The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor Okezie Ikpeazu

  • Abia key to Nigeria’s growth, says IBB

    Abia key to Nigeria’s growth, says IBB

    Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida has described Abia State as key to the economic development of Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

    He also praised Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his efforts in repositioning the state for growth.

    The state was created in 1991 by the Babangida administration.

    A press release by Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos said Babangida was speaking when Governor Ikpeazu visited him at his Hiltop home in Minna, the Niger State capital.

    Babangida said, “Abia is very important to Nigeria and Africa. I hear about your efforts to reposition the state. God will bless you for the good work you are doing for us in Abia. Please do not stop the good work you are doing already, and always remember that the opportunity to serve has expiry date. I am indeed happy when I read of your good works in Abia.”

    In his response, Ikpeazu thanked the elder statesman for giving his best to Nigeria and promised that his effort and that of other leaders of Nigeria will be sustained.

    Governor Ikpeazu said, “I must thank you, Sir, for your efforts in keeping this nation as one. You gave your best and we will not allow your efforts for a better Nigeria to be in vain.

    “I must also thank you, Sir, for your support to us in Abia, you encouraged us a lot and I promise that we will keep doing our best in Abia. It has not been easy, but we are addressing the issue of infrastructure in the state, particularly in Aba.”

    Governor Ikpeazu was accompanied on the visit by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia including, Chief Allen Nwachukwu, Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba and Ambassador Empire Kanu.

  • FRSC sensitises on safe driving

    FRSC sensitises on safe driving

    Abia state Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has thanked the management and staff of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for what he described as the thankless job they have been doing for the country.

    Ikpeazu said many people in the society do not appreciate the good work the corps is doing in the area of saving lives.

    He also urged the people to always show respect to them whenever they see them on the highway.

    The governor who was represented by Kingsley Megwara, the chairman of Abia State Passenger Integrated Manifest Scheme (ASPIMSS), said that the scheme has been working in tandem with the FRSC to ensure that the highways and  lives are safe.

    He said that the scheme has eight ambulances scattered across the state,.

    “We have placed them at strategic places and when there is an accident my people arrive there either before or after Road Safety to ensure that those involved are taken care of”.

    Ikpeazu said that he has spoken with the police so that they can find a way to let ASPIMSS respond to distress calls.

    “However,” he said, “we are in a dilemma as in most cases when our ambulances arrive at any accident scene our nurses are always attacked for the reason that they arrived late which should not be so.”

    The governor used the forum to plead with officers of FRSC who are on the highways to stop the habit of flagging down vehicles that are on high speed, stressing that in such cases most of the vehicles may lose control and thereby cause accident.

    He said that government is making plans to enact laws that will stop the sale of alcoholic beverages in motor parks across the state.

    “Such beverages which most drivers take before embarking on trips also lead to crashes on the roads”.

    In his speech, the sector commander of FRSC in Abia, Linus Ojukwu said that this years’ theme is ‘Right to Life on the Highway not Negotiable’, which is the reason behind their determination to reduce road crashes that has remained a dreadful plague all over the world.

    Ojukwu said that the cause of the road crashes ranges from poor maintenance of vehicles, absence of appropriate road signs, poor driving skills to lack of concentration by drivers and alcoholic intakes.

    He said that despite the many causes of road crashes that the Corps has been devising several means over the years to make the roads safe for all, adding that the end of year patrol operations is a ritual of the corps that seek to meet the challenges of ensuring safety on highways.

    The Abia sector commander said, “It is a general knowledge that the Yuletide period is characterised by high vehicular movement all over the country with its attendant incidences of road traffic crashes, so we are determined to reduce it”.

    “The axiom that says ‘crashes do not just occur’ goes to confirm that the causes of road crashes are mainly caused by road users which the Corps has been trying very hard to stem the tide”.

    “We are determined to ensure the full actualization of the Corps 2017 strategic goals of enhancing public education and enlightenment, improving enforcement, refusing road traffic crashes by 15% and fatality by 24%, advance road safety administration and strengthening professionalism and transparency”.

