The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • ‘Quit order good for Biafra, bad for business’

    A Kano-based Igbo businessman who asked to be simply identified as Maduagwu has said while the quit notice to Ndigbo in the North may help Biafra agitators’ cause, it hurts business investments in the North.

    In a chat with our reporter, the businessman said that the relocation order could fast-track the agitation for the state of Biafra, but a setback for Igbo businessmen who have investments across the northern states.

    The businessman, who recalled events that led to the brutal civil war in 1967, said that the quit order by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) would further promote acrimony among the Igbos and their Northern brothers.

    He said, “I have lived in the North for over 30 years where I have invested all my fortunes and have equally trained my children who rarely speak even their dialect except Hausa language. I have landed properties and other investments in the North too, even when I had the choice of establishing such in the East, all in the spirit of one Nigeria.

    “Just recently, such unscrupulous individuals, who never moulded a block in their father’s compound and apparently would not point to any investment in any part of the country including their state of origin, emerge from the blue to tell [the Igbo] to leave the North simply because some people are agitating for a sovereign state of Biafra.

    “If I may ask, what is wrong for people to agitate for self-determination? Does it mean that because our brothers are agitating for a country of their own that every other person leaving in the North should go back to their states? Does it equally mean that when a state is created that people leaving in the old state should pack back to their new state? Are they equally saying that if a state of Biafra is created that no Igbo man should come to the North and invest? Remember that Czechoslovakia and the current Czech Republic and Slovakia were once together. Now that they are separate, does it mean that all Czech citizens in Slovakia left their old residences? The North should count themselves lucky to have already had on ground huge investments by Igbos scattered across the North by Igbos that will make them grow economically not to drive people away.

    “For me as a businessman residing in the North, I hope that this threat and other issues will be addressed urgently by stakeholders. We will keep our ears to the ground to monitor events, but when the situation becomes unbearable, I will have no other option but to relocate to the East with my family members alive than dying helplessly in a strange land.”

  • Enugu council, firm equip youths for business

    The Enugu State Youth Council (ESYC) and a firm Softran Systems Enterprise Nig. Ltd have provided 20 youths in the state with grants and soft loans so they can start off their businesses.

    The gesture was an aftermath of the promise made by the CEO of Softran Systems Enterprise Nig. Limited, Chief Chris Onyekachi, at a youth empowerment summit organised by the Enugu State Youth Council in February. Onyekachi at the summit asked the youths to submit any business proposal of their choice, from which the best 20 proposals would be given a start-up capital.

    After screening the entries, 20 proposals were approved. Five of them were given grants of N200,000 each, while the other 15 youths received cheques for interest-free loans of N500,000 to start up or expand their businesses.

    Onyekachi admonished the beneficiaries to stick to their business proposals. He pledged his continued support to the development of youths and admonished those who could not benefit from the grants to be hopeful.

    He said, “I will continue giving my support for the youths, to make them better persons and Enugu a better state. And if you do not get anything today, have it in mind that something big is coming your way. I still have a plan underway with the Special Adviser to the state government on youth matters.”

    He said that the soft loan when repaid will be kept in the purse of the Enugu State Youth Council and used to empower other youths.

    He added, “I advise the recipient is to be serious, focused and determined and above all pray to Almighty God, who blesses every human being.” He encouraged the youths to be inspired by great achievers and to work hard toward achieving their own greatness.

    In his welcome address, the Vice President of the Enugu State Youth Council, Barr. Samuel Udenta, on behalf of the President of the council, Comrade Nnaemeka Agada, said that one of the key objectives of the group is initiating youth development projects and activities with the aim of encouraging the active participation of the youth in the processes of their own empowerment. He thanked the state governor for his efforts toward empowering the youths of the state. He then applauded Chief Chris Onyekachi for his giant strides towards empowering the youths of Enugu and described him as “One of the strong sponsors and supporters of this association.” He however called for more supports, “we appeal on the governor, other stakeholders, private individuals and well-meaning Nigerians to partner with ESYC towards the empowerment of Enugu youths.”

    One of the N200,000 grant beneficiaries, Chika Nwamu, a 200L Geography student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, thanked the philanthropist as she expressed her joy. She looks forward to becoming the best fresh fruit juice producer in Enugu. She said, “I really appreciate Chief Chris for this grant, I am surprised and overwhelmed. What I have in mind is to be the best fresh juice producer in Enugu state and to employ other youths.” She has been in the business on a smaller scale and will expand it with this grant.

