The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Peace returns to Abia community

    Peace returns to Abia community

    ‘During this peace meeting, we expect the Ogurube to reverse the curse through pouring of libation to appease the gods of the land which will show that peace has returned to the land and the eating and drinking together by all present will show that we are one’

    ‘Anyone who said that there is no peace in our land such a person will have problem visiting his household as peace is in our land and with that we must move forward in all spheres of life’

    The peace that evaded the Ibeku kingdom in Umuahia North council area of Abia State for a long time may have returned, to the relief of the subjects and their king.

    The traditional ruler of the area, HRM Eze Samuel Onuoha Ogurube IV had placed a curse on some of his subjects, throwing the community into confusion, but the monarch has now walked back on the spell.

    The reversal was done during a peace meeting initiated by the member representing Umuahia East state constituency at the state House of Assembly, Hon Chukwudi Apugo who felt aggrieved that the problem of the kingdom polarised the people to the extent that there was profound acrimony among them.

    At the meeting held at the Ibeku Egu Asa Development Association (IEADA) hall, the chairman of the meeting and former commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Emma Nwabuko said that he is happy that all were at the hall for the peace meeting. Nwabuko said that their coming shows that they desire peace to return to their kingdom, adding that with peace, they are ready to attract even and faster development in their area.

    The former Abia State commissioner said, “The Ogurube was so maligned to the extent that things were written and credited to the king without his knowledge”.

    Nwabuko noted that all the members of the IEADA who were elected during their last meeting were all at the hall for the meeting.

    “We therefore expect the Ogurube to use this chance to reverse all that he may have said against any of the sons and daughters of the kingdom”.

    He said, “During this peace meeting, we expect the Ogurube to reverse the curse through pouring of libation to appease the gods of the land which will show that peace has returned to the land and the eating and drinking together by all present will show that we are one.”

    In his speech the initiator of the peace meeting, Hon Apugo said that he is happy as everyone has come for the peace meeting and with the presence of Ogurube shows that all Ibeku people are together and desire peace for the even development of their community.

    Apugo said that there is no problem in their community as the Present General (PG) of IEADA Chief Emeka Enyiazu, the one who the entire people came together to elect, is also at the meeting which shows that there is no problem.

    He said, “The sign of authority is that the PG holds his meeting at the association’s civic hall, all the traditional rulers of our community are here for the peace meeting including our women, so what else are we talking about, excepts those who are blind and do not want peace that will say there is no peace in Ibeku land”.

    “This shows that there is no problem between us in our community, however there are people who have refused to embrace peace for their selfish interest but we are ready to allow such group of people to come back whenever they are interested to come back as their are our people”.

    “There is a saying in Igboland that when a father beats his child with the right hand, he uses the left hand to cuddle the child, that is what we expect the Ogurube to do today by forgiving all those who may have erred against him one way or the other by reversing any curse placed on such people”.

    “All those our brethren who had earlier been ostracized for one reason or the other have all come back except those who have refused to come back, Ogurube did not beat any of us but just waved his hand which the accompanying breeze has made those he had intended to beat to keep turning around”.

    In his reaction the chairman Ibeku traditional rulers council, HRH Eze Hens Ezekwem said that he never knew what the meeting was all about and since it a peace meeting which that it is good one, adding that those who had gone astray are all back.

    Eze Ezekwem noted that since it is a peace meeting that it was the reason behind all the traditional rulers from Ibeku attending the meeting and are happy over the development which will help in developing their area.

    He said, “Whenever Ibeku people who are quarreling against themselves and another problem that concerns the kingdom arises, that concerns their community with a neighboring community they will sort it out first peacefully despite the problem between them and still continue with their quarrel”.

    “All Ibeku traditional rulers are solidly behind our Ogurube who is the head and leader of all traditional rulers. However, I want to call on politicians in our place to stop interfering in the affairs of our community and allow peace to reign and development to come in”.

    In his reaction the Ogurube said that anyone who said that there is no peace in Ibekuland should go to wherever he likes but that the main problem facing them is politics, “As our people who are in different political parties are causing our problem, everybody must not belong to the same political party”.

    The Ogurube said, “Anyone who said that there is no peace in our land such a person will have problem visiting his household as peace is in our land and with that we must move forward in all spheres of life”.

