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Tag: Abia State

  • Imo community unveils centre 42 years after

    Imo community unveils centre 42 years after

    Forty-two years after the idea of building a befitting civic centre was conceived, the people of Arochukwu Kingdom have realised their dream. It was during the last Yuletide when the project came alive. The day, December 26, last year will remain a day people of Arochukwu in Abia State will live to remember and relish.

    It was a remarkable day in the history of the kingdom, as a project started several years earlier was eventually inaugurated for use.

    The iconic Arochukwu Civic Centre was formally opened on December 26, last year, having been taken over a year earlier by Dr. Alex Otti, who mobilised funds and coordinated its completion. Before Otti intervened, the project had stalled for a record 42 years.

    The magnificent building–with its splendid interior-is located opposite the Eze Aro Palace in Oror Village. Currently, it stands as a cynosure of all eyes and a testament of the ‘can do’ spirit of the Aro in matters that concern their ancestral fatherland.

    The unveiling ceremony climaxed the 2017 edition of the yearly Aro Day celebration.

    On arrival, Dr Otti was ushered into the arena by the leadership of Nzuko Aro, and the women’s wing with dance and praises.

    At the opening ceremony, the Eze Aro-in-Council offered prayers to the ancestors and prayed for the kingdom and the good of its people.

    Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Dr Otti explained that he is not the one that built the civic centre, but only assisted in ensuring that it was completed.

    He thanked the sons and daughters of Arochukwu who contributed immensely towards the completion of the project, even as he urged others to also show solidarity by taking up other sections of the project that are still outstanding.

    He stated that an epitaph will be placed on the building indicating the names of those that made contributions towards the project.

    He also listed areas that needed attention to include fencing, lighting and cooling systems, musical equipment and public address system and furniture, among others.

    The Architect who designed the building, Chima Chijioke spoke about his dream at the time. He said he had a vision to create an iconic meeting place for all Aro, which he vigorously canvassed to convince the leadership of Nzuko Aro in 1975.

    For him, it is now a thing of joy that the project has finally been completed. He thanked everyone that contributed to the project, which he said has added to the glory of Arochukwu Kingdom.

    Also speaking, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who was represented by the Commissioner for Housing and Special Duties, Mr. Akan Okon, identified with the project, saying that Akwa Ibom State has always taken the welfare of Arochukwu to heart because they (Aro) are friendly neighbours.

    He buttressed his statement by citing example of the Ikpe Ikot Okon Road linking Abia State through Arochukwu, which his state government is constructing.

    He said Governor Emmanuel is committed to completing that road, as it will benefit both communities.

    Okon gave the assurances of his principal that the road under reference will be unveiled sometime in May, this year.

    The Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the Senate Mazi Mao Ohuabunwa, expressed joy that the project was finally ready for use. He pledged to provide the entire cooling system.

    Dr Emma Nwadeyi, who chaired the occasion, announced a donation of N5 million towards fencing of the civic centre premises.

    Many dignitaries that included Abia State Commissioner for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Barrister Gab Igboko; member representing Arochukwu Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Lukeman Ukara and Chairman of Arochukwu Local Government Area, Hon. James Kalu James attended the event.

    Also in attendance were Emeritus Prof, Okoro Ijoma, Arc Chima Chijioke, who designed the edifice and the President-General (PG) of Nzuko Aro, Mazi George Ezumah and his deputies, Mazi Dozie Udensi and Mazi Kingsley Nwaka.

     

  • Abia 2019: Kalu and the fortunes of APC in Abia

    Abia 2019: Kalu and the fortunes of APC in Abia

    The recent All Progressives Congress’ mega rally in Umuahia, in which former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu and many other leaders formally joined the party, has increased the tempo of politics in Abia State. Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, takes a look at the likely effect of the development on the fortunes of APC in the state in 2019.