    Another grant beneficiary, who proposed a phone accessories marketing business, thanked the benefactor for the wonderful gesture. “I wish to thank the benefactor for putting smiles on our faces and making our lives colorful. With this kind of gestures, the youth will no longer be wasting away.  With this grant, I will start up my phone accessories business. And I wish to make it to make it different from what other people do.”

    Tony Eneje, one of the beneficiaries of the five hundred thousand naira worth of soft loans, also expressed his gratitude. His proposal is on expanding his fish processing business. He said, “Honestly it’s so amazing. We are so happy. And I commend the benefactor. I am into fish processing business. My expectation with this grant is a boom in the business, more production. It will enable us process more fishes to satisfy the demands of our customers and of course more profits.”

    Another high point of the event was when the philanthropist also awarded an additional Two hundred thousand naira grant to a visually impaired man who attended the event with his products. The grant was to help him expand his laundry soap production business.

    Chief Chris Onyekachi was later presented with the Philanthropist of the Year award by the Enugu state youth council. The programme was attended by dignitaries, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on youth affairs and some other state government officials.

  • Lawmaker hails beauty queen on school donation

    Lawmaker hails beauty queen on school donation

    Senator Theodore Orji has praised Miss UN World Habitat Nigeria Ijeoma Chikezie, who donated school materials to pupils in Abia State.

    The senator representing Abia Central District, who is also partnering with Queen Chikezie’s Help Keep Clean Foundation, said he will team up with any of his constituents in order to make the senatorial district better.

    The senator who was represented by a former commissioner for works under his administration, Mr Longman Emeka Nwachukwu said that he is happy that a member of his senatorial district is the winner of UN World Habitat Pageant.

    The immediate past governor of the state who spoke during the free donation and presentation of school materials to pupils of Ugba community primary school Umuahia, urged her to go beyond where she is to project the image of the district.

    The Miss UN World Habitat winner, who went round schools in the senatorial district, said that she intends to go round the entire 17 local government areas of the state where she will teach the pupils on how to take care of their personal hygiene.

    At the Ugba Community Primary School Miss Chikezie taught the pupils how to wash their hands before doing anything that would end up in their mouths.

    “Washing our hands will help us chase bacteria away and also helpful us to be healthy at all times,” she told them.

    “When washing our hands we have to wet our hands first, apply soap and scrub our palms, finger nails, the back of our hands, in between our fingers and our wrists, we also have to tell our parents that we cannot do anything in the house without washing our hands first”.

    She later gave out exercise books to all the pupils of the primary school, school sandals, shoes and school bags to selected indigent pupils, who were chosen by the school authority.

    The assistant head teacher of Ugba Community Primary School ll, Mrs Hope Kalu expressed joy that Miss Chikezie chose to help indigent pupils instead of gallivanting from one place to the order.

    Mrs Kalu said that her coming with her team has made it easier for them the teachers in the school to teach the pupils hygiene, stressing that the practical way she demonstrated to the pupils on how to wash their hands will help them to do it better when they get home.

    One of the pupils who spoke with The Nation after the event, Miss Ezinne Sunday said that she has learnt a lot with the visit of the UN world habitat Nigeria Queen and promised study hard to pass her examinations.

    The other pupil Miss Chinwendu Ede said that she cannot thank the queen enough for remembering people like them in the government school and promised to study her books so as to become somebody in life to improve both herself and the society.

    In her interaction with newsmen, Queen Chikezie said that even before she was crowned the UN world habitat Nigeria queen that she had the passion for hygiene and sanitation which made it very easy for her to teach the pupils,

    Chikezie said, “After I was crowned Miss UN world habitat Nigeria Queen, I took up the task of teaching the pupils and leading the awareness campaign about hygiene with great focus on washing of hands and general environmental cleaning”.

    “You see washing of hands is very necessary because it is through such places that children contract different types of diseases as most Nigerian children eat with their bare hands, so the need to wash and keep their hands clean cannot be over emphasised”.

  • Industrialists accuse Customs of underhand activities

    Industrialists in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, under the aegis of Aba Industrialists Association (AIA), have appealed to the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), urging him to call the agency’s officials in the Southeast to order.

