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Tag: Abia State

  • APC battles PDP for soul of Abia

    APC battles PDP for soul of Abia

    As the preparations for the 2015 general elections peak, the Abia State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is deeply troubled by the increasing popularity of All Progressives Congress in the state, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    In Abia State, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is in deep troubles ahead of 2015 general elections as the leading opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), continues its bountiful harvests in the once conservative PDP stronghold.

    Given that Abia has remained a PDP stronghold since the return of democratic government in 1999, the party’s leadership in the state and Governor Theodore Orji- led state government had stoutly denied the gains of APC in the state until late 2013, when one of the most powerful and influential founding members of PDP in the state, Chief Benjamin Apugo, until then a member of PDP’s Board of Trustees, formally resigns his membership of PDP and joined APC with many of his associates and supporters.

    Some months before decamping to APC, Apugo had, in an interview, lamented the state of stagnancy in Abia State and blamed elderly politicians from the state for failing to act as checks to the government.

    According to him, “The problem of Abia State is that there are no politicians here and this is so as a result of poverty that is ravaging the state.

    “In Imo and Anambra, for instance, there are true politicians, who can fend for themselves. They live in their own houses, can afford to eat their own food and solve their problems as at when due. But here in Abia State, the reverse is the case. And that is why you continue seeing those who call themselves politicians or who should have been respectable elder statesmen, hanging around the Government House, looking for what to eat and saying yes to a matter they are supposed to say no.”

    When he made this grave statement and formally declared that PDP was dying, close observers said it was only a matter of time before he would formally leave the party alongside the G5 governors.

    Though he was not a governor, the state and national leadership of PDP, according to some sources, considered Abia too strategic to take any risk on, especially because of President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged firm belief that Abia would remain one of the South-East states that would help make his re-election possible. Besides, said a PDP official then, “We all know how strong and experienced Chief Apugo is. We know his exit from this party could create some serious problems because of his person, experience and the structure he controls. So, we considered it necessary to find a way of stopping him.”

    Another insider, an aide to a top government official in Abuja, said the development created so much fear in Aso Rock that some elders were sent from Abuja to assist Governor Orji’s team “in the critical assignment of stopping APC’s moves to claim Abia.”

    According to him, the team were given some specific tasks, one of which was to ensure that the political structure that Apugo controlled was not transferred to APC intact.

    But it seems the PDP leadership failed woefully in this task, for our investigation shows that when Apugo finally left PDP for APC last year, he did so with the full support of his political associates, who directly supervise his political structure, thus causing serious panic among leaders of PDP both in Abia and in Aso Rock, where the oil-rich South-East state is allegedly considered a sure bet for the planned re-election of Jonathan in 2015.

    To add to the fear of the ruling party, Apugo, on crossing over to APC, has not stopped telling the world why PDP will loss Abia and why APC will win in the state in 2015. Apugo in a chat with reporters shortly after joining APC, said “what makes the PDP appear to be having a field day politically is because the country lacked formidable opposition to checkmate the excesses of the party before now.

    “Why I doff my hat for APC is because of the credibility of personalities involved in a bid to bring the much desired democratic dividend to the electorate. APC is made up of characters, who would tell the country the truth without minding whose ox is gored.”

    He also explained why APC will defeat the ruling party in the state thus: “We don’t have anything, is it airport, stadium, good road, light, employment; so what do we have in Abia State, absolutely nothing.”

    As if Apugo’s exit was not enough blow to Abia PDP, the ruling party got a New Year’s shocker, when another influential chieftain of the party in the state, Chief Ikechi Emenike, also decamped to APC with party associates and supporters reported in the media to be in their thousands.

    Emenike, a factional governorship candidate of PDP in Abia State in 2011, is a grassroots politician and a strong fighter, whose followership in the state is also considered very large. Investigation confirms that Emenike, like Apugo, also transferred the political structure under his control to the APC.

    For example, before he declared his decision to dump PDP for APC, Emenike had series of meetings with his associates and supporters across the state.

