The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Bitter taste of salt mining

    Bitter taste of salt mining

    NOTHING seasons like salt. But when it comes to mining the tasty preservative in Ishiagu, a community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, nothing can be as bitter.

    The community has large deposits of salt and other solid minerals, but extracting them is fast turning out to be a curse rather than blessing.

    Since the minerals were discovered in the 1940s, many companies have mined the mineral, made their fortunes and moved on, but most times, they left the community more impoverished than they met it.

    From the look of things, Royal Salt Company, the latest to secure mining license from the Federal Government to extract the mineral in the community, may also follow in the footsteps of their predecessors.

    That is why the community has risen in unison to ensure that history does not repeat itself.

    The community recently raised the alarm that the company has taken over their land, including residential buildings on the land without any adequate compensation.

    They therefore sent a Save Our Soul message to the state governor Martin Elechi to come to their aid.

    They also complained of neglect by the government. The Nation on a visit to the community discovered that it lacks basic amenities like clean drinking water, good access road, schools, among others.

    A community leader, Chief Jacob Nweke, blamed some government officials for hijacking negotiations with the company and benefits to them.

    He stated this during a community meeting at the village square where the community issued the SOS to the governor and also lambasted the company for being indifferent, rude, disrespectful and insensitive.

    His words:  ”The matter is that we don’t know Royal Salt and they did not enter into any agreement with us and we don’t have any agreement with them. They never told us that they have come to work on our land and since then they have been looting our natural resources and destroying our crops and other things; we don’t want such thing any more;

    “If they want such things to exist, we want the governor to come into this matter and save us because Royal Salt treats us the way they want because they feel there is nobody that is prominent in this our area.

    “Any other person who has been coming into Enyigba usually has agreement with us the owner of the land of where they want to work; when Royal Salt came to this area, they threatened us that we are going to park out of our land; even when they say that the Nigerian Mining Corporation sent them to work here, we equally do not have agreement with them; the Corporation has never one day come to us that there is a company that will be coming to our land to work.

    “We are surprised at what they are doing; we don’t know who brought them; so that’s why we say they should not work; and if they want to work, they should come and meet with Ishiagu people to have any agreement with us and if they say that government has ordered them to come and work, they should show us the lease or particulars authorising them  to invade our land.

    “After the confirmation, we will equally tell them how to operate on our land; and it is not all our land that they will enter and push us out; we don’t want that and that is why we have told them to stop working until we finish up with the court; they didn’t talk to us and there is no written agreement between them and us; they just came through the back door and invaded our precious land because of its natural deposit given to us by God; for them to have alleged that the feud between us and them have been settled is pure lies”.

    “We have not given them any consent letter to operate in our land; we don’t know them; we have never seen them except when they are working on our land; there is no written agreement authorising them to invade our land; for them to come here and work by force is not good and if they like they should kill us all; we have our rights as a people under a democratic dispensation; they must come and have an agreement with us; they are first to have dealings with us and why should they come in, and start operating as they want”.

    “We don’t know how they managed to come because nobody among us brought them into our land; this land they have invaded belongs to the village; we have a community and everybody has his or her own community land; Ishiagu Enyigba is a large area; we are so many villages; we have about 19 or 23 villages here in this Ishiagu alone; we are due for a development centre because Ebonyi state was created and given the acronym ‘salt of the nation’ we are the reason why such name was given; it is in Ishiagu that you have that salt; we have lead, zinc and other types of minerals here”.

    “We want the government to make us an autonomous community; we don’t want a situation where after these strangers had finished exploring these deposit, they will abscond like what is happening in the Niger Delta Region; we need the government to help us”.

    “There is so much the government is to do for Enyigba Ishiagu people;  We don’t have good road, we don’t have hospital and schools in our area; the first thing that Royal Salt did was to build a security post in our community to intimidate and arrest our people; why will they start with a police station? Is that the first thing to do if they want to develop a community where you have lots of natural deposits? This is wrong. This primary school you are seeing now was built by Nigeria Mining Corporation in 1940s.

    A youth leader in the community, Mr James Nwafor who also spoke to our reporter wondered why the first action of the company will be to establish a police post in the community.

    He said, “I am the youth vice chairman in this community; the way that company came in suggests that they want violence; we the youths cannot just fold our hands and allow strangers to invade our lands and take away the natural deposits given to us by God; they have come like the colonial masters and just as they were resisted then, we are prepared to resist them; and they must pack the load and go. Our blessing will not be allowed to become a cure to us”.

    “They cannot just come into our land without informing us; there is so much impunity in their action and little regards to human right and corporate existence of our people; this is where God has given us a land to live forever, and it that land is taken, I will not have any other place to stay and that is why we told them that we don’t like they way they came; they are suppose to come and inform us if they want to take our land; for them to have gone to the government and say that consent letter had been issued to them to collect our land we disagree”.

    “What we want them to do is for them to leave the land for us and come to see our people, the villagers so that we can stay and discuss; no compensation has been given to us; in fact, they have not come one day to discuss with us; no I’m not happy with the level of development in the area; i’m very angry because of the way and manner they came; let them come and so that we settle this impasse; because without the settlement more problems is on the way for them”.

    But the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Ifeanyi Ike denfended the actions of Royal Salt. He said the company got their license from the Federal Government and has been paying compensation to the community every year since it entered the land even though it has not started mining activities.

    He said it is only a few disgruntled and greedy members of the community who are orchestrating the crisis. He promised that the state government will ensure that the problem is resolved to enable the company resume work.