    “The problem started when I was suspended by the state government for doing nothing, as I did not deserve to be so suspended since my hands are very clean and l pour this libation to lift the curse I earlier placed on some of the people of my kingdom”.

    Following the statement by the Ogurube, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya who is the current commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs through whom the state government suspended the traditional ruler, later knelt down to plead with the traditional ruler.

    Ogbonnaya said that he has been in support of the traditional ruler right from the time he was not their king and that their relationship dates back to the time when his late father was alive until now he is the traditional ruler.

    He said, “Your suspension was an assignment given to me by the state government, I was merely doing my duty as assigned to me by government because they had the belief that there was going to be a breach of peace, but with the peace meeting, I will go back and tell [the authorities] we now have peace to enable them lift the suspension order”.

  • ‘How to end herdsmen’s attacks’

    ‘How to end herdsmen’s attacks’

    A WAY out of of the incessant cattle herdsmen and crop farmers clashes has been suggested, and it is breeding cows in ranches.

    The sugestion came at the inauguration of new leaders of a group,  Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship (NCGF), an inter-denominational prayer organisation.

    The new national President of the group, Prof. Charles Adeyinka Adisa, an oncologist at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) promised that his regime would sustain and build upon the efforts and achievements of the previous one.

    The election of the new leaders which took place in Benin, the Edo State capital, was capped in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State, with the inauguration and handover of official documents.

    Speaking after the inauguration and handover, the former national President of NCGF, Dr. Samuel Itina said he was optimistic that the new regime would deliver and work in the interest of all.

    He called on Christians to pray for the country.

    The new President of the group, Prof. Charles Adeyinka Adisa, said his regime would build on the foundation of his predecessors.

    He spoke on a number of issues, including the Fulani herdsmen’s rampage which he said would come to an end with the creation of ranches.

    He said, “In Saudi Arabia, their cows in ranches produce about 30 liters of milk per day, but cows in Nigeria produce less than 10 liters of milk daily. Keeping cows in ranches will help to nip the attacks of communities by Fulani herdsmen and also promote the hygienic level of meat that we consume in Nigeria.”

  • NOA mounts hand-washing campaign

    NOA mounts hand-washing campaign

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged students and pupils in the state to practice proper hygiene to prevent the spread of various infectious diseases.

    Ebonyi State Director of the agency, Dr Emma Abah gave the advice while speaking to students of Urban Primary School, Abakaliki, during a visit to the school on the occasion of global hand-washing day.

    He said the celebration is an oppurtunity to design, test and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times such as after using the toilet or before contact with food.

    Dr. Abba said for hand washing to be effective, it must be practised consistently.

    He said, “Therefore, parents and teachers should cultivate the habit of hand washing from the early age and linked them unconsciously into the children as everyday activities in their life time.”

    “Good hand washing is the first line  spread of many illness- from common cold to serious infections such as meningitis, the flu, brochiotis, hepatitis A, and most type of infectious diarrhoea and also reduces the rate of immortality arising from these diseases”.

    “The few seconds you spend at the sink could save you trips to doctor’s office.”

    Some of the students appreciated the NOA for the sensitisation and promised to keep washing their hands as directed.

  • Navy chief warns criminals in Abia

    Navy chief warns criminals in Abia

    The new commandant of the Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics College, Owerrinta, Abia State, Captain Abdullahi Aminu has warned criminals to steer clear of the state or face the music.

    Aminu said that the navy in the state was prepared to tackle criminality with all seriousness, adding that the naval headquarters had empowered to bring felons to heel.

    Speaking at the naval college, Owerrinta during the third quarter of its quarterly route march and show of strength, Capt Aminu said that the exercise was aimed at ensuring that naval ratings and officers were fit at all times.

    Capt. Aminu said that during the exercise that officers and men of the naval college are expected to show the people how ready they are to tackle the menace of criminals within and around the state.

    He noted that part of their charge is to ensure the security of life and property of their host community and the state wherever they are based, stressing that since their advent at Owerrinta that there has been peace.

    He recalled that barely two days he assumed office as the new commandant, that his men rescued a four year old boy who was kidnapped at St Theresa’s Catholic Church Obosi in Anambra state.

    The naval boss said that the boy was kidnapped on Sunday at Obosi Anambra state and was rescued the next day in Abia state, “This tells you the preparedness of my officers and men in crime fighting and we are determined to do more”.

