The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • A prize for keeping fit

    A prize for keeping fit

    In a routine drill contest organised for soldiers of the 14 Brigade Command in Abia State, a unit near Aba, the commercial capital of the region, shone and it was accordingly honoured, Sunny Nwankwo reports

    There is no war, but that does not mean soldiers should forget about keeping fit and being better combatants. That was why the 14 Brigade Command Headquarters of Nigerian Army in Ohafia, named after former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, brought together over 200 soldiers from various formations to go through their routine drill. And to spice things up and inject serious into it, the battalions had to vie for a prize. The 144 Battalion in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state won the prize: a golden cup.

    The exercise was in compliance with the directives of the new Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai.

    Brig-Gen Bamidele Omozoje, the brigade commander, urged officers and men under his command to work harder to reach the point of proficiency required to enable them fulfil their constitutional roles.

    Omozoje who also was the review officer of the competition stated that the need for the exercise could not be over-emphasised, adding that drill provides the command with the opportunity to evaluate the performance of soldiers.

    Speaking further, the brigade commander  said that the competition was part of the scheduled training arrangements for the Nigerian Army as directed by the COAS.

    “The activities we are witnessing today are part of the training activities scheduled for this year 2015 and we have decided to go ahead with it despite all the challenges in line with the Chief or Army Staff’s vision to have a very professionally responsive Nigerian army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

    “And so we are here this morning to witness the…inter-battalion drill competition. In the army drill is key because it is the foundation for establishing team work among its personnel and also for building comradeship.

    “That is why we are here this morning. I urge all participants to put up a very good display so that at the end of the whole exercise everybody who is present would have gained something”, he said.

    He thanked all the soldiers who participated in the exercise including guests for being part of the programme and contributing to its success.

    Four units of the military formations in Abia state took part in the event which lasted for about four hours.

    The participating units included 14 Brigade, Ohafia; the 144 Battalion, Asa; 143 Battalion, Ovim hosting Nigerian Army Language School and 145 Battalion, Ohafia with its Forward Operational Base (FOB) at Umuahia.

    The competition ended with 144 Battalion, Asa in Ukwa West adjudged the best in the drills competition and were presented with a Golden Cup by Omozoje which was received by 2nd Lt. Noah Shigaba on behalf of the 144 Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Sidi Umar.

     

  • Ugwuanyi honoured in UK

    Ugwuanyi honoured in UK

    Enugu state Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been honoured in Dublin, Ireland for his leadership role as governor and contribution as chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Marine Transport for eight years.

    The governor garnered an international leadership award along with other awardees, including a female Irish professor and women’s rights activist, Fionnuala Waldron, former Charge d’Affaires of Nigerian Embassy in Ireland and a former Nigerian ambassador, Benedict Onochie Amobi, among others at the event put together by Metro Eireann, Ireland’s first multicultural newspaper.

    The event, which held in the capital city, came two days after scores of investors gathered at Dublin City’s Westin Hotels to brainstorm at a mini investment summit which offered the Enugu State delegation to Ireland the opportunity to lay bare the vast investment opportunities in the coal city.

    The investment summit also organised by Metro Eireann which is run by Metro Publishing Consultancy Limited, the primary source of news and information on Ireland’s growing immigrant and ethnic communities and run by a Nigerian, Chinedu Onyejelem, opened up a lot of vistas forthe Enugu delegation to enter into concrete and temporary agreements on mutual cooperation in the areas of agriculture, education and commerce and industry.

    At the awards, Ugwuanyi who featured in the internal category, told the elite gathering made of diplomats and serving and former Irish government officials as well as members of the Nigerian community in the European country, that his 11-man delegation was in town to seek investment in view of the scary slump in global oil prices which is currently putting Nigeria’s economy on edge.

    He told the gathering which was also addressed by a former Irish minister of Trade and Development, Mr. Joe Castelo, that he was dedicating the awards to the good people of Enugu state back home, whom he described as the true heroes of democracy in view of their support and decision to join his administration in a current stoic philosophy of belt-tightening to shore of the economy of the state.

    Nigerian Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires in Ireland, Mr. Olusola Iginla attended both the investment summit for Enugu and the awards night and on both occasions commended the exemplary drive of the Enugu governor during the three-day working visit, saying it is the needed disposition for all political office holders in Nigeria in view of the current economic gridlock staring the nation in the face.

