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  • Appeal Court verdict: LP members protest sacking of Senate minority whip in Abia

    Appeal Court verdict: LP members protest sacking of Senate minority whip in Abia

    Members of the Abia State chapter of the Labour Party (LP), on Monday, November 6, took to the streets of Umuahia, the Abia state capital to protest the sacking of Senate Minority Whip, Darlington Nwokocha by the Appeal Court at the weekend.

    An Appeal Court sitting in Lagos in its judgment declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), the winner of the February 25, Abia Central Senatorial District election.

    Labour Party members who wore black attire displayed placards describing the Appeal Court’s judgment as pervasive.

    The group, led by the Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Augustine Meregini, marched from the party secretariat on Ikot Ekpene Road to Aba Road during the protest.

    Some of the inscriptions on their placards read, “Judicial impunity must stop”; _we voted for Darlington Nwokocha and not Col. Austin Akobundu”, “Darlington’s mandate must be recovered.”

    Addressing the party supporters, the state party chairman, Chief Ceekay Igara, said he wondered why the panel of the appeal that sacked Nwokocha also upheld the election of the member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, who had a similar case with him.

    He said: “We are in shock about the judgement because Section 77 of the electoral act, where the panel relied on to deliver the judgment which dealt with the membership of a party has been decided by the Supreme Court as an internal affair of the political party.

    “We are demanding for the details of the judgement to enable our lawyers to study and decide on the next line of action.”

    Reacting to the action of the Labour Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through its vice chairman, Abia North and acting Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Amah Abraham in a statement said: “It is unbecoming of a Party to make a public declaration to reject the judgement of a court of competent and final jurisdiction and ask it to review its judgement because that is nothing but a call to anarchy.

    “These infractions on the law by the Labour Party are jokes taken too far and it seems that the Labour Party is unaware of the actionable nature of their actions.

    “In the first place, the Labour Party is quite ignorant of the fact that Abia PDP had 19 grounds of appeal, most of which the Labour Party could not defend against, which bother on noncompliance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the 2022 Electoral Act as Amended.

    “Their attempts to reduce the petition of the PDP to Section 77 of the Electoral Act is a careless and unforgivable display of ignorance.

    “The Labour Party also refused to understand that a Court of Appeal had also determined that Section 77 of the Electoral Act is both a pre-election and post-election matter.

    “Furthermore, the Labour Party also conveniently ignored the fact that the Court of Appeal also took cognizance of the rejected votes in some polling units which was on the petition of the PDP.

    “More grievous display of ignorance is the inability of the Labour Party to provide a copy of the judgement to members of the Press even while making wild claims of reversal in sane breathe.

    “It is quite unfortunate that the Labour Party would stay mute when judgements go in its favour but prefer to bully society whenever a judgement goes against it.

    “Since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy and the 24 years it was in power in Abia State, the PDP never disobeyed any court order nor did it ever call its members out to protest the judgement of a court.

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    The statement further said: “Following these developments, the Abia PDP is compelled to alert the security agencies in Abia State of the devious plans of the Labour Party to cause a breach of the peace in the State.

    “The Abia PDP has consistently said that the Labour Party in Abia State portrays itself as a reckless organisation that does not respect the laws and has the tendency to push the State into the hands of autocrats and the events of today do nothing but to validate our proposition.

    “Once again, we call on the vigilant security agencies in Abia to forestall any breakdown of law and order in the State by restraining the Labour Party from acts inimical to the peace of the State and caution its leadership from statements capable of causing mayhem and a breakdown of law and order in Abia.

    “We also call on members of the PDP to remain calm, peaceful and law abiding even as we ask the good people of Ikwuano to call their children and wards to order and prevent them from engaging in acts that may lead to crisis in the State.”

  • Abia discovers 50 decomposing bodies, skeletons in cattle market

    Abia discovers 50 decomposing bodies, skeletons in cattle market

    Abia State Government has discovered over 50 decomposed dead bodies, over 20 headless bodies and countless human skeletons around Lokpanta Cattle Market in Umunneochi Local Government Area

    Governor Alex Otti disclosed this during his monthly media chat tagged: “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians” in Government House, Umuahia.

