Category: Southeast report

It was a scene of royal robes, red caps, beads and staff. In fact not a few thought it was a cultural fiesta as Southeast monarchs filed out in order of ranking. No, it was the kings’ gathering for President Muhammadu Buhari in Okigwe Council Area of Imo State.

The monarchs attended by over 150 traditional rulers across the Southeast, passed a vote of confidence in Buhari’s administration, describing it as a “salvage mission that has rescued the nation from the abyss”.

The first class traditional rulers in a ten point communiqué read on their behalf by Eze Dr. Oliver Ohanwe, noted that “the country is on the verge of a new era with endless possibilities of a diversified economy”.

The communiqué said, “The President was elected on the firm promise to tackle corruption and insecurity and this administration has given a lot of fillip to these agenda, adding, “with the President’s grit and strategic support to the relevant institutions, corruption in our national life has practically reduced by more than 75%. Today, the fear of imminent consequences for graft has become an effective tool in curtailing the previously rampaging and debilitating malaise of corruption which weigh us down, brought anguish and underdevelopment to our nation”.

The monarchs agreed that the President deserves a second term in office to consolidate on the good programmes he had initiated, which they corroborated has justified the “huge magnitude of the mandate freely given to him in 2015”

The traditional rulers said their support was hinged on the visible changes in the polity and infrastructure development since President Buhari took over in 2015.

The communiqué read in part, “we thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, for his selfless and dedicated service to the nation, his commitment to ensure common good for all and his unwavering drive for peace, unity and progress of the country”.

It added further that, “the President is on a salvage mission that has rescued the nation from the abyss no matter what the professional naysayers and compulsive agitators might be up to. The President has demonstrated an uncommon resolve to sustain the peace and security of the country and has taken bold steps and measures that will certainly restore faith and health in our nation. Our country is being gradually transformed into a modern state with best practices in the conduct of public affairs.

“That we are completely convinced that the policies and templates of developments already laid down by President in the last three years based on critical thinking, careful and strategic planning are sure enough to catalyse rapid national development in his second tenure”.

The monarchs however unanimously urged the President to use his “good will and reach to support the Southeast region to produce the next President of Nigeria after completing his tenure in 2023”.

The pro-chancellor and chairman of the University of Calabar, Cross River State Governing Board Council, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu has backed the second term agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nwaogu speaking in an interview with our reporter in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State said that she was convinced that Buhari will emerge Nigeria’s President in 2019.

According to Nwaogu, her decision to support Buhari’s second term was because the President has been able to surpass the 16years achievements of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within 2years and 10months of his administration.

“Under two years and ten months, I think that President Buhari has performed credibly well. I rate him 85percent. For 16years that PDP government has being in power under two presidents, they have never done what the President Buhari has been able to do in two years and ten months.

“Look at Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway it has taken President Buhari to begin genuine rehabilitation work the road which is over 70percent done. These roads have been there since 1999 with budgets that entered into individual’s pockets.

“Look at the second Niger Bridge which was promised by President Shehu Shagari, Obasanjo and later Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who went to Onitsha to perform groundbreaking and abandon the project.

“Second Niger Bridge is over 50percent completion under 2years and 10months. Under the same time, President Buhari has revolutionalized agriculture. For 16years, Nigeria was spending N34billion importing foreign rice.

“By next year, we will not be importing rice. This country will be self-sufficient. Under 2years and 10months, the APC led government has been able to complete some of the uncompleted rail lines that were there but never done. From 1999, Obasanjo to Jonathan’s era, today, the railway lines are being constructed less than two years and ten months.

“Under two years and ten months, Nigeria’s reserve has increased from $2b to $23billion. You know that the nation’s reserve tells externally of how healthy the economy of the country is.

“I think that what is happening in this country is because PDP never knew that they would lose the election. Look at the avalanche of monies they looted before and during 2015 election.

“I know that things are a bit hard. Change comes with some stiffness. After a while, there will be relaxation. The economy will run on auto motion after a while.

“In 2001 when GSM came into Nigeria, the GSM sim card used to cost N50, 000, but today most companies are giving it out free. But it didn’t happen in three years. It is a process, it is not an event.

“I believe in President Buhari’s administration. I know that he is on the right track. When Jonathan was in power, he initiated the TSA (Treasury Single Account) but didn’t have the courage to implement it. Buhari implemented it to begin to reduce corruption which was one of the major essences of having TSA.

