A 4th year law student of the Abia State University Hackney Chidera, has been arrested in connection with exam practices, in the incident which happened on Friday when year 2 law students of ABSU were taking constitutional law 224 a course being handled by Dr. ACB Agbazuere.

Hackney Chidera was caught by the invigilators when he was about to submit an exam script with Hon. Ginger Onwusibe’s names and registration numbers written on it.

One of the invigilators who spoke to us on account of anonymity said they got suspicious when they saw the names of the member representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency in the Abia House of Assembly Hon. Ginger Onwusibe who also happens to be a 2nd year law student of ABSU in the exam attendance sheet but we discovered that he was not physically present, that was why we decided to cross check every exam script being submitted and we discovered that the script one Hackney Chidera submitted belonged to Hon. Onwusibe that was how we apprehended him and hand him over to the security men on duty, on further interrogation by the security men he disclosed that he has been the one writing exams for Hon. Onwusibe since his year one in the law faculty and that he was also contracted by the Honourable member to sit for this very exam before he was caught.

However the security men informed our reporter that the matter is now before the head of Law faculty Prof. Erugo whom we discovered is not showing seriousness on prosecuting the lawmaker but rather his actions suggests that he has been compromised and is now taking sides with Hon. Ginger Onwusibe.

Our attempts to reach the Vice chancellor Prof. Ikonne was not successful as he was said not be on seat as at the time we got to the school, but our repeated calls and text messages to Prof. Erugo was not responded to.

We are aware that Prof. Ikonne and the school senate does not take exam practices lightly and we will keep close monitor on the situation to ensure that justice is done and the culprits will be punished accordingly.

In a release via his social media handle which he captioned “100 Days down the line”. The lawmaker representing Umuahia South State constituency Barrister Jerry Uzosike has listed his 100 days in office achievements, the lawmaker who reeled out the projects through his Facebook handle said in keeping to his campaign promises of provision of potable water to his constituents he has completed the construction and reticulation of two water projects in the two major markets in Umuahia south, one in Ahiaukwu Olokoro market and the other in Apumiri Market which he also reticulated to serve round the markets, he also listed a number of other infrastructural projects that he has completed and more ongoing, he highlighted his legislative achievements within the first 100 days in office and promise to keep his doors open as he has always done, recall that honourable Uzosike had spent less than 6 months as a lawmaker in the ABHA.

Read Full Details……….

100 Days down the line..

Dearest Great people of umuahia South state Constituency, Good afternoon all.

I bring you greetings from my family and I.

It is 100 days already that I was sworn in to serve you at the House of Assembly.

May I First thank God Almighty who has kept us alive till today, Let His name be Praise.

I wish also to thank Great Umuahia south People, Stakeholders, Youths and women for your support so far, you are truly wonderful people.

My Thanks also goes to The Speaker of the 7th Assembly, my Big brother in Blood, Mr. Speaker and a great Son of Umuahia, Rt. Hon Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji IKUKU OMA ABIA, my Boss, for his guidance and love shown me in these eventful 100 days in office, also to my Colleagues in the 7TH House for the fraternity so far.

Thanks also to the Executive Governor of Abia state Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, for showing concern to Umuahia south state constituency since my emergence and approving and mobilizing the contractor for the Umuopara Ring Road and other Road constructions ongoing within my constituency. Your Excellency I am grateful.

However, notwithstanding that I was elected to make good laws, I did promise that I will not only make laws and go home, I promised Umuahia south people that I will serve them with all my strength.

By next week, when the House will resume I and some of my colleagues will be sponsoring about 3 Bills that will impart in the lives of Umuahia south people and the state at large.

I have also been very busy with the committee responsibility given to me and my colleagues by the House, the reports are ready to be laid at the floor of the House.

In fulfilling my campaign promises to Umuahia south people,

I did promise to provide a very clean water project in our 2 major markets that is Ahiaukwu olokoro market and Apumiri Market and reticulate the water in the market environs, the reason is to reduce the rate of infections arising from dirty vegetables, meats etc. that our people get from those markets due to lack of clean water.

I want to announce to u with Joy that as at today the two water projects has reached 80%completion.see pictures annexed.

Also, during campaign, I made a promise to rehabilitate Ehume primary school Hall which also serves as Ehume community Hall in Umuopara.

I can authoritatively inform my constituents that the Ehume project is 70% completed. Also see picture annexed.

All these are done within this past 100 days.

I also promised to maintain just one phone number and that it shall remain active always and that I shall answer your calls and give U attention.

By the Grace of God, I have been answering your calls, I have been there for you, and I have tried my best. I will even do more, God willing.

I have also attracted some School ASUPEB projects including at Egbelu umunwanwa and others now ongoing.

I have encouraged and helped our people where vacancies exist for employment,and many have been privileged

However, my people, I am not a chief Executive and my powers including financial and social are very limited, but I can assure u that I will always keep Umuahia south first.

In the days ahead, when am through with the present projects, others projects will follow.

I shall be having meetings with our youths in all clans, including students for mental reengineering .I shall be empowering our youths through craft and skill acquisition which is more enduring, and education through scholarships. I shall be helping our students at the high institutions who want to learn skill while on holidays to do so as it is in Ghana and other countries.

My promise for Bursary for Umuahia south students in Tertiary institutions will kick of first quarter of next year using Students of Umuahia south state constituency extraction in Abia state university, Abia state polytechnic and Michael Okpara University as pilot scheme.

Our law school students of our constituency will also receive bursary next year.

This I promised, that I will do, God on my side.

Finally my beloved constituents, as we move into the next 100days and beyond, please remember me in your prayers and keep on supporting the State Government and the Leadership of 7th Assembly.

Long live Umuahia south state constituency

Long live Abia state.

I shall count on your support.

Yours truly Jerry Uzosike

Omena hahaha

An American based business consultant and philanthropist, Dr Felix Ugwu has called on Enugu people to support the state government's security trust fund as security is everybody's business.

He also commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for being proactive on matter of security of life and property among other issues affecting the welfare of residents and citizens of the state.

Dr Ugwu while briefing the press in Enugu weekend said that Governor Ugwuanyi is matching words with action which reveals his outstanding leadership qualities.

The philanthropist expressed happiness on the way the governor is tackling security by being the first state in Nigeria to constitute and implement forest guard security outfit through the recruitment of 1700 forest guards in Enugu state.

"Infact, the Governor has shown that the responsibility vested in him as the chief security officer, is a task that must be done since the primary business of any government is the security and welfare of the citizens."

"There's no gain saying that the votes cast for Ugwuanyi were votes cast for the advancement of good governance; to re-enact his performance during his first tenure".

"I thank the Most High God for the humane disposition of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi which has been brought bare in his general approach to governance; it is simply commendable.

"I clap for Ugwuanyi led government for the purchase of 100 Made in Nigeria pick-up trucks and 260 Toyota Sienna vehicles for security agencies, neighborhood watch and forest guards in the state."

The American based Management consultant who saluted the government for patronizing an indigenous vehicle manufacturing firm, Innoson Motors, for the purchase of security vehicles which remains a great support for the local economy, said that the spiral effect of that singular act on the state's economy cannot be overemphasized.

The Abia State Nominee to the the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Chief Nwogu Nna Nwogu has lauded the victory of President Muhamadu Buhari at the Tribunal as a landmark Judgment, Hon. Nwogu expressed joy over the judgment stating that it has given the people more confidence and hope towards the Nigerian judiciary.

He noted that Nigerians gave Mr. President their mandate because of his untainted integrity and the wonderful work he is doing.

He said the verdict has once again proved Mr. President’s popularity and added that the 2019 presidential election, gave Nigerians the opportunity to pay President Buhari back for his good works.

He said this victory has truly proved that the Nigerian judiciary is truly the last hope of the oppressed and are equipped to sustain our nascent democracy, he pleaded with the opposition to accept the judgement in good faith and join hands with Mr. President towards his dream of building a nation we all will be proud to call a home.

In a statement signed by Hon. Nwogu N. Nwogu he enjoined Nigerians to understand that President Buhari is a true democrat whose love for the country is unprecedented and asked the people to key into Mr. Presidents anti-corruption crusade in order to rid our nation of corruption, he said “Mr. Presidents integrity should be emulated by all and that was why I have always supported and worked with him right from his days in ANPP”

He congratulated President Buhari, all the stakeholders and members of the APC, and urged them to be magnanimous even in the face of victory.

The reality is that Abia state polytechnic has been struggling with very high and unsustainable wage bill with a reduced IGR occasioned by dwindling student population, however it will not make any meaningful impact if we keep to blame game and procrastination as against a realistic and proactive panacea to the problem.

