By Emeka Nwachukwu
March 24, 2015 will remain indelible in my mind for many reasons. First, it was a day that President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned the Phase 1, Simple Cycle Gas Alaoji Power Plant in Aba, Abia State. A bold step taken by President Jonathan to ensure that Aba and environs enjoy steady power supply.
Second, President Jonathan the same day inspected the Geometrics Power Station; the brainchild of Prof. Barth Nnaji. The President pledged to correct all the human error stopping the power plant from taking off.
Third, the President's visit to Geometrics came with a big drama. Before his arrival at the venue, the factional governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Allex Otti who was accompanied by his wife sat together in one of the front roll seats which was conspicuous enough. Immediately the master of ceremony announced the arrival of Mr. President everybody at the arena stood up to welcome him and his entourage. Mr. & Mrs. Otti got the shock of their lives.
Call it providence you may be right. Governor T.A.Orji the chief host of the number citizen of the country accompanied by the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, sandwiched Mr. President right from the entrance gate where he alighted from his car, walked him down straight to inspect the facilities at the Geometrics. When they got to the point where Otti strategically positioned himself, Mr. President simply made a straight face. He refused to look at Otti's direction or respond to gesticulations. At this point, both Otti and his wife were transfixed for some minutes before they could recover from the shock. When it dawn on him that Okezuo Abia was the chosen one, Otti who could not believe what hit him through his spinal cord, apparently to save face stood up from his seat to join Mr. President. But it was too late. As a desperate man he is, the shortish Otti who stood up to catch up with Mr. President five minutes after the latter snubbed him moved like a fowl beaten by the rain. He was barely dragging himself to move around the massive compound.
Sensing danger, Prof. Nnaji tactically refused to acknowledge Otti when he presented his address. Our 'Cowboy' President also behaved like the first speaker when he was called upon to deliver his address. He refused to acknowledge Otti throughout his address. Otti's wife intermittently gave her husband handkerchief to clean the stream of hot sweat pumping out from his forehead. The shock waves were too much for Otti who goes about telling people that the President asked to contest for governorship of Abia. Cheap lies!
At the Aba Sports Club where he addressed the business community, President Jonathan publicly announced that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu will succeed Ochendo Global. He urged Abians to vote Ikpeazu for governor, Governor Orji for Senate and vote for other PDP candidates from state to federal levels.
naijanetworknews

OCHENDO GLOBAL IS TRULY A LEADER WE ABIANS ARE SOLIDLY BEHIND HIM ND WE URGE HIM NT TO RELENT IN DOING GR8T EVEN THOUGH HIS GOING 2 REPRESENT ONE SENATORIAL ZONE BT WE WIL CONTINUE TO SEEK 4 HIS FATHERLY MENTORSHIP ND DIRECTIONS ND PLEASE HIM TO CREATE SUCH TYM 4 US AS WE PROMISE TO VOTE OKEZUO VICTOR ND OTHER PDP CANDIDATES IN D STATE KUDOS D ICON OF DEMOCRACY,
PILLAR OF SECURITY,
AN AMBASSADOR OF PEACE,
PEOPLE ORIENTED GOVERNOR,
C .O. N.
WE ARE SOLIDLY BEHIND U SIR RIDE ON OCHE BABA,
WE ABIANS IS SAYING TANK U 4 GVN ABIA STATE A NEW FACE.

The Inspector General of Police has been called upon to institute full investigation into the mayhem unleashed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA),Dr. Alex Otti at Oboro Ikwuano LGA resulting in the shooting of one Frank Dickson by Otti’s armed men.
Briefing newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia, the Assistant Director, Media, Okezuo Abia Campaign Organization, Mr. Kingsley Emereuwa said that a formal petition has been made to the Inspector General of police over the incident and urged the IG to properly look into the matter with a view to bringing those behind the dastardly act to book.
According to him, fillers indicate that there was plan to sweep the matter under the carpet, adding that the call has become necessary in view of recent developments in the state which indicate that some desperate politicians were trying to heat up the polity and disrupt the peace in the state.
Mr. Emereuwa made reference to a statement by the former governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu where he vowed to make Abia ungovernable for the PDP-led government in the state pointing out that such posture was not in the best interest of the state.
He said that the alarm raised sometime ago by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. ACB Agbazuere that Alex Otti was using armed men in military uniform to intimidate Abians was not a hoarse as recent events have shown.
In his remark, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue another Assistant Director, Media of the Okezuo Abia campaign organization noted that Governor Orji has done a lot in making the state peaceful and expressed unhappiness over the use of armed guards by desperate politicians to campaign in the state.
He also called on the Chief of Army Staff to ascertain the legality of a candidate of a political party going about with armed men to campaign

naija networknews

Unveiling the real Alex Otti and His ‘change’ slogan of Deceit
I am compelled to write this column without being
conciliatory to anyone because of the political scenario in
my beloved State – Abia State – as the general elections
gather momentum.
My disillusionment is predicated upon the truism that some
crafty and insincere politicians whose antecedents and body
languages depict retrogression to our collective aspiration as
Ndi Abia if properly scrutinized, are hiding under the guise
of “change” to manipulate our psyche.
As desirable as change is, the proponents must epitomize it.
In other words, the platform and the personality through
which the change is being propagated must be built on
morality and devoid of any deceit and manipulations; the
reason I am worried about Dr. Alex Otti and the APGA
platform because from all inference his change slogan is
embellished in deceit.
Before any gullible fellow sees me as a paid agent who has
been contracted by political opponents to tarnish Otti’s
image, I want to state unequivocally that I have been in the
forefront of the battle to ensure that Abia State takes it
rightful position as the number one state in Nigeria long
before Otti’s ambition.
Therefore, I make bold to say with all sense of responsibility
irrespective of whose ox is gored, that positive change is
achievable only through flawless foundation which is
championed by men of unquestionable character not
desperadoes masquerading as change agents.
No matter how enticing Otti’s candidature seems to some of
us and his sanctimoniousness before some gullible Abia
electorates, his antecedents need thorough scrutiny.
The controversy surrounding Otti’s real origin of birth and
his emergence as the Abia State APGA gubernatorial
candidate, the allegation of age falsification coupled with the
revelation that he was sacked by Diamond bank
management contrary to his claim that he resigned his
position as the managing director honourable are too
weighty to ignore in the all important political discuss of who
assumes the mantle of leadership in Abia State at this crucial
stage.
My assertion is based on the truism that leaders are not
imposed on the people rather they emerged from them and
the people’s ethos is symbolized by a leader’s ethical quality.
Therefore aspiring to lead goes beyond the luxury
associated with leadership but its reflectiveness on the
people you are leading.
Judging from the point of view of what Otti claims he
represents, the alleged falsification of his age by declaring
under oath that he is 49 years of age even denouncing his
original state of origin coupled with the N120 million other
APGA aspirants alleged he bribed APGA national chairman,
Chief Victor Umeh with to emerge APGA candidate, I am
tempted to say that his sanctimony and slogan of “change” is
tantamount to hypocrisy as well as action in escapism as he
is not better than those he is antagonizing with propaganda
to succeed.
According to his former colleagues in the banking sector,
Otti never resigned honourably as being claimed rather they
said he was sacked from his position by the furious
Diamond bank PLC management who allegedly discovered
his subtle plan to acquire majority of the bank share
through surrogates as contingency plan to enable him stage
a return if he eventually lost the election.
The bank was said to have consented to Otti’s political
ambition when he made it known to them and even agreed
to give him leave of absence during the period the election
will last, but the skeptical Otti chose to act fast by trying to
use surrogates to acquire majority of Diamond bank shares
to ensure that he becomes one of the largest shareholders
of the bank.
Diamond Bank discovered this plot at the last minute when
the deal was almost being successful and subsequently
sacked Otti for engaging in greedy and unethical practice.
Sadly enough, the deceitfulness is being used by Otti and his
cronies to manipulate some gullible Abia electorates. For a
example, it is no longer news that Otti is sick and look
incapacitated to assume the enormous responsibility of
governing a State, but his camp continued to trivialize his
long absence from public even campaign until an on-line
news medium, The City Reporters broke the news that Otti
was flown abroad to a German hospital where he had a
spinal cord surgery and is recuperating under the watchful
eyes of foreign medical doctors.
His over zealous cronies immediately produced and started
circulating fake pictures of Otti with some white men
claiming that he traveled to source for foreign investors for
Abia State in an election he is yet to win and not even sure
of winning.
Though Otti’s camp continued to play down that media
report as junk journalism, the truth was later confirmed
when Otti emerged with walking stick at Matar Dei Cathedral,
Umuahia, last January during the governorship debate
looking very lean and sick.
Couple of weeks ago, Otti slumped in his residence and was
immediately rushed to an undisclosed Lagos hospital forcing
him to cancel his Aba rally which was to take place on Friday
26th February, still Abians are being made to believe that he
is the real face of change
From all indications, some enemies of Abia State want to
replicate another Yar’Adua scenario in Abia State by insisting
that a very sick man is foist on us all instead of doing the
needful but the billions of Naira invested so far in pursuit of
their vain ambition will not allow them.
I was troubled and was almost moved to tears for my
beloved Abia State when Alex Otti’s right hand man Engr.
Uchenna Okagbue APGA Ag. Chairman South-east said
during their recent in-house meeting that no one in Otti’s
camp should be afraid of Otti’s health worries, that Otti has
enough money to buy Abians over.
He equally boasted that even if Otti is in coma that Ndi Abia
will be deceived into voting for him through a well packaged
propaganda which they are presently using to deceive the
electorates. I strongly believe that no one man’s ambition no
matter how desperately needed should precede that of the
entire state.