    His words, “It is obvious that the problem that emanated from Enyigba autonomous community in Abakaliki Local Government Area between a fraction of Ishiagu village against Royal Salt company is unexpected and very unbecoming; there are 13 villages that make up the autonomous community but one Ishiagu village complained of marginalization; six people petitioned the government through the SSG and commissioner for Commerce and Industry on how they felt marginalized by the company; we welded into the issue immediately”

    “The ministry paid a visit to the community at Ishiagu village of Enyigba autonomous community; It is not the old mining site that causing the problem but a new site; I remember during the negotiation that Enyigba people particularly, the Ishiagu people insisted that the company should set up a milling factory where lead can be processed in Enyigba; and many other clamoured for it but Enyiba succeeded and royal salt put it in their work schedule that by 2014 they will start working to set up an industrial milling for the processing of lead in Ebonyi”.

    “To our surprise when the complain came, we said all the same we will go in and solve the problem; we met all the concerned parties on the 24th October 2013 with the representatives of the SSG and those that participated in the negotiation that brought in Royal Salt into Ebonyi state; before their arrival, the Governor gave a directive that a Committee be set up to negotiate with the rural communities which was done”.

    “I happen to be a member of the committee as the special adviser to the governor on solid mineral development, petroleum product pricing and distribution at that time; and when they came in they had a safe landing having negotiated with Enyiba community, Emeri in Ikwo, Ameka in Ezza south; that of Ezza south was troublesome; it was not easy for it to be signed, Enyigba was very peaceful within that period we are talking about but to our surprise, Enyigba has turned out to be a tumultuous situation as at this period in time but as 26th of October we met with their lawyer with his team and discussed; we discussed until November until we were able to reach a decision”.

    “Royal salt limited got their approval not from Ebonyi state but from the federal government through the ministry of Mines and Steel; we don’t give approval as state government; minerals is in the exclusive list of the government and that was why the Minister, Asada, then visited Enyigba, Ameri, Ameka about two years ago to see their work schedule and plan ; that area under dispute is covered under Mining Lease 188 being the former Nigerian mining Corporation, NMC”.

    “We visited the lease area to ensure that Royal Salt was operating within their jurisdiction; after doing that we discovered that Royal salt had not gone outside; We are following the federal government mining law and not state; but because there are four immediate land owners there namely, Ishiagu, Alibaluhu, Olouwa and Ndiabor; they are the ones receiving the impact of the activities of that company there, the rest of the nine that made them 13 are outside that area; they are not part of what we are talking about; in our resolution we affirmed that the four immediate landowners must be compensated; Royal Salt agreed that the annual rate will be N4 million every year; post production”.

    “However, what I saw  on the field surprised me, I had to suspend Royal Salt from working and they kept off for one month if not two months; It is like our decision did not go done well with some of the community members who felt we would have  told them to go with 99 percent while the rest of Enyiba go home with one percent; We awarded 50 percent of whatever is coming to the four immediate land owners while the rest of the 50 percent go to the rest of the nine because, also, the nine are involved”.

    “The committee for the negotiation  was drawn from the 13 villages of Enyiba autonomous community; the negotiation took about three months”’ he added.

    Court case stalls negotiation

    While the Ministry was mediating in the matter the community took the company to court.

    “While we were doing this( mediating) ,we learnt the case has gone to court”, said the Commissioner.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, on Dec 18th 2013 halted the operation of Royal Salt Limited in the community.

    This followed a motion on notice filled by David Igbuji, Felix Itumo, Ikechukwu Nweze and Mbam Ode on behalf of the community against Royal Salt.

    In her ruling, the presiding Judge, Justice I. A. Onyetenu, ordered Royal Salt Limited not to enter into mining operation or process mined mineral, pending the hearing and determination of substantive suit.

    She adjourned the matter to February 17, 2014 for further hearing on the substantive suit.

    “Since there is subsisting court injunction stopping Royal Salt from operating in the area, we have written the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State for advise on the matter, said Dr Ike.

    Effort to get Representative of the Company to react we’re not successful.

    Pics. Hopeless: Members of the community who lost their lands look dejected and hopeless

    Pic 2: Jacob Nweke

    Pic3: the company’s sign post and factory under construction in the community

     

     

  • Council savours election

    Anambra State local government election in which Chief Cosmos Okonkwo was declared winner of Awka North council has sparked jubilation in the area.

    His joy was apparent. His constituents were equally excited, even as they were conscious of the fact that the new chairman would henceforth be a citizen of all ten communities that make up of Awka North, and no longer that Isu-Aniocha only.

    Stakeholders in the council rolled out the drums in celebration, first at Christ The King Catholic Church, Isuaniocha community, before settling down for the reception at the Community Secondary school, Isu-Aniocha field.

    Chief Okonkwo, has been sworn in as chairman of the council, where his work started since Monday, January 27. His Deputy, Dr. Ikechukwu Offorkansi and other councilors led by Hon Paul Nnatuanya attended the thanksgiving ceremony.

    Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Augustine Ogbonna presided over the mass, witnessed by a large audience which included the All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) leader in Awka-North, Chief Godson Ezenagu. Ezenagu is a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state. Dr. Chukwuma Okoye, a former Commissioner for Education in old Anambra, was also in attendance, as were Chief Joe Nwegwu, traditional Prime Minister of Ebenebe, Mr. Nwadiogbu Nnamdi, Awka-North Head of Service, Chief Alfred Nkwonta, President General of Isuanaocha and his Secretary General, Chief Innocent Okeke, among others.

    Similarly, the awesome service was a beehive of activities as the church’s Wisdom Band and Choristers thrilled the congregation with soul-stirring songs and thanksgiving throughout, lifting the celebrants and well-wishers into heights of joy.

