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Tag: abia

  • 3 Abia PDP senators clinch party’s ticket for 2019

    Three Abia senators on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday clinched the tickets of the party for the 2019 general elections in the state.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, went through the crucible of a keenly contested race to grab his ticket, his counterparts from Abia North and Abia Central, Senators Mao Ohuabunwa and Theodore Orji, literally got theirs without stress.

    Abaribe, who seeks to return to the Upper Chamber for the fourth tenure, polled 413 votes to defeat three other contestants.

    The contestants included the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgboji, a former state lawmaker, Chief Emeka Stanley, and Chief Solomon Ogunji, an aide to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu.

    NAN reports that Orji, popularly called Ochendo, and Ohuabunwa, also known as “Follow better’, who are seeking a second term, polled 489 and 741 votes, respectively.

    The two senators were sole aspirants of PDP in their respective senatorial districts. (NAN)

  • Nollywood actor Jim Iyke to launch ‘Mr Taxi’

    Ace Nollywood actor Jim Iyke is set to launch a taxi service that will begin operations in the South-Eastern states of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi respectively.

    Iyke , turned 42 on Tuesday, disclosed this on his Instagram Page, indicating that the taxi platform will be formally launch on October 5.

    The Nollywood star who is the Chief Executive Officer of the company named MR.TAXI, is also planning expansion to the south south region.

    He wrote:”On 5th October, we’re proud to launch a platform that provides chauffeur services for the people of South East, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi states.

    “This is just the beginning. Our goal is to expand the scope of operation to the south South in a matter of a few months after takeoff.”

    Read Also: Uber, Taxify: Jostle for drivers intensifies

    He added that an official launch would take place in Awka, Anambra State, with guest artists including Basketmouth and singer Timaya, among others in attendance.

    NAN reports that Iyke, popularly known as ‘Nollywood Bad Boy” by fans and industry watchers because of his acclaimed aggressive and controversial roles, came to limelight in 2001 and is reputed to have feature in over 150 films.

    He is a three-time winner of the Teenage Choice Awards, among other honours.

    In 2008, he won the Best African Actor at the NET Awards, and the Best Actor of the Year in 2010.

    Having conquered the motion picture world, the Enugu-born thespian seems to now want to make a name as an entrepreneur.

    Earlier in the year, he launched an app he dubbed ‘Oga Work’, a platform to source artisans in Nigeria.

    According to him, the app is especially designed for artisans who have a passion for their crafts but do not have a space or a store but crave for their services to be offered to end users.

    The feisty actor Nollywood actor had also launched his brand of bottled water ‘Burgeon Water’.

  • Buhari condoles with family of Justice Ogbuagu

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of the deceased and the National Judicial Council over the passing of Justice Francis Ikechi Ogbuagu.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, commiserated with friends and professional colleagues of the late jurist, who served variously in the Federal High Courts in Imo and Abia, before rising to the Appeal and Supreme Court.

    He believed the legal luminary served diligently, and contributed immensely to the strengthening of the judiciary, which remains the bastion of Nigeria’s democracy.

    Read Also: Buhari extols Mandela’s value of humility, compassion

    President Buhari saluted Justice Ogbuagu’s deep sense of patriotism, loyalty and commitment to nation building, which was long sustained after he retired from the Supreme Court in 2010.

    He prayed that God will grant his soul eternal rest, and comfort his family.

  • Abia returns mission schools to owners

    Abia State government has returned East Street Primary School and Clifford Road Primary School, both in Aba, to the original owners-the Assemblies of God Church. The church had, in the past, pleaded with the government to return the schools to it.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu made the announcement during this year’s Men’s Day celebration of the Assemblies of God Church, 222 Clifford Road, Aba.

    He directed the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji to liaise with the church authorities to ensure that the handover process is completed by October.

    In their address read by the Secretary of the Men’s Ministry, Deacon David J. Okai, the church passionately pleaded with Governor Ikpeazu to facilitate the return of the schools to their church, a process they said began during the immediate past administration, but was stalled due to the leadership crisis in the church then, which has been settled.