    Capt Aminu said that from what he has observed on the fitness of his men which shows low level of fitness, “I am going to introduce the route march to be a monthly thing, which will be done at the end of every month”.

    “The idea is to ensure that my men are fit at all times to face the security challenges that have been trying to overrun both the state and country, every military man should be fit and ready at all times in case of any crisis so as not to be caught unawares”.

    “What we are doing which is done every quarter is approved by the navy headquarters, as signals are sent before the date of the route march, as it is  enshrined in our rules”.

    “The exercise is also to let criminals operating within the state to stay clear or be consumed as we are prepared to ensure that our environment is secured at all times and I am sure that we have not been doing badly in that area”.

    He used the forum to give kudos to members of the host community for their effort in ensuring that they perform their security duties to the optimum level, stressing that they have been giving them useful information to work with.

     

  • Imo tackles old tradition

    Imo tackles old tradition

    Ancient and discredited but still widely practised in Imo State, Female Genital Mutilation has an influential opponent, reports OKODILI NDIDI

    It was once thought normal and commonly practised. The girl-child, sometimes as young as one month, had parts of her genitalia cut off, with the active participation of her parents. Newly-married women who escaped the ritual in their early years, were made to go through it usually before they had their first babies.

    In those days it was called circumcision, a procedure believed, among other things, to curb sexual waywardness.

    Nowadays that practice is called female genital mutilation or FGM. Its new name suggests some crudity in method and even violence on the subject.

    It is also believed to be unhealthy, causing infection, lifelong trauma, retardation in sexual functions and even death, in some cases.

    Old and largely discredited as the tradition may be, it  remains rife across the states of the federation. with Imo reputedly posting the highest rate of prevalence, 68%.

    Why this is so, considering that the state is also said to be quite enlightened and educationally advanced, is difficult to understand. One thing that is sure, though, is that someone is leading the fight against the age-old ritual. That someone is Mrs  Nneoma Okorocha, wife of the state governor.

    The practice is predominant in four local government areas of Ohaji-Egbema, Ngor-Okpala, Ikeduru and Oguta.

    But respite has come. Mrs Okorocha in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNFPA) has launched an intensive campaign against FGM and other practices that are inimical to the wellbeing of the girl-child.

    The governor’s wife who anchored the campaign under the auspices of her pet project, the Women of Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI), noted that she keyed into the passion of the wife of the President, Aisha Muhamadu Buhari to end the barbaric practice that has resulted in the avoidable deaths of women and children, especially in the rural areas.

    The governor’s wife who decried the prevalence rate of the practice in Imo State, during launch of the anti-FGM/C campaign at the Imo International Convention Centre in Owerri, called for a collaborative efforts to end the scourge.

    She observed that the practice does not only violate the rights of the girl child but makes it difficult for her to live up to her responsibilities as a wife, as well as endangers her life.

    Mrs. Okorocha lamented that despite global condemnation of the practice, Imo State is still leading in the barbaric act, adding that the campaign will be taken to all the nooks and crannies of the state to create awareness on the dangers inherent in female circumcision.

    She hinted further that part of the measures she has adopted to eliminate the menace in the state, is to criminalize the practice through an Executive bill she has presented to the State House of Assembly.

    According to her, “Female Genital Mutilation is a form of violence against women which is perpetuated by unfounded myth and baseless traditions. It is a practice that is very rampant in our region and unfortunately Imo State was found to have one of the prevalence rate of 68 percent.

    “In Imo State, intervention by UNFPA through the Ministry of Health, Women Affairs and Social Development has focused on four Local Government Areas of Ikeduru, Ohaji/Egbema, Ngor-Okpala and Oguta.

    “In spite of this intervention, it is noted that this practice is undertaken in our communities throughout the state and has been continuing unabated, parents especially mothers have been secretly indulging in the act, leaving the victims in perpetual agony and regrets.

    “This can no longer be allowed to go on. It has therefore become imperative to end this harmful traditional practice.”

    The state Attorney General, Barrister Miletus Nlemedum, while commending the governor’s wife for the initiative, assured that the judiciary will take the matter seriously.

    He promised to assist make the war against FGM a success in the state.

    Similarly, the State Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers,Eze Sam Ohiri represented at the occasion by Eze G.N Ejiogu, assured of the support of traditional institution in eradicating the practice in the State.