    In his homily, a visiting Priest, Rev. Fr. Primus Ileme, the Vocation’s Director, House of Congregation in the province of Niger Southeast zone, thanked God for the gift of Chief Okonkwo who he described as a humble man full of wisdom with native intelligence.

    He also prayed that the new chairman will change the face of Awka-North local government, urging him and his deputy to render selfless service to humanity irrespective of party, religious denomination or town affiliation.

    Speaking at a reception after the service, the Awka-North boss, called on those who lost at the poll to join him in moving the council forward.

    His words: “I have opened a room for reconciliation, negotiation and accommodation because I cannot serve the people alone. Don’t be aggrieved. Think not that you have failed. Sheathe your swords; let’s move ahead. I am ready to accommodate your opinion, advice and recommendation irrespective of party or town.”

    Okonkwo said he would initiate agricultural loans for rural farmers with a view to boosting food production and curbing the menace of unemployment in the area.

    APGA leader in Awka-North and state former Commissioner of Agriculture, Chief Godson Ezenagu described Okonkwo as a visionary, peace-loving and humble man.

    Also speaking, Chairman, Awka-North, Youth Council of Nigeria, Comrade Victor Onwudiofu congratulated the newly elected local government legislators and executive on their victory, praying God to endow them with wisdom to serve diligently.

    He called for support from all stakeholders to enable the local government move forward.

  • Customs hails Southeast on N1b goods seizure

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced that over N1b worth of smuggled goods were impounded last year in the Southeast. But Mr David Dimka, Area Controller, Zone C, Owerri, said the NCS owed the seizure to the cooperation of residents in the region.Dimka said the Customs job was facilitated by residents who provided valuable information which led to the seizures made between January and December last year.

    He said such cooperation made it possible for the NCS to significantly reduce the menace of smuggling in the Southeast.Dimka reiterated the readiness of his men to tackle smuggling in the zone, noting that a formidable mechanism has been put in place to ensure that perpetrators as well as potential ones are caught and made to bear the full weight of the law.

    He informed that within the period under review 2,801 bales of secondhand clothing with duty value of N529, 512,000 were the highest seizure made, followed by 114 vehicles with duty-paid value of N355,311,800 and 609 bales of textile material.

    Others included 18,594 cartons of imported frozen poultry products valued at N208,286,250; 3,619 cartons of vegetable oil; 115,732 pairs of imported footwear, and 1,611 used tyres, among others. Dimka said, however, that the NCS are still grappling with diehard smugglers who often change their tactics in order to evade arrest, adding that the service has the capacity to neutralize such antics.

  • Seminar for elected officials

    Seminar for elected officials

    In a bid to instill leadership principles in the newly-elected officers in Anambra, the Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs. Enemo Azuka has organised a seminar for council chairmen, their deputies and councillors. The seminar was in partnership with Anambra Rebirth led by Dr Okey Ikechukwu.

    The inaugural retreat on values and leadership was held on January 24 at the Women Development Centre, Awka. Its theme was “Call to Service: Re-inventing Leadership and Local Government Administration in Anambra State.

    The event was chaired by retired Chief Judge of the state, Justice G. U. Ononiba.

    In attendance at the event were the Governor-elect, Chief Willie Obiano, his deputy Dr Nkem Okeke, all traditional rulers and Presidents-General in the state as well as Governor Peter Obi who was accompanied by members of the state Executive Council led by Secretary to the State Government, Oseloka Obaze.

    In his remarks, Governor Obi said two major challenges which the Nigerian society is experiencing were insults on those in leadership positions and disloyalty. He noted that those who think they were hurting the personality of President Jonathan by unnecessarily attacking and criticising him were invariably hurting the feelings of Nigerians.

    According to him, what is lacking in Anambra’s and Nigerian politics is loyalty.

    “Some think that they are hurting the personality of President Goodluck Jonathan but their action is, in essence, hurting Nigerians,” Obi said.

    He urged the elected council chairmen and councillors to partner with and support government’s policies and programmes; even as he urged them to work towards lifting the well-being of the people who elected them into office.

    Governor Obi urged the councillors-elect in the 21 local government areas of the state to be team players with their chairmen rather than scheming for their impeachment, adding that he is pitying his successor, Chief Willie Obiano who will, on March 17, assume office as governor of Anambra State. This, he said, is because Anambra people will blame him for everything that goes wrong in the state whether he is responsible or not.

    He said he would take time to rest from the busy schedules of administering the state for eight years after he hands over to Obiano. He added that Obiano will, however, be lucky that he (Obi) has done some jobs in the state and would have to start from somewhere.

    “When I was sworn in as the governor in 2006, there was nowhere to start from. I asked them where the governor’s office was and they said there was none. I enquired about where I will live and govern and they said none. Even this place was burnt down and to make matters worse, there was no one to hand over to me.” Obi said.

    He called on the elected chairmen, vice-chairmen and councillors to ensure that they provide benefits of democracy to the people of their localities.

    Governor-elect Chief Willie Obiano was service-ready as he adopted the teachings of all the speakers.

    Earlier in his address, the chairman of the occasion, Justice Godwin Ononiba (rtd) said that the seminar was designed to sensitise the elected chairmen and councillors on the right values for service.

    “You are reminded that you are now addressed as honourables and you must therefore understand that it means good name, reputation and nobleness of mind. I have never seen this kind of seminar before in my entire career in the legal service in Anambra State. The resource persons are wonderful. This is to refocus the newly elected leaders at the local government level. This is a mentoring role for leaders to enable them to showcase the best practices as obtained all over the world. Leaders are custodians of values and must live by examples,” Ononiba said.

