₦airaland Forum

Everything shown here is for real,there is no scam involved in it....we all-the good people of Abia state appreciate the good work of the governor...carry on ,amiable governor,we love you and the good work you are doing

Abia Government promises to address oustanding Labour demands

ABIA state Government has assured the organized labour that it would address all outstanding demands of Labour in the state.

Addressing the May Day rally held yesterday at the Umuahia Township Stadium, Governor Orji commended the Labour body in the state for their mature handling regarding their disagreement with the government.

According to the Governor, the cordial working relationship existing between the state government and the labour body was because they usually adopt constructive dialogue with the government in their demands, instead of taking to the streets.

Governor Orji noted that if they had adopted combatants attitude towards achieving their demands, it would have brought unnecessary tension in the state which would have also frustrated the progress so far, achieved by the government.

Represented by his deputy, Chief Emeka Ananaba, Orji said that Labour in the state had come a long way in demonstrating maturity and productivity.

He said that they have proved to be dependable allies as they have resolved all misunderstandings amicably with the government, assuring that the arrears of Teachers Salary Structure [TSS] and allowances would be cleared in due course.

The Governor told the gathering that government had mounted sustained efforts to reduce unemployment, by creating more jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the state.

According to him, it was his effort to achieve this, that he established the Ochendo Youth Empowerment programme aimed at providing employment to Abia youth.

Speaking at the ceremony, the state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC, Comrade Silvanus Eyeh lauded the government for paying Teachers salary up to March.

Eya said: “We want to appreciate the achievements in our education sector more especially the payment of Teachers salaries to March 2013″

He however tasked the government to intensify efforts to clear the arrears of the TSS, as well as that of the minimum wage in the secondary schools.

According to him, doing that would help to reduce the burden of some of the workers in the state.

Eyah also called on the government to look into some of the problems confronting Health workers in the state’s hospitals management board, Ministry of Health, Abia State University Teaching Hospital and the Health Workers in the Local Government who were yet to be paid CONHESS and CONMESS.

check this out :http://abiaphotonews..com/2013/05/update-on-abia-state-road-contruction.html?spref=fb

some months ago, the governor flagged off the construction of 16 new roads in the city. This is a fulfillment of his promise to launch a massive infrastructural renewal of the city immediately after the rain. The governor recognizes the crucial place of Aba in the economy of the state. He recognizes the rare creative talent which germinates in Aba. He recognizes that no exploration on the history of the great entrepreneurs of the world can be complete without the mention of the giant minds of Aba. And true to his promise, he has re-entered Aba with a Midas touch and his dream is to leave a legacy.

THE ABIA YOUTH ON GOV.T.A.’s MIND.

The Abia youth Empowerment Summit slated for Wednesday 24th, April 2013, came with a bang. It unfolded as structured and every item on the programme hit the ground running. As expected and witnessed, the buildup on the print and electronic media was spectacular. Broadcasting Corporation of Abia had it on radio and TV every five minutes. The FRCN got more than their fair share and newspapers were awash, heralding the date of the event and the awesome profile and capacity of the guest speaker.

For so many it was a promise kept as the Michael Okpara Auditorium was festive and festooned with ribbons of national hue. In short, the venue was dressed like a bride for a prince and there was an intercourse of ideas. Abians imbibed to the brim.

Chief T.A. Orji, long aware of the precarious and vulnerable position of the youths has done so much to address their imbalance. It may not need any stressing that the youth are in larger numbers in all activities. They are energetic though inexperienced, experimental to the extent that any action is better than no action. The odious in society recruit hands from the youth, even the church need the youth more than politicians in the largest numbers to chant and cheer.

Some negative politicians dispatch youths to hoot their opponents to submission, others do not feel guilty handing them cudgels, knives at times, guns to work as body guards, foot soldiers and plain thugs. Those who plan to rig elections, especially in thumb printing woo the youths. The able Governor of Abia, having been an active youth, passing through schools and serving the nation in the NYSC in Sokoto State, can double as a consultant on youth affairs as he has constantly observed youths in all stages of their lives, commenting, condemning or correcting as the case demanded.

Accordingly, he has not relented since in office from his days as Chief of Staff when he was honoured and adopted a patron saint of the youths.

In many of his encounters with the teeming youths, he has always promised and worked hard to meet them at their point of needs. Little wonder youth empowerment has dominated his family outreach. The free education from primary to secondary level and the free transport from home to school and back in Umuahia and Aba cities were cheery news when it was enacted in 2007. The monthly payment to some carefully selected youths from all the electoral wards in Abia was unheard of and put genuine smiles on many faces.


Creation of employment opportunities has been a continuous exercise in many sectors notably, the rejigging of Abia Rubber Company in Abam involving collaboration with an international firm, the resuscitation of all Oil Palm Estates in Abia starting with Ohambele and Mbawsi Oil mills are all targeted at accommodating the youth who form the largest employable block in Abia.

The life improving Ochendo Liberation Farms in all the L.G.As is an orchestrated scheme aimed at bequeathing survival skills, allowing the youth a chance to moderate their destiny and becoming producers rather than consumers. It would be recalled that the Amnesty programme extended by the federal Government to the militants in Niger Delta areas eluded Abia at the initial time, but Chief T.A. Orji skillfully negotiated Abia militants to benefit for which a camp was established in Abia South and today, those who willingly embraced the amnesty are reformed and reintegrated into society.

Investors have been encouraged and given incentives to invest as to employ our teeming youths. Last week, Wednesday April 17th, the ground breaking ceremony marking the take off of Shoprite, a South African Superstore chain is a grand design to increase the employment window for youths in Abia. The Abia Government allocated a vast land in Uwalaka Road, combining the Old Garki and Asubeb land space to accommodate the behemoth stores. There are others too numerous to mention.

According to an Igbo proverb, ‘the small goat watches the mother’s mouth as it chews the curd.’ It is on record that immediately after the elections Engr. Chinedu Orji popularly called Ikuku inaugurated the Ochendo youth foundation. It is timely as he propped up the youth and involved them into so many activities. Henceforth youths gathered in Osisioma, Ohafia and were bequeathed with life-serving tools and gadgets like tricycles, barbing and hair salon equipments ranging from clippers, dryers, generating sets, computers all in the North and South senatorial zones.

