour as I will never do such and not even to a man that I am still able to give pocket money, irrespective of the fact that he is sitting comfortably on the resources of our dear state – Abia. I have the constitutional right to call or text the Governor, to give him my opinion and perspective on how I believe is the best way to make Abia great again, but that is not even the bone of contention. Why would they always keep calling the name of the former Governor of Abia state Dr Orji. Uzo Kalu when anyone speaks ,on sensitive issues that can stampede the development of the state why ?”

“I have the capacity to ask questions about our dear state, I am continually asking the questions, because there is no clear part for repayment of the said loans”. When there are no checks and balances in place…

“I live in a country where politics is regarded as an avenue to serve humanity and not to immerse wealth to the detriment of the people; therefore, whenever you hear from me, do not panic and feel like I have come to ask for Favours.”

On whether he has been asking for favour from the Abia governor, Kalu replied; “I have never for one day asked the governor for any contract or anything that has a financial gain in Abia, what I am doing for Abians is solely for the interest of the coming generation, our children. I am content and fully sustained with what God has blessed me with and I do very well both here in the United States and other nations where we conduct our business. So the idea of secret messages shouldn’t come up at all. I have never asked for favour and will never ask Gov. Ikpeazu, I only need answers to my questions”.

Source: http://www.abnews247.com/2017/09/12/stop-attacking-address-issues-raised-emeka-kalu-replies-gov-ikpeazu/

A prominent Investment Banker and Former Chief of Staff to the Abia State Governor, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu has spoken about the ongoing strike by Resident Doctors in Nigeria. He tasked all parties to think about the best interests of the citizens of Nigeria inspite of the teething challenges they face. He commended the convening of a conciliatory meeting to resolve the imbroglio. The Negotiation team from the Federal Government and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) are trying to work out a solution to the current faceoff. Chief Mascot noted that a lot needs to be done to upgrade the medical system but he said it is never too late to take a step in the right direction.



On the other hand, he stated that he is aware of the sacrifice that the Resident Doctors make in order to answer the call of duty. However, his belief that the common man needs not to bear the brunt of the impasse remains sacrosanct. Chief Mascot said that the machinery of the government must swing into action to ensure that this crisis is not prolonged.



In the light of this development, he said that – ‘’It is possible to bring back the pride that we once enjoyed as a nation. The mid-sixties and early seventies were replete with highly functional medical facilities. It is possible to reenact the good times with concerted effort’’.



In a similar vein, he touched on the Academic Staff Union of Universities strike. He tasked all the stakeholders to work out lasting solutions to address this perennial challenge in the education sector. Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu said that all these issues point to the need to begin to work out holistic solutions. He called on every leader to map out concrete systems and a framework that enables the core sectors of our society not to suffer any breakdown. He commended the resilience of Nigerians who have continued to thrive and weather the storm. The Nigerian spirit is something he believes can take us to a place of relevance once all the right structures are put in place.



He charged the youths not to give in to various vices despite the current lull in academic activities. He encouraged them to look for ways to improve their value and work to be part of those that will contribute to the growth of our dear nation.



He reiterated the fact that – ‘’One of the things that make us what we are is our ability to tap into the huge resources that abound in Nigeria. With a population that stands above 180 million, the refined manpower can help us compete with other leading economies in the world’’.



He continued by saying – ‘’Among the many challenges that we face as a nation, we must never give up on our dear country. It is possible to work assiduously to birth the nation of our dreams’’. He spoke about countries that have been able to achieve this such as Singapore, China, etc. Chief Mascot stated that he is a possibility thinker and knows that the future holds very bright prospects.



In his final remarks, he said education, issues surrounding health, security and other key components of what make up our society must be well funded. Also, he urged every stakeholder to stay committed to playing their role in order to equitably build the Nigeria of our dreams.

We won’t tolerate Edoga in our community…. Ikwuano/Umuahia consultative forum

Youths under the aegis of Ikwuano/Umuahia consultative forum has called on the federal government not to appoint the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Professor Hillary Edoga as an Executive Director in the Root Crop Research Institute Umudike as applied for by him.

The youths numbering over 100 and chanting solidarity songs stormed the country home of an APC stalwart and board member of MOUAU Chief Amanze Udenze, demanding that the federal government should not give Prof. Hillary Edoga the opportunity of becoming the Executive Director at National Root Crop Research Institute Umudike.