    Earlier reports said the last of such meetings was attended by “over 4,000 of his coordinators, representing all age groups from across the state, where a vote was said to have been taken to decide which party they would defect to.”

    The reports on how his supporters voted said, “about 80 per cent voted to urge him to join the APC, 15 percent supported his joining the Labour Party, while four per cent voted for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.”

    As a result of this massive support, Emenike and his supporters decamped enmasse to the APC.

    Before joining full time politics, Emenike was the Chairman/Chief Executive of Development Economic Resources Limited (DER Ltd), publishers of The African Economy magazine and Annual Meetings Daily, the official publications of the World Bank/IMF, the African Development Bank, the African Union and the Commonwealth.

    In the 1970s and 1980s, he was in active journalism practice and served as editor of Newbreed. He was also with the West Coast Communications Ltd, owned by the late Chief Fred Brume.

    As a politician, Emenike proved his mettle during the PDP primaries for the 2011 governorship elections when he rubbed shoulders with the serving governor, Theodore Orji, and emerged a factional flag bearer. Then PDP produced two flag bearers: Governor Orji and Emenike.

    While Orji won the primaries conducted by the election committee set up by the National Secretariat of the party held at the Umuahia Township Stadium and supervised by Angela Mba as Returning Officer, the Chief Ben Etie-led faction’s primaries held at the Nkwoegwu Civic Centre with Proffessor Mba Uzoukwu as Returning Officer, produced Emenike.

    Although Orji returned as governor, Emenike, who hails from Umukabia Okpuala village in the Ohuhu Community of Umuahia North LGA, did not give up as he took the battle to court, up to the Supreme Court.

    Given the current development and report that Emenike is interested in APC ticket, it seems the political battle will continue at a different scale.

    Aside Apugo and Emenike, we learnt other prominent politicians from Abia are poised to dump PDP for APC.

    Mr Udodirim Iheke, from Item in Bende LGA, told The Nation during the week that most of the politicians from areas that have not been positively affected by the state government since the days of late Chief Sam Mbakwe will happily dump PDP for APC. “In my area in Apuanu Item, we are certain this government does not know of our existence. The Theodore Orji- led government has not done a single project in Item. So, why must we remain in PDP? We also want good things of life which is what a good government should provide its people. APC has so far proved to be a good party.”

    Apart from issues of performance and infrastructural development, other factors that are likely to garner support for APC in the state include the issue of producing the next governor in 2015.

    It would be recalled that places like Ngwaland and Isuikwuato areas have been agitating to produce the next governor of Abia based on some alleged agreements. While Ngwaland is making references to what it called the Abia Charter of Equity between Old Bende and Aba Divisions, Isuikwuato people are also contending that it is their turn. This factor will go a long way in determining the fortunes of PDP and the opposition parties, led by APC ahead 2015. The game has just started.

  • Neya Uzor Kalu rocks Abuja

    Neya Uzor Kalu rocks Abuja

    ONE lady who is currently rocking the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is Neya Uzor Kalu, the first child of former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu. The heiress to the Orji Uzor Kalu dynasty is making waves with her state-of-the-art Jus Human beauty spa in Abuja. The one-stop spa, we learnt, is now a Mecca of sort for celebrities.

    To say she is the apple of her father’s eyes is saying the obvious. Little wonder, sources said the former governor named his country home in the sleepy town of Igbere, Abia State as Camp Neya. Neya is a fashion buff and sources say she fraternises with silver spoons of her kind.

  • Nwariaku goes home

    Engineer Macdonald Nwariakwu is dead.

    The indigene of Umudinkwa in Umuahia South Local Government in Abia State was 85.

    He died during a brief illness.

    During his lifetime, he saw to the construction of many roads in the United States of America, Sweden, Switzerland and Yugoslavia.

    In Nigeria, he was involved in similar projects in Asaba, Damaturu, Calabar and Potiskum.

    Nwariaku, a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), was conferred with a distinguished merit award in 2008 by the professional body for his vast contribution to the growth and development of engineering in Nigeria.

