https://www.facebook.com/100002788427798/posts/1321642141272054/

NIGERIA’S DEMOCRACY UNDER SERIOUS THREAT


A STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY NYESOM EZENWO WIKE, CON, GSSRS, POS OVER THE UNWARRANTED BRUTALIZATION OF EKITY PEOPLE BY SECURITY OPERATIVES


In the early ours of today, Ekiti State Government House was attacked by armed security operatives on the orders of the Federal Government in their desperate and deliberate endeavour to stop the Governor and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from organizing a campaign rally and victory walk in support of the party’s candidate for the Saturday July 14th Governorship election.

2.​During the attack, the Governor of the State, His Excellency Ayodele Peter Fayose and scores of innocent citizens and supporters of the PDP were cruelly tear-gassed, physically brutalized and humiliated by the security operatives that carried out the dastardly act.

3.​In explaining the attack, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Habila Joshak shamelessly claimed that they acted to brutalize the Governor and his people because the rally and peaceful road walk he was to address and lead was not authorized by the police. This claim is totally rubbish and should be told to the marines.

4.​Knowing that it cannot defeat the PDP in a free and fair electoral contest, the APC had earlier threatened to cage the Governor and takeover Ekiti State Government House by brutal force.

5.​Today’s brutal action was therefore carried out in furtherance of the deliberate plan to intimidate the people of Ekiti State in order to facilitate the actualization of the devilish intentions of the enemies of democracy.

6.​I therefore join well-meaning Nigerians to condemn this brazen attack on the inalienable rights of the people of Ekiti State to a peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in the strongest possible terms and warn the perpetrators of the grave danger such actions pose to the survival of our democracy.

7.​I wish to also draw the attention of the people of Rivers State to the fact that what is happening at Ekiti State is clearly a foretaste of what the APC-led Federal Government has planned to unleash in our State and in deed, the entire country, in their desperate attempt to rig 2019 general elections and retain or return to power having performed woefully and lost the support of the generality of Nigerians.

8.​As a matter of fact, people did not quite believe me when I told the world that the APC-led Federal Government has plans to assassinate me to enable them capture Rivers State because they know they have no electoral foothold in the State.

9.​Today, the whole world has seen how Governor Ayo Fayose was barely lucky to have escaped the State-sponsored attempt at his life with a fractured hand and bruised face because, with him around, hale and hearty, they will never win the Saturday elections free and fair in Ekiti.

10.​In the face of these challenges therefore, I wish to call on the people of Rivers State to be prepared to fight and defend their rights to freely and democratically elect their leaders in the 2019 general elections.

11.​I sincerely believe as most of us do, that Rivers State is worth dying for and it is the responsibility of everyone of us to defend and save our democracy from being killed by the fascist, clueless, confused and irresponsible APC-led regime.

12.​As your Governor I will never surrender your mandate and abiding interest of our State to our enemies who seek to keep us enslaved and plundered even at the pain of death.

13.​I wish to commend and congratulate the irrepressible Governor Ayo Fayose and the people of Ekiti State for standing up and standing firm in defence of their rights to freedom, democracy and good governance.

14.​I want to assure you of the support of the Government and people of Rivers State at these trying times. You need not fear as God will surely defeat your enemies and grant you a resounding victory come Saturday 14th July 2018.



Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, GSSRS, POS
Governor, Rivers State

Outcome of Meeting between the Governor of Abia State and Stakeholders on Revenue Collection

Following the meeting between Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and key stakeholders in the internally generated revenue collection chain on Monday, July 9, 2018, the following decisions were reached:

1. Henceforth, only properly identified staff of the Abia State Internal Revenue Service, in partnership with the state’s global consultant on IGR, CSDC, have the authority to collect revenue due to the state and local governments.

2. Approved revenue collected on behalf of local governments are to be remitted to them by the state revenue collection agency after monthly reconciliation.

3. The state government wishes to reiterate its decision to use recognized Trade Unions such as ASMATA, NURTW, ASATOA, Association of Importers et al to enforce the collection of Flying Revenue from their members. Executives of the concerned associations are to contact the office of the Chairman of the Abia State Internal Revenue Service to obtain approved list of payable revenue.

4. As much as possible, flying revenue can be collected through recognized unions and trade associations in the state to ensure that registered members pay as and when due.

5. All corporate organizations operating in the state are to ensure that PAYE and other Taxes are remitted to the government as and when due or face punitive action and sanctions as provided in law.

6. Any policeman or security agent attached to a revenue collection team, other than the State Internal Revenue Service, is to be arrested and prosecuted for engaging in illegal duties.

7. All revenue payments are to be made to the designated government accounts as will be published by the State Internal Revenue Service Agency.

8. No Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) of the state is authorized to issue revenue collection license or permit to any individual or group from henceforth.

9. All revenue collection licenses or permits previously issued by MDAs are by this announcement nullified.

10. Local government authorities are also expected to withdraw all revenue collection permits issued to agents with immediate effect.

The government wishes to assure citizens and residents that with these decisions reached, the era of multiple taxation and harassment of citizens by sundry persons is over in Abia State.

It is also hoped that revenue leakages within the state will be minimized and soon become a thing of the past with the full deployment of the new computerized collection system.

We therefore urge citizens to avoid patronizing fake revenue collection agents and report suspects to the nearest police station.

Thank you.

Chief John Okiyi Kalu
Honorable Commissioner For Information
9/7/18

https://www.facebook.com/119961132055926/posts/204793806905991/

ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT ORDERS STOPPAGE OF COLLECTION OF MARKET LEVY BY UNKNOWN AGENTS...

Press release

Following reports of harassment of traders and other law abiding citizens by sundry persons masquerading as revenue collection agents at Aba and Umuahia, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has directed that, with the exception of clearly identified staff of the Board of Internal Revenue, all purported revenue agents of the state and affected local governments should immediately stop collecting any form of payment in Aba and Umuahia till further notice.

The following persons have also been invited to a critically important meeting with the Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, on Monday, July 9, 2018, at the Governor’s lodge, Aba, at 9:00am

1. Chairmen of Aba North, Aba South, Ugwunagbo, Obingwa, Osisioma, Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Ikwuano local governments.

2. Commissioners for Trade & Investment, Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Finance and Industry.

3. Global revenue consultant to Abia State Government and Chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue.

4. Presidents of Association of International Traders (AIT), Ultimate Traders, Aba, Umuahia Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mines and Agriculture (UCCIMA) and Abia State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA).

Security agents are hereby directed to arrest and prosecute any person or group of persons collecting revenue from traders at Aba and Umuahia.

Further directives on this matter shall be issued by the State Government in due course.

Thank you.

Chief John Okiyi Kalu
Honorable Commissioner For Information
6/7/18

https://www.facebook.com/119961132055926/posts/202574427127929/

CHIEF KINGSLEY NWOBILOR DRUMS SUPPORT FOR DR. IKPEAZU, SAYS HE DESERVES SECOND TERM.

-Uche Aguoru

Chief Kingsley Chijioke Nwobilor has praised the achievements of the Abia state governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu in the areas of infrastructural development and prudent management of the state’s resources.

He said though there are still challenges but no one in good conscience can say Ikpeazu has not performed, the Europe based economist and politician said his recent visit to Abia state brought him up to speed with the current political environment, Chief Nwobilor who has been an active participant in the Abia politics since 1999 said it is worthy of commendation that despite the economic challenges that the state and the nation is facing, coupled with the faulty foundation laid by former governor Orji Uzor Kalu, that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is still undertaking the infrastructural revolution being witnessed in Abia state today, he said any governor who is serious about getting Abia right will first of all get Aba working and that he is impressed at the efforts Governor Ikpeazu is putting in order to get Aba fixed.
The Ugwunagbor born Europe based economist said he took time out to visit faulks road to Ariaria, the Ogbor-hill axis, the Ururuka rd, the Umungasi/aba Owerri Rd, the Enyimba stadium and other parts of the commercial town, and with the level of infrastructural rebirth going on in Aba, Umuahia and other parts of the state is a clear indication that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is indeed willing and focused to deliver on his promises to Abians.

He enjoined Abians to be patient with Dr. Ikpeazu as he has begun a task that will reposition the Abia economy if given the required support, he expressed optimism that under Dr. Ikpeazu, Aba and indeed the whole of Abia will once again regain its pride of place in the comity of states.

Chief Nwobilor said even those of us in diaspora are aware of the economic challenges of the moment which has affected salary payment, but we are certain that Dr. Ikpeazu having started will overcome that also, as he did other bothersome situations, it is a national challenge not peculiar to Abia state, and in my own estimation Dr. Ikpeazu deserves another term of four years to enable him conclude the good works he is doing at the moment, because for us to advance as a people we must consolidate and we cannot consolidate by changing a performing government that has garnered steam to install another that will come to learn the ropes, he ended by passing a vote of confidence on Governor IKpeazu, chief Nwobilor promised to galvanize diaspora support for Dr. Ikpeazu insisting that he deserves another term to complete the good works he is doing.

-Uche Aguoru

ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT IN THE VANGUARD OF EMPOWERING AND REHABILITATING LIBYA RETURNEES

#AbiaOnline

Like the old maxims goes, the best way of empowering people is not by giving them fish but by given then the hooks, nets as the case may be and the necessary wherewithal to fish for themselves.

Resulting from the recent mass repatriation of Nigerians frustrated in Libya in an attempt to emigrate to Europe, it created a burden for all the affected States, of which Abia is one.

It is saddening that many agile and promising Nigerians has lost their lives in the unfruitful venturing to cross to Europe. It is worsened by the fact that these illegal emigrants risks deportation, making all their efforts futile in the long run.

These and many challenges prompted the Abia State Government through the E4E coordinator Mr. Endi Ezengwa in conjunction with the commissioner for Special Duties and the Vulnerable Mrs, Precious Achumba to graciously, set up an intervention/rehabilitation programme for these returnees. This framework, encapsulates lodging accommodation, feeding, social reorientation and incentives.

They are currently being trained on Carpentry and Joinery, Animal Husbandry, Electrical Installation and maintenance, Welding and Fabrication, Building Construction and Garment making. The programme which provides free feeding and accommodation with all other expenses paid for by the Government of Abia State is expected to last for a period of 3months before they are integrated into the larger society.

It is captivating to know that the current tutor for Electrical Installation and maintenance was a student of the E4E scheme about four months ago. This simply means that the vision of the State Government in establishing the scheme is gradually being actualised which is to eventually meet the manpower requirements of God's Own State and the nation at large.

As a preventative measure to forestall such dangerous journeys and for further cases like this, Abia State government under the competent pilot-ship of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, being a responsive government, and through the efforts and contributions of Mr. Endi Ezengwa has proactively engaged the Italian Government department of Vocational and Technical Skills studies, Rome to tackle the menace of emigration of African youths through the sub-saharan desert, the Mediterranean sea to Europe in search of greener pastures by providing Education for Employment for them here in Africa.

This facility, MultiSkills Entrepreneurship Development Center is a Public Private Partnership between Abia State Government and Kyara De-Luke Academy and Logistics De-Luke Industries located at km 8, New Aba expressway has been earmarked for the vocational training of interested Abia youths as the present Government is ever willing to train Abia youths in vocational studies to be self reliant. After this trainings, the Government of Abia State will support the trainees into being self employed, employed in the public or private sectors as need be.

GOVERNOR IKPEAZU HAS DONE US PROUD - ROTARY CLUB

Rotary club international has extolled Abia state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, for his milestone achievements and effort towards repositioning Abia state.

Speaking during a familiarization visit to the Governor at the Government House Umuahia earlier today, the Rotary District 9142 Governor, Dr. Dan Ajawara applauded the commitment, passion and determination to transform Abia state by Governor Ikpeazu, who also is an active member of the club. He said the club is proud of the Governor.

Ajawara who led a delegation of Rotary club members, said they came to identify with the Governor and Government of Abia state, noting that Abia is the first point of call because a ‘Rotarian is on throne.’
He further sought the Governor’s support for their numerous projects.

Reacting, the visibly elated Governor Ikpeazu commended the club for their unwavering commitment to bettering the lots of many, adding that Rotary club is like a family to him. He assured them of his unalloyed support.

Highlight of the visit includes the adorning of the Governor with an inspiration pin as a mark of recognition of his many inspiring leadership qualities.

Nkechi Ikpeazu: Woman with a Heart of Gold

By @StJudeNdukwe

Office of the First Lady in Nigeria has since become synonymous with power, influence and flamboyance. While many have used their positions as wives of presidents or governors to simply elevate themselves, enhance their private pockets and prove their class before others, some others have come to see the opportunity of being the wife of a governor as a divine providence for the betterment of the people who their husbands govern.

Those who belong to the latter have also used their privileged positions to positively impact their husbands on the way they govern, and it shows. Most times, when a performing governor like Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is being commended for his sterling performance in the State, some do not reckon the contributions of a woman like Mrs Nkechi ikpeazu, whose motherly role is obvious.

An ordained Deaconess of the Christian faith, the Abia’s First Lady has conducted her activities in the State like a true angel sent by God at this trying time in the history of the nation particularly as it concerns the welfare of women and the girl-child.

As the Founder of Vicar Hope Foundation, she has been touching lives in no small measure, using the Foundation to create immense awareness on the sickle cell disease that has ravaged a large number of citizens. It is even more pathetic that those who suffer from this disease do so for no fault of theirs but only if the needed awareness was created on the need for couples to check their blood groups and genotypes before going into procreation.