    He congratulated Governor Obi on his resolve to conduct the election despite opposition, saying that that the seminar was designed to give the newly-elected politicians focus on right values and service delivery.

    There were several lectures presented at the seminar and they dwelt on values and leadership.

    In his lecture entitled “The Local Government Chairman as a Gardner: Lessons in Leadership,” Dr Okey Ikechukwu, Chairman Anambra Rebirth Organisation challenged the elected officials to maintain political loyalty.

    “You must retain you natural habit by not allowing your new office ruin to your health, relationship with people and God.

    “You must explore the value of excellence and remember that you are not in office to serve yourself,” Ikechukwu said.

    The chairman also advised the elected officials to pay attention to selecting competent aides and promote stakeholders’ co-operation among their people.

    “Let your vision come from your mission and the understanding of why you are in office,” he stressed.

    In his lecture entitled “Challenges of Good Governance in the Face of Wrong Public Expectations,” Prof. Ben Osisioma of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka equally challenged the elected officials on values and leadership qualities.

    “Focus on a government that protects the weak in the society and be men of good characters.

    “”We need leaders who will unleash the creativity of our people and build on their strength; eschew religious bigotry and ensure equity and fairness at all times,” the Prof. of Accountancy stressed.

    Other lectures entitled “Good Polling as Pre-condition for Good Governance,” “Custodian Role of Local Government Chairmen,” and “Values-based Leadership for People-centred Development” were presented by various speakers.

    Monsignor Jerome Madueke, Director of Communications Catholic Diocese of Awka demanded that the elected men and women should allow their cultural, social and religious values uplift the positions they are occupying rather than diminish it. He challenged them to be self-reformed in accordance to their new roles of service as they were called for service and not self-aggrandisement and frivolous living.

    For Prof. Obiora Francis Ike, Vicar-General Enugu Catholic Diocese who spoke an Igbo language despite having stayed over 30 years abroad with more than three Doctorate degrees in Philosophy said Anambra State has been a reference and the restoration of Igbo culture and tradition as well as language should start with Anambra State, even as he lamented the decay in culture and tradition of Ndigbo which has assisted the loss in language.

    He decried the violence that is raging in the Northern Nigeria, pointing out that a visiting Bishop from Maiduguri said that, of his 52 churches, only two were still standing as bombs have destroyed other 50 edifices. He also lamented the killing of 1.5 million children in Igbo land during the Biafra civil war.

    He said nothing has destroyed our culture and tradition like buying of certificates, grades and scores by students with the aid of parents and lecturers who should know better. He called for a rethink and rebirth of characters and priorities.

    Prof. Ike told the audience that the greatest problem facing the country now especially Ndigbo and Anambra State in particular is problem of poverty of the mind which is selfishness. He urged Ndigbo to go back to their values and ethos for the sake of posterity.

    On his part, Prince Nnagozie Ochi, Project Director / Chief Social Architect of Bridges to Goodness (B2G), a human infrastructure development organisation, harped on the need for equitable character exhibition by the new leaders through fairness and justice in decision taking.

    In the past year, Anambra State Government has held a series of retreats for senior government officials in Enugu and Johannesburg, all aimed at enhancing service delivery output.

    Reacting to what he referred to as a “well-packaged and salutary retreat,” SSG Oseloka H. Obaze commended the planners and said Governor Obi bought into the idea “since it would allow the newly elected officials to hit the ground running.”

    A newly sworn in councillor, Mr. Jude Atupulazi from Nimo Ward, Njikoka Local Government Area Mr. Paul Nnatuanya from Ebenebe Ward Awka North Local Government Area commended the governor for organising such seminar, adding that he has been uplifted and motivated.

  • Abia Apc to resist rigging

    The chairman of Abia state chapter All Progressive Congress [APC], Chief Donatus Nwankpa has said that the party is set to resist any attempt by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to rig elections.

    Nwankpa said that the state has suffered a lot in the hands of the PDP in the state because of the fact that the people have been deceived, adding that it will no longer be business as usual come 2015.

    Speaking with The Nation in Umuahia, Nwankpa said that the people of the state are tired of rigged elections in the state and that they have promised to join the APC to ensure there will be no more rigging, if the state is to grow.

    The APC boss in the state said that many people feel that their votes do not count, “We are poised to ensure that the anomaly is corrected for the votes of the electorates to count and allow people who had been given mandate freely to rule the state”.

    On the reason why the party has not been talking, Nwankpa said that they went underground to the grass-root to re-strategise because of the aggression the party faced from suspected thugs of the PDP, including the council chairmen.

    He explained that before now the party has been under attack from suspected PDP thugs, “During our meetings in the state, this made us to go underground to find a way to come back into the political arena and now we are back to face the political war with any group that wants it”.

    The APC Boss in Abia said that the challenges they faced from the rival party made them to make a retreat and re-strategise, “And now I can assure you that 70% of average Abians are now APC members, as we are believers in true democracy”.

    Nwankpa assured that APC will ensure that true internal democracy is practiced in the party and stop the imposition of candidates during elections, stressing that this will make room for real politicians to take responsibilities at all levels of governance.

    He assured that the APC will give all candidates a level playing ground in the state to make them give room for the best to come out to handle the affairs of the state, “We intend to do the right thing and in an orderly manner against allowing political rascality like in some political parties to handle their political atmosphere”.

    Nwankpa said that the party is going to give the electorates both political and civil education to allow them to make the right choice and also to defend their votes after voting so as to put a stop to electoral fraud during elections.

