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Tag: Abia State

  • Mob burns suspected robber to death in Aba

    An angry mob lynched and burnt to death a suspected armed robber who was among a gang of seven that invaded Eziama area in Aba on Monday.

    Spokesman for Abia State Police Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    NAN learnt that the incident occurred at Uche Street in Eziama, Aba North LGA in the early hours of Monday.

    “We got the information this morning that a gang of seven armed robbers attacked the residents of Eziama, Aba and robbed them of their household valuables which included televisions, palmtops, mobile phones and other properties.’’

    Read Also: Robbers kill policeman in Ekiti

    Ogbonna said that the police had launched an investigation to discover both the identity of the suspect and those who killed him instead of turning him over to the police.

    “The hoodlums, armed with machetes and locally made guns, left after they thought that they had succeeded.

    “But luck ran against one of them who was caught by the irate mob and they burnt him to death.

    “We are nosing around to find out the identity of the burnt suspect because when things like this happen, people will be skeptical to talk to the police,” he said.

    Ogbonna warned people not to take laws into their hands in any circumstance but to report any matter to the police for proper resolution.

    “If they had caught him and handed him over to the police, we would have extracted some helpful information from him that could lead to the arrest of other gang members.

    “But now that they have killed him, it has become more difficult,” the police Spokesman said.

    He said that some of the valuables the robbers forcefully took from their owners at gun point had been recovered.

     

  • It’s insulting to say my kidnap is a scam – Abia APC chairman

    On January 28, the chairman of the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Donatus Nwankpa, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen, less than 12hrs to the visit of the 2019 Presidential candidate of the APC; Muhammadu Buhari to Aba, the commercial nerve of the state. In this exclusive interview with Sunny Nwankwo, he spoke about his kidnap which has generated so much controversy in the state. Excerpts

    WHILE everybody was expecting to see you at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba during the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari, the news of your kidnap by gunmen broke. What really happened?

    It was just one of those unfortunate situations. We finished giving people responsibilities in Umuahia and I felt that it was necessary that I should know the state of preparation at the arena (Enyimba Stadium) where the President would be hosted. We agreed that we will be visiting the arena to see things for ourselves and to make some adjustments where necessary to ensure a hitch-free exercise.Unfortunately, as we were driving down, we ran into hoodlums immediately after the Aro-Ngwa Setraco security checkpoints.

    The funniest part of it is that the police were not up to 30meters from the scene of the incident, because it was the police checkpoint that slowed us down. When we saw this other people, we were querying why two police checkpoints within such a short distance. But before we knew what was happening, they came upon us and were hitting us. When we tried maneuvering the situation, they shot into the car through the headlamp and started shooting sporadically which forced our vehicle to a halt. It is still funny when I remembered how we managed to come out of the car without much injury. It is only God that will take that glory.

    Initially, we thought that they were armed robbers. They took us into the bush where they ransacked and took everything that they can found on us and later blindfolded us. While one of us escaped, they took me and the other person to a location where we later learnt that they were about seven man gang. They allowed the other person go to enable him treat his injury because he was badly injured. They knew that I am the APC chairman and that I was going to receive Mr. President the next day. From there, they took me on a long motorbike ride with three heavily armed men to a heavy thick forest where I was kept under the rain and without shelter for four days.

    Mosquitoes and wild animals became the closest friends that I have. I didn’t even know the location because we drove for a long time with my eyes being blindfolded. It was not until I was released that I found myself at the boundary between Abia and Rivers State, after they took me on another long motorcycle ride. When I started asking questions, I discovered that it was a village that I know already. The villagers assisted me with slippers and later brought me down with their motorcycle. I was released at about 9:15pm.

    It was alleged that you withdrew a huge amount of money on the day of your kidnap which was supposed to be used for the hosting of Mr. President?

    Let me tell you journalists. I don’t want you to give credence to idiots. Whoever that is saying that is a cursed idiot. Poverty, stupidity and mischief have led a lot of people into unintelligent analysis. I said that it is unintelligent analysis because we withdrew money donated by one of our chieftains for the rally to host the President. The monies were disbursed for buses, welfare, protocol, security and other miscellaneous expenses. Do I have the magical powers to turn around the money to N50million after disbursing them? The bank didn’t even give us the money in one bulk, and none of the money entered my car.