    Chairman of the state Economic Advisory Committee, Prof. Monsgr. Obiora Ike, who was also on the delegation read the citation of the governor at the awards event and told the gathering that the coal city state was lucky to have Governor Ugwuanyi at the helm of affairs at this critical period and declared that with his wealth of experience as a parliamentarian for 12 straight years and a visible combination of clusters of virtues of good leadership and disarming humility, there was no doubt that the people of the state are in for good governance.

    Apart from Mr. Terence Modebe, a Nigerian-Irish who is already working on a range of investments on agriculture in Adani, Enugu State as well as on other economic ventures, in the state, the Enugu delegation held very crucial talks with other prospective investors who look good to storm Enugu shortly.

    For instance, president of the Dublin City University, Prof. Brian McCraith, whose institution had earlier signed a memorandum of understanding with the Enugu Government on education development would be attending an Economic Summit being put together by the state government in March this year. A good number of investors and other businessmen who held talks with government delegation have expressed readiness to participate in the summit.

    The awards night featured multi-cultural displays by cultural troupes with backgrounds of the Igbo of Nigeria, India and the Congo of East Africa and they added colour to the event.

  • Obiano’s wife trains 300 women

    Obiano’s wife trains 300 women

    They were happy naturally, all 300 of them. The Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) founded by wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, was kind to them, training them in various skills.

    •Some of the items donated
    •Some of the items donated

    The beneficiaries were needy women, among whom were widows. They all received certificates of successful training in addition to  working tools and take-off grants from the NGO.

    The Southeast Report gathered that over 600 others have already been trained and empowered, while names for the fourth batch were being compiled.

    It was also gathered that the trainees were selected across the 21 local government areas of the state for training.

    Such skills range from soap and cosmetics making, tie-and-dye, beading, hat-making to hair-dressing, and baking, among others. There was also community health care.

    Mrs. Obiano thanked the trainees for making themselves available, while expressing gratitude to God for keeping her on the path of humanitarian service.

    She said the training would help to equip trainees with relevant skills in areas of their training to become self-reliant, job creators, family breadwinners and escape from poverty.

    The governor’s wife advised them to remain obedient to their husbands in the face of the empowerment programme that had made them income earners.

    Mrs. Obiano noted that CAFÉ had been supportive to the Obiano administration to make life meaningful to the people, especially, the indigent women, widows and the physically challenged.

    According to her, “since inception CAFÉ has provided 800 physically challenged persons with prospthetic limbs, carried out free cleft and lip palate corrective surgeries to 120 children with abnormalities”

    “Also, embarked on the building of toilet projects in select community’s markets to boost environmental hygiene and preserve dignity of market women as well as building of modern houses for widows who live on mud houses among others”

    “The only thing that gives me joy is to put smiles on the faces of people especially the needy ones in our midst”

    “If you are happy, then I am happy, when you become self-reliant and employers of labour, make your home a good place to live in and impact on lives and don’t feel that now you are empowered to make money, that you are above your husbands, husbands are the heads of family and should be accorded respect,” she said.

    One of the graduands, Mrs. Calista Nwalioba, while speaking to The South east Nation, thanked Obiano’s wife for the empowerment training and provision of working tools and what she called seed money.

    Nwalioba assured that she would make the best use of the materials and financial resources to meet the needs of her family, while also contributing to the development of the state.

    Also, Mrs. Mercy Obi and Ann Nwankwo, who were both presented with gas cookers with ovens and Ogochukwu Chukwulobelu (dryer and wash basin), told The Southeast Report that they would always be grateful to the Obiano government for the assistance.

     

  • Old Boys plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    Old Boys plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    It was a colourful gathering during the 2015 homecoming of Ngwa High School, Aba Old Boys’ Association. SUNNY NWANKWO reports.

    Ngwa High School is one of the early male schools in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State. The school which was founded in 1952 with Rev. W.G. Pollard as its pioneer Principal has produced many successful businessmen, clerics, top ranking soldiers (both serving and retired) and other professionals such as Chief Mike Ahamba, Prof. Uche Ikonne and acting Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University Uturu Prof. Jasper Fortune Jumbo, among others.

    However, the 2015 gathering of the school which coincided with the Golden Jubilee of the class of 1965 of Ngwa High School Boys Association (NHSOBA) set provided these legal icon, clergies, business gurus and other professionals, the opportunity not only to relish the old school days as students in a secondary school that was the pride of the commercial city  then, it also provided them the opportunity to plan on how to restore the pride of the school; having been returned to the original owners (Anglican Church) by the immediate past Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji. For them, the infrastructural decay in the school is awful.