In as much as it is always a regrettable approach to lay off workers, it is also not commonsensical to keep them when it is most certain that you can’t meet up with their salaries and wages.

This issue has lingered overtime without a decisive effort being applied to address the problem from its roots, industrial disharmony became a regular occurrence in the institution as a result of the huge backlog in wage bills which the institution have to grapple with.

Over time the rector of the Polytechnic Professor Ezionye Eboh had repeatedly expressed his concern over the future of the institution and with the current situation at Abia state polytechnic Prof. Eboh’s dream of setting the institution on a higher pedestal cannot be achieved through a popular position or grandstanding.

Uncommon decisions are taken by uncommon leaders and such leaders must be passionate and visionary with strength of character
The management of the institution after due diagnosis came to the realization that a surgery is inescapable in order to heal the institution of the malaise if they must achieve a healthy and academically stable Abia state polytechnic where salaries will be paid regularly and on time, the most potent remedy to the ailing institution is the downsizing of the workforce to a manageable and productive size, though many had argued against such a move either out of feigned ignorance or outright mischievousness but the truth still remains that it is illogical to have over 800 non-teaching staff with just about 300+ teaching staff in an academic institution.

How can any right thinking human being rationalize the manning of two gates by 65 security men in a non-residential institution?
Why should a responsible institution accommodate as much as 32 staff who were discovered to have secured employment into the school through certificate forgery? For those coming for their defense please be ingenious enough to convince us on how they obtained First School leaving certificate at below the age of 8.

It is doubtful if the unions will claim ignorance of the existence of these problems and its burdensome effects, if they truly desire the success of this school, they should show understanding with the management of the institution and join forces with them to sanitize the school so as to achieve operational efficiency and productive workforce.

There is no better time than now, the decision to sanitize AbiaPoly may be unpopular today but the attendant futuristic outcome will vindicate Prof. Eboh and his team, we can’t continue to keep the ailing institution on life support, the time to heal by swallowing the bitter pill is now.

Uche Aguoru
Writes From Umuahia

The Nigerian union of teachers Ugwunagbo branch has rejected the nomination of Mr. Augustine Iheanacho Ujoh as the education secretary for Ugwunagbor local government, in a six page letter addressed to the Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and made available to the News Gazette online, the NUT said that Mr. Ujoh had all along neglected and treated teachers badly , they accused Mr Ujoh of corruption and criminal extortion of teachers before postings, they alleged that Mr Ujoh had criminally and illegally charged teachers 75.000 naira before appointing you an assistant head teacher, citing the case of a lady teacher on grade level 14 who was denied her promotion because she refused to pay 150.000 naira to Mr Ujoh but rather he (Ujoh) appointed a level 12 teacher as a head teacher in place of the level 14 officer.

The teachers accused Mr Ujoh of extorting money from food vendors who were contracted by the government for the school feeding program, stating that his actions had undermined the program in Ugwunagbor.

Mr Ujoh was also accused of killing the standard of education in Ugwunagbor, one example cited by the NUT against him is that he had hijacked the exercise from the quality assurance department and been setting examinations questions outside the standard curriculum just for pecuniary reasons.

The group described him as callous and irresponsible stating that his last tenure was characterized with corruption, intimidation and harassment of teachers, in the 6 page letter which was signed by the NUT deputy chairman Comrade Ndubueze Samuel and five other officers of the union they pleaded with the state government to reconsider their stand over the reappointment of Mr. Ujoh as the education secretary of Ugwunagbor as his reappointment will affect the standard of education in Ugwunagbor and will also put a strain on the unions relationship with the state government as they are not ready to work with Comrade Ujoh as Ugwunagbor LGA education secretary, they demanded that the Governor should reconsider his appointment in the interest of education in the LGA.

View Attached Letters

It is ofcourse no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari had recently approved a 16 man new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), with Dr Pius Odubu from Edo State as the Chairman and Chief Nwogu N. Nwogu as Abia State Representative on the board.

*However, there have been several derogatory reactions from the elements of contrast political interest, protesting the emergence of Chief Nwogu Nwogu as the Abia State nominee.

Be that as it may, I am not unaware of the fact that Nigeria is a democratic state wherein individuals and groups are entitled to their opinions in a given public issue.

Side-by-side, any rational human being does not need a prophet to know that power is transient hence, it changes from time to time. *Unfortunately, in this part of the world, there are people who don't believe that whatever that goes up will definitely come down thus, they tend to be very indifferent, envious and aggressive whenever there is a power-shift.



There is ofcourse no gainsay that most politicians of today obviously perceive the political appointments as a veritable avenue for self enrichment and aggrandizement against the prior aim of impacting on the life of the masses, and this necessitates greed, campaign of calumny and frivolous comments, such as it is in the Nwogu's instance. They see it as a do-or-die-affair and device avenues of sabotaging others. But, let us not forget however that, 'what is good for the goose, is equally good for the gander'.



Moreso, I belong to the school of thought which believes that Power is a scarce commodity hence, it is not given by asking.

Accordingly, Chief Nwogu Nna Nwogu hails from Obibor-Asa in Ukwa West Local Government of Abia state, therefore, he is eminently qualified to represent Abia State in the NDDC board given the provisions that established the Commission.



* Therefore, it will not be a welcome development for some persons to make themselves anti-progressives or enemies of the public due to divergent selfish interests.

Let us collectively support Chief Nwogu in this all important course to ensure that he will ignite a whirlwind positive development in Ukwa-land and Abia state at large.

A situation where an Ukwa man will continuously protest and kick against the nomination of his fellow kinsman is not only barbaric but, a display of idiocy, greed and ambitiousness.



It is a universal understanding that Politics is a game of interest, but courtesy demands that we trade with caution whenever it has to do with matters of national utmost importance. Chief Nwogu N. Nwogu as we know him is a grassroot politician, an obedient statesman, very unassuming, humane and accessible. Suffice it to say that his consistency, unwavering loyalty and support for his party actually elevated him to this present political height.



He was the former NDDC Rep./Commissioner in Abia State, an office he occupied for 8 months before the dissolution of the Board by President Buhari on the 25th of January, 2019. Chief Nwogu actually made a mark in the board by attracting lofty developmental projects within the period he served in the office. All the projects are verifiable, some are already delivered while others are still in progress. The projects are as follows



(1). The Construction of Umuituru- Umuadienwe Road Ozar Asa Ukwa West LGA Abia State



(2). Emergency Repairs of Obuzor Owaza Road Ukwa West LGA Abia State



(3). Emergency Repairs of Ngwayiekwe- Ogwe- Umuaka-Owaza Road Ukwa West LGA Abia State



(4). Emergency Repairs of Ikpokwu-Umukalu- Umuorkwo Road Ukwa West LGA Abia State



(5). The Construction of Umuchichi Seven-up road Aba,Aba South LGA Abia State



(6). Emergency Repairs of UBE Street leading to Aba stadium/Miverton Avenue and environs Aba South LGA,Abia State.



(7). Emergency Repairs of Ubahu-Umuogba Ovindu link Road Ekeoha Umuahia South LGA Abia State.



(. Emergency Repairs by of uncontrollable sections Amaba Ugwueke Road in Bende LGA Abia State.



(9). Rehabilitation of dual six class rooms in Umuelechi Primary School Obuzor Asa, Ukwa West LGA Abia state.



(10). Rehabilitation of Umukalu Primary School Umukalu Asa Ukwa West LGA Abia State.



(11). Rehabilitation of Obahu Primary School Obahu Ozar Asa Ukwa West LGA Abia State.



(12). Electrification and installation of two brand new transformer in Umuihe Umuodo Village Umuahia South LGA Abia State.



(13). Construction of Isiala-Ngwa Road in Isiala-Ngwa South LGA Abia State



(14). Emergency repairs of Ikwuano Umuahia Road Ikwuano LGA Abia State.


Amb. Obum Mao Azunna

Is a Public Affairs Analyst and Writer on Contemporary Issues.

Francis Alamezie Framed Me Up, Lady Accused Of Raping 14 Year Old Cries Out

Mrs. happiness Nwokocha the lady accused of sexually abusing a 14 year old boy in Lagos has dismissed the rape accusation as false and a ploy to tarnish her image and that of her family because she refused to sleep with Mr. Francis Alamezie the father of Gabriel the 14 year old boy she was accused of having an affair with.

Mrs. happiness Nwokocha a primary school teacher from Umuahia, who placed a call to The News Gazette Online said she called into our newsroom on reading the story from our site to tell her side of the story for the world to know the truth, she said there was never a time she had any amorous relationship with the said boy but rather Mr. Alamezie who hailed from Ogbaku, Mbaitoli in Imo state was making passes at her, demanding that she should sleep with him, when the pressure became too much she reported to her husband who did not believe her initially because both families had good relationship, but to prove to her husband that she was telling the truth she began to record their telephone conversations and playing it back to her husband.

