The Nation Newspaper

Tag: abia

  • Abia North senatorial election: Kalu testifies at tribunal

    Abia North senatorial election: Kalu testifies at tribunal

    Former Abia State Governor and the senatorial candidate for Abia North

    Senatorial district in the last general elections, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has testified in the consolidated petition at the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia.

    Kalu, the candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance [PPA], is contesting the declaration of Mao Ohuabunwa as the winner of the election.

    The former governor testified as the 1st Petitioner, PW5, for about three hours, insisting that he should be declared the winner of the election, based on the result of the two local governments of Bende and Isuikwuato.

    Kalu, under cross examination by the counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mike Onyeka, said that the election in the district was inconclusive in areas like Arochukwu, Ohafia and Umunneochi council areas.

    Speaking in an interview after the session, counsel to Kalu, Kelvin Nwufo, SAN, described Kalu’s testimony as excellent, adding that he could be declared winner based on the result of the two local government areas.

    According to Nwufo, it happened in 2007 when Nkiruka Onyejiocha was declared winner based on the result of one local government, Isuikwuato, adding that it was later confirmed by the Appeal Court.

    He said Kalu’s testimony was hinged on three depositions, including the deposition in support of the petition, deposition in support of reply to the reply of the 1st respondent and “our reply in respect of the reply to the 2nd -9th respondent.

    Kalu’s counsel said a forensic expert would testify in the case on August 20, 2015, because the respondents’ objection to his testimony was granted by the tribunal, which ruled that they be served the witness’ report to enable them prepare their reply.

    The matter was adjourned to August 14, 2015 as scheduled by the tribunal.

  • Abia, Ebonyi agree to end boundary dispute

    The governments of Abia and Ebonyi states have resolved to find a permanent solution to the border disputes between the two neighbouring states.

    The deputy governors of the two states committed their respective governments to end the dispute with a final demarcation of the 70km-long interstate boundary, involving four and two local governments in Abia and Ebonyi states respectively.

    The council areas in Abia State involved in the dispute are Umunneochi; Isuikwuato; Bende and Ohafia, while Ivo and Afikpo South local government areas are in Ebonyi State.

    More than six violent clashes have taken place at different points along the boundary since 1987, a situation which necessitated the peace meeting between leaders of the two states.

    Speaking at a joint meeting of Abia/Ebonyi Interstate Boundary convened at Umuahia by the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Abia State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Ude Oko-Chukwu, noted that the state has boundary disputes of varying degrees with all neighbouring states.

    Oko-Chukwu said that Abia State was ready and willing to ensure that the boundary dispute with its neighbours is resolved completely, adding, “We want our people to live in peace and harmony with our neighbours in Ebonyi State”.

    He said that while some of the boundary disputes had received attention, some remain unresolved, adding that the Abia/Ebonyi boundary “is among those that have not been attended to along the entire stretch of the boundary”.

    Speaking further, the Abia deputy governor said, “The disputes are actually land disputes which were converted to interstate boundary disputes because they now exist across the border of the two states. The primary causes of the disputes are the unguarded desire to acquire more land for farming and to own quarry sites.”

    Ebonyi Deputy Governor, Chief Kelechi Igwe, agreed with his Abia counterpart on the need for peace to reign in the border communities, saying that Ebonyi had already declared its readiness for peace and proper delineation of the disputed boundary.

    Igwe identified eight points along the Abia/Ebonyi boundary where disagreements still exist. He said he expected the spokesmen for the communities involved in the dispute to provide the information that will assist in arriving at strategies that will help in the demarcation of the boundary.

    Also speaking, the Director-General of NBC, Dr Muhammad B. Ahmad, said that the commission had over the years taken different actions on interstate boundaries involving Abia State.

    He, however, noted with regret that progress on each of the interstate boundaries is not commensurate with the efforts and inputs made by the commission.

    Dr Ahmad said that the Abia/Ebonyi interstate boundary could be described as a boundary between brothers who co-existed as people of the old Abia State before the creation of Ebonyi State in 1996.

  • ‘Abia is PDP stronghold’

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Ben Onyechere has urged security agencies to be focused in their bid to nab the culprits who razed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Abia State.

    He said the allegation by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia, that the PDP was responsible for the act, as well as the burglary attempt near Alex Otti’s house in Abuja, was an attempt to divert the security agencies’ attention.

