₦airaland Forum

Pictures of Yoruba Land

YOU TOO ? !!! I CAN SMELL DESPERATION. YOU REGISTERED ON NAIRALAND JUST YESTERDAY JUST TO TYPE THIS RUBBISH ? !!! YOU CAN ONLY DECEIVE YOURSELF.

onyebuchiokafor:
Weall know what he said was wrong but lets not use this incident to judge AMBODE... the oba is doing this for himself without AMBODE CONSENT...

xo VOTE right,,,AMBODE for LAGOS...

APC,,,[CHANGE]

IGBOS IN LAGOS NEVER SAID THE NONSENSE THE MOR0NIC POSTER IS ALLEGING !!! I GUESS HE IS HAPPY WITH THE OBA OF LAGOS COMMENTS. NO SANE YORUBA PERSON WOULD SUPPORT SUCH RASCALITY. THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME FOR SIMPLETONS LIKE YOU WHO CREATE SENSELESS ETHNIC THREADS LIKE THIS TO BE PROVOCATIVE.

He is delta Igbo. Just as we have Kwara Yoruba.

TheRealAdonye:
He's Deltan not Igbo.

Why can't Gov Rochas make Douglas neat and beautiful like Wetheral Road

Abagworo:
Douglas road. Been long I dared enter the ever gridlocked and dirty road. Government needs to rise up to the occassion and remove Amawusa and the 2 Owerri markets from there. I wonder how people survive in this nasty area.

These pictures looks good. We need more of them.

Abagworo:
Such a contrast to the new Owerri areas where everywhere is green and spaced out. Sometimes its good to explore the low class parts of town to know reality. A visitor from Port Harcourt who is lodged at say Links Hotel that uses the newly constructed roads like Nworie, Dee Sam and Akachi to go from one part of Owerri to the other might not know Douglas road exists. I will take tour of 2 other suspected ghettos at Orji/Uratta/Amakohia and World bank/Umuguma next time.

Gov. Obiano signs $250m MoU for the Ogbunike Cave Resort Development

Mar 17, 2015

The State Government has signed a two hundred and fifty million dollar Memorandum of Understanding with Africa Project Finance and Development Limited forthe development of Ogbunike Cave into a World Class Park and Resort.

The agreement was signed at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.
Our reporter, who covered the ceremony, said that under the arrangement, the company will design, develop, finance, construct and operate the state of the art park and tourist destination.

The equity distribution of the Memorandum of Understanding allocates seventy-five per cent to the company, fifteen per cent to the state government, five per cent to Oyi local government area and another five per cent to Ifite Ogbunike, while three per cent will be used for development and social responsibility projects in the area.

Governor Willie Obiano, in his speech, said the project would provide a comprehensive entertainment centre and facilitate total harnessing of the cave and make it attractive for tourism.

Governor Obiano assured that the project would be handled by a World Class Contractor who would give the state quality facilities for tourism and relaxation.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima, explained that following Governor Obiano’s passion and directive to transform the age-old cave, that had been ignored over the years, the Ministry and Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, (ANSIPPA) accelerated work in attracting the investor and concluded modalities for the partnership to harness the potentials of the cave.

Chief Onyima said a schedule for the implementation of the project had been worked out and assured that by next year, some of the projects would be ready for commissioning and would transform the state with multiplier effects.The Managing Director of the company, Mr. Joachim Nwagbo, noted that within one year, Governor Obiano has turned the state into a first choice investment destination with effective security system and stable socio-political environment, attractive for direct funding of projects and strategic development initiative.

Mr. Nwagbo said in addition to the Ogbunike Cave project, the company was equally ready to finance an airport project, modern transport Scheme and has one-point-five billion dollars to invest on interstate rail system.

Earlier, the Chairman, Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency and traditional ruler of Umuoji, Igwe Cyril Enweze, said the project would include Nature and games reserve, Water Park, hotels, Museums, retail and dining facilities, amphi-theatre, cultural centre, lake and river sports, among other recreation activities.