“I believe in the administration of the APC led government and I know that without politics or rhetoric that we are on the right track. It may be painful now or may look as if we are hopeless now, but I know that we are on the right track.

“We just need a time and that’s why we must vote him into power for the second time to complete this mission and set a solid standard for others to follow,” Nwaogu stated.

On the one-sidedness of the war on corruption, Nwaogu who represented Abia Central in the senate said “I rate his anti-corruption war very high. In every democracy, there is a tripod; the executive, judiciary and legislature. No one arm tramples on the other. If you see that these cases have prolonged for years and there are evidences that there is misappropriation or mismanagement of funds. It is not the fault of president Buhari. It is not the fault of his anti-corruption process of prosecuting people.

“He as executive has done his beat by ensuring that those people that they have identified of having being corrupt have been handed in for prosecution. As a president, he cannot arm-twist or intimidate the other arms of government to do it his way.

“These are the things that his detractors have failed to realise. I don’t equally believe that the president is shielding APC members from being prosecuted. When the SGF (Babachir Lawal) was found culpable, he was shown the way out and it is eventually the work of the EFCC to prosecute. The director of NIA (Nigeria Intelligence Agency) was found to be compromising position, he was shown the way and it Is up to the EFCC prosecute.

“Somebody like Orji Kalu is a member of the APC. He is going through his trials. So, how would you say that he is not prosecuting APC members, it is not correct.”

With enough space, tight security, water, a bank, among other facilities, the new Imo State markets have won over traders who once opposed them. OKODILI NDIDI reports

A few months ago when the Imo State government embarked on the relocation of markets in the Owerri metropolis in line with its urban renewal programme, the traders kicked, cursed and protested, calling the action anti-people. Some of them, emboldened by the comments and action of opposition politicians, who fought to blackmail the government, went as far as dragging the state government to court, while very many others vowed to resist the demolition of the old markets.

No explanation of the government, not even the obvious benefits that will accrue from the relocation of the markets, which were impeding developmental efforts, could sway the adamant traders.

Security experts had also warned about the high rate of crime within the areas the markets were located, justifying the action of government but this was also dismissed by the traders.

But today the story is different. The traders are better for it and words alone cannot convey their gratitude to the state government.

Reasons for their joy and change of attitude is not farfetched. In place of the demolished markets are brand new ones complete with a bank, central security system, water and enough space, among other facilities.

As if that is not enough, most of the traders now own expansive shops at subsidised rates.

At the new markets, economic activities have got to fever pitch. It is a whole new beginning, and the traders are fast settling down to business in their new environment. The host communities where the new markets are located are also counting their gains and thanking their stars.

Some of the new markets include the Egbeada Market Ubomiri, Alaba International Market at Naze, New Market Avu, the Arugo Modern Market, among others.

Despite all these benefits, some of the traders were still adamant to relocate to the new markets, preferring instead to be shopping on the road and atop the ruins of the demolished markets with the attendant risks.

It took the Task Force on Market relocation to force the traders to go to the new markets, where vacant shops are waiting to be occupied at no cost for a start.

The state governor Rochas Okorocha was irritated by the traders’ reluctance to comply with the urban renewal project.

According to his chief press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo “the criticisms by some elites in the state on the implementation of the relocation of the traders and artisans to their permanent sites built for them by the state government noted that such people do not want a change for the state”.

He said, “They are enemies of the state. They have no good intention for the state and her people. They are allergic to positive changes. They want the state to remain as it was when it was created in 1976.  But the governor is repositioning the State for posterity and we thank God for that”

The final relocation of the traders was however greeted with mixed reactions from residents of the State. While some applauded the state government’s commitment to the Urban Renewal programme, others lamented that the relocation of the Market will impose hardship on the residents of the metropolis as they will have to travel far distance to go to market.

A resident, Mr. Stanley Owuamanam, said, “The city is clean and we like what the state government is doing but that has also created another problem. We now have to go far distance to buy stable items”.

A trader, Izu Moses, while commenting on the final relocation of the traders, said, “Yes the urban renewal is one of the greatest thing that has ever happened to us, but we traders have abused the privilege given to us by the governor, I have to tell you the truth, some of us have moved into the new market but because some have refused to go, so we have to join them, now that they have forced all of us, we will all now go at the same time”.