    UP till January 8, 2018, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has given observers the impression that it does not have any serious opponent in the 2019 General Election. But that changed following the grand outing of the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) on January 9, 2018, when APC literally shut the state with a mega rally in which it celebrated a rare harvest of powerful politicians and leaders of Abia, including former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, who automatically emerged as the party leader in the state. Other influential politicians who formally switched over to APC that day include the former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Martins Azubuike, a former PDP stalwart from Isialangwa North Constituency; former Deputy Governor, Chris Akomas (Progressive Peoples Alliance), former PDP governorship aspirant, Chief Uche Ogah, and retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Chief Azubuko Udah, amongst others.

    Explaining the enthusiasm of the new found APC in the state to take over government in Abia State, the former governor and now leader of APC in the state, Orji Uzor Kalu, told The Nation on Friday that the APC is poised to take over governance in Abia State. He confided that virtually all the political leaders in the state, most of who passed through him in 1999 when he became governor of the state, are now crossing over to APC and that together, they will evolve strategies that will ensure victory.

    Sources said fear within and outside Abia PDP that APC may emerge a major threat in the state by 2019, was expressed even before the grand rally, which took place at the Umuahia Township Stadium. According to Chief Ukandu Ahaoma from Isuikwuato area, every serious politician in the state realised that a major political re-alignment was on when it became clear that associates of former governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, were meeting in his Igbere home and other venues in Abia, Abuja and Lagos in preparation for a grand defection to APC. The aim, of course, is to join hands and remove the PDP state government, which they agreed was not performing well enough. It also became known that leaders of APC in the state were lobbying seriously to ensure that Kalu and his supporters join the party.”

    In one of such meetings held at Kalu’s country home in Igbere, Abia State, shortly before the rally, his associates in attendance mapped out plans to chase out PDP and take over Abia State government in 2019. The Nation gathered that the meeting, in which far reaching strategic decisions were taken, was well attended both by Kalu’s old political associates and PDP leaders. Among his influential associates that attended the meeting were the Pioneer Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Tony Ukasanya; Senator Chris Adighije, Senator Bob Nwanunu and a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Ralph Egbu. A source said a powerful delegation from the leadership of Abia APC was also at the meeting.   Expressing enthusiasm that the crossover of the leaders to APC was enough to win PDP in the state, Ukasanya, according to a source, said with the coming of Kalu into APC, “those who made Abia politics thick were back in the same fold.” He was quoted as saying: “OUK made many people in Abia politics and I’m happy those people are now in APC. Going by the calibre of men and women we now have in APC in Abia, what is needed is little work for us to win the state in 2019.”

    Explaining APC’s belief that the presence of experienced politicians in the state chapter of the party will give it the needed edge, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Sam Nkire, reportedly said “Now that we have someone like OUK in our fold, APC has advantage in the state, and we should work hard enough to take Abia from PDP in the next election. APC is in charge in Nigeria, we should not be afraid in Abia, we should work like those who are in charge,” he said.

    Former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Ralph Egbu, in a telephone chat on Friday, Egbu identified three reasons why he believes APC will dethrone PDP in Abia in 2019. “I am convinced that APC will win in Abia State in 2019 because our people want to identify with the federal government. We know the advantage of being in the party that controls the federal government. Apart from that, our people know that if we are part of the mainstream, we would not be denied of our legitimate share. I can tell you that the quality of federal roads now being done in the South-East is better. Apart from these two, I am sure APC will win in 2019 because the whole people of Abia want change. We are tired of PDP government that has made the state to remain at the back. The people desperately want change and given the caliber of members that APC now parade in Abia, no one needs to be told that APC is now the most credible option to PDP.”