    According to the Old Boys, their planned partnership with the present management of the school under Aba Ngwa North Anglican Diocese to give their alma mater a facelift, they were embarking on a N10 million project investments.

    •One of the dilapilated buildings
    •One of the dilapilated buildings

    Among the projects they intend to carry out in the school are sinking of borehole and reticulating water to every part of the school, including the students’ dormitory among other places.

    Chief Mike Ahamba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and President of the schools’ Old Boys’ Association of the school announced this in Aba as part of the celebration to mark the golden jubilee of the 1965 class.

    President of NHSOBA lamented the level of dilapidation of infrastructure in the school founded in 1954. He promised that the association would partner with the church to address the infrastructural challenges as well as re-establish high standard of learning which the school was known for.

    He said: “We are here for our homecoming and to take a look at the state of infrastructure in the school and see how we can help. The buildings are old and most of the students are day students. We will invest at least N10 million in the first instance of the infrastructural rehabilitation of the school.

    “We would like a situation where most of them would come into residence and that will help to inculcate in them the true character of Ngwa High School personality. We will ensure that immediately we leave here, students of the school will enjoy water from the borehole sunk by the Old Boys’ Association and it will be reticulated. After that, we won’t wait; we will go on to achieve other projects.

    “We enjoyed water system and showers in the 1960s. Why won’t our students enjoy them now? I commend the Vice-President of NHSOBA, Chief Jasper Jumbo for renovating the school’s chapel and library and Dr. Chianyigadi Denna who re-roofed and installed metal doors to the science blocks.”

    Ahamba also said that the association will do all within its capacity to restore the glory of the school.

    “We will try and get it right. It will be a continuous thing. We are doing it for a lot of reasons; this is the only school that bears the name, Ngwa. I believe the Ngwa nation will see it as something they must support even though the Anglican Mission is running it now. But they built the school and gave it to the Anglican Church. That’s what happened in 1953. Now that the Anglican Church has it again, Ngwa people should not turn their back on this citadel that is flying the flag of Ngwa land.”

    Corroborating Chief Ahamba’s views, Prof. Jasper Fortune Jumbo said they were willing to partner with the Anglican Church of Aba Ngwa North Diocese; owners of the school to see ways the glory of the school could be restored which he said would attract parents to sending their children/wards to the school for studies in order to be better equipped academically.

    Earlier in his address, the Principal of the School, Dr. Felix Erondu, who is also an old boy of the school, had enumerated the challenges facing the institution to include lack of laboratory facilities; dilapidated buildings, broken fence and lack school bus.

    Brig. General G.A. Umelo; Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Ali Amodu; Justice Kenneth Amadi; Mr. Emmanuel Denna, Gordy Uche (SAN); incoming ABSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uche Ikonne; Mr. Eric Archibong and Mr. Chianyidi Denna were among the old boys honoured by the group.

  • Court verdict: PDP will laugh last, says Orji

    Court verdict: PDP will laugh last, says Orji

    The immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji has predicted that the verdict of the Court of Appeal which sacked Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as the duly elected governor of the state and replaced with Dr Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will be upturned at the Supreme Court.

    Chief Orji, who is the Senator representing Abia Central senatorial district at the Senate, said the verdict of the Court of Appeal was not a good one for the state and its people.

    “But there is the Supreme Court which is the last point of the judicial exercise in this matter,” he said.

    Speaking with reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, Orji said he has a lot of respect for the judiciary which is the last hope of any politicians’ political career, as it has always come to his rescue since he ventured into politics.

    Orji said: “Since I joined politics, the judiciary has always been there for me. From 2007 to 2011 as governor and even now as Senator, as it has always authenticated my mandate after any election my opponents proceed to the courts to challenge my victory.

    “I don’t see any difference in this case of Ikpeazu versus Otti governorship case, as some people want to be governor at all costs and desperately too simply because they have some money. But money is not everything in politics.”

    He said he is happy that the governorship matter does not end at the Court of Appeal but at the Supreme Court.

    “It is a place where there are men of integrity who take their time on such matter. I am sure that Ikpeazu will be returned as the duly elected governor of Abia State,” he said.

    The Senator said the judiciary is supposed to enhance democracy for the good of the country and its people.

