With the 2023 elections around the corner, the pertinent question to ask our political leaders in Abia State is this “When is the turn of Abia North Senatorial Zone to produce the Governor of Abia State.
Now, power brokers in the two main parties of APC and PDP only considering zoning their No1 office to the south and central senatorial zones. The Abia North aspirants are struggling to make a case for their zone with little chance of getting any consideration.Abia Stands on Senatorial tripod as represented by Abia North, Abia Central and S|outh. Since the commencement of the youth republic in 1999.Abia North have produce a governor in the person of D|r. Orji Uzor Kalu, under a unique arrangement.
Abia Central had their turn in the person.chief T.A.Orji. he represented the equity agreement by the founding fathers of Abia State. even the south have produced their own in the person of Okezie V.Ikpeazu . who became the governor of Abia State through T.A who was a strong Apostle of equity and rotationof the No1 office in Abia State.
In all fairness, it’s the turn of Abia North to produce the next governor. This is what justice, equity and fairness demands.
No other consideration should alter this objective reality. It is the right thing to do perhaps, this clarion call may be too late but the political leadership should know that , if peace should reign in Abia State. No Senatorial zone, especially a major one like Abia North should be denied the rulership of the state for any reason. To refuse to allow Abia North the opportunity produce a governor in 2023, when its actually their turn is to continue to purnish them, peradventure for sin of their defection to parties like Labour party, Action Progressive Party and others only to mention but few.
Even, if Abia North cannot muster enough support at congress to get their own nominated, the political leaders could decide, as they did for Abia South in the equity and rotation of power in 2015. This is not unprecedented and it should not be the last time.
A doctrine of equity was invoked to make IKpeazu the governor, the same doctrine in a different setting, was invoked to make T.A Orji governor in 2007, why cant the same be done now to make way for an Abia North candidate to be the next governor.
What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Nothing canoveride this argument.
It is just and proper, patriotic and imperative for Abia North to have a sense of belonging that they have been denied since 2015.
If it is argued that the present race is far gone for us to consider this proposition, 2023 elections will tell, if we are sincere. Those who hate Abia –North for being loud and aggressive must also recognize their contributions to all aspects of the state’s economy including sports. If we are to go strictly on merit, our next governor should come from Abia North and I say that without disrespectful to the other senatorial zones.
Abia North leaders themselves should brace up and unite . no one man show can yield anything positive in their guest to lead Abia State, South-east Nigeria
ASPIRANTS TO WATCH IN ABIA STATE.
Barely two months before the general elections of 2023 in Abia State. the political leadership have concluded horsetrading alignments and realignments to positions. The elections will involve lots of intrigues and high level policies as the aspirants with different tendencies in the race aim to have the upper hand for the general elections , as well as to ensure they are in good snding a head of the government elections
CAN OTTI STRIKE AGAIN?
The former governorship candidate of the “All Progressive Grand Alliance (A.P.G.A) in the 2015 general elections. Dr. Alex Otti is the leader of Labour Party currently. Having warded off internal insurrection , the LP structure in the state is firmly in his grip.
A very calculative and strategic politician. Otti who is deep in the state’s Labour Party (LP) will seek to repeat the electoral feat of A.P.G.A in 2015. Although he surrendered at the supreme court to the advantage of Ikpeazu who came from Abia South. Ut new the billion naira question hanging on Otti’s neck like bibilical rock of demotes is thus
Is, Dr.Alex Otti from Arochukwu in Abia North Senatorial Zone or from Ngwa Land in Abia South Senatorial Zone?
Investigations from grapevine, revealed, that he registered and operated from Arochukwu during 2015 general elections, while his registration and operational locality currently reads Ngwa in Abia South. What is he up to by so doing is it to scuttle the chances of Abia North. Whereas the whole Abians cued behind his credible performances in 2015, only to withdraw at the court, and the overbearing majority of Abians were discouraged and confidence reposed on him waned, where are we now
CHIEF (HIGH) IKECHI EMENIKE:
The high Chief who hails from Abia Central Senatorial Zone of the State. Now Emenike still has a say in the politics of the state and Nigeria at large. His political structure has been adjusted the most effective in the state.
Apparently liked by the antics of some party members he had cause to warn them not to sow seeds of Emenike’s major political battle is how to retain the party leadership and flag in up coming elections.
MAZI CHIBUIKE JONAS EYES ON THE BALL.
This respected worker in the vine yard of God. After making history as the most influential local Government Chairman during XHIEF T.A ORJI first tenure still has much to say and do in the state . his political structure has been adjusted as one with the lobve of God and mankind.
A man who will not open up for manipulations popularly knpown as Prince Jonas’s political Influence has not diminished even though he has been out of government for a number of years. Mazi Chibuike Jonas, who has a rich political network of Associates across the State, is visible in the national politics of Action Democratic Party (ADP)
CHIEF MASCOT UZOR KALU (NWA ABA)
In the dawn of a new era, Piloting the affairs of Abia State is like challenging the unknown. No matter how great your preliminary figures showed a prosperous future for running of the State’s affairs as far as decision making is concerned, you are soon confronted with a bitter truth of how wrong your prediction was.
Many states have failed as a result of this , some are dead scare to give a try . but such is not great minds who dared where others feared.
Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu, the gubernatorial flag bearer for the APP in the 2023 general election, is one of the great minds. A man of courage and conviction. He does not observe the wind of sow nor regard the cloud of reap. Kalu believes in his State and potentials.
By :Prince Kalu OKpo
(Amankwu Ututu)

I put down this in black and white, knowing in the next few hours will be spent absorbing insults from insignificant member of the society who still believe in the old order. While fending of the most ill mannered of my readers.
What I know is that I will pull some converts and sway some fair thinkers that are willing to deal with truth and our harsh reality. Whichever end you are, I humbly wish you God’s blessing. Without remarkable sacrifice, there’s no progress. I am glad to be your lamb.
As we talk and debate 2023 general elections in the country and Abia North in particular. The just feeling is that it is the turn of a credible and dedicated man of integrity to become the next senator for Abia North, not just the next senator but one that will heal the senatorial zone and fix her broken politics.
However, there are people who are out to take down any candidate that have these sterling qualities. With the least aspiration to be the next senator for the people of Abia North and these elements are hands in glove with some men and women who can easily be bought with a mess of porridge.
When the distinguished Senator Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa was brazingly rigged out of the senatorial elections of 2019 by the believers of the old order. Those in the know saw the hands of Jacob but the voice of Esau. While not holding brief for anyone. I feel that the truth must be told, no matter who tells it. Let the people step out and choose a senator that will do their biddings in the red chambers of the National Assembly come 2023 and not the one that will go for selfish and family interests. We need a man who will not compromise in anyway. A man in the caliber of Senator Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa, The Ancient Mao, The Man at the heart of the people of Abia North. There are also men and women from the Senatorial Zone who are out to take down the candidature of those with these qualities of a credible leader, although, they are not overbearing. Funny enough, these fellows are in bed with some people from the wrong order who like the miserable dog are contented with the little crumbs that fall from the masters table.
We are watching to see how the people will respond to these threats and contradictions. In Abia North, the literature of leadership failure does not just leave us feeling queasy. A lot of people do feel a measure of horror at how Abia North has not been able to get it right on the leadership scale despite the abundance of human resource. It is saddening, it also raises some pertinent questions. Is Abia North jinxed on the leadership index? Why is it that the incumbent senator have not given to us the much that is expected, every segment of the senatorial district appears worse than the time of his predecessor. Or is our leadership recruitment to blame? If in doubt check the developmental score-card of the incumbent senator for Abia North, during whose tenure, the Abia North voice diminished in the senate. The facts are not far-fetched, the legislature’s score-card is public knowledge. I don’t know and cannot predict what 2023 will be like if a radical move to put the right man in the caliber of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa is not timely for the people of Abia North.
Historically, Senators should be aware that how a leader handles himself during his times in office will have a big impact on how he will be remembered. Investigation reveals that what a leader does in the opening and closing days of his tenure will have what is called determinative impact on the senatorial zone. The only remaining shot at affecting how he will be judged by history is to create a favourable impression before his exit. But these qualities are lacking in the present dispensation for Abia North.
With a few months to exit the Senatorial Seat, the incumbent senator for Abia North continues to make things worse for the good people of Abia North rather than better. Never in the history of this political dispensation have the constituents of Abia North experienced a Senator, a representative that is far away from the people and utterly uncompassionate as the current senator representing Abia North. Our collective experience bears that out. This is made worse by the fact that this a senator, even when the writing on the wall has bluntly refused to admit his limitations, rather he and his aids most often resort to outright denials, delusions, exaggerated achievements and antics to deflate abysmal failure.
We need a man that is upright in thinking, as the next Senator, come 2023, one who has the talent to clean up the Senatorial Zone. The mess left in every segment by the incumbent leadership.
As the Incoming Senator, according to the people’s wish through their body language, Mazi, Mao, Arukwe Ohuabunwa recently in a strategic committee Meeting with stakeholders said our next Senator must be somebody capable of proffering solutions to numerous challenges of immediate sort that confronts Abia North Senatorial district, especially its inhabitants.
In all comes down to this conclusion. If voters are to take the trouble to cast their ballot next year, they expect something from the leader they choose. Prof. Kizzessnou, Florent, A Seasoned Communication Expert, once cautioned those aspiring to become the people’s representative, Ambition, he said is a powerful force, and the one to be the Senator to represent his people has led many a candidate to ignore his own limitations and the responsibilities of the office he currently holds. In find Florent’s advice timely for the candidates jostling to be the Senator to represent Abia North come 2023. Today Abia North is in active crisis that strikes our heart and souls. Currently, the assessment of our leadership is grim and despairing. The people are traumatized; they are disillusioned and cynical about the performance of the Senatorial Leadership.
The truth is that a zone runs a ground when its leader confuses his own destiny with that of the masses. What in particular should we be looking for in the next senator?
Character and competence are crucial attributes. But we must not ignore other essential virtues, such as ability to lead the people and rescue it from myriad challenges inflicted by poor representation. The lesson in all of this for 2023 is not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Trust is the key of competence.
A definition of trust includes not hearing to guess what people say about, what a senator means. It means leveling with people about what he’s going to do after election. Trust is bearing all things to all people. It is not about shading words so that each separate audience can hear. Plainly and simply what a leader means, and meaning what he says. Someone with an appeal that can reach beyond his immediate natural constituency. Someone larger than the sum of his parts. A senator who can bring us together, a uniter, not a divider, someone who can end insecurity, bring our economy back to life, create jobs, reduce hunger and poverty. There’s indication that Ohuabunwa is capable.
These are existential threats in all. We need a caring senator who can communicate and connect with the people and shape their aspirations, a leader who seeks power not as an entitlement, but to achieve great purposes. Indeed, success in representing the people requires diligence, decisive actions and adjusting course when errors occur.
Importantly, you may realize in today Abia North Senatorial Zone, there’s a beacon of hope come 2023 that fits the bill of a credible and quality leader, the man who cares for the downtrodden and the masses. And he is Mazi (Senator) Mao Arukwe Ohuabunwa.
By

Academical Kalu Okpo
(Amankwu Ututu)

THE ABIA POLITICIAN TO WATCH.
UNDOUBTEDLY, the general elections of 2023 in Nigeria will be in about 7 or less months ahead. Politicians in the state of Abia have started horse-trading, alignments and realignments to position themselves for the available elected positions. Although the governorship election in Abia will be enthusiastic, considering the present deplorable state of the “God’s own state” especially civil servants, both serving and retired. The gubernatorial election in Abia State will involve lots of intrigues, horse-tardy and high level politics. As different tendencies in the State aim to have the upper hand for the general elections, as well to ensure they are in good standing a head of the election.
Jonas unusual politics, as the gubernatorial flag bearer of the action Democratic Party (ADP) in Abia state, He is indeed an indisputable leader. He runs a political structure that is anchored on God for the restoration of the state from clueless governing.
So far, Jonas maintained a cordial relationship with the masses of Abia State irrespective of ethic and geographic divide. He has also built a good rapport with the civil servants and retirees, however, that political relationship will be put to test ahead of the general elections.
Having endeared himself to the voting popular in the State, the people’s support is formally in his grip. A calculative and strategic politician.
Jonas chibuike (mazi) who is deep in the politics of Abia State will seek to bring indusive governance.
On the direction the would go for the 2023 elections Jonas who is a grassroot politician has made it clear that the party under him would ensure the emergence qualified public servants for the management of the State’s economy that will usher in the eluded good and equitable governance in the State.
I am going to ensure that appointees and the civil servants are people we can trust, people who are competent, who have the experience, the characin and dynamism to occupy those offices, and not bring just anybody, so that we can begin to project a viable alternative government for Abia State he said.
After making history as the former council chairman for Arochukwu Local Government Area. Mazi chibuike Jonas, a God fearing man of integrity, still has a say in the politics of the State. His political structure has been adjudged the most effective in the State. He has the skill to mobilize vadical development that will benefit the suffering masses of Abia State, Southeast Nigeria. Jonas political influence over the years has not diminished even though he has not held any government positions for a number of years. He is in the political calculation of Abia State. Mazi Chibuike has been described as a sicent political dexterity whose politics is devoid of bitterness the Aro-okeigbo born politician in today Abia State is like a round peg in a round hole, as far as good and equitable governance is concerned.
In Abia State of today, political observers believe Jonas,who managed the affairs of Arochukwu Local Government Area to an enviable status is being propped to emerge the Governor of the state in 2023 general elections.
If we recall, he was a Chairman the people believed in. his life story seems to confirm everything that was good about Arochukwu L.G.A at a time.
Anyone who knows him, who has had personal interactions with him will confirm he is very impressive, legitimately smart, intelligent and deeply knowledgeable about the world. Is hailed as an engaging patriotism is total. He has the capability and character, competence background to undertake the Job of the Chief Executive Officer of Abia State from 29th of May 02