    He said, “henceforth, we are going to keep watch on the women to find out those who are still engaged in the practice. it may not be an easy task but we are going to do everything possible to check the practice in our domain. it is not part of our culture and we will no longer allow it”

    Giving bite to the campaign, the state governor Rochas Okorocha, warned women who still engage in the practice to desist from doing so or risk imprisonment.

    The Imo governor disclosed that as soon as the bill against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is passed into law by the State House of Assembly,the punishment for offenders will be several years of imprisonment as will be specified by the establishing law.

    He described the practice as barbaric and unacceptable.

    According to him, “barbaric cultures which are not beneficial to the people should be abolished”.

    He urged the State Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the bill into law, to enable a permanent solution to the problem.

    In her speech, the country representative of UNFPA, Mrs Beatrice Mukta, commended the wife of the Governor for her relentless fight against FGM.

    She noted that the battle against the practice will not be an easy one and therefore appealed to traditional institutions as well as women in the state to support the move by the Governor’s wife.

    Meanwhile at the launch of the campaign, which was preceded by a road-walk, the participants were moved to tears as they watched the emotional clips of the horrible practice.

  • ‘Abia poly’s N2b not mismanaged’

    The immediate past chairman of the governing council of Abia State Polytechnic Aba, Prince Christopher Enweremadu has said that the current chairman of the council did not get his facts right about the contentious N2 billion bank overdraft. Enweremadu, a former speaker of the state House of Assembly, said the new chairman’s allegation that the fund was mismanaged was not backed by facts and figures.

    Enweremadu said, “If the chairman had gone through the history of the polytechnic, he would have appreciated that when we came on board, the institution owed N1.1 billion to several banks and also seven months’ salary arrears to staff. After a careful review, my council agreed that the sum of N2 billion be taken as overdraft with an interest of N25 million and by this time no bank was willing to lend any money to the institution, which made us to go for a term loan’ with a lesser interest rate”.

    “When the N2 billion term loan came we had reduced the bank loan to N900 million and part of the agreement with First Bank was to buy over the loan which they did and tellers were issued to Abia Poly and by the time they took their bank charges, we had N1 billion left”.

    “Out of this amount, we had a running battle with the then rector on what to do with the remaining N1 billion, the then council insisted that the amount should be used to repay the loan through building hostels that would yield money, the management insisted on using it to pay salary arrears.”

    “The staff salary by them was N134 million monthly and from the N1 billion that was left, about six months’ salary was paid off, so the chairman saying that contracts were wrongfully awarded smirks of mischief”.

    “Only about N35 million was paid to a contractor, as most of the said contracts were awarded without any money to back them up, so the current chairman talking about mismanagement of funds when we left N210 million which he has not accounted for till date”.

    “It should be noted that since the N2 billion was gotten without the account being serviced, interest was being taken from the principal sum, so this is a case of kettle calling pot black, but this man took the sum of N26 million of the school fund to refurnish an office that

    has no problem”.

    “Here is a man who increased his sitting allowance from N64,000-N260,000 and goes there three times in a week to enable him claim the money from an institution with lean resources, if this not fraud and mismanagement, I wonder what it is”.

    “I want to advise him to address issues before the institution and stop chasing shadows”.

    “I want to appeal to Abia state government to take a critical look at the accounts books of the Polytechnic to know exactly what happened to the said N2 billion, as no bank gives loans to institutions to pay staff salary”.

    “By the time I left as the chairman of the governing council of the Abia Poly, we were able to reduce the backlog of salary arrears down to four months, but now the salary arrears have gone up to seven months which is the reason the staff are on strike.”

  • Abia partners Turkey

    Abia partners Turkey

    In a bold step aimed at growing the state’s economy, the Abia State government has started a business relationship with the Republic of Turkey, with a plan to draw from the country’s industrial and technological experiences to develop its local potentials.

    The relationship which began with the visit of the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and some of its key officials to Turkey in September last year, was taken further last week with the hosting, by the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria, of a session for businessmen and women from the country and Abia State.

    The event, held in Abuja on September 27 did not only afford Abia State the opportunity to showcase its potentials and market itself to international audience, it provided avenue for physical interactions and exchanges between businessmen/women and intending investors on both sides.