Narrating her ordeal Mrs. Nwokocha who was sobbing intermittently during the telephone conversation said trouble started when her husband borrowed 100, 000 naira from Mr. Alamezie their neighbour and close family friend who resides in Adeshola Street Agodo Egbe Lagos, to make up and clear a car the husbands younger brother who lives in Europe sent to them, we needed 400, 000 naira to clear the vehicle from the ports but we had only 300.000, but unfortunately the husband couldn’t meet up with the deadline for repayment as agreed, this caused a little problem between Mr. Nwokocha and Mr. Alamezie, She said Mr. Alamezie began to make love proposals to her, promising to write off the debt and keep her on a monthly stipend of 30-40.000 naira monthly if she yield to his love request, “this I didn’t find comfortable and had to inform my husband and with the evidences of the recorded telephone conversations my husband confronted him with the evidences and this angered Mr. Alamezie the more”

“On the 20th of April precisely on Easter Saturday I went to the shop down the street in the early hours of the morning around after 6;15 am, we usually buy things from the shop which belongs to Mrs. Alamezie, Gabriel the son was in the shop as usual and I was picking up things I needed when I had a thunderous slap on my back turning back it was Mr. Alamezie and the wife shouting we have caught you in our trap today and they began to beat me up and dragged me into their compound, locked the gate and Mr. Alamezie with the help of his wife tore the gown and the short I wore inside and began to snap pictures of my unclothedness, while all these were going on, in that confusion all I did was to cry and try to defend myself from the blows Mr. Francis Alamezie and the wife was dealing on me from all corners, as he was beating me he was booing and shouting “that thing you were using to make shakara I don see am today” it was Gabriel who rushed out to call my husband who on arrival saved me from the beating, it was at that point that Mr. Francis Alamezie told my husband that they caught me trying to rape Gabriel and when my husband asked Gabriel if it was true Gabriel said it was all a lie that no such thing happened, his father shouted him down and ordered him into the house.

My husband took me home as we were contemplating on what next to do, we had knocks on our door on enquiry we were told they were police men from Area M, when we got to the station after explaining what happened the area commander ordered that he (Mr. Alamezie) be locked up till the next day, the case was transferred to the human rights department Ikeja police division where they also blamed Mr. Alamezie after listening to the recorded conversation we had, we began to suspect foul play when they yielded to Mr. Alamezie’s request to take the case to the gender department, at the gender department they told us that they will get back to us three months after we didn’t hear from them and when we enquired they kept turning us around, it was at that point that my husband contacted a lawyer who wrote a petition to Zone 2 police command, at zone 2, the IPO incharge was bitter with him after listening to our case and the recorded telephone conversation, but things took a different turn and unexplainably the AIG transferred the case back to the gender division where it is clear the police there have been compromised they gave us a date to come back for the hearing.

While talking to us Mr. Nwokocha the husband to the assaulted Mrs. happiness said he was shocked to read from the press all manner of fabrications against his wife, stating that it was all lies and that if anything like that happens he wouldn’t have been behind his wife, “I am an Umuahia man and we don’t tolerate infidelity it is ridiculous fabrications to tarnish the image of my wife and that of family but we will see to the end of it” he said.

When contacted Mr. Alamezie a building materials dealer, insisted that what he sent to the press was true and that he never made any love advances to Mrs. Happiness, when I reminded him of what he told the woman over the phone he said he was only trying to help the woman and her husband as the God father of their twins.

We are now in a network society, society is increasingly being reorganized around media access to digital information and the delivery mechanism which allows for innovations like the internet.

A decentralized society is emerging, technology is disrupting central authorities ,giving the people power to participate in every decision that affects them.

Technology has had astonishing impact on our society, but it’s greatest impact will be on our monetary system. The way we exchange values.

A true democratic process, through digital transformation will remove the powers of a few individuals called the GOVERNMENT.

Governments all over the world have realised what is coming ,unfortunately, no central authority can control it’s impact. Government can only regulate its applications and not the underlying technology.

The cryptocurrency that started it all,Bitcoin, is the first digital currency to solve the “double spending problem ” or counterfeiting problem without the aid of a central authority, such as a bank or a government, making Bitcoin truly peer to peer.

Join the Bipartisan blockchain group, National assembly to discuss “THE PARLIAMENT AND TECHNOLOGY.

Hon Engr Solomon Adaelu
Vice chairman house committee on ICT
Chairman bipartisan blockchain group National assembly of Nigeria.

Press Release:

In our determined drive to reposition Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, for greater operational efficiency we wish to inform members of the public that we have commenced the implementation of the review report on verification of staff and their certificates, as approved by the state executive council in April 2019.

Following painstaking verification and reviews, letters have been issued to 258 staff members whose services are no longer required by the institution. All the affected staff are receiving full severance payment in line with their condition of service with the school. They will also receive due outstanding salaries as other workers are being paid.

Among other things, the ongoing reform is expected to position the institution to achieve its motto of “towards excellence in technology”, meet regular salary obligations of its workforce as well as create necessary environment for academic excellence that the institution is known for.

Thank you.
Signed:
For: Management
Mrs Chinyere Eze
Public Relations Officer

The Management of Abia State Polytechnic Aba, wishes to inform her workers especially non-teaching that no strike action has been declared by any of the Unions in the campus and therefore directs all employees of the institution to be on their duty posts from Monday,9th September, 2019. Any employee not found at his/her duty post will face disciplinary action. Management equally warns any person or group of persons to desist from acts capable of disrupting smooth flow of academic activities as well as the 2019/2020 admission process.

Please be properly guided.

Signed, Management.

Abia State House of Assembly is the legislative arm of Abia State Government. It is one of the State Houses of Assembly established by Section 90 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and endowed with powers to legislate as well as given privileges and immunity to enable it exercise these powers without hindrance.

Electioneering come and go, but the struggle of the people to create a government which represents all of us and not just a portion of the society is constant, and the legislature is the only arm of government forearmed with the capacity to create an environment based on the principles of equity, economic, social, and environmental justice.

The environment at which every legislative Assembly operates is no doubt a reflection of our standard as a people given the background of the legislative assembly as a convocation of the society where our fate, future and wellbeing as a people is brought to the table and discussed under the supervision of the “GAVEL”

The character, charisma and the intellectual decency of a leader determines the direction of any organization, be it Government or private, a leader who is weak in character will always produce a weak and directionless institution, the environment also tells a lot about the products that will emanate from such institution.

The Abia State house of assembly complex is the structure hosting the legislative actions of our 24 representatives, any action taken there is viewed as legally binding on our collective interest and Abians are better represented in that legislative community with a spread of 24 house members.

Over the years that complex has remained uncared for, may be the former leadership of the house did not realize the need to make their environment more decent and business friendly, but the 7th assembly led by Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji understood that the environment upon which you operate has a lot of story to tell about your personality and character, it also has a direct bearing on your output hence the need to reconstruct the building to make room for a more focused and people oriented law making and developmental legislation that every democratic society needs for positive advancement.

The direct consequence of a decent work environment has always been a focused, multidisciplinary, highly skilled group of people working towards a common goal.

With a disciplined, hardworking and result oriented leadership as witnessed today under Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji as the speaker, the legislature had for the first time entertained probe of non performing institutions with the aim of making sure that the welfare of the people is guaranteed and those who are given assignments carry it out with the interest of the public.

If we truly believe that the strengthening of our public institutions with necessary laws is what is required to give the people good governance? Let us support Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji in his determination to build a legislature that will guarantee the wellbeing of all Abians devoid of political or clannish boundaries.

Uche Aguoru
Writes from Umuahia

All over the world ,whether under a democracy or a dictatorship,the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of the lives and properties of her citizens,as well as the protection of the territorial integrity of such state.These are vital or core interests
which violation either singly or in combination leads nations to war.

For decades Nigeria’s foreign policies have been African centered,so much so that it got to the height of its apogee during the Murtala/ Obasanjo regime of 1975/76.Nigeria’s foreign relations became so radicalized that we spent Millions of Naira and in fact,billions of dollars in cash and materials to help liberate African countries under colonialism and apartheid domination.Nigeria supported and fought for the liberation of South Africa from the strangle- hold of the white Boers led by F.W.Declerk and Pietha Botha. Nigeria stood by the icon of South African freedom struggle in the person of Nelson Mandela for the 27 years of his illegal incarceration.

