₦airaland Forum

Abia State chapter of APC has said a chieftain of the party was since 2018 suspended from the party following series of anti-party activities.

Speaking with ABN TV on Thursday, the State Secretary of the party in Abia, Barr Perfect Okorie said Chief Emenike was suspended in 2018 after an investigative panel found him guilty of hobnobbing with PDP to sabotage the effort of the APC.

According to the State Secretary, Chief Emenike did not appeal his suspension which bars him from taking part in any activity of the party in the state.

Following an SWC and Exco meeting of the APC in Umuahia on Thursday, the party said the 2018 suspension of Chief Emenike was reinforced.

The party said Emenike's suspension has been communicated to the national leadership of APC, Cautioning him against taking part in activities of the party.

The party called members to desist from dealing with Chief Emenike, warning him to stop intruding in the committees of APC.

The party also passed a vote of confidence on its chairman in the state, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, applauding him for stabilizing the party.

His vote of confidence follows a motion moved.

All efforts made to reach the embattled Chief Ikechi Emenike proved abortive as at the moment of this report.

A young lady who hails Ibinukwu Igbere, Bende local government area of Abia State has narrated how she narrowly escaped death from a suspected daredevil serial rapist, identified as Chike.

Narrating her ordeal to ABN TV in Umuahia, the victim whose identity we do not wish to put in print further said the accused, an okada rider severally had his way even as her menstrual blood flows, attempting to strangle her to death upon resistance.

According to her, when she realized that she was gradually passing on when Chike strangled her with a pillow and threatened to dump her corpse in the forest, she begged him to spare her life.

In an emotionally-laden voice, the victim said trouble started when the accused person who had made unsuccessful advances on her in the past took her to a lonely area, pretending to take her to a drinking joint for some drinks.

According to her, she had innocently boarded the suspected criminal to convey her to a place where she can charge her mobile phone as a result of lack of power supply in her home.

This she said is not the first time she has boarded the said suspect's okada for errands in the community.

Unsuspicious of his criminal intentions on a fateful day, she willingly obliged to his advise of going to a location known as Blue Zink against her initial intention of going to a place called Mobek to charge her phone.

"I obliged because I have been there for once or twice. As He was taking me there, he didn't even take me to the bar to buy me the drink or let me charge my phone. He gave one girl the phone to charge for me. I then entered his back again (I'm even judging myself). He took me to a big house with a mighty gate.

"It was a lonely place so I walked in. I asked him where we are, he said it's his house. He said he brought me to his house so that my boyfriend who is from his community will not see us in the bar.

"He asked what I want, I told him, so he bought three bottles of the drink. I drank one while he had one bottle. He was forcing me to finish the remaining bottle but I said no because I have not eaten.

"After he pressurized me, I opened it and drank a little. He started telling me that he wants me to be his girlfriend. I told him I can't because I have a boyfriend, who is from his community.

"He said okay, since it's not possible, he wants to have sex with me. I told him I'm in a relationship, that I cannot do that.

"He became angry, telling me that I did a similar thing last time he bought me drinks, that I had his drinks and left just like that. That today, he must sleep with me.

"He pushed me down on his bed and used a pillow to close my mouth while I struggled to breath, gradually dying. He pulled my hair while I shouted. He said he will kill me and dump my dead body in the forest.

"He removed his cloths and started raping me with my menses. My blood was coming out but he continued.

"I put on my cloth, preparing to go but he came for the second time and started raping me again. Even when I was begging him that my vagina is paining me, he didn't listen.

"After that one, he came again. I was in pain, begging him to allow me to go, he refused" she told ABN TV.

According to her, the criminal rapist had insisted that she denounces her relationship with her boyfriend, then pack her belongings to his (rapist) house before he can allow her to go.

When summoned by the community, Mr. Chike admitted to committing the crime, saying his grouse is that the victim ate his money.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has relieved the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) manager for Ikwuano LGA, Mr Jerry Awa and the Deputy General Manager, Abia State Public Utilities Management Agency (APUMA), Engr Uzoma Asiegbu of their duties.

This is with immediate effect, a statement made available to ABN TV on Saturday by Barr Chris Ezem, Secretary to the State Government says.

Though no reason was given for their sack, it may not be unconnected with inefficient service delivery.

According to the statement, the Governor has directed the General Manager of ASEPA, Mr Eze Okwulehie, to immediately take charge of the Ikwuano area, ensure immediate evacuation of refuse within the area.

He is also to engage street sweepers to clear grasses and dispose of dirt along Aba Road through Ceramics area to Old Umuahia.

An Owerri-based journalist and PR practitioner, Mr. Ikechukwu Ogbonna has said the current bicameral legislature which accommodates the Senate and House of Representatives, comprising about 469 lawmakers is no more attainable in Nigeria, insisting that current economic realities has made it outdated.