Owing to the devastating effects of this disease on the populace, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu showed how serious she is with this issue to the extent that she pursued it to the highest levels in Abia State until the Abia State Blood Group and Genotype Identification Law 2018 was passed by the State House of Assembly.

Apart from creating awareness, The President of Vicar Hope Foundation has also sponsored treatment and palliatives for victims of the sickle cell disease in the State. She has also sent her team of qualified medical personnel on seminars and other skill/knowledge improvement programmes outside Abia on the current management of sickle cell disorder. According to her, “We are committed to ensuring that Abia children who are suffering from this disease are given the best type of attention and care to enable them lead a normal life”.

The cooperation, mutual support and shared vision the Deaconess enjoys with her husband is reflected in a book co-authored by her and the governor titled: “Towards a Better Tomorrow, a Guide for Teen Years”, which was also co-published by the Vicar Hope Foundation and the Abia State government. the subsequent public presentation of the book also reflects the commitment of the governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, and his easy going wife, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, to the welfare of children in Abia State, an immeasurable contribution that has also seen to the excellent performance of Abia school children in national exams.

She has taken her advocacy for the protection and promotion of the right of women and the girl child a notch higher by recently leading some women to pay the governor an official visit at the Executive Chambers of Government House, Umuahia, where the governor assured that all that needs to be done to continue to protect women and the girl child from abuse and violence would be done.

Without the usual monthly allocation from state treasury for her office as First Lady to run her pet projects, Mrs Ikpeazu, has found a way of working with relevant government agencies to keep her humanitarian work going. For example, she collaborated with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to teach skills to over 250 women, and thereafter empowered them all, both financially and materially, in order for them to start off their enterprise and remain self-reliant. Over 1,000 grinding machines, sewing machines and such other items were distributed to the women.

Through her Widows/Indigent Shelter Scheme, WISS, the wife of the governor has built over 50 befitting housing units for widows and indigent women in Abia, using direct labour and thereby making prudent use of scarce resources while also providing job opportunities for those engaged in the buildings.

This, no doubt, has brought succor to these women, some of who were victims of obnoxious and archaic laws that denied them rightful ownership or a share of the properties left behind by their husbands, reason why the issue of protection of the rights of women and the girl child is also of topmost priority for Mrs Ikpeazu.

Another commendable humanitarian service of the Abia First Lady is her ‘Abia Book and Learning Link’ which has seen her build and furnish two new schools with over 2,000 books distributed to pupils free of charge.

Mrs Ikpeaqzu’s kind gestures are not limited to women, the girl child and scholars, as she keeps searching for those to show love and kindness to, through the Vicar Hope Foundation, she recently distributed over 340 wheelchairs, 100 crutches, and in collaboration with Tolaram Charity Foundation, gave out 150 prostheses to amputees at no cost to the beneficiaries.

From the foregoing, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu who has brought exemplary simplicity to her role as Wife of the Governor and position as First Lady of Abia State, once stated: “The world can be a better place if we see each other through. We are not here on earth to see through each other, rather, we are here to see each other through”.

Having done so much for the people, her drive and passion to touch lives and bring succor to humanity without getting weary is defined by her relationship with God. To this end she once said, “This is my covenant with God, to give hope to the hopeless. With him, we will do more.” And, indeed, this woman with a heart of gold is doing more. Abia State is a witness!

http://authorityngr.com/2018/07/03/nkechi-ikpeazu-woman-with-a-heart-of-gold-by-stjudendukwe/

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has said that the future generation would be spared the agony and evils of present day social vices prevalent in the society, if parents would go back to the positive basic role of parenting.
Dr Ikpeazu regretted that many parents have neglected the role of shaping positively the lives of children committed in their care by God and this have seen many of them become threat to the society instead of being pride and useful to their parents and the state.
Speaking during the dedication and thanksgiving service of Gweremarachi and Chimemalam Wamah, the twins babies of the State Head of Service (HOS), Sir Onyii Wamah held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral Parish, Umuikpeyi Nvosi in IsialaNgwa South Local government, charged parents to reflect on how beautiful they have fared in living up to the responsibilities of bringing up their children in line with God's injunction.
Represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Dr ikpeazu described children as precious gifts from God stating that God ordained procreation in fulfillment of His injunction to man to go and multiply and replenish the earth.
He therefore warned that to engage in abortion or encourage it negates God's divine purpose and assignment for man.
The governor appreciated God for what He has done in the life of Sir Onyii Wamah and his family in blessing them with wonderful twin babies and prayed that God's mercies and grace would always manifest in their lives to enable them become useful and worthy ambassadors of their parents, the state and the society at large.
Dr Ikpeazu used the forum to appreciate the Church for their fervent and sustained prayers on the governance of the state which have not only contributed to the peace, stability and progress of the state but on the modest achievements the government have recorded in all aspect of development across the state and urged them not to relent as government would always identify with them as partners in development.
In his words of appreciation, the State HOS and father of the twins, Sir Onyii Wamah said that he had every cause to glorify and thanked God stating that he was overwhelmed with joy for experiencing God's double blessings several years after they had their last child.
Sir Wamah thanked the state governor and his deputy, government functionaries, friends and well wishers for their great show of love and for identifying with him and his family at this period of joy and thanksgiving.
Earlier in his sermon, entitled: Divine rescue from poverty, sickness and death, the Parish Priest, Rev Father Pascal Ahamba reminded Christians that various afflictions and storms are problems man had to contend with in life but assured that God would always show up and rescue of His people if they would exercise great faith in Him just like the woman with the issue of blood and Jairus did and received instant solution to their problems.
Father Ahamba stressed the need for Christians to separate themselves from the crowd and do the extraordinary just like the two did in order to get answer to their needs

https://theeasterntelegraph..com/2018/07/ikpeazu-makes-case-for-safe-future.html

He has continued to galvanize the support of Imo people from all angles. With Ihedioha Youth Movement, Team Ihedioha, Imo Liberation Movement, Ihedioha Solidarity Movement, Ihedioha Students Movement, Drivers for Ihedioha, Keke Operators, Artisans, market unions, Okada Drivers

https://theeasterntelegraph..com/2018/07/photos-emeka-ihedioha-scores-another.html

One factor that has kept the governorship ambition of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. EmekaIhedioha, CON, alive is that the entire legislators of the PDP are on the same page with him. They are not on the same page just because they like his...

http://theeasterntelegraph..com/2018/07/imo-development-reason-imo-legislators.html

Periscoping Ikpeazu’s New Enyimba City
-Ebere Uzoukwa

After decades of neglect Aba, the famous Enyimba City and – an economic nexus of the Nigerian nation and entrepreneurial hub of the South-East and South-South – is deservedly getting a prioritised attention under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. The governor, in a rare display of vision, had undertaken the onerous responsibility of rebuilding Aba from ruins. Dr Ikpeazu’s novelty in championing a harmonised but unique economic plan is understandably aimed at rebuilding Aba and its decayed infrastructure. This is to, among other perceived gains, unlock and harness its untapped entrepreneurial potentials as well as refocus the trajectory of the renowned commercial city.

A breakdown of this strategic development plan shows the governor's ingenuity in deploying well-thought-out public-private partnership initiatives and development-oriented collaborative strategies in project conception and execution. Amid daunting challenges, the governor appears to have systematically entrenched a new order by sufficiently applying an uncommon but unique approach to governance in the reconstruction exercise, from the doldrums of over two decades of wanton neglect and devastating decay. This milestone is also attributable to purposeful and strategic partnership with relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Government and genuine foreign investors, as conceivably worked out by the governor.

The development scorecard of Abia State Government under Ikpeazu remarkably suggests a significant infrastructural transformation within the past three years that cut across the Aba metropolis and surrounding of local governments of Aba North, Aba South, Osisioma, Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, down to Isiala-Ngwa North and South.

The completed road projects include Kamalu Road, Ukaegbu Road, Umuola Road, Umuocham Road, Umule Road, Omene Drive, Jubilee Road, Ehi Road, Hospital Road, Ube Street, Adazi Street, St George’s Street, Echefu Road, ENUC Road, St Michael's Road, Azikiwe Road, Pound Road, Owerrinta Road, Weeks Road, Park Road, School Road, East Road and Okwunauka Road.

Others are Cameroun Road, Queens Road, Ehere Road, Umuojima Road, Umuojima-Owerrinta Road with Spur from Owerrinta to Umuocheala, Bata-Railway Crossing to Brass Junction, Ibadan Road, Aharandu Road, Onyebuchi Road, Umuehilegbu Road, Asphalt Overlay of dualised Aba-Owerri Road, Ovom Road, Mosque Street, Umuatako Road, Asa Umuka-Ugwunagbo-Obohia Road Junction, Chima Nwafor Road, and Nbawsi-Umuala Road in Isiala-Ngwa North LGA.

The governor is relentlessly making frantic and concerted effort to ensure that all other ongoing road projects in Aba urban and other parts of the state are speedily completed before the 2019 election.

This is also as the governor's Made-in-Aba Campaign has gainfully unlocked and created several business opportunities for artisans and tradesmen in Ariaria market and beyond. An official statistics released by the Government of Abia State shows that the campaign has progressively attracted over N3 billion direct orders and requisitions into Aba, thus creating an additional employment and engagement of about one million employees and apprentices in the over 300,000 markets around the state.

Also recall that the governor had shortly, after assuming office, worked out a sustainable relationship with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo that has today aided in midwifing the Ariaria Independent Power Project, financed by the Rural Electrification Agency of the Federal Government in Ariaria International Market, Aba. The power project has, indeed, provided an uninterrupted power at the market to 2,000 shops, on a pilot basis, while another power station is also being constructed to provide uninterrupted power to another 34,000 shops in the market.

But what seems to have impressed many and elicited joy all over Abia is the lofty concept and vision for a New Enyimba City. Juxtaposing this ambitious concept with Ikpeazu's economic thoughtfulness proficiently driving the campaign for made-in-Aba products, a discerning mind would appreciate this spectacular evolution of building a greater economic hub for entrepreneurial integration of the South-east and South-south regions.

The Enyimba Economic City, as conceptualised by the governor, is designated a Special Economic Zone by the Federal Government, with a Free Trade Zone status. The essence is to, among other things, create an economic hub central to the five South-east and four South-south states (old Eastern Region), linked with high-grade access roads, rails, airport and seaports that will transform the region into a manufacturing and industrial powerhouse. This will equally drive commerce, logistics, entertainment, education, health-care and lifestyle. Given the magnitude, it is designed to be a public-private-partnership (PPP) initiative of private sector investors, Abia State and the Federal Government of Nigeria, to be solely managed by the private sector. This involves incorporation of the Enyimba Economic City Development Company Limited (EECDC), which will be saddled with the responsibility of realising the proposed industrial city.

With Dr Paschal Dozie as Chairman of the Advisory Board and Darl Uzu as Vice-Chairman/CEO, the project is ultimately certain of early realization. And, on completion, it will definitely stand as the most valuable legacy Ikpeazu will bequeath to Abians, and the region in general, at the expiration of his tenure as governor of the state.

Also on the Advisory Board as members are reputable personalities, entrepreneurs, industrialists and financial experts, including Prof Barth Nnaji, Dr Abraham Nwankwo, Elder Emmanuel Adaelu, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu, Prof Anya O Anya, Chief Sam Nwaogu, Dr Paul Ananaba, SAN, Amb Empire Kanu, Amb Tom Aguiyi-Ironsi, Messrs Ugochukwu Okoroafor, Austin Ufomba and Chibuzor Ekwekwuo.

The project is expected to commence soon as the Abia State Government, a Chinese textile manufacturer - Ruyi Group – and Geometric Power Company, Aba have all signed agreements for guaranteed uninterrupted power supply for the proposed industrial city. According to media reports, three different memoranda of understanding (MoUs) that will translate to huge investment in Abia State were signed at the corporate office of the Ruyi Group in Beijing, China.

The Ruyi Group, it was gathered, also signed an agreement with Geometric Power Company as co-owners of the power generation and distribution firm. Nnaji, the CEO of Geometric, was present, as he signed with the Ruyi Group for equity investment in the company, to enable the Chinese firm to mobilise immediate funds for the completion and start-off of the Plant at Osisioma, off old Aba-Owerri Road. Uzu also signed with the Chinese firm for the anchor investment of Ruyi Group in the Enyimba Economic City, while a third signed for the promotion of greater trade partnership between Nigerian businesses and their Chinese counterparts.

While applauding Ikpeazu and his economic team for their thoughtfulness and subscribed commitment to initiating the lofty project, it is equally imperative the governor uses the apparatus of his government to put all necessary enablers on ground to ensure a smooth take-off of this landmark project.

As one may envisage or estimate, this project as ambitiously conceived by the governor, has the capacity to attract quality direct investments to the Enyimba City that will contribute immensely towards a speedy economic turnaround of Abia State.

It is therefore on this note that I heartily join other well-meaning Abians to congratulate Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and his team for their foresight and vision. I also enjoin the governor to consciously stick to his good thinking, while ensuring that this project is holistically executed to the glory of God and to the benefit of the people.


https://www.facebook.com/119961132055926/posts/197171087668263/

https://www.facebook.com/653266984761537/posts/1781829951905229/

2019: Harvest of Goodwill for Ihedioha in Isu LGA.

...As Dr Udokwu Describes Him as a man with Comprehensive Capacities.

