The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • N900,000 for street contest winners

    N900,000 for street contest winners

    The management of 7Up Bottling Company has splashed N900, 000 on three football clubs which won a two-day five-a-side street football tournament in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.

    Many local teams participated in the competition which was held at the Abayi Umuocham Primary School field. Organisers of the tournament said it was to showcase the skills, strength and potentials of talents in the commercial city.

    Concord, Chidex and Royal Stars football clubs went home with N500,000, N250,000 and N150,000, respectively, after winning the three top prizes. Over 100 teams registered for the tourney.

    Mr. Victor Oladele, General Manager 7Up Bottling Company, Aba said the exercise was in line with the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) in giving back to its host community with a view to taking youths off the street and engaging their minds meaningfully.

    Oladele said, “7Up Bottling Company wants to use the opportunity of the World Cup to showcase Nigerians and show that we have more talents than even those that are representing us at the World Cup in Brazil right now. We have many more talents all over the country and these people are being harnessed to really showcase their capacity and I know that from here, many coaches are looking at them and are picking the ones that are good and, of course, we are going to enrich football tournaments in Nigeria continuously.

    “Our ultimate goal is actually to bring out talents in the country, showcase them to the world and of course put them on a pedestal that will make them being sought after by clubs and once they are sought after, they will make names for themselves and the country and Pepsi will be proud of that.

    “But don’t forget also that 7up bottling company started Pepsi Academy in Nigeria and in this Pepsi academy, many people who are currently in the Nigeria Super Eagles grew up from Pepsi academy; Mikel Obi, Osaze Odewinge and so many others.”

    On the sustainability of the programme Aba plant GM added, “we just started it this year, we are going to appraise the whole situation as it where in this particular tournament; having sat down and appraise it, if we see it as something that is sustainable, definitely it is going to become an annual event.”

    Coach of the overall winner, Concord FC, Ezechukwu Obadiah and his team captain Christian Chukwukere said that they were happy to be the best in the competition, adding that they were going to invest the cash they won in the team.

    Mr. Alexander Nnamdi, coach of Royal Stars FC, commended the organisers for such a wonderful initiative, adding “since five aside football competition is coming newly into the country, before a competition like this is organised, the guidelines of the competition should be given to us before the said date so that we can prepare effectively with it. I also wish that other companies should emulate Pepsi in organising this kind of competition regularly in Aba to bring out the best of these players.”

    Abia State Commissioner of Sport, David Chigbu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Elder Ogbonna Izima, expressed his satisfaction with the organisation, describing the gesture of the soft drink bottlers as a wake-up call to multinationals in Aba and the state to invest in sports in order to take the minds of youths away from crime.

    “For me, it is one of the best things that have happened to street football around the country. We in the ministry were even surprised when 7up bottling company sent us a letter about this tournament, we are so happy and I am here live today to witness what it is all about and you know that when I get back to the ministry, we will develop on it. I know people would come here to cheer up their teams but for the rain, they couldn’t come.

    “The competition has started and we will like to partner with Pepsi because before any team plays here, it must be registered with the bottling company and we will partner with them because it will boost these teams and even create more job opportunities. So the ministry is really going to do a lot in partnering with the bottling company.

    “This competition is a wake-up call for other multinationals to design programmes that would take the youths off the streets and being violence. In partnering with 7Up bottling company, we will encourage other corporate bodies to develop sports, not only football; there are a lot of sporting activities which we can develop in Abia State. I think the ministry will now take a census of those corporate organizations that can in a way, support the state government through their involvement in developing sports programmes that will take the youths off the streets.”

  • Anambra mounts good character campaign

    Anambra mounts good character campaign

    What can compare to good character?

    Mr Peter Obi, Anambra State immediate past governor, often answered nothing. So does his successor Willie Obiano who has been revving the engine of good character since he assumed office.

    That was what informed a huge gathering in the state, where participants were sensitised on the need for behavioural and attitudinal change during elections.

    Obi preached much on the issue and it has continued in the Obiano administration. The people are asked to change their attitude for the better, not only during elections but also for life.

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with Charity Ezeemo Trust, gathered virtually everybody in the state at Emmaus House in Awka to preach the gospel.

    The event brought stakeholders and celebrities together, all tackling the cankerworm of foul behaviour.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is in the storm of the whole idea was around to deliver an earth-shaking lecture on the need to have what it described as voter education project in the state.

    The Director General of the NOA, Mike Omeri as well as traditional rulers led by the Obi of Awka, Gibson Nwosu were at the event.