THE PRESIDENCY – 2023 AND THE TRUTH
Undoubtedly, the caliber of Nigerian nationals, mainly politicians who want to take over from president M. Buhari (GCFR) come 2023 is enthusiastic. Majority are of the view, with conviction that the deplorable state of the nation demands an urgent rescue with minimum delay, from the political and economic quagmire. Importantly, one thing we must not fail to know is that, the truth must be told, no matter who tells it. We should be willing to make sacrifices that is important as I have to stress to you something which you know.
In Nigeria today, it is the process of reform and change and development that is always costly, difficult, painful and it is hell to go through. It is too hard to motivate and get people to do the things which you need to do if you are going to have a good tomorrow. But because of our mindset, we are able to say good, I have got the world in my hands today. Just last week, last year and all the time because I must build the future.
It is future orientation. You will see the outcome because it pays. We have erroneous sense of optimism, we are so optimistic and this is extremely important. Many people and societies believe and say they are crippled by the possessive sense of pessimism.
In Nigeria, we have developed enmnous self confidence crippled, sometimes I worry about this because often times it goes to the point of arrogance. Nothing justifies arrogance, rather self confidence is palpable. We think we can do it, yes they can do it and that is unity in the land. Especially, where there will be even distribution of profits and hazards in our collective engagements particularly, the economic management of the nation. This will massively contribute to economic growth by establishing unity, consensus and peace. We can now get on with the job of development and national process. Other forms which we could not do before because we were diverted as a result of political indifferences and so on.
So I would like to suggest that these tremendous pay offs for what was a very simple thing which we did. Perhaps it sounds accidental, but let us manage this creation. Most states lie in their past equity, you will see that they belabor the past all the time. In my view, my beloved Nigeria, the most populous black nation is stock in the future. In everything we want to do, we should do them to produce the future which we want.
To rate Nigeria as the most populous black nation, blessed with human and natural wealth cannot be over emphasized. But the question is can the truth be told no matter the person that tells the truth?
Across the land, there has been rekindling passion by political giants from different geo-political zones to have one of their own as the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria came 2023 general elections. Expectedly, the passion has caught up with the academics, technocrats and core politicians and also business men/politicians from the North, South and West and more than ever. The issue of 2023 presidency has been pushed to the front burner of the nation’s political discourse by Nigerians.
Most importantly, the over bearing majority of Nigerians still believe in the sovereignty of the country and they are of the view that equity should be a watch word in the land. From May, 1999 when democracy became stable in Nigeria, out of the tripod on which the fulcrum rests right from independence that have neither had their own elected son or daughter to the seat of the President is south –east geo-political zone.
Expectedly, the quest for the president of Igbo extraction is a just cause at the rippest time. It is no longer a secret nor clandestine agenda, rather an open quest bound with equity and national conscience. I want to believe that among the politicians from these geo-political zones are distinguished nationals with repute, among the geo-political zone who have what it takes to run a country like ours presently is the South-East geo-political zone. Remember, the zone is yet to have a short at the presidency whereas other zones with the tripod status on which the foundation of Nigeria stands have had their turns e.g the North and West and the South-South.
If the South East is denied the opportunity of producing the next president of the country it will not in any where portend good governance, equity and natural justice.
South-East geo-political zone with their wealth of experience, entrepreneurial skill, network of international friends and associates globally, their administrative sway and professional antecedents mark them out as the zone who look good to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023.
They easily passes as the most detribalized Nigerians, a quality most needed than ethnic jingoist.
FEARS: Fearing that the zone is predominantly occupied by “Ndigbo” cannot be one in terms of producing the next occupant of the seat of the president is a minus. Because, democracy will cease to work when you take it away from those who are willing and give it to those who would not. The quest for the presidential a slot and eventual emergence of the president of Igbo extraction is a quest that is just before equity and even the creator.
Why do we as Nigerians need love and unity? Possibly because it gives us a framework within which to deal with the limitation of life. We each have to face situations of uncertainty, powerlessness and scarcity.
By uncertainty, I mean that we can never plan or control our affairs in such a way that all work out well. Sometimes we fail, and yet knowing that the outcome of our plans are always subject to chance. We have to be able to function anyway. Nigeria and Nigerians have to cope with uncertainty. By powerlessness, I mean that we have to live with the fact that somethings are impossible. We cannot do everything we want to do and yet we have to face our powerlessness with courage.
By scarcity, I mean that we have to face the fact that they may not be enough of everything to go round, what we have must be distributed in an orderly way, including the national leadership. Thus social life may require that some people be deprived and frustrated.
Collectively, we have to deal with crisis at some point and it is then that love and unity helps us adjust. Why must a zone out of others suffer deprivation why should a person go on living when his or her loved compatriot suffer denial? Such question demand meaningful answers. If they are considered meaningless, support for society’s norms is weakened. How can we maintain our morals when disappointment and deprivation works at every step and when we know death awaits us in the end.
Love, and unity of Nigeria makes life more meaningful by fitting into the context of an existence beyond the present. It supports our commitment in society’s norms when we are at the breaking point. It helps us adjust to the frustrations that are part of human life.
In the South-East geo-political zone there are qualified candidates for the president’s seat and they are legion. Prominent amongst the pack and also stands tall in the crowd is, Senator (Dr) Orji Uzor Kalu (MON). A business Magnet cum politician who managed the affairs of Abia State for eight years and was dubbed the action Governor by an Eminent African leader and a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR). The Senator, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, the Chief whip of the 9th Assembly of the Senate has the gift of incandescence. People observing him in action are always left with an impression that he lit up the nation with his presence. He also posses the rare ability to leave everyone who meet him, however, fleetingly with the impression that they were his close friends.
The Spirit of Nigerianess, to the North and South who know Senator Kalu over time and they are overbearing, says, he is a sticking contrast to the typical Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and others who encountered him in their professional lives.
Senator (Dr.) Kalu seems neither reticent, uncomfortable, aloof nor inscrutable on the contrary, he is a dynamo of dazzling energy, gregarious, fun-loving and most appealing to all appearances very like themselves.
In the words of Dr. Jack Maurice, a Venezuelan national and a business consultant. When it comes time for Dr. Kalu to do business in the U.S.A, Weather Joint Ventures or Licensing, whatever it is he will pick up the phone and talk to almost any business man in Europe, Africa or Asia. And instead of who is this again, interpreter and all that sort of thing. Senator (Dr) Kalu knows these people at the human level at the personal level.
By Academical Brown

IKPEAZU ENSURING PEACE, DEVELOPMENT IN ABIA STATE.

BY KALU OKPO.

The governor of Abia Ikpeazu can be defined as a man of faith in God with compassion, peacefulness, vision and forbearance and also a citizen of high discipline.

Okezie Ikpeazu (PhD) has carved an enviable niche for himself as an outstanding leader with a unique governance philosophy.

The governor, fondly known as “OVI” habitually appreciates and acknowledges his beloved God of the Seventh Day Adventist faith for the bold statement the God Almighty has decreed in his life as a leader and his peers readily acknowledge this striking humble trait.

A leader who stresses consensus, widely recognized by all for his commitment to peace development especially the lowly and less privileged. Gov. Ikpeazu has gone down in history as a phenomenon that stands tall among his contemporaries and tells the story that life is better enjoyed on the side of the above attributes.

On assumption of office in 2015, at a time when the State’s resources were growing leaner because of the nation’s adverse economic realities, Gov. Ikpeazu was undaunted and resolute to build Abia State of the founding father’s dreams, where peace, harmony, inclusive governance and rapid development hold sway.

His sheer determination to alleviate the sufferings of the people and make life more meaningful for them against all odds, gave birth to his administrations KINETIC ABIA PROJECT, a rural department policy aimed at taking democracy dividends to the doorstep of the rural dwellers.

Ikpeazu’s driving focus remains remembering the long neglected. Reconnecting rural dwellers with the realities of governance and addressing the imbalance between the Urban and Rural populace in terms of distribution of infrastructure and other basic amenities.

The nation’s economic melt-down aside, the governor when he assumed office also inherited a huge debt profile and other wage bills to be serviced. At that time 26 states or more including Abia could not pay workers’ salaries, let alone embark on capital projects.

Governors resorted to bail out funds to meet the high demands of governance and what was more challenging was their inability to access the nation’s excess crude oil funds which enabled their predecessors to execute capital projects and address other sundry public needs.

In spite of all these, Gov. Ikpeazu has been able to lead Abia State out of the woods and attain enviable heights as one of the most peaceful states in the country that could survive with the little resources within its ambit.

Abia State with little or no internally generated revenue is one of the advanced States in Nigeria in the ease of doing business.

Historically, Governor Ikpeazu is the only Chief Executive of Abia State to witness two economic recession in less than five years of his administration, the past “END SARS protest and a Pandemic (COVID-19) that has brought a serious setback to the entire world in terms of growth and development with other challenges.

The Construction of Osisioma Flyover in Aba City, a landmark project has reached an advanced stage at the intractable Abayi Portharcourt Express Junction to ease traffic gridlock in the area.

The present administration in Abia State has also made huge investment in other sectors of development such as health, education, security, investment promotion, Agriculture, workers welfare and empowerment.

Furthermore, Gov. Ikpeazu’s administration has constructed and commissioned many roads especially in the rural areas of the state linking the capital city of Umuahia to mention but few.

In his peacefulness, despite the avalanche of challenges, Ikpeazu has continued to spearhead and advance peace in Abia State in a rare dignified manner.

The peace in Abia State which is largely responsible for the milestone achievements recorded by Governor Ikpeazu’s administration, in spite of various challenges has also engendered real estate development in the state and increased the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR)

IKPEAZU BESTRIDING ABIA STATE LIKE A COLLOSSUS.
When governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu was sworn into office for the second term to administer the affairs of Abia state, southeast Nigeria those that thronged to witness the occasion were cheering with elected feelings. “Reason” their state which is one of the developing states across the Niger appears to be holding hope in the area of infrastructural development and affordable road networks.
Those who reside in Abia state are even willing to confirm this with minimum delay.
Dr. Okezie V. Ikpeazu and the P.D.P leadership in Abia are cohesive and desired to cause a change to move the state for the stage it was to the new dimension where we can compete with our neighbouring states and even be beyoung.
The executive Governor of Abia state is a man of great intelligence and a pathfinder who will never allow these achievements to influence him in anywhere. A man who solely believe the he can carve his name and image with humility and humanness.
His rising profile is a continuous embarrassment to his detractors and they are legion.
From every mook and cranny of the state Ikpeazu is an issue, he is an eminent political personality no one can ignore perhaps. The greatest proof of Ikpeazu’s profile is the “KINETIC ABIA PROJECT”
There comes a time man the life of a performer, an achiever a patriot, a gentleman, when he should be celebrated.
The likes of Okezie, Victor Ikpeazu (Phd), the executive Governor Abia state are vanishing and veritably scarce in today Nigeria this is why it is necessary to appreciate him for his dedication, commitment, service and love for his state His tireless efforts and boundless energy all geared towards making Abia great, prosperous and self-reliant cannot go unnoticed.

KENETIC ABIA PROJECT
To reaffirm his commitment to the well-being of the people of Abia state, the governor has embark on road construction that have seen many of them recently commissioned. Some of the newly constructed and commissioned roads are the five (5) Kilometer Umuobiakwa – Owo - Ahiafor road linking Umuahia. Compled with several other infrastructures affecting all the local government areas of Abia state.
And very importantly the insecurity in Nigeria have been a burden on the affairs of states like Abia, But the administrative head of the state have encouraged the elimination of poverty and hunger through various empowerment programmes .
Abia state has huge potential and with some improvements under the present administration, the growth of the state, economically can be rapid for people across Abia state.
The chief security Officer for Abia State, OKEZIE. V IKPEAZU has encouraged efforts to reduce poverty and other social vies. It could be recalled that since 2015 the government of Abia state under the leadership of Governor Ikpeazu has ever focused on prioritizing what is best for its people, Hence the Kinetic Abia project, and reasonable attention has been played to city of Aba, all geared towards the emancipation of Abia state economy form dependance.
If the economic requisites are put in place.
It is worth of note that Abia state has remained the “SME” capital of Nigeria based of requisite economic indies.

