₦airaland Forum

Breaking News: Sick APGA Governorship Candidate urged to step down by family...
After spending few weeks in a hospital in the US , Alex Otti who was down with stroke is back . Alex according to his younger brother Joe, is gradually recovering, though the former banker who is seriously affected on his right hand and leg now move around with the help of walking stick. Joe posted on his facebook this morning that God has answered their prayers by intervening in the health issue of the former MD of Diamond bank but pleaded with his senior brother to heed to the family's advice to step down and allow Reagan to take over as APGA Governorship candidate since he (Alex) state of health is fragile. Joe has deleted the post about few minutes ago over reasons we cannot confirm.

PDP candidate, Okezie Ikpeazu gets Abia Farmers’ endorsement

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.

PDP candidate, Okezie Ikpeazu gets Abia Farmers’ endorsement

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.

Abia State Gives Out Cars To Reduce Unemployment

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

Don't Allow Politicians Use You, Orji Advises Clerics

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has advised churches in the state to shun being used as platforms for political purposes.

Orji, who is a senatorial candidate of Abia Central senatorial district, gave the advice in Umuahia when he attended the child dedication by Obioma Okorie and four others at the Winners Church, Ihie Ndume Ibeku, near Umuahia.

He said he was in the church only on invitation not for political campaign, advising, "Don't allow politicians to use the church as a political platform".

"Let people not come because they want your votes. Don't allow people to do that" Orji warned and called for prayers of Christians for himself as he expressed his belief that prayers work wonders.

Orji pledged to identify with churches in the state as well as all Christians when needed.

He described celebration of the arrival of a child in a household as a divine occasion and prayed for God's blessing on all the children.

Blessing the children, the host Pastor of Winners Church, Kenneth Adebesin, described children as gift of God, which are not gotten from herbalists, witches or wizards, but from God.

Abia State Expands Youth Empowerment Scheme


THE Abia State government of Nigeria has launched the second phase of its youth empowerment programme.

A total of 30 cars have been distributed to youths from Ikwuano Local Government Area for free while a bus was also given to National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Abia State University chapter.

Speaking before handing over the vehicles to the beneficiaries, Governor Theodore Orji, noted that some people from the council had earlier benefitted from the programme.

"Government wants the best for the people of the state. Apart from providing immediate employment for the youths, the vehicles have enhanced their status and more importantly, enhanced the free and easy movement of people within and outside the State.

The governor also pointed out that Abia State ranked high in youth empowerment in the federation.

"Apart from the free vehicles, our administration is training youths on various skill acquisition programmes in several centres and liberation farms in the state."

He charged the beneficiaries to use the vehicles judiciously.

Orji pledged the People's Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Okezie Ikpeazu, would continue the empowerment programme if elected in the upcoming elections.

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.

Okezie Ikpeazu, A Man After God’s Own Heart To Lead Abia State

he emergence of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as the PDP flag bearer for the government house of Abia state has a divine connotation. Most great leaders of the Bible time and in the world have always passed through the low ebb of their society as a preparatory ground, and emerged from the rubles and dust to glory.

The likes of Jesus, Moses, Joseph, and in the modern time, Mandela and Obama went through the rungs as a preparatory ground to acquaint them with the suffering and needs of the people and the down trodden masses they would lead. According to the lyrics of the song by Bette Mider, from a distance the world looks blue and green and the snow capped mountains white.

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!

.Hart writes from Lagos.

Orji gives out 30 cars to Abia Youths; donates bus to NANS Zone

Thirty cars and a bus were yesterday given out to youths from Ikwuano Local Government Area free of charge as part of the on-going youth empowerment programme of Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji.

Speaking before handing over the vehicles to the beneficiaries at the Ikwuano LGA headquarters, Governor Theodore Orji noted that some people from the council have earlier benefitted from the programme.
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.

Presidency gives 12 reasons why Nigerians should re-elect Jonathan

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”


http://dailypost.ng/2015/02/19/governor-orji-donates-30-cars-one-bus-nans-zone-b/

THE BANKER WHO MURDERED DATA.
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.
Eddie Onuzuruike

Breaking news!!! International Finance Corporation (IFC) has denied granting Alex Otti 100 billion dollars. Sun newspapers on Wednesday quoted the former MD of Diamond Bank as saying that the international finance body has granted him the loan to build an Industrial Park in Aba. However an email to IFC by our editor which was replied revealed that Otti is telling lies as no such facility was granted to one Mr Alex Otti from Nigeria. Our enquiries from competent sources hinted that the federal government does not guarantee foreign loan facility to individuals.
Frantic efforts to reach Otti proved abortive as he refused to pick calls or even reply text messages sent to him on this issue.

Re: Why Governor T.A Orji deserves our pity, a rejoinder

I read with a mixture of amusement and sad shaking of head the article penned by my brother Chinedu Ekeke with the above title. I will immediately proceed to address the issues he raised in his article.

First off, I consider Chinedu Ekeke a friend. I admire his intelligence and his advocacy endeavours over the years since I became active on Social Media. He is to all intents and purposes an 'Overlord' as we say on Twitter and I must say that Chinedu has carried his acquired status with integrity and humility devoid of the narcissism and hubris of some of his contemporaries.

In the build up to the 2015 Governorship elections in Abia State, I took a decision to relocate to Abia State to be a part of the process of transition in the hope that by so doing, I will be in a position to influence some of the change I envisage for my dear Abia State instead of staying afar off and heckling those in authority.

Incidentally, Chinedu took the same decision too. As fate would have it, we both relocated to Abia State to be a part of the campaigns but we ended up on different sides of the divide. While I am rooting for and actively canvassing support for Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP, Chinedu is rooting for Alex Otti of the APGA.

Chinedu and I have had a couple of healthy exchanges on and offline in our bid to sell our candidates. We signed a virtual Peace Pact pledging that this political season would not affect our friendship and that we would remain above the fray of pettiness and name-calling.

I hasten to point out that the bulk of the issues Chinedu raised in his article of the above title were issues we discussed on twitter a while back. I wrote a Pro - Ikpeazu article and Chinedu took me up on it and tried to change my narrative. I stuck to what I felt were incontrovertible facts and we agreed to disagree on that note. Today, Chinedu has articulated the same argument he canvassed with me in his article and although he did not name me as one of those he dismissed in a derogatory fashion, because I am involved and because we have had this same discussion prior, I will proceed to answer Chinedu point for point.

1. Chinedu dismisses Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for the simple reason that he enjoys the support of incumbent Governor T.A. Orji. Why Chinedu chooses to criminalise this is best left to him. What Chinedu has failed to tell us however is that his candidate, Alex Otti, lobbied and positioned himself for a very long time for that same support of the incumbent Governor. Otti only decamped from the PDP to APGA after Gov. Orji informed him clearly that the PDP has zoned it's Governorship ticket to Abia South Senatorial district and since Otti is not from there, he would not be able to support him for the ticket. Chinedu should please tell us if he would be so scathing and unsparing in his demonisation of Gov. T. A. Orji if Alex Otti had gotten the support he solicited from Gov. Orji.