    The letter reads: “Your Excellency, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu Sir, please, on behalf of the entire church, we are appealing with you to approve the recovery of our primary schools; East Street and Clifford Road Primary schools which were approved during the tenure of former Governor of the state, T. A. Orji. But because of internal misunderstanding we had then, it was withheld. Now that it has been resolved, we plead that you use your good offices and give them back to us. This church will never forget you for helping us out. We thank you in anticipation for doing it for us, Your Excellency. Divinity and humanity will never forget you in Jesus name, Amen.”

    Responding after Ikpeazu announced the pledge to return the schools, the Assistant District Superintendent of the Church, Rev Don Njoku, thanked him for the gesture and assured him that the church will continue to support and pray for his government.

    Earlier in his address, the President of the Men’s Ministry of the Church, Deacon Kalu Egbe, praised the leadership and development strides of the governor and assured him of their support in his determined efforts to positively change the narrative of Aba and Abia State.

    Governor Ikpeazu, who was received at the Church by Rev (Dr) Ogboso Ejindu, Assistant District Superintendent and the executive of the men’s ministry was accompanied by top government officials, including the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Uzor Azubuike, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu (SAN), Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Commissioner for Petroleum, Mr. Chizuru Kanu and Chairman of Aba South Local Government Area, Chief Emmanuel Emereuwa.

  • Buhari promises new textile investments for South East

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja expressed optimism that new investment commitments coming into Nigeria’s textile sector, of which Aba is a major beneficiary, will be actualized within the shortest possible time.

    He gave the assurance while receiving traditional rulers from Abia State led by His Royal Majesty, Dr. Isaac Ikonne, Enyi 1 of Aba.

    The President also assured the monarchs that the issue of unstable electricity and other basic infrastructure in Ariaria market, a major trading hub in West and Central Africa, would soon be a thing of the past.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rapidly industrialize the country through projects that promote import substitution.

    The President said the investments in the textile industry would create thousands of jobs for youths in Aba.

    He said ‘‘Just last week, I was in China to attend the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation. During that visit, I personally met with executives of one of the largest cotton and garment companies in the world who will soon establish operations in Aba.

    ‘‘This is following a joint effort of attracting this investor by both the Federal and Abia State Government.

    ‘‘The proposed investment will create thousands of jobs for the vibrant and creative youths in Aba.

    ‘‘I am very excited about this project. I have directed the Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to ensure this investment is actualised within the shortest possible time,’’ the President told the visiting royal majesty and his entourage.

    On Ariaria market, the President recounted that during his visit to Aba in 2015 as a presidential candidate, he was warmly received and walked through parts of the market where he observed the lack of electricity and other basic infrastructure for its over 40,000 shops.

    ‘‘As a government, we issued a presidential mandate to the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Rural Electrification Agency to energise the market.

    ‘‘In June 2018, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission granted an electricity generation licence as well as a distribution licence for the market. This will enable the generation and distribution of 9.5 Megawatts of electricity within the market.

    ‘‘The project is moving smoothly and I have been assured the market will be fully electrified soon. We are working closely with the State Government, Local Government, Traditional Rulers, Market Associations and the community on this project to ensure this goal is actualised by the end of the year,’’ he said.

    On security, the President reiterated that the APC-led government would continue to do its best to maintain the sovereign integrity of Nigeria while protecting the livelihoods of its hardworking and honest citizens.

    He also underscored the need for elder statesmen, leaders, parents and patriots to continue to guide youths on the path of peace and prosperity while eschewing hateful and divisionary rhetoric.

    ‘‘We must not shy away from this responsibility. We only have one Nigeria. And we must ensure we hand over a better Nigeria to the next generation,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Imo shutdown as youths hold solidarity rally for Buhari, Nwosu

    Eze Ikonne lauded the President for successes recorded so far since he assumed office in 2015, particularly in the fight against corruption, agricultural revolution, infrastructure development and security.

    On infrastructure development in the South East, His Majesty said: ‘‘ Mr President, I thank you for the massive federal roads rehabilitation going on in the South- East; like the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt expressway, Port Harcourt-Elele-Owerri road, Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

    ‘‘These roads were death traps for 16 years before you came into office, but today they are wearing new solid looks, though not completed but relief is already there with the level of work done so far.’’