    The pro-chancellor of Anambra State University (ANSU), Prof Elochukwu Amuchiazu was the chairman of the occasion which paraded the personnel from the Police, Prisons, Customs, State Security Service (SSS), the Navy and the Army, among others.

    Prof. Vincent Anigbogu, the Director General, Institute for National Transformation (INT), Dr Okey Ikechukwu, and the Youth Council of Nigeria registered their presence.

    Chief Obiano, who was absent due to national engagement did not leave his seat vacant as his Commissioner for Special Duties, Sir Nobert Obi read his address.

    The founder, Charity Ezeemo Trust, and governorship candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) during the November 16, 2013 election in the state, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo said getting it right in the country during election should be the paramount thing in the minds of people.

    All the 21 local government areas in the state including the 177 Presidents-General of every community were there.

    In his lecture, the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof Chukwuemeka Onukaogu, who had been constantly accused in the state of bias and favoritism, said the state has been suffering from electoral apathy.

    He acknowledged that elections had been flawed in the country since independence, admitting that INEC  had not always carried the electorate along, with its attendant consequences.

    Onukaogu said that there is need for a vibrant, sincere voter education in the country and prayed that God will help to bring it about.

    However, he said that the country showed glimpses of a better future for its citizens between 1960 and 1966 and asked why Nigeria abandoned such signs of hope and veered away from the right path.

    “We do not have a viable electoral process where Nigerians can elect their leaders, and if we do not vie [for] elections with sincerity and elect our leaders freely, good governance will continue to elude us”.

    Again, he said that religious aberration has been another factor which has hampered smooth electoral process in the land, adding that INEC is trying to change the tune today with the coming elections in some of the states.

    The professor of English advocated that people should carry the sermon to churches, markets, mosques, adding that the there must be a paradigm shift in the land.

    Ezeemo in his address, regretted that in most parts of Africa where democracy is being practiced, the people have yet to grasp the enormity of the power they have through the vote.

    He spoke about  “the power that can aid the people to institute governments and to change governments to demand high levels of accountability, morality and responsibility in the way and manner government is being run at the local, state and national levels.

    Further, he said before the country gets it right, vices like weak imposition of candidates by political parties, which tend to frustrate and weaken the electorate even before the election should be removed.

    “Outright bribery at polling stations, mutilation of results, deliberate late commencement of voting, fraudulent absence of result sheets and other sensitive materials by INEC all tend to short-change the voter and all its noble intentions” Ezeemo said.

    When all these were being reeled out, the audience could not help but to applaud with noise which made Ezeemo to tarry for some minutes with shame enveloping INEC officials.

    The traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu, who finds it difficult to smile, but was thrilled by Ezeemo’s speech, forced a smile on his face but warned that trouble makers in the land should give peace a chance as the country approaches 2015 election.

    Following the insecurity in the land today, the Monarch said that those outside the country are not only laughing at the people but making mockery of the entire country.

    Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano said it is appalling having about 300, 00 voters during elections, when the number of registered voters in the state totaled 1.7million.

    He said that the agency believed that in 2015, the turn out will be encouraging, adding that they will expect not less than 800,000 voters.

    Obiano, was represented by Nobert Obi, the State Commissioner for Special Duties, who commended the originator of the programme, Charity Ezeemo Trust for the initiative.

    He directed the local government area leaders to go back to their constituencies to educate, sensitise their people on the importance of voting during elections.

    This according to the governor will lead to voting out those who do not merit to be voted into power during elections.

    The Director General of (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, represented by the Director of  the Agency in Delta State, Isaac Ezeji said the government is emphasing on Private, Public Partnership (PPP), adding that such an idea will lead the country somewhere.

    He said the event emphasized the power of one vote which he said is a potent solution or magic to the problem of governance, corruption and all forms of ills and indiscipline by political office holders.

    “It then behoves on us to imbibe the teachings of today’s event to enable us effect the required behavioural and attitudinal change” he said.

    Also, the Anglican Bishop of Amichi Diocese in Nnewi, Rt. Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor, who was one of the guest speakers during the event, equally, mesmerized the audience in his lecture.

  • For the health of mothers, kids

    For the health of mothers, kids

    The statistics are grim. In every 1000 births, 88 newborns die, while over one million kids do not live beyond age five. Also, one 13 women never make it out of Labour Room.

    This disorients the wife of Abia State governor, Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji, and she wants something done to scale back the trend.

    She, therefore, called on every stakeholder in the health sector to come together to fight the scourge.

    Mrs Orji spoke while flagging off the first round of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) at Mbalano, Isuikwuator Local Government, saying the rate of infant and maternal mortality is unacceptable.