    “However, this time around, the judiciary at the Court of Appeal has decided to turn democracy upside down,” he said.

    Orji said that the Court of Appeal judgment means that Ikpeazu cannot vote for himself and that his father, mother and siblings cannot vote for him.

    “It also means that he is not eligible to be voted for in the election based on the court’s verdict,” he stated.

    He posited that the continuous cancellation of election results and in some cases election results are declared inconclusive if not properly handled may end up blowing up the country.

    The former governor took a swipe at the founding fathers of the state, saying “it is a shame that those who claim to be founding fathers of the state are the ones destroying it. Instead of preaching peace, they are busy preaching discord.

    “These people do not have any electoral value during any election in the state. During the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries, Ikpeazu defeated his opponents clearly and the governorship seat deserves to go to the southern part of the state; having been to the north and central parts of the state for sixteen years,” he said.

     

  • ‘Why Abia residents protested’

    ‘Why Abia residents protested’

    More light has been shed on the protests in Abia State following the Appeal Court ruling on December 31 nullifying the victory of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at the governorship polls.

    On January 2, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara and other leaders headed a huge protest in Aba, commercial seat of the region, grounding activities there.

    Two days later women in black clothes took their turn, marching through the city and halting much of its boisterous life.

    The following day another group of protesters, from the Aba Reunion, did the same.

    All the protesters denounced the appellate court judgment, which also ordered that Mr Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance Party (APGA) be immediately sworn in.

    “The aim [of the protests] is to dramatise our anger over the Appeal Court’s ruling so that the entire world will know that injustice has been done to the people of Aba,” said Mr Godwin Adindu, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ikpeazu.

    Adindu added, though, that the protesters were “conducting themselves within the ambit of the law”.

    The governor’s chief scribe explained that the demonstrators could not understand why the appellate court judges glossed over the fact that they ought to have allowed Governor Ikpeazu to explore the usual 14-day window within which to appeal the ruling, if he so chose.

    He said it would have been fair for the court to order a re-run in the three councils where electoral irregularities were said to have been perpetrated.

    Moreover, said Adindu, voters in those three councils comprising Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa constituting one-third of the state electorate, were, by the Appeal Court’s ruling, practically disenfranchised, including the governor himself who hails from the area.

    Other worries in Ikpeazu’s camp included the reported invasion by State Security Service and army personnel of the Aba home of Mr Eziuche Ubani, the state Commissioner for Works, on the allegation that he was stockpiling arms.

    After what was said to be a thorough search of the commissioner’s home, including the ceiling and wardrobe, the SSS officers reported that nothing incriminating was found.

    Adindu said the people were looking forward to the Supreme Court judgment with confidence, so that Governor Ikpeazu, who has since started rehabilitating the state’s collapsed infrastructure, among other prime commitments, would not be distracted.

    The CPS said work was ongoing at 47 sites including two bridges, adding that former President Olusegun Obasanjo inaugurated three completed roads.

     

  • Stakeholders want Adighije in RMFAC board

    Stakeholders from the three senatorial zones of Abia State have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to re-appoint Senator Chris Adighije as the member representing the state at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

    The stakeholders, including a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tony Ukasoanya, Senator Onyeka Okoroafor, Abia North and Hon. Ngozi Ulunwa, Abia South, said re-appointing Adighije will give the state quality representation.

    The group said Senator Adighije has done well since during the period he has represented the state at the commission, stressing that his record of achievements has helped to boost the image of the state.

    The appeal was part of the resolutions of a one-day meeting of the stakeholders held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital where they said the re-appointment of Adighije was not subject to discussion or a zonal matter.

    Highlighting his achievements to include bringing positive changes to the state in line with the change mantra of the present administration, they stakeholders said re-appointing him would bring more development to the state.

    Reacting, the Abia State Government stated that the nomination and recommendation of its representative at the RMFAC is and remains the prerogative of the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

    A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Godwin Adindu said the governor has not nominated anyone to represent the state in the board of RMFAC.

    The statement added that the governor will nominate and recommend a representative at the appropriate time. He said nobody should pre-empt or prompt him to do things at the wrong time.

    The statement reads: “Nobody  or group should make any claim in this regard and purporting it to have the seal of the Abia State Government, as the governor has not nominated anyone for the job.