    The money wasn’t even disbursed in my house and the one that was taken to my office was the one that was handed over to local government chairmen and support groups. The central thing was done in the house of the rally committee chairman. The only money I had in my vehicle was just N250, 000 and when my bag was retrieved, the money was intact. Who donated the N50million, if there was such an amount of money? The people saying that I had N50million in my car, who made such donation, anyone saying that I was with N50million on the day of that ugly incident is an imbecile.

    Did I carry the money with a Ghana Must Go or a trunk bag? Like I said, none of the monies withdrawn ever entered my vehicle and the bank didn’t give it to us at once. I was part of the appropriation of the funds, but I wasn’t even in the disbursement of the funds. So why is it that people talk about money more than life? Even with N10billion, do you think that that I would agree to subject myself to such inhuman condition? If anyone says that my abduction is a scam, they will have such a scam this year. It is insulting to me to hear that.

    People claimed that your abduction could have been engineered by the opposition or as a result of the leadership squabble in your party. What is your take?

    I refuse to accept that. I am not a student of frivolities and trivialism. I am a product of Federal Government College when Federal Government College was Federal Government College. I am also a product of a Federal University who has gone through so many leadership training. I have been a Commissioner and Special Adviser. So, I should be matured enough to separate politics from juvenile delinquency. I said so because we ran into hoodlums and the hoodlums, as far as I am concerned, were not there for me. They were there for one thing or the other. If anybody gave them information that I am coming, it is a matter of coincidence.

    I am not unaware that some negative and positive calls later came when I was there. Good a thing is that I am student of International Relations. I engaged them in positive dialogue and there were things that they told me which is personal, anyway. For those who are beating their chest, what Donatus Nwankpa went through is something that can happen to anybody. I have nobody to accuse. I only have one person to accuse, and that is myself, for going out in the night. The truth is that if I even had two policemen, they would have being shot. Remember, there was police checkpoint not too far from the scene of the incident.

    For people querying why I didn’t move that night with any policeman, ask them if they have seen me as one that parades policemen just to show off because I am the chairman of APC? Have they equally asked whether the party at the national level provided any allowances or funds for the security of their state chairmen? Am I the first state chairman to be kidnapped? Am I the first state chairman to be attacked? Am I the first state chairman to be embarrassed? They should go and find out what the allocation for the upkeep of the state chairmen is.How many of those making such remarks have paid their dues? It is when you make provision that you request for explanation. If you do not appropriate, you cannot query misappropriation.

    What was the relationship between you and your abductors?

    Initially, they were confused; whether to follow those negative calls. But you know, there are people who are given grace. The grace God gave King David, he has always given to me. Never in that thick forest did I think that I wasn’t going to come out safely. But what I didn’t want is any crossfire, so that I will not be a victim of crossfire. I was blindfolded like every other person. I was chained like every other person that they do to every other victim. I was subjected to no food. My companions were mosquitoes, tsetse flies and other things in the bush.

    Imagine someone being under the rain and being with one cloth for four days. How would you feel when people come to talk rubbish and vomit the idiocy? I engaged them in what I called constructive and positive dialogue and queried why they should be involved in such thing. Some of them accused we, politicians; that they are products of political adventurism. They mentioned one or two governors who at one point or the other armed them. They even asked if I will buy them gun, but I told them that if I can’t buy guns for my children, I won’t buy gun(s) for them. Some of them are under-graduates. They are ready to go back to school.

    We have to look for a way, not just the operational or punitive aspects; we should also look for a way to positively engage them in order to give them some sense of belonging. We need to reassure them that their lives are not yet over. To some of them, they have already given up; they don’t believe that they have hope again. In the course of being there, I discovered that they have their off moment. In that off moment, you don’t talk to them, you let them be and in their sober moment, you can engage them. All we need to do is to create social programs that will recover our stray and erring youths.

    Do you think that if they are provided with job, they will abandon the illicit ways?

    Some of them will. Our leaders should not see election as a do or die affair. We must no longer think about who will help steal the ballot boxes for us when we are thinking about going in for an election. When you buy them the weapons, either you win or lose, they will go away with the weapons. When you get into government, you don’t think of how you can better their lives, but rather, you abandon them after using them as thugs, attack dogs or killers. What is happening to the ex-militants should be extended to them. Amnesty is positive engagements in dialogue where you discover people’s talent.