BY: kalu Okpo
(Amankwu Ututu)

ASCETA ………………. NTO THE REFORMIST

The environment for scholars of higher institutions in Abia State and Nigeria at large is seriously dislocated. I am not an apostle of the governments messy policy on higher education. I am also not a supporter of higher education staff who have taken to militant labour strategies to achieve their objectives, all these illustrate the disorganized nature of Tertiary Institutions and the atmosphere in which Teaching and Learning and research are expected to thrive in a messy higher education environment.

There are no way students can engage in or focus on academic and research activities.

In the existing meddled situation. The underlying message is that there is no strong attention from any Agency of the government that has clear and holistic responsibility to promote quality education as obtained in other clines.

In the education sector of Abia State. For over four years of focused administration, since Philips Nto (PHD) an Agric – Economist was sworn in as the provost of Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu.

He left no one in doubt as to the direction and policy thrust of this leadership of the prestigious college located in the hometown of the foremost educationist, Dr Alvan Ikoku of the blessed memory. When he promised to run a people-oriented administration, he outlined his goals to include the improvement of the institutions dilapidated infrastructures, provision of quality and affordable facilities, good and efficient service delivery as well as war against corruption in the college community of Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu. He has also bemoaned the lackluster tendencies that had hitherto retarded the steady academic progress amongst others.

Within this space of time through dedication and proper articulation of the challenges and needs to the college, Dr. Nto’s leadership and administrative prowess has been able to etch its name on the memory of Abians and Nigerians at large both home and abroad. The young scholars also have benefitted from the tremendous reformation of the institution.

For Nto, politics is secondary, while good administration of the college under his custody associated with the general wellbeing of the people and peaceful co=existence in the college community is primary.

The overall effect of Dr, Philip Nto’s impressive performance in so short a time is such that average Nigerian sees as the reformist who have come to redeem the educational sector especially the nation’s Tertiary Institutions that has almost gone down and to restore the full glory and fulfil the aspirations of the founding fathers of the college.

Since assumption of office by the academic there has been no lackadaisical moment, Rather the period has been characterized by action at the same time confounding critics and enjoying the popular acclaim by the majority of Abians and other Nigerians. The reformatory speed with which the provost took off has not abated, while the citadel of higher learning has soared. Today the college is witnessing the new lease, an era that has promised improved and quality standard education to scholars, energized and dissipated workforce, revalidated economy and disciplined administration of the school for the first time, right from the inauguration of the college years back.

The academic community in the state and beyond are experiencing the impact of a responsive and mass-oriented management of the institution. Undoubtably, no provost of the college before this had put so much energy, zeal and personal sacrifice to give Abians and the educational sector these reformation in the college with focused and transparent administration.

Honestly, Nto the Academic has astounded his detractors who greeted his appointment as the provost of “ASCETA” with pessimism, those who never prayed for his success is stating the obvious.

It is on record that less that fewer years after his inauguration, in a rare display of purposefulness he set the machinery of reformation of the college in motion with the appointment of who is suited for the students to benefit from his or her wealth of academic expertise than he who knows the provost, and the results are there.

Presently, the achievements in the college are beyond description.

With focus and determination Nto’s aim is to gain more difficult goals. Observers and Critics may have noticed the massive renovation of all spheres of the institution.

It could be recalled that several buildings including science and technical laboratories are being renovated to meet the international education standards.

The Agric – Economist from the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka is reforming the entire college, both Academic and non-Academic Staff of Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu can throb their chest and declare that they now have a provost who is a humanist as well with Midas torch.

All these qualities are in compliance to the directives from TETFUND to the colleges of education nationwide. If other provost from other colleges of education can take cue behind Nto and his Academic board of the college, the standard of education in tertiary institutions will know no bounds.

The overbearing majority of students from the college have openly confessed their surprises at the transformation that has taken place in the citadel of learning. there is this saying that theory one may be as wide as theory two, but the proof of the theory is in what it tells us about the existing facts and in the new facts it produces.

Abia State College of Education, Technical Arochukwu have had provosts, right now, we have one with tremendous reformation.

By Kalu Okpo
(PMW MAGAZINE)

Some concerned leaders and stakeholders of southeast geopolitical forum have formally protested against the geopolitical imbalance of the country,s federalism.
They are said to be pressing for an urgent redress of the structural imbalance of the Nigerian society as part of Sincere measures aimed at resolving the worrisome economic and political crisis in the country since the 1914 amalgamation of Nigeria by the colonialist.
They have called for the rotation of the president to the south eastern part of the country for the sake of equity, speaking at the monthly meeting of the forum last Saturday, Prince Kalu Okpo said that the east should be the right beneficiary of power rotation in the country presently.
According to him, we have insisted that in the spirit of national reconciliation and participation. If we are to eschew the bitterness generated by deliberate or coincidental attempts at our marginalization and neutralization in area of national endeavour, the seat of the president should shift to south-east geopolitical zone. Prince Kalu Okpo the publisher of pmw magazine who stated that this goal must not remain a mirage, however said that the meeting decided to reach out to other Nigerians who he stated share their aspirations, within the framework of a truly Federal Republic bound by faith, hope, equity and justice.
We have come together with our brothers and sisters from the North, West and South, South and other areas to make the project a reality.
Members of the group were charged to strive to justify the new understanding. We must attract our Kins-Men in the country under one large legitimate umbrella which will provide the platform for our aspiration.
According to Prince Kalu Okpo the forum was still open to members who genuinely wish that this goal be attained in their life time.

Why do Nigeria need love, possibly because it gives them a framework with in which to deal with the limitations of life.
We each have to face situations of uncertainty powerlessness and scarcity. By uncertainty I mean that we can never plan or control our affairs in such a way that all work out well. Sometimes we fail. And yet knowing that the outcomes of our plans are always subject to chance.
We have to be able to function anyway. Nigeria have to cope with uncertainty by powerlessness. I mean that we have to live with the fact that somethings are impossible. We cannot do everything we want to do and yet we have to face our powerlessness with courage. By scarcity I mean that we have to face the fact that they may not be enough of everything to go around. What we have must be distributed in an orderly way. Thus social life may require that some people be deprived and frustrated.
We all have to deal with a crisis at some point, and it is then that love helps us adjust. Why should a loved one die young? Why must we suffer illness? Why should a person go on living when his or her love is not returned ? Such question demand meaningful answers. If they are considered meaningless, support for society’s norms is weakened.
How can we maintain our morale when disappointment lucks at every step- and when we know that death awaits us in the end?
Love makes our life’s more meaningful by fitting into the context of an existence beyond the present.
It supports our commitment in society’s norms when we are at the breaking point. It helps us adjust to the frustrations that are part of human life.
HOPE ALIVE FOR NIGERIA
While fighting for love and peace from the lips, let us be more careful that we have it also right in our hearts.

PRESIDENCY – 2023
IGBO POWER QUEST – A RIPE DEMAND
PRINCE KALU OKPO
To rate Nigeria as the most populous black nation, blessed with human and natural resources can not be overemphasized. But the million naira question hanging on the neck of the leadership of Nigeria like the rock of Damocles is has equity really been practiced in the power rotation with the various zones that make up the nation?
Across the land, there has been a rekindling passion by politicians from North-East, South-West and South-South to have one of their own as the next president and occupant of Aso Rock come 2023 election.
Expectedly the passion has caught up with the youth from other geographical –z ones and more than ever. The issue of 2023 presidency has been pushed to the front burner of the nation’s political discourse.
Most importantly, the over bearing majority of youth, the future leaders of Nigeria still belief in the Sovereignty of the country and they are of the view that since May 29, 1999 when democracy became stable, that out of the tripod on whose fulcrum the nation stands from independence that has neither had or produced the president of Nigeria is the South-East geo-political zone.
I want to emphatically say that the guest for the president of Igbo extraction in 2023 is no more hidden, it is no longer a secret nor clandestine agenda rather an open and ripped quest from South-East geo-political zone (Ndigbo) to occupy Aso Rock in 2023.
I believe that among the politicians from other geo-political zones are distinguished men and women of this great nation who have what it takes to run a country like ours.
But if you give a closer watch of the trend in the country politically, among the geo-political zones that can lay claim to having what it takes to be the next president of Nigeria is the South-east geo-political zone (NDIGBO).
Their position with a tripod status to the nation that has not occupied Aso Rock for even a tenure is not a good one and does not in anywhere portend good governance, equity and natural justice.
Their wealth of experience, entrepreneurial skill, network of friends and Associates globally, administrative sway and professional antecedents marks them out as the geo-political zone who look good to occupy the coveted throne come 2023.
They easily passes as the most detribalized Nigerians, a quality most nationals of this country believe is what Nigeria needs instead of zonal and ethnic jingoist.
FEARS: Fearing that the geopolitical zone that is predominantly occupied by Ndigbo cannot be one in terms of producing the next president is a minus, because democracy will cease to work when you take it away from those who are willing and give those who would not.
The quest for the next president of Nigeria to be of Igbo extraction is a worthy demand at the ripped season.
To be continued…

RT HON.(Engr) CHINEDUM ENYINNAYA ORJI
DARING TO GIVE ALL
In Abia State, South-east Nigeria piloting the affairs of the house of Assembly is like challenging the unknown. No matter how great your preliminary figures showed a prosperous future for business of running the State as far as decision making is concerned. You are soon confronted with a bitter truth of how wrong your prediction was.
Many state houses of Assembly have failed as result of this. Many others are dead scare to give a try. But such is not the way of great -men who dared where others feared.
Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji (MNSE, is one of such great men- a man of courage and conviction. He does not observe the wind of sow, nor regard the cloud of reap. He believes in his state and potentials. Right Hon Orji’s decision to serve as the speaker, Abia state House of Assembly while others took to serving in other committees is the result of his affection for Abia State and belief in her economic viability. His faith in the state’s economic and political experiments has sustained his commitment to contributing to good deliberations of the affairs of Abia State.
His belief in the state serves as antidote to the fear of governing failures. Engr Orji amplifies a consistent track record turning failures into the womb of success.
For him it is the fertile ground where success succeeds. At a time of deep nation economic hardship. Where some state houses of Assembly are enmeshed in one crisis to other.
The speaker Engr Chinedum Orji does not wish to follow that path. He doesn’t want to follow where that path leads.
He goes instead where there is no path and he leaves a trail.
According to the words of my good friend “Abubakar Adams No man could ideally be successful until he has found his place.
A workaholic, he is strong on the track. The honourable Speaker “Abia State house of Assembly, Engr Chinedum Orji is strong on track here, He is strong in the legislative works in the state house. Despite the stressful and unfriendly economic climate nationwide.
His doggedness is reflected in the simplicity and sincerity of his desires to etch the state’s name on the minds of the people.
Even when the nations economy seems to have terribly nose dived speaker Orji remains true to his vision. His vision is subsumed in the state’s vision of becoming one of the great economies of the nation over the next decade, this is no easy task.
He knew the awesome magnitude of the task confronting him. One of the task is the unrepentant skeptics who see nothing good in the state. The other is inconsistent economic policies as a result of changes in political powers of the state house of Assembly.
These challenges might have daunted the barest of the brave. It does not daunt Rt. Hon Orji. And it might be true to say that a man feeling less than exhilaration and the sense of destiny experienced by Engr Orji would have been incapable of leading the Abia State House of Assembly with Sterling.
The entire members of Abia State House of Assembly are quality leaders. This bears testimony of Orji’s determination to infuse the whole state with the spirit to embrace good governance.
The speaker, Abia State House of Assembly is an actor rehearing always for the great path that awaits him.
By- Kalu Okpo
(Pmw-Magazine)

