The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Aba residents worried about corpses on streets

    Residents and shop owners at SAMECK Junction and Uche Street in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State have raised concerns over possible outbreak of airborne diseases from decomposing bodies in their residential areas and business premises.

    Some of the residents, who spoke at the scenes of the decomposing corpses, lamented the negative effect the decomposing bodies were having on their businesses and health, stressing that all efforts to get the attention of the Aba North Health team have failed.

    They urged the authorities to do something urgently.

    Some shop owners at SAMECK said they could no longer transact their businesses around the places affected because of the stench from the corpses.

    A resident who gave his name as Ikedi Onyejiaka said that the body of a suspected robber lynched at SAMECK Junction left them gasping for breath, hence they have shut down their shops since Saturday when the body of the armed robber started decomposing..

    Health experts in Aba have cautioned residents over the health implications of burning suspected armed robbers and leaving their corpses on the streets.

    The health experts drawn from the offices of the environmental health departments of Aba North and Aba  South Local Government Areas advised residents to hand over suspected criminals to the police and avoid polluting the streets with burnt corpses.

    In a telephone chat, Head of Department (HOD) of Environmental Health in Aba North Local Government Area, Mrs. Ngozi Ochor disclosed that leaving corpses in the streets to decompose is hazardous to the health of road users and residents living in the area.

    “The terrible health implementations of this act cannot be over emphasised. When our air and our environment are polluted the reality is that our health is at risk.

    “If corpses are not disposed away from our streets, our environment becomes uninhabitable and extremely hazardous.

    “It contaminates almost everything around us and expose both the young and the old to danger because disease carriers like flies will perch on them and move to contaminate everything around including food,” she said.

    On the two corpses found in Eziama and SAMECK Junction which falls under Aba North, Ochor disclosed that steps have been taken to evacuate the corpse in order to avoid people from contracting disease.

    Speaking on the solutions and preventive measures necessary to be taken, Mrs. Ochor said, “I’m telling Aba residents to allow the police take care of certain things.

    “I don’t encourage criminality, but the health implementations of keeping corpse in our streets are too many.

    “They can hand over criminals to police and that will save us all from contracting diseases. Our health is at risk whenever they do things like this. Let the law do the justice.”

    Also, the HOD of Aba South LGA, Mrs. Chinyere Nwaigwe also said that the health implications of leaving corpses in the streets of Aba are better imagined than experienced.

    She said that the health implications of such situations led to creation of a unit that takes care of unidentified corpse in her office.

    Nwaigwe said that getting information on such makes their job easier as it helps them dispose such corpses easily and save the public from impending diseases that follow such acts.

  • Community elects new executive

    History was made after seven years of court cases. The people of Alor commuity in Idemilli South Local Government Area of Anambra State have finally elected officers to run the affairs of the community.

    The officers were voted into office for a period four years, with Chief Uzoma Igbonwa as President-General and Dan Nwankwo vice president.

    The elected officers were sworn in by a Notary Public, Chief Emeka Ngige, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    In his acceptance speech, Igbonwa said, “I want to use this medium to appreciate the Almighty God for all that has happened; it helped to mould us into what we are today.

    “I want to thank the good people of Alor for their maturity and patience in the face of deliberate provocations all this while.

    “I want to thank the good people of Alor for the confidence reposed in me by electing me to serve and pilot the affairs of our beloved community Alor as the President-General of Alor People’s Convention.

    “I promise the good people of Alor that I will serve them as their servant-leader to the best of my ability, standing consistently on the truth no matter whose ox is gored, respect everybody’s views.

    “I will deploy my resources and everything at my disposal to make Alor great again, the Alor of our dreams where a brother will remain his brother’s keeper and a sister her sister’s keeper, Alor where we will tolerate one another’s shortcomings and so on and so forth.

    “The election has come and gone, I therefore appeal to all of you, the good people of Alor, for your support so that together we shall take Alor to greater heights.”

  • Old Students plan alma mater’s rehab

    From all walks of life around the world, old students of Aggrey Memorial College Arochukwu have responded to a clarion call by the alumni association for a historic reunion of its old boys and girls.