The former Chief of Staff to Chief Achike Udenwa, Dr Vincent Udokwu, has described the former Deputy speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, as man with comprehensive leadership capacity, who has what it takes to change the fortunes of Imolites for good. The renowned medical Doctor made this known while addressing the members and the leaders of the PDP in Isu/Njiaba ward 1, Isu/Njiaba ward 2 and Isu/Njiaba ward 3, during a consultation visit to ISU LGA by Chief Emeka Ihedioha. He noted that he made up his mind to support the aspiration of Chief Ihedioha because of his “comprehensive leadership capacity, sincerity, contacts and wide range of connection which will turn around the fortunes of Ndi Imo within a short while”.

The renowned Leader of the PDP and a respected Son of Orlu stressed that the entire leaders of the party across the state are on the same page with Chief Ihedioha. He urged the good people of ISU to rally round a project that will attract real development to Orlu Zone and Imolites at large. Chief Udokwu also expressed confidence in his convictions that Chief Ihedioha will not only win the ticket of the party, but will do that overwhelmingly and emerge at the pools come 2019. It would be recalled that two prominent Sons of ISU, Chief Nnamdi Amajuoyi (Ochinanwata) from Amaurie Amanze and Engr. K. K. Ike from Umundugba, had earlier in their various remakes praised the political dexterity of Chief Emeka Ihedioha and made donations of two utility vehicles to support the Imo Liberation Campaign.

Chief Ihedioha was accompanied by myriad of PDP leaders across the State, among whom were, Hon. Rufus Omeire, former member of House of Representatives, Dr Peter Ukaigwe, Former member of Imo House of Assembly, Lady Ngozi Oguike, Former State Secretary Imo Government, Hon. Benji Azike, Former Executive Chairman Nwangele, Hon Engr Ben Ekwueme, Former commissioner for Works Imo State, Chief Chuma Nnaji, Former Deputy Speaker Imo House of Assembly, Chief Analine Nwaneri, former Chairman of SEMB, Chief George Osuchukwu, former Commissioner for Transport, Chief Damian Ezeagu, former State Secretary of PDP, Chief Ken Anaeme, Chief Isaac Anyim, Former S.A. security to the governor of Imo State, Chief J C Nwachukwu, Apostle Paul Ajunwa, all foremer LGA party chairmen of Owerri Municipality, PDP Candidates for Imo State House of Assembly in the 2015 elections, amongst others.

Abia CJ advocates life imprisonment for rapists, paedophiles


By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—THE Acting Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Onuoha Ogwe has advocated life imprisonment for rapists and men who defile under-aged girls, saying that such harsh punishment is the only way to stop the rising incidence of the social evils.



The Acting Chief Judge therefore urged the state House of Assembly to enact such law, assuring that the judiciary would implement such law so as to restore sanity to the society.

Ogwe also challenged women to fiercely fight men who try to rape them even if it means pulling out their manhood.

Justice Ogwe spoke in his office in Umuahia yesterday when a coalition of Abia women led by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu were on an advocacy visit to him as part of their campaign against abuse of women, molestation and abuse of women’s rights.

Addressing the Chief Judge, Mrs. Ikpeazu whose Foundation, Vicar Hope is championing the campaign, said they were pushing for “more concrete action to protect the rights of the women and the girl-child.

“We particularly request that you look out for cases that are related to human trafficking, ‘baby factories’, obnoxious widowhood practices and give it greater attention. We believe that if justice is done speedily and efficiently, it will serve as deterrence to others who may be thinking of perpetrating similar crimes.

“My lord, another very specific request we make of you is to ask that you create more family courts in the judicial divisions that will handle civil matters in such a way as to achieve justice for aggrieved family members,” Mrs. Ikpeazu said.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/abia-cj-advocates-life-imprisonment-rapists-paedophiles/

I support crusade against women, girl-child abuse - Ikpeazu

Abia state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has thrown his weight behind the advocacy for the protection of the rights of women and children, especially the girlchild.

The Governor made this known when he received a delegation made up of a coalition of women and women's group led by the wife of Governor, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, at the Government house, Umuahia.

Governor Ikpeazu who pledged to assent to all progressive legislations that protect the rights of women and the girl child once it gets to his desk, called on parents to be vigilant and monitor the activities of their children to prevent abuses by those entrusted to care for them.

"It is dangerous to leave a girl child with people you can't trust. A defiled child is a distabilized child. I enlist my support to this movement and all the legislations that protect our women and children against abuses will be assented to once they get to my table," he said.

The Governor urged women to be more vigilant stating that most reported cases of molestation of the girl child were as a result of carelessnes of mothers. He acknowledged that being a 21st century mother can be challenging but noted that the "African woman is well equipped for the challenge".

Reacting to the call for more women to be given elective positions, the governor encouraged women to rally round their own whenever they come up for election and make bold statement through actions.

Earlier in her remarks, the wife of Governor, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, who led the delegation stated that support from the executive branch led by the Governor will help to correct several anomalies that militate against the well-being of women and the girl child. She informed the Governor that the coalition, which is made up of religious women group, academic women, bureaucrats, women lawyers, female politicians, business people, widows, human rights advocates, professional groups, women labour groups, senior citizens, as well as women leaders in communities and traditional institutions, had paid similar visits to the Legislative and Judicial arms.

"We had visited the house of Assembly, the Judiciary and the state police command on this mission to ensure that the rights of women and the girl child are respected.

"Our Advocacy visit to you today is part of a systematic effort at receiving commitment from stakeholders towards elimination of these right abuses," she said.

Bar. Chidinma Alozie who represented Female lawyers Association (FIDA), Professor Roseline Ndimele and Mrs Victoria Akanwa also spoke during the visit.

The delegation includes wife of the deputy Governor: Lady Vivian Ude Oko Chukwu, wife of former head of State; Lady Aguiyi Ironsi, wife of the speaker; Gloria Chikwendu Kanu, wife of the deputy speaker Ndidi Cosmos Ndukwe, Commissioner for women affairs and a host of others.


https://www.facebook.com/119961132055926/posts/196401147745257/

Imo Liberation Hour:

Ihedioha arrives Ngor Okpala, reassures commitment towards the Imo Project


His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, few hours ago arrived Ngor Okpala Local Government in continuation of his ward to ward Political crusade which kicked off some weeks back. After a rousing boundary reception at Ulakwu Junction, He proceeded for the first point of call with Amala/Ntu/ ward, Obokwe/Oburu/Alulu (ward 1), and Okpala/Eziama ward 4, before heading to Ihitte to meet with the members of the party in Ward 7, ward 8, ward 9 and ward 11.

In each of the outings, Ihedioha pledged his commitment to the Imo Project, laying emphasis on the fact that his major reason of contesting for Imo guber once again, is not just to fly the parties flag but to salvage the sufferings of Ndi Imo. Chief Ihedioha noted that Imo people have suffered in the last seven years to the extent that their voices are no longer loud. For him, what Imo needs at the moment is a Liberator-in-Chief who can answer the call of Ndi Imo and Liberate them within the shortest period of time.

He thanked the wards visited for their commitment towards the Imo Project and assured them that their efforts shall not go unrewarded. Chief Ihedioha enumerated the numerous projects he facilitated to the good people of Ngor Okpala while serving them in the National Assembly, ranging from Power Sub station to Renovation of Schools, quality road networks and Solar Powered lights, ICT Centers and various empowerment programs and gainful employments to their deserving sons and daughters. He urged them to “expect more when he takes over power come May 29th, 2019, noting that the LGA Ngor Okpala is a major component to Imo Development.

He was received by the Party officials in Ngor Okpala led by the Chairman, Chief Morrison Njoku, the member representing Aboh Mbaise and Ngor Okpala, Hon. Bede Eke, the various leaderships of His supports groups domiciled in the LGA, amongst others.

Authority Newspaper Award: Another feather to Governor Ikpeazu’s Cap

In the life of every achiever, there are usually two outstanding seasons: the first season is usually that of work, work and work. The other season that follows is usually that of recognitions, awards and rewards.

For such great men and women, it might take years of hard work, unusual dedication to duty, unparalleled sacrifice for a cause they believe in and an unstoppable drive to lift their people from the doldrums and opprobrium to irreversible stardom, to keep working, sometimes with much fanfare while others may work their socks off silently, unnoticed, and steadily but surely until they achieve their ultimate goal.

For the latter, except they have grown the needed thick skin to wade off spanners and cogs that would surely be thrown their way by impatient armchair critics and professional detractors they would derail in no time.

It is therefore not surprising that the governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, having worked so hard and delivered on his campaign promises to the people of the State despite still having one year to go in his first of two tenures and despite the shenanigans and the needless bitter war of attrition brought his way by many of his detractors who hid under the guise of court processes which the courts themselves later declared frivolous, he has entered, and justifiably so, his season of accolades and encomiums.
For a governor to embark upon 140 road projects that are of strategic importance to the people of the state and complete the construction of over 60 of them in just three years, with effective drainage systems, and beautiful streetlights in some of them, is no mean feat. The roads do not just exist in name or to just make up the number, they carry with them the quality that reflects the caring heart of a governor who wants to give hope for the future and leave lasting legacies for his people.

Scientific research, assessments and reviews are usually carried out on those roads particularly the ones that had been constructed and reconstructed and kept failing in the past to find lasting solutions to them. Abia may not be an ‘A’ grade state in terms of revenue, in fact Abia might not even be in the ‘C’ grade, but Dr Okezie Ikpeazu in his desire to ensure that his projects far outlive him, engages the services of ‘A’ grade contractors to handle most of these projects.
Today, Aba, the State’s commercial capital city is abuzz and is working round the year no matter the season unlike in the past when the rainy season used to visit the people with tears and sorrow because of the flood that used to be the lot of the city in such a season.

The governor’s scientific approach to the construction of the roads has effectively seen to the end of such torrid season for the people. They now do their businesses round the year without the fear of flood or of such other natural elements. It is the same with Umuahia and other areas of the state. This is in addition to the fact that over 80 other road projects have either been awarded or are still ongoing.
As part of Development Pillars of his administration and his determination to diversify the economy of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, embarked on an aggressive agricultural policy implementation that has seen the State launch a large scale mushroom production and training programme, and also support for Abia farmers in the farming of rice leading to a boost in the production of the now popular ‘Abia Rice’ in the state.

With an audacious target of 7.5 milliom tenera palm seedling specie to be grown by 2019, 4 million have already been grown and 2 million distributed, leading to analysts rightly predicting that by 2022 Abia State will no longer rely on revenue from FAAC to survive but will run on a self-sufficient system largely sustained by agriculture.
Through the State’s ministry of agriculture, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has continued to give loans, grants and other incentives to farmers in the state with a view to boosting production and food sufficiency.
It is no longer news that since he took office, the governor has radically changed the face of education in Abia as the state, right from his first year in office, came first back to back in WASCE in the three years that he has been in office.

This should not come as a surprise as Dr Ikpeazu retrains and motivates teachers by giving out cars to the best performing ones in the 3 zones of the state, and this is in addition to enhanced government monitoring of private and public schools that has been the order of the day in the state.

In addition to the governor’s commitment to the training and retraining of teachers in the state through partnership with Australian education solution providers of which 800 teachers have already benefitted, a new teachers training facility has also been opened at Umuahia to ensure the continuous trainingof Abia’s dedicated teachers.
The home grown school feeding programme which saw Abia State government under Ikpeazu feeding pupils of primary 1 – 6 before the federal government later took over of those from primary 1 – 3 makes the State the only state in Nigeria where pupils from primary 1 – 6 are fed. This has led to the sharp increase of school enrollment from 115,000 in 2015 to 305,000 under the current administration.
In addition to 4 new ultra modern model schools equipped with state of the technology learning and teaching facilities, including staff quarters, 359 new classroom blocks are currently under construction in the state with more than 150 units of them completed and ready for commissioning.

Apart from the sinking of 9 Boreholes and reticulated water supply to 43 school toilets, 67 classroom blocks across the 3 Senatorial zones of the state are also beingrenovated or reconstructed. All these are geared towards giving the Abia scholar conducive environment for meaningful learning, and the results are showing.
Ikpeazu’s primary education improvement model is designed to feed and motivate pupils to attend well constructed schools where adequately trained teachers, who are the highest paid in the south east region, will teach them in a conducive environment using the best methods and facilities

The industrialisaton of Abia State is one of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu’s Pillars of Development. Based on this, he has resuscitated the Aba Glass industry and is also working with the owners of Golden Guinea Breweries, Umuahia, Modern Ceramics, Umuahia and Enyimba Hotels, Aba among others to return these firms back to life after years of going under.

Just this week, Governor Ikpeazu endorsed a multi-billion dollars agreement with a Chinese company, Ruyi Group, to invest in Enyimba Economic City and the power sector in Abia State. This agreement is expected to support the delivery of steady power supply to Aba, construct a new textile factory and develop a new 4-star hotel within the 9600 hectares of prime property designated as Enyimba Economic City.

The governor’s aggressive promotion of “Made in Aba” brands has led to the global recognition and patronage of products from Abia State to the extent that even the military and other paramilitary agencies in Nigeria now patronize Made in Aba products for their boots and uniforms.

Dr Okezie Ikpeazu’s relentless search for improved conditions for entrepreneurs in Abia State made him pursue and collaborate with the federal government in the area of provision of steady power supply.
These efforts paid off recently when the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, granted Power Generation and Distribution Licences to Ariaria Market Independent Power Plant Limited and Ariaria Independent Energy Distribution Network Limited respectively for 9.5MWs of power supply specifically for the humongous and popular market. This, no doubt, will further boost entrepreneurial activities in the State to the benefit of all stakeholders.

