The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Confab: Ohanaeze youths praise Southeast delegates

    The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the youth wing of the Southeast socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has congratulated the Igbo delegates at the National Conference under the leadership of Chief Enwo Igariwey, President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, leader of the Southeast delegates to the conference on their impressive outing. They said the delegates attained 80 per cent achievement of the Igbo Agenda at the conference.

    A statement signed by the National Leader of OYC, Okechukwu Isiguzoro urged the delegates to complete their good work by ensuring that none of what they achieved for Ndigbo gets tampered with at the final stage of the conference.

    While commending the Southeast Governors’ Forum for its commitment to ensuring enhanced security in the Southeast geo-political zone, they said their recent decision to procure security equipment so as to enhance security within the region, proved that the forum is committed to the security of lives and property of people of the zone.

    The youth urged the governors to work assiduously towards regional economic integration in order to pool resources, thereby having a larger and more attractive market by virtue of economy of scales.

    As such, the forthcoming annual Southeast Economic Summit will be an avenue for them to formalise a legal framework for regional integration.

    The youth said: “We wish to commend, in particular, the bold initiatives of Governors Theodore A. Orji and Willy Obiano of Abia and Anambra states respectively which results in tremendous improvement in security in their states, especially in the two commercial cities of Aba and Onitsha.

    “We express the willingness of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing to partner with the Southeast Governors’ Forum to reduce insecurity in the region.

    “However, insecurity is best tackled through massive investment in job creation, youth empowerment, industrialisation and improved agriculture.

    “We urge every Southeast governor to present a score card of how many industries his government has attracted or built in his state.

    “We call on President Goodluck Jonathan to, as a matter of urgency; ensure the resuscitation of the Enugu coal mine, possibly before the end of the year so as to return the economy of the Southeast to what it used to be.

    “Also, we implore the Federal Government to fast-track the construction of the Enugu and Gombe coal-fired power plants as contained in the 2014 Budget, so as to enhance the industrial potential of both the Southeast and the Northeast zones.

    “We commend patriotic Igbo industrialists like Chief Innocent Maduka (Innoson), Chief Maduka Onyishi (Peace Mass Transit) and Dr. Uche Ogar (Master Energy) for investing in the Southeast, thereby empowering Igbo youths.

    “While asking all patriotic Ndigbo and corporate organisations to support the Ohanaeze Youth Wing’s Igbo Youth Development/ Skill Acquisition Centre Project, we commend individuals who are already supporting the project such as Prof. Bart Nnaji.”

  • ‘Election a major problem in Nigeria’

    The political class said Nigeria’s problem since independence begun with flawed elections.

    They noted that the failure of the country to conduct free and fair elections led to various military take over.

    This, they agreed, marked the beginning of the country’s problem.

    They, however, failed to mention whether the electoral umpire or politicians was responsible for flawed elections in the country.

    But a former Presidential aspirant, Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, however, agreed that the struggle in handling the elections led to successive military takeovers.

    Iwuayanwu spoke in Abuja at a book launched titled: Jinx Breaker: The installation of a new political order in Nigeria.

    The book, which takes a look at the country’s electoral history and the contribution of a former Independent Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Maurice Iwu, was written by Elvis Ned Iwuajoku.

    Iwuanyawu said: “Any problem we have in Nigeria started with election. The entire crisis we had from independence been as a result of election.

    “Iwu inherited a very bad electoral process that was capable of destroying our democracy.”

    Also, a former governor of Abia state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu said even the Pope can’t guarantee free and fair elections.

    Prof. Iwu in his remark also said it was important to pen the country’s electoral history because Nigeria doesn’t take proper documentation of events.

    Iwu said the book was necessary for because it will help to sustain the country’s democracy.

    Iwu said: I don’t even have a sense for vindication because I work for the future. The present has never been my preoccupation. The future is mine.

  • Orji praises NCC’s role in telecom

    Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has praised the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) for doing a good job in regulating the activities of service providers in the country which has brought sanity in the industry.

    Speaking in Umuahia, when he received the chairman of Board of the NCC Engr. Peter Igho and his team at the Government house, Orji described communication as very essential arm of development in any society.

    Orji said that his administration is addressing some of the problems confronting the operations of the NCC including the issue of multiple taxation and right of way, adding that the state government has made relevant legislation as it concerns telecommunications operation in the state.