    Onyechere, a former apecial assistant to former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, said the allegations were fictitious and an attempt to distort the facts.

    He said: “This is because Abia is the strongest hold and base of PDP in Southeast and as such, is inconceivable and an inordinate ambition for Alex Otti’s faction of APGA or any party to nurse the ambition of contending with PDP in Abia.

    “PDP’s strength in the Southeast is incontestable and as such, APGA’s claim is a far cry from the reality of PDP’s overwhelming popularity in Abia.

    “The destruction of INEC office must be a well crafted dare-devil plot by the opposition to attract attention in newspapers to make it seem as if they are in contention with PDP.

    “APGA in Abia could have done better if they had fielded their original candidate who had been sponsoring the party, which is not to say that it could have won any other state in the Southeast apart from Anambra which was as a result of power of incumbency.

    “Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s emergence is incontestable because he was thrown by the circumstance of the collective bargain to shift power to a home-made core Ngwa, which is the reason the people of Abia are at peace.”

  • Hoodlums set Abia council INEC office ablaze

    Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State was on Sundayset on fire by yet to be identified hoodlums.

    Sources within the area that confirmed the incident expressed fear that sensitive materials used in the conduct of 2015 general elections, including the ones used for the governorship elections may have been burnt by the fire.

    But another source told our correspondent that although the level of damage was yet to be ascertained, the fire had already been put off.

    Another account has it that the whole structure was engulfed, but the Abia State Fire Service is yet to comment on the incident.

    Enabor Godwin, the state INEC Public Relations Officer when contacted by our correspondent said he was not aware of the incident, but the state Police Public Relations Officer, Onyeke Udeviotu Ezekiel confirmed the inferno.

    Onyeke said he was yet to be briefed on the extent of damage to the INEC office in Obingwa, adding that investigation into the matter would soon comence.

  • Police burst baby factory, arrest robbery suspect in Abia

    The police in Abia State have clamped down a baby factory, Nma Charity/Maternity Rehabilitation Centre.

    The police were said to have acted on a tip off and rescued 14 inmates of the illegal home at Umukpeyi in Isiala Ngwa South.

    Police spokesman Ezekiel Onyeke said the ages of the victims ranged between 14 and 25.

    Onyeke said of the 14, four were suspected to have delivered some days earlier and the babies sold.

    He said the police raided the place but could not arrest the owner as she escaped.

    “Many of them claimed they were taken there by sympathisers after they were driven from their homes. 12 confirmed to be pregnant while two said they were there for confirmation,” Onyeke said.

    The police also arrested Michael Agbai for attempting to kidnap Mr. Onwuka Chidozie.

    It was learnt that Agbai and his group, after a failed attempt to kidnap Chidozie, went away with his Toyota Corolla (KTU 573 BG) and a wallet containing identity cards, N4,600 and his phones.

    They were however involved in an accident some kilometres from where the scene of the incident. One of them escaped before the police arrived.

    The police arrested Agbai, recovered the vehicle and a short gun.

    Police sources said the suspect is in detention and helping with information to aid investigations.

  • Ikpeazu’s ’ll restore peace in Abia

    Ikpeazu’s ’ll restore peace in Abia

    Ben Onyechere is a former Special Assistant to former Vice President Alex Ekwueme. In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, he speaks about the agitation for power shift to Abia North and what the Ikpeazu Administration portends for Abia State. 

    How is Abia State coping with the shortfall in revenue allocation?

    Abia State is one of the few states in the federation that is not encumbered by a huge debt profile. This was because the immediate past administration entrenched some prudent financial management mechanism and this has been imbibed by the current administration. However, this is not to say  that the state’s revenue position is perfect, particularly with the slump in the price oil crude oil globally. This is the major reason why most states cannot meet their obligations, particularly with regards to payment of workers’ salaries. This governor is not unaware of the expectations of Abia people for a quick turn around of the revenue position. This is why on assumption of office he embarked on immediate reconstruction of roads in Aba as a platform to assess and enhance the status of revenue generation in the state. He is trying to devise  ways to maximise the state’s revenue generation potential at the moment. All efforts are geared towards ensuring that the Aba Integrated Power Project being carried out by Geometric Power Limited comes on stream soon. The project is intended to provide electricity to the commercial hub of Aba.

    How is the governor tackling crime, which the state is noted for?