    He assured that his government was committed to tackling insecurity headlong without minding whose ox is gored.

    Governor Otti said prostitution, narcotics trade and other criminal vices around the Lokpanta cattle market necessitated the raid of the market.

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    The Governor, who insisted that the Lokpanta market would become a daily market that would open at 6am and close at 6pm, said sections are alloted to the cattle dealers and other businesses too.

    He made it public that his administration is equally fencing the market all in an effort to ensure adequate security.

    While responding to questions from newsmen, Governor Otti informed that his administration was deploying a different approach to secure the release of the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    He added that such approach is not for public consumption.

  • Abia Commissioner briefed on Africa Oh ‘s mission to Hungary

    Abia Commissioner briefed on Africa Oh ‘s mission to Hungary

    Players and officials of Africa OH FC of Isiala-Ngwa Local Government Area  of Abia State, have  paid a visit to the office of the Abia State Commissioner for Sports & Youth Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba,  ahead of their  upcoming football scouting programme in Hungary.

    The Chairman of Africa Orphanage Homes And Less Privilege Football Club, Sidney Sunday Ubanna said the club  formed in 2022, is where young footballers are scouted from various states within and outside the  country and harnessed.

    He informed the commissioner  that the football club is registered with the Federal Ministry of Sports & Youth development, the Abia State Football Association and the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF).

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    He pointed out their visit was to intimate the commissioner of their upcoming football scouting program, scheduled to take place in Hungary, from  2nd November, that will see players of the club being scouted for onward football contracts.

    Ananaba commended them for their visit, which he described as timely, in line with the sports developmental programmes of  Governor Alex Otti .

    He expressed delight with the growth of the football club in just one year of take- off, and charged them to represent the state well while also ensuring that their visit to Hungary yields positive result. 

    He commended the director of the club, Ubanna, for investing heavily in sports development especially with the choice of locating the football club in Abia State, and wished the players and officials of the club good luck in all their endeavours.

  • Abia assures of land for energy transition hub

    Abia assures of land for energy transition hub

    The Abia State government said it plans to provide the private sector players in the oil and gas industry with over 100 hectares of land, infrastructure, and an enabling environment for the construction of an environmentally friendly energy hub.

    If provided, it would consist of a modular refinery, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) processing plants through a Private-Public Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

    The governor, Alex Otti, who made this known during an oil and gas forum in Lagos, said the energy transition hub would be environmentally friendly and  help to reduce the carbon footprint of the oil and gas industry.

    Otti who spoke through the Commissioner for Petroleum Mineral Resources, Joel Ogbonna said the project was aimed at growing the economy of the state and ensuring prosperity for its citizens.

    He said: “The Abia State government’s decision to provide land and infrastructure for the project is a significant step towards achieving a sustainable energy future. The project will also create job opportunities for the citizens of Abia State and boost the state’s economy.”

    “We are committed to unleashing and spending resources on technology and infrastructure to make this agenda a reality. We are however committed to decarbonisation to reduce our carbon footprint. So as a government, we have decided to drive a good environment clean initiative”

    He said good governance was the fundamental thing that could make all these aspirations a reality.

    “The government that lacks vision and goals might not be able to achieve basic developmental objectives,” the governor stated.

    He said the crude oil in the natural field had little economic and financial value if the molecules were not broken down into useful commodities including petrochemicals and plastics.

    According to him, the state government has decided to make Abia a new hydrocarbon investment haven adding it has initiated the idea of establishing an importation bank so that we can take advantage of those resources.

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    This, he said would enable the government to bring all the players together for an investment and establishment of modular refineries, petrochemical plants, fertilisers plants and logistics in the state.

    The government agenda was crafted with the state future in mind, the governor said this was to ensure that whatever action being done in the state was channelled towards securing the future for generations to come.