In healthcare, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu revived the Aba General Hospital that had gone moribund since 2010; he is also building 4 new general hospitals at Obingwa, Okeikpe, Ohafia and Arochukwu while the other older ones are constantly receiving government attention for the benefit of the people.

A new innovation has also been introduced into the Abia health sector as Abians can now receive medical advice from qualified medical personnel in the comfort of their homes just by a dialing a number in the ‘Dial-a-Doc’ Telehealth Initiative of the Ikpeazu administration. This Initiative has no doubt brought medical care closer to the people especially the aged and physically challenged for whom he also launched the first ever JB Nigeria free home care service for senior citizens.

Under Ikpeazu’s watch, Abia hospitals and 292 primary healthcare centers have received equipment and supplies valued at more than N800m from United States of America, courtesy of donor agencies and in corroboration with Abians in the Diaspora.
It is laudable policies and actions of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu like the ones mentioned above that made Authority Daily, a leading Nigerian Newspaper, to single him out for an Award as Governor of the Year 2017 at an elaborate ceremony held at the prestigious Sheraton Hotel & Towers, in Abuja on Thursday, June 23, 2018.

To prove that this award is no fluke but well deserved, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu had earlier been awarded Governor of the Year 2017 by another foremost Nigerian Newspaper outfit, The Vanguard just two months earlier in April. Verbatim Magazine also awarded him for his stellar performance in office in the past 3 years, after visiting the state to review his projects.

As if taking cue from one another and in continued appreciation for what the governor has been doing for his people, members of the Abia State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association, ASMATA, only about a week before the Authority Daily Award, showed an unprecedented solidarity and support to the governor in a One Million-Man March through the streets of Umuahia to Government House where they adopted Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as their sole candidate for the 2019 gubernatorial election in the State.

This also came shortly after people of Old Bende and Ukwa Ngwa political blocs of the state had at different times held grand receptions and rallies to endorse the governor for second term in office with the different expansive venues used filled to capacity.
Leaders and people who attended the rallies testified to the governor’s sterling performance and also endorsed him as their sole candidate for the election in 2019.

But who wouldn’t?

With audacious projects like the first ever flyover in Abia State located at Osisioma in Aba, the reconstruction of socio-economically important Brass-Faulks-Ariaria road and Port Harcourt Road, Aba, to a six-lane road with BRT lane, the restoration of peace and security in the state among other achievements of the governor, it is only natural to safely say that Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has entered his season of accolades, encomiums and awards.

Congratulations to him on this latest huge and colourful feather added to his cap. As he has always said in such forums, rather than make him rest on his laurels, these recognitions which he does not fail to dedicate to God for his grace and the people for their trust in him, will only spur him to greater actions.

With the way things are going, Abians should brace up for a continued radical positive change in the state’s fortunes for the better as Ikpeazu has only just started. A peep into his plan for 2019-2023 period will confirm his statement that Abia State has entered the era of irreversible giant leap in development.

By John Okiyi Kalu

John Okiyi Kalu is the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Abia State

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP KEY FOR DEEPENING ICT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

~ Dr.Okezie V. Ikpeazu
#AbiaOnline

Abia State Government has identified effective partnerships and collaborations as vital key for deepening the growth of Information & Communication Technology in the Country.

This was made known by the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu during a 1-day ICT Technical Workshop held at the Ministry of Science & Technology, Umuahia. The State Governor, speaking through the Hon. Commissioner Science and Technology – Chief Fabian Nwankwo reemphasizes that; to reap maximum benefits of digital revolution, synergy between the Public and the State’s Organized ICT Private Sector must be robust, impactful and complementary for mutual benefit, growth and development.

According to the Governor, “such partnerships and collaborations serves as the key for deepening ICT growth and development". And that “the State government shall continue to make investments in ICT Infrastructure making Abia at-tuned for digital transformation.

Briefing newsmen earlier, Senior Special Assistant, Information Technology to the Governor, Engr, Edward Onwunle; harped on the need for ICT Sectoral and Vertical cooperation; according to Onwunle: “the era of copy-&-paste technology is no longer feasible. With advances in home-grown ICT solutions, products and services, it becomes important that key areas such as Public Private Partnership (PPP-ICT Access, PPP-ICT Skills & PPP-ICT use are effectively streamlined and optimized to serve as performance indicator benchmark between the ICT private sector players and the Government.

The SSA IT – Engr. Edward Onwunle informed that “the monthly state-wide ICT Maturity Evaluation & Management Exercise provides dashboard overview of the State’s ICT status, compliance and level”. The SSA IT – Engr. Edward Onwunle “applauded Gov. Ikpeazu for this first of its kind initiative (currently in 3rd phase) and informed plans have now been concluded for the commencement of the ICT Innovation Clinics across the State. He further informed that this is one of the several capacity-strengthening and ICT-Public Focus Intervention Programs as outlined in the Abia ICT Vision 5 Plan”

In a Technical presentation, Mr. Uguru Igwe – Founder & Mr John Oji (co-founder, RAD5 Tech Hub) enlightened the Participants about the private-sector led Abia ICT Teenhack Project. According to them, the TeenHack Project is a Technology Learning Community for kids and teens focusing on both rural/remote and urban areas in Abia State with the mission to train 1,700 kids/teens annually. According to him; we are more than happy to partner with the Government. In 2015, we partnered with Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PINigeria) to train over 50 kids on web application development.

In an interactive session with journalists, members of the RAD5 Tech Hub commended the Governor for building ICT Centers in Schools and the demonstrable effort to turn the Made-In-Aba initiative into a world class project, which has made Abia state, preferred investment destination of choice.

Responding, the Hon. Commissioner Science and Technology – Chief Fabian Nwankwo appreciated Rad5 Tech Hub for coming up with such an amazing vision and project for the Abia Community, and assured that the State Government through the Ministry of Science & Technology shall support and partner with the TeenHack Project, and challenged them to extend the TeenHack Project across the entire 17 Local Government Areas in Abia State.  

Other participants at the Workshop included the Dr. J.D Uzoatuegwu - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science & Technology, the Head of Finance and Account, the Deputy-Director Admin, the HOD Planning & Statistics, the Director Science & Technology, the Deputy-Director ICT, Bel-aanen Lemabari Precious - Product Manager RAD5 Tech Hub and Ugoeze Nwankwo Happiness – TeenHack Program Coordinator and other ministerial representatives & officials.

Okorocha, colossal failure –Udenwa
•Imo people have rejected him

Former Imo State governor, Chief Achike Udenwa has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will reclaim power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s general elections. In this interview with WILLY EYA, he spoke on various issues and expressed disappointment in Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration.

There is no end in sight to the violence and killings especially in the Northern part of the country. Why do you think the situation has remained so despite the promise of the security agencies to deal with the problem?

Honestly, what I would say is that the government has been trying but I do not think it has been enough. I do not think the efforts of the government are enough because it is difficult to say that our whole security forces cannot combat the rate of killings that we are having in this country. Nigerians are not naturally violent people, so we should look deeply and find out the real reasons for these killings. An elder statesman like T.Y Danjuma made a very strong allegation that the Army has been compromised and a lot of Nigerians seem to believe him. This is because if our armed forces are neutral, committed to the country, we would not have this problem. I believe that they are well equipped and sufficient in number to be able to combat these armed terrorists. So, it beats me why these things are happening. That is why I am saying that Nigerians should open their eyes more, look deeper and see exactly what is happening.

Do you share the position that the administrative style of President Muhammadu Buhari is escalating the violence in the country?

I feel that the government has not shown enough commitment to stop the violence because I remember when they deployed the operation Python Dance to the South East, that the whole place was turned upside down. We have had so many operations in the Boko Haram area and there have been no changes since then. They had already declared victory and said they have beaten Boko Haram. That was over 18 months ago and up till now, the killings and violence continue. So, I doubt if the will is there. Look at the other killings involving the herdsmen; who are the herdsmen? Why can’t the Nigerian armed forces be able to combat the activities of the herdsmen? I believe that if the will is there, the government can handle the situation. I know Nigeria can deal with the activities of herdsmen if the political will is there. But I cannot say that the will is there so far.

How prepared is your party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take over power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections?

We are very prepared for the coming general elections and we are still talking with some other political parties. We believe that at the right time before the general elections, we should be able to come to an agreement with some other opposition parties and some elements who are dissatisfied where they are even in the APC. So, if we pursue the way we are going and if we field the right candidate, I am sure we are going to be victorious and effectively take over power from the APC. I believe that the next election is about three issues. The first one is national unity, the second is security and the third one is the economy.

These are the three main issues that will decide the next election. Now, if you watch, the ruling party has not shown enough will in these three directions. When you come to the issue of national unity, you will agree with me that Nigeria cannot go on the way she is going. It is obvious and that is why people are clamouring for the restructuring of the country. If you restructure the country, Nigeria will be better. I do not see any part of the country losing from restructuring. Anybody who fears that restructuring will take away power from him and all that is not correct. I believe that restructuring will make it possible for every part of this country to be in a position to harness and manage its resources fully. When restructured, every region should be able to manage even its internal security. So, restructuring will continue to be an issue as far as the next election is concerned. You cannot have any national unity without restructuring. Then, you also talk about security; you can only have progress in any country where there is security of lives and property. Progress and development can only happen in a place where people can move around easily and conduct their businesses freely without the fear of bandits and terrorists harassing them.

The national security is very important and the ruling party has not done well in securing the lives and properties of Nigerians. Everyday, you hear about killings as if it is the bandits that are being killed. The third issue is about the economy and when you talk about the economy, you ask yourself, when the PDP was in power, were Nigerians worse off than they are now or is it the other way round. The average Nigerian will tell you that they were better under the PDP government. What it means is that the present administration has not tackled the economy as to change their lives. There are vital areas of the economy that they still need to address. They need to address the real sector of the economy –agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals and so on. These are areas that they have not really come out with a laid out plan on how to tackle them. Today, Nigeria is still a dumping ground for other economies and that should not be. We have the population and the purchasing power; so why should we continue to import from other countries to empower them instead of our own nation. In Nigeria, we have a lot of resources but it is only the value addition that we have not been able to achieve. We exploit crude oil and then import the refined products from oil. What type of economy are we running as a nation? We have continued to spend billions in the name of oil subsidy.

This is a country that is a major oil producer. What are we doing and what is stopping us from producing the refined oil at home? So, the issue is what value are we adding to our oil resources or are we exporting them just raw like that. There is a lot of minerals in different parts of the country. What are we adding to these solid minerals? Look at even the agricultural products; we still import oil. We still import a lot of vegetable oil into this country but we export palm oil, groundnut oil and all these things to other countries without adding value to it. After exporting, we immediately begin to import the finished products from the same thing that we exported from our country. What we are doing in essence is to export employment and import unemployment. So, these are things that should be looked into very closely. And that is why I am telling you that if we restructure, the different regions would be able to look at their different potential. The states would be able to survive than coming caps in hand every month to share the federal allocation. That is not right. So, I think the ruling party has deceived us but I believe that now, the PDP is well prepared for next year’s general elections. If other opposition parties work with us, we would flush out the APC from power.

Ahead of the 2019 poll, what kind of presidential candidate is your party looking at that would have the integrity and national appeal to win the election against President Buhari?

Luckily, the PDP has also zoned the presidency to the North. We are looking for that candidate who is not an extremist. We are looking for somebody who understands Nigeria and understands the diversity of the country and somebody that can accommodate all the people of Nigeria irrespective of tribe and religion. We are also looking for somebody who will be acceptable to all Nigerians. Even though we zoned the position to the North, we do not want somebody who is only accepted in the North. We are looking for somebody who has a track record, someone people can trust and one who can treat every Nigerian equally. We are not in any way looking for somebody who will give any special privileges to the South or to the North. We want someone who will treat everybody equally. These are what we are looking for and we will get it in our party.

We are talking about somebody who is already experienced and understands Nigeria. We cannot give that position to somebody who does not understand the diversity of the country. Even in the North, so many people do not know the number of the ethnic groups that exist in that region. Many do not know that so many Christians exist in the North. So, the North is not a bloc as some would think. The region is also full of diversities. So, let there be somebody who can look at all these diversities and know exactly how to galvanise all of us toward national integration and development. And it must also be somebody who believes in restructuring. The unitary system that we are practicing in the name of federalism is not working.

Many believe that the fear of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is the beginning of wisdom; ahead of the election, many opposition party members especially from your party are being arrested over issues of corruption. Don’t you think it will affect the morale of the members ahead of the election and do you think with all these baggage, the party will be able to substantially challenge the APC in 2019?

The facts are there and you have just stated it yourself. I support the fight against corruption. I believe that when you are corrupt, the fact that you are in any political party would not count. When the fight is no respecter of person irrespective of status or which party you belong to, then we will know that you are fighting corruption. You cannot be fighting corruption and it is lopsided.

To us today in the PDP, we see them as fighting a lopsided fight. We see many who are around them and who they feel are not corrupt and we get surprised. So, you can see the insincerity of the whole exercise. It is insincerity of the highest order. That is why I believe that if the PDP is brought back to power, we will still fight corruption. Of course, no well meaning and right thinking Nigerian would condone corruption. But let the fight be seen to be against everybody that is corrupt and not some people. In any case, by the time you begin to prosecute people within your own party and government who are perceived to be corrupt, people will take you serious. People will learn that it is not only the opposition that you are fighting. I believe that these are issues of the election.