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji has said that the education sector remains an important sector that no leader should play with and promised to continue to accord priority to the sector.
The Governor said that it is for that reason that government has concentrated effort at enhancing the education sector in the state with a view to taking the sector to the next level.
Governor Orji who was receiving a delegation of the Abia State Council of Tertiary Institutions and Colleges at the Government House, Umuahia, stated that his administration has made positive impact in the education sector which have earned the state accolades, pointing out that despite all odds the state has maintained the second position in WAEC for second consecutive years.
According to him, the feat achieved by the state in the education sector is as a result of combination of efforts by the government, teachers and students in the state.
He said that apart from sustaining tuition free education, free school bus programme, building of new classroom blocks and rehabilitation of others the government has also handed secondary schools back to their original owners while plans were on to hand over primary schools back soon.
Earlier, the state president, Abia State Council of body of Alumni Associations of Colleges and Tertiary Institutions and Commissioner for Special Duties, Deacon Sunny Agomuo extolled the Governor for excelling in the education sector, pointing out that the association does not involve itself in partisan politics but supports the government of the day.
In an address earlier, the secretary of the group, Chief SN Nwariaku also commended the governor on his laudable innovations in education including his initiative to hand over schools to voluntary organizations as well as his wisdom in handing over Government College, Umuahia to the old Boys Association of that school in addition to the revitalization of scholarship and bursary schemes among others.
Highlight of the occasion was the conferment of the award of Icon of Education on the Governor by the association in view of his outstanding achievements in the field of education in the state.

Couple of months ago, the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu made a public declaration through his SUN Newspaper that he is back to PDP and that he never belonged to PPA. He went as far as lying before the people that his PPA Senatorial form was purchased and filled by one of his aides who he demanded to make a public apology for getting a form for him without his consent.
For some of us who are familiar with his tricks and deceptions, knowing his criminal activities in the past and present, we concluded that OUK is applying his usual Gamji way of life in an era of political sanity in Abia State.
Nevertheless, a man who cannot change will never change and thank God the PDP leadership at the National level and President Goodluck Jonathan accepted the rejection of the chameleon by Abians facilitated by Abia PDP stakeholders and other well meaning Abians.
However, it is now made open to the General Public that the Man who castigated the leadership of the PDP in Abia State for letting the world know that one person cannot belong to two different political parties at the same time. Especially into a strong a Party that won all the elections in Abia State in 2011 without a mediocre going about with a virus with intention to destroy that which he couldn't build.
Now it is officially official that Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) is the Abia North Senatorial Candidate for the PPA, the Party he founded and funded. As usual, he sneaked into his Igbere Country Home few days ago to begin his campaign for the Senate.
Interestingly, he is a candidate that saw a big disgraceful defeat in 2011 when he contested for Senate under his PPA Platform and in 2015, my very good friend and a credible candidate from Arochukwu, Mazi Mao Ohuabunwa, the PDP Senatorial Candidate for Abia North will finally facilitate his final political burial.
Orji Uzor Kalu must be in another world if he ever think that Abians that rejected him and his mother wouldn't reject him again. Nonetheless, the people of Abia North especially the great people of Abiriba that he caused so much pains upon by destroying their beautiful community are fortunately alive to pay him back once.
We will all live to celebrate yet another political defeat of a man who ruled a State without a single visible project but left Abia indebted to different financial houses and to the people.
Nnaji writes from Umuahia

Today, Abia State is suffering the greatest deception in the hands of Alex Otti. As if referring to Otti, Xun Zi had said that the petty man is eager to make boasts, yet desires that others should believe in him. He enthusiastically engages in deception, yet wants others to have affection for him. He conducts himself like an animal, yet wants others to think well of him.
This is the archetypal Otti, who regardless-of the peace accord signed by the representatives of the various political parties in Umuahia and Aba, Abia State continues to lead his political campaigns with destruction and open deceit.
Recently at Ikwuano area of the state, it was noted that Otti attacked some Abia indigenes with his thugs and was quick to rush to the press that it was the government of Governor T.A. Orji that attacked. Sources in the Government House, Umuahia had said that Otti stage managed the attack that left human lives destroyed and property worth millions destroyed.
Because Ikwuano is the country-home of the former vice chairman of PDP (South-East) and ministerial nominee, Col. Austin Akobundu, Otti who had gone there to present his manifesto, was into the act to tarnish the image of the Akobundu, who the likes of Ebere Wabara had written a lot of garbage against, in order to stop his ministerial nomination.
Good that in a press briefing titled, “Abia Govt Condemns Violent Attacks Unleashed on Abians by Otti's Thugs” the Abia State government had called on security agencies to look into the alleged shooting of an innocent Abian, Frank Dickson by the armed guards of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Alex Otti at Umuojiocha village square, Oboro in Ikwuano Local Government Area.
According to a source, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, Dr. ACB Agbazuere, in a press briefing with newsmen at the Government House on the incident, condemned the attack which shattered the legs of the victim who is now receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia.
The government through its commissioner uttered disenchantment at the attitude of Dr. Alex Oti who has been trying to disrupt the peace of the state and recalled that recently, Otti’s camp shot the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Isiala Ngwa, Chief Darlinton Nwokocha in Isiala Ngwa South, attacked and destroyed campaign vehicles of the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in Uturu, pointing out that nobody has monopoly of violence.
While Dr. Agbazuere had warned those instigating violence in the state to not take the humaneness of the governor for granted, it could be recalled that Otti recently also stage-managed his attack with some soldiers at his residence in Ngwa and was also quick to shout that the government wanted to kill him.
Let’s advise Otti with the words of David A. Bednar: Obedience opens the door to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. And the spiritual gifts and abilities activated by the power of the Holy Ghost enable us to avoid deception - and to see, to feel, to know, to understand, and to remember things as they really are.
.Hart writes from Lagos

The governorship ambitions of Chief Alex Otti of APGA and Chief Chikwe Udensi of PPA have suffered a major setback as their kith and kin in their home town, Aro in Arochukwu, have thrown their support for Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP.
Ikpeazu and members of his Okezuo Abia 2015 Campaign Team, who were in Arochukwu for a town hall meeting, got the endorsement of the entire Aro kingdom, who vowed to vote PDP, not minding that their two sons d are in the governorship race.
Aro kingdom, ordinarily, is considered the strong hold of Otti and Udensi who hail from the area, but the event at the PDP town hall meetings indicates that the entire Aro Kingdom is not playing on sentiment, but are in for serious business as they promised to vote PDP all the way.
Luckily for Ikpeazu and other PDP candidates, both Otti and Udensi are busy campaigning for PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan.
On arrival in Aro, Ikpeazu's first point of call was at the palace of the Eze Aro, who incidentally was absent on health ground, but members of his cabinet, including eminent traditional rulers of Arochukwu, were on hand to receive Dr. Ikpeazu and his team.
The traditional rulers offered prayers for Dr Ikpeazu and other PDP candidates, including Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa, Hon. Uko Nkole.
The traditional rulers didn't stop at blessing Dr. Ikpeazu and his team, they also endorsed them and pledged to support and vote PDP all the way in the forthcoming election.
Speaking during the town hall meeting proper at Ibom Hall, Ikpeazu promised to finance the renovation of the dilapidated Ibom Hall. He also promised that if elected, he, in league with Ohuabunwa and Nkole, will ensure that the Arochukwu-Ohafia road that is currently in bad shape.
Meanwhile, the Vice President-General of Arochukwu Bar. Steve Amaramiro has said that contrary to the denial of the APGA factional governorship candidate, Otti, that he is from Umuehim in Isialangwa South, that Otti is their son, whose parents, just like every other Aro man, lived in Umuehim in Isialangwa.
He added that as a proud Aro son, that Otti has built a befitting house for himself in his Atani clan in Aro. The Aro PG said that Aro people are not with Otti in his denial of his nativity in desperate desire to occupy a political office. He reiterate that the entire Aro kingdom have decided and agreed to support and vote PDP in the forthcoming election.
From Aro, the Okezuo Abia Team moved to Ututu for another town hall meeting. Ututu is part of Arochukwu. In Ututu, the chorus was still the same; PDP all the way.
From Ututu the Tema went to Ihechiowa and Abam for the same purpose and the chant remains , Okezuo Abia, PDP all the way.