Also,in playing the big brother role as the giant of Africa,Nigeria stood by Angola in the days of the NPLA and UNITA struggles capped by the efforts if Jonas Savimbi,to ensure her liberation from the clutches of death.Up till the I980’s ,the Rhodessian struggle,nay Zimbabwean independence remained a mirage without Nigeria’s support.In fact,this vilified country today,whose citizens are being slaughtered by South Africans in Johanesbourgh,Natal and Soweto,fought with all her resources,cash,kind and even culture,as was demonstrated by the Musical albums of Sunny Okosun( Fire in Soweto and Break down the walls) to extinguish racism ,segregation and mans inhumanity to man in South Africa and its entire region.

In 1980,Nigeria boycotted the Moscow Olympic games in defiance,at her own peril to further drive home her points against racism and apartheid regime in South Africa.

The blood and voice of late Steve Biko,the echoes of Bishop Desmond Tutu and milliions of black South Africans,killed,maligned,brutalized by the wicked police and army of the white colonialists reverberated the Nigerian landscape and trumpeted to the world by successive Nigerian regimes,until freedom came to South African blacks.

Alas!!!! This generation of South Africans have ignored history,even their elders have developed short memory or amnesia.Out of the nearly 3 million foreign immigrants there,with half that being Africans across the continent,they have singled out Nigerians in the xenophobic attacks,killing and maiming them as well as ,burning their business outfits.

The question is ,why? Is it bad to do business in a foreign land when all the taxes are being paid and laws being kept and obeyed.
Last Sunday,on the 1st of September 2019,the world woke up the destruction of billions of dollars worth of properties in South Africa,belonging to Nigerians,without provocation.Their reason being that Nigerians have taken not just their jobs but also dominated their business districts with their entrepreneurial spirit and wizardry.

Now the main issue. What has our government done all these years in response to the xenophobic attacks,killings and arson.Little or nothing short of lip service,for almost a decade,2011 precisely.We have had Abike Dabiri’s special adviser on diaspora matters tame reactions.Lame,not because she hasn’t been upbeat about it,no,,indeed she has been the lone voice.But only a few days ago did we hear our foreign minister,Sir Geophery Onyeama blow hot about the whole murder becoming enough and that Nigeria would take a definitive action.



This reaction it seems is the barking of toothless bulldog.Nigeria is treating the death of hundreds of her citizens with a moral barometer of complaint,that it was bad.Meanwhile,realists like Hans Morganthau has since cautioned that there is no morality in international politics,instead a relations dominated by power play and use if force.In 1984,the then Buhari and Idiagbo. in military uniform responded to Britains seizure of Nigerias airways flight at the Heathrow airport London,by holding a British plane down. here in Lagos.Tit for tat.Is the president still at his wits?

In 2011,Hamas held captive a 27 year old Israeli soldier on the Lebanon –Isreali border post.What followed the refusal to release the soldier was the decimation of half of Lebanon and Hezbollah.It was deterrence at its peak.The world converged at the military behest of Israel to stop the onslaught..

While,this piece is not advocating war,it is pointed about the fact that Nigerias foreign policy makers must know that the lives of Nigerians anywhere in the world and its protection falls within her core or vital interest.

Increasingly,Nigeria ‘s High Commission complex was besieged in Congo DR and South Africa,with impunity,and we have been clapping with morality in our hands.

Where is South Africa’ s ambassador to Nigeria,,in Abuse or back home with a stern message.What happened to recalling ours from South Africa.Are there no embargoes that Nigeria can impose? Are there no taxes to be hiked on South African economic concerns here? How has the Nigerian government treated MTN,Shoprite,DSTV to mention a few?

Levity!Inaction.They best describe Nigeria’s reaction to the mindless killing of her citizens,not just at home,but now abroad.Too bad.From the USA,Malaysia,Saudi Arabia,to South Africa,it appears that a policy of population reduction has been approved for Nigeria.

Adindu Nwakwuribe ,
Political Scientist and
A principal Lecturer.

Ward youth leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ukwa West has expressed their disenchantment over the call by one Ben Godson on the president to remove Hon Nwogu N. Nwogu from the list of newly nominated Board of NDDC

Speaking to the News Men in Obehie the group described the call as mere blabbermouth and a display of sheer ignorance on the act setting up the NDDC

Mr. Obinna Nwankwo, Chairman of the group, said, Ben Godson does not understand that there is an act governing the NDDC Board and that due process must be followed in the award of contracts, he advised Ben Godson and his group of detractors to understand that NDDC commissioners does not give out jobs or approve same but as representatives of their individual states they will recommend based on the needs of their people for the commission to approve and build it into their budget. But, that notwithstanding, he maintained that Chief Nwogu during his 8 months in the board of NDDC attracted 66 Projects into Abia State, he said, this is verifiable and it is there for anyone to confirm free of charge from the NDDC Abia State office.

“Asa is not known for politics of lies, propaganda and witch hunt, we are peace loving people and does not engage in unnecessary noise making”

The group also called on Mr. Ihuoma Dike, and Mr. Allwell Enwereji to do away with acrimony and support the cause of Asa Land, they reminded them that it will amount to futility any fight against the decision of Mr. President and the party, the group opined that going around in an attempt to stop Chief Nwogu will bring them shame and disappointment at the end of the day.

They expressed gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for nominating Chief Nwogu N. Nwogu describing it as a good decision and restated their loyalty and support for Ukwa West APC and the President.

There is no hiding the fact that waste management is and has remained a daunting challenge to the Abia state government but the current waste situation around Ugwunchara, Umuagu ibeku down to Ohuhu area calls for urgent intervention by the authorities to avert a possible outbreak of epidemic which is likely to erupt any time soon.

Travelling along Ugwunchara, down to War Museum road between Holy Rosary College and states CID one must notice an unmistakable presence of weeks of uncleared refuse and the ooze of foul stench polluting the air along the Umuagu Ibeku axis. At the Isi okata, Umuda and Umuawa junction, the dump has spilled over to the main road and has taken over a quarter of the narrow one lane road leading to the NNPC mega station through Umuawa Alaocha while the acidic substances being emitted from decayed waste keeps softening the tarred section of the road thereby causing underground damage to the road and assisting the heavy gully erosion that has eaten up a large portion of that road to keep expanding.

The mountainous heaps of refuse being piled daily and left undisposed for over 8 weeks and counting is not only an embarrassment but has become hazardous and health threatening to Umuyota, Umuawa, Umuda and the surrounding communities.

The mounds of solid waste being deposited at Isi Okata junction has taken a threatening dimension with the discharge of poisonous or radioactive substances from the decayed refuse into the streamlet which runs directly into Ikwu Umuyota and Onu iyi Umuawa streams; the only sources of domestic water available to those communities, while the reek emanating from the refuse is capable of poisoning the air around the Ohuhu axis.

There have been repeated appeals to the authorities in ASEPA and the ministry of environment by the affected communities to intervene and rescue them from the impending epidemic that is likely to befall them if the pollution arising from the debris persists, but all that has not received the needed attention from the authorities in ASEPA and ministry of environment.

Ohuhu is environmentally threatened and the health of the people are endangered.

There has been reports of strange ailments afflicting the residents, especially children and pregnant mothers. ASEPA, Ministry of Environment, the house committee on environment and Abia state government should please intervene and save the people from the imminent disaster staring the people in the face, ASEPA has become a big embarrassment to the state and the people.

Aguoru
Writes From Umuahia

A group known as Ukwa Youth Initiative for sustainable development (UYISD) has expressed shock at a press release credited to one Benedict Godson a supposed Ukwa East son condemning the reappointment of Hon. Nwogu N. Nwogu into the board of NDDC as Abia representative.

Addressing the youths who gathered in large numbers in solidarity with Hon. Nwogu N.Nwogu, Engr. Sterling Chinwendu Uruakpa the spokesman of the group said, In as much we do not want to give popularity to such an uninformed position from a man who has never contributed anything towards the development and sustenance of Ukwa East and APC Abia state in the person of Benedict Godson, there is need to remind him that the reappointment of Nwogu N. Nwogu into the board of NDDC is an indication that Mr. President recognizes hard work and honesty.

Hon. Nwogu is a core Buharist and a strong pillar of APC both in Ukwa West and Abia in general, he participated greatly and injected huge resources and manpower in all the electioneering processes that delivered APC in Ukwa, and described the claim by Benedict Godson as not only fallacious but ill motivated and uninformed and called on the president to ignore such lies while reminding Benedict Godson and his unfortunate group that Mr. President cannot be beguiled any further by their deceitful fabrications.

They reminded Benedict Godson that it was his selfishness and mendacious presentation of an unqualified candidate that stalled Abia chances in the last board until Mr. President in his wisdom saw the truth and appointed a bonafide son of Asa, a man of impeccable character and honesty into the board.

He went further to state that Nwogu N. Nwogu as the immediate past Commissioner, who represented Abia State in the board of NDDC, performed creditably well despite spending just 8 months before the expiry of the last Board and that in the wisdom of Mr. president there was no need to appoint someone else into that position.