The overbearing majority of Nigerians, including my good self, have cultivated an ambivalent attitude to policeman. A good number of them, most of the time, you don’t know what to think, you don’t even know how to relate to them. Are they your friends or your enemies, armed robbers or attackers of armed robbers.
The Nigerian Police has mounted a serious public relations campaign to bolster the image of the paramilitary force that will give them our confidence. You can sight their bill boards and other media presence in strategic locations in our major cities proclaiming the current status of the Nigeria Police Force.
In illustrating the new civilness, if not the civility of the reorganized force. The authorities from the high command have hitherto removed the intimidating word “FORCE” from their name.
The massage right now is that the policemen and women are your friends in deed and not your foes, considering the trouble they have been encountering to proclaim their innocence and amity with the public. You will want to show sympathy and agree with then that indeed they are your good friends and not your enemies.
When they are successful in dislodging armed robbers, assassins and marauders operating in our neighbourhood in the dead of the night, the people will thumbs up for them. But in the case of late arrival to such distress scenes, as they invariably do, after the terrors have had their fill and left, the victims can never be persuaded to regard the policemen and women as friends and protectors.
If you witness the horrendous hassles the police subject motorists and their passengers on the highway, extorting and harassing them, sometimes at gun point and shooting to maim and kill when they seem not to be making headway with recalcitrant motorists. Definitely, you’ll come to the conclusion that the Nigeria Policemen and women are not the kind of friends you would invite to your place of abode for a lunch. As much have learnt with bitter experience, with this type of friends you might as well run to gun men for protection. The problem with the Nigerian Police is basically the problem with the society. The society goes for the police that it deserves. From dependable records, it is glaringly clear that the Nigerian Police men and women are not properly treated in commensurate to what is obtained in very close other climes. It crosses the rank and file, from top to down. The central government that is their employers only pays lip service to the welfare of policemen and women. With poor salary, bad housing and haphazardly mobilized to do their duty to the populace. This is at the government level, at the other way round, the police authorities, the superior officers, it has been alleged time and time again have been most unfair to the rank and file. It is either that they are not taking up their cases properly or they outrightly misappropriate what is due them.
Although the overbearing public may not agree with the explanation offered by the rank and file of the Nigeria Police for corrupt practices by their man, but they should feel some sense of revulsion at their story. The majority of Nigerians are of the belief that the Nigeria Police receive gratification from them to augment the operational costs they incur while battling to protect lives and properties.
According to them, without the toll collection, they cannot effectively perform their duties of protecting lives and properties because not only are they poorly paid and ill-equipped, the officers and men of the of the Nigeria Police in some occasion use their personal budget to fuel operational vehicles, even treat the wounded and bury the dead, those who lose their lives in active service don’t enjoy the pleasure of decent burial and nothing left for the family in the lurch. The litany of inconvenience.
We source our uniform from the open market because a policeman or woman leaving the training college gets only a set of uniform but if not satisfied, you’ll purchase from the market, where there’s an easy assessment to police uniform from the open market, do you need to wonder any more how hoodlums get the police uniform that they are using during some of their operation.
The re-engineering exercise going on in the Nigeria Police of today is a big testimony, that Nigeria Police-men and women are your friends indeed. In the Nigeria Police, it has been action and focused leadership for the past six months, the Mohammed Adamu (IGP) lead New-Nigeria Police left no one in doubt as to the direction and policy thrust of his administration when they redeployed some Commanders across the Police Commands. One of the sensitive Commands that required the injection of a pro-active Commander was the international gateway to the ECOWAS neighbouring states, Seme precisely.
One gallant police officer whose impressive performances in his various bits endeared the heart of the Police high command is Mr. Ogechi, Moses Udu a chief superintendent of Police. The Nigeria/Benin enhanced joint border patrol outfit under the leadership of CSP OGECHI, M.U despite the inherent perils associated with border policing has pursued the extermination of these social ills with vigour and determination. It is a fashion to give or take bribe or officers of the Nigeria/Benin enhanced border patrol to go out of the official details.
The Nigeria Police have a lot to do to improve the welfare of those employed to protect lives and properties. They should get on with an urgent measure of refurbishing the Nigeria Police, until this is done, otherwise motorists and innocent citizens and visitors should not be held captive on the nations highways
By Kalu Okpo (PMW Magazine)

Over the years our consumption rate has tremendously increased yet our capacity to be self reliant has dwindled. It wouldn’t be over-flogging the issue to say Nigeria is endowed with adequate amount of natural resources to make us more than comfortable.
The discovery of oil led us to abandon all our products and that marked the road to our retrogression.
Malaysia that was at Par with us in palm oil production is now one of the major producers in the world. Indonesia which used to be in the same class with Nigeria with regards to performance and policy during and shortly after the oil boom has progressed to another class. The question that many have asked repeatedly is what went wrong? The first television station in Tropical Africa was built with the cocoa proceeds in the western part of the country. What happened to the palm oil fields in the east and the rubber plantation in the middle belt? Most of the inherited institution of ours has collapsed.
With the current partial border closure against smuggling of rice and others, it will enable Nigerians retrace our past glories.
It is often said that out of 200 smuggling engagements into the country, an estimated 100 are through the seme axis in Badagry west of Lagos State. The majority of the illegal activities are perpetrated by travelers on the Abidjan –Lagos corridor. Undoubtedly, these unapproved practices and trans- border banditary undermines Nigeria’s national security, its external relations and growing national economy, The borders to our ECOWAS member-states have been described as porous, giving way to all sorts of trans-border crimes such as smuggling of contraband items, drug-trafficking and trafficking in human, armed robbery, money laundry and illicit arms trafficking e.t.c
The Nigeria customs service, seme command, presently under the leadership of deputy comptroller of customs who is no other than CHEDI, WADA DALHA. He has lived his dream and has experienced a variety of cultures all around the country and beyond because of the nature of his job. He has reached the higher level of his career in the Nigeria Customs Service.
Working as a trained customs officer and calmly overcoming the temptation and dangerous situations in the cause of discharging his civic responsibilities Chedi (DC) is a proven leader and all his years as a customs officer he has not been found wanting by his superiors.
Not all can be a leader because they are selected on a high scale of academic and personal achievements. Really a customs command of seme calibre is like a fortune and anybody qualified enough to head a busy command must be smart and responsible.
There are not too many rooms for mistakes. The Nigeria Customs, Seme is the busiest customs command at our national boundaries with other nations of Africa. For the officers of the command. Devils have just one name smuggling. As a leader of customs in the Area command, you either fight or fall with smugglers.
Seme border is the international gateway into Lagos-Nigeria’s economic headquarters. Then it borders Benin, a west African neighbor which has for years now become a major port for goods meant for Nigerian markets, until the partial border closure against import and export of general goods late last year through all the land borders in Nigeria.
The features had since imposed Seme as the busiest land border in the country and this status comes with a huge price. Like bee to honey, the trade-pushed economy of the Area attracts the attention of a sea of lives and torturous vehicular traffic. In the melee, confusion and crime had also sneaked in to stay. And the security Agencies operating in Seme Area Command, the border environment have continued to do their job to the best of their abilities but with great pain.
The acting controller for the Area, Deputy Comptroller, Chedi, w.w has since assumption of office forged a fruitful alliance with other Agencies including the military, The police and the host communities to make the border environment too tough for the dare-devil smugglers and their Agents to operate. The Area Controller believes his strategy is capable of reducing trade crime through the Area to the barest. Results are there to prove the credibility of the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service- Seme Command. The present enforcement unit of the command is defying the smugglers antics through seizures of even small quantities of contraband goods or items from persons coming into the country. This relentless drive has presently made the command unpopular among many Trans-Border travelers and traders.
The Nigeria customs service, seme command has presently set in motion a system that makes the fight against economic saboteurs more inclusive by meeting with traditional rulers.
Community chiefs, youth leaders, sister government Agencies, organizations and critical stakeholders in the border project, with these, smugglers in no distant time will have no hiding place as it is a continuos assignment, the acting controller enthused.
The Nigeria Custom Service , Seme command is set to engrave its name in gold in the annals of Nigerian history.
The border command has not been calm ever as it’s the case today. It has been focused to undertaking the core functions of Nigeria Customs Service with strict compliance in the area of revenue collection on best customs business processes and procedure.
By Kalu Okpo[pmw-magazine]

THE STRATEGIST AT FEDERAL OPERATIONS UNIT “A” IKEJA
Honestly, dedication is undoubtedly seen and regarded as the fulcrum upon which the credibility of any government concerns and development is anchored.
No wonder, the immortal words of the 35th president of America, J.F. Kennedy who declared that if a free society cannot help many who are less informed, it cannot save a few who are well informed, by not creating a conducive environment for both to live in peace without violation of laws of the land as it relates to core customs enforcement jobs.
Before now, not many Nigerians knew much about the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service let alone its activities. But with the emergence of Deputy Comptroller, Yahaya B.U as the Customs Area Controller of the Zone “A” Unit of the Federal Operations. The service has not only become a household name. It has also become the beginning of wisdom for smugglers and marketers of contraband items throughout the Western Command of the Nigeria Customs Service. Literally, Yahaya’s presence has Czar’s touch – He came, he saw and he conquered.
Heading the Federal Operations Unit Zone “A” of the Nigeria Customs Service may not have been his 1st major public responsibility he has carried out. Inspite of that D.C Yahaya, B.U. remains one Nigerian Officer whose sense of responsibility is awesome, and that obviously accounts for why his name is as popular as Nigeria customs Service (Operations).
Interestingly, while the Federal Operations Unit Zone “A” area of coverage is popular for its notoriety, the former Coordinator of the Comptroller General of Customs strike force for zone A became known for his desire to erase that notorious stigma. So far, he has shown enough dedication to that cause that he is now a yardstick for measuring the performance of not just other appointees but also for the present administration itself. So much, so that if other Unit Controllers of the service were as committed as he is, Nigerians would be sleeping with their eyes closed by now. With Yahaya’s performance, it would not come as a surprise if he ends as a Comptroller someday.
D.C. Yahaya’s efforts have not come without recognition. Since assumption of office, the Unit has been credited with several monumental seizures of contraband goods within its command with Duty paid value.
The Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja Lagos has been turned from a toothless bulldog to a vicious hound. All these achievements were made possible with the efforts of the Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Alhaji Yahaya B.U, who is the current Customs area Controller in charge of the Unit. Several awards, local and international have come his way.
But it remains obvious that the Zone A was far from being completely out of the woods, the Service yearned for a new impetus to be able to reclaim her lost glory and once again reposition itself as a leading preventive force in the service with unambiguous aspirations to become a truly global brand. To be able to do this the Service required a new form of strategic leadership, a modern focused and goal driven helmsman capable of rising above the drudgery imposed by a pristine elephantine smuggling order.
To put it mildly, the service required the infection of a further dose of fresh ideas, new thinking, new tools and new ways of doing things, including redefinition of its vision and mission.
From this standpoint, there is a sense in which it may be argued that Deputy Comptroller, Yahaya’s emergence on the scene is hardly fortuitious, His stature and pedigree matched the moment and this has provided an added impetus to deepen the reform process initiated by his predecessor.
By Kalu Okpo [pmw-magazine]

The spate of cross border banditry and internal criminal activities which was on the increase before now on our gateways to the ecowas nations has really accelerated the level of security consciousness as far as southwestern boundaries are concerned.
Thus the establishment of quality Nigeria/Benin enhanced joint Border Patrol, A transborder security outfit is most welcome since they give additional boost to the efforts of other security Agencies like the Nigeria Police, Customs, Immigration only to mention but few.
However, long before security problems reached a crisis point, the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government had visualized the future of Nigeria,s Security need around our southwestern frontiers which made them establish the Nigeria/Benin enhanced joint Border Patrol with the late Sp Sunday Bada as the Pioneer Commander, An athlete of the blessed memory.
The basis for creation of Nigeria/Benin enhanced Joint Border Patrol Outfit around the Nigeria’s land borders was informed by the need to take security activities to the grassroots. It is in that light therefore and without any iota of doubt, that one can confidently say that the present team of border patrol operatives under the leadership of Chief Superintendent of Police Ogechi, Moses Udu lived up to expectations.
The issue of insecurity in Nigeria especially in the south western towns bordering Benin Republic had reached an alarming rate before now. There was no passing day that lives and properties especially vehicular treaffic were not reportedly molested by assailants, who are mostly non Nigerians. So many things have been said about the cause of insecurity in the country, ranging from unemployment t of youths, injustice on the part of our leaders, corruption in high places, to our porous borders which allows foreign nationals into the country with reckless abandon.
Of all these causes of insecurity in the country, the most serious one is that of our porous borders which permits foreign nationals from neighboring countries into the country unchecked, and at the end constitute security risk.

On assumption of office in less one year, C.S.P Ogechi within the span of three months has made giant strides in actualizing the aspirations of the people and those of its founding fathers. In fact at present the Border Patrol Outfit can boast of competing with other advanced border patrols as obtained in other climes. This could be seen in terms of strict compliance of officers with the commanders details
At the time commander Ogechi took over the reigns of leadership of the Nigeria/ Benin enhanced Joint Border Patrol, the frontier in the whole of southwestern Nigeria were at cross-roads in its economic, social and political developments security-wise. Insecurity was written on the face of every user of those borders and the security details was a far cry from what obtained in modern times.
So commander Ogechi’s administration of the border security outfit being the most credible ever since it came into being, came on board with very high expectations from international and local users of our borders to deliver them from the terrible situation they were. It was a divine call to duty which the commander understood perfectly. He took the bull by the horn as evidenced by his motley of achievements.
CSP Ogechi has ever been a silent achiever in the Nigeria Police Force with an uncompromising status. Before now, Ogechi had served as the Squadron Commander, MOPOL 43, Lion Building, Commander in charge of Diplomatic Missions and the Commander Lion Building.
He was not found wanting in the discharge of his duties to the nation, his father land. He also served as commander, Federal Task Force on Narcotic and Counterfeit Drug under the late Dr Dora Akunyili and he contributed largely to the success recorded in the war against fake drugs.
No wonder he was singled out for the task of carrying out the presidential mandate of securing Nigeria’s most strategic land border. Ogechi’s antecedents with his employers is richly cordial and could fetch him a higher responsibility any day.
By Kalu Okpo
[pmw magazine]

UDENSI REPOSITIONS TITAN TRUST BANK AS SHE BAGS A PHD IN CREDIT MANAGEMENT

But women are not only victims, they can be central in the fight for peace, progress and development of their environment, when men of fighting age have disappeared to conflict or war, women become the head of household, conservers of the community and rebuilders of the economy.
When she emerged the executive director of titan trust bank. Adeeze Udensi (PHD) Many present at the inauguration who did not know her, may have doubted her capacity to achieve her aspiration as contained in her inauguration speech judging her gentle disposition. But beneath that outward propriety lies the heart of Amazon such that within a short period has not only proved herself articulate, noble and accountable but also nationalistic matching her words with actions.
A workaholic and a thorough breed professional, she has pursued her goals with the same great .tenacity as when she was rising through the cadre of the bank’s management team. Thus demonstrating that effective and good leadership has nothing to do with gender but everything to do with focus. Transparency, responsiveness, efficiency, equity and integrity.
Dr (Mrs) Adaeze Udensi’s transformational leadership was not achieved alone as being a team player. She .has enjoyed the tremendous support and cooperation of her colleagues majority of whom are seasoned bankers and administrators as well as loyal and dedicated staff who were not afraid to embrace the abrupt changes and speed at which Titan Trust Bank wanted to achieve her vision.
Known for time keeping to all appointments. She brought her wealth of experience premised on her past outstanding achievement to bear on her stewardship of Titan Trust Bank.
The Executive compliance officer. Whose academic and professional works earned her a doctorate degree from the prestigious University of Panama, As a consummate banker, she bags a doctorate degree in credit management.
Focusing her energy to materialize the mission of the founding fathers of Titan Trust Bank which is to advance the science of Banking .and Credit Management in Nigeria and pioneer a multi-disciplinary emphasis in the production of bankers versed in knowledge and skilled in practice.