Igwe Enweze explained that the project has great benefits for the state, including mass direct and indirect employment opportunities, as well as transfer of skills and technology.

http://anambrariansnews.com.ng/?p=6285

Alaoji power plants’ll boost S’East economy, says Jonathan
0
By Our Reporter on March 26, 2015 Business

FROM DENNIS MERNYI, ABUJA

President Goodluck Jonathan has said the completed Phase 1 of the 1,504 megawatts elec­tricity Simple Circle Gas Turbine Alaoji power proj­ect in Abia State will boost the economic fortunes of the South East.

Jonathan also noted that no nation can be developed without robust power supply infrastructure, which is key to

industrial development, stat­ing that government remained committed to increasing elec­tricity generation to meet the demand of industrial and do­mestic users.

Speaking when he com­missioned the 504.4 mega­watts Alaoji power plant, the President recalled that “when I was the Vice President, we got the report about this project and the report was to cause government to abandon the project but when I took a visit here, we discovered that the report was false and we resolved to complete it.

“Power is key to develop­ment without which there will be no sound economy. The second phase of this project will be completed and com­missioned soon.

Also speaking, Prof. Chin­edu Nebo, Minister of Power, said the commissioning of the project was in fulfilment of government’s promise to revive and complete the abandoned NIPPS across the country.

“Today is the day of cel­ebration of the reviving and completion of this project. This the 4th of these projects we are commissioning. This is an unbroken record no one has attained. We expect that the remaining six would also be commissioned soon.

“The completion and com­missioning of these projects will definitely sprout out eco­nomic activities in these areas. The government met only 3,000 megawatts at inception of this administration but to­day there is installed capacity of over 5,000 megawatts,” he stated.

Speaking earlier, the Man­aging Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Com­pany (NDPHC), James Olotu, stated that the Alaoji Com­bined Cycle Power Plant proj­ect is a two-phased project made up of 504.4 megawatts each.

The plant, according to him, has the output for the simple cycle power plant through four gas turbine units of 126.1 megawatts capacity each and 570 megawatts from two steam turbines.

Electricity generated from the power plant, the NDPHC chief executive disclosed, would be wheeled out from Alaoji substation via Alaoji- Owerri-Onitsha and the on­going Alaoji-Ikot Ekpene 330KV double circuit lines to the rest of the national grid.

Alaoji project, which was originally conceived as 378.3 megawatts (3×126.1), was later decided to increase addi­tional scope into a combined cycle configuration for im­proved efficiency that gave rise to the fourth gas turbine.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=110945

World Bank awards N250 million Ajali erosion control contract
0
By Our Reporter on March 25, 2015 National

From CHIDI NNADI, Enugu

World Bank-assisted Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, (NEWMAP), yesterday awarded N250 million contract for the control of the Ajali Water Works gully erosion in Enugu State.

The award of the contract for the 8-kilometer long erosion is the second of the 25 selected erosion sites NEWMAP penciled down for remedy in the state.

Handing over the site to the contractor, Engr Frank Nnaji, at Nsude in Udi Local Government Area of the state, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Nnaemeka Chukwuone, said that the state had also approved a counterpart fund of N150 million out the N700 million expected from the state government to augment execution of all NEWMAP projects in the state.

The commissioner disclosed that the engineering works of the erosion management would be executed, sustainable munching of the site provided and economic trees planted to avert further degradation of the area.

Chukwuone noted that the project was dear to the state government because of the location of the water works from where pipe-borne water was reticulated to the Enugu metropolis.

The traditional ruler of the affected community, HRH (Prof) Kenneth Onyia, who mobilised his subjects to the site, expressed gratitude to the funding partners, especially Governor Sullivan Chime, for extending dividends of democracy to his community.

The traditional ruler also alerted that the Okpuno erosion site starting from the source of Nyaba River located in his community had got to Okpuno village, posing great danger to his people than the Ajali erosion site.

“The 21 boreholes that used to supply water to Enugu and Nsude are located just down here and forms part of this Ajali erosion site.

“Part of the reason why they have not been functional for over 15 years now is due to erosion at the site. So, we’ve been buying water from vendors since. Erosion is a big problem in Nsude,” he lamented.