Photo credit: Enyinnaya E. Appolos

AMID a tight campaign schedule, the Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in this encounter spoke among others on his plans for Abia and how to actualise them, if elected. He admitted that Governor Orji has set a hurdle in terms of achievements but said he will run faster because he is younger.
BY Clifford Ndujihe
His take on comments that he is a neophyte and stooge of Governor Theodore Orji
I had my doctorate degree before my 30th birthday. I have taught in four universities, including being the external examiner of master’s degree students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It is not possible for someone to think of me as a stooge. All this can only exist within the realms of political propaganda. Almost every candidate in the race was once in the PDP, so apparently they all wanted to be stooges. They started singing different tunes when the PDP people said, “we want change but we want to change into certainty not into darkness’ and the civil servants said, “we want someone who can keep our jobs and pay us, not someone who will do right-sizing or down-sizing and retrench us at the end of the day.”
Okezie Ikpeazu
Okezie Ikpeazu
There is no governor in Nigeria that is anybody’s stooge. And if you played a role in canvassing for votes or helped a governor to be elected, you can’t expect the governor to be your stooge. You can only bring ideas that are beautiful on the table and if its falls into the main frame of a focused administration.
Superior logic
Abia people know that I am the only person that is humble enough to entertain all shades of opinion, logic and suggestions. If your logic is superior we will go and test it. If mine is superior you go with me. I am not coming with any airs of arrogance. I am humble enough to say that I need the support of the people of Abia and hopeful that they will give me.
The challenge of taking over and matching Governor Orji’s records?
The governor has enormous goodwill and he has carried himself as a gentleman. He has a lot of respect among the elders, and the common people of Abia. He is a huge challenge. But I know that by the time the people understand my style, the difference will show. I will try to be as meticulous as Orji but I will run faster because I am younger.
His plans: The first plan is our people. Abia is peopled by people with capacity in various areas. Our human capital is second to none and we are the best traders and very good in commerce. We are also very good with the things we can do with our hands. So in the years ahead we want to leverage on these advantages that God has given us to make sure that the economy of Abia rests on strong pillars of trade and commerce, small and medium scale enterprises.
Of course we are in oil and gas but we want to let the advantage of oil and gas recede to the background because we are just marginal producers. So oil will not be on the front burner of our economic decisions in the days ahead.
We have another advantage. If you look at Aba for example, the city is at the confluence of about seven other cities in the South-East and South-South. The city is about 30 minutes drive to Ikot Ekpene, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Umuahia among others. The strategic location of this city makes it what sugar is to ants and it attracts people. So we must leverage this strategic geographical location of Aba to place world class infrastructure around Aba so that we can return trade and commerce and build industrial clusters using the German model.
What I mean by that is the apprenticeship system where we have family line businesses. But government must intervene in terms of giving access to world class finishing and equipment so that there can be mass production, finished products that can compete for space in shops in top shops in European markets.
European markets
We will also do a mass reorientation of the way our people think. The time has gone when people will talk down on the people of Abia. We want to say that we are the best in the world and that we will attract the attention of not only the best in Nigeria but also in Africa to Abia in the days ahead. This is our focus.
Plans for Aba… People talk about Aba just because they are thinking about votes. I talk about Aba with more passion because that is where I come from. I don’t have a house in any other part of the world than in Aba. Nobody is more interested in the Aba problem as myself, because you can’t be more Catholic than the Pope. And nobody has a better plan for Aba. First, I have a proper diagnostics of the Aba problem. Aba’s problem is rooted in the fact that infrastructural stock, in terms of drainage, houses, roads, have been static for awhile and the population has grown geometrically. And when that happens, it means that there will be more pressure on the roads and the drainages and they will start collapsing.
The drainage system has remained unmanned and unserviced because it is underground. Once you have underground drainage system, you must maintain it. You must go through it every year. And it has been left for almost 50 years and some people have also constructed buildings across the drainage system. We have three storey buildings and churches across the drainage systems.
What we want to do is first of all to do a ring road around Aba. I said earlier that Aba is in the centre of our plans because it is at the confluence of the states in the South-East South-South and our industrial clusters are going to take off from Aba. What you can get in Aba in terms of internally generated revenue can help you develop other parts of Abia including Umunneochi and other places.
So we want to do a ring road while we revisit the existing roads, remodel them and redesign them.
We have two options on draining and de-flooding. One, there is an underground drainage system, which has been silted to the brim and that is why each time it rains there will flooding.
Underground drainage
So, do we open up and use open drainage system or do we continue with the underground system where we have to get experts to open the underground drainage for it to enter into the Aba River? But draining straight into the Aba River is also not environmentally sustainable. So we are thinking about a secondary water plant around Aba River that would capture the storm water, treat it up to secondary level and then return it to the river so that aquatic life can thrive.
Do you have the political will to redesign Aba given the houses that will be affected?
Politically and socially, you have to localize your strengths and weaknesses. What did it take the incumbent governor to remove the market in Umuahia to Ubani? He is a son of the soil. His people are the people that own shops there and he found the political will.
For those who have constructed buildings across the drainages, those buildings will go. One kilometre of drainage will serve the entire city of five million people but a single house will serve just a family. We can’t allow your selfishness to put us all at risk. So we must do what we need to do when we get there.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/…/abia-orjis-shoes-are-big-but…/…

Okezie IkpeazuThe entire farmers in Abia State have resolved to endorse the candidature of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, PDP Candidate for the Abia State governorship election.
The resolution for the endorsement was passed by the farmers at a stakeholders’ meeting organised under the auspices of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (ALFAN) Abia State Chapter in conjunction with the Youths in Agriculture Programme (YEAP).
Presenting the resolution, the Chairman of ALFAN in Abia State, Chief Dunlop Okoro noted that Abia State being a largely agrarian state, the farmers constituted the bulk of the voting population in Abia State and whoever they endorsed usually ended up winning the Governorship.
He noted that apart from the PDP Governorship Candidate in Abia State, the farmers had also resolved to support President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP Candidates in Abia State.
Also speaking, the Cordinator of Youths in Agriculture Programme, Abia State Chapter, Mr. Obinna Ndukwe Ibiam noted that having taken the time to assess all the Governorship Candidates in Abia State, it was the conclusion of Youths in Agriculture in Abia State that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had the best plans for the development of the agricultural sector in Abia State.
The Governor of Abia State, Chief T.A. Orji, represented at the event by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Okezie Onwutebe assured the farmers of the continuous commitment of the Abia State Government to the improvement of their fortunes.
Speaking at the event, an obviously elated Dr. Ikpeazu thanked the farmers for the endorsement and promised not to dissapoint them.
Dr. Ikpeazu, who described himself as a farmer too having worked in his parents farm while growing up, promised to pay special attention to the needs of farmers and disclosed that he had commissioned a team to study the Abia Palm Plantation in Ukwa, the Ulonna Farm Settlements, the Abia Rubber Plantation and other agricultural concerns in the State with a view to ensuring that they are revived to produce at optimal capacity when he assumes office.
The event, which had a large section of farmers in Abia State filling the Auditorium to capacity and spilling outside, also had in attendance key members of the Okezuo Abia Campaign Organisation.