BY KALU OKPO
(PMW-MAGAZINE)

IGP Mohammed Adamu

(PMW Magazine)
The underlying message is that the Police men and women are your friends and not your enemies, considering the trouble they have been going through to proclaim their innocence and friendly relationship with the people, you would want to show considerable sympathy and agree with them that indeed they are our friends. When they succeed in dislodging crisis or our assassins in the dead of the night, we’ll thumb up for them.
Once again, the police in Nigeria have been tied to a whipping post to be tongue-lashed for being the most corrupt in the country.
They have been voted as the most corrupt in a survey done by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The national survey covered the police, judiciary, power, education and health sectors.
According to the survey unveiled in Lagos, a bribe is paid in 54 per cent of interactions with the police.
We find it convenient to do such survey every year with the Nigeria Police Force being handed the shameful trophy as the most corrupt public institution.
We generally condemn the police every time and go to bed feeling good.
But, this ostrich strategy or practice has not improved the situation in any way.
Some problems are very difficult for critics to comprehend.
The police corruption problem is a sure example of this Crux Criticorum as they call it in Latin.
The paradox is that in this same police institution seen to have led in bribery, we have seen officers who rejected bribes running into billions of Naira from criminals that they have brought to justice. I will mention a few of these officers shortly.
Every time the negative survey is done, the good and the bad guys are mashed up. We don’t really get to hear much about the good deeds of several officers who have shown continued commitment to crime-fighting in the face of adversity.
There are many good and patriotic officers out there. They have been working so hard, in difficult and dangerous conditions, to keep Nigeria safe and secure. Hundreds of policemen are killed every year in the line of duty, and their families are abandoned. Nobody is interested in these statistics. These are not the stuff that surveys are made of.
We need to stop and ask ourselves, every now and then, why corruption is endemic in our police institution. We need to visit police barracks and see the living conditions; we need to look at their welfare package; their poor salaries, out of which they buy their uniforms and are expected to bear expenses on investigation activities; we need to see what is happening to the families of the fallen heroes among them. Why are Nigerian police officers being celebrated for their professionalism outside the shores of the country?
See how they turn out where the condition of service is good. Here in Nigeria and outside the country.
The truth is that the police institution in every country is a reflection of society at large.
A bad tree does not yield good apples. Police officers are a product of the system.
But the situation in Nigeria is not a hopeless one. We still have many officers who remain standing as the bastion of professionalism.
Who are the people busting crimes and making huge recoveries at the EFCC, ICPC, FIRS, Presidential Task Force on Recovery of Public Properties, etc.? Where are they from?
They are members of the Nigeria Police Force who are better motivated. They do the job, and they have been commended for the high level of professionalism displayed.
Money recovered by officers who refused to be bribed
It’s on record that EFCC has achieved over 1000 convictions within 11 months, and also secured the convictions of 111 fraudsters within that period in the southwest, even though the powers that be are yet to confirm Ibrahim Magu as EFCC Chairman in appreciation of these accomplishments that would not have been possible if they have been after bribes.
Lately, Nigerians are getting to appreciate the police more and more. This month alone, I’ve seen private and public institutions giving awards to some officers, including AIG Leye Oyebade, AIG Ahmed Iliyasu, and CP Hakeem Odumosu, in recognition of their leadership accomplishments and uprightness.
In my career as a journalist that covered the crime beat for many years, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly side of our largely untrained, ill-motivated, and ill-equipped police.
I can also bear testimony to the great deeds of officers who resisted temptations and worked hard to make the organization a reputable institution by removing the negative prefix (dis) in the word disreputable that is often attached to the image.
I will dwell a bit on the activities of the retired commissioner of police, Dan Nkem Okoro; the Commander, Intelligence Response Team (IRT) DCP Abba Kyari; the Commander, Border Patrol at Seme, CSP Udu Moses Ogechi, and Area ‘F’ Commander in Ikeja, Lagos – ACP Olusoji Akinbayo.
Can we still remember how Okoro rejected bribe in Rivers State and recovered over N111million from 23 INEC officials? Yet, nobody is talking about corruption in INEC.
The same Okoro, in March 1997 shunned bribery to arrest Foday Sankoh, the leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra-Leone who had sliced through Nigeria’s security like a hot knife through butter. Sankoh used to cut the limbs of those who got in his way during a dehumanizing war that claimed the lives of over 50, 000 people.
Sankoh, who was trained as a rebel in Libya, sneaked into Nigeria with some rebels through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), in Lagos.
He had beaten every other security at the airport, then he was sighted by Okoro who was the Intelligence Officer at the MMIA then. The VIP being guarded through the Airport aroused his curiosity, and he bravely stepped in, intercepted Sankoh and asked for his identity.
When Sankoh disclosed his identity, Okoro said: “Sir! You’re under arrest.”
Sankoh was shocked. He tried to negotiate his passage as he was moving with loads of cash and some armed guards, but Okoro stood his ground and brought him in.
This police officer also headed a technical subcommittee in the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and made immense contributions in the recovery of N117billion from duties, excise and tariffs not remitted.
Other intelligence and investigative breakthroughs in later years made Okoro a celebrity in Nigeria, where he won many awards and also received a medal for his courage and intelligence from former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan after he arrested Lagos-based Internet fraudsters who killed Cynthia Osokogu, a postgraduate student of Nasarawa State University and daughter of a retired General, Frank Osokogu. Okoro was also commended for rejecting N15million offered to release the killers on bail. He again successfully prosecuted the killers and got death sentences for them.
Of course, DCP Abba Kyari is an officer that needs no introduction in Nigeria.
Kyari began to gain national prominence in August 2013, when he arrested Abbey Godogodo, a notorious armed robber linked to the killing of over 300 people. He recovered 42 AK47 Rifles, GPMGs and RPGs from Godogodo.
He had solved several crime mysteries and arrested kidnappers across the country, including the abductors of the wife of the Governor of CBN and those who killed the Chief Security Officer of Dangote Group.
He earned promotion for what the authorities described as gallantry, superlative and outstanding performance.
He was also celebrated for tracking the activities of Nigerian billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike, aka Evans, by monitoring 126 telephone lines before he could nail him.
CSP Udu Moses Ogechi has been a very quiet achiever, whose uncompromising nature and meritorious services have not received much media coverage.
Before he was singled out for the task of carrying out the presidential mandate of securing Nigeria’s most strategic land border, Ogechi had served as the Squadron Commander, MOPOL 43, Lion Building; Commander in charge of Diplomatic Missions and the Commander, Lion Building. He performed very well there and he led many successful operations that are commendable.
He had served as Commander, Federal Task Force on Narcotic and Counterfeit Drugs under the late Dr Dora Akunyili, and had contributed largely to the successes recorded in the war against fake drugs. He led the operations.
During his years at NAFDAC, he led the sanitization of Onitsha Head Bridge drug market, where illicit drugs worth billions of naira were confiscated, even arms and ammunition. The operation was a celebrated one. He never compromised.
It is not surprising that Ogechi was chosen by IGP Muhammed Adamu as the right officer to effect the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari on the closure of the Seme Border. The mission has witnessed seizures of contraband goods worth billions of Naira and the seizure of weapons and illicit drugs. His activities have earned Nigeria trillions of naira as income. Even the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed recently testified to it. Robbers and gunrunners now see Seme as a nightmare.
Smugglers have also not been having their way due to the effective policing that has led to several arrests and recoveries. Such an excellent police officer deserves promotions and commendations as an exemplary ambassador of this great country.
In 2017, the Police Service Commission commended and promoted two officers for rejecting a bribe of $21million.
The officers, Olusoji Akinbayo and Inspector Sunday Idowu reportedly rejected the princely sum from a pipeline vandal, Samuel Wilberforce, who tried to lure them to do his will.
The officers reportedly arrested Wilberforce and members of his gang for pipeline vandalism.
For their loyalty to the Force, the authorities rewarded Akinbayo, a CSP, with the rank of ACP and Idowu got ASP rank.
At first ACP Akinbayo was posted to Area ‘D’ in Mushin as Area Commander, and he proved his worth; then he was brought to Ikeja as Area ‘F’ Commander, where he is also performing.
All these officers have a good role model in IGP Adamu, who has a reputation as a decent and highly professional officer. He was the Nigeria representative in Lyon, at INTERPOL, and he won lots of medals on his international missions. He came as the best choice when President Buhari was shopping for an officer with sterling qualities as IGP.
In spite of inadequate funding, the police are making headways under the leadership of IGP Adamu and the supervision of the Police Service Commission under Alhaji Musiliu Smith.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has also made immense contributions to the ongoing reforms in the police.
He recently inaugurated a 12 Member Ministerial Interim Committee on the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri.
This is in line with President Buhari’s commitment at tackling insecurity in the country, through the establishment of the Ministry of Police Affairs and his assent to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund establishment Act, 2019, aimed at providing legal framework for training and provision of security equipment, to enhance skills of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force that has hitherto been neglected for so long.
The police institution in Nigeria has come a long way since the force was at first created to police the Lagos colony in 1861 before constabularies were later set up to form the northern and southern protectorates.
In 1930, the northern and southern police forces became the Nigeria Police Force headed by an Inspector General of Police.
Every other arm of the Nigeria armed forces and paramilitaries came out of today’s Nigeria Police Force.
These officers are working and we need to appreciate and celebrate them. We should focus less on their Achilles heel.
Bribery and corruption will be minimal if the police are well paid. Throwing stones at them or shouting corruption all the time won’t help the situation because a hungry belly has no ears.
Today, we still have no other institution to thank for giving us a safe and secure society than the Nigeria Police Force.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have even written anything on this over-beaten issue, but on second thought I felt that a drop of ink could make a million think.