Addressing the group made up of youths from Ukwa, Uruakpa expressed gratitude to the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the reappointment of their illustrious Son, as the NDDC Commissioner representing Abia and expressed confidence that his reappointment will keep bringing deserved development into Asa Land.

He described Hon. Nwogu as a man of Integrity who had always stood on the side of truth, and understands the heartbeat of the Asa man and also a loyal and committed Party Member.

He asked the youths and party faithful’s to be steadfast and not to worry about the publication by any disgruntled person insisting that the president of the Fed Rep of Nigeria is a man who believes in truth and cannot be distracted.

He reminded Ben Godson and his group that they will as usual fail just as they failed the last time, while encouraging Party faithfuls and the youth to remain committed and maintain peace in the Land.

A group known as the Abia Integrity Group For Good Governance (AIGG) has reacted to the Abia @28th speech delivered by the Abia state governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, the group through their spokesman Mr. Obioma Onwuka said, part of the speech by the governor which reads

” I make bold to state that every funds we have received till date, released for the purposes of payment of salary arrears, were judiciously utilized according to their stated purpose of release. It is still a matter of public record that the ICPC commended the Abia State Government for effective management of its bailout funds at a time other states were being investigated for mismanaging same.

This statement to the full intent of its meaning is a direct recognition of our earlier stance on the integrity and professionalism of Mr. Obinna Oriaku during his time as the commissioner for finance, according to the group under Mr. Oriaku’s watch, the states financials were professionally and creditably handled, Mr. Oriaku also introduced digital financial transactions to our payroll system which to a very great extent eliminated fraud and financial malfeasance in our financial systems and saved the state millions of naira that would have ended up in the pockets of these fraudsters, he reminded those who were busy using pseudo identity to publish of all manner of falsehood against the person of Mr. Oriaku to remember that he was the chairman of the committee that handled the bailout funds and at the end of the exercise, while ICPC and EFCC were chasing after and probing other states for mismanagement, Abia received commendation from the Anti-graft agencies for effective management of the funds allocated to it.

Also speaking, the secretary of the group Hon. Okezie Chukwuka (AKA OC), insisted that under Obinna Oriaku, the states financials was digitalized and discipline introduced, he eliminated brazen stealing of states funds by public officials through the introduction of measures that will make it difficult for people to steal with impunity from the system and I am sure in a little while Abia will begin to reap the benefits of those structures that Mr. Oriaku has introduced into the system through the ministry of finance, he went further to state that he is not surprised that the enemies of the state who are currently serving in government has been using their illegally acquired funds to fight Mr. Oriaku so as to make him give way for them to continue in their audacious thievery which they shamelessly rub on the faces of Abians.

By the governors statement today Mr. Oriaku has been vindicated while his disparagers have been put to shame.

We recommend that the governor should give Mr. Oriaku a higher position and ensure that those whose only mission is to steal does not come back to his team if he wants to get Abia right, we believe in his administration and we trust that he can take Abia to a higher level if he works with a team of committed, trustworthy, honest and hardworking people like the former commissioner for finance.

We pray that God will give Governor Ikpeazu the strength and wisdom to drive Abia to an enviable status

An APC stalwart in Ukwa Engr. Chinwendu Sterling Uruakpa has hailed the reappointment of Hon. Nwogu N. Nwogu into the board of NDDC as Abia state representative.

In a congratulatory message made available to press men he described the reappointment of Hon. Nwogu into the NDDC as a Commisioner representing Abia as well deserved, stating that Hon. Nwogu had represented Abia well in the last tenure and that his tenure impacted positively on not only Ukwa indigenes but Abians in general, describing him as a good party man who worked relentlessly to see to the re-election of Mr. president back into office in the just concluded election.

He thanked the leader of the party in the state, High chief Ikechi Emenike for his encouragement and support for the party,he also thanked Mr President for reposing confidence in the pride of Ukwa and one of Abia’s finest.

Engr. Uruakpa advised all APC faithfuls to be resolute, steadfast and committed as he is confident that more good things will come to Abia through the APC led federal Government.

The Members of Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) Abia Chapter has vowed to resist further intimidation and harassment from the Eugene Eze Job led ASATOA if the government does not move in to stop Eugene Eze Job from harassing its members while carrying out their lawful duties.

Speaking to The News Gazette the chairman of TOAN Umuahia zone Comrade Chief Enyinnaya Madumere lamented the continuous harassment and intimidation by Eugene Eze Job and his group despite a subsisting court order obtained from the National Industrial Court Abuja placing a restraining order on Eugene Eze Job and 9 others from restraining or interfering with their operations until the determination of the substantive matter before the court.

While ruling on the motion exparte brought before the national industrial court Abuja, Hon. Justice O.Y Anuwe granted the appeal of Tricycle Owners Association Of Nigeria (TOAN) and gave an interim injunction restraining the defendants Eugene Eze Job and nine others, their hireling or servants from restricting, interfering or obstructing the activities of the TOAN pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The court ordered that the motion on notice be immediately served on the defendants and set the date for the substantive hearing on the matter on the 8th of October 2019.

Comrade Chief Madumere however said that despite being served the court order that Eugene Eze Job and his group have continued to harass, intimidate and most recently lock up our members in police cell, asked if the government is aware of all these? He said, Eugene Eze Job has been blocking us from having access to the governor “the day the Governor invited Tricycle operators for a meeting, Eze Job instructed the governor’s aides not to allow me and my group into the venue because he knows we will expose their illegal deals” he insisted that all they are asking of the government, is to wade into the matter so as to settle the issues amicably.

When contacted the chief of staff to the chairman of the NURTW Comrade Chidiebere insisted that the operations of TOAN is illegal and does not deserve to be recognized by the state government, a member of the NURTW Mr. Peter Asagwara told the News Gazette that the government has made all efforts at harmonizing various Tricycle unions for reasons of security and ease of operations.

The member representing Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbor federal constituency Hon. Solomon Ezinwa Adaelu, Sunday 11th August 2019, visited the home of late Mr. Chimaobi Nwogu, the Tricycle rider who was recently killed by a soldier for refusing to pay a 100 naira bribe.

During the visit, Hon. Adaelu in an emotionally laden voice decried the incessant killing of innocent Nigerians by our security operatives and described the young Chimaobi Nwogu as another victim of extortion, intimidation and continuous killing of Nigerian citizens by the Nigeria security agencies.

You will recall that the House Of Reps. member who is fondly called the messenger by his constituents recently sponsored a Motion against Police Brutality on defenseless Citizens, the bill was adopted in the Police Reform Bill passed by the Senate, the recommendations contained in the bill are predicated mostly on the adherence to Rules of Engagement by the Nigeria Security Agencies while dealing with the Civilian populace were given express approval.

Hon. Adaelu while praying for the soul of the departed, consoled the family and condemned the extra judicial killing of the innocent Chimaobi by a soldier, he assured them that he will use his position to ensure that the slain Chimaobi gets justice.

Prof. Friday Ezionye Eboh, the rector of Abia State Polytechnic has revealed how the engineering department of Abia state Polytechnic Aba manufactured an unbreakable electric bulb with a 15 years life span, this he said during an interactive session with The News Gazette in his office, he made the revelation while exposing the progress the school has made in the area of research and academics.

On Salaries, Prof. Eboh, told The News Gazette that the issue of backlog of salaries being owed staff of AbiaPoly will be cleared on or before December 2019, he explained that though he inherited about 7 months’ salary arrears upon assumption of office as the rector of the school but that there are plans in place to offset all the outstanding salaries insisting that his focus at the moment is to improve the academic standard of the school and to ensure payment of salaries as and when due, he lamented the current students population as being a little below 10.000 and the school fees payable by students if fully harvested cannot meet the current wage bill of the school because the school maintains an over bloated work force, he harped on the need for the school to downsize in order to meet up with its monthly wage obligation while pleading with the government to please ensure that the 90 million naira subvention approved for the running of the school gets to them regularly and on time.