    The problem with Abia State really is challenges of interest articulation and aggregation. The major agitation was  centered around the clamour for power shift, and with the effective achievement of that ambition, the state has been united more than ever before. The level cohesiveness that transpired across all social or political divide in reaching this goal was instructive. Prior to the election the generality of the elites had formed an understanding to remain together and speak with one voice. This was what added impetus to the quick resolution of the power shift; it was agreed that the core Ngwa or Abia South should produce the governor. This has brought unparralled peace in the state because the governor became a natural selection among  the lot who came out.  This was based  on factors such the fact that he is a full-blooded Ngwa man. This is in addition to the fact that Abia is a PDP state. Besides, he is a grassroots politician who has learned the ropes because of his service  to the state in an official capacity. In contrast, his opponents were all living  outside the state and have little or no idea of the nitty gritty of home politics. The case of Alex Otto is peculiar because he had never been involved in politics at any level before he was drafted to come and run for the primaries. But, when he could no longer cope with the rigours, he decamped to APGA, in spite of the fact that the party had an existing candidate. The crisis that engulfed the party afterwards was a result of his entry into the race on the party’s platform. It is, however, preposterous that the same man is claiming that he was rigged out. APGA members voted in protest for the PDP because of the way and manner the existenting candidate was displaced. The people of Abia had through their choice of Ikpeazu, who lives in Aba, rejected the plan of the other candidate to colaterize the state apparatus which could have resulted in the mortgaging of future generations of the state. The problem with the opposition really is that they underestimated  the political consciousness and enlightenment of Abia people, otherwise you could not hastily resign your appointment from diaspora and expect to arm twist every body including the incumbent whom he had lobbied previously.

    What will the new government do differently?

    As you know, governance is a continuum and you cannot completely break from the past. But, that notwithstanding, he intends to improve on the achievements of his predecessor, by focusing on improving revenue generation. This will be used to revive ailing industries, so as create more jobs for the teeming unemployed youths. The upgrade of infrastructure, particularly roads, is uppermost in his mind.

    What is the guarantee that he will not fall out with his predecessor?

    As you know, respect is reciprocal; what normally brews problem is when a former governor starts demanding too much cash from his successor. But, luckily, ochendo is a good man and he may not indulge in such.

     

  • Nurse abducted in Abia

    Residents of Starline Housing Estate located off Ovom-Azumini road, Ofgbor Hill on the outskirts of Aba, Abia State were at the weekend thrown into confusion as gunmen stormed the area.

    The gunmen said to be four abducted a nurse whose name was given as Uchechi Stephen.

    The nurse according to sources in the area was abducted in front of her resident while waiting for her gateman to open the gate of her compound.

    The incident, Nation gathered happened around 8pm while returning from work without knowing that the gang had laid ambush for her.

    Sources in the area said that the kidnappers in a commando manner waylaid her and whisked her to an unknown destination.

    It was yet to be ascertained at the time of this report if the hoodlums have made contact with the victim’s family.

    “The woman nurse runs a chemist shop at Opobo road. She was on her way home after the close of work not knowing that the kidnappers had laid ambush for her. They whisked her away without wasting time and the way they did the whole things looks as if they had trailed her from her shop to her house because even before the gateman could come to open the gate, they were already gone with the woman”, a source narrated.

    Some residents who spoke to reporters on the issue said that they were living in fear in the past three months and called on security agencies in the commercial city to increase their surveillance on the Opobo-Ovom-Azumini road to nip the activities of hoodlums in the area in the bud.

    When contacted, the state Police Public Relations officer, Onyeke Ezekiel who could not confirm the kidnap said he was yet to be informed about the incident.

  • Re: Media siege of Abia: The limit of indulgence

    THE moment I saw a rabidly calumnous article, entitled “Media seige (sic) on (sic) Abia: The limit of indulgence” published in THE NATION ON SUNDAY of June 28, 2015, Page 69, I knew instantly that the victims would be the former governor of Abia State (1999-2007) and publisher of The Sun, Dr. Orji Kalu and this writer. What I never expected was that the famished hustler who wrote it, Ethelbert Okere, would beat the vicious records of the hungry media blokes who monumentally mismanaged and battered irredeemably the image and, extrapolatively, the public reputation and perception of the immediate-past governor, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji.

    On a critical prefatory note, it is apposite to x-ray and skeletonize Okere before addressing all the points he raised in his half-page bile in his conventional quest for recognition and patronage by the governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, and other unsuspecting politicians.