    They need psychologists and counselors to talk to them. One of the areas that we are failing in this country is that the counseling departments of various institutions are failing. We should improve the quality of counseling. Every undergraduate, whether he or she likes it or not, should have an appointment with a counselor. Every student in secondary schools should have time with the counselors. That is going to help us.

  • 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.

  • Okon takes over as Abia police chief

    The immediate past Commissioner of Police (CP) in Abia State Chris Ezike, now Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 4, has handed over to the new CP Etim Ene Okon with the charge to members of the command to be dedicated to their duty.

    Speaking while handing over to Okon, Ezike said that he had spent barely three months as the CP of the state and that he was preparing to go home when his new elevation came, which he described as a pleasant surprise.

    Ezike said that his experience in that state has been a good one as he has been able to reduce crime rate to the barest minimum with the strategies he put in place to combat various crimes in the state.

    The new AIG in charge of Zone 4 thanked officers and men of the command for their collaborative efforts in helping him to achieve the modest achievements he did within a short period of three months.

    He charged them to remain loyal, committed and dedicated to the force as well as cooperate with his successor.

    He said, “The man taking over from me is well known in the state having left here seven months ago as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).”

    Ezike used the opportunity to thank the state governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his collaborative efforts in seeing to the successes of the police in the state during his time, stressing that the governor was willing to assist at all times.

    He said, “I want to use this forum to thank governor Ikpeazu for his efforts to see that the police work is made easy, the assurances he made to the command have been kick started and in no distant time my successor will start seeing them.”

    “I believe that the new CP will continue from where I stopped and I also believe that the governor will provide us with the logistics to work with and the expected manpower will also be made available for the work load to be less.”

    The new AIG zone 4 said that police work this time around is a very critical one with the election around the corner, “We therefore need to be very vigilant at all times, alert, show loyalty, so that at the end there will be a crisis free and credible elections across the country.”

    Ezike said, “I am very happy to be handing over to my son and a worthy colleague, I was the one that handed over the police form to him while I was the PPRO in Calabar in 1987 and I believe that he will do well having served as DCP in the state”.

    Receiving the handover notes, the new CP Okon said that since he joined the force that he has been following the career progress of the new AIG, “Here is the man who gave me the form to join police which I reminded him last night.”

    Okon said that he is afraid to occupy the big shoe Ezike is leaving behind for him as they are too big for him, “However sir if I encounter any problems, please always oblige me your services whenever I call.”

    He said that he left the state seven months ago as DCP, “But am back now as the state CP, I want to assure everyone that I have not changed, will not change and will ever remain very meticulous in service.”

    The new Abia CP noted that he is assuming office at a very critical and challenging time with the elections just about four days away and urged all to focus on the election assignment, “After which we will look and think about the way forward for the command.”

  • Group faults Atiku’s endorsement by Ohanaeze Ndigbo

    A pro-Eastern Nigeria action group, “Awake and Defend Action Movement” (ADAM) has faulted the endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar by the leadership of Apex Igbo Socio-Cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

    ADAM is an umbrella body of pressure groups within the old Eastern region of Nigeria with the purpose of providing a formidable alternative youth for the protection of lives and property of every indigene of old Eastern Nigeria.

    Recall that Nnia Nwodo’s led Ohanaeze and other four socio-cultural groups including Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Northern Elder’s Forum (NEF), Afenifere and Middle Belt Forum (MBF) in a meeting at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja adopted Atiku as their consensus candidate fortnight ago.

    But ADAM in a communiqué signed by its acting chairman, Ndubuisi Igwekani-Agu Biafra and the South-South leader of the group (Chief James Ekpo), which was issued to journalists at the end of a crucial meeting of the body in Aba, Abia State, stated that it was wrong for the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to endorse Atiku and any other person as a consensus presidential candidate of the Igbo extraction.

    Read Also: Why Atiku is good for Nigeria

    The group, while noting that the action of Nwodo may cause bad blood among Igbos political class maintained that Ohanaeze is not a political group and therefore must limit its influence to issues that concern Igbo cultural, social and traditional advancement in order to avoid division and acrimony among Igbo sons and daughters who are members of various political party interests.

    Sharing contrary opinion on the sit-at-home directives by the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ahead of the 2019 general elections, ADAM however called on all Easterners including youths to actively participate in the election by voting for people that not only have the interest of the people at heart, but have the capacity to attract development and democratic dividends to the people.