    He said, “We are going to create a natural awareness for the electorates and also make them law abiding, while pursuing and protecting their rights at all cost. The era of political naivety in the state is over; people will be made to know the right thing to do before, during and after elections”.

    The Abia APC chief advised members of the party to live to the ideals of the party which is change and there should not be change for the worst but for the better, “We want them to be active and not passive and allow for equity all the time to reign”.

     

  • Bishop laments idolatry among Igbo

    Bishop of Afikpo Anglican Diocese, Right Reverend Paul Udogu has decried the increasing wickedness, idolatry and lack of fear of God in Igbo land many years after the advent of Christianity.

    Udogu stressed that there is urgent and compelling need for the re-evangelisation of Igboland to escape the impending wrath of God.

    Bishop Udogu spoke in Onitsha as a visiting Bishop during the collation of Ven. Obiora Uzochukwu as a Venerable and induction as the Sub-dean of All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha. Six Canons were also collated including Revs Samuel Adoro

    Louis Ezenwata, Rufus Ezenwaka, Goddy Iloka, Ofoegbu Ozoekwe and Edison Okoroigwe.

    Bishop Udogu went down memory lane recalling when the late Bishop Ajayi Crowther led a team of Church Missionary Society (CMS) and found out that the natives were neck-deep in human sacrifice, barbaric practices, idolatry, wickedness in the form of slavery and immorality among other vices.

    He lamented that after 157 years of Christianity in Igbo land, various forms of vices are still manifesting in Igbo land, including kidnappings, assassinations, and other forms violent crimes.

    He said that the fear of God among the people is almost at the lowest ebb as kidnappers and other perpetuators of criminalities enter the church to search and attack their victims.

    The Bishop said that while these are going on, there is no serious attempt to restore core Igbo values, rather idolatory in the name of cultural revival are on the increase.

    He said if the tide must be stemmed, there is compelling need for the re-evangelisation of Igbo land by churches especially the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. He urged those who were collated to to be in the vanguard of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ in the area.

    The Bishop on the Niger, Owen Nwokolo, said that the elevation of the new Sub-dean to an Archdeacon and some other priests was a call to service and more commitment to their work, especially their pastoral duties, adding that those who are committed in the vine-yard of God are given bigger responsibilities in form of promotion.

    Bishop Nwokolo equally advised the church member’s o pray for their spiritual leaders as well as listen to their counsel so as to understand the mind of God.

    The Sub-dean said that his elevation was an opportunity to serve God with all his determination so as to meet up with the high expectation of the people especially, the members of All Saints Cathedral Onitsha.

    He promised that by the grace of God, he will do his best to llift the spiritual lives of the members of the Cathedral as well as improve the physical condition of the Cathedral.

     

  • ‘Jonathan, fix Arochukwu Road or forget our votes’

    ‘Jonathan, fix Arochukwu Road or forget our votes’

    The nightmarish road that leads to the famous Arochukwu may have become a bargaining chip.

    As hope of any redemption begins to fade, the people of the area have warned President Goodluck Jonathan to keep off from the area as 2015 beckons. They also gave the same warning to Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Hon. Arua Arunsi who represent them at the National Assembly.

    They further warned: “Any helicopter that lands on any space in any of the communities that make up the area would be attacked and destroyed. This is to check the trend where affluent sons and daughters of our area as well as top government functionaries return home in chattered helicopters with a view to avoiding the hazards of the road.”

    These decisions were taken at a Town Hall meeting of professionals, think-tanks and opinion leaders of the area. They said fixing the road which leads to the area is the only condition that would make them to lift the ban on Mr. President and members of the National Assembly from the area.

    “They should forget about coming to campaign for votes from us unless they completely rehabilitate the Arochukwu – Ohafia Road before the beginning of the rainy season this year. We, the people of Arochukwu Local Government Area have always voted for the PDP candidates and this is what we get for voting them into power.

    “Tell the President that we are no longer for him and his party as we see his nonchalant attitude towards our road as treachery,” Mazi Henry Okoronkwo, an opinion leader said at the meeting.

    Another community leader added: “It is the worst treachery in the political life of this administration (Jonathan’s). They will never deceive us again. Let them not think of coming to Arochukwu and Ohafia for any reason other than coming to repair this road. We didn’t do any wrong to vote for Jonathan and his party.”

    South East Report, however, gathered that the company handling the rehabilitation of the road, Messrs Beks Nigeria belonged to a relation of President Goodluck Jonathan. Some sources also hinted that the company was paid upfront to the tune of N4.8 billion.

    The company, it was gathered, lacks the competence to handle such sensitive road project. As at the time of filing this report, no sign of work was going on on the road. The equipment were all lying fallow at the site without any staff of the company present.

    The immediate past Special Adviser to the Abia State governor on Works, Mazi Jude Nwokoro who is indigenous to the area spoke to our correspondent on the condition of the road and also supports the people’s decision to ban politicians from campaigning in the area for votes.

    Nwokoro further said that the Aro expected so much from the present governments especially the Federal Government. He disclosed that the road that runs from Arochukwu to Ohafia which is less than 30 kilometres is a federal highway.

    Nwokoro said: “With the level of work going on there now, and the kind of contractor handling that road, I will say comfortably that the repairs cannot be achieved in the next 10 years. I totally agree with the people on their ‘keep off Arochukwu’ order to politicians because the benefit of democracy includes roads. “Once we have good roads, from Arochukwu to Ohafia is less than 20 minutes. But now you spend not less than two-and-half hours to get to Arochukwu from Ohafia in a good car, not just any car. There is no need for any politician to come and tell us about 2015 when the people we voted for in the past have disappointed us.