    She had other advice. “To help reduce the high maternal mortality rate, women of child bearing age must register and attend regular antenatal in recognised hospitals and desist from patronising quacks.

    “They also must desist from patronising traditional midwives and must practice family planning by spacing the number of children they intend to have as these would help reduce the threat of deaths”.

    The governor’s wife also called for regular de-worming of children and expectant mothers against ailments caused by worms which feast on blood and cause malnutrition and poor physical development as well as basic health education in every home.

    She urged nursing mothers to develop the habit of washing their hands before and after breastfeeding just as they should  administer Vitamin A supplements on children between 0-59 months every six months as this would help reduce death arising from measles, malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia.

    The Abia governor’s wife said that MNCHW was developed to reduce the spate of deaths arising from pregnancy and child delivery, adding that the programme is aimed at scaling up an integrated maternal neonatal and child survival intervention that have been proven to reduce

    neonatal and child mortality rate arising from measles, malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia.

    Mrs. Orji commended the theme of this year’s celebration, “Universal Health coverage for Improved Maternal and Newborn outcome as apt to promote safe child birth and good health of every mother and child.

    She used the forum to restate the commitments of Governor Theodore Orji’s administration to achieve better health care delivery for all Abians and well being of women of child bearing age and children under the age of five.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Okechukwu Ogar said that MNCH as a high profile initiative was put together to fast track the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) four and five which focuses on reducing child mortality and improving maternal health and Nigeria has been rated among countries with insufficient progress towards attainment of MDGs four and five.

    Dr Ogar said that with high risk of women dying from pregnancy and delivery related cases in Nigeria, the MDGs seek to reduce under five mortality rate and maternal mortality rate by two third by 2015 and called on parents and care givers to compliment government efforts to

    improve maternal health and reduce infant mortality.

    The representative of the Director-General, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency [NPHDA], Prof Okezie Akpala said that the agency was committed to improve the health care needs of the people.

    Prof. Akpala said that this could be achieved through critical strategy and that the agency has helped in building 170 primary health centres and commended the state government for ensuring the payment of allowances of midwives deployed to the state.

  • Ihedioha assures on Owerri-Port Harcourt Road

    Ihedioha assures on Owerri-Port Harcourt Road

    Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has assured on timely completion of the ongoing Owerri-Elele Road dual carriage way, saying the sum of N3.5 billion has been provided in this year’s  budget for the project.

    He spoke when he inspected the ongoing project, even as he regretted the delay in completion of the project which he attributed to funding. He assured that the Federal Government is committed to the completion of the road.

    “This is one of the major projects that will link Imo State with other coastal states of the Niger Delta and indeed trigger economic development. Therefore, the Federal Government is committed to its timely completion,” he said.

    While advising contractors on quality delivery of projects, Hon. Ihedioha said he would continue to embark on inspection visits to the area until the project is completed. He urged the contractors to immediately repair the collapsed portions of the road to cushion the effects of road users while the construction progresses.

    In another development, the people of Nwangele, Isu, and Njaba local government areas of Orlu Senatorial zone in Imo State were ecstatic as the Deputy Speaker who is a gubernatorial hopeful under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP took his consultation tours to the areas with the message of emancipation, rebuilding and restoring the dignity of Imo from the clutches of bad governance.

    Hon. Ihedioha regretted that Imo, under the incumbent leadership, is weak, unhealthy and collapsing due to bad governance and needs deliberate steps to get a person who will give Ndi Imo quality leadership.

    He said Imo people should not be sentimental with their votes but to support a man who has the capacity to provide quality leadership as he believes not in nepotism but in those who can perform, assuring that if voted into power as governor, he will embark on rapid rural development.

    “Only a candidate with antecedents, an honest person with competence and capacity can fix Imo State and I am well prepared to do that,” Ihedioha stated. Addressing the people of Nwangele, the South East Caucus Leader in the House of Representatives Hon Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi from Enugu State noted that the mammoth crowd that received Ihedioha is a demonstration that PDP is, indeed the party on ground in the state, noting that what happened in the state in 2011 was a minor setback that must be corrected.

    He stressed that he has no doubt that come 2015, with Hon. Ihedioha; PDP will make a triumphant entry back to Imo Douglas House.

    Earlier, the members representing Nkwerre/Nwangele/Isu/Njaba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Jones Onyereri and his counterpart from Ohaji Egbema/Oguta/ Oru East Federal Constituency, Hon. Irona, had informed the people that Ihedioha is the consensus candidate of all members of the House of Representatives from Imo State and Southeast for the governorship of Imo State.