    Otti informed the state government was seeking partnership in the oil and gas industry and resources management to build a state where there was economic prosperity, environmental protection and social equity.

    “It will take the collective efforts of the private sector players, media and the government to achieve all the new agenda that we have set to achieve in Abia State,” he said, adding that with a commitment to a strong partnership, Abia will be a new state.

    “We are therefore inviting all to the state to see what we are doing in terms of energy transition. We are determined to provide infrastructure and an enabling environment for every investor seeking to establish modular refineries and petrochemical plants in the state.

    This project is going to be a Private Public Partnership (PPP). Together, we will achieve collective goals of mitigating the destruction of the ecosystem,” the governor said.

  • Ex-Abia commissioner queries award of contract

    Ex-Abia commissioner queries award of contract

    Former Commissioner for Trade and Investment in Abia State, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has queried the award of the contract for the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road, Aba by Governor Alex Otti, at the rate of N30 billion.

    He said he was shocked when his attention was drawn to a statement released by Governor Otti, through his spokesman, wherein he attacked him for revealing to the public that his using N30 billion to complete the Port Harcourt Road, Aba project is suspicious.

    The former commissioner said the Okezie Ikpeazu administration which he served under, awarded the same road in 2017 for N9 billion with 40 per cent of the work already done, including the establishment of drainages end to end, along with proper channels for storm water.

    He said while he is unfazed by the tissue of lies and inaccuracies contained in the statement from Otti, it is instructive to note that during a radio programme he monitored in Umuahia, Otti confirmed that he is actually using N30 billion to do the job and that there was neither a budgetary provision nor due process competitive bidding for the work.

    “Furthermore, if Otti believes that property owners along Port Harcourt Road, Aba should be given compensation, he has my personal support to do so now because the government is a continuum and he is about to work on the same road as started by the former administration.

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    “Let me remind Alex Otti for the purposes of his records that as of May 9, 2017, the Port Harcourt Rd, Aba project was commenced, I was not a commissioner then and could not have harassed, nor been in any position to harass anyone on that road because of the project as he told ‘Abians’ on radio through his spokesman. I only became a commissioner in Abia State on October 17, 2017.”

    “I also find no real issue with associating me with the successes and shortcomings of the Ikpeazu administration because as expected of any government, we met many challenges, and solved many but couldn’t solve all the problems of Abia before we left office after eight years. By the time Otti leaves office, too, he will also not have been able to solve all the state’s problems.”

    Okiyi-Kalu said his position remains that he promised the people of Abia State transparency in governance, and he will continue to hold Otti accountable regardless of any threat to him or his family members.

    “In his inaugural address to the people of the state, Otti had said: “The time for the rebuilding process has begun. Transparency, accountability and public trust shall be at the centre of everything we do.

    “Based on the above statement, one then wonders why Otti is angry that a citizen is holding him to his words.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the federal government does not currently publish monthly FAAC and IGR receipts by individual states. What they publish is the total amount of FAAC receipts available for sharing among federal, state and local governments.

    “If Otti has a web address where we can get monthly FAAC and IGR receipts for Abia State, he should share it, please. If his problem is that I asked for transparent sharing of relevant information with citizens, as he promised, then he will continue to have issues with me.”

    He said Governor Otti would never be able to intimidate opposition voices in Abia State, especially himself, stressing that the governor wanted to do so that he could run the finances of the state as his personal funds.

  • Abia to partner Nigerian Institution of Surveyors on road construction

    Abia to partner Nigerian Institution of Surveyors on road construction

    Abia State Government has assured that it is going to partner the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors in road construction in the State.

     The Commissioner for Works, Engr. Don Otumchere Oti gave the assurance in his office in Umuahia, during a visit by members of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Abia State Branch.

    He stated that the state governor, Dr. Alex Otti understands the need to engage professionals in everything he does in order to get it right in the State.

     The commissioner further stated that the use of a base map in the development of the state cannot be ruled out because the state cannot continue to be developed haphazardly.