And by the way, I don't do 'sauces'. I was Director of Protocol in Abia State in the build up to the 2011 elections. As the person in charge of coordinating the Governor's movements, Alex Otti called me then to request that he be put on notice whenever Gov. Orji had a function in Arochukwu so that he would be on ground to give 'his Governor' a befitting welcome to his community. I obliged him that request and for the 4 or 5 times Gov. Orji's re-election campaign train had an event in Arochukwu, Alex Otti would fly in by helicopter at short notice and arrange a reception for the Governor and his entourage at his palatial home in Arochukwu. A major reason for this show of love was a request that he (Otti) would like to succeed Gov. Orji at the expiration of his tenure in 2015. We do not begrudge Alex Otti his aspiration. He is eminently qualified to govern Abia State. He should tell us what he wants to do for Abia State and quit whining about his opponent. Chinedu, I don't play games, run this by your principal and have him brief you accordingly then you may be circumspect in the vistas you choose to open in future.

2. Chinedu has against all reason chosen to dwell on the processes in the build up to the PDP Primaries that threw up Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as winner. Like I said, we have argued this before. I will present my argument. Chinedu and his principal are now in APGA. Why then are they constipating over the internal processes of the PDP that they neither participated in nor have any stake in. I will give an analogy. A number of Kano Princes justled to be crowned Emir of Kano upon the sad demise of Dr. Ado Bayero. In the end, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was chosen as Emir. Despite their natural misgivings, the Princes that lost out in the race have since accepted the outcome and moved on. Why would a Zaria man be insisting that the process that threw up SLS as Emir was flawed if the Kano Princes supposedly wronged have accepted the process?

A number of aspirants contesting for the PDP ticket with Okezie Ikpeazu felt that the build up was faulty. They rightly protested. A meeting was called and issues were resolved. They all participated in the primaries. They sat through the process. Nobody staged a walk out. Nobody held a Press Conference AFTERWARDS denouncing the process. Nobody proceeded to hold a parallel primary. All the aspirants sat till the end and when the results were announced with Okezie Ikpeazu emerging winner, they all congratulated him. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a major contender for the ticket is leading Ikpeazu's campaign today. Ditto Acho Nwakanma. Emeka Wogu attends his rallies, Uche Ogah donated N5M during a recent fundraising. Pray, tell, who are those Chinedu Ekeke has appropriated the Locus to fight on their behalf as those opposed to the process?

3. Chinedu is miffed that those who have written in support of Ikpeazu believe he will win the elections. He dismisses the assertion and declares that Otti would win. He quotes people he has interacted with and suprisingly supports his assertion with an Opinion Poll by NOI Polls. Lol. Chinedu, you have railed against NOI Polls in time past accusing them of Voodoo polling. Why then are you quick to appropriate their work in support of your Candidate? NOI Poll are either accurate or they are wack. Stick to one narrative please. And still on NOI Polls calling the Abia Elections for Otti, can you share the result of their Poll for other states? Or was it just Abia? How curious is it that a Poll had no methodology, number of people polled, etc. Voodoo Polling anyone?

Chinedu, it is so beneath you to play trashy. Your article exposed your frustration that the Ikpeazu team are controlling the media narrative of how the Governorship contest is playing out in Abia State. Don't hate bro. Ask your people to step up. And no, I will hold you by the same standards you so often hold our National figures. You can't tank them for not addressing issues in their campaigns then turn around to promote pedestrian rumours on behalf of your Candidate. One rule across board please.

Finally, Chinedu, it was a pleasure hosting you for frank talks and drinks in my home in Umuahia. I look forward to further visits. I reiterate that this should not come between us irrespective of which side of the divide we belong to but best believe that if you Tarka my Candidate, then by jove I will Dabo yours.

Nodinma.

@hartng

A case of serial deceit in Abia – by John Okiyi Kalu

Honest observers of Abia political space must have noticed that the APGA candidate, Dr Alex Otti, is no longer campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan but rather his core supporters are now mostly emphasizing “change”. We all know which party has “change” as slogan. Don’t we?

Let’s review a few facts.

The APGA faction led by Victor Umeh publicly and without prompting declared President Goodluck Jonathan as their presidential candidate and true to the declaration Umeh and Governor Willie Obiano have been campaigning for President Jonathan vigorously. Initially, after accepting the flag of APGA at Aba, the Abia PDP Guber candidate campaigned for the President and all his billboards and campaign materials included the picture of the President. Some Abians must have rationalized then that it was still “we we” and made choices on that basis

After the reported fund raising in Lagos where massive amounts of money were given to the APGA candidate by mostly non Abians and characters associated with APC and secret funders of violent Islamism, the APGA candidate returned home and quietly changed all campaign materials with “vote for President Jonathan” in exactly the same manner he changed all data showing his place of origin as Arochukwu.

Please go round Abia and see if there is still any APGA Governorship billboard with President Jonathan’s picture and assure yourself that I know what I am writing about.

It is no longer news that prior to the 2011 public declaration of Governor T.A. Orji that the 2015 governor of Abia state will be an Ngwa man, Dr Alex Otti was known by all of us as an Arochukwu man. We knew he has a beautiful edifice at Arochukwu, registered to vote and with PDP at Arochukwu with his University records and even documents from his secondary school days indicating “Arochukwu/Ohafia” as his place of origin. Yet immediately after the public declaration by Ochendo Dr Alex started building a new “home” at Ngwaland where his dad was interred as a priest working there. Those who read one of his recent interviews published in the Vanguard Newspaper of 14th December 2014 will confirm the following statement he made in response to questions on his Arochukwu origin:

“When he (Alex’ father) died it was my duty to bury him. God revealed to him, three weeks before he died, that it was time for him to go. He called me and told me that his time was up. I asked him: “if you die now, where do I bury you?” He asked me what kind of question was that. I told him that some have been saying that our ancestral home is Arochukwu. He replied, saying, since he did not live in Arochukwu in life is it in death he would he buried there?”
Suffice it to note that even after his father’s death and the reported exchange between them he still went ahead to build and live at Arochukwu as against where his father was buried. That he even asked his father that question, as reported by him, shows he always knew his roots and Arochukwu people never denied him as their son. He received every right due to him as a man whose father was from Arochukwu. Just like I receive from Abiriba even though my mother gave birth to me in another Abia town because in Igbo land origin is derived via fathers place of origin. Not location of birth. Ask all his siblings privately where they are from and they will confirm Arochukwu. If any of them denies Arochukwu please ask them to produce the international passport they were using as at 2012. That should end it.