Another trader, Chinazo Ufere, had this to say, “I am a proud owner of a shop at the Alaba Market in Naze and my business has picked up. Initially when the government demolished our former market, I thought everything was over but I can now understand better and I am grateful to the state government”.

Ufere, who sells kitchen wares, added that, “the allocation of the new shop is done in a way that the traders have six months grace to stay without paying a dime after which you start paying for a period of time and the shop becomes yours”.

Madam Nwakaego Ubochi, who almost committed suicide when Eke Ukwu Owerri was demolished according to her, now thanks the state government, “I thought they were just trying to pursue us away from the market. I wanted to kill myself because it was from my little trading to I take care of my family since my husband is bedridden. But today I now own my shop and I have rest of mind. In this new market we have enough space unlike in Owerri. Touts don’t harass us anymore.”

People behind bars in Aba, Abia State, have been given what all inmates cherish: love. They have been visited, fed and provided with fresh supplies of toiletries and other daily needs.

Their benefactors were women of Christ Holy Church International as part of activities marking this year’s Mother’s Day celebrations.

The delegation was led by Snr. Deaconess Christiana C. Umeh, who heads Women and Children’s Department of the church.

Apart from donating some relief materials including toiletries and detergents to the inmates, the women also used the opportunity to preach the Word of God and equally pray with them.

The female and male inmates of the facility were also fed by the visiting women who handed over 100 loaves of bread to the prison authorities to be shared among over 600 inmates of the facility.

Speaking on behalf of the Assistant Comptroller of Prisons Aba, ACP Samuel Anekwe, CSP Anyalewechi Egbe said that they were happy for the visit at the correctional facility by the church’s women group and the magnanimity that they have shown to the inmates.

Speaking further, they added that the visit of the church was in fulfillment of the biblical injunction to feed the downtrodden by those that could afford to do so.

Egbe, who praised the women for feeding the inmates and still make the donations regardless of the effect of the harsh economic condition of the country, said that by the feeding, the church has assisted the federal government in feeding the inmates. This is even as he expressed hope that the Word of God which was preached to the inmates would go a long way in meeting their physical and spiritual needs and to make them become better citizens of their families, church, state and the country at large.

He called on other churches and organisations to emulate the footsteps of CHC Int’l women as there are other areas of needs that they can come to assist or partner them.

Deaconess Umeh said, “The visit to the Aba Federal Prison by the women of Christ Holy Church International (aka Nation Builders), Aba Superintendency  is in fulfillment of Scriptural injunction which urged Christians to remember those in incarceration and as part of activities to mark this year’s Mothering Sunday celebration in our various church branches.

“Last year we visited Motherless Babies Homes in Osisioma, Obingwa, Aba North and South Local Government Area of Abia State respectively and also assisted some indigent people around us through finance and donation of some relief materials to them also.

“But our General Deaconess (Ngozi Okoh) suggested that this year, we should visit the prison yard in our domain or neighbourhood to preach the Word of God, feed the inmates and donate some relief materials to them because we haven’t been there before.

“While at the female section of the prison facility, I told the female inmates that they need the Word of God and persistent prayer in their lives.

“I told them that without prayer and the Word of God, nothing will happen in their life. Quoting Psalms 1:1-3, Joshua 1:8, Luke 18:1-5, I mentioned the power of prayer in their lives. I told them that in Acts of the Apostles 16 Paul and Silas gained their freedom while in prison because they worshiped God and prayed as well.

“I also reminded them that in Acts of the Apostles chapter 12, Apostle Peter was able to gain his freedom because he was meditating on the Word and persistent prayers. I told them not relent or hopeless but to believe that with God, all things are possible. Through prayers and meditation of the Word of God, the Spirit of God will be nearer to them and whenever that they call upon the name of God, He will answer like He did when Paul and Silas prayed to Him from their cell room.

“I told them also that Joseph was able to come out of the prison because he was nearer to God. I told them that if they shall confess their sins and turn a new leaf, that through prayers and constant meditation of the Word of God, God can through any means He wants to do it, turn things around and vindicate them from any accusation that brought them to the prison facility because God is a merciful God. For people that were in the prison over false accusation, I believe that when they accept Christ as their personal Lord and saviour, when they pray, their cries will get God and He will do something because I know that He will not just keep quiet and silent about their condition; He will find one way or the other to ensure that they secure their freedom.