    “The Arochukwu – Ohafia Road which has been in terrible condition for years has been ignored. We are shutting our doors to all those who expect to come and campaign for votes. They should fix our roads first.”

    The former Special Adviser threw more light on why the state government did not undertake the rehabilitation of the road and pass the bill to the Federal government. He said: “Governor Theodore A. Orji actually commenced work on that road. And asphalting had already commenced before the Federal Ministry of Works asked him to stop on the grounds that it had awarded the contract to a company called Beks Limited. And the governor had to obey the directive of the Federal Government because he is a law-abiding citizen and chief security officer of the state. So, he stopped.

    “As you can see, no work is going on on that road since then. The equipment are in shabby condition. This is peak of the dry season. You cannot find the contractor on site. If you go to the site, everything is in shabby condition. No management, no engineers, not even any security guard for the equipment. With what is on ground, we don’t expect anything to happen on that road this year.”

    Nwokoro, however, exempted the governor from among those asked not to come for votes in Arochukwu, saying, “the governor is yet to be refunded the money he expended on that road since 2007. If you recall, he had commenced periodic maintenance work on that road. Until about a year ago, precisely February 13, last year when the Minister of Works, represented by the Minister of State for Works came to Arochukwu in the company of Senator Uche Chukwumerije and Arua Arunsi to inform the governor that they have flagged off construction of the road. Unfortunately, instead of constructing or rehabilitating the road, they destroyed and made it worse. It was better before.

    “If I can recall the experience I had on the road before they came, and the one I had after they came, I will conclude it was better before their visit. If they want to go back to the Senate or House of Representatives, they can search for votes in other local government areas not Arochukwu.

    They can be re-elected to the National Assembly but definitely not with votes from Arochukwu. We have to negotiate and that negotiation must be on a roundtable. And it will be seen to be done and not just signing document before the Aro can join them in this politics. For the governorship election, it’s a different ball game. That road is a federal road, not state road.

    “If all fails,” Nwokoro said, “we would be left out of the politics of 2015 so that we can do community fund-raising and fix the road ourselves through community effort.

    “I know the present federal legislators can still win but they cannot count on our votes. They should not count on our votes because we will not be voting for anybody. It’s not about opposition. It’s not about continued abstinence. But we will not cast our votes to anybody in 2015, no matter the party or the individual until that road is fixed.”

  • ‘Aba ingenuity has come to stay’

    ‘Aba ingenuity has come to stay’

    They have a way with gadgets. They see through the most complicated machines, and their magic fingers move in to fashion out stunning pieces. Aba, a city of 1.5m people in Abia State, teems with a rare breed of fabricators and technologists.

    They bring failed industrial machines back to life. Badly damaged car parts are easily replaced in Aba. All manner of old and broken-down cooling items such as refrigerators and air conditioners are taken apart and made to work again as if nothing went wrong in the first place.

    Yet, the ingenuity of Aba technologists is not limited to gadgets. In fact, they are unlimited. Various home appliances come to life in the city, as do clothing like jeans.

    Though the origin of one of the most populous commercial towns, east of the Niger, could be traced as far back as 1901, Aba became famous for the women’s riot of 1929 when women resisted attempts by the colonial masters to impose taxes on them especially in the then Eastern Province.

    Apart from the women’s riot, the city also became popular because of its importance to the state and the volume of economic activities in the city. No wonder the journey of any serious investor in Nigeria would not be complete if he or she failed to visit Aba.

    Aba is ranked among Nigeria’s economically buoyant cities because of its volume of trading activities. Experts in the economic sector have often claimed that the amount of revenue generated in Aba, if well managed and properly utilised, can sustain the state economy. The city’s major economic activities range from textiles, pharmaceuticals, plastics, cement, lubricants, cosmetics and its high technological creativity. There are breweries and distilleries within the commercial city.

    This city popularly called ‘Enyimba’ is also known for its industrial profile, perhaps recognised as a global market. It is the home handcrafts. The ingenuity and the industry of the people in crafts such as handbags, belts and shoes, tailoring, steel works (machines, tools and equipment) and fabrication of both domestic and industrial engines spare parts justifies the ‘Japan of Africa’ slogan.

    The unskilled engineers in the commercial nerve centre of Abia State have become the most wanted by most dredging companies who rely on them to replicate or reproduce some of their machine parts that are either scarce or must have been phased out of the market.

    The ingenuity of the people in using locally sourced materials to produce things that can compete favourably with their counterparts in the global market has earned its goods the popular nickname ‘Made in Aba’ just like we have ‘Made in China, UK, U.S.A,’ among others.

    Many have argued that what people regarded as ‘fake’ because it was produced in Aba, would outshine their contemporaries both in quality and durability.

    This has attracted high patronage on goods produced and manufactured in Aba by consumers beyond the shores of the country. Aba products traverse the West, East and North African countries, making the commercial city a sort of Mecca for traders within Nigeria and other African sub-regions.

    Aba has long been touted as the Japan of Africa given the many innovative and entrepreneurial activities going on among the inhabitants of the city. Speaking on the ingenuity of Aba Mr. Fortunate Dike, the President, Aba Small Scale Industrialist Initiative (ASSII) and a fruit drink manufacturer, in a chat with this reporter in his office boasted that, locally fabricated industrial machine spare parts lasts longer than the imported ones.

    Dike said that for Aba engineers to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts, “all they need is to be exposed to the modern technologies in order to help them meet with the modern trends of technology”.