    His remains will be buried on 30th November at Ubakala, Abia State after a funeral service at Saint Thomas Anglican Church, Aronipupe, Ubakala, Umuahia, South Local Government, Abia State.

     

  • Orji donates buses to six institutions

    Orji donates buses to six institutions

    Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has rewarded students of the six institutions based in the state with six 30-seater luxury buses for their good conducts.

    Governor Orji premised his gesture on the absence of student’s unrest since the he mounted the saddle.

    The institutions include the Federal Government-owned Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike and five others owned by the state. They include: Abia State University, Uturu; Abia Poly; and College of Health Technology, both in Aba; College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu; and Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba.

    Speaking in Umuahia at the handing over of the buses, Orji said the buses are to be handed over to the various governing boards of the respective institutions for proper management. He urged them to make good use of the vehicles for the benefit of the students.

    He said the nine outstanding buses with the inscription: ‘Free School Shuttle,’ are mandated to transport school children across primary and secondary schools in the state free, and will be managed by a committee headed by Anthony Osuwa.

    He recalled that in 2007 when his administration came into Office, he introduced the free school buses for both pupils and students of the state, and therefore decided to increase the fleet to accommodate more students due to the increase in school enrolment in the state.

    He directed that five of the free school buses should operate in the

    state capital while four will be deployed to the commercial city of Aba for the use of the students in that part of the state. He added that the nine new buses will add to the already existing fleet.

    Orji described his administration as transparent and visionary, stressing that he cannot afford to toy with the welfare of the pupils and students of the state, as they have done the state proud in various national competitions in different parts of the federation.

    He said: “It is part of this administration’s gift to such institutions and to appreciate the Federal Government for bringing such institutions to our state.”

    Responding on behalf of other benefiting institutions, the Rector of Abia Polytechnic, Alwell Onukaogu said the new buses would help ease transportation problems being faced by students and pupils daily.

  • Is retirement enough for alleged age falsification?

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended that Abia State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Shadrach Nwanosike, should proceed on compulsory retirement for alleged age falsification.

    The NJC took the decision at its 63rd meeting held on July 17 and 18.

    By the alleged falsification, the judge’s retirement age was unduly extended.

    Justice Nwanosike, however, is yet to react publicly to the allegation, which many consider weighty.

    Our correspondents’ efforts to reach him or get the Abia State judiciary failed at press time.

    Although the NJC’s decision has been described as a step in the right direction, some observers believe that retiring him is not enough deterrent if the allegation is true.

    However, the question on the lip of many is: Is it not a court of law that should determine someone’s guilt or otherwise of perjury?

    Having accused him of age falsification and recommended his retirement, should the matter end with the NJC decision?

    While some believe that compulsory retirement is enough punishment, others have called for more sanctions to deter others.

    To them, Justice Nwanosike, if indeed the allegation is true, should be made to face trial.

    Some lawyers believe that should he be found guilty by a court, he should be made to refund all salaries and benefits received after his genuine date of retirement.

    The allegation against Justice Nwanosike is not the first of its kind.

    There was the case of former Kwara State Chief Judge Justice Saka Yusuf (rtd), who was retired by the NJC led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammadu Uwais, after he allegedly spent almost 20 years extra.

    Justice Yusuf was brought from the Kano Judicial Division by former Governor Bukola Saraki, when the tenure of Justice Timothy Oyeyipo as Chief Judge lapsed, instead of appointing the most senior judge in the state then, Justice Fola Gbadeyan.

    Justice Yusuf threw in the towel and left office. He was neither prosecuted by the state, nor asked to refund salaries and allowances he collected ‘illegally’ for over 20 years.

    Efforts to clarify Justice Nwanosike’s exact retirement date of the judge met brickwalls as the state’s judiciary Public Relations Officer, Friday Ikeoha, said he did not have the details.

    He said: ‘‘I do not know. You have to ask the CJ himself because I do not have details of his retirement.

    “It is an NJC matter and I do not keep his personal records. I do not have the Chief Registrar’s number, you may have to come to Umuahia.

    “The NJC only recommended to the governor to retire the CJ, it is left for the governor to decide.’’