Also speaking, Nnaji promised to remedy the erosion site, promising that his company would execute the project on time.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=110693

Okorocha lured us into Jonathan protest – APC women

By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri / March 25, 2015 / No Comments

Hundreds of Imo State women under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who yesterday staged a protest in Owerri against the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state, for a town hall meeting with traditional rulers, have accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of misleading them.
The women, who expressed regret over their being used to embarrass the president, claimed that they were deceived and brought to Owerri, the state capital, for a purported seminar only to be turned to protesters against Jonathan’s visit.
According to some of the aggrieved women, they arrived at the former chambers of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Owerri, now designated Imo Women Development Centre, WDC, to attend a seminar.
They disclosed to journalists that they only realised that they were mobilised for a protest against the use of the place by some traditional rulers led by the embattled Eze Cletus Ilomuanya to receive President Jonathan.
The protesters had blocked the roads to the centre, a situation which led to policemen and soldiers to disperse them using canisters after all appeals for them to leave the venue were ignored.
One of the women from Okigwe Local Government Area, who gave her name as Mrs. Ngozi Anorue said: “We were invited by the governor for a seminar at the centre. But we didn’t know that they only brought us here to protest against the president of our country. They invited us as women leaders from our communities; that’s why you could see hundreds of us.
“We thought we were coming for CGC seminar as they told us; we didn’t know we were called out to come and fight their fight.
“Please stop blaming me. Do I have any problem with President Jonathan? I don’t. So, why should I come and begin to protest against the president. In fact, most of us believe that we will vote for President Jonathan and later vote for Rochas. So, we were deceived to protest against President Jonathan.”
The embittered woman accused the state government of always using the women and children to fight the governor’s political battle.
Some of the women sustained injuries during their scuffle with the police and soldiers.

http://nigerianpilot.com/okorocha-lured-us-into-jonathan-protest-apc-women/

Women, security operatives clash at Jonathan’s town hall meeting

March 25, 2015
by Ranti Joseph

GOODLUCK-JONATHAN_2906771b

Hundreds of women protesting the takeover of the Women Development Centre in Owerri, the Imo State capital for President Jonathan’s town hall meeting with a faction of traditional rulers headed by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, were teargased by stern looking security men who barricaded the road leading to the Centre.

The women who defied all entreaties by the heads of the security agencies in the state, took over the roads leading to the venue of the town hall meeting on Tuesday, chanting anti-Jonathan slogans. Scores of them were wounded, while several others suspected to be asthmatic fainted after inhaling the tear gas fume.

The Director General of the Centre, Ndidi Iheme, stated that the over 2,500 women drawn from across the 27 Local Government Areas of the State, were billed for a training at the centre on the conduct and role of women in the 2015 general elections.

She stated further that the centre has been locked up for the past five days without any explanation, adding that, there is no court injunction whatsoever restraining them from having access to their office but have been locked out for over five days without explanation.

“We have slated a training for the women today at the centre and we came this morning to start but were denied entrance by the security men. We were not given any prior notice about the President’s visit or any information that the centre was going to be used for any town hall meeting of any sort and we have resolved that we are not going to allow this intimidation,” she said.

It was however gathered that Jonathan’s decision to visit the Eze Ilomuanya led faction of the Traditional Rulers’ Council may have provoked the authorities in the state.

Ilomuanya, who was deposed as a traditional ruler by the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, over his romance with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was recognized by Jonathan, obviously to spite the state government.

http://ynaija.com/women-security-operatives-clash-jonathans-town-hall-meeting/

Jonathan Inaugurates Phase One of Alaoji Power Plant, Abia State

25 Mar 2015

Font Size: a / A
N010212--Goodluck-Jonathan.jpg - N010212--Goodluck-Jonathan.jpg

President Goodluck Jonathan

Promises to resolve issues holding down Geometrics Nebo: Nigeria’s generation capacity now 5,500MW APC backs power sector privatisation
Chineme Okafor, Adebiyi Adedapo in Abuja and Emmnuel Ugwu in Umuahia


President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday inaugurated the 504MW Phase I of the 1,074MW combined cycle Alaoji power plant built by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) to bring up to 2,188MW, the contributions of the NIPPs plants to national power generation so far.