Do you have confidence in the present leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)?

There is no doubt from what we are seeing in the lopsidedness of the appointments of officers to critical federal institutions that there could be biases. You can imagine that virtually all the heads of most of the federal institutions come from one part of the country, one religion and ethnic group. So, what do you expect. But I know the INEC chairman personally and he is a gentle man but I do not know what pressure they would bring to bear on him during the elections. I do not know what level of partisanship he can show in the election but Nigerians are all watching because INEC is very critical to the election. And INEC is not the only critical institution to the election. We have the police, Army and all the other paramilitary organisations. Even the judiciary is critical to the election. These are all critical institutions in the elections. A lot will depend on how free and fair the INEC will be and it is very worrisome that some of these institutions are showing signs of partisanship. I pray that they do not show such partisanship during the election because if they do, they would make the poll very volatile. People would not accept that. Let the affected institutions remain neutral so that the better side will win.

In your state, Imo, the APC has been in power for over seven years and this is a state you governed for eight years too. How would you rate the Rochas Okorocha’s government now that he is gradually rounding off his second tenure?

The performance is disappointing. Governor Rochas Okorocha is a colossal failure in terms of his performance as the governor of Imo State. Honestly, he is a colossal failure. I am happy today that the whole people of Imo are speaking the truth. Everybody in Imo State is beginning to see the realities on ground. In 2015 during the last election, we went round and told the people of Imo not to give this man a second tenure. We told them that if you give him a second tenure, the state is finished. But either by hook or by crook, he was able to get a second tenure. You can see what we are suffering since then. Go to Imo and meet any man on the street, you do not even need to be partisan and you will hear what they are saying.

People of Imo are fed up with the people. In Imo, there is no government; they are only looting. You can imagine where the ordinary man in the street will stand and tell you that so and so properties are owned by the governor and his family. The ordinary person in the street knows what I am telling you. All the so-called projects that he claims to have executed are collapsing already. Go and look at the roads. I challenge you; the roads I built about 15 years ago when I was the governor of that state are still standing very strong. If you go to Imo and ask people what roads I built in my time, they will show you; they are still standing. I can name them for you; I still use many of them when I am in the state. But you cannot say that of Okorocha’s roads; they have already failed. So, it is just somebody being smart. You say you have built 800 kilometers of roads, where are they? In some cases, they will say they are building roads and in the roads, they are already patching the potholes. So, it has been a complete misplaced trust on the part of government.

The governor has so disappointed the people of Imo State that they cannot wait for another administration to come. That is why we are being careful on who will take over from the present administration in the state. And in order to cover up all the iniquities they have committed, Governor Okorocha is insisting that his son in-law would take over from him. I would not be worried if the young man was an experienced person but the man has never worked before in his life outside serving his father in-law in government. That is why I am worried. The young man is qualified and if he is such an experienced and mature person and he happens to be the son in-law of the governor, I would not raise an eyebrow. If you go now to Imo, they will show you all his assets and buildings; this was a boy who was an applicant just yesterday. Ask yourself, where did he get all that money? You want him to become the governor and he has no experience. They only want to make money from nowhere without sweating or working. His son in-law has learnt how to make money and that is what he is going to carry out when he becomes governor. I have nothing against his age; anybody of his age who has experience, intelligence and the background can become the governor. I am not against such a person but not this one that has nothing to show. And he has imbibed only the wrong values.

What will you say to the claim by the governor that it is only the elite in Imo that do not appreciate what he is doing and that they are fighting him because his administration has challenged the status quo?

He thinks he can buy the ordinary people of the state with money but this time, money will not help him. The issue has nothing to do with the elite. If you talk about the political elite, what are you comparing? Are you comparing his intelligence or experience? The problem of his administration has nothing to do with the political elite. Who is he and what is his curriculum vitae? Let him put his C.V in the media, let us see where he has worked in his life and the experiences he has gathered. The office of the governor is not for all comers. And of course, any experience he has gathered from Governor Okorocha cannot be anything to write home about. Governor Okorocha is very incompetent, inexperienced and cannot pass on anything meaningful to anybody. So, if Okorocha thinks that his son-law is qualified to be the governor of Imo State, let him publish his C.V in the media, let people see.

What is your take on the proposed move by the governor to build houses for the former governors of the state?

This is an issue that I do not want anybody to play politics with. In the retirement benefits of governors, that provision for providing house for the governors has been there. They have not done it for the past seven years he has been in office. He has not provided any facility to the former governors and has not even paid any pensions to them. They are saying that the amount provided for the governors’ pension is too small but have you even paid that small one. So, why make an issue out of building houses for the former governors as if you are doing them a favour. You are not doing any favour to anybody. Nobody has come to ask you for anything and you should not make issue out of nothing. It is not a favour in the first place. Whether he builds it or he does not, nobody cares. The end of Governor Okorocha’s administration is about 11 months from now.

About Enyimba Economic City (EEC)

• Enyimba Economic City is a global business hub in the southeast region of Nigeria. It is a brainchild of the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration in Abia State.
• Enyimba Economic City is the audacious and ambitious project conceived with the intention of connecting South-East states and four out of the six states in the south south of Nigeria.
• Enyimba Economic City has been designated as a Special Economic Zone by the Federal Government and will have Free Trade Zone status.

Vision:
To develop a connected global business hub in southeast Nigeria.

Mission:
To create economic hub central to the nine southeast and south south states linked with high grade access roads, rails, airport and seaports that will transform the region into a manufacturing and industrial powerhouse, with ancillary drivers of commerce, logistics, entertainment, education, health and lifestyle living.

Development Structure:
Enyimba Economic City will be developed through a public-private-partnership (PPP) company of private sector investors, Abia State Government, and Federal Government of Nigeria but will be solely managed by the private sector.

• A special purpose vehicle by the name Enyimba Economic City Development Company Limited (EECD Group) has been set-up for the development of the new City.

Members of the Advisory Board of Enyimba Economic City Development are:
1. Dr Pascal Dozie Chairman
2. Mr. C. Darl Uzu Vice Chairman/CEO
3. Prof Barth Nnaji
4. Dr. Abraham Nwankwo
5. Elder Emmanuel Adaelu
6. Sen. Adolphus Wabara
7. Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu
8. Prof. Anya O. Anya
9. Chief Sam Nwaogu
10. Dr. Paul Ananaba, SAN
11. Ambassador Empire Kanu
12. Amb. Tom Aguiyi Ironsi
13. Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor
14. Mr. Austin Ufomba
15. Mr. Chibuzor Ekwekwuo


Location:

Enyimba Economic City will be developed over an area of approximately 9,803ha, spanning three local government areas of Ukwa West, Ukwa East and Ugwunagbo in Abia State.

Why Imo people have chosen Ihedioha

It’s on record that between the 9th and 10th of December, 2017, the People’s Democratic Party across the Nation led their members to Eagles square Abuja for the all important elective convention of the Party. For the people from Imo State, there was one man who stood very tall from the beginning of the process till the end. His organizational skills must be commended and his leadership capacity appreciated. His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha is one man who understands that having an opportunity in leadership should not be seen as an opportunity to destroy one another. His all inclusive approach to issues has been adjudged by some school of thought as one of the challenges he has in politics. But the man Ihedioha has remained unshaken in his convictions that politics is about all of us and not a one man show. Just like Justice Oputa asserts that “Justice is a three way traffic, for the Plaintiff, the defendant and the people”, Ihedioha believes that politics is for the “Leaders, the electorates and for the Masses. While the electorates vote in the leaders, the leaders will in turn pay adequate attention to the masses who have allowed the wishes of the electorates to come to pass. The masses in this context includes those not up to the voting age.

Ihedioha has remained one man who have not used his position to fight anybody. He has never used the privileges given to him by God and the mandates given to him by the people to intimidate or gang up against another. He only believes and very strongly that those who have labored during the rainy days must be appreciated and commended for their sacrifices. Ihedioha believes in the reward for hard-work and consistency. Little wonder he has remained consistent despite how challenging the times could be and how tempting the offers could be. Ihedioha is not a man who plays hide and seek. When he is with you, he makes known his stand and stand by it. That has made some school of thought to describe him as “Mr One Way”.

Checking his progression in politics, from a press secretary in the National Assembly to an SA in the Presidency, down to the National Assembly where He rose to the highest echelon in the lower house, one will not be mistaken to assert that consistency pays. Young politicians who aspire to get to the top must understand that there is no shortcut to success. There is no benefit in inconsistency. A man must be known for something and most importantly something good. Ihedioha stands tall as that political role model who is worthy of emulation. A disciplined leader like him is what Imo needs at this critical time when indiscipline and thuggery has taken over our government house. Looking at the embarrassing situation displayed by Imo delegates in Abuja, one will be convinced that Imo has been governed in the past 7 years by those who ordinarily should have no business with leadership. Imo people must look inward as the 2019 election draws closer and return power to a man will return sanity to the state. Imo people must look for that man whose character is not an opposite of his message. A man who is not the worst advertisement of the product he is marketing. A man whose character depicts and affirms his message is a man who should be saddled with the responsibility and the uphill task of restoring and returning Imo back to basics. Ihedioha‘ leadership capacity has made Imo people rally round the Imo Liberation project. Today, the traders, keke operators, taxi drivers, Imo professionals, etc, have all decided to support a man whom they know will reorganize Imo State from what it is today, to the Imo we all desire. Imo people are convinced that only a prepared leadership will transform the State. Ihedioha is prepared. Ihedioha is the answer. With Ihedioha...

Imo Ga Adi Mma Ozo

https://www.facebook.com/100002957654381/posts/1642212439220662/

THE ROLE OF THE YOUTHS IN THE FORTHCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS; WHAT WE MUST KNOW AND DO

BEING A KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY AIC AKWARANDU, FOUNDER, AIC AKWARANDU FOUNDATION, AT THE 2018 DIOCESE OF MBAISE ANGLICAN YOUTH FELLOWSHIP BROTHERS FORUM, HELD AT ST PETERS ANGLICAN CHURCH, ITU, EZINIHITTE MBAISE LGA, IMO STATE, ON SATURDAY, 23RD JUNE, 2018.

Protocols:

Let me start by appreciating the leadership of the ATF Mbaise Diocese, for the opportunity given to me to discuss this timely topic. It’s indeed an honour for me to address my fellow youths in an issue that affects us.
I have no doubt that today will offer us an opportunity to change the narratives for the youths.

At the fall of the 20th century, renewed clamour on youths as leaders of tomorrow simmered to the fore of growing national concerns. This development is an eloquent testimony to the indispensability of the youths in any nation that intends to lay serious claim to greatness. A nation needs the creative ingenuity and agility of her youths to remain democratically viable and economically competent as an independent state in the comity of nations.

Africa as a continent is an enviable instance of the can-do spirit of the youthful zest. One quickly recalls the impeccable heroic roles played by African youths in their various countries during the continental struggle for Africa's freedom from the colonial grip of overbearing White Lords. Names like Ngugi Wa Thiong'O and Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya); Oliver Thambo and Nelson Mandela (South Africa); Patrice Lumumba and Tchicaya U' Tamsi (Congo); Kwame Nkrumah and Kofi Awoonor (Ghana); Kenneth Kaunda and Stanley Samkange (Zambia); Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, JP Clark etc (Nigeria). These names resonate with a piercing familiarity and will forever enjoy honourable mention and reference each time historical issues about Africa's independence springs up. This is because, they and innumerable others devoted their youthful strength and time to the Africa’s struggle of that era through the framework of campaigns, town hall meetings, seminars, media and literary activism. By so doing, they brought to bear, the dangers of the continued colonization of Africa and its attendant exploitations. Their worthwhile engagements helped to arouse national/continental consciousness among African masses and engendered the various thought processes that informed our freedom and subsequent nationhood.

The above is only but a thin veneer of the indisputable importance of the youths. Naturally, the youths are the link between the passing and forthcoming phases; the middle person between the old and the new; the conduit for handing down society's norms and values from the older generation to the sprouting ones. The youths hold the baton in the relay race of life, thereby filling the yawning gap of procreation and existence.

It was Frantz Fanon, who in his seminal work, The Wretched of the Earth, asserted that "Every generation must out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfil or betray it". This presupposes that every generation must confront its problems and tackle them headlong. To achieve this then requires a level of active participation in the governing processes of any nation.

It is saddening to note, that despite this important position the youths occupy, or, at least, expected to occupy, the youths have surprisingly, for reasons best known to them, decided to relinquish their seat to the elders who have been in power since Nigeria became a nation. We all know, or must have read somewhere, that most of the current crop of leaders in Nigeria nay Africa today were the same young nationalists who wrestled power from the white lords. They achieved all these in their twenties and early thirties. The question therefore is how come most of them are still in power and even seeking for more, some sixty years after? For me, leaders above 70 should only play advisory roles and not active leadership roles.

The Core Issues

The answers lie in, first, the youths’ unawareness of their worth in a democratic dispensation like Nigeria. Secondly, a sense of acute inferiority complex. Thirdly, poor political education, and lastly, a disturbing and shameless love for quick money. Let us see how these four factors culminate into a non political participation experience among Nigerian youths.

Lack of self awareness and poor knowledge of one’s role in life can diminish one’s common sense and his or her eventual role in a given community. When you fail to understand that you’re part and parcel of the society, with a role to play, how then can you be politically active, since politics is society’s fibre? The second factor of inferiority complex comes very close to lack of self awareness because one who is unsure of his or herself cannot, in essence, have a strong complex in life. Inferiority complex makes one hide his or her real talent, his real ability and capacity to do work or create, because he is not sure about how good he or she is. So when, for instance, there is need for such youth to go for councillorship (where it is obvious that he will do well), he will renege and say “owu ihe nde ukwu, owu ihe nde ji ego” and so on. How then is the society going to move forward with such defeatist mentality?