    ADAM who stated that they were miffed with the level of underdevelopment in the Eastern region, stated that their support for the call for the restructuring of the country with states and regions managing and controlling their natural mineral resources, said that the era of reckless spending of public resources is over.

    “ADAM will ensure that our people demand transparency and accountability from every elected public officer in Eastern Nigeria. We will mobilize the entire youth in Eastern to deal with any elected officer who fails in his/her duties to account to the people.

    “Henceforth, we are monitoring some Igbo political contractors who rush to their pay master in the North and other parts of Nigeria to collect evil money to destabilize our people. Henceforth, we will monitor and expose them to bring sanity and peace to our land.”

    The group which expressed its worries over the level of insecurity in the country called on its citizens that have retired from active service in the military and other security agencies to come together to hold a security summit in order to address the security challenges that the Old Eastern region is facing.

    “Now, concerning the youths in Eastern Nigeria, we have noticed the exponential increase in kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, yahoo yahoo, gambling, prostitution, child-trafficking, and all manner of violent extremism just to get rich overnight. We hereby warn that it will not be business as usual. We have set up a security watch to coordinate with security agents to expose all manner of evil activities perpetuated by youths in whatever disguise.”

    The group which believes in oneness of Nigeria against the breakaway campaign of the Nnmadi Kanu led IPOB said “Concerning the State of Biafra, ADAM believes that Biafra is a state of the mind where every citizen of Biafra in any other self-interest. We are Igbos of the Indigenous People of Biafra living in Nigeria. We are Igbos of the Indigenous People of Biafra and ready to remain in Nigeria if the country is properly restructured to accommodate all nationalities in a peaceful co-existence with other nationalities.”

     

  • Army promises neutrality in 2019 general elections

    The Commanding Officer 14Brigade, Goodluck Jonathan’s Barrack Ohafia, Ohaifia Local Government Area of Abia State, Brigadier General Abdul K. Ibrahim has promised the neutrality of its personnel in February 16 and March 2 general elections respectively.

    Ibrahim stated this while playing host to officials of the Abia State Chapter of Nigeria Red Cross who paid him a courtesy visit at the Sector 2 Step-up Headquarters of Exercise Egwueke III located at Nsulu Games Village, Umunna Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state.

    According to the 14Brigade Commander, the brigade would provide security to all the candidates of various political parties to ensure their safety and hope that the politicians would play politics with the spirit of sportsmanship.

    “Elections are just around the corner. 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army will be neutral. We will just provide security duties and we hope that everybody will play according to the rules of the game.

    “We have received several instructions from the army headquarters on the need to be neutral and then of course, agencies like yours, we will partner with you so that our country will be better for it.”

    We are the members of the Nigeria Red Cross Society Abia State branch. We are here to introduce Red Cross movement to and to also to explain the way we can synergize with you in rendering service to Abians.”

    Read Also: Army spokesman retires voluntarily

    Earlier in his speech, the branch chairman of Red Cross Society, Abia State Chief Emeka Ubani who came in the company of the branch Secretary, Pastor Ebere Okite, Mr. Victor Okoafor, branch training officer and Miss Nwoha Charity Ekeoma said that the purpose of their visit was to seek ways of partnering and training soldiers in the state on First Aid.

    “…it is has been a long desire because wherever the military is found, we are there and by implication and by our establishment, we are the next to the soldiers. We are your closest, most reliable friends and the closest confidant that you can trust.

    “By our principles, we are independent and neutral. We don’t discriminate and that is why we are always with you.

    “We have come to establish that relationship and to show that we are here for you. You can always rely and call on us. It is unfortunate that the junior officers amongst you don’t seem to understand our relationship with them.

    “Elections are coming up, so many things are coming up and you are here (for Egwueke III), so that is why we have come to tell you that we are brothers. We want to work with you and establish that relationship for proper understanding.

    “We have competent internationally trained first aiders who can come into your various camps and train the soldiers to add to what they know and yet to know that would better their lives in the military and in your various families.”

    The secretary of Red Cross, Pastor Ebere Okite speaking on preparedness of Red Cross towards ensuring that they handle emergency cases across the state during and after the 2019 elections said “Election is the current thing and we know that in Nigeria, although that we don’t preempt it, as Red Cross, we prepare for emergencies before they occur.

    “That is why we are effective. From what we have seen, if there is anything like violence, we won’t be surprised and so, we have started preparing emergency first aid team for this particular election.