    It was a day hundreds of old students of the college came together to raise funds, to rebuild their alma mater, in an effort to restore its past glory.

    They equally attracted friends of the college that share their passion for quality education, which the college in its heyday provided kids who have now become important personalities.

    Starting with a novelty football match of the oldies on December 28, a road show followed, with the old girls donning customized T-shirts and their trademark college skirt, leading to a special dinner session hosted by an alumnus, Sir Chikwendu Udensi. The exercise served to sensitise the communities of the unfolding epochal event.

    The celebrations climaxed on December 29 during an electrifying Gala Nite, where the essence of the gathering was drummed home at the Arochukwu Civic Centre.

    In her address, chairperson of the organizing committee, Mrs. Grace C. Okaro, welcomed the old students to where she described as “your former place of sojourn,” thus igniting their feeling of nostalgia.

    President of the Alumni Association, Mazi Emmanuel Okoro Egbukwu, traced the historical trajectory of the college, which was founded in 1932 by a foremost educator, Dr. Alvan Ikoku. Appealing to the old students and their friends that indeed Aggrey Memorial College Arochukwu needs help, Egbukwu regretted that its infrastructure had decayed due to years of neglect.

    He, however, said that “a new era for our alma mater is here, and I urge you all to be steadfast and firm in your belief in a renewed Aggrey for posterity.”

    According to him, urgent attention of the Alumni is required in identifying areas of intervention for sustainable development and improvement of the institution, and to liaise with relevant authorities with the aim of restoring the school’s decayed infrastructure.

    Specifically to the old students, Egbukwu said: “I am pleased to report that many of you have keyed selflessly and generously into these objectives. And because of your time, financial, intellectual, moral, and sweat equity, we have already made great strides towards the actualisation of some of the objectives within the short span of time we have been in office.”

    For their achievements, and to the credit of the college, some notable old students were accorded official recognition denoted by presentation of plaques.

    Also, some influential persons in the catchment communities earned the recognition of college for their contributions to development.

    Notable personalities that graced the occasion included Prof Okoro Ijoma, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Dr.O.J Nnanna, Prof Solo Umeham, Mazi Dave Imoko, Dr. Uche Orji, Sir Chikwe Udensi, Dr Emma Nwadeyi, Elder Ike Onu and his wife, Engr. Nnamdi Udoh and Mazi Udo Torty among others.

    In the mood of the Yuletide season, Rocobath Choral Group provided the musical entertainment, complemented by the Ugochinyere and Ojojo Cultural Dance groups.

    And when it was time to write the cheques, the special invitees did not disappoint. They demonstrated their support to ‘Make Aggrey Great Again’ by donating in hundreds of thousands, and in millions of naira.

    Suffice to say that the old students had long yeaned for such a forum to bring them together after decades of leaving school and migrating to different parts of the world.

    First sitting in class clusters, one of the ways they demonstrated their yeaning to mingle once again was the spontaneity with which they broke the ranks, converting every space of the floor for dancing, in response to familiar songs of the ‘old skool’ genre. It was indeed a no-holds-barred exercise, some with glasses of wine in their hand.

    A cross-section of the old students expressed delight at the occasion, giving kudos to the Alumni executive for organising the event.

    Mrs. Ivuoma Ndukwe, an old student of the Class of 1979, who flew in from the United States of America for the re-union, said her trip home was worth the while.

    She, it was, that championed the return of the trademark tartan skirt uniform, which the college had jettisoned, with a consequent loss of identity by the female students.

    For Dr. Henry Onyeador, another Diaspora-based old student, the re-union represented a remarkable milestone in the history of the college.

    The post-event feelers indicate that those who could not return for the ceremony are already looking forward to the next.

    Similarly, potential donors who could not also attend the ceremony have reportedly promised to make up in cash donation for their absence.

  • ‘Our border neighbours are killing us’

    The people of Isu community in Arochukwu Local Government Area, Abia State have cried out over alleged continued invasion and occupation of their land by their neighbours in Utuma community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    They alleged that Biase community has been sacking and occupying their community.

    The aggrieved community was reacting to the recent murder of their son, Okoro Ukwaa and destruction of property worth millions of Naira in the community by suspected gunmen from the neighbouring Utuma community.