On the allegation that Mr. Obinna Oriaku, the former commissioner for finance have vested business interests in Lloydant Business Services and are colluding with the company to defraud the institution, he dismissed such claims as unnecessary political mudslinging, stating that Lloydant is a registered entity with the CAC and has board of trustees making the owners of the firm easily identifiable through a simple search, “to clear the air, Lloydant has been in operation in AbiaPoly since 2015 and I have only been Rector for two and half years which means they were in operation before I even came here as a Rector, but beyond that, looking at their records they have been able to grow the financial performance of the school significantly through transparent payment collection system by eliminating manual collection of fees stating that every single kobo collected is reflected in the schools portal and runs through a single account, noting that Lloydant had blocked leakages and fraud and had introduced transparency into our IGR, before the coming of Lloydant, students pay cash to lecturers even inside examination halls, there is no accountability and students collude with some fraudulent staff to defraud the school but today our financials have improved significantly, what we need today is an increase in student enrollment to enable us raise our IGR and you know we are competing with private universities whose admission processes are lower in standard and in cost, so it is affecting our student population”

Prof. Eboh said, the engineering department have done commendably well in fabrications, he pointed out that the department have produced industrial waste buckets, Industrial Palm Oil Mill, Motorized and manual Melon Peeling machines, Motorized lawn mower, amongst other recognized technological breakthroughs, while the school have maintained high academic standards in all departments, “in the area of our core mandate which is Teaching, Research and Community Service, I must commend, because we have done very well to be singled out for recognition and honour by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as the most technologically Innovative polytechnic in Nigeria during a conference in Kaduna.

On Discipline and Security, The Professor of Management Studies boasted that under his administration, Abia state polytechnic have maintained high level discipline and have recorded negligible incidents of cultism, extortion and sexual harassment because the management have a policy of zero tolerance to indiscipline of any sort and the few cases we have recorded have been dealt with decisively and have expelled or sacked such persons whether student or lecturer.

He ended by thanking the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, for all the support he has been extending to the school and pleaded that he should please continue to assist the school by making sure that the subventions come to the school regularly and as and when due.

It has become public knowledge that some elements that are not comfortable with the accountability and integrity that Mr. Obinna Oriaku the former Abia State commissioner for finance has brought into the state’s financial dealings are still battling very hard, though unsuccessfully at tampering with his reputation gained through years of hard work and honesty at the banking sector.

The recent unfounded and cooked up allegations of financial malfeasance bothering on the operations of Lloydant Business Services against him by those whose means of livelihood is solely dependent on fraudulent misapplication and outright stealing of government funds is nothing but a testimony of their frustrations because of the financial best practices he has introduced and the leakages he has plugged in the state’s financial dealings.

True to their DNA, They have constantly twisted the truth and sold falsehood to Abians by saying that Obinna Oriaku  introduced Lloydant Business Services to Abiapoly and has been making personal gains in Abiapoly through Lloydant.

In as much as the AbiaPoly issue is being treated by a probe panel set up by the ABHA to determine the challenges facing the institution with a view to resolving the salaries and other management issues the school is facing.

We will like to state the facts correctly to the benefit and understanding of the Abia public and the world at large.

Lloydant business services was engaged by Abia state government to manage the deployment of collection portal of the Institution by June 2015, we believe that the public is aware that such high profile engagements takes months to come to physical realization and at such predates the coming of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s Administration that took off on may 29th 2015.

Every rational thinker including the child in the kindergarten knows that there is no way Mr. Oriaku could come from First Bank Enugu where he was working as a regional manager prior to the coming of the Ikpeazu administration to influence public institutions in Abia state.

As at the time of engagement, the former commissioner for finance Mr. Obinna Oriaku was only but special adviser economic affairs to the governor and does not even possess the much advertised influence and knowledge over those institutions as being peddled about by propagandists.

On the allegation that Mr. Obinna Oriaku owns or possess vital business interests in Lloydant Business Services is as baseless as it is fallacious, Lloydant as a registered business concern and has its board of trustees which is verifiable through a simple search at the CAC. The company was incorporated in November 2012 with Asidanya Chukwuemeka,Ugochukwu Nwabunike,William Enemali,Obiora Anyasi, Ifeanyi Okafor as directors, also note that Mr. Oriaku as at the time was still in the bank as a regional manager.

This fact alone nullifies the fallacy these criminals have been feeding the public through the media and we are therefore determined to bring to your knowledge the positives and value addition that the coming of Lloydant has recorded between 2015 till date in our educational institutions.

This is a table of the financial standings of ABSU, Abiapoly and Abia School of health technology before the introduction of integrated payroll system by Lloydant and it will help us to appreciate subsequent positive financial growth that has been recorded in our educational institutions through Lloydant.

School of Health

2015 - 29.073.500

2016 - 146.520.445

2017 - 97.174 035

2018 - 130.770.400

2019 - 204. 092.165.. June 2019

ABSU

2015 - 1.713.085.55

2016 - 2.452.248.750

2017 - 3.471.929.925

2018 - 3.582.950.046

2019 - 1.280.933.254...  June 2019

Abia poly...

2015 - 657.001

  2016 - 868. 787.

  2017 - 1,068.053

 2018 - 1. 170.000

  2019 - 775. 222.55 June...

It is instructive to also note the United Bank for Africa which is the funding partner for the biometric project had certified the services of Lloydant in the handling of biometrics of the state and had provided the 70 million naira for the project out of which 70% was deployed by the bank for software procurement while the remaining was for field workers handling the project, it is also very pertinent to note that Biometric capturing does not guarantee prompt payment of salaries but availability of funds remains a critical element in prompt payment of salaries.

It will also please us to note that it is Obinna Oriaku on assumption of office that discovered that Abia State had no centralized pay roll system, He engaged UBA being the official bank for the state to fund the deployment of centralized pay roll and biometrics registration of entire civil servants.

 The bank committed their 70m for this project free of any cost to the State, this led to the discovery and reduction of our wage bill with about 600m naira and the state was able to identify 323 teachers that were due for retirement with over 800 fake civil servants employed without any waiver.

 Where did Hon. Obinna Oriaku go wrong the facts speaks for itself.

Here attached are documents to back up our position, we challenge those who are attacking the person of Hon. Oriaku from saving the state from monumental fraudulent practices that has become culture in our civil service system and had denied our genuine workers their legitimate earnings to come open with documentary evidence rather than indulge in a fruitless mission to mislead the public.

 Mr. Obioma Owuka

Chairman

Abia Integrity Group For Good Governance. (AIGGG)

It is my honour and privilege to extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to my brother and friend Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, on his well-deserved confirmation as a minister of the Federal Republic.

I have the confidence that you will extend your wealth of knowledge, enterprise and hard work which have distinguished you even at a youthful age in business in any given ministry, you are full of innovative ideas and your proficiency in trade and economic management will create wealth and devise possible solution to our international and regional challenges.

I want to thank Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari for his wisdom in identifying your potentials and choosing you to serve in his cabinet at a time like this.

It has re-echoed Mr. Presidents resolve to the development of the south east region which the numerous developmental projects he has embarked upon within the region evince.

I also, on behalf of myself and family congratulate His Excellency, Senator Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha on their emergence as principal officers in the 9th NASS, while I will not fail to extend my sincere felicitations to Hon. Ben Kalu on his emergence as house committee chairman on information.

Sign
Dr. Michael Kasarachi Enyinna
Chairman/CEO FundVine Securities Ltd

Dignitaries from across the country on Friday the 26th of July 2019 gathered at Ekeoba, Ohuhu in Umuahia north LGA of Abia state to pay their last respect and bid a final farewell to late Mrs. Onyemata Njikara Nwagbara who died at the age of 86.

In a funeral message delivered by the General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria. Dr. Chidi Okorafor, the cleric eulogized the life and times of Mrs. Nwagbara, describing it as a life well lived with the fear of God and expressed no reservations about late Mrs. Nwagbara receiving favour in the sight of God,

He encouraged everyone including the leaders of the country to acknowledge God as the Alpha and Omega and explained the concept of the bible which described man as sand that will also return to sand.

In his speech at the occasion the traditional ruler of Ekeoba Autonomous community His Royal Kingship Eze Iheanyichukwu Nwokenna recounted Late Mrs. Nwagbara as a devout Christian and a disciplinarian who has little or no tolerance for indiscipline and sinful life and prayed God to grant her peaceful passage to his bosom.

Mrs Nwagbara is the mother of Prof. Onyi Franklin Nwagbara, HOD, Departments of Biological Sciences, Biotechnology and Microbiology, Nile University of Nigeria Abuja, the United States trained Professor is also a member of the South East Governor’s Forum and currently the secretary of South East Regional Development Commission (SEREDEC)

Among the dignitaries that came to commiserate with the Nwagbara family on the occasion of the death of their mother is Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria who was represented by Dr. Okey Emuchay former Nigerian ambassador to South Africa, Prof. Bart O. Nnaji, Chairman/CEO of Geometric Power Limited and former minister for power, Chief Chikwe Udensi a politician, security expert and a onetime governorship candidate of the PPA in Abia state, Chief Sam Ohuabunwa, the renowned economist, Chief Mrs Chigoziri Adamma Ajunwah-Ogbonna, a delegation of state governments of Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia states, Eze Philip Ajomiwe Chairman, Umuahia North Council Of Ndi Eze, Eze Bobby Aguocha, Secretary Ndi Eze Ohuhu, amongst other notable dignitaries.