Her Excellency, Lady Mercy Orji has not been left out. Her pet project Hannah May has particularly borne the cross for the female youth. Skill acquisition tools like sewing machines, hairdressing dryers, manicure and pedicure kits have been given out. Prostheses, for amputee youths, wheel chairs and crutches have been handed to the needy. Right now the skill acquisition centre opposite the Nnamdi Azikiwe Secretariat in Umuahia is busy training youthful females in varying skills, Viz computer appreciation, fashion designing, interior decoration and other skills. This is concurrently going on in other centres in Aba and Arochukwu with monthly stipend paid.

On the buildup to the democracy day in 2012, May 28 precisely, in the spacious, Aguiyi Ironsi cenotaph with most of the youths on the terraces, enabled by giant T.V sets for viewers on all corners with funfair as youthful musicians and Nollywood stars participated, the Governor gave out tools, equipment and tricycles upon which he promised that the next edition would be resounding and amazing to all.

Knowing T.A. as a man of action not given to too many promises, the question on many lips were, what date? Wednesday April 24th 2013 provided the answer.

The three phased programme took off with the awesome lecture. For a start, the no-nonsense Governor who keeps all the money, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the key speaker, was on hand at the Okpara Auditorium and delivered his thought provoking speech which should be adopted nationwide as a template for youth empowerment and panacea for restiveness.

According to Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the youth constitute 18% of the world population but African countries under invest on the youth at great consequences such as breeding an unproductive segment who live under the poverty line of two dollars a day. Not only that, they find themselves highly unsecured in jobs, marital affairs, financial statuses and therefore psychologically marginalized. To add insult to injury, this unhappy, ill-equipped segment will metamorphose into parents, guardians and leaders. In an apt reference to Hopenhyan, an established authority, the plight of the unhappy youth and victims may exacerbate intergenerational conflicts when young people perceive a lack of opportunity and meritocracy in a system that favours adults who have less formal education and training but, more wealth, power and job stability. Could this be a reenactment of Karl Maxi’s class struggle? From studies available, the rise in unemployment triggers off an increase in the crime rates and other vices as prevalent in the growth of armed robbery in the Southwest, cross border banditry and terrorism in the North, while in the South-South and South East, kidnapping and youth restiveness and other violent acts preside like a colossus.

He reeled out some government based initiatives past and present, which include the NDE, the 100 Billion Textile Revival Funds, Smedan, PW/WYE-Public Works and Women/Youth Empowerment Scheme. The EDC,-Enterprise Dev Centre, the You Win Project, Niger Delta Amnesty Training Project, and some real but unheard-of projects in the CBN like Initiatives Towards Promoting Youth Empowerment- NIRSAl-Nigerian Incentive-based risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and many others. Do you know that Airlines Services would have collapsed and jobs lost? Check out the PAIf-Power and Aviation Intervention Fund.

As solutions, he recommended massive job creation, great emphases on technical and vocational Education, provision of social safety nets like the Social Security Act of USA which came into reckoning since 1935, huge investment in agriculture, developing the rural areas to check urban migration, and a change of mentality which prefers white collar jobs as the only source of survival. He greatly advocated that the exuberant nature of the youths should be channeled to production, patronizing the many windows opened by the CBN.

Before the ovation died down after the lecture, it was a massive movement to the Umuahia Township Stadium, even the looming rain was not enough to deter the large numbers. Carefully parked and arranged were cars, buses and painted taxis of all types. If not for the yellow colour branding of the buses and taxis, any undiscerning would have taken the arena to be the Apapa Wharf and the assembly ground of Toyota put together. Those who tried to count the numbers could not complete the exercise due to parallaxes as their gazes were dazed.

In all, the Abia Governor staked 200 vehicles as handouts, seven hundred tricycles and one hundred Laptops.

The question in many minds were: ‘how does the government manage to do all these with ongoing massive constructions in roads and buildings in-spite of the paltry funds?’

His Excellency may have taken seriously the admonition of his namesake, the former American president, Theodore Roosevelt who said “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

If I have the temerity to venture an opinion, the Abia government should as a matter of strict urgency set up a committee to study critically the financial windows opened by the Central Bank many of which are unknown to Abia Youths.

On the other hand, the Abia government ably led by sir T A Orji has not fared badly judging by the recommendations of the CBN oracle. With hindsight and a few examples already mentioned, the agricultural reforms ranging from the rejuvenation of all the Eastern Nigeria farms located in Abia and the Ochendo liberation farms in the 17 LGAs are instructive.

There are various skill acquisition centres private and public. The 4500 selected group from all wards on monthly stipends gulping 65 million naira monthly is akin to the Social Security of USA. Likewise, the numerous equipments already given out. The amnesty scheme where Abia was left out but deftly negotiated by the governor speaks volumes. The bursary and scholarships restituted and the free education in primary and secondary are effected to lure the youth to school and for the parents, any who gets the youth off drugs and crime may have done quite a lot.

Seeing some of the legacy projects of the present administration gives me a lot of joy , this shows how fruitful and progressive the administration has been. I make bold to say the T.A's administration has procreated a lot of interest that are appreciable to a greater extent....all I pray for is for a chain of developmental trend to surmount the already achieved ones and creates a phenomenal governance that will keep benefiting the citizenry and for the interest of all in all

am happy about this ,you what people do is try to undermine and discredit the state government by posting fake pictures of hell and debris and to cast aspersion that will engender a very laughable tenure of governance ,but the truth must always stand.....T.A is working so no mocker shall succeed ....

UMUAHIA-THE 132 KVA power station in
Ohiya, Umuahia, expected to boost electricity
supply in the Abia State ...

The problem with haters is they are too hatefully blinded that they could not sense there has been a drastic improvement in the way of transformation in Abia state.....The governor of Abia state has taken his level of performance to the next level ,as am talking to you, he has made it a must-thing to actualize all his vision ,which is to give Abia state a facelift,in every area deemed necessary....so i feel sorry for people who -out of sentiment decides to take a side of the opposition and discredit the governor....i am of the opinion that they should desist from that act....