    The industrialists accused Customs in the Southeast of extracting double duty charges from importers at the ports in Onne and Port Harcourt. The industrialists also said that after importers have cleared their goods, they are stopped on the way by Customs personnel who say whatever they paid at the ports are insufficient and should be made up there.

    Chairman of AIA, Chief Emma Obi told newsmen in Aba:

    “If one goes to these ports to clear goods, the Customs issues the person a document called PAAR which stipulates the duty payable on the goods. After paying the duty, the officers that would release the goods will now tell the person that the duty you paid, which you have the certificate, will be rejected and raises an additional huge sum of money to your normal duty, claiming that the PAAR raised by the office was insufficient. When the goods eventually leave the port, you must pass Customs checkpoints at Iriebe, Akpojo and Isiokpo, these three places are another war zones for importers of goods in the East. At these places, Customs men who operate under the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) will demand for clearance papers and release notes from the wharf. After receiving all these things, they will now tell you that you underpaid again despite the fact you paid import duty twice at the port.

    “You will think they are joking, the next thing they will do is to push down the driver from the truck and employ a driver…to take it to their headquarters in Owerri, Imo State where they will begin to raise another import duty for the same goods cleared at the port.”

    The spokesperson of the FOU zone C, Owerri, Chioma Onuoha debunked the allegations, saying her office, which is independent of states and ports commands, only seizes goods whose importers underpaid duty. She said that such underpayment arises mostly when the importer under-declares the cost and or quantity of goods imported and when such anomalies are discovered the importer would be made to pay the correct duty.

  • Senator Orji donates to motherless kids

    Senator Orji donates to motherless kids

    The immediate past governor of Abia State, who now represents Abia Central at the Senate, Theodore Orji has celebrated his two years as a lawmaker by donating food and other items to various motherless baby’s homes.

    Speaking at his campaign office in Umuahia, Orji who was represented by his state capital liaison officer, Ifeanyi Umere said that he decided to celebrate with the less privileged in the society instead of drinking wine and eating with his friends to enable them have a sense of belonging.

    Orji who gave out empowerment items to some people in his senatorial district said that he intends to ensure that people who are within his reach have something to enable them feed their families.

    He said that one of the beneficiaries, Evans Ihesiaba a blind man wrote to him to help him get back on his feet instead of begging and was given a grinding machine urging him to make proper use of the machine to enable him take care of his family.

    The senator also gave out six grinding machines to the six women leaders of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the six local government areas that make up his senatorial district.

    Orji said that the visit to all the motherless baby’s homes in all the six local government areas that make up the senatorial district will be visited and gift items extended to them to ensure that the children are well taken care of.

    The other recipient of the senator’s gesture was James Idika whose house was gutted by fire and who thanked Orji for coming to his aid and prayed God to always protect him and members of his family.

    Responding after receiving the grinding machine, Ihesiaba said that words are not enough for him to thank the senator, stressing that he had earlier written to him asking a for assistance, “His response was alarming”.

    Ihesiaba said that he had been blind for the past two years as a result of glaucoma which affected his sight, adding that he would like to personally visit the senator at his campaign office to thank him for making him a man again.

    At the Agape Charity Home at Ubakala in Umuahia South, Orji gave them food items such as noodles, salt,a pack of toilet rolls, a bag of cloths, grinding machine and a sewing machine.

    Orji said that they should use the food items to feed the children, while the grinding machine should be used to grind their food items instead of doing so outside their home, while the sewing machine should be used to mend their torn cloths.

    Receiving the items the proprietor of the home, Roselyn Okonkwo-Oyibo thanked the senator for the gifts, adding that he has never neglected them, “This is not the first time he is sending gifts to us, he has always done that in many occasions”.

    Okonkwo-Oyibo said that members of the senator’s family have been doing same at different occasions, stressing that his wife and only daughter have been coming on their own to give them gift items and prayed God to replenish their pockets.

    She said, “Despite the economic recession this wonderful family of Senator Orji still remembers us and one of the materials we are receiving which is the grinding machine is one of the items we desire so much to own, is like they read our minds”.

    The same items were also given to the Daughters of Mary motherless baby’s home at Ahiaeke which were received by Rev mother Angeline Umezurike who noted that the senator has always supported them in all ways.