    Ikpeazu told the gathering that he was fascinated by the story of Turkey steady economic growth and wants his state to benefit from the Turkish experience in growing its small scale industries (SMEs) to the level where the SMEs now serve as the hub of the country’s industrialisation.

    “We are a young state with growing economy, dominated by SMEs. We that felt the best thing was to learn from Turkey how they were able to manage and grow their SMEs into a major economic hub on which the country’s economy revolves,” he said.

    IKpeazu identified some of the business advantages of the state to include its location, serving as a confluence state between the South-south and South -east regions of the country and located within 30 minutes’ drive from the capital cities of the major oil producing states of Rivers and Akwa Ibom, aside from being an oil producing state itself.

    “Beyond that, our strength lies in our ability to make things with our hands. We boast of over 50,000 shoe and garment making enterprises. We believe that our people can learn from the Turkish experience.

    “The emphasis, during my last visit to Turkey, was how to deploy Turkish technology to produce beautiful shoes and dresses. Our interest is that, in days ahead, flowing from this friendship, we will begin to experience the fruits of the collaborative efforts between our businessmen and investors/businessmen from Turkey.

    “We are very energetic and resourceful people. We are working to ensure that Abia becomes the first state in the country where businesses will enjoy uninterrupted power supply, and thereby becoming a new destination for investment in the country.

    “Yes, of course, the beautiful thing is that we have critical manpower. Our people are not completely ignorant of what it takes to make shoes and dresses. So, what they need is the technical input which we intend to get from Turkey now.

    “What we expect is that the Turkish people will teach us how to use these machines and produce on a large scale. The first incentive is that our story, trajectory of development has a socio-cultural bearing with what our people believe in.

    “Under our watch, we will ensure secure and peaceful business environment by providing security, peaceful political environment. We will allow you easy access to whatever you require to set up and grow your businesses as you want, he said.

    Ikpeazu said is state is currently working to ensure that any business seeking to set up in Abia, can access land and related requirements within 14 days.

    The state’s Director of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Office, Austin Ufomba, in a presentation, highlighted the state’s comparative advantage; identified the numerous natural resources that abound in the state and also, touched on its various investment opportunities.

    Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil lauded the initiative between his country and the Abia Government. He was enthusiastic that the relationship will yield positive results.

    He noted that it was the first time the embassy would witness such a showcase by a state government in the country, describing it as a brilliant idea that would serve to benefit both Nigerian and Turkish businesses.

    “Abia State has rich natural resources and we have a very dynamic private sector in Turkey and the Turkish private sector has a growing interest in Nigeria. So, we hope that in the coming months or years, Turkish private companies will invest in different areas in Abia. “We are doing our best to encourage more of our companies to come to Nigeria and do business. There is need for us to turn the potentials of the countries’ friendship to opportunities for enhanced business relations and bilateral trade,” Cakil said.

    At the event were the state’s leading politicians and businessmen including the immediate past governor, now Senator Theodore Orji and Senator Enyinanya Abaribe. Members of the Aba Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other businessmen/women from within and outside the country were at the event, which afforded them the opportunity to explore business opportunities with their Turkish counterparts.

     

  • NB Plc, entrepreneurs fight recession

    NB Plc, entrepreneurs fight recession

    The Nigerian Breweries Plc and entrepreneurs have found some refreshing ways to tackle the economic recession. The breweries gave out N250,000 to each of 30 persons who own small businesses. The gesture was aimed at boosting those businesses in the hopes that if they get the expected lift, the brewers will have helped to fight the present recession of the economy. Given the fact that a man supports no fewer than four persons in the country, the NB Plc gesture will go a long way in relieving many families.

    Those 30 entrepreneurs got their funds through a live radio phone-in programme tagged Life Progress Business Booster show organised by NB Plc. The live show was conducted in Igbo, a way to stimulate the usage of the language said to be facing extinction. The audience spanned the entire Southeast.

    The entrepreneurs themselves should be hailed for their business ideas. Some make cocoyam flour, some ice block machines, some locust bean spice called ogili in local language.

    They presented those ideas in a contest and 30 of them won.

    The winners said the cash prizes were a godsend, coming at a time when the country is facing recession and focusing on diversification of the economy. They promised to use the cash to improve their businesses, promote made in Nigeria products as well as jobs for people roaming the streets.

    They described the process of the contest as transparent and one that took the grace of God to see them through judging by the number of people that participated in the exercise.