    Professor Charles Chinekezi, a media consultant, added “anybody who tells you that Aba is an ingenuity city is only stating the obvious. From the beginning, Aba as a city has been known and exemplified for the gospel of copy technology which remains the scoring points of the Japanese technology and development. Today, the People’s Republic of China has repeated exactly what the Japanese did in the early 70s. If we talk about Nigeria, and possibly when you talk about Africa, Aba remains the bastion of the gospel of copy technology.

    “The multi-nationals have survived doing business, making profits, keeping their owners and investors in all corners of the world in the last 25 to 30 years from the ingenuity of the mere illiterate artisans who parade the streets of Aba. So, if anybody tells you that Aba has played a greater role in the development of Nigeria and Africa due to its commitment to the gospel of copy technology, that person is merely stating the obvious.

    “One of the problems Aba would face is lack of interest of the government to help these people to grow.”

    The government has refused to build technological villages, clusters and a mere encouragement of individuals, organizations, companies, associations and unions that promote this gospel of copy technology and that’s what have been crying about in the last 25 years, because of irregularity and inconsistency of people in government or because of the poor quality and judgmental pattern of government in choosing who runs the technocratic departments of the government in the last 25 to 30yeras. That is the only challenge we suffer from the promotion of this gospel of copy technology for which Aba as a commercial city is known in Nigeria, West Africa and Africa specifically. So, I am afraid. But I think if with the help of the press, civil society organisations, intellectual discusses and public campaigns and lectures, I think we can overcome this weakness or threat to our development as regards to the promotion and development of our indigenous technology.

    “How can anybody say that things produced anywhere is fake? They are just being mischievous to say that anything produced in Aba is fake. If you say that something that is produced in Aba is fake, that means, something produced in London, Italy, France, New York, Tokoyo (Japan), Hong Kong is also fake. That’s just the meaning. We are only interested in quality control which is a standard issue worldwide and specifications. The standardisation of quality control is the same from here (Aba) to where the world ends. We can only be talking about fake when people in our territory refuse to adhere to certain acceptable global standards. Anyone who is talking about fake and fakeness when it concerns quality control, when we are willing to collaborate with other people is being unreasonable. Technology is never transferred, it is acquired worldwide.”

    However, the pride of the commercial town of Abia State is at risk as most respondents said that they were contemplating leaving the state due to what they described as ‘harsh and unfriendly’ condition of doing business, excessive taxes and levies by government agencies is threatening their continued existence in the business.

    According to a machine fabricating engineer, “the challenges of epileptic power supply and over-estimation of PHCN bills has been a problem that we have long tried to address without any positive result. You know how much diesel is being sold at filling stations today and then imagine the amount of money we spend every day or would have spent running on generator throughout the year.

    “All we need is for the federal and state government to provide us with the enabling environment to do our businesses. Aba is known for its ingenuity. We are proud of it and will always make sure that, that which Aba is known for will be protected. We hope that the state of power supply will improve when Geometric Power Station and the EEDC (Enugu Electricity Distribution Company) finally resolve whatever that has been hindering effective power generation and distribution in Aba.”

    One thing that is certain is that the ingenuity of Aba people has come to stay and will only require the partnership of the artisans with Abia State, Federal government to sharpen their skills in order to help them grow their businesses beyond its present state.

     

  • Chime signs industrial park MoU with Chinese firm

    Chime signs industrial park MoU with Chinese firm

    Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime has said that his government has put in place adequate measures and infrastructure that has made the state more than ready to host investors from around the world.

    The governor stated this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State Government and a Chinese Company, Goalmark Group for the establishment of a mega industrial park in Enugu.

    He noted that the measures which, according to him, have already triggered an influx of both local and foreign investment into the state were to be sustained and strengthened.

    He stated that due to the importance the government attached to the project, it has already provided a large expanse of land for the establishment of the Industrial Park and would also ensure that all necessary facilities were provided to ensure its successful take off.

    “This project is dear to our hearts, we are full of expectations and we want to see GoalMark Group developing the place immediately. The land in question is immediately available and we are making sure that all necessary infrastructure including proper access road to the estate will be put in place”, he said.

    Chime also noted that the Industrial Park will complement the massive infrastructural development of Enugu City that his administration had embarked on to give it a brand new and modern outlook.

    The leader of the delegation from Goalmark Group which has its headquarters in Beijing, China, Mr Lin Feng said the company decided to go ahead with the project after a careful study that confirmed Enugu as a conducive place for it.

    He disclosed that the project which, according to him, will cost billions of dollars to complete, will bring massive investments to Enugu from all over the world and ensure the tremendous improvement the economy of the state and environs.

    He said that the park will comprise investments in such major areas as cement, coal, power and water treatment plants as well as cassava and rice processing concerns.

    Feng added that the project will also entail the establishment of a specialised school for training of manpower to handle the various investments that the park will be attracting and called for continued support of the government to ensure that all of its objectives are met.

    He expressed delight that the project has become a reality and commended the government for its commitment towards ensuring its successful take off.

     

  • Foundation remembers the needy

    Every year, the needy, including children and youths, benefit from the benevolence of Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation.

    That was why thousands gathered at Irefi Civic Centre, Oraifite, Ekwusigo council Area of Anmabra State.

    The women were already seated at the venue of the event as early as 8 am, waiting for the distribution of gifts including cash, bags of rice and vehicles by the foundation as part of its annual Christmas and New Year bonanza to the women and other less-privileged persons in the society.

    The chairman of the occasion, Chief Azuka Okwuosa said this year’s gift distribution was unique in the sense that the beneficiaries cut across other neigbouring communities unlike the previous years when the foundation concentrated on Oraifite.