Dr Okezie Ikpeazu makes a triumphant return to the class room
* Delivers lecture at Abia State Polytechnic
* Promises to review fees
The PDP Governorship candidate for Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD, returned to the classroom today to teach students of Abia State Polytechnic Aba.
A former lecturer at Calabar Polytechnic and former Head of Biochemistry Department at Enugu State University of Technology, Okezie Ikpeazu was the guest lecturer at a seminar for science students organized by Grace Uduma Foundation in conjunction with the School of Science of the institution.
His presentation which lasted for more than an hour focused on "Effect of garlic extract on body fat" and "Waste to wealth: a biochemical perspective". The renowned scientist and researcher kept the enthusiastic students spell bound as he reeled out scientific facts based on the research he co-authored with an Indian national on the efficacy of garlic extract in reducing body fat, especially when combined with exercises.
Speaking on "wealth to waste", the frontline gubernatorial candidate in Abia who was the immediate past Deputy General Manager of Abia State Environmental Sanitation Agency (ASEPA) told the students that Aba currently generates more than 5000 tonnes of waste daily. According to him “this waste can easily be converted to wealth by the citizens from collection at homes to the anaerobic and alcoholic fermentation of the waste to produce fertilizer, methanol, biogas etc through recycling, reuse and sorting”. The former lecturer who obtained a doctorate degree in Biochemistry at age 30 highlighted the biochemical processes involved in the anaerobic and alcoholic fermentation reactions that converts waste to other useful products. He explained to the students how they can make enormous wealth by keying into the available opportunities within the waste management systems as the volume of waste is expected to increase with improvements in income.
Answering a question from one of the students, Okezie Ikpeazu encouraged the students to see themselves as the best and work hard towards their life goals. He promised to ensure that the students receive bursaries regularly as well as get large multinational corporations to partner with Abia tertiary institutions in supporting education through endowments, sponsoring beneficial research work and supporting infrastructural development at the schools. According to him: "education is the key to guaranteeing the present and future of Abia State and no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that education at all levels is prioritized with no child left behind and the welfare of teachers taken care of as a matter of priority".
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Dean of School of Science & Industrial Technology, Rev. Engr. David Dimoji informed the students that Okezie Ikpeazu with his vast experience in the educational sector, public service and private sector possesses all the relevant skills and capacity required to transform the fortunes of the institution and Abia State rapidly. He further appealed to Okezie Ikpeazu to make the lecture an annual event to enable the students benefit from his wealth of knowledge and experience.
The Rector, Prof Uche E. Ikonne, presented a special award to Dr Okezie at the end of his presentation and urged him to treat Abia State Polytechnic as his own institution and partner in manpower development in the State. He prayed God to grant him success at the polls as according to him: “ Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD possesses the required humility, intellect and energy to take Abia to the zenith in Nigeria”
Other notable attendees at the massively attended lecture include the immediate past Rector of the school, Elder A. A. Onukaogu, President of the students Union, Comrade Maxwell Eze as well as lecturers and management staff of the institution..
However, after the lectures, the excited students led the PDP candidate, who is also an Aba resident, with chants of "Okezie is our Governor" to the school pavilion where he addressed thousands of students of the school. Dr Okezie promised to review fees payable by the students, if elected as Governor, as well as ensure uninterrupted academic calendar at all State owned educational institutions. He asked the students to reciprocate by taking their studies serious with a view to graduating in flying colours and make their Parents, School and Abia proud.
Together we can...
‪#‎VoteOkezieVictorIkpeazu‬
‪#‎VotePDPallTheWay‬
‪#‎OkezuoAbia2015‬

The Abia State government has given out vehicles free of charge to the youths of Ikwuano Local Government Area as a way of reducing unemployment and alleviating poverty.
According to Governor Theodore Orji, the gesture was to create jobs, reduce idleness and criminality, enhance the standard of living and minimise accidents associated to the use of motorcycles popularly known as Okada.
A total of 30 persons including youths and women benefited from the latest gesture of the State Government.
At a ceremony to mark the handing over of the vehicles to the new owners, the Governor met with traditional rulers, amidst cheers and accolade from the people of Ikwuano.
Governor Theodore Orji, shortly after inspecting and commissioning the vehicles stated that the empowerment programme had brought joy to Abians and also helped to curb youth restiveness in the state.
On the roads of Umuahia metropolis, some of the beneficiaries,who had put their vehicles to work, thanked the government for the gesture.
Meanwhile, from Ikwuano Local Government Area, the empowerment strategy of the government to reduce unemployment continued to Umuahia South LGA.
The Governor had said that it would be sustained until all the youths in the 17 Local Government could boast of means of livelihood thereby contributing their quota to the economic development of the State.
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Nigeria Safer Under Jonathan Than Buhari - Abia PDP Guber Candidate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has said President Goodluck Jonathan must be voted in for another term as president in the interest of the people of the country.
Speaking to a crowd from the Isingwu community at the house of a PDP chieftain in the area, Onyedi Okwulehie, Dr. Ikpeazu said the unity of the country will be retained and security assured under President Jonathan than under Muhammadu Buhari.
Dr. Ikpeazu explained that what should be paramount in making a choice of president, is the unity and safety of Nigerians.
He said when he becomes governor of Abia, his administration will create about 5000 jobs within its first one year in office and assured also that job creation would be top on his agenda
Ikpeazu who described Ohuhu land which Isingwu is part of as a "cradle of politics in the South-east said his government will be youths and ideas driven.
Addressing the youths of the community, he reaffirmed that his government of inclusiveness will incorporate the youths.
Speaking earlier, the member representing Ohuhu (Umuahia North State constituency) in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Ejiogu said that the day's gathering presented a covenant with the people. And so, the people should expect adequate commitment that will drive development in the area.
He pledged that the roads in the community will be looked at in the next dispensation, while already built health institutions in the area will be more equipped.

Otti purchases PVCs as solidarity By Madubuko Hart
At the Bank Road, Umuahia on 18th February, our apostle of change was caught red handed purchasing over twelve thousand permanent voter cards (PVCs) from Abia people through his campaign organization. I mean the fake All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) gubernatorial candidate in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti.
As we know, fraud is the second name of Otti. Remember how he arm-twisted Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba on the governorship ticket of APGA in Abia State. But recently, Ufomba has been declared the authentic governorship candidate of the party in the state.
It was Ukaegbu, the party’s flagbearer as candidate for Aba South and North federal constituency who made this disclosure during a rally held at Eke-Akpara near Aba, adding that “despite all confusions in the party by Otti, Ufomba we know.”
Apart from that we could recall how the IFC has denied granting Otti 100billion dollars to build an industrial park in Aba, against Otti’s bogus claim of having received the money from the international body. Evidence of the denial is in the Daily Sun of Wednesday 18th February 2015, the day that Otti was perfecting his fraud of the PVCs. Have you seen a man like that before?
Otti was paying each group of 20 persons who organised themselves as they were lured to do so the sum of N60, 000 for their PVCs in guise of solidarity. We came to know about this development when some of the persons he was yet to pay left for their houses, saying that they thought that the “crusader of change” was a responsible man.
For the benefit of the doubt, it was at Otti’s campaign office at Bank Road, Umuahia, where he perfected the fraud, yet you would hear this garrulous man pointing finger at the government of Governor Theodore Orji for electoral fraud whereas Otti is the master of deceit and fraud in that regard. His campaign team recently went on a spree, breaking his billboards, but to spite the government of Abia State, it said that it was the government that was destroying the billboards. Shame to Otti and his cohorts!

He at the presentation reiterated that his government strives to give best for the people of Abia State.
Orji pointing out that apart from providing immediate employment for the youths, the vehicles would enhance their status and more importantly, ensure easy movement of people within and outside the State.
Governor Orji, who expressed satisfaction that Abia State ranks high in youth empowerment in the federation, said “apart from the free vehicles, our administration is training youths on various skill acquisition Programmes across our skill acquisition centres in the State and liberation farms.”
He assured that the youth empowerment programme will continue till the end of his tenure and that the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu will continue when he comes on board on May 29, 2015.
Beneficiaries, comprising men and women, expressed gratitude to the Governor who was accompanied to the occasion by his wife, Lady Odochi Mercy Orji.
Earlier, the National Vice Chairman of the PDP South-East, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.) noted that Governor Orji’s government has been in the vanguard of empowering youths because of the importance the Governor attaches to youths.
He thanked Abia helmsman for all that he has been doing for Ikwuano people recalling that the local government has benefitted immensely from the Governor.
Meanwhile, Governor Orji has donated a bus to National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Abia State University chapter.
Orji noted that the gesture was aimed at easing movement of ABSU NANS officials and students, whom he described as his “friends in progress”.

News Alert!!! Yesterday we reported exclusively that IFC has denied granting Alex Otti 100billion dollars to build an industrial park in Aba as reported by SUN of Wednesday 18th February 2015. Rattled by our earth shaking revelations, Alex Otti has come out to say that what he said was a campaign strategy to win votes, he however appealed to Abians to disregard the remarks. Pls read page 57 of todays sun newspaper for details. Reacting to this development a human right activist based in lagos Tolu Mumeh described Otti's double speak as the hallmark of a man who cannot be trusted. How can a former Bank MD be telling white lies simply because he wants to be a governor. Abians should be very careful with politicians with empty promises

Source . Naijanetworknews

The status of some individuals should guarantee respectability and heighten personality. Conversely, the behavior and utterances of some of our politicians raises a lot of doubt about their claims of the ability to govern and thus sends the wrong signals to our budding youths. Our upcoming generation should in the real sense learn from the older people, especially the so called upper class. Such despicable behaviors in our adults who are expected to leave examples have given politicians dirtier names than was previously ascribed to them.
Should people who aspire to lead the country and the states be a merchant of lies? Should a party flag bearer at the level of governorship blackmail to occupy the topmost seat? Should not his ways and manners, speeches and utterances be a standard which others should emulate? That the wrong people for one reason or the other have found their ways to top political situations where they did not merit to be is no reason that we should continue to lower the average thus spiraling down and down in the scale of honour.