Flanked by top officials of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the event in Aba, Abia State, Jonathan also reiterated his commitment to advance the frontiers of inclusive economic development in Nigeria with continuous upgrade of the country’s electricity system amongst other economic enablers.

Shortly before his official inauguration of the plant, the president noted that Nigeria’s overall development remained possible with the commitment of Nigerians. And in making reference to the work of the indigenous Engineering, Procurement and Contracting (EPC) contractor of the plant, Rockson Engineering, he called it a commitment to the building of the fortunes of the country.
“Power is key to development and without power micro, small and medium enterprises cannot do well and that is the focus of this administration.

“If small businesses will generate their own power, then their returns will be minimal and their turnover will be too low, that is why we are totally committed and promise that the second phase will be completed. We will work together to transform this country, we will work together to move this country forward,” Jonathan said.

He noted that but for his intervention in 2007, the Alaoji power plant could have been abandoned when a report falsely indicted it.

“Inaugurating this 504MW today is a moment I will always remember because as mentioned by the minister of power, while as a vice-president, there was a report about this project and the government was to abandon the project because the information that got to us was disturbing but I insisted on inspecting this physically because if government has put in so much money in the project, how do we just abandon it and so I came here and observed that the report was different from what was on ground and we had to continue with the project,” he noted.

He also said with regards to the EPC contractor and contributions of indigenous engineering firms in the country’s power sector that: “I have to thank Rockson Engineering for the work they have done and I am quite pleased that today we are commissioning this first phase and the completion of the second phase will increase the capacity of the plant.”

After inaugurating the Alaoi power station, President Jonathan visited the Geometric power station being built by Geometric Power Limited, a private investor.

He promised to resolve the issues that had been holding down the power station which has been completed but yet to become operational following a mistake made during the privatisation of the power sector.

Mr. President also held a town hall meeting with the business community and other stakeholders at the Aba Sports Club where he pledged federal intervention in revamping the infrastructure of the commercial city of Aba.

Also, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, in his remarks noted that the country had upgraded its electricity generation capacity to 5,500MW, with the inauguration of four NIPP power plants: Alaoji, Olorunsogo Phase Two, Omotosho and Geregu.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NDPHC, James Olotu, said in his brief on the plant’s configuration, that with the 504MW phase one segment of the 1074MW Alaoji combined cycle power station in Umuobasiukwu, Alaiyi of Abia State, now brings the total power generation contribution of the NIPPs to 2188MW so far.

Olotu explained that the 504MW output from the power plant comprises of four gas turbines units of 126.1MW capacity each and located adjacent to the existing Alaoji 330kV transmission station owned by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“Construction work on the outstanding 570MW steam turbines is continuing and when completed, will bring the entire capacity of the Alaoji power plant to 1,074MW, the largest among the 10 NIPP power stations.

Power from the plant will be wheeled out via Alaoji-Owerri-Onitsha transmission loop and the ongoing Alaoji-Ikot Ekpene 330kV double circuit lines to the rest of the country’s grid system,” Olotu said.

He added that the entire first phase of the transmission loop from Alaoji through the upgraded Owerri substation, Ikot Ekpene, Ugwuaji, Enugu, Benue and Plateau is scheduled to be completed by May 2015, while the second double circuit transmission lines and substation passing from a new Alaoji switch-yard through the existing Alaoji substation to Owerri and all the way to Nnewi and Onitsha in Anambra State, would upon completion, help to transmit potential electricity generated from this axis to the rest of the country.

According to Olotu, gas supply to the plant is currently from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Accugas with additional supplies also expected from Total soon.

At full capacity, the Alaoji plant is designed to consume approximately 230 million standard cubic feet (mscuf) of gas per day for power generation.

Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Muhammed, has said the party is not against privatisation in the power power sector, as implemented by the federal government.

Muhammed said this yesterday in Abuja during the manifesto session of the Nigeria Political Party Debates Series (NPPDS), organised by Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in collaboration with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

He explained that the APC having pioneered construction of Independent power station in Lagos state under former governor Bola Tinubu, would not turn around to castigate the policy.