    Ojukwu said that this years’ theme seeks to bring to the consciousness the seeming eluding sense of decorum on the roads for all road users, “We are going to enlighten all road users that we all have a role to play to put an end to the car ages we usually witness during this time of the year”.

    He noted that most mistakes lead to the cause of crashes which have been claiming lives, saying that no one has the right to take the life of another, “Which is the reason behind our insisting on sped limiter on fleet vehicles which will go a long way in reducing road accidents”.

  • Relief in Abia erosion communities

    Help is on the way for the people of Uturu, a comunity in Isiukwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, where soil erosion has been wreaking havoc.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has promised to tackle the problem.

    The state government is also poised to arrest the perennial  gully erosion threatening the people of Umuda Isingwu in Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state.

    Ikpeazu assured traditional rulers from Isiukwuato council that his government would do everything possible to assist the villages in the area. It was also reassuring that as the governor made those promises, earth-moving machines were already at work at the Umuda Isingwu erosion site.

    The Nation gathered that the erosion work at Isingwu, where former finance minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s husband hails from, is being handled by Hartland Construction Company, a division of Setraco Limited.

    Reports have it that the erosion control was a joint action between the Abia State Government and Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

    State government sources said the state has paid counterpart funds for the project, and that  residents who are affected by the work would be adequately compensated.

    Speaking at the project flag-off held at a nearby primary school which is also threatened by  gully erosion, Governor Ikpeazu expressed happiness that finally the project is taking off and with an A-rated contractor that will ensure that the work is done according to specification and completed within 20 months.

    “If we fail to do this today, homes, schools, farmlands and churches will be seriously affected by this natural menace and we cannot afford that”.

    Speaking with the traditional rulers at the Government House in Umuahia, Ikpeazu said that his administration was making efforts to ensure that there was water supply in the Isiukwuato community.

    Leader of the delegation Eze Silas Chukwu and Eze Cletus Ogbonnaya appreciated the Governor for appointing their sons and daughters, including Lady Loveth Ufoegbu, Hon. Osita Igbe of the immediate past cabinet, and his assistance in ensuring that Uturu clan produces a local government area chairman, something that eluded them for decades.

    The traditional rulers also used the opportunity provided by the visit to adopt Ikpeazu as their 2019 governorship candidate.

     

  • Ikpeazu seeks U.S partnership for Enyimba free zone

    Ikpeazu seeks U.S partnership for Enyimba free zone

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has solicited the partnership of the United States of America (U.S.A) in the proposed Enyimba Industrial Free Zone in the state.

    The governor spoke in umuahia, the state capital, when he hosted U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, W. Stuart Symington.

    He said small scale manufacturing was one of the state’s strongpoints for sustaining its growing economy.

    Ikpeazu told the Ambassador that his administration had dedicated 9,000 hectares of land for the development of an industrial cluster.

    The governor said Abia State needed the U.S as one of the promoters of the industrial free zone.

    He said: “Small scale manufacturing is one of our strongpoints. This is why my administration has dedicated 9,000 hectares of land for the development of an industrial city where common facilities, security, power and all that is needed to perform the kinds of manufacturing functions would be put in place.”

    The governor noted that the industrial cluster is located in such a way that it “is about 40-minute drive from two seaports and one hour from two international airports – in Owerri (Imo State) and Port Harcourt (rivers State.

    He said: “Most importantly, Abia boasts most skilled labour and workforce in Nigeria. There’s no state that can boast of manpower like Abia. This is why we think having an industrial free zone would be the beautiful bride of industrial development in Nigeria.

    “We are looking for 500 companies that can take advantage of the facility in our offering. Our industrial free zone is backed by law so that we are sure it will outlive my administration. That is our way of securing the investments of those who will come. We want to enlist you to be one of the promoters of that industrial free zone.”

    Symington said his visit was to get insight into the governor’s vision and what he was doing for the state’s development.