    The governor said his administration is poised to make the environment conducive for NCC and the service providers to operate and pledged to partner with the commission to continue in its sanitization programme in the industry.

    He implored the commission to provide more facilities to educational institutions in the state as a way of assisting the state government, adding that state government alone cannot carry the burden of financing the educational institutions in the state.

    Earlier in his speech, Mr. Igho explained that telecommunications contributes to 8.5 % of the nations GDP and has transformed the way of doing things in the country and made public that his commission is making effort to improve the quality of service to Nigerians.

    Mr. Igho said that Nigeria has 129 million active subscribers while over 50 million Nigerians have access to the internet, adding that the tele-density is 92% and still increasing almost on daily basis.

    He however identified multiple-taxation and hindering of the right of way and vandalisation of ICT facilities as some of the factors that militate against improved service, pointing out that the commission is currently pushing for a law to classify telecommunications facilities as critical infrastructure.

    The board chairman disclosed that NCC has given ICT equipment to 38 secondary schools in the state among other items given to tertiary institutions in Abia and appealed to the Governor to partner with his commission to improve the quality of service to the people.

    On the issue of the activities of the service provider, Igho said that NCC is a regulatory body regulating their activities, “So it is our duty to ensure that they give us correct quality services, so far the quality of service is not the best, but we are on it”.

  • 2015: Orji, PDP get support on zoning

    2015: Orji, PDP get support on zoning

    As 2015 elections draw near, the battle over who succeeds Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has become keener.

    However, the Southeast Progressives Assembly (SEPA), a socio-political group, has declared its support for the decision of Abia State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chapter and Governor Theodore Orji in zoning the 2015 governorship to Abia South Senatorial zone.

    In a statement made available to reporters, President of the group, Hon. Ebere Uzoukwa, commended what he described as the ‘statesmanship position of the PDP and its stakeholders as well as Governor Orji to embrace equity, justice and fairness to ensure that Abia South produces the next governor of the state in 2015.

    The statement reads: “As a socio-political group entrenched to promote justice, equity and justice as well as to promote and mobilise for good governance in the Southeast, SEPA, having closely monitored political developments in Abia State as regards power sharing and rotation, praises the PDP and Governor Theodore Orji for zoning the governorship position to Abia South.

    “Recall that in 1999, Chief (Dr.) Orji Uzor Kalu from Bende Local Government Area had an interrupted eight years for Abia North. Thereafter, power was moved to Abia Central with the incumbent governor, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji from Umuahia elected into office as governor in 2007.

    “In 2015 when Governor Orji would have completed eight years for Abia Central, morality, equity, justice and fairness demand that the next governor should emerge from Abia South. It is in view of this that SEPA supports the decision of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) and Governor Orji for having regard for equity, justice and fairness to ensure that Abia South produces the next governor in 2015.”

    Uzoukwa, who was formerly a member of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s media aides, in the statement also enjoined the people of Ukwa-Ngwa to close ranks and seize the opportunity to ensure that only a credible person with outstanding track record emerges PDP candidate in order to sustain the legacies of Governor Orji when elected as governor of the state.

    “SEPA also wishes to enjoin other Ngwa local government areas in Abia Central to jettison their personal interests and support their brothers and sisters in Abia South to ensure that a credible person emerges from that zone. Their continued agitation amounts to selfishness and greed which definitely do not relate with the collective and over-riding interest of the people of Ukwa-Ngwa.

    “On the other hand, the people of Ukwa-Ngwa should avoid politicians who are power-drunk and who have not impacted positively on the lives of their people. Some of them have been in power from 2003 and 2007, contributing nothing tangible to the socio- economic development of Ukwa-Ngwa land. They have equally detached themselves completely from the people and owners of the mandate by doing only their biding and that of their family members.

    “They are those desperately eyeing the governorship seat of the God’s Own State. Without mincing words, this development is unacceptable to us and the people of Ukwa-Ngwa.

    “We hereby advise the people of Ukwa-Ngwa and people of Abia State to rise against this category of politicians and support only credible person with outstanding achievements as well as the capacity to sustain the legacies of Governor Orji.