 According to the spokesman of the group, Engineer Kelechi Uzoukwu, who spoke on behalf of the group decried the huge rot Prof Francis Edoga left behind as MOUAU V.C which the new Vice Chancellor Prof. Francis Otunta has been trying to clean, the youths said that returning Prof. Edoga to the NRCRI Umudike may mean the death of the institution, he said the institution may not stand the test of corruption and immorality that Prof. Edoga may introduce to the institute as he did in MOUAU, speaking further the leader of the group said, the former VC should rather proceed on the sabbatical leave offered him by the board of MOUAU so as to give way for proper and full scale investigation into his activities while in MOUAU as the vice chancellor rather than seeking for a new appointment, the youths said that Prof. Edoga won’t be tolerated within their community any more after seeing the level of corruption, destruction and immorality he introduced into Michael Okpara university of Agriculture Umudike.

They said that they won’t allow a man with such a low moral pedigree as Prof. Hillary Edoga to continue with his negative exploits within Ikwuano/Umuahia, he went further to narrate how the youths in his own community in Enugu state brought down a monument of himself which he erected at the market square questioning the moral authority upon which he should place such a statue of himself there, given his low moral pedigree.

They questioned why he should be allowed by the university authorities to be coming to school as a lecturer with a retinue of police guards and carving out a personal edifice within the University as his office.

They asked Chief Amanze to use his position to inform the presidency and the MOUAU governing board to ensure that Dr. Edoga is not only stopped from being appointed the Executive Director in the National Root Crop Research institute Umudike, but that he should be thoroughly probed for all the atrocities committed during his years in MOUAU and punished accordingly, Engr Uzoukwu said he can’t find a reason as to why Dr. Edoga won’t proceed on his compulsory sabbatical leave, if not for the reasons of blocking and covering up series of atrocities he committed as VC, the group handed over the written petition to Chief Amanze who in his response promised to take the issues raised to necessary quarters, he also told them that their demands will be met once it is justified and assured them that the university council as presently constituted cannot fold its arms and watch any one destroy the institution no matter how highly placed or connected that individual may be, he informed them that the present governing council of the university is looking into all the allegations brought forward by some people against the former V.C and will do the necessary as soon they round up with their investigations, he also said that the EFCC is at the moment investigating some allegations of financial misappropriation and corruption against the former Vice Chancellor and therefore advised the youths to go home, while assuring them that their concerns has been noted and will be taken seriously.

At the last council meeting of the governing board of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, part of our deliberations were petitions written by some aggrieved suspended appointees of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, and part of their petitions were that so many of the illegally hired temporary staff of MOUAU were still in the system and receiving salaries even as 440 others whose appointment have not been regularized due to the obvious irregularities in their appointment procedures.

In their petition they pleaded with the board to look into their problems with a view to resolving it, they admitted the irregularities in their hiring procedure but went ahead to plead with the council to consider a review with the intention of bringing back to the system those who are qualified out of the lot.  
They also went ahead to draw the attention of the council to their confrères who were hired at the same time through the same procedure but are still in the system taking salaries and enjoying other privileges as those whose appointments has been regularized and confirmed staff of the establishment.

The council therefore demanded for the schools payroll through the university bursar and discovered that 270 of such staff were in the payroll of the university and were hired within the same period as those of them suspended noting that their appointments took place towards the end of Professor Edoga’s tenure when obviously a vice chancellor designate is already in place and waiting to assume office.

But the difference in these set which made it a bit difficult to be detected alongside others was that instead of being issued with a temporary letter of appointment they were offered direct employment and issued with appointment letters confirming their employment without going through the laid down civil service procedure or their appointment contract ratified by the council as the case may be, which makes their appointment not only illegal but criminal.

It was also discovered that their names were sneaked into the payroll by the former bursar acting on orders of Prof. Edoga.

Further investigation brought us to the frightening revelation that these set of employees hired by the former Vice Chancellor of the university Prof. Edoga paid the sum of 500.000 naira to 1million naira in order to secure those illegal appointments and they are not alone in this, there are still others in this same category who are yet to be detected but we assure the university community and the general public that our ongoing investigation will certainly unearth those people and weed them out of the system as the board cannot tolerate criminality of any sort under any guise.  

Council therefore resolved to terminate forthwith all those illegal appointments while looking for the best way to resolve the suspension of the 440+ suspended temporary staff whose appointment has not been regularized but are being reviewed.

Chief Amanze Udenze
Governing Board member
MOUAU

I was a victim of the MOUAU contract fraud under the previous University administration, and witnessing what’s going on in MOUAU today over the repeated media falsehood and stage managed protests being orchestrated by agents of Prof. Edoga, I wasn’t surprised because that has always been the trademark of corruption where ever it is domiciled for a long time unchecked.