    So, what happens to those decisions taken after his legitimate retirement age? Should he be charged to court?

    Lawyers’ reaction

    Lawyers hold divergent views on the matter. While some said the retirement was severe enough and would deter others from such acts, others were of the view that the judge should be prosecuted.

    Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN); chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja, Monday Ubani, his Aba counterpart, Charles Eduzor; constitutional lawyer Dr. Fred Agbaje; Akintayo Iwilade and Chukwuemeka Eze said besides retirement Justice Nwanosike should also be tried.

    They said it was unbecoming of a judge to falsify their age.

    Ngige said: “I do not see the rationale of allowing somebody who committed a very serious crime as perjury to go home on retirement. It is like a slap on the wrist. The man should refund all salaries and allowances he collected for the three years he overstayed as a judicial officer to government coffers.

    “In addition, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) should arraign him for the offence he committed. It is high time a judicial officer was sent to prison to serve as deterrence. The judgments he delivered while he overstayed are not affected by the age falsification saga. The judgments or decisions he delivered are protected by defacto officer doctrine.

    “By this doctrine acts or official functions performed by an illegal occupant of a public office are deemed in the eyes of the law to have been regularly done. The doctrine is meant to ensure stability in the public service. But the doctrine does not immunise the illegal occupant from prosecution for his criminal conduct.”

    Ubani said: ‘‘Judges are not God but they perform some duties exclusively reserved for God. Therefore, they are like God. For such a person with grave responsibilities to be involved in offences like forgery, fraud, corruption and such like, portends danger to the state.

    ‘‘Retirement as a form of punishment for a culpable judge is not enough. He should be prosecuted in order to deter many judges who fall into this category of age forgers. Judges are not and should not be above prosecution for alleged criminal offences that pollute the temple of justice.’’

    Eduzor described the development as an embarrassment to the state, which will be difficult to erase. He recalled that a Customary Court of Appeal judge in the state was also sacked for the same offence, adding ‘‘it showcases both the state’s judiciary and civil service in bad light.’’

    He called for such actions to be extended to other arms of government in order to bring sanity into the civil service.

    He said: ‘‘It was for this reason that NBA, Aba branch insisted that the state government should not only appoint a seasoned and practicing lawyer who would advise her aright as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, but also appoint persons to the office of Chief Judge based on merit and seniority.

    ‘‘If the state government had followed the order of seniority in the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge, which would have been Hon Justice (Mrs.) Ijeoma Offornry, Justice Nwanosike would not have found himself in this mess.

    “Nobody should be happy that this is happening to the state at this point in time, but we warned them beforehand that they should appoint a substantive Chief Judge for the state based on merit and seniority, but they did not listen. How would one explain this that a judicial officer of that caliber could find himself in such a messy deal? This goes to show you how rotten the system has gone.”

    To Agbaje, the judge is not illegible to stay in office a day longer, and should be prosecuted because falsification of age is a criminal offence.

    Eze said the punshment was insufficent and non-deterent, just as he insisted that aside being prosecuted, Justice Nwanosike should be banned from using the title.

    He said: “It is evident that Justice Shadrack falsified his age so as to remain in office to exercise more power and make more money to the detriment of the State, litigants, and citizens of Abia State! This is corruption simplicita and it is one of the forms of corruption that section 15 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) has enjoined the Nigerian State to eradicate or abolish.

    “The appropriate authorities should proceed to deny him the use of the word “Justice” against his name; also, he should be charged to court for the offence he has been alleged to have committed. If convicted, he should be sentenced to terms of imprisonment in accordance with the law.”

    “The alleged falsification of age, if proved, will amount to a crime. But it is not the responsibility of the NJC to prosecute. Rather, it is the duty of the ministry of justice to decide the question of prosecution after proper investigation of the surrounding circumstances by the police.

    “Though one admits it will be extremely sad to see any member of the bench stand criminal trial, but if it is part of the price we have to pay for the ongoing effort to sanitize the administration of justice system, so be it.