  • My Marshal Plan for Imo, by aspirant

    My Marshal Plan for Imo, by aspirant

    Okey Ezeh is the CEO of Savvycorp Limited and Chairman of Okechukwu Theodore Ezeh Foundation (OTEF), a non-governmental organisation. In this interview with OLUKOREDE YISHAU, he says he has developed a Marshal Plan to improve the fortune of Imo State, which he hopes to govern on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Excerpts

    What is your assessment of the current state of affairs in Imo State?

    Imo State today is in economic dire-straits with no new meaningful private sector investments in the last three years; heavy debt overhang estimated to be in the region of N100 billion region, dwindling federal allocations owing to strangulating first-line charges on various loan repayment schedules; over 800,000 unemployed youths (by a recent National Employment Survey estimate);  rampant poverty; rising wave of crime and creeping insecurity; scandalous decline in educational quality with 11 faculties in the state university and the Polytechnic in Umuagwo unaccredited and the worst ever student performance in NECO and WAEC recorded in its history a few months ago.

    Worse still, there appears to be no coherent plan or programme designed towards ameliorating this state of anomie as the government of the day is busy executing white elephant projects such as street gates, roundabouts, squares, new government offices; quarters and inaugurating vigilance squads to the detriment of the productive sectors of the local economy which has been completely neglected.

    What are you going to do differently?

    I will immediately re-order priorities to squarely face the existential threat of poverty in the land. We will funnel resources away from non-regenerative, cosmetic schemes to agro-based industrialisation drive using the industrial cluster model that will be spread across the three zones of the state. We will run a transparent and accountable, value-for-money administration with zero-tolerance for corruption, ineptitude and cronism.

    This alone will free up huge resources that will be applied to harnessing our virtually limitless agricultural potential. I will invest in high-yield fertilisers and introduce organic, high-yield seedling varieties to not only shore up food security in the state but also to create the capacity required for the agro-industrial transformation of the state.

    I will bring back the Farm Settlements of the Michael Okpara era. I will revamp our near-comatose educational system with improved funding, better learning tools and training and re-training of teachers. I will attract grants for our tertiary institutions and enrol them in offshore support programmes, exchanges and linkages that will promote skills and knowledge transfer with institutions of international repute.

    Why should Imo people trust you?

    When your vision and ideas resonate with the direst needs and fondest desires of your people, when your track records illuminate your path like a brightly-lit stairway, when you have the creativity, character and conscience to pull consistently on the side of your people, you engender trust every step of the way-from Mbaitoli to Nwangele to Ihitte-Uboma to Ezinihitte and to the remotest clan in Imo. People hold out their hands to you and lock you in warm embrace.

    Why do you believe you have what it takes to govern a state like Imo with so many “big men”?

    Big men are not averse to progress. If anything, part of the process of belonging to that rarefied circle is the possession of a certain level of fastidiousness. That is, you don’t go near them with a plain vanilla offering or mediocrity. You must come with a premium package to gain their acceptance.

    Okey Ezeh is a thorough-bred professional and technocrat conversant with global best practices both in governance and private sector practice. He has the unique blend of skills, energy and drive to take Imo to the Promised Land.

    He is the only aspirant in the horizon that has fashioned out a critically-acclaimed developmental blueprint that will transform Imo from a backwater, allocation-dependent state to an agro-industrial powerhouse and third largest state economy (both by GDP and per capita income indices) within the next five years. That document is christened the I-Map (Imo Marshal Plan).

    What do you think are your chances of securing the APGA governorship ticket?

    You know our party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), arguably, has the best track record in internal democracy among all the parties in the country and that is the first guarantee we have that the most acceptable aspirant with the best prospects of leading the party to victory will emerge.

    In my own case, my aspiration is quickly crystallising into a mass movement not only within the rank and file of the party but also among the general Imo populace where we have a near-cult following among the youth and women groups, the key demographic strata that decide all elections.

    The simple reason is my age, personality, professional pedigree and  track-record which most Imolites agree all add up to the profile of the leader they look up to re-invent Imo in 2015.

    The Court of Appeal recently restored Victor Umeh as the National Chairman of APGA. What is the implication of that judgment? 