Orji Commissions Road To Fast Track Power Project

The Abia State Government on Wednesday commissioned a 1.4km Geometric access road at Osisioma Local Government Area in a bid to fast track a power project aimed at providing uninterrupted power supply for the people.

In his address, the state governor, Theodore Orji disclosed that the Geometric access road at Osisioma LGA was rehabilitated to ensure that the contractors working at the Geometric/NIPP power station have accessible road to fast track the completion of the project which would hitherto gave residents of Aba and its surrounding environs an uninterrupted electricity supply.

He stated that the importance of a secured environment cannot be over emphasized as it has led to infrastructural development as well as an enhanced economy.

Orji also commissioned 10 roads in Aba, the commercial hub of the state as well as Brass junction road which citizens said was impassable.

The Governor charged the residents to ensure that government efforts are not wasted by being law abiding citizens, adding that the administration would continue to deliver dividends of democracy and is ready to transform the state through its numerous legacy projects. sourhttp://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/04/18/orji-commissions-road-to-fast-track-power-project/ce :

Abia Police Commissioner Welcomes Collaboration with Vigilante Groups to Fight Crime

Mr. Usman Tilli Abubakar, the Abia state police commissioner, has noted the need for collaboration between security agencies and recognized vigilante groups in Abia state, maintaining that such coordination would help to effectively tackle security challenges in the state.

CP Abubakar stated this yesterday when he received members of Abia State Vigilante Group who visited him in his office in Umuahia. He said that effective collaboration among security organisations was necessary for effective crime fighting in the state.

Receiving the visitors, the Police Commissioner said their visit was a sign that the vigilante group was ready to join forces with the police in tackling security challenges in the state.

He also declared his readiness to partner with the vigilante group and other bodies to ensure that security of lives and property of Abia residents.

“Though your work is voluntary, you have demonstrated that you are willing to partner in securing lives and property in Abia state.

“I expect that members of Abia State Vigilante Group join the police in night patrols so as to ensure that criminals are checkmated’’, Abubakar suggested.

Abubakar however advised the leadership of Abia State Vigilante Group to ensure that it recruits people with good characters, because “some bad eggs always want to take advantage of uniform organisations to commit crimes’’.

He also advised the leadership of the group to regularly monitor the activities of its men to ensure that the good intention of government in establishing the outfits was not flouted.

Earlier in his remarks, the state Commander-General of Abia State Vigilante Group, Mr. Martins Idika, explained that their visit was to welcome Abubakar who assumed office recently to Abia state and to express their readiness to partner with the Police.

He said that the group was willing to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure that Abia maintains its status as one of the most peaceful states in the country.

and there is nothing bad if repentant criminals started asking for amnesty because Abia state is in Niger Delta community ........besides,people should not say that T.A is instigating the guys for amnesty,there is no such thing.....T.A orji has often combated crimes ,he is standing tall against any criminal activity

Gov declares zero tolerance for kidnapping in Abia State
ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has restated the determination of his government to ensure that kidnappers never returned to Aba in particular and the state generally.

In fact, the governor boasted that the state was fully prepared for armed robbers and kidnappers.

The governor said it was because the government fought criminals, especially kidnappers, out of the state that roads and other developments were being witnessed in the state.
Orji, who spoke yesterday in Aba during the commissioning of seven of the 16 roads he flagged-off in January, said if the kidnappers were still terrorising people in the state, the roads would not have been done.

Recalling the bad state of Aba, both in security and infrastructure before now, Orji said better days awaited Aba residents, but urged them to always pay their taxes to enable government do more.

He announced that the state had introduced a single tax regime against the old system where all manner of people demanded for different taxes from residents, most of which ended in private pockets.

“We have introduced single tax regime. We are not happy with double taxation. Pay your tax and leave the rest for me. My job is to give you conducive environment and ensure that you are comfortable.

“First, we have to thank God who helped us to fight kidnappers. If they were still here, we would not have done these roads and other things we are doing in Aba.

“When I came here in 2010, Aba people, all fled. But today, everybody is back. We have flagged-off 16 roads and we have done 10 roads under two months.

“I want Aba people to believe in government that tells you the truth, my yes is my yes and my no is my no. When we say we will do something, we will do it. I never told Aba people that I will do work on all Aba roads. I told you I will work on some roads.
“Any politician who tells you that he will build all the roads in Aba is not sincere, because it is not possible. We are bringing new things in Aba.

“This is a working government. I am not interested in praises, but I know that I’ll be celebrated,” Orji said.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/gov-declares-zero-tolerance-for-kidnapping-in-abia-state/

Governor Orji flags off new roads in Aba, vows to keep kidnappers away


UMUAHIA- Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has restated the determination of his government to ensure that daredevil kidnappers never returned to Aba and indeed the God’s Own State in general, affirming that, “we are fully prepared for them”.

Governor Orji noted that it was because the government fought criminals, especially kidnappers out of the state that roads and other developments were being witnessed in the state.

The governor gave this assurance in Aba, Monday, during the commissioning of seven out of the 16 roads he flagged-off in December.

He said that if the kidnappers were still terrorizing people in the state, the roads would not have been completed.

Casting his mind back on the bad state of Aba, both in security and the infrastructures before now, the governor assured that better days were waiting for the Aba residents. He however urged them to always pay their taxes to enable the government do more.

While calling on the people to pay their taxes, the governor announced that the state has introduced a single tax regime as against the old system whereby all manner of people demand different taxes from the residents, most of which ended up in private pockets.

“We have introduced single tax regime. We are not happy with double taxation. Pay your tax and leave the rest for me. My job is to give you conducive environment and ensure that you are comfortable”, governor Orji said.

“First, we have to thank God who helped us to fight kidnappers. If they were still here, we would not have done these roads and other things we are doing in Aba. When I came here in 2010, Aba people all fled. But today everybody is back. We have flagged-off 16 roads and we have done 10 roads under two months.