He added that Edo State, which is another APC state was working to deliver a 450mw power station at the cost of $1 billion, through a private sector initiative.

“Don’t make mistake about it, we are not against any privatisation of power or that of any sector, after all, we pioneered the first independent power plant in Lagos in 1999, and, as we are speaking, Edo State, another APC state is working on a 450, megawatts power station at ther cost of about $1 billion,” he said.

However, the presidential campaign office of the party yesterday debunked reports that its standard bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), promised to equate naira to a dollar if voted into office.

The Deputy Director in charge of Policy and Strategy for the campaign organisation, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, who made the clarification during the debate, said the party would formally complain to the news medium that reported the story.
Abdulahgi said Buhari only described the economic situation where the value of the naira dropped to N230 as unacceptable.

“On the issue of Buhari saying that he will bring naira at par with dollar, I want to say it clearly here that Buhari never said so. He did not say so. If you are implying on the media report, I want to say that we are protesting to the media organisation that reported that. If you read the body of the story, you would have noticed that there was nothing in the body of the report that quoted that as saying, ‘I will bring naira at par with dollar.’ He only said it is unacceptable that dollar will be exchanging for N230,” he said.

http://www.naijalately.com/news/jonathan-inaugurates-phase-one-of-alaoji-power-plant

2015: Violence in Imo cathedral

March 18, 2015

In this piece, GIBSON ACHONU recounts the violence that erupted at Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, last week when politicians converged for a debate

The stage was set for the august occasion scheduled to be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. The venue was the Odenigbo Pavilion located inside the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri.

Enthusiastic politicians and party supporters were present in great numbers, waiting for the guests invited for the programme. Then the bubble burst.

The event was the disrupted quadrennial public political debate which started in 2007. It was organised by the Justice Development and Peace Committee under the auspices of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri with the Archbishop, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, in attendance.

On the fateful day, Owerri, the capital city of Imo State witnessed an upheaval which has since then generated various comments among the people of the state and even beyond. Though the people of the state are predominantly Catholics, with other Christian denominations but because politics was involved, the upheaval has continued to raise dust. Outside the church, people have described the incident as politically motivated.

The ceremony had in attendance some government officials like the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Anwukah; Imo State Chief of Staff, Sir Jude Ejiogu; Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Uche Nwosu; and the Commissioner for Information, Chief Chidi Ibe. Others were the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Edward Ihejirika; the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Kenneth Emelu and the Senior Special Adviser on Culture, Mr. Paddy Obinna, who is the archbishop’s relative, among other dignitaries.

The fracas broke out at about 9.03am (before the event started) when a group of women suspected to comprise widows, dressed in black stormed the arena. They started to blow whistles and flashed red cards, chanting “Ka opuo,” meaning “Go away.” “Ka opuo” is a campaign slogan against Governor Rochas Okorocha, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress. The governor recently had an altercation with some widows in the state capital recently.

They invaded the event by taking over the podium, broke chairs, overturned tables, unplugged electronic equipment and smashed the lectern even as they assaulted some priests.

Apparently infuriated by this action, a group of APC women wearing the Madonna uniform with the inscription, Catholic Women Organisation, challenged the widows and broke into “Rochas we know” chant. Tempers rose to boiling point.

Suspecting imminent crisis, the organisers, led by Reverend Father Casmir Nzeh, immediately intervened and quelled the situation, warning everybody against any attempt to use the forum for political campaign.

This intervention notwithstanding, some APC members appeared unsatisfied with the turn of events, they surged forward. They climbed the podium and invaded it, seizing the microphone and scattering the equipment set for the programme. They started pointing accusing finger at the organisers, saying that they colluded with anti-APC groups to embarrass the organisers, the governor and the party.

Appeals were made to them by the organisers but they remained unyielding as they felt that the anti-Okorocha protesters had overstepped their boundary by turning the programme into a campaign event. A number of them advanced to the podium in annoyance, threatening to break the eyeglasses of the moderator and the Master of Ceremony, who is also a priest.