    He said: “I came here for a very simple reason but a profound idea. I came here because every state in Nigeria is important to the government and people of the United States. If Nigeria does better, the entire Africa does better.

    “The ties between our countries are strong. We have a profound interest in the success of your country and each of your people. We are here to understand your vision and what you’re doing to move that vision forward.”

     

  • Ikpeazu celebrates with orphans

    Ikpeazu celebrates with orphans

    When Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu marked his 53rd birthday, it was with motherless babies. When he turned up at Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Hospital and Orphanage Home in Aba, the state’s commercial capital, administrators and inmates of the facility were excited.

    Governor Ikpeazu, who was joined by a few of his aides on the visit to celebrate with children of the orphanage home, also paid the hospital bills for 24 patients at the SDA Hospital who had been treated of their sicknesses and confirmed fit to go home, but had stayed back at the hospital because they didn’t their medical bills.

    “You guys can see why we must always thank God for the gift of life and the good health we enjoy. We are not better than our people here, but owe everything to God who is all-knowing. If you are sick, you won’t remember that you are the governor or governor’s aide. And the reality is if a governor is not able to discharge his duty as governor due to ill health, the deputy governor will take up his job. Similarly if a Governor’s aide can’t work due to ill health, he or she will be replaced. That goes to show that the system can run without any of us. This is a key life lesson for us and so we must count ourselves lucky that God chose to bless us with the opportunity we have to serve in good health.”

    The governor who started his day’s activities in Aba left for Umuahia, the state capital, to resume his duties without knowing that his wife Nkechi who was accompanied by the deputy governor’s wife, Mrs. Udo Okochukwu and a few allies had other plans.

    The governor went straight to his office only to be confronted with a birthday cake.

    How many men will pas up such a good gesture from their wives?

    Ikpeazu reached for the knife and sliced through the confectionary.

    Thereafter he went to his table and work was afoot. It was on a day he probably would have declared a holiday, at least for himself.

     

  • No automatic ticket for Ikpeazu, others in Abia, says PDP

    No automatic ticket for Ikpeazu, others in Abia, says PDP

    The Abia State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said it won’t give automatic ticket to its members aspiring for any elective position for the 2019 general election.

    The party stated that it will provide a level playing ground for all aspirants irrespective of the position involved.

    The State Chairman of the party, Chief Johnson Onuigbo made the decision of the party known at the end of the State working Committee meeting held in Umuahia the State capital on Thursday.

    He pointed out that the state PDP has resolved to do away with all manners of imposition and impunity in the party.

    Onuigbo noted that party also passed a vote of explicit confidence on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu based on his performance during the last two years and six months in office.

    He said, “The party has declared that all offices for 2019 general election are open and contestable in line with the Abia charter of equity and PDP zoning formula.

    “We urge all our party faithful to remain loyal, steadfast and continue to have confidence in party leadership”.

    Onuigbo added that the SWC also passed a vote of explicit confidence on the state leadership of the party for transparency and effective leadership.

  • IGP assesses Abia after unrest

    IGP assesses Abia after unrest

    After members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) clashed with military personnel in Abia State, Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun visits the state to evaluate the damage and smoothen relations among communities, SUNNY NWANKWO writes

    Since the clash two weeks ago, prominent figures have been visiting Abia State with peace on their minds. Northern state governors were the first to show up, thanking Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his Southeast governors for their role in quelling the crisis with members of Indigenous People of Biafra or IPOB, and appealing to northern residents to follow the path of peace.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi and Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of Operations, Police Force Headquarters, Taiwo Lakanu also played a huge role in curtailing the crisis. Lakanu led about 500 mobile policemen to the state in the heat of the crisis.

    Heads of security agencies in the country have visited too, all playing a part in saving the country an unnecessary catastrophe.

    The Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun was the latest to take his turn. He was scheduled to visit the burnt Ariaria Police Station and Onions market along Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway. The IGP was also billed to meet with Yoruba and Hausa communities in Aba, the commercial and enterprise hub of the state.