“I want Aba people to believe in government that tells you the truth, my yes is my yes and my no is my no. when we say we will do something we will do it. I never told Aba people that I will do work on all Aba roads. I told you that will work on some roads.

“Any politician who tells you that he will build all the roads in Aba is not sincere because it is not possible. We are bringing new things in Aba”, Orji said.

Referring to abuses and hostile environment Aba people induced by the opposition used to show him, the governor said he was sure that the people would sing his praises by the time he was done with his development projects in the state.

“This is a working government. I am not interested in praises but I know that I will be celebrated. Mbakwe who is being celebrated today was stone but later celebrated. I know that we will be celebrated. I gave out 16 roads and in two months we finished 10 and very soon we will complete the rest”, Orji said.

He advised Aba residents to stop believing in rumours and gossip, “always verify and see things for yourselves. Go to Nigerian Breweries, it is expanding and it is expanding because the state is secured”.source :http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/04/16/governor-orji-flags-off-new-roads-in-aba-vows-to-keep-kidnappers-away/

there is nothing like amnesty to be granted by T.A ...he can not be part of that...some of you people are talking rubbish.T.A can not grant idiots-criminals any amnesty...

T.A has always stand against kidnapping and he will never grant them such amnesty,it was the repentant criminals who ask for amnesty but he never will agree to such rubbish...T.A is better than that...let us reason before we talk....how can T.A grant amnesty to criminals,he never said so.....let us read what he has got to say here : http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/04/16/governor-orji-flags-off-new-roads-in-aba-vows-to-keep-kidnappers-away/

Gov declares zero tolerance for kidnapping in Abia State

UMUAHIA — ABIA State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has restated the determination of his government to ensure that kidnappers never returned to Aba in particular and the state generally.

In fact, the governor boasted that the state was fully prepared for armed robbers and kidnappers.

The governor said it was because the government fought criminals, especially kidnappers, out of the state that roads and other developments were being witnessed in the state.
Orji, who spoke yesterday in Aba during the commissioning of seven of the 16 roads he flagged-off in January, said if the kidnappers were still terrorising people in the state, the roads would not have been done.

Recalling the bad state of Aba, both in security and infrastructure before now, Orji said better days awaited Aba residents, but urged them to always pay their taxes to enable government do more.

He announced that the state had introduced a single tax regime against the old system where all manner of people demanded for different taxes from residents, most of which ended in private pockets.

“We have introduced single tax regime. We are not happy with double taxation. Pay your tax and leave the rest for me. My job is to give you conducive environment and ensure that you are comfortable.

“First, we have to thank God who helped us to fight kidnappers. If they were still here, we would not have done these roads and other things we are doing in Aba.

“When I came here in 2010, Aba people, all fled. But today, everybody is back. We have flagged-off 16 roads and we have done 10 roads under two months.

“I want Aba people to believe in government that tells you the truth, my yes is my yes and my no is my no. When we say we will do something, we will do it. I never told Aba people that I will do work on all Aba roads. I told you I will work on some roads.
“Any politician who tells you that he will build all the roads in Aba is not sincere, because it is not possible. We are bringing new things in Aba.

“This is a working government. I am not interested in praises, but I know that I’ll be celebrated,” Orji said.source : http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/gov-declares-zero-tolerance-for-kidnapping-in-abia-state/?fb_comment_id=fbc_267031603433444_1215386_267272176742720#f2592968b14cf38

patrickobi, well done to you for letting us know all that is happening in abia state..we are so appreciative of what T.A is doing in Abia state...

Orji Uzor Kalu leave Njiko Igbo Alone”

Orji Uzor Kalu leave Njiko Igbo Alone” – BY IZUCHUKWU .D
Posted by: naijanews Posted date: April 10, 2013 In: Nigerian News | comment : 0

KALUIt has come to my notice that a group led by Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu [ a former Governor of Abia State] is parading itself as Njiko Igbo and the group’s objective was the actualization of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, come 2015.

I beg to use this medium to explain the origin, mission , vision and operations of the NJIKO IGBO cultural Organization which I founded and has been effectively operating with since 1983 . I also wish to use this medium to appeal to well meaning Igbos to prevail on Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to please leave Njiko Igbo alone and rather look for another name to further his political aspirations in the interest of peace.

I have absolutely nothing against the emergence of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2015,afterall, I myself contested for the presidency of Nigeria in 2003 and again in 2011. Incidentally, on both occasions I did not bring the Njiko Igbo into the partisan struggle as my idea in establishing the organization was not to use it to oil any partisan political machinery but for some deeper course.

PREAMBLE.

I was born in Jos the Plateau state capital in 1957 and was therefore 10 years of age when the genocide against Igbos termed civil war started and witnessed first hand the most inhuman pogrom in the history of black Africa, if not of the whole world and of all times.

When the war was said to have ended in 1970, I continued to witness the continued atrocities meted out against the Igbos.

In 1976, I gained admission to read law at the University of Ife [now Obafemi Awolowo University] and had become passionate about researching into the life and times of the Igbo race from time immemorial to the present day and with an unquenching desire to hazard their future.

I read about King Jaja of Opobo[1821-1891] and of other prominent ibos such as Olaudah Equino and was surprised that there were no organized establishment in Nigeria dedicated to the study of Igbos , their culture, history and civilization.

Incidentally, the motto of the University of Ife is For Learning and Culture.

NJIKO is an Igbo word and Njiko Igbo is an Igbo phrase meaning the unification/unity /union/fraternity of the Igbos and as such could be said to be existing as a phrase ever before the birth of either my humble self or Orji Uzor Kalu, but the circumstances surrounding the Njiko Igbo cultural organization as well as its relationship to Orji Uzor Kalu is such that I am of the considered opinion that every and all fair minded human beings, whether Igbos or not whom are privileged to know the facts will to say the least appeal to Orji Uzor Kalu to leave Njiko Igbo alone and look for another name for his group and aspirations.