The ensuing fracas worsened and guests started scampering for safety. Many scaled the fence while a number escaped through the gate.

As people were running, the desecration at the pavilion continued for more than 50 minutes. The situation continued to degenerate and the pavilion turned into a “warfront” with different chants of party slogans from pro-Peoples Democratic Party and pro-All Progressive Grand Alliance supporters.

However, despite the charged atmosphere, there was no physical clash between the groups.

The Director of Okorocha Campaign Organisation, Mr. Iheukwumere Alaribe, accused the PDP and APGA of sponsoring the violence.

A statement by an aide to Okorocha, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, denied the allegations against the state government.

The statement said the state government has no other option than to draw the “attention of the God-fearing people of the state to the unprovoked, unwarranted and unfortunate media attacks which a newspaper owned by the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese has launched against the governor and the state government for some time now.”

It said, “As a government, we have on our own tried to find out the offence of either the governor or the government of the state against the newspaper or the archdiocese or even the archbishop who is our spiritual father, so that we can ask for forgiveness, but we could not remember any.

“We only heard that the newspaper and its proprietors are supporting a governorship candidate.

“We never believed that information because our expectation has been that the church should always pray that the wish of God should prevail in the 2015 elections since we all believe that God gives power.”

However, the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, who arrived in the middle of the commotion, blamed the APC.

He said, “The APC hired thugs and invaded the place because Okorocha knew what awaited him if the debate had held. Few weeks ago, we had a public forum organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria at the Anglican Cathedral Church, Egbu. Okorocha boycotted it. Now he knows that this is a debate he must attend. In order to prevent the calamity that would have befallen him (at the debate), he has not only disrupted the programme but also desecrated the cathedral.”

The APGA governorship candidate, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho (retd.), condemned the violence, calling it a sacrilege and a show of desperation. He pleaded with the PDP and the APC to avoid any act capable of heating up the polity in the state.

In a press statement, the organisers expressed disappointment at the incident and wondered how a non-partisan and interactive event could have suddenly turned violent.

Archbishop Obinna, who expressed shock, thanked God that no life was lost.

In a statement tagged, “Unfortunate disruption of public forum,” the archbishop said JDPC regretted the disruption and consequent cancellation of the public interactive forum between the Imo State electorate and governorship candidates in the state.

He said, “The non-partisan and faith-based organised event is the third in the series, after the 2007 and 2011 editions. With the theme, ‘Towards credible elections and respectful leadership in Imo State,’ the 2015 edition was scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at the Obiri Odenigbo, Assumpta Cathedral premises.

“The public forum is part of the JDPC voter education for enhancing the electoral process. It is meant to offer an opportunity for Imo electorate and the governorship candidates to assemble as a family, beyond party divide, to interact on political issues in the state in view of the coming elections.”

“Thousands of Imo electorate, including special invitees like the Independent National Electoral Commission, National Orientation Agency, Conference of All Political Parties, law enforcement agencies, traditional rulers, had trooped to the arena for the forum. As the organisers were about to begin at about 9a.m, two women groups, one in black, purportedly pro-PDP and the other in a variety of attires including the CWO uniform, apparently pro-APC, were engulfed in a confrontation.

“The organisers made successful attempts to control the women and the youths of notably three of the parties, including APGA, who had eventually joined in the ensuing disturbance, chanting their pro-party or anti-party songs and slogans, some brandishing party flyers and red cards and blowing whistles. Machetes were seized from some of the thugs by security agents.

“As the organisers were trying to commence with the forum, some APC politicians invaded the rostrum complaining, accusing the organisers and demanding a stoppage of the event. They insulted the priests and other members of the organising team, and particularly the external moderator of the forum from Abuja, whose eyeglasses were snatched off him and smashed. One of the politicians physically hit the Assumpta Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. G. Onyekwere, on the chest. This is tantamount to total disrespect for fellow humans and a gross desecration of the sacred venue of the forum. Regrettably, most of these assaulters consider themselves Catholics.”

http://www.punchng.com/politics/2015-violence-in-imo-cathedral/

Gov Okorocha accuses PDP of plotting to rig polls

By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri / March 24, 2015 / No Comments