    “The prosecuting authorities should therefore not shy away from initiating the process, if indeed there are compelling reasons for prosecution, and in the absence of a sincere error of personal judgment by the learned Judge.  But it will amount to a misplaced responsibility to expect the NJC to assume the prosecutor’s role. That public duty and discretion lies with the police and the ministry of justice after proper advice.

    However, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN); Funke Adekoya (SAN) and Norrison Quakers (SAN) said Justice Nwanosike’s retirement was enough punishment for the offence.

    Sagay said: “It is a good omen for the judiciary. I think the punishment is enough. Let him go and savour the disgrace that he has been thrown in.

    “For a judge to falsify his age is a form of moral turpitude. It means he is not a reliable person, he is dishonest, and his judgment can be influenced. In such a situation, there is nothing more befitting for such individual than a sack. I give kudos to the CJN for her bold step in sanitising the Nigeria judiciary, and I am optimistic that soon, issues of corruption in the judiciary will be a thing of the past.

    ‘‘I think his compulsory retirement or probably the forfeiture of his pension in addition, will be enough. If proper sanctions are constantly meted on erring members of the judiciary, it will, in turn, send warning signals to other officers who are guilty of such corrupt practices.’’

    Adekoya said he should not be prosecuted as his compulsory retirement was fit for purpose and enough embarrassment for him and the judiciary as a whole.

    ‘‘In my view, even the money should not be recovered because he worked for it. He worked those extra periods he spent in office,’’ she said.

    To Quakers, what is happening in the judiciary is a function of leadership and the present CJN must be commended for the efforts at sanitizing not just the judiciary but the legal profession as a whole.

    ‘‘The recommendation of compulsory retirement as punishment for falsification of age handed down by the NJC against Justice Nwanosike, in my view must have taken into consideration a number of factors before arriving at this decision and I am in no position to fault both the findings and the consequent recommendation, save to say that there were no allegations of corruption or corrupt enrichment.

    ‘‘But the question that will agitate one’s mind is why did his Lordship falsify his age? Was it done for the perks of office or for the love of the bench? Whatever the reason is; falsification of document by a judicial officer is weighty and raises issues of integrity.

    ‘‘It is not the function of the NJC to initiate and commence criminal prosecution, the work of the NJC has been effected, it is for the Attorney General and Commissioner Justice of Abia State to make recommendations to the Governor of the State on the findings of the NJC with a view of initiating and commencing criminal prosecution, or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on the prompting by way of a petition to investigate with a view to prosecuting the erring judge either for corrupt enrichment or abuse of office.

    ‘‘It is only in the doing of this that same can serve as a deterrent against judicial officers, but I do not think as a country and a people, we possess the will to prosecute erring judicial officers. If we take the route of subsequently criminalizing the act or conduct of the judge, it will have a backlash and far reaching consequences including decisions or judgments delivered, after the age, when his lordship ought to have retired, but stayed back.

    ‘‘In my view the recommendation of the NJC should not be altered or tinkered with, against the backdrop that this is not a clear case of corruption or corrupt enrichment or abuse of office.

     

  • Raising the stakes in 2013

    Raising the stakes in 2013

    The magnitude of our projections for 2013 has been securely held to our chest, awaiting a dedicated and religious implementation when we were prevailed upon to publicly flaunt them for the appreciation of Abians.

    Agreed, but not before we reiterate our well wishes to Abians and the generality of Nigerians especially as we look forward to a more prosperous and secure life in the Nigerian project, in 2013.

    Abia and the huge construction site of what it has become is a healthy development for which we owe God a thousand and one gratitude.

    2013 shall be comparatively better than other years following from our articulated strategy to extensively improve on the State’s internally generated revenue.The revenue effort of Abia State has suffered stunted growth following from the unpatriotic attitude of some civil and public office holders in the state, whose stock in trade is to sabotage the good intentions of government. A case in point is the recent preliminary discovery of over 1,727 ghost workers in our local government system. Government will beam its search light on other sectors with a view to replicating this cleansing.

    Regardless of the fact that Golden Guinea Breweries was mindlessly abandoned before we came on board, we have been on top of the initiative to bring it back to life. with its mass employment capacity.