    Though the IGP failed to come to Aba which, The Nation gathered, was as a result of delayed flight owing to bad weather, he posthumously promoted Cyril Nwosu, the station officer of Ariaria police station who later died from wounds sustained when suspected IPOB members invaded the station. The late Nwosu is now Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

    The IGP also held a town-hall meeting with traditional rulers and major stakeholders in the state at the Michael Okpara Auditorium where he stated that Nigeria would function better when united, adding that it was the responsibility of every Nigerian to ensure that there was tolerance and unity among the ethnic groups in the country.

    The police chief assured that the force through its personnel would do everything possible to ensure that peace was sustained in the state and across the country at all times.

    He said, “We have seen a lot of changes, the happiness on the faces of people. I believe that Nigeria will grow stronger and I have faith in the unity of this country. We see the police force as enablers that can help us drive growth in all aspects of our economic growth in Nigeria. We believe firmly that unless there is security we cannot grow or prosper.

    “History is replete with countries that try to break away and come back also. So I want you to continue with your work. Beyond the recession, Nigeria is trying to create a foothold by attracting direct foreign investment, so we need to have security.”

    Also speaking at the interactive session with Abia traditional rulers and members of Hausa and Yoruba communities at the Michael Okpara Auditorium later, Governor Ikpeazu assured that Abia is a very peaceful state and would remain so despite the ugly incidents that broke out in the state.

    “We reaffirm our faith in one Nigeria,” he said.

    Ikpeazu who commended the IGP for visiting the state, also used the opportunity as the chief marketer of made in Aba goods, to presented the IGP with some home-made products at the Government House.

    The IGP was accompanied on the visit by the Assistant inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 9 Umuahia, Hosea Karma, the state Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi and his Imo State counterpart, Chris Ezike, among other senior police officers.

  • Dry port a priority to Abia, says Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said how much the proposed dry port to be established in the state means to his administration.

    He described the facility as a priority, adding that his administration would support and ensure that it becomes a reality, alongside the Inland Container Depot (ICD) to be situated at Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.

    Ikpeazu, who was represented by the chairman Implementation Committee of the ICD, Mr Dan Nwankwo in a meeting with the concessionaires, East Gate Ltd, members of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and other stakeholders at the state capital, Umuahia, said the project “is a priority to the state”, which the government would not want to toy with it.

    Nwankwo stated that the importance of the dry port to the state cannot be overemphasised, adding that the government was aware that more than 50 percent of goods imported into the country comes to Aba.

    He assured the investor and other stakeholders that the money they were going to invest wouldn’t be a waste as the state government would do all it could to ensure that the project succeeds.

    The chairman of East Gate Ltd, Mr. Bill Nkemdirim said they were in the state capital to present some of the partners to the state government.

    Nkemdirim said East Gate Ltd would ensure that the dry port came to reality, adding that the project when completed would create jobs for the unemployed youths and increase business and commerce in the state.

    The Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, a lawyer, represented by John Choji of Lagos Council stated that the project when completed would enhance movement of goods from the ports to the southeast and south-south regions of the country, adding that the movement of goods from the ports to the dry port through railway would reduce the pressure of moving goods from various parts of the country using the highways and will also reduce the cost of transporting containers from one place to another.

    Other speakers including the Isiala Ngwa North Local Government chair, Ginger Onwusibe, member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, HRH Eze Robert Nwaigwe; chairman of Land Donors said they were happy that the project was sited in their community and local government.

    They pledged to work with the concessionaire and the state government to ensure the project was realised.

  • Abia varsity on national grid, 36 years after

    Abia varsity on national grid, 36 years after

    Abia State University, Uturu community headed by vice-chancellor Prof. Uche Ikonne was happy that Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu graced its 25th convocation ceremony.

    It was a day that Ikpeazu commissioned an electrification project that ended 36 years of darkness in the institution.

    For over 30 years the institution was powered by generating sets at a huge cost, it was said.

