₦airaland Forum

Gov. Alex Otti has explained that his Foundation and not Abia State Government is bankrolling his free scholarship scheme, ABN TV reports.

The Governor who made the explanation Saturday in his remark at the 2022 -2023 Alex Otti Scholarship scheme held at the Sacramento Event Centre, Olokoro, Umuahia South, said that he had long commenced the humanitarian gesture over seven years ago, before his emergence as Governor.

He promised to sustain the gesture which according to him, was borne out of his empathy for the indigent youths interested in pursuing their career in education.

According to him, the gesture is his personal contribution towards the enhancement of the future of the youths.

He promised to sustain the gesture as long as God gives him grace, emphasing that life is not about wealth accumulation but positive impacts.

The Governor further said that beneficiaries of the scheme did not need to be highly connected or personally known to him before they qualify, noting that the procedure is easy for any interested persons.

Otti said his major preoccupation was how to assist Abia youths actualise their dreams in life without stress.

He announced an increase in the Alex Otti foundation Scholarship package to beneficiaries from N150,000 to N250,000.

A total of 34 beneficiaries were selected for this year’s edition, thus bringing the numbers of beneficiaries so far to over 200 since the inception of the exercise seven years ago.

The governor charged beneficiaries not to disappoint but rather put in their best to excel.

Otti further explained that bright but indigent students of Abia origin or those resident in the state were the targets of the scheme.

He thanked the Management Committee of the scheme for its input and for remaining objective to the vision of the Foundation without compromise.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, and the immediate -past Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Mr Chinedu Ekeke, said the selection process was transparent.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, on Thursday flagged off the reconstruction of the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road signaling a ray of relief for users of the road that is a major artery that holds immense promise in the economic and social revival of Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia, ABN TV reports.

The currently disused road, which was constructed during the administration of the late Sam Mbakwe (between 1979 - 1983) of old Imo State, was once a bustling hub for economic activities but left to deteriorate over the past two decades by successive Administrations, chief press secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko said in a statement.

Speaking during the event in a speech titled, "Building On A Solid Rock Of Excellence", Governor Otti expressed his unwavering commitment to restoring the road to its former glory and making it even more economically viable.

"I’m glad that we are taking yet another strategic step in fulfilling one of my major campaign promises which is to permanently break the jinx of Port Harcourt Road, Aba, and revive the long-abandoned economic activities along this corridor; activities that once gave Aba a set of peculiar advantages, starting from the early 1980s when our revered leader, Dee Sam Mbakwe, Governor of Old Imo State, constructed this road to feed into the expansion of the booming oil industrial complex in Port Harcourt.

"Dee Sam’s vision gained a foothold almost immediately as this stretch of road became a major hub for the servicing of heavy-duty vehicles, equipment, spare parts, power generating sets and ancillary tools. In no time, this axis emerged as one of the busiest parts of Aba and a go-to destination for maintenance engineers, procurement officers and contractors working for the multinationals in Port Harcourt and environs, bringing immediate prosperity and a host of other economic and social advantages to the city of Aba.

"For about two decades, it was all bliss and blush for businesses around this area until things began to fall apart in the mid to late 1990s, followed quickly by the unfortunate collapse and abandonment of the 2000s.

"Nothing seemed to work thereafter. In time, the businesses, including those that had their corporate headquarters around here began to disappear, finding more favourable locations as it became clear that succeeding administrations did not have the will to make the right commitments to restore this stretch of road and sustain its economic advantages; until today," the statement quoted the governor Otti as recalling while he addressed the mammoth crowd that trooped out to witness the landmark flag-off.

The new Port Harcourt Road, according to the Commissioner for Works, Engr Otumchere Oti, is a total of 6.8 kilometres, made up of 5.7kms from the beginning of Port Harcourt Road by Ngwa Road to the end at the intersection with the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway by Alaoji and another 1.1kms from the intersection with Ngwa Road to the junction of Azikiwe Road by Asa Road.