  • ‘Erosion threatens Abia food supply’

    Residents of Isiukwuato, a major food-producing community in Abia State, are worried that soil erosion is wiping away their farmlands and may soon trigger food shortage in the state. They need urgent help from the state and federal government, reports SUNNY NWANKWO

    The people of Isiukwuato, Abia State, have called on the state and federal governments to come to their rescue as the impact of erosion menace in their local government is threatening everything.

    They fear that if nothing urgent is done to ameliorate the suffering of the people, the erosion which they said has done a lot of damage to their farmlands, costing them unquantifiable amounts of cash crops, would not only bring famine in the community, but the state at large. This is because many people from other parts of the state come to their community to buy agro produce which they take to the urban areas in the state.

    According to findings by our correspondent, the Isiukwuato erosion menace has lingered for a very long time as successive administrations did not address it.

    It was gathered that though the administration of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu tried to draw the attention of the federal government to the erosion menace, the seeming disagreement between Kalu and then President Olusegun Obasanjo hindered the effort. It was alleged that the federal government “intentionally” kept mum over the plight of the people of Isiukwuato.

    Some respondents interviewed by our reporter including Mr. Fidelis Ogbonna and Mrs. Charity Gilbert said that the situation wouldn’t have been what it is today if the federal government had come to the aid of the local government when the situation had not gone out of hand.

    According to them, the people rejoiced sometime during President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s regime when they sighted the presence of a construction company on the erosion site, but their joy was short-lived as the construction company suddenly went into oblivion.

    In a chat, information commissioner, Chief John Okiyi said, “This administration and others before it have repeatedly drawn the attention of the federal government to the bad state of the road and the threat posed to commuters, farmers and others by the ever expanding gully erosion, in the hope that the relevant agencies of the federal government will intervene to save our people from the trauma they face daily while using the road.

    “It is important to note that the scope of work required to fix that key stretch of road that connects our people to neighboring Imo and Ebonyi States, requires resources far above what the state government can muster currently.

    “We therefore call on relevant agencies of the federal government, including NDDC, Ministries of Environment and Works to immediately come to our rescue by performing their constitutional duty of care to the hardworking and peace loving people of Isuikwuato and Abia State through the declaration of the area and others in the state similarly threatened as ecological disaster zones requiring urgent critical intervention.

    “As a responsible government, we have made interventions to arrest the negative effects of rampaging gully erosions at Imenyi in Bende LGA, Abiriba roundabout in Ohafia LGA and Umuda Isingwu in Umuahia North LGA.

    “We are willing to work with the federal government and contribute in whatever way possible to tackle the challenge of gully erosion at Isuikwuato as well as other threats at Agu Eze Amaogudu Abiriba etc.

    “The state ministry of works is currently executing 3 road projects at Isuikwuato; Eluama Amilo Acha and Amino Otamkpa, Ovim-Acha and Ogboro-Amibo Acha roads, which are at various stages of completion.

    “Governor Ikpeazu has directed that an inter-ministerial committee, including works and environment, visit the area to assess what can be done by the state to ameliorate the problem posed by the rampaging gully.

    “We wish to call on other well-meaning Abians with cords to the federal government to consider the dangers posed to the common people of the area by this natural disaster and lend their voices to the call for an immediate intervention rather than the political point some desperately seek to make.

    “While we continue to work hard to fix as many key roads as possible within the state, we have never laid claims to fixing all the roads requiring attention in the state within the past 3 years. Yet it is undeniable that we have completed work on 67 roads and are working at more than 94 other road project sites across the state.

    “As our resource base expectedly improve, we will certainly do much more while also ensuring that we meet other needs of our people who have continued to support the Ikpeazu administration through various means.”

    However, following the directive of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu dispatching an inter-ministerial team to urgently visit the site of the gully erosion along Isuikwuato-Okigwe federal road, the state Ministry of Environment is set to commence remediation work at the site this weekend.