Poor political education is about one of the most devastating of the aforementioned four factors. Lack of good knowledge of the happenings in politics is one of the reasons why Ala Igbo is seen to be the home of the most apolitical youths in Nigeria. It is no longer news that political disinterestedness is rooted in Ala Igbo more than any other part of the country which is why, despite the purposeful design to short-change Ndi Igbo in PVC distribution by INEC, it is also true that our people, especially the youths, are also not even interested in collecting the available ones. While some of you may argue that the reason is because of the Biafran agitation, I argue that while we wait for Biafra, let us participate in Nigeria’s politics for now because her policies affect us whether we like it or not. We are still Nigerians till we become Biafrans.

The last factor which is even more worrisome is the major reason why we have little or no youthful participation in politics. Our few youths who dare to participate are more interested in politics of “oji ego ole?” They are not coming to sincerely campaign and work for a desired candidate; rather, they are coming to know how much they can get from such candidte. This is why our politics have become a sort of bazaar, where the highest bidder becomes the leader no matter how undeserved he might be. We the people frustrate politicians by being too demanding on them, especially in the time of elections for it is when we see them as being too vulnerable and too susceptible to giving. To meet up, they borrow money to satisfy the people and do all they can to win and when eventually they get in, it is only normal that they would shut the doors and pack as much money as they can to be able to pay off the huge debts they incurred while trying to get in.

When we the youths stop playing such dirty and petty politics and start giving the real politicians and leaders space to come in, we will then possess the moral latitude and uprightness to judge them when they do wrong in office and even call for their impeachment when their excesses become unbearable. We can’t do this when we give them the space to pay in their way in. The future is ours for the taking, let us go for it.

The Way Forward:

The way out is a reorganization and reorientation of societal ethos and priorities, a reconstruction of our mentality to identify and follow the right path, know what to celebrate and what not to celebrate, because we cannot continue to remain indifferent in a pool of deadly misery that has already crossed our waist regions, threatening to reach the neck within the shortest of time to begin its suffocation. To swim against this tide is a call for active participation in politics, let us support ourselves and encourage the good and reasonable and capable ones among us to occupy some of these sensitive offices which our youthful age allows. Let us also note that playing active role in politics and leadership does not require that one must only contest for an election. A strong followership is as important as those who wish to aspire. To be a leader, you must at least be a good follower for a while.

While we celebrate the signing of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill into law, let me quickly remind us that the Nigerian constitution have always had a provision for such, it is just that we simply forgot that we can do it, no matter how expensive the process may be, it is not totally impossible for us, where there is a will to participate. We can even push for an easier process to allow for more youthful participation in politics but the sad news is that we don’t even believe in our strength to move such motion through media campaign and other pressure tools that are legally acceptable. An attempt to remain indifferent or cynical as usual is like one signing up to be caught up in the snare of an imminent death. For me, this is not the time to wait for an individual activist, whose lone voice could be mowed down like an unwanted grass. The level of misrule in Nigeria and Imo state in particular has reached alarming heights and as such requires all hands to be on deck to fight off the imposing hawk off our collective sky. Yes, we must all be active participants in politics because it is our exclusive right. And let nobody deceive us by telling us it is ungodly. Politics is not ungodly because even heaven recognizes a people oriented government that is why there is a hierarchy up there. It is just that the good among us have remained apolitical for so long that the bad men saw the opportunity to take over the whole place. Those who are sincere are most times tagged arrogant, strict while those dancing makosa with our commonwealth are voted in all in the pretence of being “men of the people”.

The Igbo hypothesis of Igwebuike should serve as a recurrent chant to remind us of the need to fire up ourselves in the positive light where no water of discouragement, money politics, disunity and inferiority complex can quench. Igwebuike is a reminder of the need for a collective effort, it is a reenactment of the Ubuntu spirit- I am because we are, and since we are, therefore, I am. Umunnem, gidigidi bu ugwu Eze, maka na agbakoo aka nyuo mamiri ya agbaa ufufu. It is possible to right the wrong policies of any government when we have the major say in politics. Like we all know the popular saying that “politics is a game of number.” My fellow youths, it is possible to remove any tyrant where there is unity, and that’s the reason why oppressors dread unity from the masses they oppress, that's why they use the factional method of divide and rule, and by so doing, the hegemony and their stranglehold on our commonwealth continues unchecked and unchallenged. But we can sacrifice a little personal comfort, turn a blind eye to their gimmicks and, like the spiders, come together to craft cobwebs which in turn will surely bring the elephant to its sprawling knees.

The enigmatic writer, Dan Brown, is adamant that “the darkest places in hell are reserved for those who remain silent in troubling times”. Wole Soyinka even gave momentum to the above assertion when he said that "The man dies in those who remain silent in the presence of evil". Claude McKay in his poem, "If we must die", also counsels for the need to speak up and avoid “anonymous death”. And like the late Black American rapper 2Pac said “if we can’t find something to live for,” we should at least “find something to die for,” because “an unexamined life is not worth living,” said Martin Luther King Jnr. We the youths must rise and speak up by being politically active in the positive direction with our senses intact at all times. History will not judge us well if we finish living in this world with nothing worthwhile to show for our existence. Politics is worthwhile, for it is the determinant factor of our collective existence as a living people. Umunnem, we can't keep waiting and praying for miracle to happen. We need to back our prayers with enough political actions because we have entered the stage where only prayer is not enough.
​
Let me ask, are we going to keep talking and yelling and wailing of the unpaid salaries, pensions, gratuities and other entitlements? For how long are we going to continue to murmur over the poor state of our roads that have become poorer than this current government met them? Should we perpetually continue to decry the numerous abandoned buildings and projects; funds of which our Kiliwi Nwachukwu cannot account for? What makes us think that our continued grumblings will make our new Adolf Hitler to stop the destruction of our markets and other sources of income? We all know that apart from trading, transporting and teaching, there is no other plausible means of survival in our "rescued" Imo. Are we going to remain silent and watch one family render our State useless? Are we going to remain silent and watch our educational system collapse? Are we going to pretend like we are not aware that LGA elections have not been conducted in the past 7 seven years, leaving the State in total control of the LGA allocation for years? What about the bailout funds, Paris Club refund monthly allocations, etc? Are satisfied with what is on ground? If the answer is no, why then do we sit idly and watch in utter helplessness, the brazen destruction of our meagre sources of income? Or do we have plans to evacuate Imo for the Okorochas, their in-laws and associates? It is my thinking that Ndi Imo are comfortable in their chains or else, a serious activity to stop Gov. Okorocha’s third term bid would have been engineered by the youths who are the mostly affected negatively in the government. The call for this should go beyond party politics, the liberation of our people should be placed above selfish interest.

It is important to state it clear that I am not calling on us to hate or kill anyone. I am only calling on all of us to resist unsolicited death by instalments. I am calling on us to say no to undeserved death by economic hanging by a government whom we cleared the road for their entrance into our administrative power house. Let us make sure that our PVCs are safe and let us commit them into good use come 2019. Let us use our senses and vote wisely and even contest wisely. We must do away with emotions, it makes us act without thinking. Above all, we must resist the lure of money, especially that aimed at buying our conscience and vote.

Are you a student? Civil Servant? Motorist? Trader? Artisan? Unemployed or Professional from Imo state and in Imo state? Are you a youth? If the answer is yes, then here is an opportunity to turn out enmass and register our various disaffections with this government. We must identify with a political party and take active participation in its activities; we must dominate the political space and bring the desired change we all yarn for. For me, change is not a change until it is a positive change. My fellow youths, enough of the talks, weeping, grumbling, etc. It is my belief that God has not destined us to perish at the same time. We must endeavour to join the political movements existing at the grassroots and contribute positively to their growth.

The time is now to stop the talk and begin the long walk to freedom. The wait is over, the time is now. Are we ready? I am.

SPEECH DELIVERED BY ABIA STATE GOVERNOR, OKEZIE VICTOR IKPEAZU, Ph.D AT THE CONSTRUCTION SUMMIT, 2018 HOLDING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS ON SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2018

PROTOCOLS

It gives me great pleasure to be in your midst today for two main reasons.
The first is that this event is holding in an academic environment which is always home for me. I have said it at various fora, I was a teacher before venturing into politics and as soon as my assignment in political office is over, I shall return to the classroom to continue teaching so I am always excited to receive invitations to speak at academic environments as it gives me the opportunity to reconnect with my primary constituency.
The second reason why I am excited about being here today is the knowledge that this platform gives me the opportunity to discuss the novel and unique approach we have adopted in tackling the infrastructural challenges of Abia State especially as it relates to road construction, the philosophy behind our approach, the methodology, the arguments for and against and our convictions.
Permit me therefore to, within the short time allotted to me, talk to this distinguished audience about what we have been doing in Abia State as it relates infrastructural development, especially road construction, since we came on board on May 29, 2015.
BACKGROUND
Upon assumption of office, we inherited a rather massive infrastructural deficit. A number of roads in Abia State, especially in the commercial nerve centre of Aba were either fraught with treacherous failed portions or in many instances, completely collapsed and therefore, impassable. Problem however was that a good number of these roads had been built and rebuilt several times over and they hardly survived the rainy season after their construction. We knew that something was wrong. We also knew that we could not continue doing things the same way and expecting a different result.
STRATEGY/POLICY
We decided that to tackle the infrastructural challenges of Abia State, we needed to first conduct an analysis of why newly built roads were failing within a year of their construction or reconstruction. We engaged professionals like the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and consultants to understudy the problem and report back to us within a short time. They did and confirmed what our internal analysis had also revealed.
i. Most of the drains and stormwater channels in Aba were blocked by silt so most times, during and after the rains, rainwater has no outlet and end up percolating atop existing roads thus leading to the corrosion of the asphalt and gradual road collapse.

ii. Lots of roads had been waterlogged for a long time and the soggy undersoil were not been evacuated before fresh asphalt is overlaid on the road thus leading to retained water seepage into the new asphalt and imminent collapse.

iii. The perennial collapse of roads in Abia State wereas a result of the non-factoring of the pattern and channel of storm water evacuation in the course of constructing roads in Abia State.
It was as a result of these discoveries that we decided that we were going to address these challenges using innovative and unique solutions.
i. Upon realization that for as long as we do not solve the stormwater evacuation question in Abia State, our roads will continue to fail, we decided to devote the first 100 days of our administration towards tracing the natural route of stormwaterin Abia State and as much as possible, restoring the originally designed flow pattern. This decision meant that we embarked on a massive desilting of drainage paths in Aba and demolition of some properties that were in the way of the drains.

Thus, for the first time in decades, hitherto blocked drains were reopened most times, deep underground and because we assumed office in the rainy season, we were able to observe the natural flow of rainwater and ensure that its path was not impeded all the way to the Aba River which is the natural rainwater terminal point for Aba.
i.b.​Still on our Integrated StormwaterManagement Programme, we conducted a survey which revealed that Abia South Senatorial Zone was the lowest lying zone in the State with Aba metropolis as the lowest lying area while the Ifeobara pond is the lowest lying point in Aba and Abia State in general. It is a natural pond which by virtue of its location, is a natural collection point for rainwater but building encroachments, blocked paths and neglect led to its underutilization and loss of purpose. We have since corrected that anomaly. The Ifeobara Pond is today an engineering wonder in Abia State and we have restored the Pond to its original intendment while recovering the original land area and introducing modern technological and engineering innovations that have ensured that the Pond is once again, playing its natural role as collection point for stormwater in Aba. These innovations have ensured that today, when it rains, within 30 minutes of the rain subsiding, Aba metropolis is dry and free of percolated storm water.
ii. Our unique approach to eliminating this challenge was the introduction of Rigid Pavement Technology in Road Construction in Abia State.This entailed using sharpsand as base of the road sought to be constructed, laying corrugated wire mesh on the sharpsand, pouring a concrete mix with a minimum Grade 30 Cement mix on the Mesh, allowing to cure for 21 days before laying asphalt as final layer. We adopted this technology for all roads that had been waterlogged for more than 5 yeard starting with ENUC Road in Aba. So far, we have applied the same technology for Umuola Road, Ibere, Onyebuchi, Ochefu, Owerri Off Okigwe and Owerrinta. I am proud to report that ENUC Road was rebuilt in 2015 and 3 years later, it is still standing firm without any damage. Same applies for other roads mentioned.
Our guarantee in Abia State is that the roads built by our administration will have a minimum 20 year solidity period before they require maintenance and I am proud to state that we are keeping our word. We have not returned to rebuild any road built during our tenure. For the first time, roads in Aba are outliving several rainy seasons unlike what hitherto obtained.

iii. Because storm-water channels were not factored in hitherto in road construction in Abia State, it meant that roads built in the state had no guarantee of longevity. We have changed that narrative. Our roads are now built to last. As a Policy, all the road projects embarked upon by our administration come with double side drains. In addition, we trace and determine the flow pattern of the drains and emptying point before we start construction to ensure that storm-water, which is the bane of our roads, has an outlet.