Prof. Edoga represented everything but integrity while he was in office as the Vice Chancellor of the university, all manner of fraud and corruption took place under his supervision, beginning from employment scam which he collected hundreds of thousands of naira from the unemployed and the jobless and offered them fraudulent employment letters knowing that their employment won’t stand the scrutiny of the universities governing council or even during time of review and regularization as most of the people he employed are not even qualified for the positions they are meant to occupy.

It is also alleged that most of the contracts awarded during Prof. Edoga’s tenure are fraudulently awarded while some of the jobs are contracted to two different firms under same job order and contractors are subjected to pay upfront of 10% or more to some agents believing that you have gotten a contract only to find out that you have been duped, a lot of people fell victim of these fraudulent activities that was openly carried out by the then VC and his agents.

I wasn’t surprised soon after he left office all his atrocities began to surface and today he is fighting back with all manner of blackmail against the incumbent V.C Prof. Otunta, though I haven’t met the new Vice Chancellor but he can’t be anything like his predecessor in corruption and immorality.

While I call on the board to thoroughly review the activities of Edoga, during his period in office, and recommend the adequate punitive measures where necessary, I also call on the EFCC to investigate all the alleged fraudulent activities of Prof. Edoga during his time that is crippling the university’s activities today and take action where necessary because if he is allowed to go free it will send wrong signals to the society, while his continuous stay in the university environment will not allow the board and the university authorities the required latitude to unearth all his hidden atrocities against the school.

Engr. Godson Obierika C.

CEO. Gordoc Engineering Services ltd

Looking beyond political parties, a critical step to Abia redemption and development.

By Uche Aguoru

For anyone in Abia and beyond who pretends not to have seen or felt the rot that the PDP leadership represents across the 17 local governments, the three senatorial zones, eight federal constituencies down to the wards simply because of political party affiliation or clannish sentimentality is living in self-denial.

 A greater percentage of Abia electorates have shown resentment towards the emergence of other political parties without actually considering the political benefits of plurality of political forces in climes such as ours, where the political will of the people has been weakened to the point of total submission. 

The truth remains that in Nigeria our political parties are not planted on ideology but on individualism, and the only meeting point is interest, what should be uppermost in the minds of the average Abian is who will stand in the gap for the ordinary Abian who has been impoverished and made to eat out of the dustbin of the political elites and subjected to even bow down to say thank you for such privilege.

Hunger does not belong to any political party, corruption and greed is not the making of the PDP, neither is insecurity a member of the APGA, unemployment and economic instability is not the fault of the APC, all these societal inadequacies are the making of the individuals we elect into sensitive offices to control our collective destiny.   

In as much it is difficult to compare circumstances, but Abia of today is ranking in ‘’clear language’’ the least, interms of infrastructural, social and economic development, because we are stuck in a leadership that lacks focus, strong will, direction and vision to control a state as diverse as ours, richly blessed with abundance of natural and human resources, but today we cannot pay salaries despite huge financial inflows from the federal government.

The question now, is which POLITICAL PARTY, will rescue Abia from this dangerous ride into the cesspit of destruction that the PDP and our political leadership has steered us into? And my honest answer is NONE.

What then is the solution to this destruction that awaits the future of all of us if we sit down and do nothing?  The solution is to look beyond political party affiliation and source for a leader within, not minding the party’s flag he/she intends to fly to achieve this all important ambition of each and every one of us, we need a leadership that will produce Economic Development? We need a disciplined, intelligent, humane, courageous, and trustworthy leader, we need a leader who has an idea on how to improve the economic, political, and social well-being of Abians.

If the primary focus of leadership should be the Welfare of the Citizenry and about provisioning affordable Health Care delivery, Education, Security, infrastructure, job creation and physical projects while ensuring the wellbeing of the aged, the weak, vulnerable and the poor. if development is not about focusing on phoney white elephant projects like the Osisoma 3D flyover when civil servants are being owed 5-11 months salaries and our existing roads are impassable, then we need to look beyond political parties and source for that Abian who has the pedigree to deliver, who has that economic creativity, contact and reach to turn the fortunes of our dear state around, we have to look for that individual who will not only enjoy our collective trust and confidence but will reciprocate same through infrastructural, social and economic development of Abia state.

If Abia must get it right by 2019 then we all should focus on the man Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah OON. to give us the leadership that will change the narrative.

Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

The controversy arising from the suspension of 460 staff of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike may have been far from being over, as a board member of the university has accused the former VC of the institution professor Hillary Edoga of high handedness, mismanagement and corruption.