    This was revealed by the State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Aham Uko, in an interview with newsmen this evening in Umuahia.

    He said, “Our team of engineers has conducted a thorough evaluation of the Isuikwuato site today and we hope to commence the remediation this weekend”.

    Confirming the governor’s directives, when contacted, Okiyi expressed appreciation to the Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, for his prompt response to the situation along the federal road that links Abia State to Imo and Ebonyi States.

    In his words: “This administration is demonstrably focused on responding to the needs of the people of the state who graciously elected Dr Ikpeazu as their Governor and have supported him strongly. While we recognise that the primary responsibility of arresting the gully erosion is constitutionally that of the federal government, the state is ready to intervene to ensure that our people find safe passage way pending when help will come from relevant federal agencies.

    “During the last Niger Delta Council held in the State, we took officials of the federal ministry of Niger Delta to that site and pleaded for urgent intervention to save the road from total collapse. Sadly, the gully has progressed very fast and we now have a situation where vehicles cannot pass through that road.

    “As a responsible government, we cannot fold our hands and watch our people suffer while waiting for help from Abuja. We are set to undertake palliative work to remedy the situation while still pleading with the federal government to come to our aid by declaring that area and others threatened by rampaging gully erosion as ecological disaster zones with a view to deploying the resources of the country to deliver a permanent solution to the erosion menace at Isuikwuato and other locations in the state,” he concluded.

  • A’Ibom Govt. identifies twelve new cult groups

    Despite the proscription of 23 secret cult groups by the Akwa Ibom state government early this year, no fewer than 12 new ones have emerged in different parts of the state.

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko disclosed on Thursday this while delivering his speech at the 3 day seminar for investigation Police Officers at the State Police headquarters, Ikot Akpan, Abia, Uyo.

    Nwoko said the emergence of new cult groups negated the Anti-Cultism law enacted by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly four months ago.

    Addressing participants at the closing session of the seminar on the theme: “Diligent prosecution of criminal cases, “Nwoko told the Police Officers that another group of cultists with different names from the ones earlier outlawed by the State have emerged.

    He noted that the nefarious groups operated from different council areas of the State, adding they recruit and initiate new members daily.

    Although the Attorney General did not mention the names of the cult group, he said his office was compiling their names and would soon take legal steps to arrest the situation.

    “The Police would need enough time to investigate these new cult groups and knew their operation before the their clampdown”

    He encouraged the police to utilize all the knowledge acquired during the 3 days seminar to relying investigation machinery of the state.

    Read Also: A’Ibom to improve child eye care

    In a chat with correspondents, Barrister Nwoko said out of 113 Cult related cases in the State, the Police have secured 49 convictions while the rest are pending in court.

    He charged the police to use all the lectures in the seminar to sharpen their skills in crime investigation so that they have excellent prosecution in court.

    Nwoko further appealed to investigation Police Officers to back up their case files with the passport photographs of suspect for identifications in Court.

    He narrated an incident where Cultist was sentenced to death and they went berserk in court threatening law officers during the Court sitting.

    Also speaking at the seminar, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Godwin Abraham has appealed to the Federal Government to employ more lawyers into Nigeria Police to strengthen crime investigation as a base for prosecution of criminals across all the states in Nigeria.

  • Abia may adopt consensus to select governorship candidate

    All Progressives Congress Governorship aspirant in Abia state, Prince Paul Ikonne has said that stakeholders of the party in the state are discussing the possibility of picking a consensus candidate for the 2019 governorship election, saying such an option will guarantee the party easy victory in the coming general election.

    Ikonne said however that in line with the decision of the party, All aspirants and stakeholders in the state will soon meet to agree on a common candidate, pointing out that agreeing on a consensus candidate will strengthen the party in Abia state

    Speaking after obtaining his nomination form, Ikonne said he was confidence of emerging the consensus candidate adding that if given the opportunity as the candidate of APC, he will make Abia conducive for business “knowing that the people of the state are business oriented and take the state to a high.”

    Prince Ikonne explained that the people of Abia know that he actually won election in 2011, assuring that his government “will put Abia where it belongs”, adding that “as long as our party come together with a consensus candidate which we will eventually go for, we will come out strongly.