Why exactly will anyone suddenly change origin when in actual fact he is qualified to contest for Abia governorship as an Arochukwu man? Udensi of PPA is running as an authentic Arochukwu man. Uche Sampson Ogah ran a good campaign in PDP as an Isuikwuato man and an APGA candidate is surely not bound to respect PDP zoning arrangement that favors Abia South without necessarily excluding others. The answer lies with “trust”, “deceitfulness” and “desperation”. Initially he didn’t reckon with the PDP zoning arrangement being narrowed down to Abia South (as against Ngwaland) and when it dawned on him that no amount of begging or cash will change the position of the incumbent governor and PDP stake holders he decided to continue the deceit with the hope that he will be able to lap into the strong governorship sentiment in Ngwaland with the expectation that Arochukwu people will “understand” why he had to deny them for “a pot of political porridge”.

The consequence is simply that today APGA is running a North-North ticket with Otti’s deputy, Mrs Eme Uche, coming from Ohafia LGA carved out of the old Arochukwu/Ohafia LGA. What about the other LGAs and zones in Abia? Victims of political deceit, I guess.

In politics we say that you are either for us or against us. Now that Dr Alex Otti is obviously not for President Jonathan will it be wrong to say he is against President Jonathan and already maintains one leg in APC? What will be the consequence of a governor Otti decamping to APC after election (God forbid) like another south east APGA elected governor did? What did he agree with the “donors” who have been looking for gaps to penetrate Abia through? Could this be one of the reasons APC chieftains actually muted the idea of a demonstration at Aba over the postponement of elections? Do they now have a point man who is a wolf in a sheep’s clothing? We are waiting for them at Aba sha. Come and demonstrate against Jonathan or INEC if you have the balls.

More than the danger of hoisting a flip flopper and serial deceiver on Abians is the role monetary inducement is playing in Abia 2015 election. Students, INEC Ad Hoc staff and sundry individuals are being compromised to manipulate Abia Governorship election against the wishes of the equity seeking majority of Abians with loads of cash. Have we sat to consider the likely effect of denying Abia South (by extension Ngwaland) the governorship position that they now feel is within sight after a life time of not being able to produce a Governor? Are we ready to live with the consequences of this serial deceit at state and national level? Do we know what will be the fate of Ndigbo if the man who engineered the 2011 post election massacre of Ndigbo in the North is elected President of Nigeria?

Fellow Abians, what do you think will happen if Aba State, as proposed during the last national conference, is created next year? Will Dr Alex Otti go with the old Abia or new Aba State assuming he is elected Abia Governor in April? Ponder on that and share your views with your family and friends..

Political desperation leads to political deceit.

Political desperation is destructive wherever it manifests and the consequences are usually written in blood, confusion and stagnation. You have no right to condemn political desperation at the Federal level (as epitomized by Buhari) and support it at the state level unless you have changed name to HYPOCRITE and place of origin to DAURA. In that case all I can say is may your candidate continue to fail serially.

John Okiyi Kalu, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Aba Abia State

Breaking news! Alex Otti factional guber candidate of APGA in Abia state has been banished from Aro Land by Eze Aro. An impeccable source who is a respected member of Eze Aro cabinet told our reporter exclusively last night, that Eze Aro and his cabinet after an emergency meeting, decided not to receive Alex , who had earlier notified the Eze Aro of a courtesy visit. The Eze in council through the revered Eze Aro made it clear that Alex Otti has been banished from Aro Land, having rejected Arochukwu as his birth place because of his political ambition. Alex, Eze Aro said is a disgrace to Aro, the land that has protected him over the years. Why visiting my Palace, he is a disgrace Eze Aro said. With this development Alex will find it difficult to visit Aro again, our source said because of his denial of Aro land after being conferred with important titles in Aro land like the Ugwu Aro and the Mazi Aro.

Dr Okezie's selling points

1. He has excellent education and got his PHD in Biochemistry at age 30. Emphasize the fact that he was a former lecturer and Head of Biochemistry Department at Enugu State University of Technology.

It follows that he is a teacher and educationist who will look after the education sector and improve education in Abia. Alex Otti has honorary doctorate paid for at Babcock University and Uniport. He is therefore Mr Alex Otti and his highest academic qualificaton is a masters degree from Unilag.

2. Okezie has both public and private service experiences having worked as TC Chairman, SA, Chairman of Board of School of Health Technology Aba, Head of ASPIMSS, Head of Aba Asepa, HOD at Esut and a pribate company in Lagos.

That makes him a balanced proposition for leadership and he is ready to serve from day one.

Alex spent his life at a bank "cooking books" according to Chinedu Nwogu.

3. He is on the ground with firsthand knowledge of Abia issues and challenges. He lives in Abia (Aba) with his family and knows the state. Whereas his major opponent is a visitor to Abia who flies helicopters to the state and depend on consultants to prepare his position on Abia issues.

4. Dr Okezie is humble and visibly God fearing husband of one wife. His opponent is elitist and arrogant and does not connect with common folks. He is also a known women devourer (philanderer) who impregnated a female staff of Diamond Bank and sent her abroad to deliver a baby for him without his wife's knowledge. He didn't marry her either.
(Use humble looking image for this and if available a happy family picture)

5. Dr Okezie looks and speaks like a governor unlike his major opponent. (Use image of all 4 governorship candidates for related post and tag it so that people can identify Alex)

6. Okezie did not steal from Abia and have no corruption case after serving in government for years. He does not live luxurious life like his major opponent who has questionable wealth, drives expensive cars (phantom limos), drink expensive wines (more than N400k per bottle) and flies in hired helicopters costing more than N500k per hour.

7. Okezie worked for Abians and humbled himself to carry refuse whereas Alex has never done anything for Abia that he claims to love. Alex did not even build a classroom block at Ngwa High School where he schooled but did CSR at Ogun state (Babcock university) and Rivers State (Uniport) while ignoring ABSU and other tertiary schools in Abia. Compare Alex with Sampson Ogah who did CSR at Absu and Isuikwuato for Abians.

8. There is no doubt about Okezie's orgin (Obingwa) and he is from the zone of equity (Abia South) whereas Alex is from Arochukwu but claiming Ngwa to deceive and steal the Ngwa governorship turn. (Use images of his voter card and letter to PDP for change of ward as evidence). Note that Alex entered Ngwa High School and Uniport with Arochukwu/Ohafia LGA stated as his place of origin. He only started claiming Ngwa after 2011 that Ochendo declared that the next governor will be from Ngwaland and quickly rushed to build a house at Isiala Ngwa were his father worked. Natural origin is parental (father's place of origin) and not via place of residence.

9. Dr Okezie has a clear roadmap on how to develop Aba using similar template as Chief Sam Mbakwe whereas Alex does not know Aba but uses vague terms like "turn Aba to Dubai" without a definite source of funding for his phantom proposal. Okezie promised to fix all potholes on existing Aba roads within 6 months of being sworn in starting with Ohanku, Osusu, Faulks, PH road, Cemetery road and others in Aba inner city.

10. Dr Okezie has a stable family life with wife and 4 children. No "love" child or another wife hidden anywhere.

ALEX OTTI's BAGGAGES

1. He is arrogant and elitist. No connection with the masses.

2. He is a closet supporter of Buhari and hence not campaigning for Jonathan. We believe he received campaign funds from APC's Tinubu and promised to decamp to APC after election. That is why he silent in campaigning for Jonathan and his billboards with Jonathan are going off after initially using Jonathan.