On Sunday February 15, 2015, on page 54 of the Sunday Vanguard, one Charles Uzoukwu wrote in favour of Alex Otti and his gubernatorial quest. I wouldn’t have written because a lot of trash keeps dropping on daily bases but this case impugns on data and it is necessary for us to correct lest other unsuspecting members of the public take it as truth.

Oddly enough, this wrong statistics ought not to be bandied by Alex and his group as we assume that they know better. You don’t need blackmail as a tool if you have facts. Ordinarily, somebody at the level of Otti who stepped off a high stool in the banking industry where facts and figures are more sacred than other places shouldn’t be caught telling blatant lies and feeding the public with faulty data in today’s world of data super high way.

According to what Charles heard from Alex Otti, Abia is the least developed of all states with many years of failed promises from PDP, the same PDP that Otti first berthed and ravenously wanted to purchase the guber ticket. According to Otti too, ‘statistics show that mortality rate in Abia, particularly at child birth is among the highest in the country.’ These are white lies and I am sure that people who follow trends in Nigeria will attest that Abia even in the next two years without a single medical input in the health sector and without a new project be it in road, housing, education, human development that you call empowerment, Abia cannot fall into such degradation. That’s due to work already done, by the present administration. Abia cannot he the least developed. I will give instances.
Abia Health is the most robust and has gone through quantum changes. Ask Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, former Minister for health who when in office visited Abia for not less than three times. In these visits, he commissioned one vital project or the other and suggested on areas where urgent attention were necessary. His Excellency Chief T. A. Orji took him seriously and carried out whatever suggestions as if they were laws. The Primary Health Centres have been updated to 710 which at the same time offer maternity services. He has equally updated what he met at the secondary and tertiary health sectors with dialysis machines, 10 new General Hospitals, Eye, Chest Centres and a place for ENT. To enhance healthcare, Abia pays the CONHESS and CONMESS, special salary scales for health staff.

In 2013, at the 37th AGM/Scientific Conference of National Association of Optometrists, [NOA] Chief Orji was awarded Prime Ambassador of the Health Sector. Medical and Dental council of Nigeria has approved Abia state specialist Hospital and Diagnostic centre for medical internship training. Could a state rated this high by a professional organ have high rates of mortality?

Abia State since 2007 has witnessed development in all sectors. More schools have been built, refurbished and re-equipped. More teachers have been promoted and schools enrolments have increased. For the seven years and more, no single student and pupil in primary and secondary has paid a dime in school fees rather the ones in Umuahia and Aba go to school on Government sponsored wheels. Abia could not hold high caliber conferences but now could do so with the multi-floored and multi-roomed International Conference Center accredited to rub shoulders with the ones in the top cities of South Africa. Abia has an 90% completed Government House, functional E-Library, new Civil Service Secretariat, new business Malls in Umuahia and Aba, power evacuated from the Ohiya power station which has improved energy supply in Umuahia, and neighboring towns like, Oboro, Obowo, Uzoakoli, Bende etc. Our youths have been empowered beyond expectations in all the LGAs.

The security situation that frightened the brave and lion hearted were handled with utmost dexterity making a police boss to admit that Abia is a case study.
There is gender sensitivity with more women appointed and elevated. There are policy overhauls that ensures the continuous existence of interventionist agencies like ASOPADEC, CSDP, ADP, ABIA LIBERATION FARM, ABROMA, that are concurrently carrying out projects in different parts of the state. Are these components of underdevelopment? That shows how ignorant and poorly equipped a man who vaunts to govern a state is. It practically means that if Otti is elected, he would invest public fund in the wrong sector as he does not know where the shoe pinches.

So many questions for Alex Otti. Outside his misinformation, there are many issues on integrity. He consolidated his Aro personality by building in Arochukwu. When the present policy insisted in zoning, he changed nativity with the speed of lightening. These are certainly no marks of greatness. Alex refused to respect equity. His ancestral home of Arochukwu, land of great men and his adopted home of Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa North are all not in Abia South which probably was the reason he skedaddled from PDP in a feat of desperation.

As a successful citizen from the banking industry, we expect more good examples from Alex on decorum not marginality. Let him too be careful of what he says today for these may come back to haunt him or his offspring tomorrow.

Ochendoism; A Political Philosophy (1) – By Godwin Adindu

By the time Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State runs his full circle on the hot seat, he would not only have left a legacy of a stable state and a stable polity, he would be adding a new lexicon to the political books and a new theory to political philosophy. I call it, Ochendoism. Many years to come, students of the history ofideas and students of political philosophy would marvel at the fact that, quite contrary to the popular norm, Governor Orji did not set out to propound a theory. He did not consciously set out to add to the body of knowledge. Yet, he gave a new meaning to governance. Ochendoism, as a new form of government, is a historical accident.



As a peculiar historical progression, Ochendoism is far more than an academic theory for an intellectual exercise and exploration. The theory is a new norm of governance and a new culture of political administration as demonstrated by Orjiin his adventures in Abia. Simply defined, Ochendoism is the government of rebirth, restitution and rebuilding; the government of the three R (RRR). It is an ethical imperative that saw a leader healing a traumatized people and rebuilding a polarized and fractured polity. It is the vision of a new rebirth that drove a leader to create a new beginning and a new society out of the wreckages of the past.



Essentially, the theory expands the frontiers of governance to add the agenda of peace and equity as a cardinal mandate of the king. It distills from the time-honoured definitions of power and democracy to prescribe, for the leader, the moral mandate of causing an attitudinal change, creating a new culture and evolving a new state out of an orientation that leaned towards barbarism. In this new Abia, Orji demystified the office of the executive governor and the leader presented himself as an ordinary mortal with feelings, remorse and compassion – with flesh and blood. In this spirit, the governor opened himself to hear and feel the thought and concerns of every citizen. He received every message directly and replied every message directly.



Ochendoism is revolutionary in practice as it breaks all class structures and createsa synergy between idealism in power and pragmatism. Orji demonstrated that the king must be the leader of all men and must appreciate the varieties of our common humanity. He dispersed power and created a rainbow coalition that involved the broad spectrum of the Abia society. Every group had a voice and a good representation.



Indeed, history must note that Ochendoism as a political philosophy emerged out of pragmatic action. Governor Orji’s political birth was into a raging war. He inherited nothing but war. History placed on his laps a society that was visibly at war, a state that was highly polarized and where the parties were at daggers drawn. Thus, his first major preoccupation was with social reconstruction. He would only succeed if he breaks off from the festering chain of an overbearing predecessor , pull the state and the people out of a cultural captivity and create a new world order. He took the bull by the horns and stamped his feet on the soil of Abia State as a visionary leader.



Having ousted a regime of anarchy with all its bloody vestiges and brought a ray of hope to a speechless people, he ignored the Mosaic code of “an eye for an eye” and set out on the path of truth and reconciliation. He threw out an olive branch and threw the door of government house open and in the frenzy of the newfreedom, all Abians, in one collective spirit, began to speak in one voice andenlisted into the new vision of Abia State. Thus, one major hallmark of Ochendoism is the building of bridges of understanding and the rebuilding of relationships. With a united house, he was now able to move on to the higher spiritual ground of restitution.



Apart from servicing debts incurred by the fallen dynasty, he commenced a large-scale programme of making amends and correcting the excesses of the past administration. This saw to the birth of many social-welfarist programme like the Ochendo Youth Empowerment Programme, which transformed Abia into a yellow state; the Hannah May Foundation, the pet humanitarian programme of the first lady; the student bursary Scheme and the student free city buses. There are many more. Borne out of a bitter experience of a generational youth deviance which manifested in the regime of criminality by the Abia youths, with the vice of kidnapping almost grounding the state, the empowerment programme is an effort at social reconstruction and capacity building. The resultant effect is the prevailing social stability in the state.



Significantly, Ochendoism sees the society as one common entity and seeks to resolve the primordial sentiments that have created barriers and divisions in the polity. It seeks to address the issues of inequity, domination and the imbalance of power. This is the background that informs the insistence of Ochendo that power must shift to Abia South of Ukwa Ngwa extraction. He is working very hard to achieve it. By seeking to break this jinx of power exclusion, Governor Orji demonstrated that the role of the leader is not just to manage men and the resources of the state but assuage the inner resentments and outer sentiments among groups that created deep-seated of disunity and apprehension in the polity.