In some instances, we have spent more than the cost of the road itself in resolving the drainage flow of the road. An example is Faulks Road, Aba where we had to construct a 6.5KM Undergound Drainage System to evacuate rainwater on the road. Same goes for OomneRoad, Aba where we constructed a drainage longer that the length of the road in other to find an emptying point for the rainwater on the road. Prior to 2015, Oomne Road, a major outlet/inlet of Aba Metropolis,was perennially broken down despite annual reconstruction works. It has been 2 years since our administration rebuilt Oomne Drive and it is still standing strong despite experiencing the onslaught of 3 rainy seasons.
Another example is Aba Road in Umuahia where we are also implementing innovative construction technologies to salvage the major entry road into Umuahia, the State capital which hitherto experienced annual collapse due to waterlogging. Our administration introduced capillaries at the base of the road to empty into the Umuahia big gutter and elevated the road thus bringing it at par with or above sea level unlike what hitherto obtained where the road was below sea level and was prone to waterlogging.
I have taken time to explain all this to say that our administration does not just construct roads. It is an art for us. We undertake Integrated StormwaterManagement System on our roads. We first study the road to understand which of our three available construction technologies to adopt to wit:
1. Rigid Pavement Technology: For Roads that have failed for more than 5 Years and are thus prone to moist soil.
2. Asphalt with Capillary underlay: For roads lying in low beds and natural water retention points and
3. Strictly Asphalt: For new roads and roads in plain areas and solid soil terrains.
To date, our administration has commenced work on 147 Road projects in 3 years. 67 of these roads have been completed while 80 are ongoing. About half of the ongoing roads will be completed by December 2018.
We have also built 3 critical bridges which have reconnected communities that were hitherto separated due to lack of access.
LAGOS INTERLOCKING PAVING STONES TECHNOLOGY – RATIONALE
Mindful of the fact that I am in Lagos and that the predominant solution for road construction, especially on Lagos Island, is Interlocking Paving Stone, I will quickly discuss the rationale behind that and why we are taking a different approach. As you all well know, the bulk of land on the Lagos Island is sandfilled land which is naturally prone to underground water rise and seepage. Interlocking paving stones then becomes the best option for such terrains to allow for rising underground water to find an outlet through the gaps in the stones. If you use asphalt without proper underground piling, you stand the risk that the asphalt will be undermined by the rising water. Water unfortunately is a universal solvent. Overtime, it dissolves or weakens everything. The only way to manage water is to enable it pass through its natural way without causing damage.


RIGID PAVEMENT TECHNOLOGY VS ASPHALT COMPARISM
I have tried above to explain the difference in necessity for the application of Rigid Pavement Technology and regular asphalt in road construction. I will do a quick overview of the cost implication.
To build a simple asphalt road will cost between N3,800 to N4,000 per square meter ideally. Rigid Pavement Technology however costs about N4,500 per square meter although in terms of longevity and maintenance costs, Rigid Pavement Technology have been adjudged to last longer and require less maintenance than regularly asphalted roads. The initial high cost outlay usually discourages its usage. Again, most road contractors already have a full range of equipments for asphalt road works. Deploying Rigid Pavement Technology means acquisition of specialized equipment for its usage. For example, a contractor deploying Rigid Pavement Technology will have to acquire Concrete Pavers which are quite different from Asphalt pavers, Concrete Mixers, Levelers, Stabilizers and other such equipments required for RPT which are not common in these climes.
Mr. Chairman, distinguished guests, I am proud of what we are doing in Abia State. Roads for us are an enabler for the ease of movement of goods and services which is a basic minimum requirement for the thriving of our economy. Because Abia State do not have the luxury of huge resource inflow, we have decided to be smart about how we expend the one we have and ciefamong this strategy is ensuring that we do not return to any road that we have already built. We cannot afford to be rebuilding roads every year. For every road we have built, 10 more await attention so it is imperative that we get it right so we can face future challenges.
That is what we have done in Abia State. That is why we are not just building. We are building to open up the state to free flow of people, goods and services, we are building to open up access to peoples house. We are building to strengthen our economy.
We are building to last.
I thank the Vice Chancellor, the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, the organizers and all distinguished guests at this event. I also express appreciation for the award given to me in recognition of the work we are doing.
I thank you all for your time and I wish you fruitful deliberations.

23/06/18, Lagos, Nigeria.

PDP, Abia State Chapter, Condemns The Arrest And Detention Of Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe:
By Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP,
Okwubunka of Asa,
State Publicity Secretary,
PDP, Abia State.
23rd June, 2018.

The attention of the leadership and members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State has been drawn to the unwarranted, humiliating and dehumanizing arrest and illegal detention of the Distinguished Senator representing Abia-South; Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, by personnel of the Department of State Service since yesterday, Friday, 22nd June, 2018.

The Party is more worried and suspicious by the fact that after a tortuous thorough search of Senator Abaribe's residence at Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja; a search that found absolutely nothing incriminating against the Senator, the security personnel still went away with him and dumped him in their cell, leaving him not only incommunicado but also without assess to his Lawyers and Doctors.

This act of incivility and gross abuse of the fundamental rights of Distinguished Senator Abaribe are not only unacceptable but equally condemnable.

PDP in Abia State, therefore, calls on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Muhammadu Buhari, to direct, without further delay, the relevant Security Agency involved in this undemocratic invasion and erosion of the fundamental rights of Senator Abaribe to release him forthwith.

PDP in Abia State also wishes to use this opportunity to remind the President and his Party; All Progressives Congress, that descending ruthlessly on the opposition in a year proceeding a general election constitutes a threat, not only to members of the opposition but even more against constitutional democracy in Nigeria.

The Leadership of PDP in Abia State, however, urges Distinguished Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe to take this situation with equanimity of mind, as the oppressors of vocal Nigerians who stand against violation of our democratic norms have only succeeded in making him a Hero.

State Publicity Secretary.

GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE ENDLESS ACCOLADES ON IKPEAZU

By Adimchinobi Onyenso, a public affairs analyst

In any political system world over, the citizens often remain the pupil of an administration's eye. This is not unconnected with the fact that it is constitutionally incumbent on leaders to utilize the people's commonwealth for the common good of all in an unapologetic utilitarian sense.

Indeed, cursory assessment of all forms of governance periscopes that Democratic system is most preferred by most nations. This is not surprising after all, considering that in an undiluted Democratic system of government, the people have their rights and privileges enshrined in the constitution as well as have the room to voice out against any misgivings, avoidable errors and incorrigibility from the government of the day in a constructive and properly marshalled fashion.

Be that as it may, procrastinating in providing the needed democratic ethos occasions ill feelings from the masses about the leadership, but when the leadership is visionary and masses oriented, it is thus, incontrovertible that the led, nay the electorates will throw their weight behind such a government. Moreover, it is not only the populace that accesses the successes and milestones of a government. There are other non governmental Organizations and pro-democracy groups that rate a government as well as investigates her programs and policies with a fine-tooth comb, to either adulate or award the leader for his giants strides. And these organizations with large follower-ship remain unbiased and uncompromising as their judgements are digested in the sociopolitical space without any iota of doubt nor encumbrances.

The above describes the recent happenings in the leadership theatre of God's Own State as the government of the day under the leadership of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu demonstrated uncommon courage, vision and meticulousness in statecraft since he assumed the position of Governor of Abia state some three years ago which has earned him avalanche of awards, recognitions and commendations from far and near.

This does not happen in a serendipitous occurrence as good leadership is wont to be recognized world over. Yes, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu does things uniquely. He met Abia in tatters, both the infrastructure, economy and other indicators of a progressing State. Yet has done commendably to turn around the fortunes of the state.

With unparalleled commitment, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu folded his working sleeves, kick started and surpassed comparatively in infrastructural rejuvenation in Abia as well as turned our dear State into a huge construction site, even with a dwindled and meager federal allocations. Today, in the length and breadth of Abia there is serious road constructions with reputable construction firms. Therefore, there is no argument over the longevity of the projects embarked upon by this masses friendly Governor.

The evident revolution of Governor Ikpeazu's administration is not only limited to infrastructural upgrade as the educational sector has become revived with dilapidated primary and secondary schools in the State renovated, and not forgetting the ongoing construction of many new model schools that cuts across the three senatorial districts of the State. Unarguably, Democratic dispensation in Abia has taken education to utopian heights, with our tertiary institutions benefiting from government reforms. Abians can now boost of better and affordable healthcare occasioned by the newest facilities and techniques employed to make the State's health sector more efficient and accessible.

One area in which our ebullient Governor deserves special adulation is in engendering practical Democratic norm in Abia. Unlike in the dark days, the government is participatory, the era of draconian leadership has been erased in the political cum administrative lexicon of the State. This is in truism, a fresh breeze as proper feedback from the events in the corridors of power is given to the citizenry periodically.

Therefore, this award by the Authority Newspaper and pass mark on the Governor by many other social political groups is an added impetus and vigor for more dividends of democracy to be realized in Abia State.

Congratulations our ever working Governor. Abians are happy with your administration's Midas touch.

PRESS RELEASE

The circumstances prevailing at the time of the disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu are beyond the contemplation of the law that a surety can guarantee the production of an accused person.

The army in the name of "Operation Python Dance" invaded Nnamdi's home and destabilized normalcy there.

It is only the security agency that can disclose Nnamdi's whereabout.
Senator Abaribe has no capacity, nor has any surety in the circumstances to know the whereabouts of Nnamdi Kanu.
What happened in Umahia was an invasion, a war of a kind.

Nnamdi may have been killed or captured in the imbroglio or even escaped into hiding.

The onus lies on the security forces to disclose his whereabout.

The judiciary is beginning to tow the line of the executive by throwing the law overboard in matters that affect the South East.

We are all equal before the law.

Senator Abaribe must be released forthwith.

Chief John Nnia Nwodo
President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR 2017
-Authority Newspaper

We congratulate Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on his well deserved award as the Authority Newspaper’s “Governor of the year 2017”.

Your works speak for you everywhere in Abia State and Nigeria.

-Abia Info
21/6/18

PRESS RELEASE

Ndi Ngwa In Abia Central Will Not Distort Zoning Arrangement

NDI NGWA in Abia central, namely, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, and Osisioma, will not distort the existing zoning arrangement, or be in office for 'one term' when it is their turn to produce the Governor of the state.

The only sensible thing to do is to extensively continue in the support for their brothers in Abia South in the forthcoming 2019 governorship election in a "scratch my back, I scratch your back fashion".

It is therefore senseless, as it is factually, morally and strategically wrong for any aspirant to intentionally, willfully and by sheer naivety strive to demean, impugn, shortchange and cajole the headship of Ukwa/Ngwa ethnic group that has demonstrated so much capacity for leadership, unity, equity, peace, progress, economic and political evolution of the state with a "one term" agenda.

"We shall not tolerate that".

Going by the tenets of the zoning arrangement already in force, whereby former occupiers of the office of the governor had enjoyed uninterrupted eight year tenure, my personal experiences in 2011, and the agreement reached at "The Great Ukwa/Ngwa Declaration", March, 2018, it remains the turn of Abia South to produce the governor in 2019.

Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba

NERC Grants 9.5MW Electricity Generation, Distribution Licences to Ariaria Market

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has granted license to Ariaria Market Independent Power Plant Limited to generate 9.5 megawatts (MWs) for Ariaria International market Aba, Abia State.

According to a release by Mrs. Vivian Mbonu, Head, Media Unit of NERC: “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in pursuit of overriding public interest has granted a 9.5megawatts embedded electricity generation licence to Ariaria Market Independent Power Plant Limited and an Independent Electricity Distribution Licence to distribute same within Ariaria Market to Ariaria Independent Energy Distribution Network Limited.

“The licences, issued in line with Section 71(6) of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005 were granted after careful consideration of the applications in public interest to promote access to common goods and to promote commercialisation and industrialisation for which Ariaria, a leading commercial hub in the country is reputed for.

“Both licences granted to Araiaria were affirmation of the Commission’s commitment and response to the long-time yearnings of the market for a stable, reliable and sustainable electricity supply to improve quality of goods and services by Nigerian enterprises and entrepreneurs.”

Following the announcement of the new electricity licenses, traders and artisans at Aba, the commercial nerve center of the South East region and the SME capital of Nigeria, erupted in jubilation.

Reacting to the development, traders at the Ariaria market expressed happiness over the granting of power generation and distribution license for the market by NERC and thanked the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for ensuring that the feat is achieved.

In a statement released to newsmen, the Chairman of AbIa State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Chief Emeka Enechebe, applauded the federal government and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for making the dream of steady power supply to the market a reality.

Enechebe stated that the approval of a licence to operate an independent power plant in Ariaria market as well as licensing of an independent distribution company, Ariaria Independent Energy Distribution Network Limited to handle the distribution of the generated power within the market is a welcome development that will spur improvements in manufacturing and trading activities within the area noted for hosting a major cluster of Aba shoemakers and other leatherwork.

He said: “we are happy that the federal government has favorably considered our request to end our sufferings in the hands of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) that has been exploiting us for years without giving us power to carry out our business. We also thank Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who has been at the forefront of fighting for us to have steady power supply to enable us do more business and support the industrialization, Trade and Commerce agenda of his administration.”

The leader of ASMATA, a platform of all affiliated market associations in Abia State, revealed that their members petitioned the federal government to caution EEDC for their uncharitable activities geared towards destroying the economic life of Aba, a city that survives mainly from the commercial and enterprising activities of residents.
ASMATA commended the federal government for licensing the Energy Company to provide power, intiallly to Ariaria International market and its environs.

“We salute the ingenuity and sacrificial disposition of Total Energy who since engagement and licensing have deployed men and material to ensure that our members enjoy uninterrupted supply.