    Speaking to newsmen, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chief of Staff to former Governor Theodore Orji, Mazi Don Okorie accused the state government of total insensitivity to their plight.

    Okorie said that since the attack on the community on April 18, 2018 which was done without any provocation by their neighbouring community and their cronies, Isu community has not known peace.

    He said that the latest attack which happened on the February 15, 2019 claimed the life of one of their illustrious son Ukwaa, who was murdered in cold blood while he was at his farm.

    The former SSG said, “The latest coldblooded murder in all intents and purposes is the most atrocious, devastating, and tragic, the clan is in a state of absolute melancholy, we want to use this meduim to appeal to the government to come to our aid.”

    Okoro said that the attacks which has been consistent have left over 15,000 people from five different communities homeless, while farm lands have been left desolate. The absence of government intervention has made us to wonder if are still citizens of this state.

    “As we speak, those people are still scattered across the area in various locations as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with their homes and farmlands abandoned without any hope of returning there soon.”

    He said that the situation the community has found themselves will have a serious effect during the forthcoming general election, stressing that it is time for the state government to take decisive action to save the situation in Isu land.

    Okoro said that the invaders action may not be unconnected with their intention to annex the clan because of its large limestone deposit, explaining that the governments continued silence over their plight was not helping matters.

    He said that the two warring communities have large deposits of limestone which Utuama have been taping their own and are now desirous of annexing Isu community to boost their limestone production.

    Explaining further about the communities, he insisted that, “The government has not given it enough vive for it to stop. The people of Iheosu, Aba-Isu, Amachi-Isu, Ndi Ugbor, and Aliose are currently no longer living in their home.”

    The embattled clan proposed the establishing of a permanent police post in the clan to end the crisis before it escalates further, adding that they had made a formal complaint and written petitions over the matter to the police to no avail.

    Okoro said that if government had taken action before now, “What has happened to our community and the killing of our great son would not have taken place, we are pleading that government should come over and help us.”

    Similarly, a Special Adviser to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, on Grassroots and Youth Mobilisation, Hon Tony Kalu, wondered why the government had kept quiet over the matter, decrying the neglect of the clan in terms of employment and development.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna said that the command is not aware of the recent killing of Ukwaa, stressing that they are aware of the tension in the area which they are handling.

  • Army: we didn’t abduct, kill IPOB members

    The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu has denied the accusation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that soldiers killed members of the secessionist group, and also captured and took away some other IPOB operatives in the southeast.

    The leadership of the pro-Biafra group through its spokesman, Emma Powerful in a statement alleged that soldiers in Imo and Abia State were abducting, manhandling, wounding and killing members of the group indiscriminately in the two states.

    But the military speaking through its spokesman, Sagir Musa, in a counter press statement made available to The Nation, stated that the military never manhandled, shot, wounded, abducted or killed any person including IPOB members in any part of the Southeast.

    Musa in the release stated that the military as a professional and responsible organisation under the leadership of Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai has often made it clear that it will not encourage or condone any form of professional misconduct among its personnel across the country especially as it concerns human rights abuses.

    The Army spokesman said the Nigerian Army would not ordinarily join issues with an “illegal organisation,” but decided to respond in order to set the record straight against what it described as divisive, selfish and wicked propaganda and misinformation being perpetrated by a proscribed group.

    Musa in the release maintained that the Nigerian Army in the Southeast under 82 Division, would not be deterred by the IPOB propaganda, but continue to ensure that they protect life and property in the zone.

    He further stated that the Nigerian Army under the 82 Division is poised to ensure peaceful and secured conduct of free, fair and credible 2019 general elections in the Southeast.

    While urging members of the public to disregard the rumours being peddled by IPOB, Musa disclosed that the military does not detain civilians in the conventional army detention camps except when someone is involved in terrorism act or any form of insurrection, among others.

    “For awareness and further clarification, civilians are not detained in conventional army detention centres except under exceptional situations such as on charges of terrorism, insurgency or any form of armed insurrection, among others. So, anyone arrested by the NA during the ongoing Exercise EGWU EKE III has been handed over to the civil police for further necessary action.