    Plans are at advanced stage to re-engineer the state transport sector in association with the Federal Government Sure P Programme. We will leverage that window, to introduce brand new buses on the fleet of Abia State Transport Corporation. This projection has given rise to the re-organisation in the Corporation at the end of which spacious and more modern loading bays would have emerged.

    The State Ministry of Transport will expedite action in streamlining the operations of tri-cycle operators and encourage investors to develop taxi cabs. The proposed mono-rail for Aba and Umuahia will hopefully commence in 2013. Same is our expectation on the Alkamali powered private refinery to be located at oil producing neighbourhood of Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area.

    The onslaught against poverty will become fiercer in 2013 through a significantly improved youth empowerment programme and coming on stream of Liberation Farms designed for location in all the 17 Local Government Areas of the State. Our machinery for its attainment includes the extension of a gateway to a Malaysian firm in replacement of El-friel to revive the moribund Abia Palm at Ohambele in Ukwa East Local Government Area. The State will strive to improve on her cocoa production. Introduction of improved seedlings and asphalting of roads leading to our Cocoa farms will be of immense benefit.

    Three general hospitals; Okikpe in Ukwa East of Abia South, Arochukwu of Abia North and Amachara, Abia Central have been selected for a comprehensive up-grading through our Sure-P Programme. It is intended to power government holistic health-care programme in all our major geo-political enclaves for the maintenance of our people’s clean bill of health. Governments desire to construct one major road in each of the 17 Local Government Areas, will hopefully come on stream in 2013 but with particular emphasis on Aba. This approach is a deliberate design aimed at enhancing the economic potentials of our commercial nerve centre. It is a calculated follow up to the rehabilitation of more than 16 roads in Aba. The power roadmap in Abia State has recorded substantial improvement given the jinx breaking Ohiya Power Station. In February 2013, Government – Geometric Synergy will put paid to the frustrating black-out plaguing the commercial city of Aba. This illumination will hopefully inject life into every small and medium enterprise and consequently re-establish Aba in the global commercial map as a destination of note.

    Our “one stop shop” designed to weed investment hiccups and bureaucratic bottle-necks has been yielding the desired result. Genuine investors are cashing in on this gateway to display their wares in the State. Shoprite, a deserving beneficiary of the above module, has deployed men and machinery to government-approved site for the construction of a state of the art shopping mall in Umuahia. Our confident expectation is that Abia will in the coming year; join in the league of world class shopping States. This exhilarating development is equally taking place in the hospitality industry under the auspices of Protea Hotels Limited, which is driving the vision of re-engineering Abia Hotels Umuahia into a luxurious three-star hotel.

    Love FM Station (103:9) has stimulated a healthy competition in the air-waves since opening their shop in the State. It is our firm belief that fellow players in the industry who have accepted our hand of friendship will live up to expectation.

    Knowing that security is an indispensable factor in the attainment of every set objective, we will continually encourage harmonious relations of all the security formations in the state with a view to forestalling any untoward activity or relapse to what became the ugly Somali past of Abia state. Security is hugely capital intensive but we understand its importance to the safety of our people and in gaining investors’ confidence.

    Timber Market hitherto situated at the neighbourhood of World Bank Housing Estate provided the opportunity for us to taste the relocation waters. Now at the expansive landscape of Umudike, we are going to ride on that success to smoothly relocate the Umuahia Main Market to Ubani on or before the end of April 2013. Over 5,000 lock up shops have been built, awaiting the asphalting of roads and electricity. We estimate they would be done within our deadline.

    The delivery of Umuahia Modern Market will herald our season of harvest in project celebrations as the following giant leaps would have been qued for public presentation; new Workers Secretariat Umuahia, new International Conference Centre, new High Court Complex at Umuahia and Aba, new kidney Dialysis and Ophthalmology Centre at the Specialist Hospital Umuahia, new Children Centre and doctors’ residence at Amachara Annex of Abia Specialist Hospital.

    Never again will it be said that the godly State of Abia is lacking in structural identity.