3. He bribed PDP national officials with $15m to acquire ticket but the matter leaked out and almost caused those involved their positions. He then gave N500m to Victor Umeh and acquired APGA's ticket. He also paid N200m to Udensi who used the money to buy PPA ticket.
Alex is determined to buy Abia governorship.

4. Alex impregnated his staff at the bank and sent her abroad to deliver a love child without his wife knowing. He loves women and expensive wines and is in the habit of sending buses to AbSU to pick up girls to Arochukwu whenever he is in town. Pays N50k per girl.

5. He is a desperado who changed his original Arochukwu origin to Isiala Ngwa in 2012 just to steal Ngwa mandate. Evidence of this is already online and the fact that his first hime was built at Arochukwu confirms it. Ask his supporters to produce his Uniport registaration or graduation documents which have Arochukwu/ohafia. He also joined banking as Arochukwu/Ohafia.

6. He has no single philanthropic project in Aba and yet is saying "Abia first". He donated a hall to Babcok university Ogun state but non in ABSU, Ngwa High School or Abiapoly. Compare him to Ogah who built at Absu.

7. Otti had EFCC cases in Diamond Bank and gave out loans to former Abia governor OUK. Yet he refused to support Abia mega mall at Aba and shoprite Umuahia. He has never shown any love to Abians and he is a very stingy man.

Note that Alex was actually shunted out of Diamond Bank so that the son of the owner can come in. The advertized new contract was merely political amansi. He cannot return to Diamond.

8. He abandoned his younger brother with BSC to roam the streets until Ochendo TA Orji gave him a vehicle. Alex stinginess extends even to his extended family members.

9. Alex sends helicopter to Esut to pick up girls to Arochukwu for sex romps regularly. In social circles his Aro home is called "slaughter house of the elites".

10. Alex has health issues and many suspect he is on retroviral drugs. But no confirmation yet. Even during this campaign he has traveled to see his doctors twice.

11. Who exactly is the woman Alex chose at great political risk as deputy? Like Alex she has no public service experience and is from same old Arochukwu/Ohafia LGA with him. The woman is from Ohafia while Alex is from Arochukwu. Is there a relationship between them that the world should know about? We are investigating.

12. Alex is close to our former governor's mother, Eunice Kalu. There was an intial plan to merge PPA and APGA for Alex but he is yet to complete the money she asked for. It is likely they will work together.

NOTE: DO NOT COPY AND PASTE. Develop posts from each item and in every post make sure you highlight Okezie as a better candidate and state what he will do for Aba and Abians. For instance, Okezie has promised to build 3 ring roads at Aba and also do all the roads leading into and within Ariaria market. Okezie also vowed that no existing road at Aba will have potholes within 6 months of his ascension. He promised to make ICT education compulsory from primary to University in Abia and also make Abia the centre of ICT innovation in Africa.

If you meet any question you can't answer, please revert inbox for support. Also make sure that all your posts have Okezie's picture. Don't worry about dissent because it is part of political campaigns. Everyone can't agree. Do not abuse or attack those who disagree but explain courteously. Candidates are seen from the eyes of their supporters and you need to cast Okezie as a gentleman who does not like roforofo fights. Ignore provocations and stay on the message you want to convey.

Let's close this deal before April 11 and remember to also campaign for Jona. You can make it 2 posts a day with one for Okezie another for Jona. If Jona loses we will have issues with bandwagon and Alex will likely declare open support for APC candidate. He is a shifty character who can change origin for political porridge anytime. Jonathan's victory is therefore our victory.

God help us to prevail. Thank you.

Ex-Gov Kalu ‘Mismanaged’ Abia State – NBC Boss

Chairman of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and member of the Board of Nigeria Stock Exchange, NSE, Prof. Herbert Orji, has alleged that the immediate past governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, plunged the state into serious debt at the end of his eight-year tenure.

In a statement made available to journalists in Umuahia, the Abia State capital on Thursday, the NBC boss alleged that Mr. Kalu left behind a staggering N55bn deficit and bank loans, which he said could not be accounted for by the ex-governor’s administration.

Orji explained that when the state’s accounts were audited, “it was discovered that there was high scale mismanagement, which made it difficult for the present administration of Chief T.A. Orji to perform the miracle expected of it”.

He also alleged that Kalu could not account for the N1.8bn given to his government by Pension Office to pay Abians, who worked in federal institutions.

According to Orji, the said sum disappeared without any trace while the affected workers have not been paid till date.

The statement read in part, “The administration before T.A. Orji, I’m sorry to say this, did not quite get Abia right. However, when you are acquiring a company, you take both assets and liabilities- that was what T.A. took.

“There was N55bn unaccounted for when we did the audit, and the previous administration had agreed that every month a certain amount had to be distributed to the 22 banks.

“We tried to review it but the Attorney General of the Federation said we could not change it. Every month, at source, N1.5bn was deducted to pay the banks.

“Also, we found out that N1.8bn given by the Pension Office for Abia workers, who had worked in federal institutions, disappeared. So it became extremely difficult for Governor T.A. Orji to perform the magic”.

The NSE top shot expressed surprise that despite the huge debt profile inherited by the present governor, his administration had delivered a number of key projects in the state.

He noted that despite that, N1.5bn was deducted from the state’s monthly allocation from the federation account to service the 22 banks owed, Gov. Orji was able to complete “32 solid projects”.

He hailed the governor for rehabilitating some federal roads in the state including Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia road and the Umuahia-Uzoakoli-Abaribe road

Iyke Ogbonnaya: The Okezie Ikpeazu I featured with

My sense of time and season can vividly recall with precision that on the 12th Of July 2013, Godson Ahuama, the Legendry Microphone voice and anchor of the celebrated programme: Moving Train, which airs on Broadcasting Corporation Of Abia State (BCA) called for my green light to have me feature on the Friday edition of the date captured above. I ran through my schedules and itinerary for that day and in the absence of any other over lapping engagement, I conveyed my acceptance.

To my pleasant consternation, I harbored no inkling that I was going to be featured with another guest speaker whose pedigree and personality towered like the Iroko and whose oratory prowess dwarfed whatever I was coming to the programme with.

Regardless of the truth that the programme is not a platform for competition and assessment of credentials, I confessed to listeners that I never know Ahuama was going to make the seat hotter by pairing me with an intellectual powerhouse like Dr. Ikpeazu. Little did I know I was locked in an interesting intellectual exercise with the man whom gubernatorial destiny has broadly smiled on.

We shared our pleasantries and quite expectedly Dr. Ikpeazu addressed his questions with admirable ease and proffered practicable answers to issues of environmental importance. In all of that, I saw a man with an irrepressible knack and glittering vision to make a huge difference in the little corner he was detailed to oversee.