    “Members of the public are hereby requested to disregard any form of divisive and inciting propaganda particularly the ones coming from the likes of miscreants and outlawed organisations like IPOB,” the release read.

  • In Imo, a crackdown on hardened criminals

    While criminals seem resolute in tormenting Imo State, the security community is even more determined to thwart them. In the latest crackdown, 31 suspects have been rounded up, reports OKODILI NDIDI

    It is like tug of war. The police and other security agencies continue to crack down on suspected criminals, pulling down their properties, smoking them out of their dens, and trying them in the courts. The outlaws often stage a comeback. Residents of Imo State cannot forget their ordeals at the hands of their tormentors. But there is no giving up on the fight against bandits.

    In the latest effort, no fewer than 31 notorious armed robbery and kidnap suspects are currently cooling their heels in police custody in the state following a renewed onslaught against hoodlums across the state.

    Other criminal elements including child traffickers, fake military officers and cultists, among others, were also arrested in the massive clampdown initiated by the state Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi.

    Before the suspects met their waterloo, the indigenes were sleeping with their eyes open. Reports of armed robbery, kidnapping and rape were becoming alarming. It got to a point that banking in Owerri, the state capital, was becoming a nightmare as armed robbers ambushed their victims at the banks.

    Market women were not spared as they lost huge amounts of money to the rampaging criminals who waylaid them most times on their way to the market.

    According to security reports, no fewer than 21 people have been kidnapped between January and February.

    But at last there is something to cheer. The criminal elements that have made life hellish for residents of the state have been rounded up and are helping the police in their investigations that will certainly lead to the apprehension of other criminal elements that are still at large.

    Parading the criminals at the State Police Headquarters, the Commissioner of Police (Dasuki Galadanchi), stated that the proactive measure through Community Policing engagements adopted by the Command has paid off.

    He said, “You recall that I promised a few months back to rid our dear state of criminals to enable Imolites enjoy a crime-free yuletide celebrations. That promise, I can gladly tell you, we have fulfilled to a large extent, thus necessitating the reason for today’s briefing.

    “I also promised that as we approach the electioneering period, we shall continue an all-out offensive against criminals through intelligence led raids, information gathering, cordon and search, diligent investigation of arrested suspects and successful prosecution of cases.  I also promised you to be more visible at black spots, strategic junctions, public places and commercial centers to ensure that Imo State is peaceful, secure and safe for Imolites to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation especially in this electioneering period.

    “Finally, our proactive measure through Community Policing engagements has once again yielded the following results as we display before you 33 suspects involved in various heinous crimes.”

    Among the suspects were alleged members of a notorious kidnap gang, Chinweke Nnachi, Chibuike Okolia, Chijioke Ukaeje, Ibe Christopher and Chukwudi Chukwuka who reportedly specialised in abducting rich politicians and their family members.

    Galadanchi said they ran out of luck after abducting one Christian Duru from Awo-Mamma in Oru East Council Area of the state.

    He said, “As fate would have it, the kidnap suspects arrived Orlu with the victim and in effort to kidnap a second victim, one Ekwueme Uchenna, their car fell into a gutter and from the ensuing scenarios the first suspect Christian escaped.

    “Operatives of SARS of the Command in collaboration with PMF 18 Personnel swung into action and rescued the second suspect a day after he was kidnapped. Suspects have made useful statements and confessed to the crime”.

    Also apprehended were members of an armed robbery gang that raided Immigration Transit Camp where they dispossessed the Personnel of their valuables.

    The suspects include Amos Friday (20), Chukwuebuka Ibeawuchi  (23),  Augustine Thomas (39), Iheanacho Eluma (20) and  Kaburu Mohammed (39).

    Exhibits recovered from the hoodlums include three vehicles, one AK 47 rifle, two English pistols, two locally made pistols, among other dangerous weapons.

  • Ugwuanyi inaugurates neurosurgical hospital complex

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has inaugurated the second phase of the Memfys Hospital, Enugu, which he said has remained a reference point in the healthcare delivery of the country.

    Flagging off the multi-million naira new complex of the hospital at its 16th anniversary, the governor represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin, stated that Memfys Hospital was the single biggest individual contribution to healthcare on the African continent in the area of neurosurgical services.