    They described Ihedioha as a selfless, courageous man, a bridge builder who has been of great assistance to all they have attracted to their various constituencies and in the entire state.

  • Renounce idolatry, Cleric urges Christians

    Renounce idolatry, Cleric urges Christians

    The Bishop in charge of Christ Holy Church (C.H.C) International Province III, Rt. Rev. Aaron Eziuzor, has urged Christians to renounce idolatry and worship the true God who is the Creator of all things.

    Bishop Eziuzor gave the advice while preaching during the 2014 Fathers’ Day celebration of the church at the Aba Superintendent Headquarters of the church. He noted that Christians are suffering and being defeated today by Satan because they have abandoned worshipping the true God to depend so much on powers of fake gods.

    The cleric, who quoted copiously from Psalm 37:25-35, called on parishioners to emulate Abraham, Noah and David whom he said were able to attract the love and protection of God and knew His secrets because they believed and did His will at all time.

    The cleric said: “Noah and his family were the only people saved from destruction when God destroyed the world with water because he listened to and adhered to the instructions of God. Because of Abraham’s faith and righteousness, he is today known as the father of faith because he listened and followed the instructions of God.

    “Goliath was insulting and abusing the God of Israelites because he prided on the powers of the pseudo-gods of the Philistines among others. The Israelites were all afraid to confront him. But it took the courage of a man like David to confront Goliath and bring him to his knees.

    “David did not kill their enemy at that time because of his might, but because he depended and trusted in God. Even when Saul was after his life, he still refused killing a man God has anointed to rule over Israel because he fears God.”

    While urging members of his church to renounce their evil ways and eschew deceit and cheating in their ways of lives, he advised them to deploy their resources in the propagation of the Gospel of God, stressing that he had not seen anyone who was committed to the work of God that was forsaken by God.

    He also cautioned against division in the church, pointing out that the church would achieve a lot when the congregation come together to fight a common cause.

    In an interview, the chairman of Men’s Fellowship of the church Ibo Road Station, Mr. Christian Madukwem said they carefully chose the theme for this year’s celebration.

    He revealed that the theme “Noble Father” was carefully chosen to remind men of the importance of their places in the family, adding that many men are found wanting today because they have entrusted such responsibility to women.

    Madukwem further urged Christian fathers to live exemplary lifestyles which their children would emulate. This, he said, should not only be exhibited only in their families and the church, but in other places of endeavour where they are expected to show exemplary leadership.

    Earlier in an address Mr. Emeka Enemor urged men to love their wives as Christ loves the Church, be a role model to their children, family and the society at large, avoid cursing their children; but speak good fortunes and God’s blessings to them at all times and also to emulate the good virtues and footsteps of their leaders in the church. He added that their failure to do so would translate to their reaping the negative rewards of their actions later in life.

    “Therefore, fathers will bear the accountability–the consequences for failing to carry it out or even the rewards for doing so. Let us never forget, ‘it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrew 10:31),’” Mr. Enemor stated.

    Highlights of the event were special thanksgiving, song/drama and presentation of gift items to 10 indigent members of the church by the men’s fellowship.

  • ‘Town leaders have sold women’s farmlands’

    ‘Town leaders have sold women’s farmlands’

    The men have had their way but one woman, at least, is speaking out against their action. Since leaders of Amankwo Eke Town Union in Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, sold 20 acres of land to an industrialist, Chief Loretta Aniagolu, an activist and politician, has continued to oppose the sale. Aniagolu, a two-time governorship aspirant in the state, argues that the sale has denied women their right to farmlands, considering that in the community it is mostly women who farm. The men mostly tap wine from palms. She also believes the land sale underscores the aged practice of overlooking women’s inheritance rights.

    The executives of Amankwo Town Union sold off the land to an industrialist for the purpose of building a factory. Aniagolu questioned the logic and propriety of selling the vast land without considering that majority of the women of the Eke community directly depend on land for sustenance.

    She said she was not against establishing an industry in the area, only that selling off such a vast area would deprive the women of the community of their source of livelihood.

    Her protest was dismissed by the leaders of the community on the grounds that women in Igbo land have no say in matters relating to land. They advised her to “shut up” and mind her business as the community had already taken its decision.

    She went to court, not to challenge the sale of the land but for the court to declare whether or not females have a say in matters relating to land in Igbo land, particularly Amankwo Eke in Udi. The case came up on Monday for Judgement at the Enugu High Court.

    At the court, a group of women led by Mrs. Joy Ada Onyeso, president of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom were conspicuous in their red T-shirts with the inscription “Bring Back Our Girls”. .

