The militants

SamuelAnyawu:
Happy Birthday Rochas.....


Lalasticlala my Governor is 54 this is front page worthy


God Bless Imo State

Thanks My Senator My Senator

Lalasticlala, friends and fellow Nairalanders, join me to wish Gov Rochas Okorocha a happy birthday

Happy Birthday Boss

The Great Man

The Man, Rochas Okorocha @54

Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha (born 22 September 1962) is a Nigerian multi billionaire businessman, education philanthropist and politician from Imo State ,
Nigeria who won the 6 May 2011 gubernatorial election in Imo State and was reelected for his second term on April 11, 2015. He is the founder of Rochas Foundation, a charity comprising a number of special schools that are spread all over Nigeria that gives scholarship to the less privileged children in the Nigerian society.

In his first attempt, he ran on the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) platform [1] and ran on the All Progressives Congress in his second shot. In both occasions, Rochas defeated his closest rival, incumbent governor Ikedi Ohakim and serving Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha , by a close margin of votes and had to go for reruns.

Background
Rochas, an Igbo , was born on 22 September 1962 in
Ogboko, Ideato South , Imo State . He attended Juladaco High School, Jos (1976-1981). He studied at the University of Jos (1990-1991), obtaining a diploma in Public Administration. He returned to the University of Jos (1993-1994) to obtain an advanced diploma in Public Administration.

[2] Career positions include President, Nigeria Red Cross Society, President/Founder, Rochas Foundation Inc, President, Rochas Group of Companies Limited, Pro Chancellor, African Business School and Former Chairman, Board of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency. [2]

From Rags to Riches
Rochas Okorocha wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was born into a poor family. And as he puts it, “I found out that I was born into a home that is relatively poor from all the definitions of poverty. So, I understand from the onset that I have a task ahead of me and the name of the game is survival." [3] He said he had to work extra hard to make both ends meet by combining education with street trading. He said he didn’t have a straight school experience while growing up. He was involved in street trading at one point in time or the other. He said, "Honestly, there has never been a dull moment in my life. In fact, I engaged in too many things just for the sole purpose to survive.” [3]

Okorocha, who acknowledged that he broke even early in life, said “The first one was at a very tender age of my life when I was selling used clothes. I broke even because I was able to buy a bus. I was able to buy a bus in secondary school and I bought television set in primary school as small as I was from the sale of oranges, coconuts and used clothes. What I do is that if I sell, I post some of the profits and at the end of the year I buy something with it. So, it has been a worthwhile experience but where I would say I made the first one million dollars, was as a commission agent from the sale of used equipment in Bauchi State where Balfour Beatty was constructing the Balanga Dam. When the company was winding up I was one of the agents that sold used equipment and I made N1.1 million when it was equivalent to $1 million dollars. And I put the entire money into the business of used cars then later graduated to the sale of new cars to what they called ‘Rochas Motors” but what made me really rich was real estate business. [3]
“At the age of nine I bought a television set, at 14 I bought a bus, at the age of 19/20 I became head of a commercial school, at the 22/23 years I became a proprietor of a school and I went into cement business (BBC) in Gboko, Benue State. And at the age of 24 plus I got married, at the age of 29 I became a member of National Constitutional Conference, I became a member of Federal Character Commission thereafter then I went to contest for governor and failed and shortly after that I ran for presidency and later became a presidential adviser. I ran for presidency again. You see, I moved on and on in life with hard work and challenges." [3]

Early political career
Okorocha was a Commissioner on the Federal Character Commission and a Member of the National Constitutional Conference. [2] When democracy was restored in 1999, Rochas Okorocha competed in the primaries to be People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for governor of Imo State, but lost to Achike Udenwa . [4] He moved to the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), and was an unsuccessful candidate for President on the ANPP platform in 2003. He returned to the PDP, and President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as Special Adviser on Inter-Party affairs. [5]
Rochas Okorocha formed the Action Alliance (AA) party in 2005, planning to become a Presidential candidate for the AA in the 2007 elections. [5] He again returned to the PDP, and in September 2007 indicated that he was interested in becoming PDP National Chairman. [6] After Governor Ikedi Ohakim decamped from the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to the PDP in July 2009, Okorocha denied that Ohakim had taken over the PDP in the state, saying he was named as leader since he was governor, but a proper PDP congress should be held to decide on policy. [7]