    “We want to make sure that our emergency team is on ground so that on the day of the elections, we will be in various units across the state. Our duty is to come into action whenever there is wound or disaster. We will even stay after the elections because we know that there could be post election violence. We will continue to stay some day in areas where there are expectations of violence to take care of any emergency.

    “We have come to make ourselves known to you so that you will know that we are there. When you see us, you will see us as friends who don’t take sides. We are independent, neutral and universal, these three things gives us the opportunity to be at our best. Anytime that you are ready, we will send our personnel who will come to train your men on internal and domestic first aid.”

  • Soldiers arrest five IPOB members, rescue lawyers

    Soldiers attached to Goodluck Jonathan Army Barracks, 14Brigade Ohafia, Abia State have reportedly arrested five members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state.

    Information gathered by our reporter has it the IPOB members were said to be part of the pro-Biafra group that disrupted church service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Abayi, Ariaria in Osisioma Local Government Area on Sunday, January 27.

    Investigation by our reporter revealed the atmosphere in the church got charged when some of the IPOB members who were also at the church prevented a politician from the ruling PDP in the state from addressing the church.

    Sources at the venue stated that attempts by the presiding priest, Reverend Father Nathaniel Oyedike failed as members of the group and some parishioners joined in signing and chanting pro-IPOB songs which brought the service to close abruptly.

    It was gathered the parishioners and IPOB members who insisted that they would rather have a referendum than being part of the 2019 election in the state and other Southeast states stormed outside the church.

    In the process, they damaged all the glasses of a PDP branded Sienna bearing the picture of the incumbent senator representing Abia Central and former Governor of the State, Theodore Ahamefule Orji.

    Confirming the arrest of the IPOB members, a source from 14Brigade, disclosed that the pro-Biafra members were arrested by troops of Sub sector Bravo in conjunction with the personnel of Nigerian police, Abia State Command that moved to the area and effectively salvaged the situation.

    “At the scene, it was reported that IPOB members were shouting no elections in Biafra land and also attempted to beat the pastor; Reverend Father Nathaniel Oyedike.

    Read Also: IPOB and the Biafra quest

    “A vehicle and some chairs were reportedly damaged in/within the church premises.”

    The source, who spoke anonymously, also stated as part of the gains of the ongoing Egwueke III, personnel of Sector 2, Sub sector Charlie stationed at Ubakala junction in Umuahia South LGA based on a distressed call rescued two lawyers Barrister Loveth Nonye Ofoegbu and Barrister Kaodi Onuoha reportedly kidnapped along Owerrinta in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government of the state.

    The soldiers were said to have started stop- and- search operation on the road when they got information of the kidnap and on sensing danger, abandoned their victims and made away to a nearby bush.

    The source, who noted the military has recorded successes since the inception of the Egwueke III, said the troops of Sector 2, Sub Sector Alfa raided a hideout of suspected armed robbers in Ahaba, Imenyi community of Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State where an armed robbery suspect, one Mr. Chidiebere Orji was arrested while other members of his gang are said to be at large.

    Investigation indicated the gang members were alleged to be behind the robbery of Mr. and Mrs. Kelechi Orji at their residence in Ahaba Imenyi community where they carted away N4million.

     

  • Abia stands still as Buhari campaigns

    The Enyimba International Football stadium, Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State on Tuesday witnessed huge turnout of Abians and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (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 who 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 South East 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 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.

    “We’ve told our people that the mistakes of PDP will be corrected in Abia as we move into Government. Thank you for remembering our infrastructure in the South East. Our roads are now better and what else can we say that to appreciate and show you real love during the elections. Our people are tired of PDP.

    “The last we had good Government was under Dr. Orji Uzor-Kalu and we have decided that we shall move to next level. We are assuring our people that within just seven days in government, Abia State shall invite Julius Berger to our roads.” We are an oil producing state and we have nothing to show for it.

    “The current administration has received 400,000 billion naira in the last three years without completing even ten kilometer road in our state. We have over 100 companies that have closed down in Aba and this is why my people want me because, I understand business.”

    The president also used the opportunity of the visit to commission the Ariaria Independent Power Project executed in the state through the Rural Electrification Agency under the Presidency.

  • Electricity has no political colour, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday declared that electricity has no political colour.

    Buhari spoke while inaugurating the Ariara Market Independent Power Plant (IPP) in the commercial city of Aba, Abia State.