Mama Onyemata,s children Dr. Ucheoma Nwagbara, Prof. Onyinye Nwagbara, Dr. Uzoechi Nwagbara, Mr. Eberechukwu bright Nwagbara, Mrs Udo Glory Nwagbara and Mrs. Helen Uruchi Uchenna were full of emotions as they bid farewell to their mother.

Engr. Chinwe Sterling Uruakpa, an APC stalwart from Ukwa has admonished Asa Youths to be mindful of the type of politics they play, he reminded everyone that whatever evil game we play today in the name of politics will definitely determine how our tomorrow will be.

He made this call on Monday while addressing a cross section of Ukwa youths, during the General Meeting of the Ukwa Youth Initiative for Sustainable Development (UYISD).

The Ukwa West born young politician told the youth that the future of Asa, Abia, and Nigeria as a whole lies in the hands of the youth, “Ukwa is Abia’s golden hen that lays the golden egg but regrettably the state government has always neglected Ukwa youths when it’s time to share political offices and other developmental derivable, but sadly politicians are always quick to remember the youths during elections as political thugs”

Addressing them in a lofty tone, he said Ukwa is the only LGA in Abia that God blessed with Oil, Gas and other mineral resources but our living standard and environment does not depict the rich nature and divine gift God had bestowed on us.

He advised the youths to shun politics of egotism and opined that everyone has the right to join any political party of his choice but that all our goals will be focused towards the development of Ukwa and we all should at all times endeavour to shun any act that will be detrimental to our land.

He went further to say that he is a strong supporter of Chief Nwogu N. Nwogu, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, and President Muhammadu Buhari, and that he feels happy following them having motivated and encouraged him through their integrity and sincere nature, but his loyalty to these trio does not stop him from protecting the interest of Asa Land.

He further encouraged the youths to show sincerity in every of their dealings as many are looking up to them for a better tomorrow

For those who are yet to come to terms with the unfolding events and revelations as it relates to the ongoing probe of non-performing government establishments should get used to the fact that the only constant thing in life is change, I find it very imbecilic for a people to continue doing the same thing while expecting a different turnout.

The issue of none payments of salaries by some government establishments have not only given Abians cause for concern but have become a very big embarrassment for the people and the government.

It has become extremely difficult for me as a citizen to rationalize the reason why a revenue generating establishment cannot be able to meet up with the least of its direct statutory requirement while government watch in total helplessness and the people moan in despair.

Is it not a direct indictment on the state government that under their supervision 90% of the parastatals and agencies under its regulation owe workers between 3 to 18 months salary arrears while the head of such establishments brazenly grow very rich at the expense of such ailing institutions?

I find it difficult to understand why an agency like ASPIMSS should be upto date with salaries and at the same time successfully expanding on its mandate if not for the ingenuity, dedication, honesty and hard work of Dr. ACB Agbazuere, while a sister agency with bigger revenue windows like ABIA LINE that hosts franchise, courier services and multiple interstate mass transit system owe its workers 12 months salary and counting?

Can one fathom why Prof. Ikonne the Vice Chancellor of ABSU should maintain an excellent salary payment records and its sister institutions like AbiaPoly and Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu are struggling with a debt burden of 14 to 18 months salary arrears?

Can some one please justify why after receiving huge subventions directly from the state government to the tune of 22 million naira, and 17 million naira from local governments which is usually drawn from source (JAAC) into the ASEPA account and other revenue windows which the law permits the agency to collect for ease of operations funding and negligently fail to carry out its constitutionally assigned duty afterwards?

I know of a general manager in a revenue generating agency that inherited 8 months salary arrears but rather than seek for solutions on how to offset the wage burden quickly appropriated to himself the sum of 4 million naira for personal furniture on the first day of assumption of office.

In as much as it is unarguably a direct indictment on the government, (executive and legislature) for negligence over the years, will it be wrong to assume that the legislature under the watch of Engr. Chinedum Orji through this probe has come alive to its oversight functions and had devised strategies to checkmate such executive recklessness, ineptitude and incompetence by the chief executive of the affected agencies and parastatals.

Will it not be comfortable to assume that the ongoing probe, if clinically carried out will strengthen our institutions and weed off those who has failed to perform in their given task while giving the hard working Abians the opportunity to receive their salaries as and when due like their counterparts in our neighbouring states.

Will I be sounding too optimistic to assume that this probe initiated by the legislature will bring about a crucible of radical changes and emerging political and socially responsible environment that will only employ men and women who will be ready to make institutional marks and create impressive records?

Abians let’s support the ongoing probe to make the Abia of our desire possible?

Uche Aguoru
Writes From Umuahia

The probe initiated by the 7th Abia House of Assembly to determine the reasons why some institutions and agencies of government has been unable to perform leading to failure to meet up with staff salaries and other standard requirements expected of such institutions that are supposed to be financially self-sustaining, but at the same time receiving subventions from the state government is indeed a welcome development.

This bold and courageous move by the legislative arm will determine the roles of the chief executives of such institutions and the challenges militating against their optimal performance which is hemorrhaging on the public institutions they are heading and its workers, it also shows that the present Abia House of Assembly led by honourable Chinedum Orji as speaker and the members of the 7th Assembly are deeply knowledgeable of the plight of Abians and are determined to end their sufferings.

Truth be told, the major problem of the present administration in Abia state is the inability of heads of different parastatals, institutions and agencies of government, even those that are being subventioned to pay salaries and also deliver in maximum productivity their constitutionally assigned mandates.

By setting up this committee, the leadership of the 7th Abia House of Assembly has proved that they are the true representatives of the people and are committed and willing to share in the plight of the common Abian while also assisting the executive in strengthening those institutions that have been seen to have performed below the standard expectation.

While being careful not to rush into an early “credit score” for the leadership and members of the 7th Assembly, but given their recent activities one can comfortably conclude without equivocation that for the first time in our democratic experiment we have a House of Assembly that has proved to become a legislature run with vision, passion and purpose and with the intendment of correcting the executive mistakes/neglects of the past.

“Like him or hate him” the speaker of the 7th Abia House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji and his team have demonstrated leadership, focus, courage, strength and determination to tackle the problems of the common Abian, they have shown willingness to right the wrongs.

It is an established fact that from the beginning of Abia’s democratic experiments, no House of Assembly has displayed an easily identifiable exuberance, tenaciousness, commitment and passion to identify with the common Abian as the present legislature.

The leadership of the 7th Assembly has shown willingness to match their inner chamber resolutions with matching action.

The executives should not shy away from implementing the reports of those committees by relieving some heads of agencies and parastatals of their duties if found culpable while encouraging and strengthening those with legitimate challenges.

I plead with the state executive led by Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to take seriously and implement the reports of the different committees set up by the Abia House of Assembly whose activities has so far been clinical and transparent, the nobility of its conception should not be wasted on the altar of political relationships, the outcome of this odyssey will not end in the trash bin of the chief executive.

Abians are watching, the will of the people who the House of Assembly represents must be respected by mustering the willpower to punish the head of any institution indicted by the probe unless the government has a conspiratorial role in their nonperformance.

Enough of this brazen irresponsibility and corruption by people entrusted with public establishments.

Uche Aguoru
Writes From Umuahia

The Actors Guild Of Nigeria, Saturday 6th of July, 2019 honoured Bishop Emeka Nwankpa with the title of “OCHENDO NOLLYWOOD” during the 5th Edition of the Guilds annual award giving ceremony held at Imo Entertainment Academy, Owerri Imo state.

The event which attracted the crème de la crème of the entertainment industry across the south east zone of Nigeria featured prominent entertainers and big players in the Nollywood industry within the south east.

While conferring the title on the Isiala Ngwa born cleric and philanthropist, a popular actor known with the stage name "AGBOGIDI" described Bishop Nwankpa as the pillar of the entertainment industry across the south east geopolitical zone, stating that Bishop Nwankpa has been very supportive to the industry and said it was for that reason that the guild singled him out to be honoured in this year’s event, he stated that it was an honour well deserved and that Amb. Bishop Nwankpa deserves every honour he is receiving here today because of his philanthropy and immeasurable support and encouragement that he has given to the industry over the years.

They thanked and congratulated him on his award which was well merited and requested that he remains steadfast and never relent on his philanthropic gestures and the good works which he is known for.

In his response, Bishop Dr. Emeka Nwankpa thanked the guild and expressed his gratitude to the them for finding him worthy to be honoured with such a prestigious title, he told them that he will continue to be part of them and will keep supporting the guild which he described as his family having been an actor, producer and marketer.

He also commended the Guild on their commitment and steadfastness, he charged them to put more effort in the development of the entertainment industry which according to him is bringing laughter and happiness to the homes of many across the world.