Imo state governor
Okorocha decamped from the PDP to the All Progressive Congress. [9] However, Okorocha went on to campaign as APGA candidate and won subsequently. Rochas in 2013 decamped to the All Progressive Congress.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared that the Imo State gubernatorial elections held on 26 April 2011 were inconclusive since the collation of results was marred by irregularities. [10] The INEC ordered reruns in four local government areas and one ward, to be held on 6 May 2011. [11] In the event, elections were not held in
Oguta local government area due to a security threat.
[12] The final results had Okorocha of the APGA declared winner with 336,859 votes. He was followed by the incumbent governor Ikedi Ohakim of the PDP with 290,490 votes. Former Senator Ifeanyi Araraume of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was third with 107,068 votes. [11] President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated Okorocha on his election, saying the people of Imo State had spoken through the ballot box. [13]

In preparatory for the 2015 elections, former deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, threw in his hat for the governorship tussle. After being able to snatch away the PDP tickets from other contenders, he had to slug it out with the incumbent, Okorocha. The election eventually took place on April 11, 2015 after the first date was shifted by six weeks when the federal authorities cited security concerns. Just as Okorocha's first election debacle, the second one was also declared inconclusive.
INEC declared the April 11 governorship polls in Imo inconclusive, a development that led to the cancellation of elections in more than 250 polling units in 23 of the 27 local government areas. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Gabriel Ada, listed the state constituencies affected in the re-run to include; Ikeduru, Isiala Mbano, Isu, Oguta, Owerri West, and Oru East. He explained that the electoral commission ordered re-run for the governorship election because of the 79,000 difference between the votes scored by the leading and the second candidates. [14]
Okorocha won the rerun election fixed for April 25, 2015. [14]
APC
On 2 March 2013 Rochas led an APGA faction to form the All Progressives Congress . [15] He was later elected by his colleague governors in the opposition as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum. [16]

Ik Ogbonna
SA, ICT

lalasticlala I greet you

A Kingpin of the Niger-Delta Avengers, fighting in the oil Producing Areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta, General Felix Omereji, in army uniform who boycotted last week’s disarmament programme of the State government with his group, Wednesday, September 21, 2016 surrendered their weapons to Governor Rochas Okorocha and embracing peace, at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC) Owerri. Beside General Felix, is one of his Field Commanders with gunshot wound on his right leg.

General Felix Omereji in army Uniform (middle) with his field Commanders, fighting in the Oil Producing Areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Imo State under the aegis of Niger Delta Avengers who boycotted the first disarmament programme of the State Government, surrendering their weapons to Governor Rochas Okorocha and embracing peace on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at the Imo International Convention Centre Owerri (IICC).

Rochas Is Working

More Militants Surrender Arms In Imo State As Gov Okorocha Assures Of Amnesty.

Speaking at the event, "General" Felix leader of Niger Delta Red Squad assured the Governor of their resolve to embrace peace and reintegrate into the society. He traced his apprenticeship from militant groups in Rivers State and asked for forgiveness for the economic sabotage and loss of lives their activities caused the state blaming it on the unfair attitude and activities of the oil companies operating in the area.

Gov Rochas Okorocha commended them for embracing the Amnesty assuring them that he would take their matter to the Federal government. He pledge to visit the areas and put in more efforts to bring development there.

For more details, please visit:


https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=967239770087905&id=504315843046969&refid=17&_ft_=top_level_post_id.967239770087905%3Atl_objid.967239770087905%3Athid.504315843046969%3A306061129499414%3A2%3A0%3A1475305199%3A-103100902792536075&__tn__=%2As

More Militants Surrender Arms In Imo State As Gov Okorocha Assures Of Amnesty.

