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Tag: Abia State

  • APC dismisses Kalu’s death, warns against peddling of wicked rumour

    Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State dismissed rumours of death of former Governor of Abia State and chieftain of the party in the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
    This is even as has cautioned members of opposition parties in the state to discontinue peddling of the wicked rumour that the former governor of the state and the party’s candidate for Abia North senatorial zone in 2019 is dead.
    According to the rumour, Kalu reportedly died few weeks ago in a Wiesbaden, Germany Hospital after a major surgery, and that a lookalike has been contracted to impersonate him (Kalu) for political reasons, adding that the man parading himself as Kalu is one George from Gambia.
    However, in a statement, the state publicity secretary of APC, comrade Ben Godson said it was the height of wickedness for any person or group of persons to carry fake news about the death of someone, stressing that it amounts to wishing the living, dead.
    Godson said it was a taboo in Igbo land for anybody to wish his fellow human being dead, stressing that those members of the opposition parties have taking politics too far by wishing Kalu dead.

    Read Also: Orji Kalu and the revocation of bail: Matters arising

    “What members of the opposition in the state particularly PDP are doing is playing wicked politics by wishing Kalu dead, but that will not stop the eminent defeat that is staring them in the face in Abia North senatorial zone in particularly and the state in general come 2019.
    “Political enemies are at it again; they know there is going to be a level playing ground in 2019 election and they are aware that Kalu is going to win the Abia North senatorial district seat and they think that the best way to stop him is to continuously dish out fake news, this time to wish him dead thinking by that they will stop him.
    “The other time, the rumour was that his name was not in the APC register and when that could not work out, they came with another rumour that he was screened out by his party to contest the election and that even his name was not on INEC list of those to contest the election. When all these failed, then they came with this fake news that he is dead.
    The state APC publicity scribe reminded those wishing Kalu dead to learn from history and remember what happened to those who rumoured in the ‘80s that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was dead, adding that none of them actually lived to witness when the Zik of Africa eventually died.
    “People should learn from history, when Zik of Africa was alive, some people rumoured that he was dead, but those who ignited the rumour, all died before Zik’s death and they should know that history has a way of repeating itself”.
    Godson said he spoke with Kalu on Monday night, stressing he was live and preparing to kick off his campaign.
    A close source to the former Governor who pleaded to be anonymous while corroborating Godson’s statement added that he spoke with Kalu on Tuesday morning.
    According to the source, Kalu is concerned with his senatorial campaign and on how to deliver the state to APC and also to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari wins the 2019 Presidential election.
    “We heard stories about the cloning of OUK and before we could come out of it, another one is that he was dead. These are all fabricated stories that only represent the wishes and imaginations of the rumour mongers.
    “What I can tell you is that OUK is alive and I can also tell you that he is ready to come back and begin campaign across the Abia North Senatorial District and the truth is that his opponents are already jittery”, he said.

  • Armed robbers attack Bureau De Change Operator

    Cart away millions of cash

     

    Armed robbers operating on a motorcycle have reportedly attacked a yet-to-be identified female Bureau De Change operator in Aba, Abia State. This is even as the gunmen reportedly made away with millions of dollars.

    While information gathered by our reporter has it that the woman reportedly died after being hospitalized, but Abia State Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike told in a telephone interview that the woman was still alive.

    The incident, it was gathered occurred at the popular Market Road section housing Bureau De Change operators.

    The woman was said to have arrived Aba with huge sums of dollars and other foreign currencies which she had gone to source from one of the Southeastern Central Banks which is expected to be in high demand during the Christmas season.

    Information gathered by our correspondent has it that the woman was reportedly trailed to the area by the gunmen who apparently had knowledge of her return and purpose for which she had traveled outside the state.

    While some of the Bureau De Change operators refused commenting on the matter, a source in the area disclosed that their members are now doing business in fears.

    The source stated that the armed robbers carted away cash worth millions of naira in various foreign denominations including dollars, pound sterling and Euro respectively which the woman had gone outside the state to source for.

    “Usually, we go outside the state to source for money. The woman went to one of the Central Banks in the Southeast to source for money. You know that this is festive period where a lot of people come to black market to change dollars and other bills. People who are traveling outside the country do come here while people who came back for X-mass do come here to change money.

    “So, this time, our members do go to any state to look for what they will use to do business for the season. I was told that the woman was coming down from a car when she was accosted by men wielding gun. They shot her and left with all the monies that she came back with.”