    It was salutary even if long-awaited. That judgment has provided the respite the party requires to forge ahead with planning for the forthcoming general elections. Members of APGA can now come together with confidence to fine-tune strategies not only for victory at the polls in several states where we are in the ascendancy but also for safeguarding such victories.

    Do you think APGA has a chance in Imo, with the APC as the ruling party and almost all the “big men” in PDP?

    All students of modern political history in Nigeria know that APGA always wins in Imo because the cockerel is the symbol that is intrinsically enshrined in the hearts of every Imolite. Forget all the propaganda; APC is like the proverbial seed that falls on parched ground and is scorched almost immediately it germinates.

    The Imo ‘big men’ you talk about in PDP, more often than not have APGA sympathies and pedigree. They are like Little Bo Peep in the popular English nursery rhyme that lost her sheep and did not know where to find them but would eventually come home wagging their tales behind them.

    What is your assessment of the Jonathan administration?

    In all fairness, the Jonathan administration has done reasonably well, given the difficult circumstances under which it has had to navigate the ship of state. If not for anything else, the administration is frontally tackling the hydra-headed energy monster with a focused implementation of the power sector reforms which I believe will define his legacy.

    One is also elated at his administration’s 35 per cent Affirmative Action Plan for women in politics as well as the 30 per cent Youth Empowerment Charter all of which I think will help re-define Nigeria as a country where anyone can live up to his or her full potential without the glass ceilings of gender or age.

    Do you think he has a chance in 2015?

    Oh yes. I think those who are right now mounting a spirited challenge to his continuing in office do not portend a better future for Nigeria and Nigerians. Most are mouthing inanities about zoning and flexing muscles about how far away power has wandered away from them rather than sell a superior governance vision to Nigerians. That is the surest guarantee that Jonathan will ride to victory in 2015.

  • 29 communities get electricity

    29 communities get electricity

    fter waiting for many years to be provided with electricity by the state government, 29 rural communities in Imo State are happy that the Okorocha-led administration has met their expectation.

    For these communities, the soothing relief of having light after ageless darkness cannot be down played.

    This is so because there had not been electricity in these communities since the state was created in 1976 out of the defunct East Central State.

    Happily, work has commenced in all of these communities, with 20 of them located in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, which is an oil-producing area. The other nine communities are in the Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area.

    The government said it embarked on the project in order to boost economic activities in the rural areas and to reduce the rate of urban-rural migration, especially among the youth.

    The traditional ruler of Umuwnaku community in Ohaji/Egbema, Eze Abraham Iheanacho, who commended the state government for remembering the community, told our correspondent that the community has been without electricity for so many years, noting that since the administration of the late Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe, the people were abandoned.

    The monarch pointed out that even the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has also failed to provide electricity for the community in spite of its oil-producing status.

    “I am very happy about the electricity project that is being undertaken by the present administration. Since after Sam Mbakwe’s administration, successive administrations have not considered the necessity of providing electricity for the community. It is very sad when you discover that several neighbouring communities have electricity and you are the only one in darkness.

    “Not even the efforts of the Niger Delta Development Commission to provide the community with electricity yielded any result because the contractors abandoned the projects. We are very happy about the electricity project and we thank the state governor for remembering us,” the monarch said.

    Similarly, the youth leader of the community, Comrade Dan Akarulam, said lack of electricity has remained the major impediment in the community, adding that most of the youth have abandoned the community because of lack of electricity.

    The youth leader further said that lack of basic amenities in the oil-producing areas is the major cause of youths’ agitations. He commended the Okorocha administration for providing the community with electricity.

    He said: “Members of this community have suffered for a very long time because of lack of electricity which resulted in majority of the youths’ abandoning the community for the city.

    “But we are grateful to Governor Okorocha for coming to our rescue. That is why the community has assisted the contractor in clearing pathways. We do this because the electricity project is in the heart of the people. When the light is energized, it will boost economic activities in this community and the people will be self-employed.”

    Also praising the electricity project, President-General of Obokofia community, Amawaka Kevin whose community benefitted from the rural electrification programme, said his community has been without electricity for the past 15 years.

    The community leader further stated that his community does not have pipe borne water, adding that the only health centre in the community is not functional.

    “We thank Governor Okorocha for reconnecting our community to the National Grid after over 15 years. The NDDC constructed a good road for the community, but we do not have drinking water and functional healthcare centre. So, we are appealing to the government to come to our aid by providing other basic infrastructure that will enhance our living standard,” he said.