By driving on the plant of the three Rs, Governor Orji created a new template for political administration and left an invaluable asset and legacy to the study and practice of political power. As the clock gradually ticks and the curtain winds slowly, Orji will confidently step out to the market square to show himself approved a workman who does not need to be ashamed. Very soon, he would demand for his crown. He would say after Paul of Tarsus: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”

–

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio cultural organization has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as their presidential candidate for the February 14, 2015 general election.
Disclosing this during their visit to Governor Theodore Orji who is also the Chairman, South East Governors' Forum and South-East Zonal Coordinator, Goodluck-Sambo Presidential Campaign organization, to intimate him of their decision and hand him over the endorsement document after a meeting of the organization, said Ohanaeze weighed all the options and found President Goodluck Jonathan the right option.
According to the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey who spoke on behalf of the group, the Ohanaeze, believes that even though Ndigbo may not have realized all their dreams under the leadership of Dr. Jonathan as president, there have been serious infrastructural development and huge democracy dividends in the zone courtesy of President Jonathan.
He said that Ndigbo have been given a sense of belonging by the President Jonathan’s administration and sited the first Chief of Army Staff of Igbo decent, Maj Gen Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd.), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and other sensitive appointments given to Ndigbo under the present dispensation as evidence of the claim.
According to him, the Igbos believe in equity and fairness and supports that the South-South should complete their two tenures arguing that four years is not too long to wait.
The Ohanaeze boss further stated that the emergence of President Jonathan gives hope that someone from the minority can hold the highest position of the land even as he expects that it will be the turn of Ndigbo one day.
Receiving the group, Governor Orji assured them that he will deliver their message directly to the President, maintaining that the endorsement by the Ohanaeze represents the opinion of the silent majority of Ndigbo.
He joined the Ohanaeze in calling on other Nigerians to support the South-South to complete their second tenure in the interest of equity and fairplay, pointing out that there is no reason why the President should not be allowed to complete his second term in office.
Governor Orji asserted that President Jonathan holds the hope that one day every part of the country will be able to rule and thanked the Ohanaeze chieftains for being in the vanguard of equity and fair play.
He recalled that in 2011, the South-East zone voted overwhelmingly for President Jonathan and assured that that position has not changed.
The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo was accompanied on the visit by other executives of the association and distinguished Igbo sons including the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi as well as the Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi among others

SCRIPTED BY CHEIF (SIR) DON UBANI
In 1903, being desirous to expand and consolidate on
its trade in the hinterland, the British Colonial
Government decided to relocate its sub-district office
which it had established in Akwete in February 1896
to Aba.
In choosing Aba as a sub-district office, the British
Colonial authorities had taken into cognizance the
centrality of Aba to such places as Port-Harcourt, Ikot-
Ekpene, Owerrinta and Bende.
Aba, as a town, was naturally destined to blossom
into a cosmopolitan configuration. Certain factors
were to combine to give Aba a distinction of its own.
The Aba River that meanders to join the Blue River at
Azumini provided a natural flow of human traffic in
and out of Aba, especially giving a boost to trade in
palm produce. The Ekeoha market became so
magnetic that traders and buyers came from different
places within and outside Igbo land to settle in Aba.
The Enugu-Port-Harcourt Rail Line that the British
Colonial Government had constructed about 1916
was an extra-ordinary advantage for the rapid growth
of Aba into a commercial nerve of the defunct Eastern
Region of Nigeria. The Friendly disposition of the
indigenes of Aba to visitors, spontaneously made Aba
a home for all, even to the extent of some people
misunderstanding this natural disposition to mean
that ‘Aba is no man’s land’.
At the end of the Nigerian/Biafra war of 1967 – 70,
many Igbo decided not to invest much outside Igbo
enclave because of their property that were
unconstitutionally and unjustifiably confiscated,
especially by the Rivers State Government, during
and after the said war and tagged ‘Abandoned
Property’. Aba, therefore, became the second home of
almost every Igbo man. This philosophical upsurge
made Aba, not only to grow in numerical strength but
also in geographical size.
To be fair to the British Colonial Administration, Aba
was very well planned, with an attractive network of
urban roads. Unfortunately, Aba has some challenges
arising from its topography. Unlike Enugu, Owerri and
Umuahia which are situated on hilly terrains, which
make it easy for rain water to be easily drained, Aba
has a flat or table land. This topographical peculiarity
poses a major problem of infrastructural instability in
Aba. The slightest rain-fall in Aba could, unlike in
many other cities, lead to long lasting percolation
and, in most cases, flood. In addition to this natural
handicap, some residents of Aba metropolis do not
help matters as they, knowingly or unknowingly,
block drainages with disposable refuse. The
consequence of these two deficiencies has been
worrisome flooding of Aba each time it rains. The
flood eats up the fabrics of roads and ends up leaving
the affected roads dilapidated and this gives rise to
infrastructural decay in Aba.
Infrastructural challenges in Aba have had a long
history. Many administrations, including the present
one headed by Chief T.A. Orji, have tried addressing
the infrastructural problems of Aba, with specific
emphasis being placed on roads. It would be recalled
that the late Governor of the old Imo state; chief Sam
Mbakwe, Ph.D, had to weep in the open in 1982
because of erosion menace at Ndiegoro and was
consequently labelled a ‘weeping Governor’ by a
section of the Nigerian press.
Despite the enormity of the challenges associated
with the state of infrastructure in Aba, there has been
a clear upsurge in the population accumulation of the
town. Many concerned indigenes and residents of the
Enyimba city, as Aba is fondly called, had, at different
times, advocated that a state of infrastructural
emergency be declared on Aba. Some others had,
however, opined that the issue of declaration of a
state of infrastructural emergency on the city was
more of sentiments than objectivity. The justification
for this school of thought could easily be found in the
fact that mere declaration of infrastructural
emergency on Aba may not necessarily translate to
availability of fund to address the herculean problem
of Aba infrastructurally.
As it goes beyond doubt, nature has a way of
addressing issues. In its commitment to enthrone
equity in Abia state, both the People’s Democratic
Party; P.D.P. and the state Governor; Chief T.A. Orji,
resolved that the next governor of the state should, of
necessity, hail from Abia-South Senatorial Zone. This
is one resolution no fairly-framed mind has
questioned but rather applauded. On the heels of this
resolution is the democratic emergence of a gentle-
man of almost incomparable personality as the
governorship candidate of P.D.P, in the person of Dr
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.
Again, this is one Unique accomplishment for which
the people of Abia-South, nay the entire people of
Ukwa and Ngwa would continue to hold Governor T.A.
Orji and the P.D.P. very highly and dearly. In Igbo
tradition, if not in every other tradition, it is said and
indisputably believed that ‘no sympathizer cries more
than the bereaved in a funeral ceremony’. It,
therefore, follows that no matter what claims a no-
indigene of Abia-South might make, the onus of
rehabilitating Aba falls squarely on ‘the son of the
soil’.
From this angle of reasoning, which is synonymous
with infallibility, Dr Victor Okezie Ikpeazu; a renowned
academic and quintessential environmentalist, towers
above every other governorship candidate for the
February 28, 2015 election in Abia state. Being a
legitimate biologically-blooded indigene of
Umuobiakwe village in Obingwa-Aba, Dr Ikpeazu has
all it would take to return Aba to its prime status.
Already, Dr Ikpeazu has, on many fora, made it clear
that the infrastructural re-engineering of Aba is
beyond negotiation. As he succinctly put it recently
during his interaction with a large audience of stake-
holders in Aba at Aba Sports Club, the first one
hundred days of his administration will mark the end
of pot-holes on any road within Aba metropolis.
Further more, Dr Ikpeazu assured his audience that,
under his administration, Aba will undergo an
unprecedented physical and urban renewal,
culminating in infrastructural expansion of the town.
Equally importantly, is Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu’s assurance
that every resident of Aba, either indigene or non-
indigene, would be given a thorough sense of
belonging in the affairs of Aba.
The state is finally set. God, using Governor T.A. Orji
and the People’s Democratic Party, has remembered
Aba. The candidacy of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is a
resurrection of hope for Aba and its residents. God,
the Governor and the Party have played their required
preliminary roles, it is now incumbent on the
residents of Aba to complement this process of
resurrection of hope by voting massively for Dr Okezie
Victor Ikpeazu on February 28, 2015. Any thing short
of this expectation would be disservice to Aba as a
metropolis and Abia State as a polity.
Besides, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu’s election on the 28th
February, 2015 will be a golden opportunity for Aba
residents to reciprocate the time-held hospitality of
the Ngwa man who has shown unprecedented
friendship and accommodation to them and in whose
land God has blessed them abundantly.

The Zonal Coordinator, Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) South-East presidential campaign organisation
2015, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, says the
zone is fully committed to delivering President
Goodluck Jonathan in the February 14, 2015
presidential elections.
Governor Orji stated this while addressing journalists
after a meeting of state coordinators of the South-
East presidential committee held at the Government
House, Umuahia, to strategize on how to deliver all
the PDP candidates in the zone.
The Governor said they discussed and strategized,
having seen their deficiencies and are ready to make
amends to ensure victory for the party at all levels.
Governor Orji who said that crisis is bound to occur in
every political party assured that the PDP has the
capacity to overcome the crisis in Ebonyi and Enugu
States, adding that President Jonathan is on ground in
the South-East and ready to clinch victory at the polls.
According to him, Abia ranks high among states that
have collected their permanent voters cards so far
with a record 82.7% and promised that the South-
East zone will sensitize their people to collect their
voters cards before the commencement of the
elections.
The meeting was attended by Governor Martin Elechi
of Ebonyi state among others.