    “This clarification has become necessary given a media report which alleged that some unnamed and faceless political stakeholders from the three political zones have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the re-appointment of Senator Chris Adighije as the state’s representative  at the RMFAC.

    “The governor has not given any support or endorsement to any political group or the so-called ‘political stakeholders’ to speak on his behalf on this matter. The government is not aware of any forum convened to make representation for Adighije for his re-appointment.

    “This report is a ruse and a contraption aimed at positioning Senator Adighije for a position where the candidate is only but an ambassador of the state and therefore must emerge as an endorsement of the state.”

  • Ebonyi community revives dying tradition

    Ebonyi community revives dying tradition

    The Ezza Community in Ebonyi State has revived a circumcision custom through which men and women were welcomed into adulthood. It was last celebrated 20 years ago. JOSEPH JIBUEZE reports.

    In the yesteryear, adult circumcision was a practice every household in Ezza Community of Ebonyi State was proud to participate in. It was somewhat a status symbol for whoever had gone through the initiation rites. It also makes he that had been initiated be regarded as a fulfilled man. Contrarily, those unable to perform the rite were seen as efulefu (good-for-nothing or layabout). That was when men were said to be men.

    Every family endeavours to ensure that every of its male child underwent the initiation.

    Unfortunately, this tradition was abandoned owing to misconceptions that it is not in conformity with Christianity and modernism as the last ceremony took place 20 years ago.

    However, 20 years after the last adult was “circumcised”, the Ishinkwo Community in Ebonyi State has revived the dying custom.

    It held the traditional circumcision for its men (ibiugwu in Ezza dialect), which is a ceremony marking the transition of the persons observing it from youth to adulthood.

    It is the beginning of independence from parental restrictions and accommodation, and indicates that a man is ripe to live in his own home, take a wife or wives and have a family.

    In traditional Ezza society, boys and girls of marriage age were not permitted to marry until they had gone through the ceremony.

    It used to be a thing of pride for one to go through the initiation when one’s parents were still alive.

    The celebrator was to do no work during the month-long event, but stay indoors and eat sumptuous meals, especially pounded yam with egusi soup washed down with fresh palm wine.

    The man is usually dressed in a wrapper, bowler hat with beads and neck chain (iyagba) to match, accompanied by a chaperon. The celebrator entertains his numerous visitors and well-wishers with a local guitar (ibekwe).

    As a new warrior in town, the man also needs a gun as a symbol of his readiness to defend his household and the community against external aggression or threat from enemies.

    The event then ends with the celebrators making public appearance at the Eke Market Square, with spectators admiring and appreciating them with gifts. Elders prayed for and blessed them and their future.

    However, the custom was abandoned for years and subsequently went into oblivion.

    President, Ishinkwo Youth Assembly (IYA), Mr Innocent Elum, a graduate in law, said the custom suffered due to ignorance, Christianity and modernism.

    He said some Christians misconceived the custom, which is a significant part of the established way of life of the Ezza Ezekuna people of Ebonyi State, as being devilish, which he said is not the case.

    The custom was held over 20 years ago, long before most of the youth who witnessed the event held in November last year in Ishinkwo, were born.

    It is usually an opportunity for merriment and for families and parents to rejoice at their children’s attainment of manhood or womanhood.

    For most of the adults, the event brought back fond memories of a joyous occasion which, once upon a time, everyone looked forward to with eagerness.

    A woman is allowed to participate as long as she is of marriage age. In the past, it was mandatory for a man or woman who intends to get married to undergo the circumcision.

    “There was jubilation in the community when the ceremony was held. You needed to see the smiles on several faces, especially the older generation. We should not let our culture die,” Elum said.

    The event is usually held every November, and has the potential of being included in the tourism calendar if well harnessed.

    There is no special requirement for those who wish to get “circumcised”. No monetary demands are made. All the person needs is to buy the needed materials for the ceremony, including a gun, which symbolises strength.

    “The yearning of Ishinkwo youth to revive the custom became deafening and I offered to provide leadership, participating fully in the event. We were three in number. But indications are that we may record more than 20 people this year.

    “I call on the Federal and the Ebonyi State Governments should  pay serious attention to customs and ceremonies that are not repugnant to justice, equity and good conscience. For where there is no culture, there can’t be taboos and nothing can be held sacred. In such society anything goes and nihilism is a way of life,” Elum said.