    Speaking in the same manner, a retired Magistrate who is the Ezeali of Obokofia, Fintaa Ujuara, commended Governor Okorocha for ensuring that every community in the state is provided with electricity. The traditional ruler revealed that the community has not enjoyed electricity for over 15 years.

    The monarch, who is the oldest traditional ruler in the entire council area, said most of the youth have abandoned the community for the city because of lack of electricity, adding that with the provision of electricity in the community, most of them, especially the artisans, would fancy coming home.

    He praised the governor for ensuring that those communities that had been living in darkness are provided with electricity.

    “We have been living in this community without electricity. Only those who own power generating sets enjoyed such luxury. Not everybody can afford electricity generating set because you will have to buy fuel or diesel every day to power them. The situation has caused most of our youths to leave for the cities. Now that the community is being provided with electricity, I am sure that those who had left for the cities will come back home.

    “Before now, previous administrations had always promised to provide light for us, especially during electioneering campaigns. After voting for them, we will not see them again. So, we are grateful to Governor Okorocha for keeping his promise to the communities in this area.”

    The Commissioner for Public Utilities and Public Safety, Dr. Ifeanyi Nwachukwu said the state government’s latest aggressive electrification programme has nothing to do with politics of re-election, but based on the recommendation of a committee set up by the state government to verify all communities not connected to the National Grid since 1976 when the state was created.

    He further said that as part of the Rescue Mission Agenda of the present administration, the Governor is committed to ensuring that the benefits of democracy gets to the rural dwellers through the provision of basic amenities.

    The commissioner blamed past administrations in the state for failing to provide the affected communities with such basic necessity of life, even as he regretted that the sad situation had inflicted a sense of marginalisation and alienation among the people.

    “The present situation should be blamed on past administrations because they never thought it necessary to provide the basic amenities for the people. What the people had been getting were unfulfilled promises which have created a sense of alienation.

    “The provision of this important amenity for the people has no political undertone. It is also not a means of scoring cheap political point. It is real because the transformers are in place and the high tension cables are also in place. So, what you have seen today is part of the Rescue Mission Agenda of the Okorocha administration to positively touch the lives of the people, especially the rural dwellers,” Dr Nwachukwu said.

    He also commended the benefiting communities for their co-operation and support to the state government and to the contractor handling the project. He urged them to sustain the spirit to enable them to reap more democracy dividends from the Okorocha administration.

    Managing Director of FORT S and C Limited, handlers of the project, Mr. Uju Kingsley Chima, assured that in the next three months, the entire communities in Ohaji/ Egbema Local Government Area that had been without electricity would have been connected to the National Grid.

  • August: A time to build

    August: A time to build

    August has remained remarkable in Igbo land. It is a time women gather, assess their challenges and those before their communities and start resolving them.

    So many health centres and other projects have been built after the August convergence. Dilapidated schools have been renovated and brought back to life. Intractable feuds have been resolved at the gathering.

    This was the situation in Amaokwo Item, a community in Abia State when its women group under the aegis of Amaokwo Item Welfare Union (AIWU women’s wing) held its August meeting for this year. The aim was to raise funds for the completion of the multi-million Naira Women Development Centre/ Skill Acquisition Centre.

    The centre is expected to train both young and middle-aged women who do not have any training and skills that will enable them to fend for themselves and be self-sufficient in life.

    Speaking at the ceremony, which was a showcase for honouring some of the indigenes of the community, the National President of the women, Prof. Regina Enyidia Ogali, called on men and women of good will to come to their aid to enable them complete the project which, she said, will be beneficial to all.

    The women group serves as a rallying point for all women of the community through which they unite the people and motivate them to a pursue common goals. It includes Amaokwo Item women at home and in the Diaspora.

    Mrs Ogali said: “We create a forum for discussing the welfare and enlightenment of our members and the general development of our dear community. We also co-operate with individuals, the AIWU central body and other organisations. This is aimed at enhancing social and economic empowerment of our women.”

    Continuing, she said: “As Amaokwo Item women, we use the period of our annual home-coming to take stock of the events of the past year, evaluate our achievements, look into identifiable problems and discuss/plan what we want to do in the next year.