On what the church is going to do to further assist the inmates with bail able cases, Snr. Deaconess Umeh added, “We are a department in the church. Since we have gone there to interact with them and have been able to know some of their problems and situations, it is left for us now to discuss it with the church to see if there are other ways we can be of help to the inmates and officials of the prison.

“As a church, it is also our duty to remember these inmates in our individual and collective prayers daily as we pray because some of them in the facility did not commit any crime, but suffering the crimes of others.

“My visit to the prison has taught me a lot of lessons. To be in prison means being deprived of so many things, including freedom and rights to personal liberty. To move out and come back to your house at any time that you want to come back is the greatest freedom and blessing. If I can have the chance to write about my experience during the visit at the prison, I am sure it will be a voluminous work.

“I want to advice my members to pry hard, be watchful and careful to avoid anything that will lead him or her to be in prison because it is not a place where someone will be. Let them also find time to pray for inmates of the prison and pay them visit at their own time within the year.”

Residents of Emelogu Road and Federal Housing Estate in Aba North and South local government areas of Abia State have raised the alarm that they may soon be hit by an epidemic emanating from a dumpsite in their area.

Some of the respondents, who spoke anonymously for fear of victimisation, lamented the foul odour issuing from the dumpsite, and the inability of the authorities of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) in Aba to fumigate and properly treat the refuse site.

They said it poses health risks to residents and shop owners in the area.

They also feared that the situation could get worse as the rainy season sets in. In the wet season, the stench worsens, making life more unbearable for the residents.

A resident said the situation forced him to relocate his family to a relative’s house in the commercial city.

A resident businessman in the area, Mr. Joseph Obi described the negative effect of the dumpsite to the health of the residents as a time bomb that would soon explode, adding that the effect could result in a major health crisis in the area.

“The problem we have here is the case of irresponsible government agency and ignorant citizens. There is absolutely no way the Abia State government under the current administration will claim that they don’t know about this place and its health implications. I said so because, the incumbent governor used to be the leader of ASEPA.

“It baffles me that this place is still getting worse on a daily basis. Most of the people you see here will always shy away from complaining openly, but within them, they are dying. That is where their ignorance is killing them. Yes, the dumpsite has been here for a long time, but a responsible government, a health-oriented government cannot allow a refuse dump to be so close to residential homes.

“If Emelogu was to be turned into a perpetual refuse dump, then the government should compensate all the landlords to vacate the place and them demolish all the buildings and make it known that this place is a refuse dump. If not, I urge them to stop this situation because killing is killing. Whether you killed with gun, machetes or hazardous refuse dump, all are killings.”

Personnel of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) were spotted on duty at the site, while the stench from the dumpsite is threatening which residents said was fair now that the rain has not fully set in.

Mr. Rowland Nwakamma, ASEPA, Aba General Manager of ASEPA could not be reached for comments, but a staff of the agency told our reporter that efforts were being made to relocate the dumpsite to a suitable place.

Commercial tricycle operators numbering over 200 operating in parts of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have protested against alleged extortion by government revenue collecting agents and security agencies.

The tricycle operators went round the city in a peaceful demonstration, though their protest was felt most in Aba South local government area of the state, where they attracted the attention of passersby and residents including their counterparts plying other routes in the state.

Some of those other tricycle operators told The Nation that their colleagues were fighting a just cause as they equally experienced the same fate along various routes.

Addressing journalists at St. Michael’s Road, Aba, leaders of the protesters, Pastor Donatus Augustine and Kenneth Chimezie Nwokejiobi called for the removal of the incumbent government revenue collector in charge of the welfare of tricycle operators in Aba, ASATOA (Abia State Amalgamation of Tricycle Operators Association), Mr. Eugene Eze-job who they accused of not being concerned with the welfare of members.

According to Nwokejiobi, a graduate of Building Technology from the Abia State Polytechnic Aba, the protesters want government to lift the ban on the use of the detachable trampoline, ban on operational hours of the tricycles, repair of deplorable roads in Aba, ban on illegal fees collected by “Pit owners” (loading bay owners), reverse to N150 daily ticket from the current N230 daily ticket and among other demands.