    Onyeso spoke to our correspondent, saying: “This is a very interesting case because the case borders on the relevance of women in the society.  The case involves one of our partners, Chief Lorreta Aniagolu.  The thing about the case is that it is about the executives of the town union selling land to a man that wants to build a factory in Udi and they sold to him 20 hectares of land. Probably she is saying that…for prosperity case.  The critical thing for that case is because of the argument that she is a woman and she has no right to bring the case to court and she has no right to be in the decision making body of the community and that is very critical.

    “There was recent ruling by the supreme court that women have a right in whatsoever community to inherit both at common law and traditionally and for us, it is very very critical for a woman to be deprived of such right, and that’s why we are here in solidarity to hear what the judge has to say.  The case has been going on for a while now and today was supposed to be the final judgement.  However, the court could not sit today; it was postponed to the 30th of this month. So, on the 30th, we will be here again to listen to what the judgement will be.

    “This is a very interesting case because the case borders on the relevance of women in the society.  The case involves one of our partners, Chief Lorreta Aniagolu.  The thing about the case is that, it is a case about the executives of the Town Union selling land to a man that wants to build a factory in Udi and they sold to him 20 hectares of land. Probably she is saying that …for prospecting.  The critical thing for that because she is a woman she has no right to bring the case to court and she has no right to be in the decision making body of the community and that is very critical.

    “There was a recent ruling by the supreme court that women have a right in whatsoever community to inherit both at common law and traditionally and for us it is very, very critical for a woman to be deprived of such right, and that’s why we are here in solidarity to hear what the judge has to say.  The case has been going on for a while now and today was supposed to be the final judgement.  However, the court could not sit today; it was postponed to the 30th of this month. So, on the 30th we will be here again to listen to what the judgement will be.”

     

  • Imo monarchs battle over council chair

    Imo monarchs battle over council chair

    Scramble for political appointments is no longer restricted to politicians. Traditional rulers have joined the fight for juicy appointments. The case in Imo State amply proves this.

    Two royal fathers are locked in a fierce legal battle over the Chairmanship of the Imo State Traditional Rulers’ Council, a situation that has polarized and demystified the revered traditional institution in the state.

    The Contenders, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, the Obi of Obinugu and Eze Agunwa Ohiri the Obi of Orodo have continued to lay claim to the exalted office.

    Trouble started between the two powerful traditional rulers when the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha sacked Eze Ilomuanya, as  the Chairman of the Traditional Rulers’ Council and appointed Eze Ohiri as the Chairman of the Council in 2011.

    It was gathered that the Governor truncated the tenure of Eze Ilomuanaya because he was a staunch supporter of his predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and was alleged to have done everything possible to frustrate the Governor’s ambition.

    Although several courts, including the State High Court and the Court of Appeal, had reinstated the sacked monarch, the state government refused to obey the Court judgments.

    The crisis however took a more serious dimension when the embattled Eze Ilomuanya secured the approval of the Court to execute the Appeal Court judgment that had reinstated him as the legitimate Chairman of the state Council of Traditional Rulers until the expiration of his tenure.

    Based on the order, armed policemen ejected the incumbent Chairman of the Council, also known as ‘Eze Imo’, Eze Agunwa Ohiri from the Council’s secretariat and reinstated Ilomuanya in line with the Court judgment.

    The reinstated monarch immediately resumed office amidst tight security, while Ohiri and members of his staff relocated to another government facility from where he continued to run a parallel Council.

    Addressing Newsmen shortly after he resumed office with the few traditional rulers who were loyal to him,  Ilomuanya, said that his removal from office in the first place by the Governor was illegal and contravened the constitution of the Traditional Rulers’ Council, adding that his victory in the Court will restore the dignity of the traditional institution in the state.

    he said that, “in June 2011 shortly after the governor  assumed office, he asked me to convene a meeting of the traditional rulers as the chairman, which I did successfully but that same evening I was shocked to hear the Governor announce the dissolution of the Council.

    “The following morning I met him and appealed to him to rescind his action that if he didn’t want to walk with me, he should have asked me to resign but he did not heed my advice. It was then that I showed him our constitution, which clearly stipulates that the Chairman of the Council can only vacate office in the event of death or resignation”.

    He stated further that, “I am happy that justice has prevailed at last. What I did was to protect the traditional institution, we deserve some honour and respect as traditional rulers. But then I hold nothing against the Governor, I have forgiven him and I am willing to work with him”.

    However in a counter move that has drawn widespread criticism, the state government quickly withdrew Eze Ilomuanya’s Staff of Office and Certificate of recognition.