    Fight against propaganda

    One of the challenges APC may have to contain with to achieve its dream of taking over the Government House in Umuahia is the claim that the party is not an Igbo-friendly party. Asked how the party will survive the allegation that APC is a Fulani party being used as a tool to colonise the Igbo, Kalu told The Nation, “That propaganda will no longer work here in Abia and in the whole of the South-East zone. We all know that APC is a national party; it is not any individual’s party. This is just a cheap lie. Is Chief Oyegun, the National Chairman of the party, a Fulani man? Am I a Fulani man? Is George Mughalu a Fulani man? It’s all propaganda. President Muhammadu Buhari and every other member of the party has equal stake in the party. APC is a national party and this is the time for us all to be part of the party,” he said.    A former Secretary to the State Government in Orji Uzor Kalu’s government, Chief Ralph Egbu, responding to the same issue said, “I think this type of wicked propaganda is one of the reasons why we are all happy that leaders like Chief Orji Uzor Kalu have joined APC in Abia. To properly project the image of APC in Abia and other parts of the South-East, we need courageous and bold leaders like the former governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu. He is the type of politician that can properly articulate the needs of the people. This is what was lacking before.”

    Another respondent, an APC chieftain in Abia State and the Director-General of Buhari South-East Youth Movement (BUSEYM), Engr. Onwuneme Nwabueze, also told The Nation on Thursday that with Kalu’s new moves, APC is sure of victory. “Since the former governor of Abia, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, joined APC, the party has received new vigour. Of course, you know that as a former governor and a most influential politician, he has automatically become the leader of the party in the state. This has changed a lot of things. APC can no longer be pushed around in Abia. The party now has a leader in the state, a leader who has energy, who has the necessary connections, who has influence, the right vision and what it takes to dislodge PDP in the state,” he said.  At the mega rally, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun, re-echoed this enthusiasm when he said “I want to say we are satisfied with what we have seen here today.  These people here, who cast the votes, are the greatest dignitaries and they have asked me to tell Buhari that he must run and win in 2019. I will pass that message to him. You have also told me that Abia is in bondage and that APC should take over, we shall do that,” Oyegun assured.

    New strategy

    Kalu, while acknowledging the fact that APC would win the state in 2019, however, told The Nation that for APC in the state today, “politics should no longer be played in the state capital, but at the various political wards.

    “I assure you that I and other leaders of the party will not support any candidate until a proper primary is conducted. We will not repeat the mistakes of PDP. For us, there will be no imposition. We are not going to allow a situation where some people stay in Umuahia and write people’s names, claiming that they won elections. This is PDP way. Our strategy is that people should go back to their homes, their wards and mobilise their people. It is after aspirants have won votes in their wards that the state leadership will back them,” he said on Friday.

    It would be recalled that, Kalu was reported earlier to have said in one of the re-alignment meetings before the rally that when he was governor, Abia State University was getting subvention as well as Abia State Polytechnic, College of Education, Arochukwu and College of Health Technology, Aba.

    “All those things have ceased because Governor Ikpeazu is in bondage of Theodore Orji.”

    He had therefore promised that when APC takes over the state, “we shall bring back free education which this government has scrapped.”

  • IPOB warn against Benue recurrence in Abia

    IPOB warn against Benue recurrence in Abia

    Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) has called Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State to take decisive action against the rampaging Fulani herdsmen before they wreak any havoc in the state.

    They also called on Ikpeazu to ensure that what happened in Benue State last week in which 73 people were massacred by the Fulani herdsmen do not occur in Abia.

    The group was reacting to reports of palpable fear and tension at Isiadu Ibeku community in Umuahia North local government following threats by armed Fulani herdsmen to invade the community over alleged refusal of people of the area to allow them to graze their cattle on their farmland.

    Recall that Gov Ikpeazu said last week that his administration would not cede any portion of land in the state to the Fulani herdsmen for cattle colony as Abia was shortage of land and had not enough for its teeming farmers.

    In a telephone conversation, the younger brother of the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, Prince Emmanuel Kanu said it was not enough for Ikpeazu to say his administration would not cede any portion of land of the state to the herders, but should move a step further to curtail their activities in the state.