    One of the winners Madu James, an Imo State indigene and graduate of Economics from Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Awka, Anambra State, said years of searching for white collar job left him frustrated.

    “I have been writing applications for job and yet none was coming over the years. I attended Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State where I studied Economics and graduated in 2013.  I feel fulfilled with the cash reward and my joy is now complete because this is what I have been praying and dreaming to get but it has not been coming forth.

    “This is not the first time I am submitting business plans. I have written so many plans and none saw the light of day until this very one. I will use the money to set up the business for which I submitted the proposal. The money actually won’t be enough, but I will use the one I have to set up a business. And as the business grows, I hope to employ more people according to my profit margin. I am looking at employing about 40 persons within two years or more,” Mr. James stated.

    James describing the cocoyam powder as a good soup thickener for local delicacies including bitter leaf and Oha soup and amongst others said that the price will be affordable to all class of users while the raw materials will be sourced locally even as he hopes to export the product to other parts of the world where users of the product resides.

    He called on job seekers to try and learn how to be self-dependent and be job providers instead of relying solely on the government for job provision.

    In an interview, Mr. Agu Emmanuel, Portfolio manager for Mainstream Lager and Stout for Nigerian Breweries PLC said that the 3rd phase of Life Progress Business Booster show is part of the company’s contribution in promoting entrepreneurship using indigenous language; Igbo of the people of Southeast where the product brand is brewed and majorly marketed.

    Mr. Emmanuel said the entrepreneurs must speak Igbo and communicate their business ideas in clear Igbo language.

    “It is a yearly event,” he said. “What we did is to keep the amount constant, but increase the number of the people. The more the merrier. We rewarded 50 people across the southeastern states last year and this year we are giving out 250,000 to 200 persons across the five southeastern states. It is because we want to continue touching people’s life positively that we are using this brand to reach our numerous consumers and members of the public.

    “What you are seeing today is the result of Life booster radio programme and we are very conscious about making sure that we have a fair distribution across the states so that there will be no single state that will dominate in terms of having all the winners coming from there. And that is why when we look at the people we are going to reward through the radio programme, we look at our data base to check whether we are still within those fair balance and then, we make provisions for on the ground submission of business ideas where we can reward people.”

    On why the concentration is on Southeast, Emmanuel said, “The choice for southeast was berthed because the brand has its root from the southeast. You know that Life has a brewery in Onitsha and it is a brand that we are marketing from a regional perspective. We positioned Life for Southeast and positioned Goldberg for southwest.

    “Yes, it could have its footprints in other locations, but we can’t deny the fact that it originated from the southeast and that again because we need to be concentrated in what we are doing so that we can ensure that we are less focused in what we are doing.”

  • ‘Relief coming to Aba commuters’

    Traffic congestion in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State, will soon be a thing of the past, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said, promising to build a flyover in the city.

    Ikpeazu, a special guest at the 2016 men’s fellowship programme of the Assemblies of God Church at Ukaegbu Road, Aba, assured the parishioners,  residents and motorists who are finding it difficult to access parts of the city that that his administration would do everything possible to alleviate their suffering.

    According to the governor, efforts were being intensified to reconstruct and commission a minimum of 50 roads in Aba, stressing that the administration would also build a flyover at the Osisioma Roundabout before 2019 in order to ease of the volume of traffic at that junction which serves as a major entrance and exit route from the commercial town.

    Ikpeazu who said he was touched by the pains and hardship Abia and visitors to Aba pass through accessing the commercial town from neighbouring Akwa Ibom, Cross River and other parts of West Africa who comes through Akwa Ibom to Aba to buy goods and services using the Aba-Ikot Ekpene Highway, promised that his government will construct a 7.5km alternative access road as soon as the dry season sets in later in the year and stressed that Abia State will continue with the ongoing negotiation with the federal Government on how to fix the dilapidated and deplorable Aba-Ikot Ekpene highway with the aim to end the hardship people undergo using the expressway.

    The governor bemoaned the court cases he was facing as a distraction to his administration, reiterating his commitment to bringing good governance and democratic dividends to the people of the state.

    He urged the church and Abians to continue in their prayers for the success of his administration and promised that he will continue to stand as a vendor of hope for the common man through rendering of quality service even as he thanked the church for honoring him.