    Rev mother Umezurike said, “I thank Orji for always remembering us, my wish is to see him personally, please tell him that the babies and all of us here wish to see him in person, he should make out time to come and see us so that we will see him as well”.

     

  • Return-home voices grow louder

    The founder of John 3:16 Ministry, Aba, Abia State and an ardent believer in the Biafra project, Bro. Samuel Ajayi has urged Ndigbo in the North not to hesitate to return to the East, saying their lives were worth more than the huge investments in the region.

    He is not a lone ranger. A coalition of 14 pro-Biafra civil rights groups has toed the clergy’s line, appealing to Ndigbo in the North to return home and not repeat the mistake of 1966.

    Ajayi was speaking in Aba, the Abia State commercial nerve, against the backdrop of the October 1 ultimatum given by Arewa for Ndigbo to leave the North.

    Ajayi was incensed by the argument in some quarters that it would be difficult for the Igbo to abandon their investments in the North put at about N44 trillion and return home. He said life matters much more than wealth.

    Admonishing the Igbo in the North, the clergyman said, “No amount of money can buy your life. If you are alive, you can still make money and build houses, industries and what have you in the East, but once your life is cut off, you become history.”

    The founder of John 3:16 Ministry said that the atmosphere in the country now is more charged than it was in 1966 when thousands of Igbo were massacred in the North. He warned that the threat by the Arewa youths should not be taken lightly.

    He said it was only those possessed by the demon of mammon that can love money or other material things of the world more that their lives and called on Ndigbo to leave the North without further hesitation since, according to him, those they are living with no longer want them.

    The clergyman, who said it was revealed to him that Biafra would soon be actualised, urged Southeast governors and other political leaders from the zone to put things in place that would ensure the smooth return of the Igbo in the North to their fatherland.

    Meanwhile, the Igbo Civil society Coalition comprising 14 civil society organizations and activists from the Igbo nation in calling on Igbo in the North to return home said they have henceforth come together to advance the fundamental human rights of Ndigbo.

    In a release obtained from Orji Okechukwu, one of the conveners of the meeting, the coalition condemned the ultimatum issued Ndigbo by the Coalition of Arewa Youths and endorsed by Northern Elders Forum to leave the Northern Nigeria on or before October 1, 2017 and the threat of violence accompanying the ultimatum.

    It however welcomed the decision of the Arewa youths which it said was one of the greatest things that ever happened to the Igbo nation.

    “We wholeheartedly accept the call by the Arewa youths for everyone to go their separate ways. We are therefore calling on all Igbo in various positions of power and responsibility to make immediate and effective arrangements for the protection of all Igbo persons in the context of the fullest implementation of that ultimatum.”

    It urged all Igbo in the North to carefully document their properties in the North as none of them would be lost as a result of their returning to the East.

    A group, Biafra Liberation Council (BLC) has also joined the come-back-home chant. So has the chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) Aba unit, Dr. Charles Chinekezi who urged the Igbo living in the North to wind up their businesses and return to the East or any other part of the country.

    In a chat, the BLC’s administrative Secretary, Austin-Mary Ndukwu, described the recent call by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) as a welcome development, stressing that it was a long awaited action from the northerners.

    BLC warned that they would not hesitate to carry out a reprisal attack against the North if they molest or harm any Easterner, who by their call, decided to relocate to the east.

    “Let nobody pull our legs because no single nationality has the monopoly of violence. We can’t be caught napping this time around. To our people in the North it’s time they reconsider their stay in those hostile territories. The North hates us with passion and it is only natural we keep them at arm’s length and watch every of their moves,” Ndukwu stated

    Chinekezi while calling on the acting President Yemi Osibanjo to rise up to his responsibilities and urgently address the situation before it goes out of proportion, however accused some northern leaders for stoking the amber of hatred and discord.

    He said, “The people who have governed this country after the first civilian rule have been completely irresponsible, self-centered and completely directionless.

    “That is most unfortunate because all these leaders are involved in this gigantic failure. My advice is that, Nigerian must right away try to get themselves back on track if they want to save this republic from the racial and tribal acrimony coming from the north through that hate speech issued by Arewa Youth Consultative Forum. They must eschew their usual criminal silence and act. The acting President must speak to Nigerians and all security chiefs must rise because if they fail to do this, they must be ready to burn beyond repair.