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also pledged that his administration will continue to execute people-oriented projects around the country irrespective of party differences.

    ‘‘Today with policies and programmes such as this IPP we have demonstrated that if the common good is our mutual objective, it can be achieved irrespective of party differences and constitutional limitations.

    ‘‘Electricity has no political colour,’’ the President said in his speech at the inauguration of the plant.

    He expressed delight 37,000 shops belonging to traders and small business owners in Ariara market will, one after the other, be connected to the dedicated electricity supply.

    Buhari said the feat will strengthen the Made-in-Nigeria policy for which Abia and in particular, Aba, and Ariaria market are already well known.

    ‘‘I am pleased to be here today at the milestone connection of 4,000 shops that now have dedicated power.

    ‘‘Being a market that supplies shoes, bags, clothing, trunks and many household accessories to Nigeria, many African countries like Chad, Cameroun, Gambia and Central Africa Republic, reliable power supply is critical for ease of doing business to ensure sustainability and improvement.

    Read Also: Pensioners to Buhari: have mercy on us

    ‘‘I am told that before this intervention, traders in the market only got 4 hours a day of electricity and paid exorbitantly for it, which consequently affected the viability of many businesses.

    ‘‘This is the sad legacy we inherited but which we are replacing with an all-day power supply that is cleaner and better for our environment.

    ‘‘Those who turned their backs on these problems still have the courage to campaign about unemployment and poverty,’’ he said.

    The President told delighted traders and businessmen who trooped out en-masse to welcome him to Aba that the APC-led administration is creating jobs for Nigerians through investments in power projects like the IPP in Ariaria.

    ‘‘What is happening in Ariaria today by way of clean, independent and reliable power to markets and small businesses is happening in Kano, Lagos, Ondo and Ibadan.

    ‘‘Similar initiatives have started in nine Federal universities with a plan to cover 37 universities, through Government funding,’’ he said.

    Saluting the traders for their fortitudes over the years when no previous government attended to their concerns, the President declared: ‘‘Methodically, slowly, but very efficiently, we are cleaning up the mess.

    “We are moving our economy away from rent and arbitrage and heading resolutely to building an economy that rewards investments, enterprise and hard work.’’

    Buhari assured business owners in Ariara that under his watch they will continue to experience better days and prosperity as African markets await more of Made-in-Aba products.

    The President is on his 17th and 18th campaigns stops to Abia and Imo States for the February 16, 2019 presidential elections.

    On his arrival in Aba, the President had paid homage to Enyi 1 of Aba, Eze Isaac Ikonne before attending the APC presidential campaign rally at the Enyimba Stadium, Aba.

  • Buhari promises more infrastructure for South East

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Aba, Abia State, pledged to provide more infrastructures to the South-East geopolitical zone of the federation.

    This, he said, will give a further impetus to the spirit of industry, hard work and competitiveness for which the Igbo are known.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said “They deserve more and more infrastructure to further excel,”

    President Buhari, who kicked off a two-State campaign tour of Abia and Imo States Tuesday, was said to have got two critical endorsements for his second term bid.

    “The first was from the Chairman of Aba Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty, Dr Isaac Ikonne, Enyi 1 of Aba, who called on all indigenes of Abia State to vote for the All Progressives Party, APC Presidential Candidate.

    He said the Igbo people would remain loyal and committed to President Buhari for the payment of pensions to ex-Biafran security personnel; for the administration’s policy on ease of doing business which, the traditional ruler said, had benefited the Igbo more than any other ethnic group, and the massive infrastructural development going on throughout the southeast.

    Read Also: Buhari meets Zik

    “You love Nigeria and you need to return to consolidate your fight against the monster of corruption and to take us to the Next Level. I want to assure you that Aba and Abians and indeed all Igbos will massively vote for you,” the royal father told the President as he raised his hand and proclaimed him winner of the coming presidential poll.

    The statement said that the second endorsement was by the secretary-general of apex-Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo,  Uche Okwukwu, who had earlier expressed a dissenting view from that of his chairman in expressing support for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the imminent elections.

    “Okwukwu announced the adoption of President Buhari as the true Ohanaeze candidate who will be formally recognized as such at a coming event at the Aso Rock Villa.

    “On his part, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, welcomed the existing “synergy” between the federal government and his state which he said, had come with enormous gains that are cherished by the government and the people.” he said.