    From the illiterate headline, I was not astonished by the poverty of the language and the caustic contents of the beggarly contribution by a floundering man in his 50s.

    Now to Okere’s sillies: first, Okere is questioning why I should be on the Editorial Board of The Sun as well as being the Media Advisor to Dr. Kalu. In his trite article under reference, he said some of his “colleagues” and politicians he spoke with faulted my job schedule and he concluded that the dual development was a mark of media impunity in the country. Does this he know anything about the history of the Nigerian media (which I studied as a sophomore), ethics, ownership, proprietorial interest, public interest, national interest, vision and mission statements before his interjection?

    If this dishevelled fellow knew these journalistic fundamentals, he won’t be intruding in matters that are obviously beyond him and his equally ignorant “colleagues” and disreputable politician-friends who do not know anything about journalism, yet pontificate on its professionalism or lack of it because the Okeres of this world give them the fleeting platform usually monetized. What business of Okere is it if my employer decides to give me a multiplicity of tasks based on my versatility and capacity?

    An extract from Okere’s malicious article to corroborate my assertions about him: “…he (Wabara) was charged for (sic) sedition. Hell was let loose in a section of the media where Wabara and his publisher dominated.” This is just one of the innumerable asininities of Okere. My barbaric abduction by imbecilic agents of T. A. Orji drew global attention and umbrage through multi-media dissemination of the assault. Rascals like Okere should not be reminding me of the bizarre effrontery by one of his traitorous benefactors. I have closed that chapter and moved on miles away from the sordid tragedy, by God’s grace. I advise Okere to do a media audit of the reportage of that ugly incident that has eternally diminished the actors.

    Another excerpt: “His (Wabara) weekly column published by his political cum professional (sic) benefactor is devoted chiefly on (sic) T. A. Orji. Those familiar with the column know that it is all about an unashamed solidarity with his publisher…” This impolitic chap is so confused that he mixes up my column with my regular essays on T. A. Orji’s eight-year disastrous misadventure in Abia State that has earned him brazen senatorship! This can only happen in Nigeria.

    By Okere’s treacherous antecedents and current waywardness, I should antagonise my publisher/employer and dine with devils and demons personified by his floating principals! This dishevelled stranger to my state needs a psychotic examination and should be quarantined meanwhile. Why should I be embarrassed or ashamed defending my publisher or care about third-party approval/disapproval? Is this critic confused?

    Still on Okere’s trash: “Is Wabara in any position to cause Orji any discomfiture even if the entire newspaper is handed over to him to do columns on Orji every day?” It is not the volume/space of a newspaper that matters—what counts is the quality of work. I did only six articles (two of them rejoinders) on T. A. Orji and inerasable international blunt was made by my Orji-induced kidnap. The outcome of that executive brigandage is now history.

    Ordinarily, I will not respond to a character like Okere, but the issues he clownishly raised are such that need elucidation lest his principals and prospects like Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Dr. Ikpeazu go and contract him for more deviancies.

    Finally from the latest oppositional ant: “I have written severally (sic) that Dr. Kalu and his media boys (demonstration of Okere’s incurable insanity) have taken the matter too far. Abia is the only state that has (sic) the misfortune of having a media siege laid on (sic) it by two of their (sic) own.” Other states did not have media siege laid to them because their governors exemplified visible good governance devoid of callousness, malice, devilishness, demonism, multiple taxation of Abians and illegal demolition of their shops/homes, surrogacy, propaganda, deceit, lies and amnesia. Above all, they feared God and never had people like Ethelbert Okere and three notorious lawyers (one a former special asistant, the other a judge aspirant that will never be and the main legal actor now foisted on Ikpeazu)!

    It is well with my state. Dr. Kalu and I cannot pick a fight with Okere because he has nothing to lose! Who will rant next? I dey wait for una.

     

    •Wabara (ewabara@yahoo.com/08055001948) is the media adviser to Dr. Orji Kalu.

  • Abia to raise N1.5b IGR monthly

    Abia to raise N1.5b IGR monthly

    The slump in oil prices seems to be bringing out the best in the leaders, with Abia State planning to generate N1.5b internally every month.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu revealed the government’s plan at his maiden press briefing in Umuahia, the state capital.