The 5.7kms stretch of the road, originally a four-lane carriage, is now being reconstructed and expanded to six lanes with lay-bys and drainage system. The 1.1kms corridor, which yields into Port Harcourt Road, will be reconstructed as a four-lane carriage with lay-bys and drainage. The entire 6.8km road will be properly marked and fitted with solar-powered street lights.

Governor Otti, who mounted one of the bulldozers and started the engine, symbolically flagging off the project, said that the reconstruction was not a mere political gesture for short-term gain but a holistic effort to restore the road's durability and economic significance.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has expressed strong desire to see train services return to the Eastern tracks after many years of inactivity, ABN TV reports.

Governor Otti stated this on Wednesday when he met with officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Eastern District, who came on a business visit to him, chief press secretary to the governor, Kazie Uko said in a statement.

Governor Otti noted that rail used to be the most viable means of transportation in the country but suddenly disappeared in the last three decades, the statement noted.


He promised that Abia would support the corporation to function in the state and requested that they continue to update him with developments regarding the on-going rehabilitation of the rail tracks in the state, Uko said further.

According to the statement, "The Governor pledged to address the request for security and further engage the people on the need to protect and safeguard railway installations in their localities.

"He warned that any person caught engaging in vandalisation of railway tracks would be dealt with.

"Earlier, the railway District Manager, Mr. Modibbo Mohammed, who led the team, said their visit was to brief the Governor about the ongoing rehabilitation of the railway tracks from Port Harcourt to Aba.

"Modibbo stated that the first phase of the laying of new rail tracks, covering 63kms from Port Harcourt to Aba, would be completed by the end of this year while the second phase from Aba to Umuahia would be delivered in the first quarter of 2024.

"He solicited the support of the Governor in tackling the issue of vandalisation of the rail tracks stacked in some locations in the state and appealed for a patrol vehicle to assist them in security.

"Mr. Modibbo said that the railway services when fully operational would create jobs for the youths as well as provide alternative means of transportation to the populace.

"He commended the Governor for the massive infrastructural development witnessed in the state within his short time in office.

The Election Petition Tribunal Court sitting in Umuahia has upheld the victory of Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party in Abia State, ABN TV reports.

The judgement was given at the Federal High Court in Umuahia on Friday.

The Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Otti ot March 18, 2023, but was dragged to court by the PDP and APC.

Regarding the membership of a party before the election, the court upheld that they are pre-election matters and n ought to have been dealt with before the election.

The court also ruled that the petitioner (PDP) did not have evidence and could not prove its case against the first respondent (LP) over corrupt practices and irregularities during the election.

PDP’s petition was dismissed for lacking merit in favour of LP.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has revealed how his administration is making life bearable for its citizens, who have had to contend with economic difficulties arising from the removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government.

Governor Otti, while delivering the 63rd Founder’s Day Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, on Thursday, said that the Abia State Government, under his watch, has supported businesses and economically vulnerable persons to weather the harsh effects of subsidy removal from petrol, the governor's chief press secretary, Kazie Uko said in a statement.

Speaking on the topic, “Petrol Subsidy Removal: Dealing with the Challenges, Harnessing the Opportunities,” Governor Otti disclosed that his administration met a very difficult situation on ground upon assuming office.

“The day I was sworn in as governor was also the day the removal of subsidy on petrol was announced by President Bola Tinubu. So, we met a very difficult situation that needed to be carefully managed,” the Governor, a first-class economist, said in his 32-page lecture paper.

He continued: “We began by offering a message of hope to the people, assuring the civil servants that the era of owing salaries was gone and that by the 28th of every month, every legitimate staff of the state civil service would receive their full entitlements. We soon followed up by paying part of the accumulated arrears from the previous government.

“We are progressively supporting our civil servants by keeping to our commitment to prompt and regular payment of salaries and also clearing up arrears in order to increase the amount of disposable cash available to those in our employ.