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    He pointed out that base-map when put to use in the preparation of the master plan of any construction, makes it possible to place structures in the right places to avoid problems in the future.

     The Commissioner further assured the team of surveyors of the readiness of the Ministry of Works to work with them when the need arises.

     Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Abia State Branch Surveyor Robert Akpanta stressed the need to use registered Surveyors that are adequately trained to provide survey data as this would reduce to the barest minimum, the adverse effect of flooding and erosion in the State

     He said that in the time past, some road projects executed in the State got bad within a short period of time after construction, stating that the result of those failures may be that the survey data required for execution of the projects were ignored or that the survey data were provided by unqualified personnel.

     He said such road projects as  Faulks Road and Umuatako Road all in Aba are part of the roads he was talking about. He also stated that the newly constructed drainage network along Aba/Owerri Road done by the past administration in the State is not functioning optimally.

  • Abia govt begins demolition of houses

    Abia govt begins demolition of houses

    • To facilitate six-lane road construction

    Abia State Government yesterday began demolition of residential and commercial houses on Tower-Ossah-Michael Okpara Square road, leading to Umuahia.

    It said the demolition would allow the building of a six-lane road from Enugu-Aba-Port-Harcourt expressway, leading to Umuahia, the capital.

    Our correspondent reports that the Michael Okpara-Ossah-Tower road, over the years, because of huge influx of vehicles into the state capital, usually witnesses gridlock that forces commuters going into and coming out of Umuahia, including those using Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway and Umuahia-Amachara-Obowo-Mbano road, to spend hours and sometimes days on the road, especially during the Yuletide.

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    The Nation had reported that the state government postponed the demolition by a fee weeks to enable it tidy up grey areas and allow owners of affected property to vacate their property, to give way for the demolition.

    Our correspondent reports that the state government, on the expiration of the grace period yesterday, deployed heavy duty equipment in site to start demolition of the affected property, to give way for the commencement of the road project expansion.

    While some residents are sad that they have been displaced from where they have been doing business in over two decades, others express happiness about the political will of Dr. Otti in doing what he promised ‘Abians’ during his campaign.

    The state government said it had begun process for the payment of compensation fees to those whose structures would be affected in the demolition for the construction of a six-lane Ossah road in Umuahia.

    Lands and Housing Commissioner Chaka Chukwumerije, who disclosed this at a town hall meeting with the people of Ossah and Umuorie, at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, said about 130 structures would be affected.

    He said the affected people had been notified, while valuation and enumeration had started, adding that the claimants had also confirmed their claims.

  • NNDC intervention in Abia falls below average, says Kalu

    NNDC intervention in Abia falls below average, says Kalu

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has said that the development intervention of the Niger Delta Development Commission in Abia State falls far below average

    The Deputy Speaker, however, assured that the House was committed to ensuring that none of the oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta was left out in interventionist programmes of the Commission.

    Kalu, who spoke when the members of the UKwa Consultative Council visited him, said the House would take a critical look at the intervention projects of the commission and ensure that every oil-producing community is given its fair share of interventions.

    While commending the leaders of the UKwa Consultative Council and other leaders from the area for maintaining peace in the area, said it was better to jaw- jaw than to war-war.

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    He appealed to them to continue to encourage the youths of the area to maintain peace, adding that a lot will be achieved through continuous dialogue.

    He expressed concern about the level of NDDC intervention projects in Ukwa land despite being the only oil-producing area of Abia State.

    He said “I must say that the level of NDDC projects in the area is below average and it is because of you that Abia State is considered an oil-producing area.

    “This has been a thing of concern to me. We have taken this up with the NDDC leading to a tour of the area by the Managing Director of NDDC. We will look at what has been done in the past and see how it can be addressed so that everyone gets what is due to them.”

    On the request from the delegation for the member representing the area to be allowed to serve in the NDDC Committee of the House, the Deputy Speaker said the Selection Committee was still in the process of compiling names of members to serve in the various committees.

    He told them that though the selection was predicated on one member per state, their request would be looked at based on its merit.