In his presentation in Owerri at the just concluded constitution review public hearing, South-East zone, Mr. Ogbonna said Nigeria must develop its own unique pattern of leadership structure instead of an imported American system which he said does not reflect the country's needs, ABN TV reports.

He said, "Nigeria’s match to democracy has been bedevilled by several failed attempts aimed at laying a solid foundation for its sustainability and development. This development has been partially stymied and derailed by copy “catism” of our constitution and its structures. We “ADOPT” rather than “ADAPT” to suit our peculiar social, economic and ethnic milieu. To ADOPT is to take something over while ADAPT is to CHANGE something to SUIT YOUR NEEDS.

"In the 1st Republic, we copied the British parliamentary system because our colonial overlords were British and felt their system was best for us. The experiment ended in a fiasco. Since the 2nd republic, we copied hook, line, and sinker, the American model of democracy and yet no respite. We need our own unique system fashioned for our peculiarities.

"Our legislative arm of government is bicameral with two houses like the American system, The Senate and the Federal House of Representatives. This paper is calling for a change to a unicameral system of legislature."

He, therefore, insisted that the operation of a bicameral system of lawmaking is a big challenge in the country's quest for an enduring democracy.

He noted that it is expensive to service the 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives which make up that National Assembly, querying why the country needs 469 legislators.

On the disadvantages of such a system, Mr. Ogbonna said, it duplicates functions, creates lopsidedness, delays in lawmaking as well as fuelling corruption and nepotism.

He said, "We usually hear that a bill has been passed into law awaiting CONCURRENCE from the other House before it is transmitted to the President for assent.

"Kano with 44 LGAs has 24 Reps, Bayelsa 5, Ebonyi 6, Katsina 15, Abia 8, Lagos 24, Kwara 6. In a federation of EQUALS, why should a state have more Representatives than two or three other states put together?

"The need for a bill and other legislative actions to pass through both Houses is an unnecessary delay and a clog in or development.

"It is enough to deal with the corrupt tendencies of one House than dealing with two. We are all aware of the cries of MDAs about the ‘oversight’ functions of our legislators. These MDAs deal with the indiscriminate demands of committees from both Houses on daily basis."

He, therefore, advocated for the House of Representatives to be scraped from the constitution, leaving only The Senate.

He underlined that, "A UNICAMERAL LEGISLATURE OPERATES IN ALL STATES OF OUR FEDERATION TILL DATE and yet are meeting up to some extent their legislative duties.

"I advocate that the number of Senators be increased to 3 per Senatorial Zone such that each state would send nine (9), rather than 3 Senators, to Abuja making a total of 216 plus 1 from FCT making 217 lawmakers instead of 469 as they are today."

No fewer than 300 workers under the aegis of National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE in Umuahia North Abia state have alleged that their names have been published as not meeting the minimum seventy percent attendance benchmark to receive June Salary.

One of the affected workers, Mr. Stephen Ogbonnaya who made this known to ABN TV said majority of those whose names are on the list met the minimum attendance for the month.

The workers also alleged that their November and December 2020 salaries have not been paid till date for similar misconduct.

They however admitted that they have been paid between January to May, expressing dissatisfaction that their two months' salaries for last year and part of this year is still outstanding.

They also alleged that their February salary was slashed by 80% by the state government for their failure to meet up with minimum attendance for the month.

Another worker who pleaded anonymity however insisted that some of their members whose names appear on the list as not meeting the minimum attendance benchmark were always present at work and signed the register, wondering why their names were published.

He stated that other NULGE members in the 17 local government areas of the state are affected.

NULGE chairman in Umuahia North, Mr. Okezie Obinna confirmed the allegations, urging members to keep calm.

He said efforts are ongoing to resolve the issues.

All efforts by ABN TV to reach the local government Chairman, Joseph Ugochukwu Njikeonye for a government on the development proved abortive.

When our correspondent visited his office, he was said to be absent.

Several calls to reach him were unanswered.

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has appealed to members of the APC in Abia state to imbibe the spirit of love, tolerance, and sacrifice and work for the party unity ahead of 2023.

Kalu issued the statement on Thursday while addressing critical party affairs in his capacity as the Party Leader and Chairman of the APC Caucus, Abia state.

He commended the members for the critical role they have continued to play in deepening APC in the state.

According to him, "the efforts of the members and party leadership is the reason the party is waxing stronger but we have to do more. Our determination to bring in a new government in Abia and save the state from collapse and shame is why we must imbibe the spirit of love, tolerance, and sacrifice and work for the party unity ahead of time.