All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate and Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, plans to rig the forthcoming general elections in the state, using security operatives.
Speaking yesterday during a town hall meeting by APC presidential standard bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari held at the Imo International Conference Centre, IICC, Owerri , the governor remarked that the PDP led federal government has changed all heads of security agencies in the state and transferred new ones to the state to come and act a written script.
Okorocha alleged that the security heads and Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, who are critical stakeholders in the conduct of the coming polls, are all from the South-South geopolitical zone where President Goodluck Jonathan hails from.
The governor, who sounded quite tough, warned that nobody can rig election in the state and charged Imolites to be vigilant and ignore any directives asking them to leave the polling units after voting.
The governor recalled that the Igbo made invaluable inputs in the election of past presidents of the country and ensured that they would repeat the feat this weekend by voting massively for the APC presidential flag bearer, even as he dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the APC Presidential candidate would Islamize the country if elected president.
Gen. Buhari, who was in Owerri for a one day Progressive Governors’ Forum where they held their 1st quarter of the Progressive Governance session with the theme “March for a new Nigeria”, advised Nigerians to shun ethnic, religious and clannish sentiments in electing a new president for the country come March 28.
The former military Head of State warned that a fresh mandate for the PDP to pilot the nation’s affairs in the next four years would spell unmitigated disaster for a nation that has remained motionless and stagnant for 16 years because of the party’s style of governance.
Also speaking, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, noted that the PDP controlled federal government had not budgeted for capital expenditure in the past 16 years, while lack of job, infrastructure and insurgency have brought the nation to her knees, stressing that the party is reading the nation’s development map upside down, ading that the APC is the stone of the PDP Goliath since every Goliath has a stone.
Prominent among the party heavy weights were governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Chris Ngige, former governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambra state, Deputy Governor of the state of Osun, APC governorship candidates of Niger, Abia, Delta, Enugu and Plateau states as well as former Education Minister Professor, Chinwe Obaji,

http://nigerianpilot.com/gov-okorocha-accuses-pdp-of-plotting-to-rig-polls/

Vote Out Jonathan And Reverse Collapse Of Economy – Buhari Advises Nigerians

General Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Owerri reviewed the downward slide of the nation’s economy and called on Nigerians to rise and say goodbye to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Buhari, who spoke as chieftains of the party and members of the APC Governors’ Forum, stormed Owerri, Imo State capital for a meeting, in their last minute campaign, said Nigeria would witness unmitigated disaster if President Jonathan was re-elected.

While the APC Governors’ meeting was the first in the year, which they also tagged, “March for a New Nigeria”, Gen. Buhari used the opportunity to plead with Nigerians to shun tribal and clannish sentiments in electing a new President for the country.

After taking a critical look at the performance of the nation’s economy in the last 16 years, Gen. Buhari said: “We should all rise and say goodbye to PDP because no amount of sentiment will justify voting for the PDP again.”

The former head of state noted that while the value of the Naira had plummeted beyond imagination, revenue from oil had also dwindled, adding that insecurity, unemployment and corruption had become the order of the day.

After chronicling his record of service while in government, Buhari said that as serious crusader against corruption, he would sanitize the country, if given the opportunity to serve as president of Nigeria.

Welcoming his guests earlier, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, explained that APC Governors’ Forum was meant to build a bridge of friendship that would traverse all nooks and crannies of the country.

While stressing that Igbo are found in all parts of the country, Okorocha also opined that this singular act helped in building bridges of unity and contributing to the economic development of the nation.

http://www.nigeriancurrent.com/ck85-politics/vote-out-jonathan-and-reverse-collapse-of-economy-buhari-advises-nigerians?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vote-out-jonathan-and-reverse-collapse-of-economy-buhari-advises-nigerians

I love these pictures

Abagworo:
It is on record that Owerri/Imo State is gradually turning to an international tourist center under Okorocha. Consolidating where one has comparative advantage is good. What we fail to appreciate, foreigners appreciate for us.