Prior to his appointment as the Deputy-General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency for Aba and its environs, mountainous heaps of health threatening refuse constituted an intractable nightmare to the well-intended Government of Chief T.A. Orji.

Scarcely had Dr. Ikpeazu assumed duty at the Aba office of ASEPA, than he quickly deployed his wealth of experience in tackling head long the filth which had almost defaced Aba.

Governor Orji’s hailed preference for Dr. Ikpeazu may have been inspired by the truth that the challenge of continuing with the era of legacies he instituted in the State, is better left in the hands of a man with a relatively not too fantastic aristocratic credentials to avoid basking in the frenzy of expired family name and background and consequently take Abia back to the tunnel of retrogression.

This much Dr. Ikpeazu wisely sympathized with during the People’s Democratic Party Campaign rally for Bende Local Government Area which held at Practicing School Uzuakoli when he reminded Abians that he was chosen from among them because he will be better positioned to feel their pains and heartbeat. In his words: “only those who are close to each other perceive each other’s mouth odour”.

I ruminated over Dr. Ikpeazu’s position above and concluded by extrapolation that the undisputable truth in that submission has illuminated the already identified reality that the most vicious opponent of Peoples Democratic Party in the gubernatorial seat of the State is fielding a candidate who is lost in the deceptive reverie that this is a race that will be decided by name-dropping.

Far from that because the chicken has come home to roost and Abians will not be a hurry to align with those who alienated them during their corporate and individual exploits.

The rank and file of Governor Orji’s chronic critics has variously owned up to the truth that Dr. Ikpeazu is a good choice and that if not encumbered, will leave milestones that will stand the test of time.

My reaction has always been that those who delight in street lies are perpetually doomed to talk from the sinking sand of ignorance.

If Governor T.A. Orji had accepted to be encumbered, he would not have succeeded in assuming the pathfinder of Modern Abia.

The certainty therefore is that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu will shepherd Abia from a liberated platform bequeathed by Ochendo and whose wealth of experience will be deployed at the Senatorial Chambers of National Assembly for attraction of the much needed Federal presence in the State.

A retrospective necessity, will at this point make we recall Dr. Ikpeazu’s outstanding template during our discussion on BCA on how he was going to intervene at the Water-side end of Ogbor-hill Aba during his eventful days at ASEPA.

He had it well figured out: relocation of the slaughter house, cleaning and beautification of the Water-side river banks up to the abandoned Enyimba Hotel and its environs, with lush green trees and grasses for the people of Aba to site out and consummate the gift of nature. In my mind’s eye, I see all that and more coming to fruition if he becomes the Governor of the State.

What with his towering expertise in Biochemical pharmacology intelligently studied up to doctorate degree level?

His effervescent thirst to expand and institute more academic milestones had seen him scholarly feature in many citadels of knowledge.

Again I will like to recall that during one of the strategic meeting at Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, which I attended, it was Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu’s recipe that was unanimously adopted as a guideline for checking the operations of revenue agents in the State.

Dr. Ikpeazu is a strategic thinker whose all embracing and team-playing model of development will be roundly endorsed by all Strata of development partners the State.

As I temporarily conclude this piece, I believe the Ikepeazu I featured with during a BCA Discussion Programme, will feature me in several other programes in his incoming divine mandate.

Disqualification: Court orders service of documents on Buhari, INEC

The Abia State Digital Library, commissioned on Friday the 23rd 2015, by His Excellency, Governor T.A Orji, (Ochendo) in company of the incoming Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and HE Peter Obi is a landmark project that will serve as a gateway to usher Abia state into an era of digital excellence.

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The Library boasts of an STM1 capacity High Speed Internet delivered via optic fiber cable network and backed up using microwave link to ensure an ‘always available’ status. The service which is distributed internally using a WIFI system has enough capacity and coverage to serve residents and institutions within a 5km radius.

The Library has 24 hours electricity supply with 2 standby generators and online inverters system capable of powering the entire library complex for over 9 hours.

It boast of an always available digital Library server with over 30 million digital resources available to all users over an intranet. The resources can be updated online or locally using available catalogues and links to international library resources via the internet link. Users can also access other internet resources.

The library facility can comfortably seat 100 users simultaneously, each provided with a PC, access to all digital resources and the internet. Entry is free after issuance of a direct data capture (DDC) library card that allows holders access to all available resources within a comfortable and fully air-conditioned environment. Digital printers and copiers are part of the library facilities as well as capacity for video conferencing to enable communication with experts across the globe. It also has well equipped conference facilities and resources to host international examinations like TOEFL, GRE etc.

All physical library materials are protected using RFID technology and IP based CCTV system.

An emergency call centre is housed within the library complex equipped with IP phones, 20 seats call takers operating on 8 hours rotation cycle with short digit call in number as well as proprietary call management software. This call centre serves as a contact point to all citizens of Abia in case of any emergency (Health, Road, Fire etc.) as well as enquiries.

Located within the Library complex also are fully equipped conference and training rooms, key of which is the IDEA ROOM which is a hall dedicated to the incubation, grooming and growth of ideas (business and technological) and training of young technology enthusiasts. The systems in this room are the most current and best technology available globally.

The library, equipped with state of the art technology, is poised to provide direct employment opportunities to Abians while grooming the next generation of Technology experts as we aim to catch them young. Special consideration has been given to children under 12 years as a section of the Library is specifically tailored for use by that age group.

The digital resources at the Library can be extended to higher institutions in Abia State like Abiapoly and ABSU using a wireless link to the schools. That will enable the schools upload all thesis and research work copied into digital recording systems to the Library for global review and availability.

As a project, the library is a launching pad for many great minds and innovation in Abia. The foundation for the emergence of Africa’s “silicon valley” has been laid by the LEGACY Governor. His Excellency, Governor T.A Orji by embarking on this project has taken it upon himself to launch Abia into a digital era at ultra-sound speed.

The Infrastructural Upliftment Of Aba.



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 AbaRiver that meanders to join the Blue River at Azuminiprovided 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, Abawas 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, Abahas 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 Abamay 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 equityin 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 heals 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 traditional, 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 Abafalls squarely on ‘the son of the soil’.

From this angle of reasoning, which is synonymouswith 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 beyondnegotiation. 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 Ikpeazuon 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 28thFebruary, 2015 will be a golden opportunity for Abaresidents 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.

Abians in the UK, Ireland and Europe have endorse Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D as the next Governor of Abia State after an extensive review of all the candidates jostling for Abia Governorship position in the forthcoming 2015 elections.

The group led by Mr Uche , pledged their total support for Okezie Ikpeazu governorship ambition. According to the group, having read and studied the development blue prints and policies of Okezie Ikpeazu, considering his past antecedents, exceptional humility and demonstrated commitment to the further growth and development of Abia State, the group considered it "very imperative to endorse the Abia State PDP governorship aspirant for the coveted seat".

As a further show of support, the group donated some campaign materials
to Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D. Responding to the group, Dr Ikpeazu applauded and appreciated the association's gesture while reaffirming that his administration shall include Abians in the Diaspora. He said that
"Continuity drives development. You cannot abandon the already built infrastructures for new ones, our administration shall improved on already developed infrastructures by Governor T.A Orji".