    “We also deliberate on possible ways of enhancing the living standards of our members, their families and possibly learn from each other and enjoy ourselves after working hard for a year. Therefore, our men should encourage their wives to identify with us, as no one is an island.”

    Prof. Ogali recalled that in 2006, the women embarked on the building of the women development centre as part of their contributions towards the development of the community and to enhance the living standard of young women and the girl-child.

    During this year’s meeting, she said, the women group held lectures for women on the need for them to be hygienic, conscious and how to avoid contracting the deadly Ebola virus, even as she urged every woman to put what they learnt during the lecture to practice in order to save their families.

    Earlier in his opening remarks, the chairman on the occasion, Chief Ndubuisi Okorie praised the women for their efforts towards the development of the

    community as complement to efforts of their husbands which have set the community above its contemporaries in terms of development.

    Chief Okorie said building the skill acquisition centre for the women of the community will go a long way in enhancing their living standard. He urged the people to donate generously to enable the women complete the centre.

    He noted that the women began their complementary role in the community with donation and building of a cassava processing plant, organising security for women farmers which was capped with the building of a mini-stadium by Ms Aruma Oteh. He also urged the women to continue in their good work.

    The women used the occasion to honour some illustrious men of the community.

    Those honoured included Chief Princewill Onyegbu as Ezi Enyi Item, Commissioner for Special Services, James Kwubiri Okpara as Okenwa Okwo and Commissioner for Transport, Emelike Igwe Kalu as Okenwa Okwo.

    Others were Chief Daniel Akwari, Chief Uzoubi Ogoh, Chief Ekekwe Egu, Prince Okwudiri Ndukwe and Ikechukwu Udeala as Ezinwa Okwo, while the ex-Super Eagles’ footballer Pascal Karibe Ojigwe was honoured as the people’s ambassador.

  • My plan for Abia people, by Senator Nwaogu

    My plan for Abia people, by Senator Nwaogu

    Senator Nkechi Nwaogu represents Abia Central Senatorial District at the Senate. She is the chairman, Senate Committee on Gas. In this interview with JUDE ISIGUZO, she speaks on her governorship ambition in Abia State come 2015 and sundry issues. Excerpts:

    As a governorship aspirant, what are your plans for the people of Abia?

    Before now, I established an annual publication known as Oyibo Nwanyi Magazine. I was the first to initiate documented legislative activities of any legislator. That magazine reveals that I am the first Senator that established a skill acquisition programme for sons and daughters of Abia in various vocations.

    From 2009 to 2010, I trained 200 men and women in various vocations and resourcefully empowered them by providing them with the equipment required for the training. Right now, 150 men and women have been trained in various vocations such as tile making, interlocking, POP making, hair making, fishery, piggery and bead making.

    Very soon, I will provide them the necessary equipment to start life. I am the first Senator to provide assistance for the first 75 tertiary institutions in my Senatorial District.

    In 2012, I provided two-year scholarship assistance for 150 students in tertiary institutions. I am the first Senator that provided a corporative grant of N1 million for the six local government areas. I provided automobiles for the chairmen. I have also distributed more than 80 transformers to the people. There is no local government area that has no one or two projects which I executed.

    This is my 12th year, my third time of soliciting for my people. I am saying let me go to the executive so that I can add value to the society and in the lives of the people too to add to what is being done by the present government.

    What is your background?

    I was trained in financial management. I have been a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament since its inception in 2005. I know what bilateral trades that exist that can help a state like ours.

    As part of my programmes, I will ensure that there is a bilateral trade expansion among the 15 member states. If we empower these private entrepreneurs, they will create jobs. We can talk owners of Golden Guinea, Ceramics and Aba Textile Mills to see how we can help them so they can get back into business. These are areas we can bring on board for real economic development.

    Politics is often seen as an enterprise for men. How did you venture into politics?

    I would say I started being interested in politics while I was working as a member of Abia Economic Advisory Board between 1991 and 1993 when Ogbonnaya Onu was the governor of Abia state.

    By 1997, I found out that there was need to help women be financially independent. When I noticed the situation women found themselves in as a result of depending solely on the men, I decided to approach politics from the angle of economic empowerment and emancipation. This led to my establishing a non-governmental organisation (NGO) known as Women in Action for Development. I believe that when women are fairly economically empowered, they will begin to look at their environment which includes political environment. Then they will begin to assert themselves by insisting that they can add value to the society by being part of nation-building.