    “On Tuesday, the Fulani herdsmen threatened to attack Isiadu Ibeku community in Umuahia North because the villagers refused the herders to graze their cattle on their farm crops and the people have fled their community and are now living in fear. This is why I think it is not enough for Ikpeazu to say he will not cede any portion of land as cattle colony to the Fulani herdsmen, he should do something in concrete terms to ensure that the rampaging herdsmen do not repeat what happened in Benue, in Abia State.”

    Kanu said any attempt to attack any community in Abia State by the Fulani herdsmen should be resisted, stressing that it was to checkmate the activities of the herdsmen that made IPOB form the vigilante group which the South East governors and their northern collaborators saw with a different lens and had to proscribe IPOB.

    “Now that these governors in order to please their Northern lords have through the ‘Operation Python Dance’ killed Nnamdi Kanu and proscribed IPOB, they should in the same manner rise to the occasion of the security challenge posed by the Fulani herdsmen.”

    Kanu berated the South East governors for not seeing the reality on ground when they proscribed IPOB which was a non violent organization, adding that they should as well advise the Federal Government to proscribe the Miyetti Allah which he said has cause mayhem across the country.

  • Kalu ‘s N3.2b case: Star witness on the run, says EFCC

    Kalu ‘s N3.2b case: Star witness on the run, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told a Federal High Court in Lagos that its star witness in the trial of former Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, is evading appearance.

    Kalu, Udeh Jones Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited were arraigned October 31, 2016 by the EFCC before Justice Mohammed Idris on a 34-count charge of N3.2billion fraud.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, EFCC counsel Mr Rotimi Jacob informed the court that the matter was due for continuation of trial but that he could not proceed because he could not find his star witness.

    Jacob told Justice Idris that the witness, Mr Mike Udoh, had repeatedly made himself unavailable whenever he was due to appear in court to give his testimony.

    He accused some unknown persons of being behind Udoh’s absence and vowed that they would be prosecuted.

    He said: “Our main witness that we intended to call, we have approached him for more than six months. We have noticed that each time the matter is coming up, he will just travel to Umuahia or Calabar or Cameroun.

    “He always has the dates of the matter and I was forced to apply for a subpoena. Your Lordship signed one, which we took to the Abia State Government because we found out that he was a civil servant. But he has since left the service.

    “He was supposed to come today but switched off his phone. EFCC went to his house in Umuahia yesterday and this morning but met his wife who said he travelled to Calabar. Despite all our efforts, we have not been able to bring him.”

    He prayed for a short adjournment of about a week to enable the agency round up its case.

    Jacob added: “We have information that some people are behind his not showing up. We are investigating and will charge the persons. As we speak, our operatives are in Abia, but they can’t pick up the wife in place of the husband.”

    Kalu’s counsel, Mr Awa Kalu SAN, accused the EFCC of a ploy to foist an adjournment on the court.

    The former Abia State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice said: “The defendants have been dilligent in presenting themselves for trial, but the prosecution has been engaging in push and starts. The second defendant is a retired civil servant.

    The first defendant (Kalu) is a politically exposed person. There are four senior counsel with at least one junior all at the defendants’ cost. Yet we are here only to be told of circumstances beyond the prosecution’s control? There are many witnesses listed by the prosecution. The non-appearance of one of them cannot foist an appearance on this case.”

    Second defendant (Udeogu)’s counsel, Solo Akuma SAN, adopted Kalu’s submissions, describing the EFCC’s claim as application as “a frivolous one.”

    He said: “We abandoned everything else to come to court. My client is complaining he cannot afford my bill. The defence has never made any application for adjournment. All adjournments have been at the prosecution’s instance. They must be compelled to close their case, otherwise Your Lordship should award costs to cover our transport and hotel bills.”

    Counsel to thrird defendant Slok nigeria Ltd, C.C. Nwofo lamented the economic damages the firm has suffered because of the trial and adjournments.

    He said: “The third defendant is a company which has suffered and lost contracts of about $500million from China Exim Bank for ship acquisition. About $350million has been lost from African Bank in Egypt. 3,000 workers have lost their jobs because of this case. 250 expatriate workers have lost their jobs because of this case.