  • NB advocates grassroots sports development

    The 4th Lawn Tennis Tournament sponsored by the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc has ended in Onitsha Sports Club, Anambra State with a call for grassroots sports development.

    The tournament, which began in 2012 through the sponsorship of Nigerian Breweries Plc at the Onitsha Sports Club aimed at encouraging sports and physical fitness among members of the club.

    At the end of the tournament, Mr Kingsley Okoye emerged winner with the highest point of 18 while Mr. Kenechukwu Aniobi and Emma Odenuga emerged second and third respectively and received microwave sets as gift.

    Speaking at the grand finale of the event, the Public Affairs Manager of NB Plc, Mr. Patrick Ejidoh said sponsorship of the event was part of the company’s corporate social responsibilities to the society in which it operates.

    “We have been partnering with Onitsha Sports Club on Lawn Tennis for the past four years. We have also been funding the tournament.

    “We have organised the tournament in Benin, Makurdi, Enugu and Aba. We also organise Gulder Ultimate Search in Anambra and somebody went home with a car, courtesy of the NB Plc,” he said.

    In his remarks, the captain of the club, Mr. Uchenna Okpalaobiokoye expressed his happiness over the   tournament.

    He said since NB began sponsorship of the tennis tournaments, the lives of the members have improved physically and mentally.

    “We really appreciate what NB Plc is doing in Onitsha Sports Club. Since we began the tournament, there have been a lot of improvements in the lives of the members. The game of tennis helps the body to keep fit. We will continue to thank and appreciate them for their continuous sponsorship of the event,” Okpalaobiokoye.

    Also in his remarks at the closing ceremony, the President of the club Chief Felix Nwosu commended the NB for sponsoring the tournament, saying that the advantages of the championship could not be over-emphasised, as they enable members to be abreast of the rudiments of the game.

    He noted that the competition always raised the standard of their games and will make the participants to maintain good body fitness and good health, which keeps them busy and active as well as to upgrade the facilities of the section.

    Nwosu, however, urged other multi-national companies and organisations to sponsor other games in the club, saying the NB Plc has sponsored the tournament for four consecutive years.

    Highlights of the event were the awards of prizes to those who performed well in the tournament as well as luncheon for members courtesy of NB Plc.

     

  • Court verdict: PDP will laugh last, says Orji

    Court verdict: PDP will laugh last, says Orji

    The immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji has predicted that the verdict of the Court of Appeal which sacked Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as the duly elected governor of the state and replaced with Dr Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will be upturned at the Supreme Court.

    Chief Orji, who is the Senator representing Abia Central senatorial district at the Senate, said the verdict of the Court of Appeal was not a good one for the state and its people.

    “But there is the Supreme Court which is the last point of the judicial exercise in this matter,” he said.

    Speaking with reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, Orji said he has a lot of respect for the judiciary which is the last hope of any politicians’ political career, as it has always come to his rescue since he ventured into politics.

    Orji said: “Since I joined politics, the judiciary has always been there for me. From 2007 to 2011 as governor and even now as Senator, as it has always authenticated my mandate after any election my opponents proceed to the courts to challenge my victory.

    “I don’t see any difference in this case of Ikpeazu versus Otti governorship case, as some people want to be governor at all costs and desperately too simply because they have some money. But money is not everything in politics.”

    He said he is happy that the governorship matter does not end at the Court of Appeal but at the Supreme Court.

    “It is a place where there are men of integrity who take their time on such matter. I am sure that Ikpeazu will be returned as the duly elected governor of Abia State,” he said.

    The Senator said the judiciary is supposed to enhance democracy for the good of the country and its people.

    “However, this time around, the judiciary at the Court of Appeal has decided to turn democracy upside down,” he said.

    Orji said that the Court of Appeal judgment means that Ikpeazu cannot vote for himself and that his father, mother and siblings cannot vote for him.

    “It also means that he is not eligible to be voted for in the election based on the court’s verdict,” he stated.

    He posited that the continuous cancellation of election results and in some cases election results are declared inconclusive if not properly handled may end up blowing up the country.

    The former governor took a swipe at the founding fathers of the state, saying “it is a shame that those who claim to be founding fathers of the state are the ones destroying it. Instead of preaching peace, they are busy preaching discord.

    “These people do not have any electoral value during any election in the state. During the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries, Ikpeazu defeated his opponents clearly and the governorship seat deserves to go to the southern part of the state; having been to the north and central parts of the state for sixteen years,” he said.