    Read Also: Police arrest four suspected armed robbers in Calabar

    A source at the Aba Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) who craved anonymity told our reporter that investigation into the matter had begun.

    According to the source, they suspected that there could be an insider’s connection to the robbery incident.

    The source who could not confirm if there was any suspect in custody at the time of this report, stated that preliminary investigation has it that the gunmen shot at the woman after she allegedly refused to let go the bag containing the money that she came back with.

    The source said that the woman was rushed to a private hospital in Aba for treatment after the robbers had left the scene.

    In a related development, Police have reportedly started swooping on motorcycle operators in Aba and its environs.

    Investigation by our reporter has it that Policemen under the Aba Area Command decided to clampdown on the cyclists following the recent robbery along Aba-Owerri road and Market by men armed men on motorcycle.

    A senior police officer at the Aba Area Command in a chat with our reporter said that the action of the policemen were in compliance with the directives of the Governor of the State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu who had banned the use of motorcycles in Aba and its environs.

    According to the senior police officer, the enforcement of the Governor’s directive would this time be total, adding that the preference given to personnel of various military and para-military agencies in the past would no longer be tolerated.

  • Alunmi to rebuild Aggrey Memorial College

    Old students of Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu, Abia State, have set aside December 28 and 29 as special days for the redemption of their alma mater.

    There are strong indications that the two days promise to be remarkable in the history of the foremost post-primary school founded 86 years ago.

    The days have been set aside by the alumni association of the college for activities geared towards raising funds to rebuild the college, and restore its lost glory.

    Already, elaborate arrangements are in top gear to accomplish the activities lined up for what the leadership of the association described as a grand re-union of its old boys and girls, from all over the world.

    Part of it is a novelty football match slated for December 28 between the male and female old students of the college, road show, lecture, awards presentation and gala nite, which will culminate in fund raising. All facets of the event, it was learnt, are being tidied up.

    President of the alumni association, Mazi Emma Okoro Egbukwu, said: “The homecoming of old students of Aggrey Memorial College promises to be colourful, the planning of which had been entrusted to diligent old students who understand the enormity of the task. So far, I am impressed with the planning, as well as the feelers we are getting. In fact, the event will be both colourful and successful.

    “The committees have been working hard in the last six months planning the event. We are all involved because we have challenged ourselves to raise funds to rebuild the college that built us up.”

    Indeed while it is expected that several of the old students of the college would  fly in from around the world for the occasion, Egbukwu said important personalities in Nigeria who value quality education are being invited to join hands to resuscitate the decrepit infrastructure of the college.

    Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu is the first post-primary educational institution in Nigeria established by an individual. It was founded by the late Dr Alvan Ikoku in 1932, and named after a renowned Ghanaian educator, Dr James Kwegair Aggrey. It ranked along with Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS), Onitsha; Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, and Kings College, Lagos.

    In its heydays, the college also admitted students from Ghana, Sierra Leone and Cameroon.

    But following the takeover of schools by the government, the college suffered neglect, resulting in systemic deterioration of its infrastructure.

    Today the college is a shadow of its former self, a large swathe of its space having been acquired by the Abia State College of Education, Arochukwu (ASCETA), leaving Aggrey Memorial College without good classrooms; boarding facilities for its students and, least of all offices for the teachers.

    Yet the institution has trained a host of prominent personalities including the late Mazi S. G. Ikoku, Dr K. O. Mbadiwe, and sports prodigy, John Onyeador, the first post-independence  captain of  the national football team, the then Green Eagles, among others who have distinguished themselves in different spheres of life.

    Egbukwu is nonetheless optimistic that the institution will bounce back, given the overall agenda of the alumni association, which is to first re-build the institution before liaising with the appropriate government agencies to re-tool the teaching staff.

  • Fifteen escape death by whiskers

    Fifteen passengers of a commercial bus have reportedly escaped death by the whiskers after the bus they were travelling in caught fire in Aba, Abia State.

    Eyewitnesses that claimed to have witnessed the incident told our reporter that the bus whose occupants conveying traders had cleared off the road to give chance for a passenger to alight at the popular Opobo junction, Ogbor Hill bus stop when it caught fire.

    Our reports gathered that there was commotion as passengers scampered to safety while the driver climbed to the roof of the bus throwing away luggage and tyre. Sympathizers were said to have brought several fire extinguishers to quench the fire, but it became intense.