    In a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Anthony Anwuka, Ilomuanya who is also the Chairman of Southeast Traditional Rulers’ Council, ceases to be recognized as the traditional ruler of Obinugwu community.

    “In accordance with sections 11 and 14 of the Imo State Traditional Rulers Autonomous Communities Law No 6 of 2006, His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has approved the withdrawal of the Certificates of Recognition and Staff of Office of Eze Cletus Ikechukwu Ilomuanya, the Traditional Ruler of Obinugu autonomouys community in Orlu Local Government Area of the State”, the letter read in part.

    But the state government had since debunked the insinuation that the dethronement of the embattled traditional ruler was connected to his reinstatement by the Court.

    Governor Okorocha explained that the dethronement of Eze Cletus Ilomuanya  and Eze Cosmas Onyeneke was in line with the resolution of the State House of Assembly which recommended that they should be removed as traditional rulers.

    The governor in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, the action was not personal matter but a discharge of his constitutional obligations under the Traditional Rulers, Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters in Imo State Law No. 6 of 2006.

    He stated further that, “following series of serious petitions to the state House of Assembly against the traditional rulers by the indigenes of the affected communities, the state Assembly constituted a-five man committee which investigated the petitions and indicted the traditional rulers.

    “As a responsible government, we appreciate the fact that the two people involved are indigenes of the state. So we won’t go the whole hog to discuss the findings of the committee. But at the end of the investigations, the committee passed  resolutions 376 and 377 that the governor should without delay, remove the duo as traditional rulers”.

    According to the governor’s aide, “ but the government kept the resolutions of the Assembly in abeyance and did not dethrone the monarchs as recommended but before then Ilomuanya had stopped attending state functions in breach of section 14 of the Imo State Traditional Rulers, Autonomous Communities Law and had since three years ago relocated to Abuja where he functioned more as a politician.

    “It is also important to state categorically too that by the virtue of the removal of Ilomuanya as both the traditional ruler and state Council of Traditional Rulers, he can no longer parade himself as such because to do so tantamount to impersonation”.

    Meanwhile the embattled traditional rulers had defied the order of the state government, insisting that they remain monarchs of their respective communities.

    In a press statement signed by Eze Ilomuanya, who is also the Chairman South East Council of Traditional Rulers, the announcement  by  the Imo state Government purporting to have withdrawn his certificate of recognition as the Monarch of Obinugwu as ridiculous and laughable.

    The statement read, “barely few hours after my resumption of duties,the Secretary to the Imo state Government, Mr Anthony Anwukah, issued a contemptuous press release purportedly conveying Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Withdrawal of my Certificate of Recognition as a traditional ruler without any reason at all. My offence was that I obeyed court judgements and orders in a state where disobedience to court orders is glorified.

  • Abia in Diaspora urged to respond to challenges at home

    Abia in Diaspora urged to respond to challenges at home

    The Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Sir Allwell Onukaogu has urged indigenous people of Abia State resident in the United States of America and other countries to join forces design a blueprint that will address what he called “the dangers at home”.
    Onukaogu delivered a lecture at the 2014 Biennial Convention of Ohuhu Progressive Union in Houston, United States of America, noting that youth restiveness, thuggish behaviour, armed robbery, religious extremism and other social vices prevalent among youths in the country could be drastically minimised only if indigenous Abia people and other Igbo citizens would come home and invest meaningfully.

    “You people should come home and invest to ensure the rapid transformation and development of your fatherland. Your investment at home could serve as a tool to take thousands of jobless youths off the streets, thereby helping in not only to solve some of the current security and social challenges facing the country, but also bringing to an end the exodus of our youths from Nigeria to other countries in the erroneous belief that they are seeking for greener pastures.”
    He said Abia is now a safe haven for business and other economic activities, adding, “I know Ohuhu people are great academicians and bureaucrats. Very few are gifted in business endeavors that can compare with what the people of Nnewi can do, but it is no excuse. We can attract genuine foreign investors into our land. You can join forces within yourselves and cooperate with others to attract industries to our land. Our home is peaceful; more peaceful and safer than Onitsha commercial areas where expatriates are being convinced to invest. You are more knowledgeable than those of us at home in international Politics and Economics. You must use these meetings of yours to fashion out economic plans and strategies to redress the dangers at home by establishing industries that will endure,” the guest speaker noted.