    A source said the state was once generating between N300b to N600 billion monthly but has since dropped due to leakages linked to a few individuals who siphon government funds and have been getting away with it. This, according to the source, the governor will no longer tolerate.

    According to Ikpeazu, part of the steps taken by his administration to achieve to it target was the ongoing infrastructural and some road reconstruction and rehabilitation in the state, especially Aba, the commercial hub of the state, adding that more road constructions in the state are due for inauguration in less than one week.

    The governor further disclosed said that the state government’s plan is to do an average of 100 trucks of waste everyday for 30 days, stressing that that has been completed and would be extended.

    The governor assured that de-silting of drainages in Aba would be a monthly exercise for six months.

    Meanwhile, the chairman Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Aba branch Mr. Chidozie Ogunji, a lawyer, has advised Governor to make good use of the state IGR as the price of oil at the international oil market continues to dwindle.

    Ogunji in a chat with journalists in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state, noted that the economy of the state would blossom and government able to execute its projects if the IGR of the state would be properly managed.

    According to him, if Ikpeazu can fulfill his promise of infrastructural renewal and boost trade and commerce in Aba he will discover that resources that would be generated from Aba can run the state effectively without relying on federal allocations.

    In a chat with in Aba, Ogunji posited that if Aba is fixed, the city has the potentials to generate huge Internally Generated Revenue which would be far in excess of federal allocations, stressing that the governor must plug revenue leakages.

    “I think the governor has started on a good note by his efforts to rehabilitate roads and open some of these areas. He can change the face of Aba and make sure that touts are pushed out and ensure that infrastructure is working well and turn Aba into a mega city. Investors will come and businesses will begin to thrive in the city. Again, the problem of illegal revenue agents and touting should be given a serious attention because most of these revenues they collect end up in private pockets. He must make haste to block revenue leakages to get funds for development purposes.”

    He urged the governor to cut the high cost of government in the state by not recycling some names that have refused to engage themselves in any other work than relying on government as well as scrapping Ministries, Department and Agencies, MDAs, with similar functions.

    The NBA chairman also lamented that the courts have been on strike in the state and called on the governor to ensure that the problems is resolved.

    According to him,”It is an infringement on the rights of the people to have the courts shut down.Gov. Ikpeazu should do everything within his means to ensure that the courts are opened. Whatever is the matter should be resolved; it is undemocratic to have the courts under lock and key.”

  • Abia cracks down on illegal tax collectors, ghost workers

    Abia cracks down on illegal tax collectors, ghost workers

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has warned illegal tax collectors to desist from the act or face the wrath of government.

    Ikpeazu said that the era of multiple taxations in the state is over in the state, as those who are authorized to collect government taxes are only workers of the state Board of Internal Revenue which must be paid into state bank accounts.

    Speaking with newsmen during his maiden media chat in Umuahia, Ikpeazu said that dirty habits are difficult to leave which is the reason people who are not tax collectors are still collecting taxes illegally for their own use.

    Ikpeazu noted that the state government is ready to partner with any group that wants to generate ideas on how to improve the internally generated revenue, “But they will not be expected to touch our money.”

    He said, “Such group will be expected to only give us ideas on how to increase our IGR and not to lay their hands on our money, as doing so will mean trying to do another thing, which we will not accept”.

    Ikpeazu said that the fight against ghost workers has commenced in the state, adding that he expect workers to help government to identify such people so that the infrastructure they are providing will go round.

    He said that any worker found to be involved in ghost worker syndicate, staff racketeering and padding of staff salary will be declared an economic saboteur, “And made to face the full wrath of the law”.

    The governor explained that the revenue generation of state government is within the range of N300-600 million monthly, stressing that he intends to increase it to N1.5 billion monthly.

    Ikpeazu said that the revenue will only be increased when the massive road rehabilitation that is going on across the state, especially in Aba is completed, “Only then will people willingly pay their taxes and increase revenue generation”.

    He said that he is determined to pay outstanding staff salaries, staring from the ones under his administration and gradually picking up the ones he inherited, assuring that “the issue of

    salary arrears will be cleared in no distant time”.

    On the issue of subvention to institutions and parastatals, Ikpeazu said, “I expect the bosses of such institutions to tell us how much they generate, so that we can know how much to give as subvention”.

    He said, “If I am giving out subvention to the university, I expect the boss of the university to tell me how much they generate and if there is an increase in fees by 30%, I am expected to reduce my subvention by 30% as well.”