Speaking at the event, "General" Felix leader of Niger Delta Red Squad assured the Governor of their resolve to embrace peace and reintegrate into the society. He traced his apprenticeship from militant groups in Rivers State and asked for forgiveness for the economic sabotage and loss of lives their activities caused the state blaming it on the unfair attitude and activities of the oil companies operating in the area.

Gov Rochas Okorocha commended them for embracing the Amnesty assuring them that he would take their matter to the Federal government. He pledge to visit the areas and put in more efforts to bring development there.

For more details, please visit:

https://m.facebook.com/imsgowerri/

lalasticlala come see oh

See How Militants Embraced Amnesty In Imo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2piIiP7fz2k

Rochas Is Working

Owelle

Rochas Is Working

The Amazing Achievements of Gov Rochas Okorocha led Rescue Mission Government in Imo State (2011-date).

Score Card of the Office of the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development as at May, 2016.
For more details, please visit:

https://m.facebook.com/imsgowerri/

GOVERNOR OKOROCHA SPEAKS ON CERTAIN GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES & ACTIONS

Following the petition by the leaders of the organized labour in the state, that the government has not been carrying them along in recent time with regard to some of its actions and policies, the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has directed that a new committee made up of five members of the organized labour and four representatives of the government be constituted immediately to ensure that the issues raised in the petition are addressed.

The governor also informed Imo people in particular and the general public that the August salary of workers in the state has been paid. In other words, the state government does not, at the moment, owe any outstanding salary.

For this reason, the governor warned some of the workers who parade rumours of non-payment of salaries only to shy away from their responsibilities to desist from such irresponsible act.

The governor equally commended workers in the state who have keyed into the Agriculture policy of the state government and urged all the workers in the state to take advantage of the Federal Government’s multi-billion naira agric loan under the Anchor Browers programme without further delay. The governor stated that the Joint Committee of Labour leaders and government’s representatives would mediate in the exercise.

Again, the governor will be leveraging on the Amnesty programme to receive militants who have been fighting as avengers and so on, in the Ohaji/Egbema area of the state who have decided to embrace peace, at the Government House Owerri on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 by 11am, where they would also drop their weapons. These are militants who have been blowing pipelines and making the people of Ohaji/Egbema having sleepless nights until the governor decided to take the bull by the horn.

The governor has therefore called on other Avengers or militants operating across the nation to also drop their guns and embrace peace in the overall interest of the nation and the citizenry.

Governor Okorocha also commended the contractor that handled the Tunnel at the Concord Junction called Ikemba Ojukwu Tunnel, for doing a good job and explained that the heavy rains have been the reason for the somewhat water log being experienced at the tunnel once it rains heavily. He said the contractor has gone back to take care of that.

The governor also announced that Imo State and whatever that is in it belong to God and not to any deity or ghost and advised those talking about deities or ghosts owing our market or any other establishment in the state to stop such uncivilized claims against the state.

The first citizen of the state equally appealed to Imo people to do away with the spirits of hate and bitterness, and have the spirits of love and peace and appealed to churches to always preach peace and love for one another instead of dabbling into politics that has already done a lot of harm to some churches and priests.

On Ekeukwu market, the governor reiterated the government’s resolve to ensure the relocation of the market to a more comfortable place using every legal means available and the essence is to achieve the government’s urban renewal programme, fix Douglas road and other adjourning roads, establish a model shopping mall and health centre, and all these will invariably raise the values of all the properties around the place. He then urged all and sundry to support the lofty idea of relocating the market.

The governor remarked that in line with his campaign promise since 2011, to take government to the grassroot by decentralizing power, the State Development Councils (SDC) will soon be inaugurated. And the SDC will carry out government’s functions and take official actions on behalf of the government including payment of salaries and pensions, and handling of projects to achieve the governor’s enviable desire to make the wards extensively feel the impact of government.