The Abia PDP Governorship candidate, Okezie Ikpeazu informed the delegation of his plan to develop a Diasporan village in Umuahia. He urged the group to continue to represent the state well by living lives worthy of emulation. Dr Ikpeazu also informed his visitors that his administration is committed to urgently ensuring that Aba becomes the "Japan of Africa" through the development of necessary infrastructure that will support the people to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit and export leather products and textiles to other African countries. He promised to provide the enabling resources that will help Aba tailors and designers to compete favorably with international labels

Nigeria: Ufomba Insists Otti Not Abia Guber Candidate

The last may not have been heard of the controversy surrounding the emergence of Alex Otti as the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State even as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published his name as the party's governorship candidate.

When many thought that the dust raised by his emergence had settled, his rival, Chief Reagan Ufomba, who emerged as the factional candidate, said Otti is not a member of APGA.

Ufomba said he has the party structure including the state, local government and ward executives of the party, which he said he has maintained for five years.

He declared at his country home weekend during the inauguration of his campaign organisation, that he has not stepped down for anyone, stressing that he is the rightful candidate of the party in the state.

INEC, he further noted, should be concerned with the general elections and not the primary election of parties, saying it is the party that decides who its members and candidates are as provided in the constitution.

"If you are not a member of a political party you cannot contest an election. Alex Otti joined the party in Abuja, paid and collected a receipt which he converted to a party card; the card they claim to have purchased is as fake as their misadventure.

"He came to me and requested that we work together to defeat PDP with me as governor, maybe he misunderstood me. Now they are saying I allowed them to go, but I said let's run a united APGA that can win election in Abia State," he said

Otti’s APGA candidacy a ruse, says Ufomba

THE display of the name of Dr Alex Otti by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) as the Abia State All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA) governorship candidate in the February election has been described as a ruse and temporary.

This is because Otti’s rival in the contest for the party ticket Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba who has been the leader and financier of the party in the state and had contested the state guber elections twice on APGA platform, at the weekend disowned Otti as a member of APGA.

Addressing a large number of party members from the 17 local councils and 184 wards in the state in his Umuogele country home in Isiala Ngwa yesterday , Ufomba recalled that he emerged from the duly convened party primaries overseen by the Acting National Chairman of APGA Chief Chris Ejike Uche who held office when the court sacked Chief Victor Umeh as the National Chairman.

He told his party members that he has not withdrawn from the guber contest but rather, that will flag off his campaign on Wednesday January 20, adding:

“ INEC does not decide candidates for political parties. The courts will soon determine the pending suits on the matter and when this is done, INEC will quickly comply.

In all these past years that I led APGA in Abia state, we never saw any member whose name was Alex Otti.”

High point of the meeting was the introduction of three APGA candidates in the February election : Hon Nze Esiaga, a former member of House of Representatives who is bidding for Abia Central senate seat, Mr Obinna Mgbeahuruike for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi seat in the House of Representatives and his counterpart for Isiala Ngwa North and South , Mr Nwaokike Stanley

Explosive!!! Former chairman of PPA Larry Essien has warned PDP not to allow Orji uzor kalu to return to the party. Essien in an exclusive interview said that the former Abia gov has lost relevance hence he is doing everything to rehabilitate himself politically. If kalu is allowed to return to abia PDP, being a virus he will kill the party he said. Speaking further , larry who lamented how kalu chased him(Essien) and other PPA chieftains away from what he called the family party , applauded Abians for rejecting pleas by Mauzu for kalus re integration into PDP, and urged them to remain resolute on the issue. Kalu is finished , he should build PPA, why running away from his shadows Essien queried.

News Alert!! OUK aide, Oyekunle blasts Uzor Kalu over PPA senatorial ambition.

Personal Assistant to former Governor of Abia State Orji Uzor Kalu, Mr Oyekunle has denied being the one that bought forms for OUK to pursue his Abia North Senatorial ambition on PPA platform. Shortly after INEC listed OUK as one of the candidates for Abia North senatorial zone with WASCE , kalu promptly told Nigerians that he was not running, claiming that it was his PA that filled his nomination without his clearance. However in an intervew with his PA, Mr Oyekunle, he made it clear that kalu was lying. Kunle said " how can he denied what he did, was I the one that signed his signature, how did I know that he only has WASCE, when he keep telling us he is a graduate. Kunle as the PA is fondly called said that he doesn't mind losing his job. Kalu should be a man for once, he is afraid to lose, I will not keep quiet on this issue kunle told our reporter.

Traditional Rulers in Abia State Endorse President Jonathan For Re-election

No fewer than 250 traditional rulers have endorsed the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming presidential election in February.

The traditional rulers expressed their support and commitment during a meeting with the President in Umuahia on Friday.

The Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Eberechi Dick, said that having considered the accomplishments of President Jonathan, the council would give him its unalloyed support.

''In 2011, we gave 75 per cent of the votes. In the coming elections, we want you to be rest assured that we will give you 100 per cent of the votes", Dick said.

He said every member of the council was interested in supporting candidates that would bring increased development and peace.

Dick said that the traditional rulers were hopeful that ''the FG will rewards Abia with more dividends of democracy.

Jonathan told them that he was willing to work with the traditional rulers to take development to the grassroots.

''We are willing to come up with policies that will boost commerce and industry in Abia. We are aiming for increased entrepreneurial activities in the state as well as the nation at large.

''We also hope that you will encourage your subjects to show their support to the continuity of the Jonathan-led administration.’’

2015: Jonathan promises increased women and youth participation in governance


President Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday, declared that his administration, if returned to office, would ensure that more women and youths participate in key organs of government, saying that the future of the country was in the hands of Nigerian youths.

He said women, the world over, had demonstrated their commitment to ensuring successful and responsive administrations, of which his government was a beneficiary.

President Jonathan, who stated this in Umuahia, the Abia State capital while on a nationwide campaign rally for his re-election, noted that despite the challenges his administration faced in the last four years, it hadbeen able to put things on the ground to move the nation forward.

He said no government could give the people all they needed, adding, however, that he would strive hard to lay a solid foundation that would provide platforms for development.

On the YOU-WIN programme, President Jonathan assured youths of the country that if re-elected, his government would be geared towards consolidating the gains of the programme through innovations that would further help to improve the economy.

He, however, urged the people of the state to be focused, and vote for him and other PDP members in the state, assuring that his administration would not disappoint Ndigbo if given the mandate.

Jonathan also said his transformation agenda had engendered rapid development in the South-East, and that he would ensure the completion of all Federal Government projects such as Second Niger Bridge, dredging of the River Niger and the reconstruction of Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt expressway and Aba Commercial nerve centre and NNPC Ossisioma depot, among other numerous projects.

Earlier in his speech at the really, Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, had told President Jonathan not to campaign in Abia because the state belonged to him and the PDP alone.