    “We have not been paid our fees in this case, but I’m doing it because I believe this case will end one day and I’ll be paid. If they are not able to proceed, I propose a cost of N10million.”

    But Jacob, who urged the court to uphold his prayer, said it was not frivolous.

    “If I have that man (Udoh) today, I am comfortable to close my case. I am entitled to five adjournments. We want to use this week to get this witness. We now know his house. We must get him. I believe we will. No amount of shielding will protect him.”

    In a bench ruling Justice Idris upheld Jacob’s application for adjournment and declined the defendants’ application for cost. He noted that this was the final adjournment it would allow.

    Justice Idris said: “Where a witness that ought to attend court, fails to attend court and summons has been issued and served on the same witness, then the prosecution would pursue the appropriate provisions of the ACJA to compel the attendance of the witness in court…This trial will no longer be adjourned on account of unavailability of witness to attend court… It is unfortunate that a trial, which has been adjourned for hearing from day to day could not proceed due to witness unavailability,” the judge said.

    The case continues on January 22 and 23.

  • Abia’s example

    Abia’s example

    True to his vision to develop the shoe making industry in Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu announced in his New Year speech that 30 local shoemakers were scheduled to leave for the People’s Republic of China on January 5. This first batch is part of 100 the Ikpeazu administration plans to send to China to learn automated shoemaking technology. The governor said the government would be responsible for the trainees’ flight tickets, feeding, accommodation and stipends while in China.

    This is a positive development towards achieving the state government’s goal to improve the quality of shoes made in Aba, a well-known shoemaking hub.  According to the governor, when the trainees return “we will procure the full range of equipment required to set up an Abia State Automated Shoe Factory in Aba,” adding, “These youths will form the nucleus of the workforce in the factory.”  This factory is expected to be opened before June, Ikpeazu said.  He declared that it would ”enable Abia State consolidate its status as the pre-eminent destination for leatherworks in Nigeria.”

    Interestingly, the training programme accommodates non-indigenes, which is a statement about the administration’s inclusive approach to governance. Ikpeazu was quoted as saying:  ”It is important that I highlight the fact that three of the youths travelling are not from Abia State but are resident in Aba and are fully involved in shoemaking. This underscores our commitment to ensure a fair deal for every resident and tax-payer of Abia State irrespective of origin.”

    Ikpeazu deserves commendation for this move to upgrade the trainees’ shoemaking skills and improve their professional capacity. By paying attention to the occupational development of these artisans, the administration has demonstrated the importance of grassroots empowerment. The economy of artisans deserves the attention of government.

    It is noteworthy that the Federal Government launched a Buy-made-in-Nigeria campaign, which is a favourable context for Abia State’s shoemaking project. Ikpeazu noted: “We must take full advantage of the Federal Government Executive Order No.3 which underscores the need to patronise Made-in-Nigeria as a priority.”

    It is worth observing that Ikpeazu had promised to raise the standard of shoemaking in the state as part of his administration’s investment development strategy at a press briefing in Government House in Umuahia, the state capital, last April. This was when he unveiled the $1.5 billion shoe factory deal with the Chinese. The scheduled departure of the first batch of trainees is testimony to his commitment to the project.

    Hopefully, the training will bring about much-needed product standardisation.  The state’s shoemaking industry is usually criticised for alleged poor standards that put its products at a disadvantage against imported shoes, particularly those from western countries. It is high time the local shoemakers raised their game, and this training programme may well be a major step towards achieving the desired standards.

    Beyond the training programme, the government must ensure that the beneficiaries are able to put what they learnt into practice. This means creating an enabling environment that will make them function optimally. In addition, it is expected that the primary beneficiaries will train others locally,  thus spreading the know-how and contributing to the growth of small-scale businesses in the shoemaking sector that will boost the local economy.