The NJIKO IGBO Cultural Organization was founded by me in 1983 at Enugu at No.61 Owerri Road, Asata, Enugu and was formerly inaugurated at the Prince Palace Hotel, Enugu on Thursday 20th April 1989 in an public function which was witnessed by many prominent and regular Igbos from all walks of life. One very prominent Ibo who was also there was Chief[Dr]B.U.Nzeribe,the Ekwueme of Orlu.and the proprietor of Palm Beach Insurance and Palm Beach Tourist Village , Awoommama, in Oru East local government of Imo State.

At the said inauguration event, Dr. B.U.Nzeribe openly there and then expressed his gratitude for the initiative and invited me to Awomamma [his home town] to discuss further on the organization, its objectives and plans and on how to make it a real beacon for Ndiigbo.

I accepted his invitation and traveled to Awomamma where details were accordingly discussed. It was decided that other prominent Igbos especially those who were passionate about the projection of Igbo culture, traditions and civilization should be involved. Two of such people were Eze Ahurukwe Madukwem Unaka,the traditional ruler of Abba, and his West Indian wife,lolo Unaka.

I therefore travelled to Abba, and with a letter of introduction from Dr.B.U.Nzeribe dated that day-25th ,April,1989.I met with and held discussions with the said Eze Ahurukwe Unaka and Lolo Unaka at the Eze’s palace in Abba,Imo state. In the course of which both the Eze and his wife were intimated on the next meeting scheduled to hold at Awommamma on the 1st of May, 1989.

On the 1st of May, I set off from Enugu early in the morning in the company of Mr. Simeon Onuora and Mr. John Ezerim, the later was driving us in his Peugeot 504 saloon car, The three of us drove straight to Abba and picked up Lolo Unaka since the Eze was unavoidably engaged elsewhere.

On getting to Awommamma, the scheduled meeting was held at Harambe lodge at Palm Beach Tourist Village, on the ground floor. It was later moved upstairs, after lunch.

At the meeting, Chief [Dr] B.U.Nzeribe announced to all that he has donated the major hall in his Palm Beach Resort to the Njiko Igbo Cultural Organization [ the hall was hitherto called and known as Odinkenma Hall] and that he would wish the hall to be known as and used as Igbo cultural Research Centre. This was initially agreed upon until a better name was suggested. His name later suggested was Institute of Igbo Culture and Civilization.
THE IGBO RACE..

THE IGBO RACE..

All were informed at the meeting of another meeting convened by Mr. F.C.Ogbalu of Igbo intellectuals and scheduled to hold at the University of Nigeria ,Nsukka and it was further greed that moves be made to move the Ogbalu meeting to the Palm Beach Tourist Village, Awommamma so as to further water the grounds for the Njiko Igbo Cultural Organization to more effectively serve Ndiigbo.

I was mandated to represent both Dr.B.U.Nzeribe and Eze Anurukwe Madukwem Unaka at the F.C.Ogbalu’s meeting and was driven to the meeting by the personal driver to Chief Nzeribe[by name Celestine].The F.C.Ogbalu meeting received my message very happily.



CENTER FOR IGBO STUDIES[CIS] AT THE ABIA STATE UNIVERSITY [ABSU].

I was invited by Prof.Godfey N. Uzoigwe[the pioneer Director of the Center for Igbo Studies at the Abia state University and the then President of the Historical Society of Nigeria] to the opening ceremony of the First Annual Conference of the centre on the theme: The Igbo and the tradition of Politics, that held on the 11th July,1991 at the University auditorium. I participated actively at the event and was later made an Associate fellow of the centre.

After attending the event, I persuaded other members of the Njiko Igbo Cultural organization that rather than dissipating and duplicating efforts in trying to establish another Center for Igbo Studies and civilization, that since there was already an existing Center for Igbo studies at the Abia state University, that if our intentions were truly to serve the Igbo race, that it would be better for us to channel our energies towards ensuring that the center at ABSU was better equipped and funded to discharge its functions effectively. My appeal was heeded and I thereafter initiated communications with the authorities of the university for this purpose.

After scores of meetings and travels from Enugu to Uturu/Okigwe, eventually on August 17th 1994 an agreement was signed between myself and the Abia state University for the organizing of an endowment fund for the Centre for Igbo Studies of the university.

Throughout this period, the Njiko Igbo Cultural Organization was receiving maximum publicity in the news media, especially in Abia state. The TSM [the Sunday Magazine] of December 4,1994 for instance had a lot to say on both the Njiko Igbo Organization and on the endowment fund project of the centre for Igbo Studies . Its story was entitled: In Search of Igbo Ancestry. So also had the National Ambassador newspaper of Thursday 18-Sat 24 December,1994, on an article entitled: Clues to a Cultural Future-How Njiko Igbo is setting the pace.

The Military Administrator of Abia State, Navy Captain Temi Ejoor, on Tuesday 10th January, 1995, inaugurated an eleven [11] member Endowment Fund Planning Committee for the said Centre for Igbo Studies of the Abia State University. The occasion took place at the Executive Chamber, Government House, Umuahia. On that occasion, the Military Administrator announced a Take Off grant of N100,000.00[ One hundred thousand naira] to the Endowment Fund Planning Committee.

The Planning Committee member were as follows:

[a]PRESENT.

1,Alhaji Yahaya E.G.K.Ndu-Representing Njiko Igbo Cultural Organization and the African Films Limited-Chairman.

2,Senator Ben Collins Ndu-member.

3,Prof.M.A.Mkpa,Deputy Vice Chancellor-Representing Abia State University[he later rose to become the Vice Chancellor of the University and is currently the Secretary to the Abia State Government]-member.

4,Mr. O.E.Onuoha[ Registrars nominee]-member.

5,Barrister C.P.Madumere-member/Secretary.

6,Mr.Dele Olowu [nominee of the Military Administrator and Representative of the Abia state Government].-member

7,Rev. P.J.O.Okorie[nominee of the Ministry of Education and Youth Development]-member.

8,Mr.Okpi[nominee of the Ministry of Information]-member.

9[b] ABSENT.

9,Dr.U.D.Anyawu-Representative of ABSU-member.

10,Mr.M.O.Oleka,Representative of ABSU.member.