Ikuku : Unearthing Abia’s jewel of inestimable value
By Ndubuisi Iheonukara
Propaganda as invented patriotism, they say, it’s
aimed at making an opponent become such a great
monster that he or she forfeits the right of a human
being. Several world’s greatest men have been
demonized and reduced to nothing by over ambitious
political opponents in their quest for political
relevance.
One of the victims of this “invented patriotism” in our
modern day Nigeria is the amiable first son of Governor
Theodore Orji of Abia State, Engr. Chinedum Orij
popularly referred to as Ikuku by his admirers. A
quintessential life changer with propensity for
innovation. A rare gem whose benevolence has
transformed the lives of over 40 per cent of Abia
youths.
No wonder Nolan Bushnell says that “everyone who
has ever taken a shower has had an idea, but the
person who gets out of the shower, dries off and does
something about it that makes a difference.” Never in
the history of Abia politics (the old Imo State included)
has a governor’s son taken such enormous
responsibility of restoring the hopes of the dispirited as
well as giving class and sense of belonging to those
who were once disparaged by some in Abia State as
indigents, yet some still project him in bad light.
This article is not meant to ascribe unnecessary
accolades to Ikuku, but as an Ibeku man who lives in
diaspora with strong reliance on media, especially the
social media for news, I found myself developed hatred
for this young man based on distorted information
daily disseminated against him by some mischievous
persons on different platforms until this period I visited
home for Christmas.
As I arrived Ohia Motor Park Umuahia from Imo Airport
Owerri to board a taxi to my village, Amuzukwu Ibeku
which has been tremendously transformed to a town, a
clean cab drew abreast of me, with the inscription
“Onye huru Ikuku oma Abia, biko kelerem ya” which
literally means when translated, whoever sees Abia
good air, should thank him for me. The inscription on
the car arouse my curiosity because it proved negative
to the Ikuku being projected on social media.
I hurriedly boarded the cab and to satisfy my curiosity,
I quickly engaged the chauffeur in a discussion that
acted as a catalyst to this article you are reading. To
my amazement, that same Ikuku being projected as
“heartless and evil” on social media has given out for
free over 200 cars to young transporters as well as
same number to individuals for private usage.
I initially tried to wave aside the testimony of that
young man which I misconstrue as praise singing from
a hireling. But the plethora of cars with same
inscription I sighted while on that cruise to my village
was an evidence too obvious to ignore, so I struggled to
broaden my already provincial mind which has become
prejudicial toward this young man.
The excitement and gratitude with which this taxi
driver detailed how he and some others were elevated
from the metaphorical dust and dungeon to
honourable living by Ikuku’s benevolence will move the
emotion of the hardest of men. “Now I am sure of
giving my family and most especially my aged mother
a bit of good life. “The fact that I can pay my children’s
school fees with some ease now compared to before is
satisfying enough,” he quipped as he pulled over for
me to alight.
I was dumbfounded and transfixed for a while, but
finally put myself together and made the little trek
down to my compound to the warm welcome of my
family members. Being the eve of Christmas and
having been told that some of my secondary school
mates and peer group were around, I hurriedly left the
house the next day to their various villages to
announce my presence to them as well as enjoy light
hearted banters with them. It was fun as we spent
hours talking nostalgically, when all of a sudden
another similar scenario played itself once again.
As I sat with my friend, a jeep drove into his compound
and the occupant hurriedly alighted to remind my
friend about the house warming ceremony which was
scheduled for that day and which they had agreed to
attend. My friend managed to convince me to join
them; a decision I had no qualms making due to the
Xmas euphoria.
As we hopped in and about to proceed to the small
journey to Isieke Ibeku the venue of the house
warming event, a little conversation about the
magnificence of the house we were visiting ensued and
to my bemusement the other guy screamed,
“Chinedum Orjiiii!, Ikuku Ibeku, you are too much.” I
quickly asked if the house we were going to for the
ceremony belongs to Ikuku, but the guy replied that it
was Ikuku who built the house for the young owner.
In my preconceived mind, I had devalued the house
already without seeing it, but when we got to the
apartment, I was thrown off balance; a well acoustically
built duplex with a convivial environment. Through
lengthy conversation I later realised that this same
Chinedum Orji who has been often maligned on social
media have made hundreds of Abia citizens not only
Ibeku people land owners and lords in his young and
fulfilled life.
That was the moment Maya Angelou’s postulation that,
“life is not measured by the number of breaths we
take, but by the moments that take our breath away
made a meaning to me. Indeed my breath was taken
away by by the deeds of kindness from this young first
son of Abia State Governor, Engr. Chinedum Orji.
Even the widows, elderly, students, artisans and
graduates are not left out. The kindness of Ikuku
cannot just be explained in just one piece; the reason I
will beg to continue, but before then, I want you to
ponder on this wise word of Epicarus; “If God listens to
the prayers of men, all men would quickly have
perished: for they are forever praying for evil against
one another.” Does that tell you anything?
To be continued.

The Abia council of traditional rulers had distanced
themselves from Eze Ikonne for giving Gen. Buhari the
title of Ogbuagu 1, in a statement by the Chairman of
Abia Council of Traditional Rulers speaking on behalf of
other Ezes, Eze Eberechi Dick said that Chieftaincy
titles are given to deserving people who contributed to
the growth and wellbeing of the Igbo nation and not to
those who only remember the Igbos during
electioneering periods.
They argued that In 1996, Aba Chamber of Commerce
Industry Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) under Dr
Chukwuemeka Okolo invited Gen. Buhari in his
capacity as the chairman of petroleum trust fund (PTF)
to come and save Aba from the terrible state it was, he
refused to come or even send a representative he also
declined the honour of an award ceremony which was
added to the event to make him come to the rescue of
Aba using his office as PTF chairman, and this was
happening at a period when Aba was in a disaster state
and Ama Ikonne and the entire faulks road was
rendered impassable as a result of heavy flooding in
front of the palace of Eze Ikonne, as at the time this
was happening it was extremely difficult to access
Ariaria from faulks Road.
The Ezes led by the Chairman of Abia traditional rulers
council said they wonder why such a man who had
shown little or no regard to the Igbo nation should be
given a chieftaincy title in Igbo land they also said the
chieftaincy title given to Buhari has nothing to do with
Abia council of traditional rulers and that very soon the
council of traditional rulers will pronounce adequate
sanction for Eze Ikonne for going against the wish of
the Abia council of traditional rulers and Ndi Igbo in
general, according to them Buhari had always stood
against the wish and interest of the Igbo man and had
always segregated against the Igbo nation and at such
does not deserve to be honoured in Igbo land.

ABIA BUDGETS N102.4 BILLION FOR 2015 FISCAL YEAR

Abia State Governor, Chief Thoedore Orji, has presented a budget estimate of N102.4 to the state House of Assembly for the 2015 fiscal year.

The figure represents a 12% decrease from the 2014 budget outlay of N115.3 billion.

Delivering the budget he termed "Valedictory Budget" on the floor of the House, Governor Orji disclosed that the recurrent expenditure is N62.20 billion while the annual estimated expenditure is N40.18 billion.

Governor OrjI said the decrease was occassioned by the global fall of crude oil price and premised on the framework of International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) and structured along a Medium Term Expenditure framework which takes into account projections for the years 2015 to 2017 using 2013 budget as the base year.

He expressed his expectation that the 2015 budget will provide the completion of all on-going projects, put in place job creation and poverty reduction, as well as physical and human infrastructure and by so doing go a long way in transforming the state in critical areas such as peace and security, infrastructural development, health care delivery, improved internally generated revenue (IGR), education, agriculture, water resources, environment, housing, gender sensitivity and youth empowerment programmes among others.

According to Governor Orji, fiscal control policy measures would be put in place in order to achieve full implementatikn of the 2015 Appropriation Bill when it finally becomes law.

The adoption of Public Private Partnership initiative, the governor said would build strong stakeholder support which will create wealth, empower the the private sector and generally bring about improvement in the welfare of Abians.

Responding, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu urged the state government to endeavour to consolidate and improve on the gains so far achieved with a view to returning the state to the part of sustainable economic growth and development through structural and institutional reforms.

The Speaker advised that job creation programmes be further formulated and implemented to make the domestic economy to become more productive.

He further urged for increased access to such variables that will continue to guarantee the attainment of the Millenium Development Goals ( MDGs) and the Abia State blueprint on vision 20-20-20 among others.