    The university community also expressed the hope that the connection of the school to the national grid will help to save the school the cost of powering their equipments and offices using generating sets.

    Speaking while commissioning the project, Governor Ikpeazu who was flanked by the former senate president and pro-chancellor of the school, Senator Adolphus Wabara and Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof. Ikonne commended the management of the institution on its growth.

    “Nobody would believe that this institution has existed for this number of years running on generators. I must commend the management for this wonderful project. I am happy this has happened in our time; we will continue to ensure that our institutions of higher learning, not just ABSU alone, get the needed attention of the state government to run their programme.”

    Pro-Chancellor of the University, Senator Adolphus Wabara thanked the governor on behalf of the senate for assembling great leaders who have the interest of the university at heart.

    He stressed the efforts of the Vice Chancellor of the Institution Prof. Ikonne in growing the institution.

    Prof. Ikonne assured that the project will be put to proper use to the well-being of students and the university community.

  • Abia crisis: state will emerge better under Ogah – group

    Abia crisis: state will emerge better under Ogah – group

    A group that calls itself Isi-Ogoasaa Consultative Forum, from Acha in Isuikwuato local government of Abia state has expressed optimism that state would be a better and economically viable one when Dr Uche Ogah assumed the leadership of the state.

    Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia, the leader of the forum , Chief Chikwendu Ibebuike Onwuegbu, said that since the electoral body had obey the directive of the Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang that the next thing to be done is to swear in Ogah without any further delay.

    Onwuegbu said that the delay in the swearing in of Ogah as the authentic governor of Abia state amounts to flouting the directive of a court of competent jurisdiction, which is not in line with the change mantra of the present administration.

    He said, “Since Dr. Ogah has been issued with certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral commission [INEC] the next action will be to swear him in as the Abia governor as declared by the Federal High Court which sat in Abuja in its ruling of 27th June 2016, presided over by Justice Okon Abang”.

    The leader of the forum said that despite the fact that, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has exercised his legal right of appeal, “That appeal ought not to substitute the swearing in of Dr Ogah as the legitimate governor of Abia state as declared by Justice Abang”.

    Onwuegbu explained that, “Abia Charter of Equity as stipulated and enunciated by the founding fathers of Abia, has a pact that the various districts which were joined to create Abia in 1991 will take turns to govern the state which has been followed to the letter until now”.

    “The name Abia was derived from the four [4] letter acronym A-B-I-A representing the four [4] districts that were joined to create Abia, Afikpo District which stands for letter ‘A’  has taken their turn by Dr Ogbonnaya  Onu [1992-1993].

    “Bende District which stands for letter ‘B’  has also taken its turn by Dr Orji Uzor Kalu [1999-2007] and Chief T.A Orji [2007-2015] respectively, it is now the turn of the third letter ‘I’ which represents Isuikwuato District where Dr Ogah comes from  to produce the next governor”.

    “It is a simple logic that after Isuikwuato must have governed the next letter which is ‘A’ which represents Aba District, where Governor Okezie Ikpeazu comes from will produce after Isuikwuato district, so that the ethos of the charter of equity will be achieved to the letter”.

    He continued by saying, “That going by the pact of the  founding fathers of Abia as enshrined in the Abia Charter of Equity , Dr. Ogah is still on the right course which is the reason we are supporting him to be sworn-in as the authentic governor of the state“.

    On the issue of allegation that the certificate of returns given to Dr Uchechukwu Ogah by INEC is not valid, Onwuegbu said that, “Those dwelling on such fantasy should rather purse the substance than the shadow which they are doing to their own detriment”.

    He said, “The media team of Ikpeazu should allow the legal team to do their work and stop trying to deceive the people, as INEC remains the competent authority to issue certificate of return and the commission is always conscious of its statutory obligations”.

    “Since this political imbroglio broke out and they [Ikpeazu’s media team] came out that the certificate of return issued to Ogah is fake the big question is, has INEC come out to say that the certificate they issued to Ogah is fake, let’s face facts please”.