    He reiterated government’s commitment to render every logistical support that would facilitate the growth of private enterprises in the state.

    While showering praises on the founder of the hospital, Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam, the governor noted that the establishment of the hospital had worked against brain drain in the country, as Nigerian medical professionals now have an institution with state-of-the art facilities where they can practice and conduct surgeries on patients locally instead of travelling overseas.

    According to him “in fact, I am surprised that instead of the director of the centre of excellence for neurosurgery, asking for help, he was more concerned with making a case for an improved healthcare for Nigerians.”

    Ugwuanyi, also disclosed that Enugu State was one of the 10 states in the country that had already implemented the national health insurance adding that the effect of the scheme would be felt next year.

    “We have even gone further than that by introducing universal health coverage which will involve all persons in the state, the workers, parastatals and traders,” he said.

    The founder and medical director of Memfys Hospital, Enugu, Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam, said that the institution was established in 2002 with the objectives of providing high quality patient care, conducting health education and training programmes and engaging in health-related research, especially on the nervous system.

    He stated that apart from phase I which houses most of the hospital activities, the multi-million naira phase 2 building complex being inaugurated, has more than doubled the facilities available at the hospital, which include the clinics, rehabilitation centre, lecture theatre and administrative offices.

    The renowned neurosurgeon said that the master plan is comprehensive and ambitious, stressing that it was envisaged that when fully completed, the hospital would compare with similar institutions anywhere in the world.

    Ohaegbulam expressed joy that before celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, the hospital had graduated from a centre of excellence in Neurosurgery to a national medical centre, offering services in neurology, paediatrics, orthopaedic surgery, radiology, CT scan, MRI and Siemens mobile digital X-Ray and several others.

    On the national health insurance scheme, the UNN’s 10th inaugural lecturer in 1986, called on government at all levels to make it functional to enable Nigerians enjoy its dividends.

    Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of certificates to four newly graduated neurosurgeons by the Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, while cultural dances entertained guests.

  • FG road project excites Abia community

    The people of Ofeme in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State have heaved a sigh of relief as the federal government partners with AG Dangote to reconstruct the Ofeme Ring Road.

    The road, it was gathered, has been abandoned for over a decade following the collapse of the Eme Bridge, which links Ofeme to neighbouring communities of Umuagu and other border communities.

    Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Mr. Okechukwu Enelama along with the representative of the Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola came to flag off the reconstruction of the 12.8km road with a bridge that will link Ofeme back with other neighbouring communities.

    The Ofeme community could not hide their joy upon the realisation that they will soon be linked back with other communities after so many years of infrastructural neglect and untold hardship as a result of lack of access road. They stated that government after government including that of Okezie Ikpeazu had promised to reconstruct the road only to turn it to a sheer campaign promise even after they massively voted for him in 2015.

    The jubilant Abia community promised to give President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates their votes for coming to their aid when all hopes are lost.

    Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, the Abia APC deputy governorship candidate who represented Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, thanked President Buhari for coming to the aid of the community.

    Azubuike taking his time to enumerate other projects being undertaken by the Buhari-led Federal Government in Abia and the Southeast in general assured the community that if they want more of such developmental projects in their community, they should vote for Buhari, Ogah and all APC candidates in the coming elections.

    Mr. Enelama who is an indigene of Ofeme, during his speech, said the project is a 100% presidential initiative and its being done at the cost of 21 billion naira, he told them not to be deceived into believing that the state government has a hand in the project, he stated that President Buhari is not only doing the road that he is also doing the OFEME water project and other projects that is ongoing which he enumerated, and made it clear that it is at the instance of president Buhari, he said the road will connect Nnunya and Nkpa communities.

    He charged the people to vote for President Buhari, Dr. Ogah and other APC candidates in the coming elections if they want more of such projects in Ofeme.

    Dignitaries who were present during the flag-off ceremony include all the Ezes from Ohuhu clan, the President General of Ohuhu welfare Union, Chief Barrister Johnson Kanu, former President General of O.W.U. Mr. Ejikeme Ikwunze, the APC house of Assembly candidate for Umuahia North state constituency Engr. Nwabueze Onwuneme, Chief Empire Kanu and so many others.