    In an address read by Rev Okechukwu Ulu, on behalf of the Aba North district Men’s Ministries of Assemblies of God Church, the fellowship thanked the governor for his untiring efforts in what he described as “revolutionising” the state particularly in the area of road construction in Aba.

    “Some abandoned and impassable roads have become a delight to behold. Ukaegbu road where this programme is holding is an example. This is in spite of the many distractions on your way. We know that tough times never last, but tough people do,” Ulu pointed out.

    The Superintendent for Aba North district of the church, Rev P.K Emeaba, assured the Governor that the church’s support for him to overcome the distractions he (Ikpeazu) is facing at the moment and stated that they have the confidence that the governor would be executing more projects for the people of the state if he wasn’t being distracted.

    ”The God who enthroned you as governor is still on the throne, so your tenure as governor of Abia State will not be cut short. The saints are praying for you and we know that wherever God has an investment, His eyes are there. Our Governor, you are God’s investment, so God is watching over you. Heaven cannot and will not abandon his own. I want you to rest in the assurance that you’re a heavenly property, you’re God’s representative and Heavenly ambassador, so heaven will not abandon you,” Emeaba stated

    It will be recalled that Ukaegbu Road is among the four that the governor flagged off on his first day at work after his swearing in ceremony on the 29th of May 2016. The reconstruction was completed last year alongside Umuola and Ehere roads, all in the Ogbor Hill area of Aba.

    Governor Ikpeazu has so far commissioned 17 of 28 roads started by his administration at Aba since he took over as governor of the state.

     

  • Scholarship for 11 pupils

    Scholarship for 11 pupils

    IT is true that Nigeria is ranked among countries with the lowest literacy rates in Africa.

    Resource persons from the several education summits held in Nigeria since the nation’s independence in 1960 have blamed the phenomenon bad governance, poverty and other unfavourable conditions arising from inconsistent educational policies.

    But for Prince Lawrence Eze, the son of the traditional ruler of Mburubu in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, the war to fight illiteracy in the country and Enugu State in particular, should not be left for government alone.

    And to match his resolution with action, the prince, at a colourful ceremony, put smiles on 11 brilliant pupils of the Community Secondary School, Mburubu, Enugu State, with scholarship awards.

    The lucky pupils will enjoy a comprehensive scholarship scheme from JS1 to SSIII. Apart from taking care of all financial obligations, the scholarship captures the general upkeep of the students during the six year period of their study.

    Prince Eze said the scholarship to the eleven brilliant pupils was to serve as lifeline for them to become whatever they wanted to be in future, the poverty level of their parents notwithstanding.

    He believed  that with a secondary school education, the sky would be their limit, since according to him, education remains the greatest gift to any child.

    The philanthropist, who was in company of his wife, Princess Lina Onyekachi Eze, stated that when the award committee selected the students in collaboration with the school principal who provided information on their academic performance, he had no choice than to go ahead with the project, adding that his action became inevitable in view of the poverty level of their parents as well as to give the students hope.

    According to him “When I was in primary school, I had two brilliant school mates who unfortunately could not go further because their parents were poor, one of them ended up as a firewood seller in the village while the other managed a little shop and died last year, partly as a result of hardship. If anyone with resources had come with help at that time, such as scholarship, they could have been more useful to society by now.”

    He continued:”If you invest millions and billions of naira to train your children in the best schools, and forgets to touch on the lives of those around you, the children of your neighbours who are not richly endowed like you, could pose danger to society.”

    While calling on the wealthy to give succour to the downtrodden, Prince Lawrence Eze, promised to continue to embark on such humanitarian projects as his little contribution to give back to society part of his God’s blessings.

    The principal of the school Mr. Robert Okorie, commended Prince Lawrence Eze for his kind gesture, stressing that the scholarship award was historic, as that was the first time any student of the school had received scholarship from anyone since its inception.

    Okorie, explained that the scholarship would reduce the burden of their parents and urged the beneficiaries to remain dedicated to their study and be of good behaviour to justify the confidence reposed in them.

    Mr. Elias Nwannaja, who spoke on behalf of the parents, expressed joy with the scholarship award and prayed God to bless Prince Eze and his wife with good health and more resources, as they continue to spray love to the needy. They said the scholarship was a great relief to them.

    The ceremony which attracted a large crowd from the community, featured cultural dances and drama presentations by the students.