[c] IN ATTENDANCE WAS-

Chief Imo Iboko, Commissioner for Education, Abia state, and

12,Mrs B.Aja Wachukwu, Commissioner for Information, Abia State.

This event was widely reported in numerous National Nigerian Newspapers, Radio and Television. For instance, the National Ambassador newspaper carried it on its front page on its edition of Sunday 15-Wednesday 18, January, 1995.

The OHANEZE Ndiigbo invited me to explain the project to the group, which I did and the group expressed its satisfaction.

The Planning Committee held several meetings and prominent Igbo sons and daughters were appointed into the Board of Trustees of the centre for Igbo Studies Endowment fund project, amongst which were:

1,His Excellency, Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu-Chairman.

2,His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. R.O.Uwadi-Vice Chairman.

3,Chief Dr. H.I.Uzoewulu-Secretary.

4,Prof. M.A.Mkpa-Financial Secretary.

5,Prof. S.O.Igwe-Vice Chancellor-Patron.

6,H.R.H. Eze Ogbonnaya Okoro[Eze Aro]

7,Colonel C.Ike Nwosu-member.

8,Prof. J.C.Irukwu-member.


a National Conference and to bringing about a mass participatory system of democracy.

Kalu ruined Abia – Ohaneze youths

Former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu

Youths of Ohaneze Ndigbo on Wednesday said former Abia State Governor Uzor Kalu “left a legacy of infrastructural decay, hopelessness and unemployment in the eight years he ruled the state”.

They claimed that while Kalu’s businesses grew in “quantum” from 1999 to 2007 when he was governor, “the collective patrimony of Abians dwindled”.

The youths, reacting to an interview in which Kalu called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to arrest corrupt governors, said the former governor, by his call, unknowingly reminded the anti-graft agency to re-ignite his prosecution.

National Organising Secretary, Ohanseze Ndigbo Youths, Mr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the youth believed that Kalu’s call was not lost on the anti-graft agency.

He said, “In the interview, he also claimed to be championing the Igbo Presidency Project in 2015. Here again, he is doing what he is known for – playing with the political destiny of Ndigbo.

“Very soon he will jump ship and abandon those following his mantra. Did he not disappoint in the past? The unfortunate thing is that Uzor Kalu thinks the Igbo are fools and easily forgetful.”

Isiguzoro also said claims by Kalu that he had returned to the Peoples Democratic Party were false.-----Punch

Anambra, Abia govs mourn Adetiloye


The governors of Anambra and Abia states, Mr. Peter Obi and Chief Theodore Orji respectively, have condoled with the family of the late
former Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Abiodun Adetiloye, on his demise.

The 83-year-old cleric died on Friday in his residence at Odo Owa in Ekiti State.

Obi said in a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Mike Udah, on Saturday that it was a matter for regret that the former Primate passed on at a time when his fatherly advice was badly needed in Nigeria, given its current religious and political challenges.

He eulogised the late cleric, remarking that “while he will be greatly missed by everyone, we should take consolation in the fact that he led an exemplary life and showed commendable courage and leadership when he superintended over the affairs of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).”

Obi prayed God to grant the departer cleric’s soul eternal rest and his numerous admirers the fortitude to bear the pains of his loss.
In a message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, the Abia governor commiserated with the Anglican Church and described the death of the cleric as “sudden and shocking.”

According to the governor, Adetiloye would be greatly missed by the church and Nigerians.

Orji said the late archbishop distinguished himself during his active days as seen in
the growth of the Anglican Church in Nigeria.

The governor, who sent his
condolences to the family of the deceased, especially the widow, Mrs.
Titilayo Adetiloye, urged them to take heart as the late man of God
lived a good life while on earth.

He prayed God to grant the soul of
the departed eternal rest.

Abia Police Rescue Three Babies Sold by Parents


Despite the economic hardship being experienced in Greece, some Nigerians are still willing to do anything to migrate to that country even to the extent that a man has sold his six-month-old baby boy for N350,000 to finance the procurement of visa to travel to Greece.

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Usman Tilli, disclosed this yesterday at his maiden press conference to outline the achievements of the command since he assumed duties on February 18. He noted that the three babies sold by their parents were all rescued in good health.

He said a 20-year-old woman, Ozioma Ekwelem, had on March 6, reported that her husband, Onyekachi Ekwelem, 26, had sold their baby boy, Oluebubechukwu in order to realise his dream of travelling to Greece.

Following the report, the CP said his men swooped into action and recovered the baby and handed him over to his mother in good health, while the baby trafficking father had been charged to court.

Similarly, a woman, named Odinakachi Samuel of Ovurungwa village in Isiala Ngwa South local government area of the state was said to have sold her baby girl for N150,000 immediately after delivery on February 26 with the connivance of the nurse, Monica Benjamin, who delivered her of the baby.

According to Tilli, the new born baby was eventually rescued by the police after the father reported the trafficking incident, while the baby’s mother and the nurse had been arrested and charged to court.

In another baby trafficking incident, the police commissioner said a baby boy was recovered by the police after the father, Oluchukwu Ogidi, had reported on March 16, that his wife, Kelechi, had connived with one Dr. Williams Oruwa, who delivered her of the baby and sold it for N300,000.

He said after the arrest of the medical doctor, the police discovered that three other pregnant women were being harboured in his clinic for child trafficking purposes.

He said the expectant mothers, Blessing Okwu, 21, Janet Ogbonna, 20; and Chinenye Onuoha, 23, were now serving as prosecution witnesses in the trail of the doctor and his collaborators.

Unlike in other incidents where one parent was involved in selling their babies, the CP said the most recent baby trafficking case which was cracked on April 2, involved a man, Uchechukwu Gabriel and his wife, Nneoma, who sold their new born baby girl at a cost of N200,000.

Tilli said the police was still trailing the yet-to-be-identified buyer of the new baby while the parents have been taken into custody to help in apprehending the suspect.

Aside from the baby trafficking incidents, the CP said within the period under review, the police were able to resolve three out of four kidnap incidents, saying that the victims were rescued without payment of ransom.