Sam Onwuemeodo
Chief Press Secretary to the governor

Owelle Is Working

The Amazing Achievements of Gov Rochas Okorocha led Rescue Mission Government in Imo State (2011-date).

Score Card of the Office of the Secretary to the Imo State Government, SGI, as at May, 2016.
For more details, please visit:

https://m.facebook.com/imsgowerri/

September 02, 2016
PRESS RELEASE

IMO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECISIONS

During the Imo State Executive Council meeting held yesterday at the Ndubuisi Kanu Executive Council Chambers, Government House Owerri, the Executive Council made the following approvals among others:-

1. To employ 5 graduates per ward (from the 305 Inec wards) to beefup the civil service of Imo State. The graduates MUST be computer literate.

2. To pay the pensioners in the State for the Month of August 2016, while Government continues its negotiations with the Pension Union on how to clear the rest of the pension arears.

3. Imo State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct the Local Government Council Election by January, 2017

4. The relocation of the Eke-ukwu Owerri Market, Ama Awusa, Yam sellers all at Douglas Road and all the street traders along Douglas Road Owerri by September 30, 2016. By this, the affected traders have been given till September 30, 2016 to relocate.

Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe
Hon. Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Public utilities
Imo State.

https://www.facebook.com/imsgowerri/

Owelle

CURRENT TRENDS OF EVENTS IN OUR STATE IMO
OHAKIM GOT IT WRONG

We write to thank the former Governor of Imo State and a friend, His Excellency Chief Ikedi Ohakim for his open and (sincere) letter to our governor, His Excellency, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha.

While we appreciate Ohakim’s purported ‘good’ intentions and his expose of events and developments in the State after he left office in 2011, one may begin to wonder why he (Ohakim) has hidden under the cloak of protecting the interest of Imo People (who rejected him in 2011) to engage in furtive politics.
It is really ludicrous to read an expose of a man who has seen nothing good about the government after him since 2011 he was voted out of office. We honestly would not want to join issues with Chief Ikedi Ohakim, but to say that he (Ohakim) has not seen anything the Rescue Mission Government has done right in Imo State is plain mischief. In the Igbo parlance, if you want to abuse a beautiful girl and you have nothing to say against her, you tell her to go and have her bath (Elechaa nwa mara mma, asi ya gaa saa ahu).

It is a well known fact that the Rescue Mission Government came into power when Imolites were fed up with the maladministration and the repugnant abuse of the sensibilities of Imo people by Chief Ikedi Ohakim. The outcry and clamour for change was the major reason the Rescue Mission Government came into power to restore hope to the hopeless and offer to Ndi Imo the leadership of trust they had yearned for several Q. The government of His Excellency, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha on its assumption rescued the State from the political merchants and godfathers who plundered her resources leaving the State under developed.

We are surprised, that no mention was made by Chief Ikedi Ohakim about the Imo free education policy – from Primary to tertiary level, with its attendant relief on the families of the less privileged and Imolites at large. Do we begin to talk about the numerous achievements made by this administration – Is it the New Government House, Odenigbo Guest House, Owerri City School, 305 Storey School Buildings in all the electoral wards of Imo State, Befitting Imo Liaison Office in Abuja, the magnificent Heroes Square, Ikemba Ojukwu Centre, over 800 kilometres of Rural Roads across the 27 LGA and lots more. We stopped just at this few in order not to sound boastful. Imo people may also not have forgotten the security situation in the state before 2011 when Chief Ikedi Ohakim was the Governor, but today, the Rescue Mission Government has arrested this situation, bringing crime and criminality to its barest minimum. This infact, has helped to boost the investment and Tourism industry of the State as Imo State is now the Tourism hub of the South East.