    Read Also: Offa robbery: Reps to investigate death of key suspect

    According to an eyewitness, Markson Dimkpa, “We were at the restaurant beside the road when the bus parked and in within a minute, it caught fire. People began to scream. Passengers hurriedly alighted; an elderly woman was quickly ferried out of the bus. Other people brought out fire extinguishers, but the fire grew in strength. The bus was totally burnt, but we thank God that no life was lost.”

    In an interview with our reporter,  one of the passengers identified as Victor , said they were returning   from a market in Akwa Ibom and had no problem on the road until the bus caught fire at the junction.

    Effort to contact the Director, Abia State Fire Service, Mr. Uche Eke, was unsuccessful as the time of fling this report.

  • I will retire from politics in 2023 – Senator Orji

    The Governor of Abia State and the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District at the senate, Senator Theodore Orji has said that he would retire from active politics in 2023 after serving for 8 years in the Senate if he wins the 2019 elections.
    Orji said though it is always difficult for politicians to voluntarily retire from active politics, he would be an exception as he would do that to show example and that politicians can retire honorably.
    He said that his retiring from active politics is that he will no longer seek for any elective political position, “From 2023, I will still be in politics but would not run for any elective position but would rather play the role of a father, mentor and guardian”.
    Orji, who spoke through Ifeanyi Umere, his liaison officer in Umuahia, also named maturity and experience as the factors that make him and his successor, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu maintain cordial relationship.
    He also said that Governor Ikpeazu has done well to earn his support, adding that the Governor would even win the 2019 elections to do a second term, just like others before him served out their two terms.

    Read Also: Senator Orji denies being quizzed by EFCC

    Orji said, “In 2023, I will quit active politics; I don’t know if there are politicians from Abia State that have done that, retired voluntarily. Politicians hardly retire. The 2019 is going to be the last election I will participate in for myself as an elective person and I am sure, very confident, that I am going to win not minding the antics of the opposition”.
    On the cordial relationship with his successor, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Orji attributed it to his experience and maturity which has ensured that they enjoy mutual respect and understanding.
    He said, “The secret of the cordial relationship between me and my successor has been maturity and experience. I am a mature man and I am an experienced person. I have got this experience before now”.
    “So I use my good experience to follow the incumbent Governor. The relationship is based on mutual respect and understanding which will continue even when he leaves office as the governor of the state”.
    He further said that Ikpeazu has done well to earn his support, insisting that the governor would win the 2019 governorship election in the State to enable him do two terms as those before him did.

  • Senator Orji denies being quizzed by EFCC

    Former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Chief Theodore Ahameule Orji has debunked the news that he was drilled on Tuesday by the personnel of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as “fake.”
    Rumours on Tuesday had it that Orji was quizzed by the EFCC over some allegations bordering on mismanagement of about N27bn by the Orji’s administration.
    The EFCC was said to have commenced investigation soon after, but was waiting for enough evidence before inviting him.
    Among the allegations levelled against the former governor was that he diverted billions of naira disbursed to Abia State by the Central Bank of Nigeria for Small and Medium Enterprise.
    The lawmaker was also alleged to have diverted money from the Ecological Fund account, which should have been used in tackling erosion and other disasters peculiar to the state.

    Read Also: I’ve forgiven Theodore Orji, says Orji Kalu

    The ex-governor was alleged to have diverted money from the Abia State Oil Producing Development Area Commission, an agency of government set up for the development of the oil producing areas in Abia State.
     Orji was said to have allegedly used the funds to buy properties in Abia, Port Harcourt and Abuja, some of which the EFCC is planning to seize.
    Our reporter who monitored the mood of the state following the outbreak of the news gathered that there were unease among Orji’s supporters who flayed the said EFCC grilling of the senator which the attributed to the continued witch-hunt of PDP members that the ruling party (APC); perceived as threat to them in 2019.
    But when contacted, Senator Orji in a text message described the said report as fake.
    Orji also uses the opportunity to urge his supporters not to worry over the report.

  • Soldier stabs businessman to death in Abia

    A yet-to-be identified soldier attached to the 144 Battalion Headquarters of Nigerian Army in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State has allegedly killed a businessman in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of the State.

    While the soldier is said to be one of the military personnel at the Owerre-Aba army guard post, the deceased is said to be a business owner in the area.

    Sources at the Owerre-Aba told our reporter that the soldier had gone to separate a fight between the decease popularly known in the area as Harmony and a pool owner before the victim attacked him.