  • Abia APC to cash in on Buhari’s visit

    As part of his desire to get to the electorate across the 36 states of the federation, the campaign tour of President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, January 29, hit Abia State. Sunny Nwankwo, who was at the Enyimba Stadium, venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally filed the report.

    On Friday January, 11 the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Uche Sampson Ogah flagged off his campaign rally which saw the Umuahia Township Stadium in the state capital of about 5000 capacity filled to the brim with many who were in anticipation of seeing Mr. President waiting anxiously even outside the stadium.

    At the venue, it was expected that the President and other members of the party would be in the state with the vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo.

    Unfortunately, because of the tight schedules of both the President and his vice, they couldn’t make it, except the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole who came with a few national officers of the party.

    The ripple caused by the absence of the President was hijacked by the ruling party in the state who claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence at the rally was a clear indication of his jittery that Abia is a PDP state.

    They equally mocked that the President’s absence was also because he wasn’t at home with the choice of Ogah as the guber candidate of the party.

    And when the news came that Buhari was visiting Abia on Tuesday, January 29, many rumoured that the President was not going to come. This is even as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Monday night issued a mini sit-at-home in Aba in protest of the president’s visit.

    The story changed when the President visited the commercial city for his campaign tour as Abians and supporters of APC from the seventeen local government areas of the state as the campaign train of President Muhammadu Buhari visited the state ahead of the February 16, presidential poll.

    This is however contrary to the sit-at-home orders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who asked Abians to observe a mini sit-at-home from 6am to 4pm Tuesday, in protest of the visit of the president.

    President Buhari came in the company of former governors of Abia State; Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Ogbonnaya Onu (Minister of Science and Technology), Senator Ken Nnamani, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Governor of Ekiti State, Senator Chris Ngige, National chairman of APC; Adams Oshiomhole, the lawmaker representing Isiukwuato/Umunneochi Federal Representatives, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha, former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Hon. Emeka Wogu, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu among others.

    Speaking at the event, President Buhari vowed to continue to tackle infrastructural problems in Nigeria and to ensure that Nigerians do their businesses without stress.

    The president who maintained that businesses would be improved as soon as infrastructure challenges of the country was tackled, said that despite the limited resources available to his Government and total fall in oil revenue, his government have been able to justify their promises to Nigerians and are ready to do more when given the mandate to continue in power.

    He urged all the people of Abia State to ensure that APC is voted for in the forthcoming elections to enable them continue the fight against corruption, infrastructural decay and ensure adequate security for proper management of the country.

    In his words: “I’m impressed with all the speakers because they’ve articulated what this administration is able to do. When we came in, we approached governance with three point agenda of security, economy and fight against corruption.

    “We tried to justify these by trying our best within the time available to us from 2015 to now with the resources available to us. You can all recall that the production of 2.4 million barrel per day, was cut short to half a million barrel per day. In the world market which is outside our control, the cost of petroleum per barrel went down from 40, 38, 28 dollars per barrel.

    “It is in this context that I want you to see how this administration has been committed to development of this country. Upon all these, we are doing the roads now, we are doing the railways which was neglected and virtually killed and we are doing power which is one of the projects I’ve came here to commission today.

    “I assure that if we get infrastructure correct; the roads, the railways and power, Nigerians will mind their businesses. It all depends who is in the Government. We have identified this and we are committing available resources to make sure we get the infrastructure right and we are doing as much as possible to secure the country so that we can properly manage it. I thank you for your commitment and I expect you to this time around, vote APC.”

    APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who could not hide his joy over the reception that Buhari got in the state said that it was an indication that Abians have embraced the change mantra of the APC administration, stressing that the Buhari government has done well in the southeast geo-political zone through some of the completed and ongoing developmental projects the APC government is doing in the zone.

    Oshiomhole, who blamed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for years of decay in the southeast despite the support that the southeast gave to PDP, urged the people of the state and the southeast not use 2019 to correct the mistakes of 2015.

    He said: “I’m very happy at the testimonies I’ve heard today about what this administration has done in Igboland and Abia State in particular. You can bury the truth ten meters deep, but you cannot kill the truth.