    “This time around this country may not survive it. The top leaders in the country I’m sure are seeing what is going on now. They are seeing it and let everybody be watchful. My advice to Igbos in the north is to immediately come back home. What those youth said, was said at the Secretariat of the Arewa Consultative Forum and not a place that is hidden from the surface of this earth.

    “The statement was made in the presence of the media and the main centre of northern leadership in Kaduna. The north has made their suggestions known that what they want is disintegration of this country, so to avoid bloodshed, let the Easterners return home fast.”

    Meanwhile a visit to Ariaria International Market, Aba showed that many Northern based Igbo traders and their northern counterparts have been coming to buy goods that they would take to their shops from their customers, not only at Ariaria, but other markets in Aba.

    Many Igbo traders who spoke were optimistic that the situation would be properly managed and when it becomes too much for the federal government to handle, they would relocate to the east or any other part of the country where they would be accepted to settle to do their businesses without any fear of molestation or harassment by any group of persons or individuals.

    One of them said, “There was nothing wrong if a landlord tells a tenant to pack out of his house, but the tenant must be allowed to pack his things and the landlord must know that he has children or relations leaving in other parts of the country who must definitely be asked by his or her landlord or landlady to pack out of his or her house as well.”

     

  • VON DG hails Emir of Katsina, APC praises Northern Govs

    Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) Osita Okechukwu has commended the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmuminu Kabir for his uncommon patriotism in the face of unfortunate crisis being simulated by fringe groups and politicians whose objective is personal and imimical to our collective existence.

    The Emir, had, while addressing leaders of the Igbo community and other Nigerians residing in Katsina said, “Nigeria will continue to remain one and that am ready to sacrifice my last drop of blood to ensure peace and protection of all Nigerians residing in the state. I am ready to protect Igbos with my last blood.”

    Okechukwu said: “I salute the Emir of Katsina and all those patriots in both south and north, who preach peace and recognise the truism that the hardship and misery in the land today is temporary and cannot truncate our corporate existence. For history tells us that many decades after the American civil war frictions between north and south more serious than as we currently have dominated discussions. America is strong and united today, ours cannot be different.”

    “We cannot fall victim to minority and fringe groups in the south east who call for secession and their ilk in the north who gave the quit notice. Civil war is not a panacea to the misery and hardship in the land, which is temporary and transient, given the infrastructural renewal going on in our dear country.” Okechukwu quipped.

    On the rumour that some unscrupulous politicians are fanning the embers of Igbos Must Return, and indeed raising money for that, Okechukwu in a rage said, “I don’t respond to rumour, but if there is any truth in that, it becomes the business of the security agency to track them down.”

    Similarly, South- East chapter of the All progressive Congress (APC), has condemned in its entirety, the recent three months quit notice given to Igbos residing in parts of Northern Nigeria by the Coalition of Arewa Youths.

    It described it as “a joke taken too far”, just as it applauded governors of the Northern region for condemning the statement.

    A press statement by the zonal chairman of the party, Chief Emma Enukwu, said: “The attention of the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) in South East has been drawn to recent outbursts by some youths in Northern Nigeria under the name “Coalition of Arewa Youths” urging the Igbos to vacate their habitats in the North on, or before 1st October 2017.

    “In our opinion, this call is a joke taken too far, it is an ill wind that blows no good to anyone. And we hereby, call on all well-meaning Nigerians to rise and condemn this and other outbursts by some people from other sections of this great country, Nigeria.”ý

    The statement which was released by the Zonal publicity secretary, Hon. Hycienth Ngwu stressed said:  “It is high time we all stood in one accord to put a stop to the growing hate speeches and bickering going on now in our dear country from all quarters.

    The party said, “Let us love all and hate none, as love is the panacea to peaceful co-existence, economic and social growth. We have faith in the ability of the APC led Federal Government to safeguard lives and property of all Nigerians living within Nigeria.

    “Consequently, we urge all Igbos living in any part of Nigeria to go about their normal businesses without fear, but in loving disposition toward their neighbor and environment.

    “We hereby thank the Governors of the Northern States of Nigeria for their quick condemnation of this act by the Coalition of Arewa Youths. We particularly, thank the Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal for his love to the Igbos in this trying period.”