CELEBRATION OF A SENATOR
Senator (Dr) Orji Uzor Kalu is the distinguished senator representing Abia North senatorial district in the 9th Senate of the federal Republic of Nigeria and not only a senator, rather one with a principal assignment on the floor of the red chambers of the national assembly. He is the current Chief Whip and also the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Banking/Finance. A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man.. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him.And the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.
Senator (Dr.) Orji Uzor Kalu (Mon) Indeed, if there was any doubt as to his earnestness and political astuteness he put such doubts to rest in 1999 when in a most admirable fashion, his entry into government house Umuahia and Abia political landscape, beautified it with a dazzling and colorful fresh paint of politicking, if any doubted that he means what he says and weather he has the courage of his own convictions, he barnished such doubts when between 1999 and 2007 he led the valiant struggle to dislodge poverty and non payment of workers salaries in the state civil services. If any sneered at the possibility of him going beyond high sounding political rhetoric to blazing the trail in effective governance, he disappointed such lyrics when as an aspirant to the senate, he attracted many road projects of which my good people of Ututu benefited. He started on the path of courage and earnestness early in life. In his youth, and with an unrelenting heart of determination to achieve his dream of putting smile on faces. He picked the gauntlet, battled the challenges of his youth with the type of courage only attribute to the Iion hearted.
And if any doubted his staying power, his resilience and his full mastery of the ethos and nuances of the political space in Nigeria, he forever dispelled such unbelief with his landslide victory at the last polls and subsequently became the Chief Whip of the 9th senate of the federal republic of Nigeria.
He should be celebrated. O.U.K has distinguished himself in firmness of character and unwavering uprightness, his leadership scorecard in Abia State as a governor and goodwill profile have continued to invite uncommon solidiarity and support to his political in roads.
In Abia North senatorial zone. All progressive congress “APC” has become a stronger political force and organization under the leadership of senator (Dr) Orji Uzor Kalu (MON). The party has remained the winning one to beat in any election. Whilst the opposition continued to gang up and/or align forces, The All Progressive Congress has Continued to Stay afloat politically.
It has continued to expand her network in the nooks and crannies of Abia North and beyond. The gang up of the opposition has meant precious little and an artificial nonsense because OUK has placed the All Progressive Congress (APC) above her competitors and made it the party of first choice virtually all over Abia North Senatorial Zone.
That the opposition in the last senatorial election in Abia North ever thought coming together is because they appreciate the home truth, they cannot stand APC in any political contest. Even as they have purported to come together. The APC under OUK in Abia North will always dwarf all of them put together and prevail over them. Remember that the taste of the pudding is in the eating.
By Prince Kalu Okpo [Amankwu Ututu]`

ZONE DEPUTY PRESIDENT TO SOUTH EAST GEOPOLITICAL ZONE
Some concerned and stakeholder’s of Southeast geopolitical zone including my good self have formally protested against the geopolitical imbalance of the country’s federalism.
They are said to be pressing for an urgent redress of the structural imbalance of the Nigerian Society as part of sincere measures aimed at resolving the worrisome economic and political crisis in the country since the 1914 amalgamation.
They have called for the zoning of the deputy senate president to the south eastern part of the country.
Speaking at the monthly meeting of the group last Saturday, Chief Ifeanyi Okoronkwo said that the east should be the right beneficiary of power rotation in the red chambers of the National Assembly.
According to him, we have insisted that in the spirit of national reconciliation and participation, if we are to ensure the bitterness generated by deliberate or coincidental attempt at our marginalization and neutralization in area of national endeavour, deputy senate president should be zoned to South East geopolitical zone.
Okoronkwo who stated that this goal must not remain a mirage, however said that the stakeholder’s meeting has decided to reach out to other Nigerians who he stated share their aspiration, within the frame work of a truly federal republic bound by faith, hope, equity and justice.
We have come together with our brothers and sisters from the North, west and south. South and other areas.
Members of the group were charged to strive to justify the new understanding. We must attract our kins in the Senate under one large legislative umbrella, which will provide the platform for our aspiration.
According to chief Okonronkwo, the group was still open to members who genuinely wish that this goal must be attained in their life time.
By: Prince Kalu Okpo (Amankwu Ututu)

REALLY AROCHUKWU STATE CONSTITUENCY REQUIRES A TESTED AND TRUSTED CANDIDATE IN THE CALIBER OF HON,K K ULU ,

Kalu Kalu Ulu is good-looking, boyish and brilliant. He also radiates the carriage and swagger of a political texture of modern Arochukwu Local Government Area.

Looking radiant is a political weapon, not only in our clime. When in the political dispensation of the second republic, some handsome members of state houses of Assembly such as Ifeanyichukwu Enemchukwu of the Old Anambra State and Chief Smart Ndem Okpi of the Old Imo State were parading their fine faces and dapper personages, some of their opponents quipped that governance was not all about good looks. There is no doubt that brains and looks appear to be the unassailable clinchers these days as far as elections are concerned.

In fact, the developed world discovered this mystery at the dusk of the twentieth century. In the United States of America, brains and looks did earn the democrats a rare two-term spell at the white House under the youthful personage of the ever-voluble hand pumping and telegenic Oxford-trained lawyer, Bill Clinton. Even in Great Britain, the electorate in 1997 demonstrated a certain unabashed bias for yuppie, dapper looks. With all the historic gestures and dramatic turns of phrases that were thrown into the bargain when they elected Tony Blair, of the New Labour, then 43, as Prime Minister. He was the youngest in 187 years.

Consequently, the doughness of the British political landscape was dramatically but pleasantly transformed.
To many Abians, Arochukwu State Constituency in particular the stories across reveals that leadership should be entrusted on the young and upwardly mobile to deliver solutions for growth and development; they should be paradigm shift to younger generation to shine the touch of caring leadership and guidance, over the last three years. You can agree with the under-achievement experienced by Arochukwu State Constituency, we have seen a detachment in commitment and beleaguered representation in the state House of Assembly that goes from one failure to the other.

It cannot be gainsaid that generally, politicians see themselves as leaders but not all of them are. Whereas Arochukwu Local Government Area needs a representative in the House of Assembly that can trample obstacles with unyielding zeal.

Hon. Kalu Kalu Ulu fits the bill. Ability makes a good and quality representation and it takes character to remain endeared to the people. The name, Hon. K.K. Ulu, rings a bell in the state for the past period of time, contemporary accounts attest to his courage, zeal, experience and loyalty, which stands him out from the pack of those aspiring to represent Arochukwu State Constituency in the Abia Sate House of Assembly.

Experience they say is the best lecturer, Ulu as a former commissioner in the State Local Government Service Commission,, performed creditably well and there are a lot to show. Thereafter, he also touched lives as a board member of Abia State Universal basic Education Board. No wonder the teachers are strongly yearning for his presence at the state House of Assembly as a result of his antecedents.

Contrary to expectations, there is no doubt that the former commissioner III in the local government service Commission is pleasantly surprising even his opponents in the race for representing Arochukwu State Constituency at the House of Assembly including politicians and my good self.

The fact of the matter is that the overbearing majority of stakeholders across party line in the Communities that form the constituency seem to be encouraged by the sincere declaration of intent to securing the seat for Arochukwu State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly.

The right-thinking constituents are encouraged by Hon. K.K. Ulu’s efforts to the entire people of Arochukwu Local Government Area, go to Abam, The Civil servants appreciate his capabilities, Ihechiowa community teachers are ably yearning for K.K. Ulu; Isu and Arochukwu say we need him as our next representative, while Ututu, his homestead says it must be Hon. K.K. Ulu. The tested and trusted.

His leadership roles exhibited in the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) attracted a lot of rekindled hope to many families in the local communities of Arochukwu State Constituency that saw the recruitment of teachers and promotion of others; not to mention of the lot in the ministry.

Hon. Kalu Kalu Ulu, the candidate for the redemption of his people’s lost glories has sought to distance himself from failure, for a credible representation of his constituency.

The people in volume may demand reasons for his laudable self offering for public services to the hopeless citizens of Arochukwu local government council. I share the view that the former commissioner III in the local government service Commission seems not be comfortable with the level of abysmal representation embedded on the constituents by the incumbent member representing Arochukwu State Constituency.
This is one of the cardinal reasons for his lofty ambition to the seat in order to ameliorate the deplorable condition of the masses, especially the lower class.

Hon. K.K. Ulu can be associated with numerous breakthroughs as far as quality representation to the people is concerned in all aspects with seriousness and truth.

By Divine Eje

The idea of constituent unity is not simple to define. There is not one single factor to which it can be traced. It is essentially a sentiment of unity. The resultant of many forces, community of race and language, aspiration and above all historical development.

The presence or absence of any one or more of these factors does not necessarily imply the presence or absence of a spirit of unity. The example of the people of America shows that race is doubtful importance. The Swiss defy difficulties presented by a variety of languages. The history of the Jews shows it may be the aspiration towards the recovery of a homeland rather than possession of one that is important.
Constituent unity is essentially spiritual in character, a sentiment, the will of the people to live together in peace, such that social heritage becomes distinctively their own.

I enjoin the people of Arochukwu state constituency to couregeously tell the world that they can disregard party line, language and brotherhood in becoming one entity under the candidature of “Hon. Kalu Kalu Ulu”.

What are the consequences of the last elections to Abia state House of Assembly and the acceptance of the constituents including the opposition and few individuals. I did not want to mention this because some of us are constructively in the opposition that is viewed as a democratic tonic. Right now, the constituency has accepted the candidature of Hon. Kalu Kalu Ulu, even the opposition parties and individuals except few radicals.

The people say it is unfair to challenge this lofty ambition of “Hon. Ulu” because he embraces all the good ideas of all and their visionary ideologies.

The first productive consequence of this is that for the first time in our history to have a quality and likeable consensus candidate with an overwhelming support. A candidate with the endorsement of both teachers and the staff of the local government.

It is like anything that had not happened in our constituency, everybody agreeing to something, certainly we have a common purpose; and because we have a purpose, it has to become a developed and peaceful state constituency before 2023 with the representation from Hon. Kalu Ulu; should everybody both the opposition and supporters to this lofty ambition sink their differences and combine thoughts on how to forge Arochukwu state constituency ahead in terms of development involving technology and human resources. Opposition comes up once a while, people do quarrel too. But basically, the difference has to be swept under the carpet so that we can achieve enormous unity under Hon. Kalu Kalu Ulu’s presence in the Abia State House of Assembly on behalf of Arochukwu State Constituency. Such that when we go out to compete,we thereby open our economy, we conform and meet the world we go there as one team through a reliable, tested and visionary representation.

We can quarrel in the local arena, we can also have domestic differences,, but when we go to the field with a competent, reliable and experienced public servant in the caliber of Kalu Kalu Ulu, we become great and one team. That is a great achievement. The reason for all these is that we have created a mindset for the future.

This can be realized through unbiased patriotic support to our mission candidate with a vision, who is no other person than Hon. Kalu Kalu Ulu, the man that is flying the flag of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Arochukwu State Constituency in Abia State.

We are willing to make sacrifices; this is important as I have to stress to you something which you know that is the process of reform and change of our developmental indices, you know development is always costly, difficult, painful and it is hell to go through. It is hard to motivate and get people to do the things today which you need to do if you are going to have a good tomorrow. But because of our mindset, we are able to say, good I have got the world in my hands today, just last week, last year and all the time because I must build the future. It is future orientation. You will see the outcome because it pays.

We have enormous sense of optimism, we are so optimistic and this is extremely important, many people and societies believe and say they are crippled. They are crippled by the possessive sense of pessimism. We have developed enormous self-confidence, crippled? Sometimes, I worry about this because at times it goes to the point of arrogance. Nothing justifies arrogance, rather self-confidence is palpable. We think we can do anything; we think we can do it and every Nigerian says I can do it. Yes I can!. So it has contributed massively to economic growth by establishing quality unity at the state constituency level with consensus and peaceful ideas embedded on Hon. Kalu Kalu Ulu, we can now get on with the job of development and material process, other forms which we could not do before because we were diverted by political indifference and so on.

I would suggest that these are tremendous payoffs for what is a very simple thing which we did, perhaps it sounds accidental, but let us manage this creation of unity.

Most people lie in their past, you will see that they belabor the past all the time. In my view, my constituency, Arochukwu State Constituency is stuck in the future; in everything we do, we do them in order to produce the future which we want, what is the future? The future is to develop our constituency to be really great; to de-emphasise the past and realize a progressive development with our full support for Hon. Ulu to make the house of Assembly. So what does mindset create? We are now prepared to vote redemption mandate today in order to have much better future with a visionary candidate, a tested and trusted man for the people. Vote redemption mandate to secure the future.

Divine Chibuonu Eje

The Umuiwe Autonomous Community of Ututu Town in the Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State is noted for its educational, commercial, political and religious activities, it has produced reputable sons who have continued to break grounds in the millennium development goals of the country.

Prominent among them is the former Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice KALU OGBONNAYA AMAH, The Late Hon. O.K. AMAH, Dr. K.O. Irem, a United States of America-based Medical Practitioner, Dr. O. Obinna, a Senior Lecturer at the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka amongst others.

In the lengthy list of these energetic and promising achievers is Chief Eric Aso Kalu, the Young Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of PFD Maritime Services Limited who has made tremendous impacts in the business community of Rivers State, Onne in particular where he oversees and controls his business.

Born a Prince in Ukwuakwu Village, Umuiwe Autonomous Community Ututu, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State had his primary school education in Ututu, and also completed his secondary education at Ututu Secondary Commercial School, before proceeding to the University of Port-Harcourt where he bagged a Bachelors of Science Degree in Political Administration. Thereafter, the interest of business came into him with the Ututu entrepreneurial spirit boiling in him with the desire to be on his own and also create opportunities for others, he went into business with the little capital at hand. As he progressed in business, he was motivated to move into Freight-Forwarding. To boost his professional competence he attended courses and seminars on maritime operations. Having equipped himself with all these professional qualifications on maritime services, he incorporated what we have today as “PFD MARITIME SERVICES LTD” and KALAS GLOBAL RESOURCES LTD.to carry out the business of freight-forwarding and transportation including export/import of general goods. PFD has come to stay, located at 4, Rumuokoro Street Rumuomasi, Port-Harcourt in Rivers State and branches in Lagos and Calabar with staff strength of thirty [30] professionals and with nearly ten years of rendering quality and efficient services to her clients.

Indeed, PFD is an outstanding name in the maritime industry. Under the leadership of a man with philanthropic tendencies, Chief Eric Aso Kalu is a man at the heart of many in the entire Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State and Ututu Community in particular. As amiable and humble as he is, Chief Kalu has taken his pet and dream of philanthropy to an enviable height by donating a borehole to the good people of Umuiwe Autonomous Community in Ututu-Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State. This gesture and many others from this great son of our time, especially on infrastructural enhancement to the local community sure did endear Kalu to the people transcending the other communities that make up the “LGA” Chief Kalu’s credible antecedents as a youth leader found favour for him in the sight of people, hence the clarion call for him as the incoming elected member of the state house of assembly representing Arochukwu state constituency.