    “The truth is that in this state, PDP has governed for 19 years just as they controlled the country for 16 years. In those 16 years, this part of the country that was most loyal and committed to voting PDP was abandoned and Federal dual carriage road in the zone was turned to a cassava farm.

    “No one could commute from Aba to Port Harcourt. Everything was destroyed under PDP. My message is simple, the beauty of Nigerian democracy is that if you elect by mistake, it cannot last for more than four years. The last mistake of 2015 must now be corrected in 2019.

    “What we need in leadership are men and women who can serve Nigeria as their constituency. The development literature of the Federal Government in Southeast is very clear. It’s not rocket science. The Ariaria International Market Power Plant is there for all to see. The basis for sustainable economy is to build durable infrastructure and President Buhari is ensuring that.”

    Also speaking, a Chieftain of APC and former governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor-Kalu lambasted the PDP led administration in the state for what he termed as total neglect of infrastructure in the state and none payment  salaries and  pensions which he said has left many people who served the state with all their hearts in perpetual poverty.

    Kalu, who is the Senatorial candidate of APC for Abia North District also blasted former president Olusegun Obasanjo for his constant criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “I always call the PDP administration in Abia State liars because in this state, they rumoured that I was dead and gone and I’m alive today to the glory of God. Again I call them liars because they always pay Abia civil servants on radio.

    “When I was Governor, there was free education, our darling team Enyimba which was why I built this stadium became champions of Africa twice. In my days, workers and pensioners never begged for their monies.

    “I heard a man called Olusegun Obasanjo attacking Mr. President and this man Obasanjo forgot that it was him that brought corruption to Nigeria as a president.

    “He was the first President who started thwarting democratic processes in Nigeria. My Problem with him was when he called me and some other persons to support his third tenure bid and I refused and urged others never to accept it. He turned himself into a dictator. How can someone compare Obasanjo and Buhari? Buhari wants the Judiciary to be perfectly independent.

    “The judges in my state told me that they are at the process of receiving their monies directly from Abuja. Since I left office as governor, we never heard roads in Abia because subsequent administrations left Abia to decay.

    “They’ve told a lot of lies about APC in Abia and come the 16th of February, we shall test the popularity of every party in this soil. Uche Ogah has been tested in the private sector and he won and he’ll win squarely here. President Buhari has no comparison and Abia will give him 70 percent vote in Abia State,” he said.

    The APC gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Uche Ogah, APC Governorship candidate in Abia State said that he would invite Julius Berger Construction Company into the state within the first days of his assumption of office.

    Ogah who stated that he would correct the 16years mal-administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state within two years of his administration, stated that the president would come back to the state to commission projects within the six months he is elected sworn into power.

    He urged the president to disregard any information that there is another party in Abia capable of winning elections outside APC. He declared Abia as an APC state.

    “Abia people have resolved to unanimously move to APC and there is no other party that can stop it. You’ll get our votes in Abia and the mistake of 2015 will never repeat. We shall be first in giving you votes. We’ve felt your love through numerous Federal Government projects here.

  • Ikpeazu to Abia workers: we’ll pay your salaries promptly

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the prompt payment of the state workers’ salaries.

    Dr. Ikpeazu said this when the Abia State Women Public Servants Association staged a solidarity rally at Government House, Umuahia. He re-echoed government’s stand that workers in the state’s public service are up to date in receiving their salaries except for a few parastatals and agencies.

    The governor spoke through his deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, expressing the government’s appreciation of the women for their love and support and for coming out to make the world know that the civil servants in the state are not being owed.

    He pointed that he will continue to give subventions and bailouts to every parastatal in the state.

    The governor also noted that there is no progress in the absence of equity, fairness and justice and used the forum to urge the women to vote him back in office in the forthcoming governorship election.

    Speaking on behalf of the association, the President, Chief Mrs. Charity Ukonu said they came to show appreciation to the state governor on how he has piloted the affairs of the state, adding that since he came onboard their salaries are paid as at when due.

    Chief Mrs Ukaonu assured the governor that Abia state workers will vote overwhelmingly in the forthcoming elections to return him back to office to complete his second term in office.