    Between 1994 and 1997, I vied for governorship election under United Nigerian Congress Party (UNCP). Unfortunately after we have picked the form, the Republic was truncated.

    In 1999, I went back to politics, this time I found myself in APP. I also contested for governorship position, even though I lost at the primaries to Prince Vincent Ogbulafor.

    I was the Deputy National Treasurer of the party by December 1999. By February, 2000, I had become the Acting National Treasurer. I held that position until I vied for a seat at the House of Representatives. After that, I contested for the Senatorial position to represent Abia Central District at the Senate and God gave me victory.

    Would zoning not affect your gubernatorial ambition?

    Definitely I will run for the office of the governor of Abia State. I believe that the same God that brought me this far will see me through. The same God has not finished with me. I will run on the platform of PDP. I am the only woman running for this position. I am the one to beat. I know God will use me to break the jinx to become the first elected woman governor in Abia State.

    In our party, the constitution doesn’t say you should zone positions. I am challenging my people and the party executive in the state to give us a level playing ground. I have nothing and can do nothing but in God I can do something and I know people of Abia are still interested in Nkechi Nwaogu becoming the next governor of the state.

    Sometimes change is difficult to accept and change does not come easily. I am not bothered about the zoning. Anybody has the right to make a pronouncement or a proclamation that it has been zoned to Abia South. I am indigenous to Abia. I have the constitutional right to contest any election.

    What would you say are some of your achievements as Chairman Senate Committee on Gas?

    As the Chairman Senate Committee on Gas, I saw the pains of our not realising the potential in gas resources. The first six months the members inaugurated, we instituted a public hearing and we got the approval of the leadership to ensure that the international operating companies in oil and gas sector that Nigerian government should insert units that will measure gas when it is produced, gas used and gas flared.

    Before now, it was only the measurement from the IOC that Nigeria operates on. Nigeria has even more gas than oil. We have been to Russia and other countries where gas is even more supreme, yet we know our power sector is suffering as a result of insufficient gas supply.

    We are worried to increase domestic utilisation of gas. We had a conference in May this year which aimed at creating awareness for foreign investors to come to Nigeria. This is yielding results as investors are coming. We are also amending the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Law so that we can get rid of the obsolete laws, concessions and expired waiver that were given to NLNG from 1989 till date. The pricing of gas at the moment is unattractive.

    We must begin to unbundle the gas sector and hopefully by the time the Petroleum Industry Bill is passed into law, some of these things will be unbundled and more investors will come.

    On fuel subsidy, I support its removal. They are crying about corruption, yet they are supporting its retention.

    They allow importation of refined fuel. It’s only the very few cabals that are enjoying that. The subsidy government removed was with good intention and for the benefit of the less-privileged and downtrodden who use kerosene. It still gets to them at controlled price. It is the middlemen and women out there that have become notoriously rich. We think Nigerian Labour Congress should support subsidy removal unless they share the booty of the ill-gotten wealth from subsidy. They should allow subsidy to go just like subsidy has been gradually removed from AGO (diesel). Today, diesel sells between 160 and 170. We refine it here. Bringing kerosene at N40 and selling at N150 is wickedness.

    How would you assess President Jonathan’s performance?

    President Goodluck Jonathan is doing very well. Despite doing well, people still criticise him. What I notice about what is happening is conspiracy.

    People have decided to destroy our country yet they are blaming it on Mr. President. Does he know who Boko Haram is?

    But there are people in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. Why haven’t they come out in mass to give the security operatives the real information about how to stop this problem that is impinging on our economic development? There is nobody that would do better than he has done so far.

  • Group praises Imo government

    Group praises Imo government

    A group under the aegis of  non-indigenes resident in Imo State has pledged its support for Imo State Governor Rochas  Okorocha and his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere over the their exemplary leadership qualities.

    The group, which paid a visit to the office of Deputy Governor, spoke through its  leader, Chief Nnadozie Udensi, commended the effort of the government in transforming the state. They noted that policies and programmes initiated by the two leaders in recent times have enhanced the economy of the state as business opportunities are springing up.