Orji said the president ought not to have come to Abia for campaign, though he described the visit as a courtesy call and a way to visit his in-laws in Abia, whom he said they were well pleased with their granddaughter, “Dame Patience.”

The governor said with “Mama Peace being our granddaughter, President Jonathan should go to bed and sleep as the entire bloc vote in the state is for him alone.”

He added: “The state and its people are ready to return you to Aso Rock. We did it before in the 2011 general election and we are doing it again for February 2015 election with over 100 percent.”

Other notable part stalwarts also spoke at the rally, which had in attendance the wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan, National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Adamu Muazu; Director General, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation; Senator Ahmadu Ali, PDP National Vice Chairman and South East Coordinator, Presidential Campaign Colonel Austin Akobundu. and the former senate president Senator Adolphus Nwagbara. Others include Coordinating Minister/Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iwuala, former PDP National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor and others.

Olusegun Adeniyi misfires on Abia

By Madubuko Hart

No one fights a war that was supposed to be engaged at the warfront from afar. However, a scholarly journalist with the THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi was seemingly fighting such a war from afar, as he succinctly expressed in his article in the THISDAY edition of January 15, 2015, titled, “2015 Elections: A Time to Choose” in which he misdirected some issues as were affecting Abia State.

Much as he was entitled to his opinion, I stand to disagree with him on most issues he raised in that article about the government of Governor Theodore Orji and Abia State under his stewardship. It was true that the governor vehemently opposed to power not going to the Ukwa/Ngwa area of the state.

But what the governor did not do was to anoint any candidate no matter the hoards of interested politicians that wanted him to present them as his anointed. The governor refused to meddle into the affairs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, so for Adeniyi to paint a picture that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu was the governor’s anointed, did not hold any water.

Let me draw the attention of Adeniyi to the position of Governor Orji’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, before the primaries of the PDP took place on Monday, December 8 2014, as was published in many newspapers across the country.

The Guardian of Thursday, 27 November 2014, reported Ajunwa thus: "Governor T.A Orji did not anoint or impose any candidate. He strongly believes that PDP governorship candidate will emerge from credibly conducted primaries in line with the party’s resolved position that Abia South senatorial zone should be allowed to produce the next governor in the spirit of fairness and equity.”

Sometime in July 2014, quoting the governor, Ajunwa said, “I have always made it clear to all Abians that it is not in my powers to anoint my successor as that negates the principles of true democracy which I have serious srespect for. For the benefit of doubt, the election of my successor will follow due process, equity and fairness according to the constitution of my party.

“I wish to state for the umpteenth time that I have no anointed candidate for the 2015 governorship election in Abia State, nor do I intend to have. Any one parading himself as my anointed candidate is living in the past because already I have fought gallantly to decimate godfatherism and ‘mamacracy’ from Abia political landscape, and never again will it be resurrected.”

While that lasts, for Adeniyi to rank Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) with the PDP and Ikpeazu is a campaign gone too far. Let me make it clear that Otti, through reliable sources in his purported party, is not a member of the APGA and not a politician, even though that we may agree that he is adjudged a good administrator when he was at the Diamond Bank.

But the banking sector is an infinitesimal aspect of a broad spectrum like a state, of which Ikpeazu has been associated with for a long time as a government appointee, making him to standout in the midst of those contestants in the state that Adeniyi mentioned in his treatise like Chief Chinenye Nyerere Anyim of the APC, Chief Chikwe Udensi of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).

We, who are from Abia State, know that outside Ikpeazu, others who have shown interest in the governorship election are political pretenders, who do not know the tenets obtainable in politics and good governance; they are such politicians who would resort to litigation after an election in a bid to distract the winner in a political contest.

Otti whom Adeniyi has extolled beyond the fairness and balancing of report as is obtainable in journalism, knows that he is dead politically just on arrival; he knows that he cannot win election in the state, because he lacks the political sagacity and dexterity. Adeniyi even admitted in his article thus: “…Otti lacks in political structure...”

It was an oversight of Adeniyi after saying that “Otti lacks in political structure”, he later said, “he has in abundant goodwill across the state”. The truth is that the hood does not make the monk. It is an erroneous view of any observer to quantify the noise that Otti is making in the media called campaign as being that “he has in abundant goodwill across the state”.

No. Otti does not have such a statue in Abia State. He is even fighting a pedigree battle which Adeniyi did not hide the truth in the following lines: “However, Otti who has his roots in Arochukwu in Abia North zone has found a way around that by adopting Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South local government where he was born and raised”.

In that highlight, there is no prominent person in Abia State who is angry or against the government of Governor Orji. Those whom Adeniyi perhaps mistook as “prominent Abia people, who feel sad about political developments in their state” are opposition politicians and their agents. These people are those who have been painting the governor black upon his numerous achievements that the likes Adeniyi hold on their dis-information as the true story in Abia State.

The opposition politicians make people to believe that they would bring about change in the state and that the governor is not working, when they are really like Alvin Toffler's statement thus: “The secret message communicated to most young people today by the society around them is that they are not needed, that the society will run itself quite nicely until they - at some distant point in the future - will take over the reigns..."

Let me end this rejoinder by saying that there is no electioneering promise of Governor Theodore Orji that he has not fulfilled; hence whatever anyone is saying against this is just “manufactured realities”; like Ben Okri would say: “The worst realities of our age are manufactured realities. It is therefore our task, as creative participants in the universe, to dream our world. The fact of possessing imagination means that everything can be dreamed. Each reality can have it.”