    He commended the founder of the Foundation, Sir Emeka Okwuosa for his love for the people of the community and entire thes society, adding that since the birth of the foundation, many people have benefited from it either by way of sponsorship or scholarship to indigent students.

    Chief Okwuosa further disclosed that the foundation has also been at the vanguard towards uniting all Oraifite sons and daughters in all works of life, noting that this year’s ceremony was to help the women to be able to take care of their families.

    He said that the Foundation as part of its mission statements had adopted a strong will to help the youths in the society in order to make them better people in the society, adding that the youths as the engine room of the society need to be supported.

    “The Foundation was conceived by my brother many years ago and it was initiated to address the problem of the society. We award scholarship to indigent students and brilliant ones because we encourage excellence and brilliance. The Foundation also believes in the saying that it is better to teach people how to fish instead of giving them fish. We are building a cortege industry in this community for the procession gari. This Foundation also has engaged in road construction across the community and today, we are giving out a brand new vehicle to the women corporative to help them transport their goods to the market”

    Earlier, Rev Canon Chamberlin Igwenazo prayed for Okwuosa family for rendering help to the society and less privilege which he said had been major interest the church had on wealthy people in the society to use their wealth to help others.

    Rev Igwenazo challenged other rich men in the society to emulate the Okwuosa family in helping the less privilege persons which he said would help to eliminate crime in the society by engaging the youths in meaningful business.

    The Chairman of Ekwusigo council area, Mr. John Elomba, represented by Obinna Nwachukwu commended the Emeka Okwuosa Foundation and the entire Okwuosa family for initiating the projects which is targeted at lifting the women and less privilege persons in the society.

    He described Okwuosa family as strong pillar in the entire Oraifite community that had rendered help to others without any feelings attached and said that the council shall continue to support any individual that has soft heart to help others especially during the yuletide seasons.

    In his address, the Coordinator of Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation, Dr. John Anene said Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation as a registered non-profit making and nongovernmental organization formed by Okwuosa to help render services to the society.

    He said that the Foundation last year distributed gift items worth millions of naira to married women from the community, adding that this year; the situation still remains the same in the sense that some other communities are beneficiaries of the Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation.

    “Last year, we were here and all married women from our community went home each with full bags of rice. It is still so this year. Thereafter, workers of the Foundation went to other communities and various public establishments in Oraifite, Ozubulu and Nnewi”

    “All Irefi married women will benefit from this year’s Christmas gift distribution. The idea is linked to the philosophy that if you feed a woman, you feed not only herself but entire household. With the mindset of the proprietor which is geared towards ameliorating the lots of the rural community, providing infrastructural development and general wellbeing of the people” he said.

    The President General of Oraifite Improvement Union, Dr. Jap Okolo said the aim of the Foundation to radiate joy in the minds of the less privilege in the society is commendable and enjoined other wealthy men in the community to emulate the Okwuosa family in rendering help to the less privilege.

    He said that for the community to grow, all hands must be on deck in the sense that everybody must get involved in the entire work of rebuilding the community and making it economically viable for the rural dwellers to make living.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Dr. Okolo further reiterated the readiness of the Oraifite Improvement Union to support any genuine philanthropist that has the interest of the community at heart and maintained that the Foundation through its outreach shall be encouraged to do better than it had done in the past.

    The Coordinator, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Dr. Tony Obi also commended the Foundation for being at the forefront for the project of ameliorating the suffering of the people in the society especially the women and the less privilege and urged others to emulate the Founder, Sir Okwuosa.

    He advised the people of the community to be up and doing by always thinking of what to do for the community and not what the community will do for them in order to move the community forward and render help to those in need.

    But to discover if their claims were cosmetic, Okija people confirmed their claims as the Regent to the Obi of Umuaku na Uruezike, Chief Frank Unigwe said ,’’ I am delighted that somebody like Okwuosa is remembering us this way. There are people who have so much money more than him but could not assist others. But with this good gesture more families will be happy during the Christmas and in the new year. I am asking God to give him and his family member’s good health to continue to assist the poor rural folks. In the past he has taken care of people with health challenges and given jobs to unemployed graduates. This is the kind of money we want not money for causing confusion and trouble’’.

    On his part, Obi C.N Nsofor , the Obi of Nkalafia Irefi ,’’ This gesture entered every family in Irefi because everybody in Irefi went home with some goodies. I am thankful to God that he is doing operation feed the Nation in Irefi Oraifite. Last year Sir Emeka Okwuosa distributed up to 6 trailers of goodies to our people. We are praying God to keep him alive to enable him fulfill his dream for our people.

    Nsofor informed that Sir Emeka Okwuosa foundation has another Non Governmental Organization Ocean Anado which means Oraifite Citizens in Europe and America which he uses to sponsor free medical treatment for the aged and poor people. He said he has tarred 2 roads in Oraifite and has opened many skill acquisition centers for rural women among other empowerment.

    A woman Evangelist Grace Mgbakaogu from Irefi Nkalafia buttressed that the villages including Umuezechem Iruozala , Umudalagwam , Iruezike and Umuagba were al beneficiaries of Sir Okwuosa largess as God has been using him to turn around the poor families of the community. She informed that his parents were poor and they were not surprised that he rose to the pinnacle of riches and remembers his people too.

    And the last person to speak about Sir Okwuosa, Mrs Ogechukwu Udaegbe from Nkalafia, ‘’Sir Emeka Okwuosa should be blessed for feeding the widows  in and around Oraifite and invoked God’s multiple blessings upon his family.