The governor build a lasting legacy projects in the state .

The Gov has done pretty well in the area of security, Energy distribution, primary and tertiary healthcare, development of human capital through various youth empowerment Programmes, infrastructural development...New essential structures like the workers secretariat, International Conference centre, remodeling of Abia hotels to boost the hospitality and tourism industry, the new high court buildings Umuahia and Aba...the more decent court houses the more judges the more jobs, the new Abia State library headquarters to boost learning and research, the Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Hospital commended as the best in the entire south east and south south region, the new eye and dialysis centre in Umuahia, the new industrial market Umuahia and Umuahia Modern market to boost commerce and industry also to decongest the Umuahia city centre, the new motor Spare Parts and Mechanic Village at Ohiya Umuahia to create sanity and enhance environmental decency in Umuahia city centre, the new govt house Govt house currently situated in a private and rented property. A functioning skill acquisition centre training about 5000 youths currently. A new broadcasting House (BCA) building, a new JAAC, ASUBEB and Chieftancy affairs complex in Umuahia, A newly built ministry of Justice building in Umuahia, about 250 primary health care centres across the state, partnering with World bank to build Community Social Development program projects as demanded by communities in Abia State, A new House of Assembly Administrative and constituency complex within the HOA premises. A new ASEPA building, ASEPA is currently occupying a rented building, built &commissioned the Amaokwe housing Estate in Umuahia, Isieke, Amaudo and Aso small and medium income housing estates are currently ongoing in Umuahia, massive investment in the environmental sector...Opening up drains in Aba & Umuahia, provision of refuse dump equipment & Trucks etc. The govt has built numerous rural and urban roads in Isukwuato, Ohafia, Bende Umunneochi, Umuahia, Ikwu ano, Isi ala Ngwa etc including the 17 major Aba city roads recently embarked upon...Brass, Milverton, Ngwa Road, Faulks Road, Geometric, Ama Ogbonna, etc. All these are verifiable in addition to massive investment on security of lives and property. ABSG invested over 1.5 billion to evacuate power (electricity) from the Ohiya sub power station after the federal govt built but abandoned it. Power supply has improved in Umuahia and environs leading to massive boost in the small and medium scale enterprises sector. Umuahia, the capital city doesn't get dark at night as a result of the massive investment on street light project. Remember security globally requires huge investment and for Abia State to be known currently as a safe zone, massive investment is being invested to sustain the achievement made so far on security. All these and many more doesn't stop Abia State from having her challenges as a State but the good news is that those developmental challenges are being tackled with the funds available to the State without borrowing.

Alex otti is not going to win any vote in abia state, abians can't vote for such a monotonous career man that lacks political acumen to govern

When the former Group Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti resigned his position to contest for the 2015 governorship of Abia State, many of us thought that an intellectual had come to the contest. But when he started his venoms against the government of Governor Theodore Orji by calling it names, we know that he had nothing to offer.
Otti who was originally from Arochukwu with his state-of-the art building built there ran away from his aboriginal village to claim Ngwa person when he heard that the governorship in the 2015 elections was zoned to the Ukwa/Ngwa area. Nonetheless, Otti was at the same time speaking from the sides of his mouth that the zoning formula had been killed. That was when he wanted to contest from his Arochukwu village. But when he saw that the governor was head bent on that Ukwa/Ngwa must produce the next governor, he shifted gear.
Otti’s initial stand was his warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the idea of zoning, and he said: “I learnt that you people said you have zoned the governorship to Abia South. No, it is wrong because the national leadership of the PDP had already killed the zoning arrangement in 2011. Remember, that at that time the office of the president was zoned to the North, yet the South is occupying that position today. So, the contest must be thrown open.”
Those clamouring for Otti to succeed the present governor are just doing so based on sentiment. A severe examination of the man called Otti attests that he has dubious gesticulations for power than people know. This is a man who contested the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) primary in a hotel along Aba Road, Umuahia and used faked document to announce himself winner after he was deliberately blindfolded by the so-called Victor Umeh-led national leadership of APGA to the tone of $3m.
While Otti was seeing himself as the winner of the primary election of the party, the true winner emerged in APGA in the person of Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba, who is the only credible candidate in the Abia APGA to contest the governorship election in 2015 with other political parties’ candidates.
With what Otti is causing in the state has shown the man as an unintelligent person, no matter the three doctorate degrees his garrulous campaign team has been hyping that he has. His campaign is issue-baseless and one will not restrain to qualify him as an agent sent by his paymasters to make sure that he deconstructs the government of Governor Orji, which he knows that it will be difficult for him to achieve.
In that highlight, one observer had this to say: The various political parties should come out clean with their various programmes on how to build on that foundation and make the state one of the best. But instead of seeing such discourse, the factional APGA governorship candidate, Alex Otti and his camp… have continued to insult the sensibilities of Abians by making frivolous claims and propaganda that do not hold water or contribute to the uplifting of the political debate. For instance, how can anybody in his rightful senses claim that Governor Orji, who has provided a number of legacy structures that are visible everywhere, has not done anything?
It is pertinent to write that Otti is dead on arrival and his political coffin would be nailed in the 2015 general elections. He knows that he is not heading to anywhere; hence he resorts to throwing stones by saying that the PDP candidate in the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu was being sponsored by the state government. What Otti did not realize, according to a critic, is that Dr. Ikpeazu, as a bona fide citizen of Abia State, is free to contest any election of his choice, provided he is qualified to run in that election.
However, in the light of that, the Government of Abia State through the sociable Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, had described the likes of Umeh and Otti as pathological liars and agents of destruction masquerading as politicians. The question that the governor had asked through Ajunwa is: “Where were Umeh and Otti when His Excellency Governor Theodore Orji through his inspiring doggedness restored sanity and peace in Aba in particular and Abia in general by ending kidnapping which completely brought all activities in the state to a standstill? Where were Umeh and Otti when Governor Theodore Orji started and completed the hitherto impassable Aba/Owerri Road?”
The puzzle continued: “Where were Umeh and Otti when His Excellency started the de-silting of drains in Aba? Where were Umeh and Otti when Governor T.A. Orji constructed the Uruakpa Road in Aba South? Where were they when Governor Orji started and completed the reconstruction of Ukwu Mango section of Faulks Road Aba (1.2km)? Where were Umeh and Otti when Governor Orji started and completed the access road to Geometric Power Plant Aba? Where were they when Governor Orji restored the manhood of Abians? (To borrow the insightful words of Chief Ojo Maduekwe) Just to mention but a few.”
Ajunwa had seen that Otti and his co-travellers were economic with the truth about the government of his boss, because they were jealous of Governor Orji’s laudable and verifiable achievements, which put him ahead of other past leaders of the state. Ajunwa was of the opinion that Governor Orji’s remarkable achievements have won him uncountable awards and laurels from all parts of the world.
He described his boss as one leader who does not believe in propaganda as a tool for governance, rather he believes in hard work and selfless service to humanity. Therefore, it’s evident that Otti who aligns with Umeh to smear Governor Orji cannot be trusted, because as Nigerians knew, Umeh is a man that cannot be trusted, because he is gullible with power.
Umeh’s tenure as APGA’s chairman had expired since 5 years ago, yet Umeh clinched unto the leadership of the party for selfish reasons. This is a man that Otti has embraced. Like father, they say, like son. It then means that Otti can never be trusted.
.Hart writes from Lagos

We are grateful for the divine assignment that God gave to us about seven and half years ago to liberate Abia and make it one of the progressive states in our nation. We are grateful for your support over the years and we thank God that we have another Christmas to celebrate in an atmosphere of peace and prosperity.
Christmas provides that opportunity to relax and reflect on the values taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, which every of his creature is admonished to imbibe.
We know that one of such is to defend the poor, which has been at the centre of our work in the last seven and half years.
Christmas is a chance to celebrate the birth of Christ and live out what He taught us– to love our neighbours as we would ourselves; to feed the hungry and look after the sick; to be our brother’s keeper and our sister’s keeper.
As a Government, we have made these values a centrepoint of our administration. As a country, this Christmas offers us the opportunity to come together to show love to ourselves, care for one another and pray for the unity and peace of our country.
Do have a wonderful Christmas!

T.a orji a proudly governor

Ochendo have laid down a solid lasting legacy

The governor have strive a lot of development since he became the governor of abia state , , and has also transformed and empowers lots of youth in the state through his youth empowerment programme , his administration has also provide adequate security and electricity in the state which have attracts investors in the state . The present government may have not and may not complete all the infrastructural challenges facing the state in the last 23 years which is enormous, but her speedy effort in the direction so far has brought tremendous changes and relief to the people of the state. If successive governments in the state have made half of the effort before now, the state would have been an El Dorado by now.