Speaking to Journalists, a member of the council and chairman committee on works Chief Amanze Udenze told news men that from the councils investigation, bulk of those employed by the former VC were unqualified to man some of the positions they occupied, he also said that most of the projects undertaken by Edoga were fraudulently awarded to contractors at inflated costs and in some cases a particular job will be given to two contractors at the same time putting the institution into several litigations arising from the fraudulent award of contracts and collection of upfront payment from the affected contractors which has led to delivery of substandard jobs and most of the buildings are already caving in, he stated that professor Edoga did not follow the standard labour laws while employing the suspended 460 staff that were suspended by the university authorities.

He said according to extant labour laws any employment that must go above 100 persons in such an institution, must be made to go through the approval of the board and such vacancies, advertised on national dailies for people to apply, being a federal university the principle of quota system must be applied inline with the employment guidelines of the federation, but rather than do the proper thing, some of the disengaged staff had confessed that professor Edoga dished out employment letters to them in hotel rooms, and in restaurants others say they paid large sums of money to get the job while some others were employed four days to the end of his tenure.

He explained that the board is looking into the controversial employment and all those who are qualified will be readmitted.

Prof. Edoga at the moment has formed a parallel government within the school and has built for himself an official edifice where he uses as his office complex outside the approval of the school authorities, and has instigated the press and his clique within the school to frustrate Prof. Otunta’s administration, Udenze said.

He also said that it was alleged that under professor Edoga’s watch a lot of unqualified professors were turned out by the school making a mockery of professorship.

Chief Amanze said that very soon the board will sit and recommend the measures to be taken to address the damage that Edoga did to the institution.

Our interaction with some of the suspended staff who spoke to us on condition of anonymity confirmed that they paid large sums of money, while some of the women had to offer themselves for sex in exchange for the job, those interviewed pleaded with the new VC to please consider the current state of unemployment and hardship in the country and consider regularizing them since Prof. Edoga did not regularize their appointment before leaving office as Vice Chancellor.

All efforts meant to get Prof. Hillary Edoga to respond to the allegations proved abortive as he refused to talk on the issue.

Police detectives attached to the Umuahia central Police station has arrested one Chinonso Ibekwe for allegedly strangling one late Peter Eseonu, (a tricycle Operator) to death in Umuahia the Abia State Capital.

Abia Breaking News gathered that Ibekwe had boarded the deceased tricycle on chapter claiming was he going to pick some harvested farm products from his mother’s farm at Amuzukwu,a suburb near the Abia capital city.

According to reliable sources, the suspects was said to have attacked his victim on arriving the farm, strangled him with a rope and dumped his body in a dip ditch in the area, while he made away with his tricycle.

It was learnt that an undisclosed man who was defecating in the bush witnessed the incident and later raised the alarm in the community.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Adeleye Oyebade has confirmed the incident to Southern City News.

Oyebade said the suspect was arrested sequel to information received on the missing of the 67 year old ESeonu who hails from Ekenaobizi Umuopara, Umuahia.

He said Police operatives had swooped on the suspect, a 200 level computer science student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU).

Source: http://abnews247.com/en/2017/07/17/200l-mouau-student-kills-tricycle-operator-umuahia-dumps-body-ditch-photo/

Ifeanyi OKALI writes from Umuahia....

A human rights activist and conditional lawyer Barr. A.C.B Agbazuere yesterday won a murder case instituted against Mr. Enwereji Ikechi and his younger brother
Mr Enwereji Okechukwu.

The duo Who have been on awaiting trial for five years were discharge and acquitted by the Court courstey of free legal services of Agbazuere.

A Source close to the murder suspects said they were arrested and remained in Nigerian Prisons custody since the year 2012.

The source said, "All hopes were lost in the case as their relatives could no longer hire a legal aid. It only took the help of the notable International Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Barr. A.C.B Agbazuere to take up the case once again without charges all these years.

"It was a thing of Joy this morning, when the prison Warders that brought the young men to Court could not return with them to the prison as inmates rather, they celebrated their freedom and took photographs with them.



"We must continue to encourage our people to be placed where they can function well, The Umuagu people in Alaukwu Autonomous Community have today shared from the wealth of legal experiences of Dr A.C.B Agbazuere.

"We therefore encourage the community and the good people of Isialangwa South to immediately reabsorb the two young men into the society hence they have been proved Innocent by a court of law. This will help them to easily be useful to themselves and the society.


Source: http://abnews247.com/en/2017/07/13/court-frees-murder-suspects-umuahia-abia-state/