    Lamenting on the economic loss and the damage the ugly trend of “medical tourism” has done to Nigeria’s economy and health sector, Onukaogu in his paper called for the establishment of state the art hospitals across the country to carter for any medical case(s) that would warrant Nigerians seeking for medical assistance abroad as he noted that such medical cases and stress inherent with such medical trip can be reduced and treated in the country with less cost if facilities for treating such ailment could be accessed in Nigeria.
    “You can invest in hospitals like the Indians. Our people who travel to India stay in hotels, sometimes for over a month and pay bills to obtain quality health care. They can be willing to pay far less if such facilities are to be established at home. I know we have great medical doctors with the zeal to serve, but who are unduly manacled and encumbered by lack of state of the art facilities.
    “You don’t need to be a medical doctor before you can setup a good hospital. What you need is to mobilize funds, equip the hospital with state of the art facilities with well trained medical staff. “I believe that with time such hospital will grow not just like the famous Indian Hospital, but will go a long way to save Nigerians the billions of money they spend annually on visa and other expenses going abroad for medical treatment. I have continually read about, sometimes even a group of our Nigerian brothers and sisters from the Diaspora come home with a team of doctors to perform surgeries for our people. I have been in receipt of containers of books shipped from abroad by Nigerians, including you people as contribution towards the development of institutions. All of these are good; very good and must be commended, but you could do more,” Onukaogu stated
    Abia Poly rector who is also a Knight and lay President Methodist Church Nigeria, Umuahia East Diocese further called on Ndi-Igbo in Diaspora to imbibe the spirit of Jewish-Americans noted that such relationship with their host country and community could attract development in Igbo land and foster a strong tie between Nigeria and Americans as is the case between Israel and America today.

    In his remarks the President Ohuhu Development Union International, Mr. Ginikanwa Okedi thanked the Sir Onukaogu for honouring their invitation and for inspiring the audience with his lecture, assuring him that Ndi-Igbo and Ohuhu indigenes in Diaspora would work assiduously to improve and better the lots of their people at home.
    Okedi while assuring that they would work to create and maintain good relation with their host country, expressed their willingness to invest in their home state (Abia) and to key into the overall transformation agenda of the Abia State government led by Sir Theodore Ahamefule Orji.

  • Road projects thrill Enugu communities

    Road projects thrill Enugu communities

    Chris Oji

     

    Their joy knew no bounds when the state government initiated road projects in their communities. The people of Umuaga and Umuabi in Udi Local Government Council said their prayers had been answered. The roads had been a huge concern to them. So as it was clear that their nightmares were soon to be over, they started praising Governor Sullivan Chime, even nicknaming him the Great Transformer.

    The 14.5 km roads cut across the two communities and connect them with Achi and other communities in Oji-River Local Government.

    Representive of the governor at the flag-off, the state commissioner for Works, Engr. Godwin Madueke, said the the flag-off was in fulfilment of Governor Chime’s promise to provide access roads to all local government headquarters and agricultural areas in the state.

    Madueke disclosed that the cost of the contract from Amokwe Station to Umuabi Road project which is 7km is N1.216 billion while Amokwe Station to Umuaga Road which is 7.5km, will cost N1.217billion. All will be completed in 12 months.

    The commissioner stated that there different levels of supervision  in order to ensure that standard specifications were adhered to in the execution of contract and they include the resident engineer, directot of highways, multiphase consultant and the commissioner who would visit the project from time to time.

    He  solicited the assistance of the people and residents of the communities in locating a borrow pit for laterite and in protecting the road by not burning inflammable materials like trys as well as dumping refuse in the drains to avoid drain overflowing to the road surface.

    Madueke appealed to the communities to bring whatever complaints they have to the ministry, explaining that payments to the contractor would be made based on the certificates generated or work done.

    The permanent secretary in the ministry of works who is an indigene of one of the communities, Innocent Onyia confiemed that the people of Umuaga and Umuabi had been yearning for rescue from the state government from the deplorable state of their roads.

    Onyia was optimstic that with the flagoof of work on the roads, the people would hope hope of improving in their economic and social lives. “This explains our gratitude to His Excellency, Barrister Sullivan Chime, governor of Enugu State over the road projects. The people will be more grateful if the two roads are extended to link them with neighbouring communities in Awgu and Oji-River local government areas.”

    A retired High Court judge from one of the communities in Umuabi, Justice Francis Ezeike described Chime’s gesture as fantastic, adding, “We fought for it before and after the civil war, several governments and administrators kept promising us of fixing this road, but none of them achieved it. We are grateful to God that Governor Sullivan Chime has achieved it.”

    In thie same vein, special adviser to Governor Chime on special matters, Ndubuisi Ugwueze was full of praises to the governor saying, “It is a great day for the people of Umuaga because we have never had it loke this before as we are known as the best producers of palmwine, palmoil and palm kernel.”