    There are various other areas of the national economy where the example of Abia State could be emulated.  By its move in the shoemaking segment, the Ikpeazu administration has further highlighted the need for the different levels of government as well as private-sector players to pay greater attention to grassroots empowerment.

    In the final analysis, the challenge of developing the country’s economy through local production and by reducing dependence on imports requires more of the kind of intervention displayed by Abia State.

     

  • Respite for Abia community as reconstruction of Igwu Bridge begins

    Respite for Abia community as reconstruction of Igwu Bridge begins

    The people of Ndiebe Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State had been in difficult situation since 2014 when Igwu Bridge, the only bridge that links them with other neighbouring communities was alleged to have collapsed.

    The situation, no doubt, affected the people’s socio-economic activities. Any wonder the people were ecstatic when Governor Okezie Ikpeazu inaugurated the construction of the Igwu Bridge.

    Southeast Report learnt that the collapse of the bridge had made the people’s lives horrible as they had to resort to the use of a flabby wooden bridge which they constructed as a temporary palliative measure.

    However, fears are that the wooden bridge may cave-in soon if the state government fails to do something fast to ameliorate the suffering of the community.

    Speaking while inaugurating the construction of the bridge, Governor Ikpeazu assured that the project will be completed in three months’ time.

    He said the poor state of the bridge has remained a challenge to his government, promising that the construction work will be supervised very closely to ensure that work does not stop until it is completed.

    The Governor urged members of the community to co-operate with the contractor handling the project to ensure speedy completion of the project, even as he commended Hon. Nkole for his efforts in ensuring that the construction of the bridge commenced.

    Earlier, the member representing Ohafia Arochukwu Federal Constituency, Hon Uko Nkole told the Governor that the bridge collapsed since 2014 and has adversely affected inter-communal relationship.

    He thanked the Governor for his love for Abam people, assuring him of their support.

    “Today, I inaugurate the reconstruction of Ndiebe Abam Bridge as well as handing over the site to the contractor handling the project.  I was touched by the suffering of the people of Ndiebe. Since 2014, no car has ever entered the village. The collapse of the bridge made it difficult for people of Ndiebe Abam to attend to health emergencies when they occur.

    “During rainy seasons, there is always an increase in the level of water which leads to crippling of socio-economic activities and severance from the rest of the world.

    “Hence it became expedient that I reconnect the village to civilisation. The reconstruction of the 30 meters bridge forms part of my constituency project for last year. The contract is domiciled in the Presidency under the auspices of Border Agency Development Authority awarded to Messrs Gerald Frank Limited.

    “I thank Governor Ikpeazu for making out time to visit the project site with assurance of hope to my people. The project will be completed in record time by God’s grace,” he said.

     

  • Security beefed up as Abia sets to hosts Buhari, others

    Security beefed up as Abia sets to hosts Buhari, others

    Security have reportedly been beefed up in Umuahia, Abia state capital and its environs as the state gets set to host President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, John Odigie Oyegun and other stakeholders of the party on Tuesday January 9.

    President Buhari who would be in the state for the first time after being elected President of the country for a mega rally organized by the party at the Umuahia Township stadium would also used the opportunity to present to the people of the state, some political bigwigs in the state who had joined the party from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties.

    Though information about the president’s visit was still sketchy until the time of filing the report, it was gathered that Presidential advance team were already in the state while security have been beefed up at flashpoints and other sensitive areas in the state especially in Umuahia as steps to ensure a peaceful visit of the president.

    The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state in a chat with our reporter described the coming of the President as landmark, stressing that Buhari’s visit would further boost the preparation of the party towards unseating the PDP led administration in the state in 2019.

    Godson disclosed that the coming of President Buhari would attract leaders of the party from the southeast including the chairman of Governors’ forum and Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, former senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, former Governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, ministers from the southeast, immediate past governor of Enugu State, Barr. Sullivan Chime, immediate past governor of Ebonyi State, Martin Elechi among other APC stalwarts in the country in general.