    Chief Udensi also praised the government’s ‘Rescue Mission’ in the areas of making education affordable for indigenes and reducing the tuition of non-indigenes by  50 per cent. The group, however, appealed to the governor to make education free for non-indigenes, saying they are part of Imo State by virtue of their business establishments and for having lived in the state for over 30 years with their families, which he said qualifies them as Imo citizenes.

    Chief Udensi, who extolled the virtues of Prince Madumere, described him as a man of humble disposition and transparent qualities.

    The group, which draws its members from every geo-political zone of the country, also praised Governor Okorocha for his unrivaled effort on security, which resulted in the safety of the people and economic progressive that is being experienced in the state. It promised its readiness to perform its obligations as required by law and other civic responsibilities in appreciation pledged its support for the administration.

    In response, Prince Madumere thanked the group for its visit and assured them of government’s continued partnership and dividends of democracy to all Imolites irrespective of ethnic or tribal background.

    He, therefore, called on the group to remain good citizens and join hands with the government in fighting crime with the “know your neighbour campaign” recently launched by Governor Okorocha.

  • Businessman advises students on entrepreneurship

    The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Group, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma was at the Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNEC). He was there on the invitation of Mr. Nicholas Okoye, the founder of Empower Nigeria and President of Anabel Group to talk to the students about entrepreneurship.

    Chukwuma stunned the students with his 80 per cent fluency in English language. Before then, the story was that he was a complete illiterate. But that impression changed after his delivery extempore.

    He announced that for low and middle-class Nigerians desiring to drive brand new cars.

    “They would have their dreams realised in few days time. The brand new cars with air condition and other gadgets would sell at between N1.5 million and N3.5million.

    His company, Innoson Group of Companies, manufactures cars, buses, tankers and other products. Chukwuma said to the students: “I think afar. Before, people would be in doubt about what I do for a living. I have already gone far. My plant at Enugu here is not for plastic manufacturing. It is for manufacturing of plastic components of motorcycle. But because the plant is big, I added the manufacturing of plastic upholsteries so that the workers will be busy.

    “I did all these because I was thinking of how to make motorcycle parts cheaper. Today, motorcycles sell at N60, 000 compared to the old price of N150, 000. I want everybody to know that it’s not a must that people must work in government or wait for the government to create jobs.

    “I use myself as an example. I don’t work in government. But I have made it in life. I have also touched the lives of many who are in our employ. I have over 7,500 people in my employ.

    I didn’t have the opportunity to go to school. I am just a manufacturer. In my humble beginning, I never knew we are going to get this far. The most important thing in life is for people to have the interest in working and think very fast and try to bring new ideas into what they are doing.

    Today, I have a vehicle factory where we manufacture cars. To have a vehicle factory does not necessarily involve huge amount of money. It only needs ideas. There were a lot of vehicle manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Some succeeded, while some failed. Before I started mine, I did a comprehensive feasibility study about them for about seven years.

    During those years, people thought I was wasting my time. After the study, I found out why Nigeria finds it difficult to produce cars. I then set up my car assembly plant which is now a success.

    On August 8, this year, I will launch my own air conditioned cars which will be sold between N1.5million and N3.5million. My factory is not an assembly plant. Eighty per cent of Nigerians do not believe that we manufacture vehicles in my company. But we manufacture, that’s what we do. The raw materials are bought from different countries and some are procured in Nigeria.

    I am here to tell you how I started and what informed my progress.”

    The founder of Empower Nigeria and President of Anabel Group, Nicholas Okoye expressed delight that such a successful entrepreneur like Chukwuma was able to honour the invitation to speak to the youth, regarded as the movers of tomorrow.

    “We are excited that we are in a position to fulfill our promise to the Nigerian people; that we will be taking our message of empowerment, entrepreneurship and support for micro, small and medium-businesses to the hinterland of Nigeria. We are encouraged that we have a solution for Nigeria which, in our opinion, can reduce the unemployment rate in our society by considerable measure and set the stage for a new Nigeria that guarantees all-round access to opportunities for all citizens,” Okoye said.

    The Empower Nigeria road show would also be held in Nnewi, Umuahia, Uyo, Asaba, Yenegoa, Port Harcourt and Calabar.