     Leader of the delegation, Chief Don Ubani decried the level of neglect of the area by the NDDC, pointing out that the leaders of the area have been able to impress it on the youths to maintain the peace.

    Ubani also decried the state of the Aba/Port Harcourt road, saying that as a result of the state of the road, a journey of about one hour now takes about five hours.

  • Abia to partner private sector to rebuild state

    Abia to partner private sector to rebuild state

    Abia State Governor Alex Otti has reiterated his administration’s desire to partner the private sector in the government’s quest to rebuild the state.

    He restated government’s position to work with the private sector when he received the Group Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, who led a team of the bank’s management team on a business visit to the governor.

    He welcomed the bank’s request to partner the state government in delivering gains of democracy to the people, while enumerating some of the things his administration had done in road and health infrastructure, as well as ensuring that workers received their salary promptly since it assumed office less than four months ago.

    Mrs. Onyeali-Ikpe thanked the governor for the warm reception accorded her and her team, which included Mrs. Pamela Shodipo, Executive Director, South; Mr. Mike Nnaji, Regional Head, Abia and Mrs. Evi Kanu, Regional Head, Rivers-Bayelsa.

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    She said the Fidelity team was in Abia to, first, congratulate Governor Otti on his electoral victory and subsequent assumption of office, adding that she had heard some of the good news coming out of Abia since Dr. Otti began to steer the ship of the state.

    Onyeali-Ikpe, however, said the work of rebuilding Abia required a concerted effort and all hands must be on deck to deliver and that Fidelity was willing to be part of the Abia success story under Governor Otti.

    “We realise there is need for support in the area of infrastructural development and industrialisation of the state. That’s why we came, to see how we can partner him with a view to moving Abia State forward.

    “For the level of infrastructural development Abia needs, there is need for heavy lifting.

    “As you well know, there’s a lot of work to be done in the area of roads, schools, hospitals; and you can’t do all of that from what the state generates on its own.

    “You definitely need heavy lifting support from the banks,” Mrs. Onyeali-Ikpe said.

  • Abia govt will alleviate traders’ pains, says commissioner

    Abia govt will alleviate traders’ pains, says commissioner

    Abia State Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, has assured traders of government’s readiness to alleviate the pains they face in the course of doing business. 

    The commissioner, who gave the assurance when he visited traders at  Umuahia Ultra-Modern Market, Ubani Ibeku, said the Governor Alex Otti administration was government of the people, adding that Ubani Market was of great importance to the government as it was the largest market in Umuahia. 

    Ukaegbu said Governor Otti, whom they supported at the polls, would work for the good of ‘Abians’, noting that the state government knew their plight, including bad road, “which is under reconstruction.”

    He said the government was aware of Umueze-Agbo road construction, adding that it was working to move traders at Isigate back to Ubani market.

    Speaking about the dilapidated shop buildings, the commissioner promised the traders that the government will ensure the market becomes functional.

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     stressing that when government provides a conducive market environment, the traders will be happy and pay their levies with ease and generate revenue for the state.  

    The Chairman, Umuahia Ultra-Modern Market, Ubani Ibeku, Iroham Nwoko, thanked the commissioner for the visit which he said was first of its kind in the history of the market.

    He thanked Dr. Otti for his love for the traders and listed some of their challenges hindering growth of the market and the required revenue expected from them to include bad roads, transportation, electricity and security. 

    Others, according to him, are placing of waste disposal trucks and the full implementation of HAB 13 law passed by the House of Assembly concerning markets. 

    Nwoko implored the government to rehabilitate the fire service office and establish a rubber slippers/plastic manufacturing company in the market to help make it more viable. 

    A trader, Chief Simon Osuji, thanked the commissioner for the visit, describing him as a hardworking and vibrant person who has come to change the old order of administration by coming closer to the traders.

    He pledged their support to the Otti administration. 

    The commissioner, accompanied by the Director of Commerce, Elder Mecha Udonsi, was welcomed by market executives and traders.