  • Imo, Southeast turn up heat on kidnappers

    Imo, Southeast turn up heat on kidnappers

    An anti-kidnap unit launched in Imo will make abductors in the state and the Southeast uncomfortable, reports OKODILI NDIDI 

    The Southeast was once a kidnappers’ paradise, recording between 25 and 30 high-profile kidnap cases every month. Those were the days of the invincible Vampire, who, along with his recruits, abducted, killed, and extracted ransom with ease from victims and their families. It amazed residents in the zone and beyond how the kidnap kingpin outwitted security personnel. It was more astonishing that even when he was apprehended and chained the Vampire still managed to escape. Those were days of terror in the Southeast, with clear consequences. Socio-economic activities went down. Investors fled.

    Some of the state governors in the zone, particularly Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, deployed huge amounts of money and other resources to combat the scourge. But the more the authorities fought kidnappers, including demolishing their properties, the more daring they became. Even after the police managed to overwhelm Vampire for the last time, his surviving victims still walk with fear.

    Not to worry, the dark days are over. The Southeast will soon be too hot for kidnap gangs and other criminals, thanks to the new Tactical Intelligence Unit (TIU) launched in Imo by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. The state government is also playing a big role in the new approach by providing up-to-date equipment to support the drive.

    Before, the police had relied on obsolete equipment and limited manpower to battle deadly and better equipped kidnap gangs.

    Aside from Lagos and Abuja, Imo is the only state where the new anti-kidnap unit has been commissioned. According to the IGP, the unit will provide intelligence for fighting kidnapping in the whole of the Southeast zone. That is not all; the police have also permanently deployed one of their surveillance and reconnaissance helicopters to the Imo State command to aid the fight against kidnapping in the zone.

    This is apart from the commissioning of a new Squadron of the Police Mobile Force to add to the existing Squadron in the state to shore up police manpower, as well as the Special Protection Unit (SPU), which is also newly built by the state government in Ideato South Council Area of the State.

    The Imo Governor, in additional efforts to compliment the Police, also donated brand new vehicles outside of the 100 Hilux vans he gave out to security agencies in the state during the early days of his administration to beef up security in the State.

    With these and other covert measures that have been put in place, the heat has surely been turned on the kidnap syndicates and one message is clear, they either relocate from the zone or meet their waterloo.

    Speaking during the commissioning of the Tactical Intelligence Unit, the Inspector General of Police observed that it will provide the needed intelligence to flush out kidnappers and other criminal elements from the zone.

    Assuring that the menace of kidnapping will be soon be a thing of the past following the commissioning the Intelligence Unit, the IGP, noted that “the new Unit will give the Police the capacity to nip kidnapping in the bud”.

    According to him, “it is one of the Units we are using to tackle kidnapping because it is an intelligence outfit that has given us capacity to pre-empt some of these kidnappings. When we came in we had only one of such Unit based in Abuja but we now have one in Lagos, one in Imo and one in Port Harcourt because we need to expand our capacity”.

    The IGP however emphasized the need of community participation in tackling kidnapping, asserting that, “the issue of kidnapping can be addressed on a two-prong action, which is Police action and the community participation. I think as community leaders, as parents, we need to discourage our youths who are taking kidnapping as a way of making easy money. We should put our heads together to ensure that our youths take their minds off this crime”.

    He however lamented that the Police is presently underfunded.

    In his words, “one of the challenges the Police is facing is funding, during the last security summit in Abuja, we all agreed that the Police is underfunded. The police needs more fund. We also recognized that under in a normal budgetary allocation we cannot get involved that is why we are trying to revive the Police Trust Fund Bill. We have been in touch with the leadership of the National Assembly to see how this Bill can be brought up and made operational. Because we believe that if the Nigeria Police Force must be very effective and stand on its feet the funding of the Police must be adequately addressed by all of us”.

    Also speaking shortly before handing over the keys to the brand new vehicles to the police boss at the Government House, Governor Okorocha, noted that his administration has done a lot to assist the Police in fighting kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the state.

    He described Imo as the most peaceful state in the country, stating that within the past six years, his administration was able to prove that crime can be curbed with development, stressing that “there are lesser crimes where there is development than where there is underdevelopment”.