“We have also put in mechanisms that will make for smooth and seamless payment of pensions to all retirees as soon as they sign out from the state civil service. So far, appreciable progress has been made and I can tell you that while a few teething problems remain, our pensioners are beginning to see clear signals that in the New Abia we are building, owing senior citizens their entitlements would be an anathema.

“Beyond just paying them, we have also directed the State Ministry of Health to enrol a certain category of pensioners in the state into a health insurance scheme that guarantees steady access to quality healthcare for our retirees. So far, 4,700 pensioners have been enrolled and we shall add to this number in the months ahead.”

The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has urged the Supreme Court of Nigeria to uphold the ruling of the Appeal Court discharging and acquitting him of all terror-related charges, ABN TV reports.

Kanu through his lead counsel, Kanu Godwin Agabi SAN told the court that his client is innocent of the allegations against him, urging the court to free him.

The prosecuting counsel however urged the court to set aside the court of appeal judgement and allow Nnamdi Kanu to stand trial for the previous charges held at the Federal high court against him.

Judgement was reserved till the 15th of December.

Metrix147:
Source: https://abntv.com.ng/news/police-arrest-8-suspects-arrested-with-large-quantity-of-indian-hemp-in-aba-others-video/

Abia State Police Command has paraded eight suspects nabbed with a large quantity of substance suspected to be Indian hemp, ABN TV reports.

Other items recovered from them include, some quantities of Tramadol tablets, Tiazopam tablets, Refnor tablets, and Simnor tablets.

During a press briefing on Wednesday at the headquarters of the state police command in Umuahia, the command's spokesperson, ASP Maureen Chinaka said their arrest followed a credible intelligence regarding criminal activities at Ehere Secondary School, Aba.

She said the police detectives had conducted a cordon, search, and arrest operation on September 24, 2023.

The suspects are said to have been involved in the illegal drug trade.

She gave their names as:
One Kelechi Kalu (male, 25 years)
One Nnanna Nwogu (male, 35 years)
One Chika Ugochukwu (male, 33 years)
One Ndubuisi Chikere (male, 38 years)
One Check Bowel (male, 45 years)
One Ugochukwu Monday (male, 20 years)
One Grace Chika (female, 27 years)
One Owe Mary (female, 20 years)

She added, "Large quantities of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and various hard drugs were recovered. The suspects have been charged to court after a thorough investigation and were remanded accordingly."

Other suspects arrested for illegal possession of firearms include,
One Chinedu Ukachukwu (male) 23 years
One Chibueze Nwokocha (male) 25 years
One Steve Okafor (male) 17 years
Uche Awa (male) 23 years
One Chisom Chijioke (male) 17 years

Exhibits recovered from them include, One cut-to-size locally fabricated single-barrel short gun, and six live cartridges.

They were arrested on September 24, 2023, by personnel from the Counter-Terrorist Unit. They were intercepted in a tricycle with five male occupants.

The FCT chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has announced the sack of Eze Ndigbo of FCT, stating that an Igbo kingdom can only exist in Igboland.

This is contained in a press release dated 22nd September 2023 and signed by the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in FCT, Ifeanyichukwu Obasi-Nweze, and seven other members of the Executive.

The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation said after the sack of one Uche Isaac Egenti and Ibe Nwosu both are whom from Imo State and who have been parading themselves as Eze Ndigbo, they employed one FCK Obike alleged to have been ostracised with them to author a phantom impeachment against Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership in FCT.

The statement read in part, “The Ohanaeze Nd’lgbo FCT Abuja Chapter’s General Assembly through the Executive Committee reiterates as follows:

“1. That Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is not lgboland; therefore there are no Eze-Igbos in the Federal Capital Territory. People seeking to be Eze/Kings should go back to their home states in the South East and follow the guiding laws in respect of Chieftaincy – Nd’lgbo cannot build kingdoms within the traditional leaderships of their host communities thereby creating confusion, unwarranted rivalry, and crises in the FCT.