    Read Also:Breaking: Boko Haram attack leaves three soldiers dead

    An eyewitness who simply gave his name as Kennedy narrating what happened said trouble started when the deceased went to a pool house in the area to demand for the payment in a game he played and won.

    According to Kennedy, the owner of the pool house told Harmony that the game he played was not submitted with others because he failed to pay for them after playing them.

    He said: “The owner of the pool house told him that his game was not submitted with others because he didn’t pay him after playing the game.

    “As the owner of the pool house was talking aloud with him over his inability to pay for the game which prompted him to drop it as he cannot use his own money to pay for someone who promised to bring money, but never did. The next thing I heard was harsh voices and struggling sounds coming from the pool stall.

    “The man (Harmony) started beating the owner of the pool and even when the wife tried to intervene and help to save her husband, the young man instead pounced on both of them.

    “The beating started inside the pool house that’s why most people didn’t know what was going on or made move to intervene. It’s when the woman started shouting and they struggled with him to outside the shop that people and the soldier man who was actually going on his way saw the ugly scene and went to intervene.

    “On getting there, the soldier rescued the couple from the grip of the deceased but he retaliated and pushed the soldier man and both of them fell into the gutter.

    .”The soldier who had been injured by the deceased used the dagger with him and stabs the deceased in the process.

    “People around made efforts to save him by carrying him to a nearby hospital, but he died before medical help could come his way.”

    The spokesman for the 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi could not be reached for comments, but a senior officer in the command who confirmed the incident said that the victim died at the Abia State Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH).

    According to the officer, the soldier who confirmed that the soldier had only gone to stop the deceased from attacking an aged woman, 20meters from the army guard post before he was attacked by the deceased, stated that the soldier is being investigated by the Military Police of 144 Battalion at the time of filing this report.

  • F-SARS operatives raid drug spots in Aba

    Operatives of Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) have reportedly raided suspected drug spots and criminal hideouts in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.

    Information gathered by our reporter has it that the raid could not have been unconnected with intelligence gathered by the security operatives that most crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, child trafficking among others were coordinated at the bunk. This is even as most suspected rapists were said to have carried out such inhumane act on their victims under the influence of illicit drug consumption.

    Areas raided include Orji Kalu Bridge, Ama-Hausa, Milverton road, Borrow Pit, Ogbor Hill Waterside, and several other places which serve as hideouts for drug peddlers in Aba and its environs.

    Unconfirmed reports have it that some suspects arrested during the raid led by Johnbull Obioguru; the Commander F-SARS were being profiled by the operatives, while efforts to arrest the owners of the drug bunks were ongoing.

    The F-SARS Commander could not be reached at the time of filing the report, but sources at the Abia Command of the security agency who confirmed the raid but pleaded not to be mentioned in print, however revealed that the raids were targeted at men of the underworld popularly known as “Aye boys” or Black Axe cultists whose activities have given rise to recent security unrest in the commercial city.

    According to a senior official of F-SARS, “these (drug) joints have become breeding grounds for members of Black Axe, they come here to purchase all kind of hard drugs that keep them high to be able to perpetrate all manner of crime, but with the recent raids by F-SARS operatives and support of the Abia State Police Command, it has shown that the police are poised to ensure that the rate of drug peddling and consumption in Aba and its environs is reduced to the minimum.”

    The source added that the reason they raided the drug spots was to ensure that Aba residents and visitors have a peaceful Yuletide, stressing that the raid and patrol of identified black spots in the commercial and its environs would be regular even after the festive seasons.

     

     

  • Community threatens to withdraw support for PDP

    Residents of ‘Aba Ngwa’ community in Aba North/ South Federal Constituency of Abia have threatened to withdraw their support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if their grievances emanating from the just- concluded party primaries were not addressed.

    In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday, the President of Aba Ngwa Youth Congress, Mr Greg Obi, said that the community was ready to forfeit rents for tenants to ensure total withdrawal of support for the party.

    Obi alleged that there was a case of over-voting at the primaries conducted for the House of Representatives seat in the constituency as the number of votes counted exceeded the number of accredited voters.

    According to him, the election was rigged in favour of Mr Uzo Azubuike as against the interest of the people and preferred candidate, Dr Blessing Nwagba.

    He said that they had been dominated by non-indigenes over the years as only people from neighboring Local Government Areas occupied the seat.

    The president said the community supported two of its indigenes to contest in the just-concluded PDP primary election but one died mysteriously after purchasing the form.