“I am warning kidnappers, robbers, child traffickers and other criminals to stay clear of Abia State,” he said, adding, “they (criminals) have no room to operate here in Abia because I want the people of Abia to sleep with their two eyes closed.”source :http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/abia-police-rescue-three-babies-sold-by-parents/144408/

T.A ORJI has well said ,we should commend his him for that fatherly advise...

Boko Haram: North No Longer Safe, Return Home Orji Tells Ndi Igbo

Theodore-OrjiOn the recent backdrop of violence that appears to be targeted at Ndi Igbo in some parts of the north, Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, has advised Igbo residents in that part of the country to return to the South East if they were no longer wanted by their host communities.

Governor Orji’s position comes on the heels of the latest motor park bombing in Kano which caused the death of scores of Nigerians.

However, Orji said if Ndigbo are continuously being killed in the North, it meant that they were not accepted and the best option for them was to have a rethink and return home where their safety was guaranteed.

He said: “No sane person will continue living in an atmosphere where his life is at stake.”

He noted that home remained the most comfortable place for anyone whose life was in danger

HARNESSING OUR REGIONAL ABUNDANCES
By T.A. Orji
The sustained agitation for the manifestation of our regional selling points has never been this feverish. The preponderance of opinions is that it will herald a new vista for Nigeria, if faithfully embraced. Again, it appears to be a prescription, which will strengthen the professed indivisibility, which our country is desirous of protecting.
Just recently, the former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme steered a new body in town: Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (S.N.P.A) to advocate for a return to the 6 zonal arrangements which the generality of Nigerians sympathizes with.
Constant resonation of this reality had always featured in the charismatic devotion of some present-day gubernatorial stewards to inject life into some latent and comatose legacies of their regional heroes past. This is symptomatic of a renewed zeal in Abia State to strengthen Dr. Michael Okpara’s mile-stone in agriculture exemplified by the once vibrant Abia Palm at Ohambele in Ukwa East local government area. This effort is being complemented by a rare initiative of locating farms in each of the 17 local government areas of the state under project “liberation farms”.
In my estimation, we stand to substantially reward Nigeria, if there is a deliberate regional effort programmed to maximize the mineral and agricultural competencies of a region devoid of federal encumbrances. A federal structure, which empowers component units to express themselves exploratively and pay economic homage to the centre will in my minds eye, engender healthy competition in the polity and herald a departure from our present monolithic and precarious arrangement which is hopelessly tied to uncertainties of the global oil market. A recent and widely reported decline in America’s demand for Nigeria’s crude drives home the point I am trying to infer.
This submission is without prejudice to the demand for even distribution of state creation as against what presently obtains. If anything, it will fast track development in the six geo-political regions, given a foreseeable scenario of regional stakeholders going the extra-mile to maximize the potentials located in their domain.
Lord Luggards unification of 1914 meant only the loose affiliation of three distinct administrations of Northern, Western and Eastern regions. Consequently, each region was still administered by a lieutenant governor, who bestrided independent government services. This latitude enabled each governor to coordinate virtually autonomous entities that had overlapping economic interests, but little in common politically or socially.
However, our reception of democratic tenets as ingredients of political and economic development will make it imperative for its replication in all geo-political entities of the country. Consequently, while we seek to deregulate the economic atmosphere of each region, our shared democratic values will be administered nationally for constant promotion and maintenance of our national identity.
As earlier on somewhere highlighted the inevitability of synergy, in the face of dwindling economic resources, has become imperative. In a lecture, I, delivered, during the public policy forum of Business Hallmark, July 4th, 2012, I did observe that the need to seek integration of contiguous states, especially those already bonded together by cultural and historical affiliations has become unavoidably expedient for states to be in a position to harness and accelerate their economic development. Having constituted a look at the past and how it compares with the present, it is obviously evident that at the point of independence, the colonial British and Nigerian nationalist routed for a broad based federal system of government.
Each of the regions, through their inaugural heroes, sought to exploit their potentials to develop and this ushered Nigeria into the healthy era of celebrating regional competencies. The north covered up for agricultural deficiencies, prevalent in other regions, and we could hear of the groundnut pyramid, which featured prominently in Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
Same spirit of enterprise played out in the Eastern Part of Nigeria as it was widely reported that by 1960, Chief Michael Okpara, Premier of defunct eastern region, had laid a solid foundation, upon which the economy of the region stood without mineral resources. The strength of then eastern region motivated many political and economic permutations to posit that the region will ultimately actualize Nigeria’s long held desire to be among the most industrialized countries of the world.
We could also hear of the cocoa merchants in the west ably piloted through the foresight arising from the well-established Odu’a Investment Company, in 1965. Odu’a Blue chip subsidiaries spanned publishing, manufacturing, and properties such as the western house in broad street Lagos, cocoa house in Ibadan Oyo State and other industrial concerns like Durosyn paint and Polyplast, Airport Hotel Ikeja and so on.
A praise worthy resilience and tenacity of purpose have kept some of Odu’a Investments going, while many have also gone the way of others.
Given the enormity of merits located in revisiting a reformed regional structure, it has become unavoidably necessary to stimulate a healthy debate in that direction. A broad based national conviction will usher in a sincere adoption, as investments will be directed to regions with comparative advantage for a significant rise in the nations’ productive capacity.
Let us remember that at independence when regions prospered, it was simply because each of them found a reason to prosper through collaborations with the contiguous localities, and the federal government was undoubtedly the beneficiary in its transformed economy. Consequently, leaders of the regions saw no attraction in operating from the centre. We can, if we put our minds to it.
T.A. Orji the Governor of Abia wrote in from Umuahia.

and the pendulum has finally swung to the other extreme, making T.A completely unique with the way he works,it shows task-oriented, maintaining definite standards of performance, and am urging him to continue in that direction to set up more transformation that will mark a new epoch in Abia state governance

i like all these legacy projects am seeing here,if these are what have been done so far or part of the legacy projects that T.A has been putting into place,that means he is working assiduously,am not minding what people are saying becos with what i see here i think T.A ORJI is working ....people should stop casting aspersion but try to encourage their leaders if they are working,and what i have to say is that T.A should continue doing his work and improve the more....

what do you people gain in sabotaging and discrediting a state government that works/ na wa oo
for all am sure,abia state government is working...