"The massive increase in our membership strength is very exciting and encouraging.  However, we should not allow the influx of new members to inflate our ego. We should expect moles in the party because there are people that came to destroy and not to build. We must not allow them to have their way and that can be done by our collective efforts and unity". He said.

Ahead of the party's ward, local, and state Congress, Kalu urged members to desist from spreading falsehoods and using propaganda to pitch members against each other.

He noted that the rumour mongers are mainly those hobnobbing with the PDP and sowing discord in the party. He stressed that the party must put it's house together to defeat the ruling PDP in the state.

The Chief  Whip also revealed that he has no personal candidate for any position adding that the democratic approach is what will strengthen the party after the Congress.

He said, "My candidate is the candidate everyone has chosen.  I do not have a personal candidate.  I want every member to understand the importance of a strict democratic approach in Congress. We can't have two ward chairmen or secretaries but one. We wish everybody well in their endeavors to lead our party in different capacities starting from the ward level to the state level" the former Governor said.

Youths of Amuzukwu, Ugba, and Afara have engaged in brawls over the right of control of Isigate motor park in Umuahia Abia state, a situation that caused tension in the area on Tuesday morning.

The escalation of crisis led to the deployment of security agencies to restore normalcy in the area, ABN TV reports.

An indigene of Amuzukwu, Hon. Chidiebere Ukairo who spoke with ABN TV on Tuesday said that a certain Obere who before now controls the Owerri axis of the park decided to take over the control of the entire park following a purported instruction from the leadership of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW in the state.

According to Ukairo, Obere was however resisted by a group led by one Chisom said to be in charge of another part of the park.

The group led by Chisom claimed that former chairman of NURTW, Sunny Nwankudu who is now the Deputy National Chairman of NURTW instructed them to be in charge of the section of the park where they are holding sway.

He said the crisis has lingered for long, leading to the intervention of Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji which is yet to yield fruit.

He advocated that the leadership of NURTW in Abia and the Deputy National Chairman, Sunny Nwankudu should come together to resolve the crisis.

Another account has it that the internal crisis of NURTW is threatening to escalate to the community.

Youth president of Amuzukwu community, Mr. Ikeadi denied any communal undertone to the crisis, calling on youths of Amuzukwu to maintain peace.

The chairman of Ugba youths, Uzuegbu Iheanyi alleged that strangers from Ohuhu, Ndume, Ajata, Ohafia, and Akwa Ibom are dominating their land and refusing them access to the park.

He said two youths from Ugba were fought and macheted, leading to reinforcement from other members of the community.

While insisting that Ugba youths will not be oppressed, he called for a dialogue to forestall the further escalation of crisis.

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has banned the sale of revenue tickets to commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as okada, and tricycle operators called Keke riders.

This is according to a resolution reached after a meeting between Abia State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) and major stakeholders in the transport sector, including commercial tricycle (Keke) and Motorcycle (Okada) operators, a statement made available to ABN TV by the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu says.

He said the governor has directed that the sale of e-tickets on public holidays should cease, effective from Monday, 19th July, 2021.

He also announced the reduction of proposed new daily e-ticket rate for commercial tricycle and motorcycle operators from N240 to N200 daily.

Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah has said that about 44 different minerals in commercial quantities in the country, urging the Republic of Korea to invest in Nigeria's solid minerals sector for the mutual benefit of both countries.

The Minister also added that Korea could source raw materials from Nigeria for its manufacturing and technological industries.

The Minister spoke when the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Young-Chae visited the Ministry headquarters in Abuja.

In a release made available to ABN TV on Friday by Tine-Iulun M. A on behalf of the Head Press & Public Relations Unit of the Ministry, Dr. Ogah, while soliciting for increased collaboration, suggested a zoom meeting between the Korean investors and the Ministry to enable the Ministry to educate them of the possible areas of investment in the nation's mining sector.

He noted that the Federal Government's Policy on the Ease of Doing Business is to offer investors fiscal incentives, investment guarantees as well a stable political and legal environment.

In his comment, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite stated that Nigeria has collaborative prospects that would be mutually beneficial to both countries, saying "limitless opportunities abound for both countries to cooperate on"

Adegbite while disclosing the Ministry's effort towards ensuring that raw ore are not taken out of the country without proper beneficiation process for value addition, noted that the mining industry could be a hub for the Korean technological market. He assured of the Federal Government's commitment towards curbing the spate of insecurity ravaging the country and restore peace.

Earlier, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Kim Young-Chae, who said he has been in the country for 100 days, disclosed that there are about 23 Korean Companies operating in Nigeria while many others have huge investment interest in the mining sector.

Ambassador Kim Young-Chae, noted that achieving policy sustainability as well as the Federal Government's Policy on the Ease of Doing Business would encourage investors to key into the developmental goals of the administration.