“We were aware of the antics of EEDC and their promoters to perpetually destroy the remaining lifeline of economic and commercial activities of Aba. The contribution of Aba to the economic life of Abia and Nigeria cannot be ignore and must be encouraged by all men and Women of goodwill. We are therefore happy and celebrating the intervention of the federal and state government to save us from the yoke of EEDC.

“As a group we endorse fully the activities of the Rural Electrification Agency and all those working assiduously to ensure that business operators including light and heavy manufacturers in Aba enjoy uninterrupted power supply. We believe that this is a sure way to improve the operations of the MSMEs leading to enhanced economic growth, job creation and improved IGR to governments to continue to provide dividends of democracy for the teeming masses. The critical role of MSME in economic development is key to our economic recovery plan, all hands should be on deck to ensure the survival of MSMEs and we see the activities of all players in the unfolding scenario, history and posterity will reward all accordingly.

“It is also pertinent, at this point, to commend His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo, GCON the Vice President whose regular visits to Aba and shared vision with Governor Ikpeazu resulted in the success of Total Energy. It is on record today that over 1000 shops in Ariaria has enjoyed uninterrupted power supply for over 10 months, which has really improved business in the area.

“As business men and women all we desire is improved power supply that will improve business leading to overall improvement of the lives of our people.”
..............

https://www.facebook.com/119961132055926/posts/190727464979292/

https://www.facebook.com/653266984761537/posts/1769099383178286/

Why an attack on Ihedioha is an attack on Imolites

Rt. Hon. Emeka Nkem Ihedioha is not a name novel to Imo People. If you do not know him as Ihedioha, the Mbutu Mbaise born political tactician, you know him as a man with the green cap. Many also know him as a man of impeccable character who has distinguished himself in the gathering of men. A school of thought very popular will describe him as a man who used his position of authority to write the name of his constituency and state in the National and International map. To a lot also, Ihedioha represents light, hope and courage. A certain “age grade” sees him as a man who amplified the color green in the National political space to be a means of identification and most importantly, symbol of political vegetation and life. Ihedioha represents the ideal Nigerian and Imo leader who promises what he can do and does what He promised. In 2015, Ihedioha tried his best to salvage Imo people from the hardship and sufferings experienced today. Unfortunately, a certain clique saw it a personal battle for Ihedioha and sold the golden opportunity of Imolites to get liberated.

These characters collected money from the incumbent governor and sold the mandate of Imo people. Imo People voted the PDP, they wanted Liberation and they must be commended or that. Unfortunately, those who sold their right are today seeking to lead the State. God forbid! Most of them can not speak against any policy of the government. It’s important to note that anybody who can not look at the government boldly and tell them their sins should not demand for the votes of Imo people come 2019. Those who have had dirty deals with the government and are afraid to condemn the government should all hide their faces in shame and apologize to Imolites.

Ihedioha since 2015 has continued to tackle this government not on personal hatred but on polices and decisions of the government. Ihedioha represents the ideal Imo leader who has came out to liberate them. The battle for liberation is not a tea party, it’s not what you get by dropping the names of politicians from other states, it’s what you get by dropping the names of Imolites who have chosen you to lead the Liberation crusade. Even in the church, only strong men of God embarks on a Liberation mission. While on a Liberation mission, the man of God encounters all manner of demons, the Agwu, Ofo, Mmuo mmiri, etc, these you must be prepared to destroy with your holy water and holy book.

Chief Ihedioha has prepared himself to encounter all the evil spirits who have decided to keep Imo in captivity. He has been empowered with the political holy water, the anointing oil, the grace, the strength and the courage to challenge the enemies of our State. Imo can not afford to return to the Otokoto era where only 419ners enjoy the common wealth of the masses. Ihedioha has been empowered by God and Imolites. Sampling opinion around, He is the only man who can defeat the Okorochas. Little wonder the APC supporters will always say, “if u give Ihedioha ticket, you will fail”. What an advice from a APC. According to a “local” political philosopher, “Be careful when the opposition party is telling u who can win and who can not win in another party. That individual marked as unfit is actually the man to beat”.

Those against the Liberation Movement are the agents of Rochas. They are those who have done deals with him. They are those who are afraid of him. They are those who want to cover the numerous atrocities of the incumbent. They are the same people. Just as the precious bird � shouted upon sighting a group of fake politicians coming into the church, “Ukochukwu, Ukochukwu, na the same people”. Imo people shine your eyes, an attack on Ihedioha is an attack on a man who u can trust. It’s an attack on a man who will not betray you, it’s an attack on a man who will restore your economy, your LGA system, your healthcare, quality education, etc. Ihedioha represents the wishes of Ndi Imo. With Ihedioha...

Imo Ga Adi Mma Ozo.

Ikpeazu meets Abia pensioners, promises regular payment

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, met with the leadership of Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), led by Comrade C N Udensi, to deliberate on his administration’s plan to ensure regular payment of pensioners and settlement of inherited outstanding.

At the meeting which held at the Government House in Umuahia, Governor Ikpeazu who made a detailed presentation on the financial status of the state to the pensioners, assured them that his administration considers the welfare of pensioners and other senior citizens a major priority.

He informed them of plans to ensure that pensioners are at par with other workers in the state MDAs who are up to date with salaries.

“I must confess that regular pension payment is one of the key issues that gives me sleepless nights as I believe that taking care of our senior citizens is a task that should be prioritized. Regular payment of pensions is therefore a challenge we must collectively meet and overcome.

“Having taken time to study the issues that led us to where we are today, we are ready to carry out a combination of actions that will ensure that we clear the outstanding, most of which pre-dated my administration, and put in place a sustainable regime of regular pension payment that will make it difficult for even future administrations to owe pensioners,” he said.

The Governor who pleaded for understanding and time to enable him execute the plan he presented to the pensioners, assured that pensioners will receive “three payments every two months until the outstanding is cleared”. He also promised to look into the issue of gratuities, as presented by the pensioners, and stated that with every new receipt of Paris Club refund he will personally ensure that pensioners are given a fair share.

In his response, the Chairman of Abia NUP, Comrade Udensi, assured the Governor of the confidence and continued support of members of the union to his administration’s quest to positively change the leadership narrative in the state.

According to him, “We are happy to note your revolutionary efforts in fixing the road infrastructure of the state and your other achievements in agriculture and education. We know you have what it takes to solve the pension payment problem and we are happy that you have a plan and have invited us to discuss it. We will continue to support and pray for you and those working with you because we know that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”.


https://www.facebook.com/119961132055926/posts/190147881703917/

Presbyterian Church to Ikpeazu: you are a builder

Members of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (PCN) have applauded the infrastructure development efforts of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and described him as “a true Nehemiah of our time”.

This was made known during the 2018 Fathers’ Day Celebration of the Men’s Christian Association (MCA) of the Ogbor Hill Parish of the Church by the Minister in Charge, Rev. Akim Erim Mbeh, while presenting the award of “Nehemiah of our Time” to the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Rt Hon. Sir Ude Oko Chukwu.

According to the Minister, “Governor Okezie has re-built Aba and other parts of Abia State and deserves this award from the Church. When you look at where we were before he came and where we are today, you will no doubt acknowledge that we have made good progress that nobody can deny.”

In his response, Governor Ikpeazu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, who read the first scripture during the Service, thanked the Church for partnering with his administration to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state and promised to do much more to make life better for the people.

“We appreciate the support and prayers of the Church. While the the Church is building the spiritual life of our people, it is our job as political leaders to deliver the necessary socio-economic infrastructure that will enable our people to enjoy a better quality of life and do well in whatever their hands find to do.

“My Promise to you is that we will do much more than we have done, with God on our side and the continuing support and prayers of Ndi Abia. We will not let your down and our commitment to your welfare will never wane.”

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Chief Jerry O. Kalu, expressed appreciation to the Governor for honoring their invitation and promised that the church will continue to pray for him and partner with his administration in all spheres, including education, to ensure the rapid development of the state.

Chief Kalu used the opportunity to inform the Governor of their plan to construct a 57-room students hostel at Michael Okpara University Umudike and pleaded with the Governor to support the project which is aimed at providing affordable accommodation to students of the institution.

The Deputy Governor was accompanied to the event by senior government officials including the Commissioner For Agriculture, Rt. Hon. Uzor Azubuike, who also received award as a “Man of Valour”, Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu and other top government officials.

https://www.facebook.com/119961132055926/posts/188027001916005/

Ikpeazu: a beacon of hope in social investment

During the electioneering campaigns in 2015, one of the promises made by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu PhD was that as a Governor he would hold the hand of the weakest in the society and give them hope for a better tomorrow . The life history of the Governor exemplifies hope, sustained through hard work, preparation and taking advantage of opportunities that abound.

Through deliberate government actions and programmes Governor Ikpeazu has touched lives, impacted communities and created a pathway for the most vulnerable in Abia to find succor.
As a Governor under the platform of the PDP coming from the South Eastern part of Nigeria, the Governor had set an example as a leader who understood the difference between the time for politics and the time for Governance.

From the world go, the Governor knew that he had a mandate to serve the people of Abia state working with key development stakeholders to improve the life of the average Abia man/woman. He tried to set aside ego and pecuniary interest or playing to gallery to ensure that he worked closely with all agencies and interested parties to create a support ecosystem for the massive development of Abia State.

One area the Governor has so far distinguished himself is the domestication of federal introduced – Social Investment Programme. Leveraging the four-component part programme Governor Ikpeazu has ran the most robust and effective Social Investment Programme in Eastern Nigeria if not beyond. Continuously Abia Social Investment Office has remained the reference example to other Eastern States. Hear His Excellency the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON

“”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. Perhaps, the greatest thing he has done, in my view, is the wonderful collaboration he engineers between the federal government and Abia State.
The telemedicine project is yet another of such innovations and it is worthy of note that Abia is the very first state in Nigeria to formally embrace this initiative.

From NPOWER to the School Feeding Program, from power generation and transmission to security and infrastructure, Governor Ikpeazu adopts a bipartisan approach in his engagements with the federal government. He brings an added exciting personal touch to the relationship, which translates, into a stronger relationship between Abia State and the Federal Government for the overall interest of the people of Abia State. I am indeed proud of my friend and brother, His Excellency, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu”.

Under the N Power Programme, the Abia State Social Investment Office has successfully placed about 12, 000young hitherto unemployed graduates in the N Power graduate volunteer programme where they earn a monthly salary of 30,000 naira. Some of the employed youths are posted to public primary schools to support the education sector, others are posted to health centres for the health sector and other services the agriculture sector.
This programme injects the sum of 360 million naira monthly into the state’s economy. Another 1670 are been trained at different centres in the state under the N Build Scheme to equip them with different building services skills. This programme runs on the foundation of the state-initiated E4E programme, which emphasizes retooling Abia youths to become not just self reliant but competitive at a time of high technological advancement.

These programmes in addition to others alike have continued to impact positively on the lives of the young people in the state. Even though the federal government pays them, the state played pivotal role by mobilizing the youths during registration and screening processes. The state social investment office continues to play support services to the beneficiaries.

While campaigning to become the Governor of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu PhD assured Abians that he will return the state as the MSME capital of Nigeria. Aba is one of the cities in Abia that serves as its commercial capital. Aba is a city with largest concentration of SMEs in Nigeria. Through GEEP a platform that delivers small loans to small businesses, the State Social Investment Office has funded about 17,865 small businesses with loan amounts ranging from 50,000 to 100,000.

As further show of commitment to ensure that the issue of access to capital is no longer a major challenge to small businesses in the state the SIP Office entered into partnership with BoI to provide a loan basket of 3billion naira targeting about 30,000 individual businesses. The requirement for accessing the fund was also simplified to make it very easy for rural women with no collateral to access the funds.
This programme has impacted very positively on rural women who run petty businesses and trade. This is not all the Governor has done to improve the lot of businesses in the state at that level.

In partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency, the traders at Ariaria International Market will soon enjoy uninterrupted power supply on a regular basis. The pilot scheme has delivered uninterrupted power supply to about 1000 shops for the past 10 months.

Governor Ikpeazu like the Vice President mentioned, seeks for partnership that will touch the lives of the most vulnerable in the society. Upon assumption of office, the state government in partnership with the Vicar Hope Foundation the pet project of the Wife of the Governor launched a free school meal programme targeting pupils in public primary schools. The pilot scheme proved very successful and the programme was immediately expanded. Incidentally the Federal Government launched the Home Grown School Feeding Programme and requested interested states to partner to deliver the foods to primaries 1-3 pupils public primary schools.

Abia having set the template and structures for the success of the programme adopted the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme and expanded the programme to primary 6. Consequently, today Abia is the only state in the country feeding from primary 1 to 6. The impact of this programme has immediately pushed school enrolment from about 150,000 to a little over 300,000 within such a short period of implementation.

The programme engages over 3000 rural women as cooks and injects about 345 million naira monthly into the state’s economy affecting the agriculture and several other sectors. The programme has also enhanced school performance of these pupils supporting the continuous performance of Abia in national and international public examinations.

Governor Ikpeazu has continued to offer hope to the most vulnerable members of the society, pushing people up the social ladder. The next set of people being targeted now is the most poor in our communities who through conditional cash transfer about 17,000 of them will receive monthly inflow of 5,000.

By Chinenye Nwaogu, Umuahia

These social inclusion and intervention programmes continues to provide succor to the citizens of the state especially the most vulnerable.