    “Those trying to destabilize the party one way or the other cave in by God’s grace and key into this course for us to rescue and take Abia to a greater height.”

    On the adoption of indirect primaries, he said; “It depends on the peculiarities of states and the environment. The party national leadership are very wise, but there are peculiarities, like in Abia, indirect primaries and consensus will definitely give us what we want.

    “Stakeholders are yet to meet, we are still going to meet, and by the time we meet, we will come out with a blue print of the way forward.”

    Read Also: Constituents endorse Edo lawmaker for second term

    On what he is bringing to the table if given the opportunity to fly the party’s ticket, Ikonne said he is coming in with a fresh idea, adding that he would add value to governance and ensure better life for the people of the state.

    “By God’s grace, I’m the founding father of APC in Abia, as the governorship candidate of the ACN then which was the major merging party of the APC. I have been in the party and I have worked for it and still working for it.

    “During the 2015 general elections, I organised the presidential rally in Abia which was successfully and adjudged the best rally and am coming from Aba, the Eyinba city and by God’s grace age is on my side, and I have served in government and I have good understanding of the way Government functions and I have blueprint on what to do to move Abia forward and above all, I have the grace of God more than any other aspirant.”

  • Nigeria cannot progress under its current structure – Saraki

    The Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that Nigeria cannot make reasonable progress under its current political structure.

    He said the present political structure does not allow the country to move forward.

    Saraki stated this during his presidential campaign visit to Abia at the Peoples Democratic Party state secretariat in Umuahia the State capital.

    He promised to restructure Nigeria to enable each state to be economically viable if elected president 2019.

    Saraki who also paid a visit to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, with other seven Senators at the Government House, said Ikpeazu has through his land mark achievements shown the people of Abia the importance of having a leader with vision and capacity to deliver and noted that It is time we had a Nigeria that represents all of us, a Nigeria that believes in equity and justice

    In a remark Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said that Nigeria requires a leader with requisite experience like Saraki who has served in the position as governor of Kwara State and now Senate President adding that Dr Saraki has the capacity to give Nigerians the needed hope.

    Ikpeazu said that its time for Nigerians to be careful and throw away all kinds of sentiments that are primordial to our immediate needs and unity of Nigerians.

  • Man kills lover’s son over N20 biscuit

    It was a black Saturday for residents of Agbaraevo Street off No. 147 Omuma Road, Aba, Abia State as they woke up to the shock of the death of a 12-year-old by the mum’s lover. This is even as mob who had gathered at the location angrily lynched the lover to death.

    The man identified as Amadi, 45  was said to have killed the lover’s child over twenty naira that the deceased was said to have used to buy biscuit.

    Our reporter gathered that crowd was attracted by the alarm raised by other tenants when they noticed that Amandi had killed the lover’s son.

    A source in the area who spoke anonymously told our reporter that Amadi who got to know the family through the husband moved in with the widow few years ago after the demise of her husband and has since been having sexual affairs with her.

    According to the source, “The matter is too flimsy to result to the killing of that boy. Amandi has been sleeping with the woman since the demise of her husband.

    “When he was beating the boy, people asked him to stop, but he refused. It was when the boy died that he wanted to run away and we learnt the boy’s offense was just that he eat his own mother’s twenty Naira biscuit. And the mother’s lover didn’t like it.”

    Read Also: Man burns teenager’s face with hot iron over N3000

    Another resident said that the deceased identified as aboy was the youngest child of the widow.

    The source added that Amadi who runs a shop where she sells dry gin and also a weight lifter sees the widow who is said to be several years older than him as the only source satisfying his sexual desire.

    “The man is too old to beat that boy. Even the woman he’s sleeping with is older than him by many years. He is a weight lifter and sells dry gin. He surprised all of us when he moved in with the woman after her husband’s death.

    “Most people who were beating him thought he was dead and left him only for us to hear that he is still alive in a nearby hospital after his supposed dead body was moved away by the police.”

    It was learnt that residents of the area are leaving the area in droves to evade impending police arrests.