“2. That Henry Ugbaja, Hilary Ukpabi, FCK Obike, and Promise Ihezie, who are unknown to their respective Presidents General of Abia State and Imo State communities in FCT Abuja, were ostracized with Uche Isaac Egenti:; they cannot speak for Ohanaeze.

“3. The General Public is hereby put ON NOTICE NOT TO DEAL WITH any of them to forestall their fraudulent activities aimed at collecting money from the unsuspecting public – Ohanaeze Nd’lgbo FCT Abuja Chapter is a responsible organization that will not under this regime seek for funds from the general public.”

The FCT chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo equally notified the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike urging him not to accord recognition to anyone parading himself as Eze Ndigbo in FCT.

National President of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE) Ambali Akeem Olatunji, has berated Abia governor, Alex Otti, for allegedly meddling in the affairs of NULGE in the State.

The NULGE President who expressed the union’s displeasure over Otti’s recent imposition of his stooges as the executives of the union in the state, maintained that there was no leadership crisis in the state chapter of the union before Otti was elected.

Speaking in Akure, during the inauguration of a new NULGE President in the Ondo, Comrade Fredrick Akinrinlola, the National President described Otti’s action as “executive recklessness”, accusing the Abia governor of imposing his cronies on the union to take over the leadership of NULGE in Abia.

The NULGE National President alleged the governor decided to impose his stooges at the NULGE helms of affairs in order to control the union, but said the union will resist the move.

He said some Chief Executive at the state level always want to impose candidates that are very weak, that would be controllable by them, and will not represent the interest of the union and would not be able to engage the Government.

“We have one recently in Abia, we have conducted an election before the new government came in, the new government came in and was trying to destabilise the union, this is a contradiction to the labour movement, the administration has come out to be a disappointment to the labour.

“NULGE is cautioning the governor of Abia, Alex Otti, for his undue meddlesome into the affairs of NULGE and attempt to hijack the leadership of the union and we reject this that he has no right to annul our election and impose his brothers and cronies to take over the leadership of the union.

“We were disappointed that after the conduct of our election before the inauguration of the present administration in Abia state of Governor Otti of Labour Party, he (Otti) assumed office and the first thing he did was to go after industrial union and made attempt to seize the leadership of the NURTW which was rebuffed by the NLC,” the statement partly read.

Abia State Government says it has commenced the payment of compensation to owners of the 130 structures marked for demolition to make way for the six-lane 3.5 kilometres Ossah-Okpara Square Road in Umuahia, ABN TV reports.

This is contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the government was yet to make available funds for the exercise.

The Accountant General of the state, Njum Onyemenam, who disclosed this to Journalists in her office on Thursday said that claimants who provided their correct account details have already received payments.

"We have gotten confirmations that claimants have already started receiving their monies, that is the position right now.

"Claimants who have provided us with their current bank details have recieved their payments," [/b]Onyemenam said.

She advised claimants who have accounts with the old Diamond Bank and may not have received their monies to get alternative Access Bank account numbers to enable them receive payments.

[b]"Those that are banking with the old Diamond Bank account should meet their banks to collect the alternate Access account bank number as the old Diamond Bank is not compliant with our payment platform," the AG stated.

She however noted that many claimants have not provided their data, and revealed that as soon as they come up with their correct details, they will be paid.

Onyemenam added that her office is still collating data of all claimants and would finish payments when the details of the last claimant are collated.

The Accountant General pointed out that the government wants to avoid a situation where monies are paid to the wrong persons, who may not remit same to other affected individuals.

She advised those who are yet to receive payments to reach out to Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), whose duty, she said, it is to send their details to the AG's office.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPwlpuOJ6y4

Former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has been condemned for allegedly causing a massive breakdown of security architecture in the country through nepotistic appointment of service chiefs.

This is coming from a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka.

According to Chidoka, a former Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps said it will take the country many years to recover from the ruins experienced during Buhari’s eight years in power.

Chidoka spoke during a Flo Fm radio program South East Political Roundtable monitored by ABN TV on Tuesday.