    According to him, the community then threw its weight behind Nwagba, a serving member of the Abia State House of Assembly to clinch the ticket but that the primaries were rigged.

    “Since 2009, no member of Aba-Ngwa community had been given the opportunity to represent the constituency either at the House of Reps or at the Senate.

    “It is not that we have not been contesting but the results do not always favour us,” he said.

    In a separate interview , Nwagba alleged that she was being marginalised by the party because she is a woman.

    Nwagba said that she had reported the irregularities at the primaries to the appeal panel and to the party’s leadership.

    She said that she had not been invited neither by the members of the appeal panel or party leadership and that the report of the panel had not been made public.

    The aspirant said neither her grievances nor those of Aba-Ngwa community had been addressed by the party and that no explanation whatsoever had been given for the silence.

    Read Also: 2019: ‘Resist violence for Nigeria’s sake’

    The aspirant said women were not meant for the kitchen alone as they were equally endowed to add value to society through good governance.

    Nwagba said if due process was followed, she would have won the election because she worked hard and did all that was required to emerge victorious.

    Responding, the PDP Chairman in Abia, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, told reporter that he was aware of Nwagba’s complaint.

    He said Nwagba submitted her complaint and had met with the appeal panel which was saddled with the responsibility to listen to aggrieved aspirants and resolve issues.

    According to him, Nwagba was interviewed by the panel in the state office of the Deputy Chairman of the party.

    He said that the report submitted by those who conducted the primary showed that the election “was free, fair, credible and verifiable.”

    Onuigbo said unlike in other climes, “people in this part of the world” hardly accept defeat in any competition.

    According to him, if Nwagba has won the election, she would not be protesting and challenging the process.

    The chairman said that it would be very unfair for the residents of Aba-Ngwa community to withdraw their support for the party.

    According to him, the PDP made Nwagba, and that she cannot win everyday.

    He said that Nwagba losing this time did not mean she should turn against the party, “that is not the spirit of sportsmanship”.

    Onuigbo described the plan by the community to forfeit rents for tenants to ensure maximum withdrawal of support for the party as a “strategy to sabotage PDP.”

    Reacting to the issue of Aba-Ngwa indigenous representation at the National Assembly, the chairman said that power was not given based on asking but contested, struggled for and taken.

    He said the PDP preaches free, fair, credible and verifiable primary elections and that the party does not allocate power to anybody or community.

    According to him, while we agree on morals grounds that every community gets an indigenous rep, this is a struggle for power in line with the Constitution.

    He said no law stops anybody from contesting for a seat at the National Assembly as many times as the people allowed him or her to do so.

    “We cannot as a party say it is your turn since no law bars a lawmaker from seeking re-election just because we want power to go round.

    “We have to look at the law, legally speaking, it is unfair to do so, we do not dash it, we cannot say it is your turn, take it.

    “If they do not get it now, next time they may; there is always another chance,” the chairman added.

  • Man feared dead as school fence collapse on him

    A yet-to-be identified man is said to be battling for survival in an undisclosed private hospital in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State after part of the Ihieorji Secondary School’s fence along College collapsed on him.

    The incident, our reporter gathered occurred Monday evening while the victim and other passerby’s were on their way to their homes at the close of market.

    It was gathered that blocks from the fence broke the man’s two legs as he was still unconscious at the time he was rushed to the hospital by early callers to the scene.

    An eyewitness who gave his name as Ugochukwu told our reporter that the number of casualty would have been much if the incident happened during the rush hour.

    According to the eyewitness, before the unfortunate incident, part of the school wall had started cracking while the school frequently carryout menial repair work until it finally collapsed.

    Read Also: Man in court over alleged stabbing of neigbour

    “The man and two other persons; a man and a woman were passing the area when someone who was far but noticed that the fence moved screamed which got them running. But while others were still wondering why they were asked to run, the man adamantly went back to same spot apparently to check for himself why they were asked to run only for the entire block to collapse on him.

    “It took intervention of people who were around, that did all that they could to pull him out of the block and when they eventually did, his two legs were already broken while he has remained unconscious.

    “We thank God that this thing didn’t happen when people are coming back from market, if not, the casualty would have been much.

    “The wall has been cracking and the school has been doing their best in patching the cracked wall. What we are wondering is why he would want to go back to the wall after running away with a man and woman after the alarm was raised?

    “We are afraid if he will survive it going by the impact of the incident on him.”