    Chairman of Umuabi stakeholders and General Coordinator, Total Mandate for Governor Sullivan, Charlie Chime said that his joy could not be quantified following the commencement of the road construction and commended Governor Chime for his gesture.

    According to him, by constructing the roads, the governor has incresed the life span of the people of the community and the community was expressing total support to his government.

    The leader of the women of the area, Mrs. Georgina Eze Ajaga expressed happiness over the projects as according to her, the roads would improve access for the transportation of abundant agricultural produce in the are to the urban for sale.

    And the project manager of Greyline Nigeria Limited, the company handling the projects, Mohammed Kenaam assured that the company had all it takes to deliver quality jobs. “This is not a new case for us in road constructio. We have been in this are and the people know us and our camp is around here. I cannot make promises as what we have achieved is a testimony to our competence. Greyline Nigeria Limited is more than enough, we will fulfil our promise and we will finish the project by the grace of God as much as possible before 12 months.”

  • A lift for women, youths

    A lift for women, youths

    Nwanosike Onu

     

    The Development Support Initiative (DSI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in partnership with Star Deep Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Chevron Nigeria Limited, has organised an empowerment programme for women and youths of Anambra State.

    The programme also had input of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and the Office of wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Ebele Obiano.

    The NGO initially proposed to train 50 people, especially women and youths in skill acquisition, but the number increased to 100 as a result of the need to empower more people to be self-reliant.

    The DSI selected some of the participants from churches.

    The training is expected to imbue in the participants enough knowledge in soap making, bakery; bead-making, shoe-making and other relevant skills that will assist them eke out a living.

    A former participant of the programme, Mrs. Queen Efutubor, told our correspondent that she used the knowledge she acquired to  train inmates of the Sapele Prisons in 2007, adding that many of them are helping their fellow inmates.

    Mrs. Efutubor said: “Some of the inmates today in Sapele in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State are into hart making, soap making and production of Izal, among others materials. She said was proud to say she trained 50 of them.”

    She further said that after she was trained in Warri, she relocated to the community to impact the knowledge on the prison inmates, adding that all of them today see her as their “Messiah” anytime she visited the prison yard.

    Another facilitator of the programme, Winifred Kwentua Aboderin told our correspondent that the students will be equipped after the exercise to expand their businesses.

    When our correspondent visited the centre, people were still trooping in begging to be registered despite surpassing the proposed number because such a thing has been lacking in the state.

    Former Governor Peter Obi’s administration had claimed it had built a centre at Agu-Awka for such programme which did not work. Today, the environment has been taken over by reptiles.

    Speaking with our correspondent, the coordinator of the programme, Mrs. Jacqueline Yemi Odiadi, said the participants will be empowered financially to start the trade they were trained in during the programme.

    She further said the programme was packaged as part of Chevron’s corporate social responsibilities (CRS) programme.

    Odiadi said that DSI had proposed to train 50 people in Anambra in line with their mission and vision of equipping women and youths for economic development and self-reliance, but had to contend with an over-flow of close to 100 participants because of the high demand in the state.

    She said: “We are here in Anambra State to do what we know how to do best, that is to train women and the youth to acquire skills.

    “We have a lot of unemployed youths; even the graduates are unemployed. We have uneducated young men, women and ladies and we equally have those educated but probably, what they studied in the university is not fetching them any meaningful livelihood.”

    “These are skill gaps we try to address and we are focused. We are here to train a minimum of 50 women and youth for this programme but you can see that in Anambra State, this kind of programme is in high demand.

    “We are determined that this programme must go on and we are going to stretch ourselves as much as we can to make sure that everybody is trained because our budget does not cover 100 people                          . “What we want to ensure is that the first 50 to register will not only be trained, but will also be given starter packs. These starter packs are to help them to start their small-scale or micro-credit businesses immediately.”

    The beneficiaries, Odiadi said, would be trained free and be assessed by the trainers upon which performers would be certified and given starter packs containing the raw materials.

    One of the participants, Mrs. Ndidi Umeh Okolie from Amichi, in Nnewi South Local Government Area told our correspondent that she had started training on sewing, soap- making and few other things.

    She said after the training, she would go to her community to train others who may not have the same privilege they had through DSI.

    Another participant, Okoronkwo Chinedum from Ihiala Local Government Area also told our correspondent that he was focusing on cake-making and other bakeries.

    All the participants at the training programme thanked God for bringing the NGO to their area.

    According to the facilitators of the programme, the vision of DSI is to eradicate poverty through knowledge-based vocational and learning programmes, even as they said their mission is to equip the Nigeria women and youth both in urban and rural areas of the country through sustainable economic, educational, social and community development programmes.