“There is a massive breakdown of security in the country. It was worsened in the eight years when former President Mohammadu Buhari was in power because of his lopsided and nepotistic appointment of service chiefs.

“He destroyed the security agencies and I think it will take us many years to recover from the destruction.

“But beyond his era, if you go back in time, you will find that the major problem is that we have turned our security agencies into employment opportunities for the boys, our constituents, and friends.”

According to Chidoka, the  top hierarchies in the police, army, and the Department of State Services are populated by “unintelligent people managing our security agencies.”

“A look into the police budget will reveal that 90 per cent is used for salary payment, while only about four or five per cent is left for recruitment expenditure.

“This means that they have to find other ways of meeting up with their pressing needs. That has led to a broken down security, which is not peculiar to the South-East geo-political zone alone,” he added.

Young Miss Blessing Felix said to have been kidnapped by an unknown woman in Olokoro Umuahia Abia state has been found in Abuja.

The victim in a virile video said her grandmother had sent her to go and purchase an item from where she was whisked away.

According to her, “The woman carried me and put in the boot”. She said she did not know the woman.

The victim who is about 10 years could not offer an explanation on how she got to Abuja and was quick to add that she wants to go back to her village.

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has condemned the killing of a Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Mr Zakari Maduka, in the state and urged security agents to fish out his killers.

He said this in a statement signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, and made available to ABN TV on Friday.

ABN TV reports that Maduka was killed on Tuesday night at Uturu, in the Isuikwuato Local Government Area of the state by yet-to-be-identified assailants.

Otti described the beheading of Zakari as insane, barbaric and vicious.

He, therefore, called on security agents to speed up action and ensure that those involved directly or indirectly were brought to justice.

The governor, who expressed sadness over the killing of Zakari, said he distinguished himself during the last general election as the Labour Party Campaign Manager in Uturu.

He said Zakari also played active roles as a community leader in fighting kidnapping and other crimes.

Otti regretted that Zakari had his life cut short when he was supposed to reap the fruits of good governance served Abia residents by the Labour Party government.

The governor promised that the government would stand by the deceased’s family and give them all the necessary support required.

He restated his commitment to ensure the protection of lives and property in Abia particular and the South East in general.

He said it was such desire for security that necessitated the recent launch of a joint security Taskforce codenamed “Operation Crush” in the state.

Gunmen Behead Rep. Amobi Ogah's Campaign Coordinator In Abia, Flee With Head

Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday night beheaded a campaign coordinator of member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency, Hon. Amobi Ogah and departed with his head. pic.twitter.com/x4Y7eY0tHG

— ABN TV (@abnonlinetv) September 14, 2023

The member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency of Abia State, Chief Obi Aguocha, of the Labour Party has defeated the former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Orji at the National Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, ABN TV reports.

The tribunal on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by Orji, who was the PDP candidate for the federal constituency on the Feb. 25 election against Hon. Aguocha.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Aguocha the winner of the House of Representatives election after polling a total number of 48,199 votes to defeat Orji, who polled 35,196 votes.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Orji, son of former governor Theodore Orji, approached the tribunal to seek redress.

He prayed the court to nullify Aguocha’s victory, claiming that he was not duly nominated as the LP candidate and therefore was not qualified to contest the election.

Orji, also told the Court that Aguocha, contested the PDP primary election and lost before joining the LP.

He argued that Aguocha’s name was not in the register of the Labour Party summited to INEC, while there was no notification to INEC 30 days before the primary election that produced him as the LP flag bearer.

Orji, further stated that there was overvoting in some polling units that gave Aguocha an advantage over him.

However ruling on the matter on Thursday, the tribunal led by Justice Abubakar Kutigi, ruled, the membership of a political was a pre-election matter, adding that the tribunal lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter, which should have been decided before the election.

He also ruled that the petitioner failed to prove that the respondent was not duly nominated by LP, as the issue concerning the candidate of a party in an election is an internal party affairs.