    He also added that members of other political parties that defected into the party like former Executive Governor of the state from 1999-2007, Dr.  Orji Uzor Kalu, PDP 2015 Governorship aspirant, Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, former Managing Director of defunct Hallmark Bank, Chief Sir. Marc Wabara, Barr. Emeka Wogu; former labour minister, senator Bob Nwanunu, General Ogbonnaya Okoro rtd, DIG Udah rtd, Hon. Chinenye Ike, former House of Rep member, former Speaker Abia State House of Assembly who was few months ago impeached by his colleagues, Rt. Hon. Martin Azubuike and others would be formally presented to the public during the president’s visit.

     On zoning of guber candidates, he said “we don’t have candidates and we can’t have an anointed candidate; our guber candidate can emerge from any part of the state. We believe that there are some persons with guber ambitions and they have not made it open to us.

     “We are not zoning the governorship slot. It is open. We want a credible person to emerge. We need change in the state. We need a credible and reliable person who can change the life of Abians and develop Abia, it doesn’t matter the part of Abia the person is coming from. APC is desirous of change and ensuring that Abia is developed. We want Abians to feel governance”.

     He used the opportunity to reaffirm the support of the party members to Hon. Donatus Nwankpa’s led Executive in the state Ben Godson, the APC Publicity Secretary Abia State chapter and thanked President Buhari for including the names of the party members from the state in the list of recent appointment into boards and agencies by the federal government.

  • Customers beseech banks, ATMs, markets in Aba, Umuahia

    Customers beseech banks, ATMs, markets in Aba, Umuahia

    Customers of various commercial and financial institutions in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State on Friday trooped out in their numbers to perform one commercial transaction or the other.

    Our reporter who visited various banks in Aba and Umuahia, the state capital on Friday reports that a lot of people came to their banks to pay in and to also make withdrawals ahead of the Christmas celebration and Monday and Tuesday’s public holiday announced by the federal government.

    Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in Aba, Umuahia and their environs also witnessed huge queue as many who could not enter into the bank waited for several hours before they could succeed as those who could not wait for their turn to reach left angrily to return at night or early hours of Saturday when the crowd would have gone down.

    Some of the customers including Mr. Ginikanwa Chiawolamoke told our reporter that he was at the bank to carry business transaction which he was supposed to perform on Monday.

    According to Chiawolamoke, “I came to pay money into the account of my customer who will deliver goods to me by next week. So, in order to avoid disappointment from him, I decided to pay in the money today because banks will not be working on Monday and Tuesday and this is the season of the kind of business that I am doing. If I didn’t pay in the money today, another person will do that and the goods will be supplied to the person”.

    A staff of one of the commercial banks along Aba-Owerri road, Aba said that they are used to the rush and stated that they were doing all they could to ensure that their customers leave the bank satisfactorily.

    She added that efforts have equally been concluded to ensure that there would be cash in their ATMs for customers to withdraw.

  • Fed Govt kicks off egg production scheme in Abia

    Fed Govt kicks off egg production scheme in Abia

    The Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Kabir Muhammed Adamu has flagged off an egg production scheme in Abia State.

    Adamu, represented by the Executive Director, Partnership, Strategy and Corporate Services, Bank of Industry (BoI), Gabriel Okenwa, said one million jobs would be created in the scheme and that over 50 million eggs would be produced daily.

    Adamu said there is need for massive food production if the country must contain hunger, adding that the scheme will, among other things, boost the protein component of the school feeding programme, create sustainable poultry industry and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

    He said the scheme will empower farmers and make them employers of labour which can lead to 1.6 million profit cash at hand and massive wealth creation.

    He said that participants of the scheme are entitled to a loan of N4.3 million to be repaid in two and half years with a single-digit interest rate.

    On why Abia was chosen as one of the pilot states, Adamu stated that it was because of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s support for farmers to ensure food security and job creation, describing it as one of the greatest legacies he will bequeath to the next generation.