.Hart writes from Lagos
Photo: Olusegun Adeniyi misfires on Abia By Madubuko Hart No one fights a war that was supposed to be engaged at the warfront from afar. However, a scholarly journalist with the THISDAY Newspapers, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi was seemingly fighting such a war from afar, as he succinctly expressed in his article in the THISDAY edition of January 15, 2015, titled, “2015 Elections: A Time to Choose” in which he misdirected some issues as were affecting Abia State. Much as he was entitled to his opinion, I stand to disagree with him on most issues he raised in that article about the government of Governor Theodore Orji and Abia State under his stewardship. It was true that the governor vehemently opposed to power not going to the Ukwa/Ngwa area of the state. But what the governor did not do was to anoint any candidate no matter the hoards of interested politicians that wanted him to present them as his anointed. The governor refused to meddle into the affairs of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, so for Adeniyi to paint a picture that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu was the governor’s anointed, did not hold any water. Let me draw the attention of Adeniyi to the position of Governor Orji’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, before the primaries of the PDP took place on Monday, December 8 2014, as was published in many newspapers across the country. The Guardian of Thursday, 27 November 2014, reported Ajunwa thus: "Governor T.A Orji did not anoint or impose any candidate. He strongly believes that PDP governorship candidate will emerge from credibly conducted primaries in line with the party’s resolved position that Abia South senatorial zone should be allowed to produce the next governor in the spirit of fairness and equity.” Sometime in July 2014, quoting the governor, Ajunwa said, “I have always made it clear to all Abians that it is not in my powers to anoint my successor as that negates the principles of true democracy which I have serious srespect for. For the benefit of doubt, the election of my successor will follow due process, equity and fairness according to the constitution of my party. “I wish to state for the umpteenth time that I have no anointed candidate for the 2015 governorship election in Abia State, nor do I intend to have. Any one parading himself as my anointed candidate is living in the past because already I have fought gallantly to decimate godfatherism and ‘mamacracy’ from Abia political landscape, and never again will it be resurrected.” While that lasts, for Adeniyi to rank Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) with the PDP and Ikpeazu is a campaign gone too far. Let me make it clear that Otti, through reliable sources in his purported party, is not a member of the APGA and not a politician, even though that we may agree that he is adjudged a good administrator when he was at the Diamond Bank. But the banking sector is an infinitesimal aspect of a broad spectrum like a state, of which Ikpeazu has been associated with for a long time as a government appointee, making him to standout in the midst of those contestants in the state that Adeniyi mentioned in his treatise like Chief Chinenye Nyerere Anyim of the APC, Chief Chikwe Udensi of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA). We, who are from Abia State, know that outside Ikpeazu, others who have shown interest in the governorship election are political pretenders, who do not know the tenets obtainable in politics and good governance; they are such politicians who would resort to litigation after an election in a bid to distract the winner in a political contest. Otti whom Adeniyi has extolled beyond the fairness and balancing of report as is obtainable in journalism, knows that he is dead politically just on arrival; he knows that he cannot win election in the state, because he lacks the political sagacity and dexterity. Adeniyi even admitted in his article thus: “…Otti lacks in political structure...” It was an oversight of Adeniyi after saying that “Otti lacks in political structure”, he later said, “he has in abundant goodwill across the state”. The truth is that the hood does not make the monk. It is an erroneous view of any observer to quantify the noise that Otti is making in the media called campaign as being that “he has in abundant goodwill across the state”. No. Otti does not have such a statue in Abia State. He is even fighting a pedigree battle which Adeniyi did not hide the truth in the following lines: “However, Otti who has his roots in Arochukwu in Abia North zone has found a way around that by adopting Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South local government where he was born and raised”. In that highlight, there is no prominent person in Abia State who is angry or against the government of Governor Orji. Those whom Adeniyi perhaps mistook as “prominent Abia people, who feel sad about political developments in their state” are opposition politicians and their agents. These people are those who have been painting the governor black upon his numerous achievements that the likes Adeniyi hold on their dis-information as the true story in Abia State. The opposition politicians make people to believe that they would bring about change in the state and that the governor is not working, when they are really like Alvin Toffler's statement thus: “The secret message communicated to most young people today by the society around them is that they are not needed, that the society will run itself quite nicely until they - at some distant point in the future - will take over the reigns..." Let me end this rejoinder by saying that there is no electioneering promise of Governor Theodore Orji that he has not fulfilled; hence whatever anyone is saying against this is just “manufactured realities”; like Ben Okri would say: “The worst realities of our age are manufactured realities. It is therefore our task, as creative participants in the universe, to dream our world. The fact of possessing imagination means that everything can be dreamed. Each reality can have it.” .Hart writes from Lagos

Ex-Abia Governor, Orji Kalu, exits PDP again; quietly returns to PPA



A former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, has again exited the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and has quietly returned to Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA, which he founded as he left office in 2007.

Mr. Kalu re-joined the PPA which he dumped, earlier, in a bid to contest for the Abia North Senatorial seat, which he lost in 2011.

Mr. Kalu first left the PDP to found PPA in 2006, using the platform to contest the 2007 presidential election.

He later served as chairman of party’s Board of Trustee, before making a controversial return to PDP in 2013.

Although he has yet to publicly announce his second exit from the PDP, the former governor is listed as a PPA senatorial candidate in the official list for February 14 election published by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Tuesday.

The publication shows Mr. Kalu submitted secondary school leaving certificate, WASSCE, which is the minimum academic requirement for elections in Nigeria, as his academic qualification to INEC.

On March 2, 2013, Abia State University, Aturu, had withdrawn the degree certificate earlier awarded to Mr. Kalu while he was the Visitor to the institution.

The school said at the time the former governor had breached its regulations.

The embarrassing episode was at the peak of a long drawn standoff between him and his successor, Theodore Orji, whom he had helped to win the state governorship election in 2007.

In 2013, Mr. Kalu announced a return to the PDP after he was accused of corruption while serving a governor.

The former governor could barely settle in the ruling party over his relations with Mr. Orji.

Recently, he accused Mr. Orji of handpicking and imposing all PDP candidates for various elective positions in the 2015 elections.

Governor of Abia State and the Coordinator, South-East zone of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Orgainasation, Theodore Orji, has said that President Goodluck Jonathan will have landslide victory in the zone come February 14 presidential election.

Orji made the declaration while fielding questions from journalists after an emergency meeting of South-East PDP 2015 Campaign Organisation held at the banquet hall of Abia Government House, Umuahia.

The governor said Jonathan had done so much for the South-East in particular and Nigeria in whole that he deserved a second term, assuring that the zone will vote for him overwhelmingly.

On some discordant tones among the zone over Jonathan’s fortunes at the poll, Orji said “individuals are entitled to their opinions because we are operating a democracy but the truth remains that South-East is the main support base of Jonathan, and we will deliver him again.”

He said the meeting, which was attended by all state coordinators of PDP’s presidential campaign team in the five states in the zone, was to strategise on how to deliver the zone for PDP at the forthcoming elections.

Orji expressed confidence that with the decisions taken at the meeting, PDP would win overwhelmingly in the zone at all levels of the election.

He however, expressed worry over the reluctance of some eligible voters in the zone in collecting their permanent voter cards, noting that state governments in the zone are stepping up efforts to sensitise the people on the need to collect the document.

The meeting was attended by Gov. Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State; a representative of his Enugu State counterpart, Sullivan Chime; Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwulili ; and National Vice Chairman of PDP, South East, Col. Austin Akobundu , among others.

BOMBSHELL: ABIA MONARCH DISOWNED FOR GIVING BUHARI CHIEFTAINCY TITLE



The Abia State Traditional Rulers Council has disowned the traditional ruler of Eziama Aba, Eze Isaac Ikonne of Aba North, for installing the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari as the Ogbuagu1 of Aba kingdom, saying he has no powers to do so, reports thenews.

Reacting to Ikonne’s action in a press briefing in Umuahia, the Chairman, Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Eberechi Dick, said the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers is happy with Governor Theodore Orji and President Goodluck Jonathan for their people-oriented governments and condemned Ikonne for his “unwarranted attack on the Abia State government and the federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He hinted that the council is aware that Ikonne was monetized, to do what he did and shall investigate it and take appropriate actions.

Dr. Agbazuere said it was wrong for Eze Ikonne to continue to attack the government he is part of and implored him to resign if he wants to join politics.

I thought they said Abians are supporting APC?? Buhari, how market?