You need to see your doctor if your are so blind to see other lovely pictures of Imo State i have posted here. You should assist us with lovely pictures and good news instead of making unintelligent comments.

Ikwokrikwo:
So the best way to contribute is to be repeating pictures of hotels?

Funny post

Rest in Peace

Pictures of yoruba land after Awolowo and his co travelers stole Igbos money with his 20 pounds policy.

Imo State

Ala Imo State di mma

No am not. But if you have any level of intelligence you would have realized that this thread is to showcase the beauty of Ala Imo State. Instead of being a lousy and mischievous trouble maker while not contribute by showing us your pictures of Imo State.

Ikwokrikwo:
What is it with you and hotels? Are you a prostitute?

Things can only get better in Imo State

You only talk about Orlu. What of Okigwe zone that have been neglected

millionaireman:
Four doable things Emeka Ihedioha can promise in Orlu and he gets massive number of votes from here:

1, A government university or duplication of faculties of present IMSU located in Owerri for Orlu zone - already, there are infrastructures in the zone waiting to accommodate the faculties, and there are large numbers of Imo state university applicants ready to jump into them.

2, Completing the Orlu urban Drainage system started by former governor Ikwechegh and Asphalting of as many of Orlu urban roads as he can - there are too many of these roads nearly fully built with houses but remain with dust and mud.

3, Rebuilding of Sam Okwaraji Stadium - or replacing it with a new one.

4, Portable water - if the state govt is providing that for Imo state.

THE RESOLVE TO SERVE OKIGWE PEOPLE – Nze Clement Owunna Speaks
Editor | February 7, 2015 | 0 Comments

Mazi Clement Owunna

For many obvious and inexplicable reasons, Okigwe Zone cannot seem to get its acts together in terms of leadership across – board since the dawn of this new democratic era in 1999. A basic symptom of this misfortune is the seminal absence of selfless, forthright and development oriented leaders who possess the vision and strong acumen to mainstream the development of Okigwe zone.



However, I have come to the conclusion that if well meaning Okigwe sons and daughters are keen to reverse this persisting leadership misfortune, then the zone has to make a very strong resolve to begin to field its FIRST ELEVEN IN LEADERSHIP vis-à-vis political representation.It is also high time the well meaning Okigwe elites began to know that proactive political participation remains the major platform for changing the fortunes of society nays Okigwe zone.

Thus given our state of under development in Okigwe zone, I therefore believe that the hitherto prevailing indifference of most of our well meaning and genuine Okigwe elites, is a crime against humanity because politics and governance are too serious and too important to be left to touts who are only in politics to accumulate inordinate wealth for their immediate families while deceiving our people and subjecting them to perpetual slavery and under development.



Hence if those who have what it takes to give Okigwe visionary leadership refuse to offer themselves to serve their people on the wrong assumption that they are too big or too clean to be rubbished by the shenanigans in politics, then both them and their unborn generations should be ready to suffer the bitter consequences of the misrule of mediocre.

For quite sometimes now I have battled with the conflict between continuing with what I can describe as a ”personally fulfilled and comfortable life in terms of material possessions” and personal sacrifices to serve God Almighty by working towards making my immediate society(Okigwe)better than I met it. I have considered the numerous calls for me to assist in salvaging Okigwe Zone.

I have weighed the personal risks- risks of being damaged, mudslinging and rubbished by the uncouth characters who have taken over the political landscape, risks to personal safety, risks to my hard earned pedigree given the fact that the political desperados all around are sure to try their machinations on me.

Going forward, I have finally reconciled, these perceived risks cum innate conflicts and sacrifice to serve Okigwe people. A service that can usher the dawn of a new beginning for a people and change their fortunes as well as give hope to present and future generation of Okigwe sons and daughters.

Some pessimists have had cause to dare to tell me that; being a senator of the Federal Republic will not add to my reputation but rather it has the tendency to dwindle it. Thus I make bold to say that I consider it a divine call to serve my people by deploying my entire God given talents to midwife the DAWN OF A NEW BEGINNING in Okigwe leadership and governance.

http://www.theheartlander.com/the-resolve-to-serve-okigwe-people-nze-clement-owunna-speaks/