In the event of your misrepresented findings about the state of affairs in the state since after you exited as governor, we wish to tell you Sir that our government has achieved milestones which you have unwittingly eulogized in your letter published in the various local tabloids of 31st August, 2016 and the social media. A careful perusal of this letter in question would tell where the former governor is coming from and driving at. To say he is jealous of the feat achieved by the Rescue Mission government may be an understatement. If indeed, he knows so much why then did he do little while in office? It would be unthinkable for anyone to adduce that the Rescue Mission Government which draws its strength from the masses would still go ahead to punish the same people it has come to rescue and serve.

We are happy that Chief Ohakim acknowledged the present economic downturn in the nation, yet it beats my heart that he has failed to commend our Governor, Dr. Rochas Anayo Okorocha’s Government for blazing the trail in opening up the socio – economic frontiers of the State. What this government is doing is in the overall interest of the people of Imo State.
Owerri is the fasted growing city in the country at the moment, and we need to undertake certain developmental actions that would befit the city of our dream. We are expanding and duallizing the roads. Ohakim never duallized any road, but he demarcated them. We are building markets outside Owerri town to make it really a city we can all be proud of.

In all considerations, the relocation of Eke-ukwu Market is long overdue, if we are sincere to ourselves. With the rapid growth of Owerri into a model city, it is no longer feasible to allow the Eke-ukwu market to remain at its present location. It is a known fact that Douglas Road and some of the adjoining roads cannot be recovered from its deplorable condition if the market continues to exist there.

Granted too that those who built the market at that place meant well, but they must have done so in consideration of the prevailing scenario at that time. The traders themselves should be happy about this development despite the temporary inconveniences associated with change. What government is doing is to relocate the market to a more conducive place that will accommodate more traders and equally ease traffic congestion on and around Douglas Road.
The truth about the road expansion project within the Owerri Capital City is that this project will change the entire landscape of the capital city into a model city with free flow of traffic.

However, this government as a very responsible and people – oriented government has restrained itself from demolition of buildings that contravened the stipulated distance of about 15 meters from the road; rather what we did was to remove fences and other structures built within 10 metres from the affected roads as well as those that blocked water ways.
More so, the issue of broken water pipes and cables are actually consequences of road construction and all of these are receiving attention. After all construction is not completed yet. We are getting there and this government appeals to Imo people to remain patient. This is a sacrifice we all will make for our generation and generations unborn. Once again, we appreciate the former Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and lots more who acknowledge that the Rescue Mission government has made some achievements. Whether they say the cup is full or half empty, what is important is that something new has taken place in Imo.

Thank you and God bless you.

Dr. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe
Hon. Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Public utilities
Imo State

Iyom Josephine Anenih with Sen Nkechi Nworgu and Sen Joy Emordi

Mrs Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi

co-hosts, Mrs Ugwuanyi and Mrs Ikpeazu and indeed all wives of SE Govs

host Nneoma Nkechinyere Rochas Okorocha, Chairperson, Southern Governors Wives Assoc

Sen Jim Nwobodo, Chairman of the event with Gov Rochas Okorocha

Igbo Women Leaders In Owerri For South-East August Meeting

Today, a galaxy of top Igbo women are in Owerri for the first ever South-East Women August Meeting holding in Owerri.

The summit is co-chaired and conceived by the wives of the South-East Governors and is to be chaired by Sen Jim Nwobodo.

The women include: Mrs Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, Mrs Ugwuanyi, Mrs Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, Sen Joy Emordi, Sen Nkechi Nworgu, Prof Mrs Obaji, Amb Fidelia Njeze, Mrs Nkechi Mbah, Rt Hon Princess Nnaji etc.

Gov Rochas Okorocha is receiving the August visitors in audience in government house.

venue is the magnificent Nicks Banquet Hall built by Gov Rochas Okorocha inside Government House

Prof Adaobi Obasi, IMSU Ag VC and UgoEze Shirley Okwudinma, CEO Shirley Supremo

Noble Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi addressing the meeting while Iyom Anenih and Sen Nkechi Nworgu watch