    Adamu further assured of the total support of the federal government to the project in the state, urging the governor to keep up his good work. This is even as he reemphasised that Bank of Agriculture will partner with the state to achieve this laudable project.

    In his response, Ikpeazu said Abia has decided to refocus and bring agriculture to the front burner as a way of coming out of recession.

    Ikpeazu explained that his government decided to make agriculture one of the first pillars of his administration because of his belief that it has the capacity to create more jobs and other incentives for the people to better their lives.

    He maintained that poultry farming in Abia must be taken seriously with clusters created to help farmers without adequate capacity with the requisite training.

    He said the state would key into “this federal government’s initiative anchored by the Bank of Agriculture. I call on them to do their best in catapulting agriculture to the place it must be in the scheme of things”.

    Deputy Governor of the state Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, state commissioner for Agriculture Hon. Uzo Azubuike and other top government functionaries were present at the event.

  • Nnamdi Kanu’s family to Buratai: You told court cheap lies

    Nnamdi Kanu’s family to Buratai: You told court cheap lies

    The family of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has berated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai over what it said was the cheap, blatant and childish lies the army boss told an Abuja Court Friday in respect of the invasion of their house by soldiers at Afara Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State.

    Gen Bruatai had in a counter-affidavit he filed in reaction to a suit in Kanu’s name before the Federal High Court, Abuja instituted by his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor said soldiers chased a truck laden with weapons into a house said to belong to the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu’s father in Afara Ukwu.

    Speaking on behalf of the IPOB leader’s family, his younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu said it was unfortunate the Chief of Army Staff could condescend so low to tell such cheap, childish and unbridled lies.

    “What is General Buratai talking about? The question I am asking is why should Justice Binta Nyako listen to such lies? If she fails to jail Bruatai, that means the judicial system in this country should not be trusted for any reason, he should be jailed for telling such cheap and childish lies, this is shameful, not when we have evidences.

    Prince Kanu said by denying the military did not invade their house not once but twice, Buratai was disputing what the Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali said that he actually authorized that invasion.

    “If the Minister of Defence said in a Television programme that he authorised the invasion, how could Buratai come out to say something different? If after the invasion on September 14 and on September 16 there was a press state by Abia State commissioner of police admitting they recovered some ammunitions from our house why then is the COAS on November 16 is denying they never invaded the house. If there was no invasion of the house, how come that the whole place was riddled with bullets? How come that people were killed including our dog and the Eagle bird we kept in the house?”

    Kanu going further said “All of them are confused, they don’t even know what they are saying, there is even no sense of direction since the Minister of Defence will say something different and the Chief of Army Staff will also say something different, they should coordinate their lies.

    “The truth remains that soldiers invaded our home without any course and they took so many people away including Nnamdi Kanu; either they’ve killed him or still keeping him somewhere. So, how come they are lying; are they lying against the local media or the international media which have visited the house and found out there was an invasion? So, who is deceiving who here? From the look of things everyone now knows that Nnamdi Kanu was either killed or taken away by the military.”

    The IPOB leader’s younger brother said if the army had traced someone who had truck load of ammunition to their house, that the COAS should tell the world who the person was, when it happened and the evidence to show that they traced someone with dangerous weapons to their house.

    “If the truck laden with the so called dangerous weapons was blown up by the driver as claimed by Bruatai, where is the charred body of the lorry or the ashes? The bottom line of everything is that there was no truck laden with weapons that was found near our house; the army invaded our house without any just course and as a matter of fact, Buratai knows where Nnamdi Kanu is and he should produce him.”

    To further buttress his point that there house was invaded by soldiers, Kanu alleged that during the invasion, “they (soldiers) took away our personal belongings, generator sets, food items, shot the eagle bird in our house, the dog and took away boxes containing our mother’s clothing and vandalized vehicles in our compound after riddling it with bullets.”

    He appealed on the international community to prevail on Buratai to order his men to return their personal belongings particularly his mother’s boxes they took away on September 16 or they will face the wrath of Briafra land.