There are many reasons to be hopeful. I am glad the Ohafia-Arochukwu road has been flagged off for reconstruction...About 4 more Federal roads in Abia State also to be reconstructed by GEJ administration.
Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia State cutting the tape to flag-off the construction of Ohafia-Arochukwu road. With him are L-R Hon. Arua Arunsi member representing Ohafia- Arochukwu Fed. Constituency, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije, Engr. Godwin Eghieye, South-East Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Works and Rt. Hon. Udeh Okochukwu, Speaker, Abia State House 0f Assembly.

Revocation of Orji Kalu’s degree


COMING amidst lingering tension between Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State and his predecessor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, the recent revocation of Kalu’s Bachelor’s degree in Government and Public Administration, by the Senate of the state-owned Abia State University (ABSU), which awarded the degree 12 years ago, is an institutional tragedy of great magnitude. Not only has academic tradition been brought low, both the state government and the university in question are now objects of ridicule.

The state government has sought, without conviction, to exculpate itself of any complicity in the matter. A statement signed by ABSU registrar and secretary to Senate said the Senate of the university cancelled and subsequently withdrew the degree result and certificate awarded “on the strength of the findings and recommendations of an investigative panel into allegations of breach of the extant Academic Regulations of Abia State University, in the admission process and graduation of Kalu Orji Uzor in the discipline of Government and Public Administration…”

Kalu’s university admission had been embroiled in questionable circumstances. It was claimed that he had been a student of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), where 18 years earlier he was a Political Science major. Kalu was said to have left school in protest against alleged persecution of student union leaders, but the claims were apparently not verified. Thereafter, he ventured into business, where he was successful. He later delved into politics, contested and won the gubernatorial seat of Abia State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999. By November 2001 he gained admission into the Department of Government and Public Administration of Abia State University, Uturu, and before long he had earned a Bachelor’s degree while in office as governor and Visitor to the university.

Even though the university senate, in a recent advertorial, provided some backing to justify its actions, it is worth recalling that it was before the sycophantic glare of university administrators and the then Chief of Staff, Mr. Theodore Orji (who providentially is the incumbent governor), that Kalu’s first day as an ABSU freshman was publicly celebrated, while his retinue of aides and guards flocked about him.

Did the former governor transfer his academic credits from the University of Maiduguri to Abia State University? If so, was this done with or without the instrumentation of the university system? How was he able to do this if indeed his studentship had lapsed as being alleged? It is a standing rule in the management of students that should a student be absent from school for a period of time without Senate approval, he is automatically withdrawn for lapsed studentship. In the case of Mr. Kalu, the period between his studentship at University of Maiduguri and his transfer to ABSU was nearly two decades. The question begging for answer is: Had Kalu been deferring his studentship all those years so that he could transfer his credits from one university to another, to make up the minimum credit units for graduation?

Unless credible answers are provided for these posers, it would appear that UNIMAID, its authority at the time, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Governor Theodore Orji and the Abia State University are complicit in this show of shame. Going by the barrage of accusation and counter-accusation oscillating between the state government, the university and supporters of the embattled Kalu, it is glaring, among other things, that the present Visitor has visited opprobrium on the state; that academics and university administrators have compromised their hallowed positions by availing themselves as instrument to desecrate the Ivory Tower; that the purity and sanctity of the processes in the academia are being brought to ridicule.

Apart from cultivating some minimum level of public decency, it is high time governors and political officer holders understood that the job of a state governor is not a part-time one. In this regard, there is need for a code of conduct to address the degree-crazy adventurism of political office holders. This is to enable them pursue the business of governance with the dedication, diligence, service and sense of responsibility it deserves. If a governor is so desirous of acquiring academic degrees and licentiates, he should do so either before or after his gubernatorial engagement. Committing taxpayers’ resources to unnecessary adventurism is unacceptable, contemptible and a disservice to the people

Although ABSU’s belated courage to come out clean may be commended in some quarters, its action is tantamount to a regime of despicable selective justice, whereby people create or invoke a particular law to suit their interest. How come there is an overturn of a decision witnessed by these parties just when their political interests parted ways? Didn’t the university know what it was doing at the time it admitted Kalu as a student of the institution? Why did it take the university 12 years to realize that Orji Uzor Kalu did not satisfy the condition for graduation and award of degree? Is this scandal a fall-out from the tension between the two Orjis?

Notwithstanding the systemic decadence occasioned by increasing mediocrity in the nation’s tertiary institutions, it must be recognized that the university, being a citadel of learning and a bastion of civility and culture, ought not to be turned into an arena of invidious political ping-pong as witnessed in Abia State.

Moreover, being at the forefront of university leadership, academics should eschew the desecration of noble academic traditions in consonance with their adulatory certification of ‘worthy in character and learning’. They should continually withstand the subterranean influences of dirty politicking by insisting that only men and women of proven integrity are elected to leadership position in the university system.

Beyond this, the people, to whom the government belongs, should exercise their moral obligation to demand quality service from those who serve them. The country will be well served and saved from the foible and folly of charlatans, if the people persistently demand quality service from public officers.source :http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117451:revocation-of-orji-kalus-degree&catid=37:editorial&Itemid=612

Abia State Government commends the Police

The police has been commended for unraveling those behind the alleged gang rape at the Abia State University, Uturu published in the social media in 2011.

Briefing newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia, the Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor, Mr.Ugochukwu Emezue said Abia State Government and the Abia State University (ABSU) has been vindicated by the findings of the Police which show that the incident never happened at the Abia State University but a village in Rivers State.
According to him, the Police has confirmed that the case is before magistrate court, 9 Port Harcourt , Rivers State as the alleged rapists are facing trial.
Mr. Emezue who said that detractors of the government who do not want to see anything good in the government insisted that the event took place at Abia university should now hide their face in shame.
He stated that Abia people are decent and cannot involve themselves in such barbaric act and urged Abians to ignore the antics of those who do not mean well for the State.
http://www.abiastate.gov.ng/news/abia-state-government-commends-the-police/