    His words, “I had always proposed ideas on how to help the Nigeria Police. The first time that the Nigeria Police got 1000 SUVs was from me, Rochas, as a businessman and not as a politician. We often speak evil of the Nigeria police and we have not been able to appreciate what the Nigeria police stands for under the very painful situation they work, in the discharge of their duties. If there is one man that appreciates the Nigeria Police it is me. I first donated a college of administration, a brand new 200 bed hospital, mobile squadron unit, workshops.

    “The right place to site Zonal Office is Owerri because of its strategic position. Federal government alone cannot provide the needs of the Police so I want to set the pace so that other states can follow.”

     

  • Ikpeazu urges youths to prioritise

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has called on youths to channel their energies to worthwhile ventures and uplifting values, and shun mundane issues with which they seem to be preoccupied.

    Speaking in Umuahia, the state capital, at the maiden edition of the Social Orientation Programme for Youths organised by the state government in collaboration with the Vicar Hope Foundation, Ikpeazu said that the need for youths to de-emphasise mundane issues cannot be overemphasised.

    The governor who was represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, observed that the blissful future of Nigerian youths was constantly being challenged by uncertainties arising from involvement in cultism, alcoholism, drug addiction and armed robbery among many vices.

    He stated that his government recognised the enormous responsibilities facing families, schools, churches, mosques and society in the total upbringing of the child and assured that he is assiduously committed to the welfare of the youth and that no stage of a child’s upbringing in Abia State would be taken for granted.

    Also speaking, the wife of the governor and founder of the Vicar Hope Foundation, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu stated that her foundation conceived the social orientation programme as its special gift to children in commemoration of the 2017 edition of the Nigerian Children’s Day celebration.

    Mrs. Ikpeazu observed that children are the future of the nation and there is a compelling need to better prepare them for that future by consciously and deliberately mentoring them through programmes that point out the way they should go and by making them engage in activities that cater for their mental as well as corporeal facilities.

    In a goodwill message, the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chikwendu Kalu stated that the Abia legislature would, through robust and well-thought out legislation, create a conducive environment that will ensure that all youth attain their potentials in life irrespective of their family backgrounds.

    In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, Prof. Uche Ikonne  who was represented by Prof. Maxwell Ogbolo stressed the need for the youth to be disciplined and focused on activities that are germane to the progress and development of society such as honesty and hard work.

    The programme featured lectures, dance-drama and the unveiling of a 15 chapter book titled Toward A Better Tomorrow whose production was commissioned by Mrs. Ikpeazu and whose contents are tailored toward the needs, challenges, aspirations and endeavours of children.

    The programme was attended by 3200 students aged 13-17 years and drawn from selected public and private secondary schools in the 17 local government areas of the state.

  • ‘Southeast Development Commission Bill not dead’

    The senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Mao Ohuabunwa has assured his constituents as well as the entire Southeast that the bill seeking the establishment of Southeast Development Commission was not dead yet. The lawmaker was speaking following a dramatic turn of events at the House of Representatives last week when representatives from the zone rejected the bill.

    Ohuabunwa, in a phone-in programme on Magic FM, an Aba-based radio station, urged the people of the state and the Southeast not to lose hope, stressing that though the bill was thrown out at the House of Representatives, senators from the zone would ensure that it is passed.

    He said, “The bill calling for the establishment of Southeast Development Commission, though has been thrown out at the House of Representatives, it has passed through First Reading in the Senate and awaiting Second Reading. When it is approved by the Senate, the House of Representatives will have to revisit the bill. So, until the senate is through with the bill, the bill cannot be said to be dead.”

    Also, the lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency at the House, Hon. Ossy Prestige has called for calm among Abia residents who felt aggrieved and have threatened to take to the streets to protest the action of House of Reps members who rejected the bill.

    Prestige told The Nation that there was no need for the planned protest, saying the bill was not dead, yet. The lawmaker said that the people should be patient and wait for the senate to deliberate on the same bill which is before them.

    On issue of sabotage by the leadership of the house against the southeast, the Abia lawmaker further suggested the use of electronic voting against the voice vote to eliminate any form of suspicion by any section of the country.

    Residents of Aba have called on senators in the Southeast to ensure that the bill does not suffer anymore setback. They said the people of Southeast would gain a lot if the commission was established.