The operators feared that things could get worse if the state government and heads of security agencies fail to address the extortion by its contractors and agents who would anything to rip them off.

“Aba is a commercial city where markets close by 6pm or thereabouts and you are asking us to stop operating by 7pm when we are supposed to help in conveying traders home.

“We don’t want to take the law into our hands because we are law abiding citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are responsible people and not criminals.

“As you can see, we are suffering. It is sad and appalling in Aba particularly, able-bodied men who are supposed to engage themselves in other legal means of livelihood, but out of their laziness, you see them positioning themselves at strategic places, extorting tricycle operators all in the name of route and pit owners. This is rubbish and enough is enough. Abia State belongs to all of us and I see no reason why some lazy miscreants would lord themselves over us. The other day, they (government agents) stabbed one of us along Port Harcourt road because he refused their extortion.

“We have gone to our so-called union to complain and he paid us deaf ears because he is benefiting from those people. Enough is enough. While the keke operators on the streets languish in pain. We want government to do something. We don’t Eugene to be removed as our chairman,” Nwokejiobi stated.

Corroborating Nwokejiobi, Pastor Augustine said “The owners of the pits are operating illegally. They said that they were being sent to do what they are doing by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, but we don’t think that the governor is aware of what they are doing.

“We want the governor to do something. We want him to react and address the anomalies. This year alone, we have paid for 5 emblems amounting to N2,500 for each tricycle. Before you register your tricycle, you pay about N10, 000 including MOT.

“They are not doing anything for us, but rather sit and feed fat in their offices while we lavish in pains. We are protesting because we normally pay ticket of N180 per keke, each day. Unknown to us, yesterday they government released another ticket which amounted to N230.

“It is too much regarding to the economic situation of the country. Our passengers are also complaining about the high tariff that they pay. We also pay for tickets on Saturdays. We also pay for the one they call welfare which is not accounted for. We pay N20 to pit owners when we carry four passengers and N10 when we carry three persons.

“At the end of the day, we can pay up to N2000 depending on the number of turns the keke man will go per day. We pay more to them than we pay to the government. We are tired of this and at the end of the day, they ask us to close work by 7pm and resume work by 6am.

“We have been pressed to the wall and there is nothing that we can do than to hold this peaceful demonstration. We are now approaching rainy season, if you go to another town, keke has cover. We need to protect our passenger from the rains and that is why we want government to allow us use trampoline.

“We want them to remove the ticket. Let them also reverse the operating hour to 24hrs. they said that they have made efforts to reach the government to no avail.

In Aba, keke riders are regarded as criminals, refracts, hooligans. The police and other security agencies also molest us. We pass through a lot of things. We want them to allow us manage our resources by ourselves.

An agency of Abia State government, Community Social Development Project (CSDP) has disbursed the sum of N43 million to 32 communities in the state meant for micro-projects in order to enhance the capacity of the people and open up their rural areas.

Speaking while handing over the cheques to the benefitting communities, the executive chairman of CSDP, Dr Chinatu Njoku said that the agency had earlier disbursed over N102m to 54 communities since the beginning of the year.

Njoku said that as an agency of the state government that they are in partnership with the World Bank by paying our counterpart funds, “We have been in hurry to transform rural communities through the provision of infrastructural facilities”.

He said, “I want to use this opportunity to commend our governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his foresight in sustaining the agency through his constant payment of counterpart funds which has helped us to move forward”.

The executive chairman observed that most of the implementing communities embarked on projects that have direct and positive impact on the rural dwellers which include rural road rehabilitation.

Njoku said that other such projects include school block renovation, electricity, water project, health centers among others which has helped in no small way to uplift the standard of living of those in the rural areas.

He then called on the benefitting communities and their people to reciprocate the good gesture of the governor by obtaining their PVCs which will enable them to vote for the governor so that he could continue his good works in the state.

In their reactions some ornate Community Project Monitoring Committee members including Chief Nnanna Uduma Ohafia of Ahajimba Ugwuoji Amaekpu Ohafia, Chief Uma Kalu Oke of Amangwu Ohafia and Mrs Elizabeth Nwachukwu of Ndume Otuka, of Umuahia North expressed satisfaction with the agency for their services.

They also thanked the state governor for sustaining the CSDP despite the lean resources available to the state and assured him of their support for his administration now during election and after the election.