In appreciation to his constituency development, and his philanthropic activities, he has earned for himself, several titles, one of them is the “OMEREOHA I” of Umuiwe Autonomous Community. Outside business activities, Chief Eric Aso Kalu is a crusader for the protection of life of the less privileged and he abhors laziness and dishonesty. Kalu is a community leader anytime, any day and will surely do better if saddled with a higher responsibility like the local government administration. His discipline as a political administrator speaks volume, Kalu, a man of wisdom and courage is touted as the next credible member of the house of Assembly for Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.
Chief Kalu is a legend in the making as he has written his name in gold. This is the general opinion of the entire community and adjoining communities like Ihechiowa, Isu and Abam, Ihechiowa Arochukwu to mention but few. especially his fans who had thronged Umuiwe Community to felicitate with him when H.R.H Eze Daniel Kalu Okore, of Umuiwe Autonomous Community honoured Kalu with the Chieftaincy title of “OMEREOHA I OF UMUIWE”.

They had come to give honour to a deserving youth leader and a philanthropist who have made significant intentions into other areas like education of youths, especially those seating for West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examination.

The youthful chief did not look back when he registered nineteen (19) of the youths from each of the villages that make up his autonomous community for all these year’s WAEC examinations to encourage them in capacity building.

According to some people who spoke to “PMW”, it may not be difficult for this young Chief to become the next member of the Abia state house of Assembly with these kind of developmental tendencies, coupled with the fact that an Ututu son has not been elected into that office since the creation of Arochukwu Local Government Area in 1976 while the other clans have had two and three shots each, excepting the shortlived house of 1983, and the people especially the youths are yearning for Chief Eric Aso Kalu to be there.

By Reporter.

Democracy may be described as a system of government under which the people exercise the governing power either directly or through representatives periodically elected by themselves.

This means that a state may, in political science, be termed a democracy if it provides institutions for the expression and, in the last analysis, the supremacy of the popular will on basic questions of social direction and policy.

Other factors, such as economic equality, fraternal feeling and the small size of the state, are desirable and make for its successful working, the optimum of democracy, political liberty is the indispensible minimum.

The content of political liberty has differed in different countries at different times, but its essence is the right of every man bound by the decisions of a Government to contribute (whatever is in him to contribute) to the making and remaking of those decisions . it’s institutional expressions (in modern representatives democracies are the equal rights of all normal adults to vote and to stand as candidates for election, periodical elections, equal eligibility for executive and judicial office (provided the essential qualifications for the performance of these duties are satisfied, and freedom of speech publication, and Association.

These rights provide the opportunities for political participation, i.e for choosing rulers and deciding the general lines of their policy. They enable those who are so minded to devote themselves to political problems as much as they please. The social environments, economic resources, and natural endowments decide the extent to which these legal rights are effectively used, but even to those who are the least politically minded, opportunity is provided by these rights to pass judgment freely and frequently on the work of the political engineers whose decisions affect their lives. There is a political equality at a minimum level.

CONDITION OF SUCCESS
The opportunity for political participation, political equality and the possibility of an alternate government. These make a state democratic in form. In order words, however that democracy may work successfully, certain additional conditions are necessary.

Foremost among these is the widespread habit of tolerance and compromise among the members of a community, state, name them, of ‘give and take’. This is necessary because democracy involves the conception of majority rule, and the acquiescence of the minority in the decision of the majority. If either presses its demands at the expense of the other, democracy becomes difficult to work.

As the administration of Abia state Governor, Dr. Okezie, Victor Ikpeazu comes to twilight, Abians have assessed its performance and impact on the populace and therefore ranked the administration low.Among those who canvassed and still on that are the teachers and other civil servants on the state civil service employment.

They all spoke and still speaking in their classroom, offices in the markets and village squares which is part of the activities to march this administration out of the seat of governance as they seem not to care for the masses of Abia state, even presently.

PROCLAMATION
The overbearing population of Abians have said, change of government in 2019 is no more secret; let us tell ourselves that the change is no more clandestine issue, but an open matter because it is our right to produce a leader to govern our state. We are the people, we are Abians and will even be an integral part of the state and would not be intimidated in any form any longer. No Abia man or woman and hardly any other right-thinking “Igbo” son or daughter would dispute the legitimacy of our quest for a change of government in Abia state, south-east Nigeria. Viewed in terms of the size of Abia state, the contributions of some of our illustrious sons and daughters to the political, economic and social development of the state.

Across the state, there has been a rekindling jubilation by the Abians to have one of their trusted sons armed with the flag to contest the upcoming governorship elections of 2019, under the auspices of the ‘ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS’, although not minding the party of his membership. The people of Abia state, south-east Nigeria seems to be more comfortable with Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah (OON)., the President of Masters Energy Group.

Expectedly, the passion has caught up with political leaders from the opposing camps and more than ever. The issue of change of the present government has been pushed to the front burner of the state’s political discourse.

However, politicians of Abia stock are criss-crossing the state, convening nocturnal gatherings here and there and reaching out to politicians of the three senatorial zones. Even since the issue of change of government of Abia state became one of a ‘strong possibility, there has been a large influx of aspirants of Abians who are warming up for the government “HOUSE” Umuhhia come 2019. As at the last count, no fewer than 20 aspirants of Abia stock jostling to take over Ikpeazu’s job, political pundits believe that many more will emerge as the political terrain becomes clearer.

Analysts believe that among this pack are distinguished politicians, some of them have what it takes to run a state like Abia and others whose chances of making it to the government house, Umuahia is very slim.

According to watchers of political trend in the state among the top contenders who can lay claim to having what it takes to be governor of Abiia state is Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah. He provides an impeccable credentials. Ogah’s wealth of experience, his network of friends and associates across the state and Nigeria in general, his administrative sway and professional antecedents mark him out as one of the aspirants who look good to clinch the coveted seat of Abia Governor.

The overbearing majority of Abians will no doubt register their approval and gratitude for Ogah in due course because of the pace of his contributions in all sectors of human endeavour in the years, even presently. I have no gift of prophetic wisdom, the visionary instincts that are currently incubating such profound gratitude, give me the gut feeling that citizens of Abia state are not unmindful of the hurricane (not just wind) of change and will no doubt, register their approval and gratitude in due course for Dr. Uchechukwu Samspon Ogah (OON) because when the people’s approved candidate is saddled with leadership, the citizens will surely rejoice.

Prince Kalu Okpo (PMW Magazine)

A closer look at the management of Abia State and her resources by the present administration, one will throb his/her chest and say “ I will not vote for them again, we want change”.

I recently surveyed the administration of Abia State, Southeast Nigeria by the OKEZIE IKPEAZU-led executives, even their appointments to the various ministries and commissions in the state and was left with thoughts of when last, he took a critical look at the appointment of his commissioners as it concerns the three state constituencies that is called Abia State. Before the state Chief Executive makes another appointment that are important, he would do well to spend some good time looking at the communities and constituencies that are shortchanged in terms of appointment of commisioners and others; Ututu community in Arochukwu Local Government Area falls in this caliber cos one can not use a wild banana leaf to shield himself from the rain and tear it to pisces when the rain ends. The executive governor of Abia State should make sure that all stakeholders are carried along, through geo-political equation. But the administration of Okezie Ikpeazu (Phd.) disdains for geo-politics and brotherhood diversity in his operations is so stark as to constitute a scandal as far as appointments and developmental projects are concerned. It’s as if he believes that Abia State is reducible to one half of the geography. Dr. Ikpeazu as a clannish man as he was frequently characterized during his travails to becoming the governor, some critics alleged that his fealty to the geographic half of the state and particularly to the citizens trumped his belief and commitment to treat people of the other zones with fairness.
Since his governorship nomination by Senator T.A. orji aroused such anxiety, Gov. ikpeazu might have carefully taken care to reassure the Abians as he stated in his inaugural speech that he is for all Abians. He seems to have gone out of his way to validate his critics worst fear, including my good self. His administrative decisions have suggested a man whose mindset is as sectional as his political ambition is terrible. In a little less than three years, the Abia State administrator has disappointed many Abians and observers particularly NDE –UtutU because democracy will cease to exist for the one who will take away from those who are willing to give to those who would not. His operations translates unawareness of the longstanding requirements of the founding fathers of Abia State that important political appointments ought to reflect the state character. In all the neglected communities like “UTUTU” has a pool of talented people who are super qualified for commissioners’ appointments. Therefore, Gov. Ikpeazu’s default stance, choosing appointees to his loyalists and geographic half is troubling. Is Dr. Ikpeazu,s vision so blinkered that each time he looks at Abia State and he sees mostly his own people yet no Ututu man, has he no handlers and advisers willing to tell him the honest truth. To save him from his parochial instincts, to advise him simply that his appointments and projects distribution don’t tell flattering story about him. In his early administrative period in the office with his people, Abians excused his lopsided appointment on the ground he needed his trusted people to be around him. Even that apologia was untenable. Ikpeazu is a man whose acceptance to the government house Umuahia met several attacks that ended at the Apex Court. And I don’t recall him professing that if victory comes his way, he will fashion himself primarily into his geographic half and close apologists; some he calls personal assistants. We expect a man who spent much time, energy and resources wanting to become the governor of Abia State would have made some efforts to broaden his base of appointments. Recently, several people of my community confronted me xraying the sectional character of Governor Okezie IKpeazu (P.hd) stating that the longstanding operational synergy with the people and government has been basterdised by the present administration in Abia State. Another acquaintance came with the case of UTUTU PEOPLE, not being appointed into any meaningful position. For any man to endorse a non performing governor as his or her candidate requires a closer look.
IKPEAZU OKEZIE (PHD) , take a critical look at Abia State and your appointments to impotant portfolios for the taste of the pudding is in the eating.
Kalu OKpo
Amankwu Ututu

The saying that give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what belongs to God’ may be appropriate for the monumental movement of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu from the peoples Democratic party to the All progressive congress [A P C] The emergence of Kalu as one of the leaders of A P C in the south—east geo-political zone is not contestable any day anywhere.The truth has come to manifestation. In 1953 Pa Anthony Enahoro of the blessed memory with spiritedness in his step, a powerful and cultured voice moved a motion for independence of the present day Nigeria, he had so many reasons for so doing, one of them could have been autonomy in policy making and implementation, even the collection of tax and rate including the sharing formular.

Numerous reasons abound why people volunteer themselves for representation to their kins in any national any state discouss. these ranges from speaking the minds of their people with one voice,self help programmes and the attraction of developmental projects to their zones as a matter of collective interest, they also have in mind as their mission for the peoples transparent and progressive representation such that will make governance to be more meaningful to the masses. Prominent amongst this caliber of people is Dr Orji Uzor Kalu [M O N] who overwhelmingly pulled out from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressive Congress with overbearing supporters all over the south-east geopolitical zone.

Tis natures law to change,constancy alone is strange.As far as there has been human on this planet , there has been changes also. And for that long, humans have tried to understand the changes they saw,love,birth and death, harvest and floodtide. The changes witnessed by the people of south-east geopolitical zone of the federal republic of Nigeria have been too difficult or bewildering to comprehend, but as far as we know,every age has wrestled with the problem of change in order that life will be more meaningful with a great sense of direction and purpose,however nuclear that might be.

Historically, record suggests that people of south-east-Nigeria have for decades been confronted by persistent tension between one and the many, between individual search for his own autonomy and his involvement in an environment that might deprive him of his autonomy and his sense of uniqueness. The age long question is Am I my brothers keeper, seem for ever to recur.And to this question too, the people of south-east geopolitical zone of the federal republic of Nigeria have had to find today some answers.

In the dawn of a new era with a mission for change. I hope to share my excitement about one way of understanding the world and man,s place within it .Certainly, The former governor of Abia state, Dr Orji Kalu is not the only man,he may not even be t he best but I am convinced that the qualities in him coupled with social approach and his penchant for touching lives positively is total.The business guru cum political giant from Igbere, Bende, Abia North senatorial district of Abia state,whom the good people of south-east will ever defy rain and sun to make sure they toe his path as the leader that will make the financial security and developmental indices of south-east geopolitical zone to rise and rise in a less confusing fashion and to see some hope where there might otherwise be discouragement.
The fact is that Dr Orji Uzor Kalu[M O N] is a leader whose primary interest is to make faces smile in the nook and crannies of his geopolitical zone and Nigeria at large.

Any one who has moved closer to him will agree that he has a passion for service. Even from a distance one can picture the selflessness in him. He is one man who looks ready at all times to use his energy,intellect and financial resources to support the masses. The man O U K whose agenda is total transformation of south-east geopolitical zone is ever a shinning light to all.

The former governor of Abia state who was dubbed ACTION GOVERNOR, courtesy of President Obasanjo [GCFR]has made his mark, endowed with impeccable character,immense sagacity,great administrative acumen,sense of mission to advance the boundaries of politics,education,employment,finance,infrastructure,industry,public health and security in the entire south-east geopolitical zone.He is now enarmored of what to do for the zone and not what the people can do for him.A pacesetter and a beacon of light to the youth and upcoming generation of Nigeria.