Hon. Solomon Adaelu, (The Messenger) member representing Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbor federal constituency sends out another warning to the national assembly cautioning them of the dangers ahead if Nigeria fails to key into the emerging global economic revolution known as the BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY.

A Must Read……….

THE BIPARTISAN BLOCKCHAIN GROUP:

Distinguished colleagues, I am aware that we have all been following the evolution of the one world currency created by Facebook, in partnership with world governments and technology companies. THE LIBRA CURRENCY.

I have on several occasions drawn the attention of members to this disruptive protocol called the BLOCKCHAIN. It is becoming clearer to those who do not understand.

We are in the era of biggest WEALTH movement. Money has evolved over time in different forms as a medium of exchange.
The authority to print and issue money rests solely on the different governments of the world and their central banks.

One of the many applications of the blockchain technology has given the power to print and issue currency to individuals and organizations, CRYPTOCURRENCY.

Just few days ago, the G20 world leaders assembled in Osaka - Japan, to discuss global affairs. In the same Osaka was an assemblage of the representatives of G20 leaders called the V20 (virtual currency representatives).

These groups of finance experts, technology companies, finance ministers and crypto currency enthusiasts had one common objective. To evolve a global regulatory framework for the use of crypto currencies.

Not many people are aware or understand the significance of this important meeting.

The deliberation was majorly on LEGISLATION AND REGULATION OF BLOCKCHAIN APPLICATIONS.

Every day in Nigeria, an average of $12M is traded on different global exchanges and billions of dollars are moved in and out of this country everyday on the blockchain. While this goes on, the EFCC is only looking at traditional bank transactions.

There are currently huge losses in revenue with an increasing progression because the blockchain applications and crypto currencies remain unregulated across the economic sphere of the nation. It is our responsibility as lawmakers to provide legislation for the regulation of blockchain applications that has given rise to many startups.

Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology that underpins crypto currency. It provides a way to record and transfer data that is transparent, efficient and secure.

Traditionally, for every transaction, lawyers write contract agreements which are legally binding on parties involved. The blockchain has provided a means of writing these contracts and agreements with computer codes. This particular computer codes are immutable and accommodate the business logic completely. They are referred to as SMART CONTRACTS.

The house committee on science and technology in the 9th assembly is expected to lead this revolution.

It is the fourth industrial revolution, driven by digital transformation. The technology that will have the greatest impact on our society.
A lot is possible with the blockchain.

Hon Engr solomon Adaelu
Chairman:Bipartisan blockchain group. National assembly of Nigeria.House of Rep.Room 2.33

Member representing Umuahia South state Constituency Hon. Barrister Jerry Uzosike on Monday paid a courtesy visit to the new Chief Medical Director (CMD) Federal Medical Center Umuahia, Dr. Azubuike Onyebuchi to congratulate him on his appointment and also to have a firsthand view of the discipline, innovations and professionalism he has brought into the establishment since he assumed office as the CMD.

Hon. Uzosike who went on the visit in company of other prominent sons of Umuahia south including Engr. Kingsley Asuoha, Engr. Humphrey Stephen, Chief Obi Akaegbu and Mr. Abraham Amaefule congratulated the new CMD on his emergence as the chief Medical Director of FMC Umuahia and the first CMD from Umuahia extraction after 40 years in any federal government establishment situated in Umuahia.

In his speech Hon. Uzosike, described the appointment as merited having come first in the interview for the same position in 2011 but was denied, he stated that everything happens at the appointed time and that time came in 2019 having come first again and this time around was confirmed CMD.

He commended the new CMD on the maintenance culture which he has introduced in FMC since he took over office which has transformed the old maternity wards into beautiful, hygienic and radiantly looking facilities, they encouraged him to further deepen the discipline and dedication to duty that he has instituted among the staff in relation to duty and attention to patients.

The Honourable member reminded him that coming from the young generation, everybody is looking up to him and that he should not let Umuahia down.

In his reply, Dr. Azubuike Onyebuchi expressed joy over the solidarity and thanked Umuahia south state constituency for their prayers.
He promised to do all within his powers to bring positive improvements that will turn FMC Umuahia into a referral center, he thanked God for giving him the opportunity and promised not to let Umuahia down.

He used the opportunity to congratulate Umuahia south state constituents for electing a vibrant, learned and intelligent young man with a vision and mission to represent them and expressed confidence in the abilities of Hon Jerry Uzosike to represent Umuahia south creditably.

In the words of Burgess Owens, an American Athlete…..”I believe that my worth is not measured by what I do, by the honors that are bestowed upon me, or by material wealth that I might obtain. Instead, I am measured by the courage I show while standing for my beliefs, by the dedication I exhibit to ensure my word is good, and the resolve I undertake to establish my actions and deeds as honorable”.

Indeed, leadership entails a call to service, but dedication and commitment to service, with undeterred sacrifice to humanity remains a rare virtue which is only upheld by a few individuals.

Hon Chief Clement Okezie Erondu will no doubt go down in the annals of our history as a state, following his philanthropic decision to submit to a 50% cut on his entitlements as a Transition Committee Chairman in Aba South LGA, in the midst of his health challenges then which required massive attention and funds.

This quintessential and indefatigable leader of immeasurable qualities and capabilities chose to align with the philosophy of our amiable governor, Dr Victor Okezie Ikpeazu in moving the state forward, and further pledging to contribute his quota wherever his attention was needed.

In the light of the above, it can be ascertained, with every bit of sincerity that there are only few individuals with such rare virtues, and who could go as far as putting the interest of their state above their personal interest and welfare.

As every individual jostle for recognition and appointments in the new government of our amiable state, as pioneered by Dr Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, I humbly submit that the attention of the governor be drawn to such significant situations where leadership and philanthropy played out in the most magnanimous and appreciable manner.

According to Vince Lombardi, an American football player, coach, and executive in the National Football League “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand”. Hon Chief Clement Okezie Erondu is one of those rare virtues who gave proper and appreciable account of themselves when they had opportunities to work in various capacities.

In a nutshell, I have confidence in the ability of Hon Chief Clement Okezie Erondu to deliver, having successfully served Aba South LGA and indeed, the state in various capacities. I believe our state can only reach it’s desired heights if the best individuals who have the interest of our state at heart, as against their personal interest and welfare, are chosen to join hands with our ever performing governor in moving the state forward.

Long live Aba South LGA!
Long live Abia State!!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!

In recent times one name that has reverberated in the world of financial management expertise is Mr. Obinna Oriaku.

He is the immediate past commissioner for Finance Abia state in the Gov. lkpeazu’s administration, an Abian who has mastered the country’s financial terrain and he is experienced in management of Resources and corporate administration.

Before his debut in government, Mr. Oriaku has worked in various capacities with different financial institutions before he rose to the post of a Regional Manager with First Bank PLC prior to his being appointed as Economic adviser to the Abia state governor on secondment.

The graduate of Government and Public Administration from Abia state university Uturu, was a pioneer appointee of the Okezie Ikpeazu administration whose financial expertise has brought in steady and robust Economic growth and stability into the state’s financial dealings.

His prudent management of the state resources and firm belief in due process in all government transactions has placed the state in a clean slate despite her accruable lean resources.

His headship of the committee on disbursement of the bailout fund ensured the judicious utilization of the Funds accessed from the federal Government by the state and his insistence on the fund being appropriately channeled for the purpose it was meant to serve brought commendations and accolades to the state from financial watchdogs.

Hon. Oriaku introduced the Biometric process which curbed the activities of Economic saboteurs and fraudsters, it also succeeded in pruning down the wage Bill as well as eliminate padding of salaries, double billing and other dubious activities that was a regular practice within the system.

He also put structures in place for improved collection of internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state by screening all Revenue Consultants to ensure that the state gets the best. This has helped the state achieve over 80% authorization of what constitutes the core IGR, PAYE, income tax, Ground rent etc. The state now has data of all the number of shops and markets in Abia which helps her hit the targeted mark of IGR development and expectations in the state.

Under his watch the state maintained a convivial Economic relationship with all counterpart Donor Agencies which highly assisted the state in assessing various Intervention Funds to meet the financial obligations of the state in specific Areas of her developmental goals.

As the Ikpeazu administration enters into her second term, it is expected that the reorganization, reforms and restructuring models initiated by Mr. Oriaku be consolidated upon in the state civil service system to permanently eliminate discrepancies within the system which will in turn put an end to the perennial problems of non- payment of salaries as at when due and clear all backlog of pensioners allowances which hitherto were inherited by the present administration.

In a nutshell, Mr. Oriaku was an engine room of the present administration's economic drive and an epitome of Economic mastery whose prowess is a necessity for the effective growth and stabilization of the state’s economy.