To many south-easterners,the stories across the zone reveals that leadership should be entrusted on the young and upwardly mobile in the likes of Dr Orji Uzor Kalu[M O N] to come up with administrative strategies to growth and development.There should be a paradigm change to younger generation to shine the torch of caring leadership and guidance.Politicians generally see themselves as leaders but not all of them are.Whereas the south-east geopolitical zone needs a leader who is in tune with times,a leader that can trample obstacles with unyielding zeal, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu[M O N] fits the bill.

By Kalu Okpo.

COMPROLLER DIMKA SOLICITS CO-PERATION FROM IMPORTERS AND CLEARING AGENTS.
The job of Nigeria customs service are beyond what most Nigerian citizens thinks and know. The customs officials are not just there for collection of duties from imports, export and excise tariff from local manufacturers and combat smuggling activities.
A Nigerian customs official is trained to know those things that affect the micro and macro economy of the nation and candidly advice the government on some issues relating to the fiscal development of the economy after extensive analysis of such issues. This is the reason why the customs high command takes much pains to carefully scrutinize its officials before entrusting then with some sensitive commands as comptrollers. One of such reputable customs comptrollers of repute is Comptroller Dimka v d[fsi] an alumnus of University of Lagos, who was detailed to take over the mantle of leadership of Seme command of the Nigeria customs service .Comptroller Dimka an experienced officer on enforcement duties had commanded the federal operations units A and C that is ikeja and owerri respectively and he was a colossus of sort.
In a recent chart with some journalists, Comptroller Dimka appealed for maximum cooperation from importers and freight- forwarding agents with emphasis that; We are here to balance the enforcement and trade facilitation and combat the influx of prohibited goods. He pledged to render his best to ensure that importation of unwanted goods into the country through the command under his control is jeopardized, which is the primary assignment of his command to save the customs job from being relinquished to the back burner. The former comptroller of customs in charge of zones A and C of the federal operations unit of the Nigeria customs service who oversees the activities of the service at Seme presently said that; We are ready to learn from people, that is the reason why we have channels for suggestions on how to improve in our service delivery……..
By Kalu OKPO[PMW]

UTUTU POWER STRUGGLE IN AROCHUKWU L.G.A ABIA STATE
It was to be an annual celebration of Identity, love brotherhood and cultural heritage of Ndi-Ntutu.
Prominent sons and daughters of Ututu resident in Lagos and Ecowas region gather at the prestigious FAMS EMBASSY HOTELS, Badagry Lagos on that faithful day to reaffirm their Ututunes and adopt an agenda that will see them liberated from the obnoxious segregation, but it turned out to be a political rally of jibes at the political leadership of Arochukwu Local council since creation in 1976 and collectively, endorsed a common political aspiration to produce the next local council Chairman for Arochukwu L.G.A of Abia state.
Prince Kalu Okpo set the tone of discourse for the day and sent the crowd on a wild jubilation when he declared wherever “NDI-UTUTU” are, there I am. Proclamation. Dr Kalu Nchege picked up thr gauntlet there, he said Ututu Chairman 2016 is no more secret, in the nooks and crannies of Arochukwu L/G.A.
Let us tell our friends in the other clans of Arochukwu, Ihechwowa, Isu and Abam that ututu chairman is 2016 is no more a clandestine Issue, but an open matter because it is our turn to oversea the affairs of Arochukwu L.G.A.
History shows that since the creation of Arochukwu L.G.A. wayback 1976, it is only Ututu that has never been elected into the office of the chairman Nchege asserted.
That Ndi Ututu remained an integral part of Arochukwu L.G.A and would not be intimidated into taking back seat or relegated to the background.
The president general of UTUTU Development Association Mr. Elvis Osu would not be left out of the train of agitation for Arochukwu L.G.A. chairman of ututu extraction. He said no Arochukwu L.G.A. man or woman and hardly any other right thinking member of L.G.A would dispute the legitimacy of guest for a chairman of Ututu extraction, viewed in terms of the size of Ututu population in the L.G.A , the contribution to the political, economics, education and social development of Arochukwu local Government Area of Abia state, south east Nigeria.
While the likes of Dr. Alvan Ikoku spearheaded the political train, people like Prof. I.K. Onoh, Dr, Obinna, pro. Okore, Rev. (Sr.) Dr, Mary Joseph Okpo were into capacity building that saw many scholars through to Imo, Abia Universities and there were all bright brains in the society. They have been rekindle passion by Ndi-Ututu to have one of their own as the next elected Council chairman for Arochukwu L.G.A of Abia State.
Expectedly, the passion has caught up with political leaders from other clans of the L.G.A and more than ever, the issue of Ututu chairman has been pushed to the front burner of the L.G.A political discourse.
According to “Ogbuagu 1 of Eleoha Ututu, chief Obinna Nwankwo, the matter of an Ututu man as the next chairman has moved from the realm of probability to the realm of strong possibility, not minding the candidate and party affiliation.
ON WHY UTUTU WANTS TO BE THE NEXT CHAIRMAN
Ndi-Ututu have made clear their intention to rule this time around, not just to rule, but to produce the next local Government Chairman, a post that have eluded them since the inception of democracy in Nigeria for close to two decades.
ON WHAT IT TAKES TO BE THE CHAIRMAN
If you look around the field today, and I want you to involve every other clan that make up the L.G.A in the pack, I submit with every humility that Ndi-Ututu is more qualify. I’m not boasting, everybody has a stake in the L.G.A take the stake of all these other clans contesting the chairmanship position and you would see that Ututu is ahead of all those eyeing the seat because they have never occupied that seat before as elected, and more than ever, ututu is qualified in terms of looks and determination. That is why all stake holders come in “ Who do they want to be their Chairman? A man who have been there two or more times, a clan that has occupied the seat before through election or those that yet to be elected for once a chairman of the council, A man likable or an unlikable man. As a patriot from the great Arochukwu L.G.A, Alphabetically the first in Abia, I want to believe that development and democracy have been triggered by three major phenomena. Hard work, thrift and the reward of merit. These three virtues of democracy and development are in the Ututu persons “Incarnated” though not exclusively because such merit, such as hard work, such as thrift can also be seen in other clans of L.G.A Ututu wants to have the chance that others have had to bring these criteria into work for democracy and development throughout the L.G.A.
Ututu is everywhere, Isu, Abam, Ilechiowa and Arochukwu. Go to any of these communities you will find Ndi-Ututu. They did not go ther to fight them. They went to live with them in peace and harmony to work, to be paid and to be in peace, chairman of Ututu extraction is most qualified for now, and they are asking for that opportunity right now, because it is their turn,
Prince Kalu Okpo
(PMW)

Border control authorities around the world all face the same dilemma increasing volumes of people and goods without any corresponding increase in resources, notwithstanding, slowing trade flows brought about by the current global economic downturn. Traders and travelers too have greater expectations for speedier processing and clearance times whilst government and society expect border authorities to rigorously apply the law in order to protect their interests. Safeguard the health and safety of their citizens, and ensure national security. This means balancing trade facilitation on the one hand with trade security on the other allowing legitimate goods and travelers to pass through borders without unnecessary hindrances while protecting the international trade supply chain from threats posed by organized crime, smugglers, commercial fraudsters, terrorists and even goods that could endanger people.

Co-ordinated borders management (CBM) is now recognised by the customs community as a potential solution for the challenges that the century presents especially with respect to efficient and effective border management. Its importance resulted in the concept being included in the WCO councils strategic policy on customs in the 21st century that was adopted in June 2008 where it is listed as one of the 10 key building blocks for managing borders in today’s environment.

A co-ordinated approach by border control agencies lays at the heart of the CBM concept, In the context of seeking greater efficiencies in managing trade and travel flows, while maintaining a balance with security requirements, the term gives prominence to the general principle of co-ordination of policies, programmes and delivery among cross-border regulatory agencies rather than favoring any single solution.

An essential part of CBM involves dialogue between customs and other agencies at the border as well as between customs and the business community; hence, the world customs organisation’s initiatives in organizing its first inter-agency Forum on co-ordinated border management. The forum raised an awareness about the CBM concept and its benefits and was intended to encourage governments and individual border agencies to engage one another more actively to ensure better and smarter management of national borders.

By Kalu Okpo
(PMW)

In today Nigeria’s political history, every era has produced its stars and villains. The present regime, a period of a new political renaissance is daily producing its own political personages.

In the first Republic, we had the Azikiwes, Okparas, Osadebeys, The Ikokus, Mbakwes only to mention but a few who represented the IGBOS’s interest. These people either by deeds or misdeeds, left remarkable footprints on the canvas of Nigeria’s history, South Eastern states of IGBO extraction. As always political actors on the stages of life who fret and strut their hours upon the stage only to be remembered by their roles. Today, in the whole of south Eastern Nigeria of Igbo extraction, in the present era of political re-engineering, a personality is bestriding the entire eastern region’s political landscape like a colossus.

The former governor of Abia state, astute business magnet, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (MON) has transformed into economic and political legend in today IGBO-LAND. Kalu has emerged as a factor and a concept and has become the recurring decimal that must be resolved for the equation to the speedy progress and transparent representation of Ndigbo in all ramifications. Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (MON) has ever remained the voice for the voiceless and has been able to make one thing clear, and that is to be relevant with the government in power. He has been persistent in tinkering possible ways of battling the economic recession that is experienced in the country. Kalu is a personality that commands respect, love and most often denies himself a lot to put smile on faces of the people. Even before he dared the murky waters of politics. One thing that stands OUK taller in the crowd is his antecedents that is characterized with humanistic – tendencies. The man, OUK is a true Igbo leader any day, anywhere, anytime, he will either swim and sink for every Igbo cause and to crown it all, he is tested and trusted, even the entire Ndigbo seem to be familiar and comfortable with him right from his background.

Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (MON) the big thinker, the master strategist and also the former action Governor of Abia state, south eastern Nigeria in 1999 delivered the region to the favour of OBJ. He will do it again in Buhari’s government.

Kalu, as a reference point in Nigeria’s political discourse has made indelible marks in Nigerian politics and has moderated all topical issues with unassailable logic and candour.

The Igbere-born political giant knows what it takes to be less-privileged. As a philanthropist, he has extended his generosity to the poor, the down-trodden, the less-privileged through many avenues including scholarship. For his numerous services to Abia state as a governor, the former head of state, President Obasanjo dubbed him action governor.

OUK, in All Progressive Congress, is with the belief that the economic situation in Nigeria, as bad as it is now, would be a huge economic blessing for the country; every situation creates an opportunity, the present economic recession in the country is not an exception; hence, Kalu’s membership of APC with a view of working in support to the government of the day. With these dancing feet from OUK, the end of marginalization of the south eastern Nigeria will become a mirage.

What Kalu’s romance with APC would help us to establish is that we get to know our friends when we are in need of infrastructures and other democratic dividends due us as a people of south eastern Nigeria. For Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (MON) to join APC, it is a welcome development for us as a people.

Prince Kalu Okpo
(PMW)

SEME CUSTOMS HARVESTS-N542,934,941.07 AS DUTY-INTO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNT THE MONTH OF MAY 2016.
In the era of the nations economic re-engineering by the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government of Nigeria,The seme command of the Nigeria customs service have not been found wanting in boasting the country,s economy through revenue generation,The command is also rated high in its approach to trade facilitation within the ecowas region.
At seme command of the customs service, It is nearly half a year when the manlie of leadership changed hands, It has been a period of action and focused leadership since comptroller Dimka V,D [mfs]took over the baton.When he promised to run a people oriented administration. He left no one in doubt as to the direction and policy thrust of his service.
He outlined his goals to include improvement in revenue generation to the federal government with strict accounting, provisions of affordable facilities , good and efficient service delivery as well suppressing smuggling to the barest minimal without compromise.
He also bemoaned the lackluster tendencies that have hitherto retarded the progress of the command.
Within this space of time through dedication and proper articulation of the challenges and needs of the command there have been commendable results.
The over all effect of comptroller Dimka,s impressive performance in short a period is such that the revenue profile of the command has remained in ascending order.
Despite the downturn of importation that has affected the command,s revenue generation with negative impact.
, But the command was able to harvest the sum of N542,934,941.o7 as duty for the month of may 2016 also made 98 seizures with duty payment value [DPV] of N83,280,340 about 6 suspects were apprehended.The comptroller disclosed that fairly used vehicules transited or transferred to Nigeria accounted for 70% of the duty collected, Baggage assessment and other taxes also accounted for13% while imported general goods accounted for only 17% of the total revenue collected for the period under review.He pointed out that the drastic reduction on the importation of general goods occasioned by the high exchange rate and low volume of economic activities across the frontier has had negative consequences on the revenue drives of the command.The commands boss enjoined all sectional and unit heads not to relent in their effort as the commands resolve to succeed in her given mandate cannot be over emphassised. By kalu okpo [pmw]

Nigeria Customs Service, a catalyst for nation building.