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Tag: Ifeanyi Ararume

  • Tinubu congratulates Ararume at 67, hails years of service, political resilience

    Tinubu congratulates Ararume at 67, hails years of service, political resilience

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated former Senator representing Imo North, Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume, on the occasion of his 67th birthday, commending his long years of service to the nation and his contributions to Nigeria’s political development.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described Senator Ararume as an astute politician and accomplished businessman whose political journey has been marked by resilience, courage and strategic insight. 

    He recalled that Ararume began his political career in the late 1980s as State Treasurer of the Liberal Convention in the old Imo State, before serving on the National Finance Committee of the defunct National Republican Convention.

    The President noted that Ararume later represented Imo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, having been first elected in May 1999 and re-elected in April 2003, during which he served on several committees and held other official responsibilities. 

    Commending his years of public service, President Tinubu said the former lawmaker made notable contributions to the nation’s peace, unity and progress, describing him as a resolute and shrewd politician with a remarkable political odyssey. 

    The President wished Senator Ararume a happy birthday and prayed that God Almighty grants him many more years of good health and strength.

  • ‘Let’s secure future generations of Imo’

    The Imo State governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, has said that an APGA-led government under his leadership will reposition education, health, collapsed infrastructure base, security, agriculture and industrialisation.

    He also warned that the present and future generations of Imo State will not forgive the good people  if they remain passive and indifferent as Imo burns and their dreams for a virile state dashed on the altar of ‘’incompetent, corrupt, fraudulent and visionless leadership’’, as they currently have in the state.

    Ararume stated this during the flag off of his campaign at the 40,000-capacity state stadium that was occupied by his supporters during the week.

    Paying tribute to the founding fathers of the state, like De Sam Ounaka Mbakwe, Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief R.B.K Okafor and others, the governorship candidate said that a critical look at the state’s political trajectory, since the exit of those great leaders, shows a complete leadership failure, betrayal of hope and derailment of the dreams of the founding fathers.

    He said: “As patriots, we are determined to take up the challenges of recovering Imo and rebuild it to restore the hope of our people in their state and future. An APGA-led government with me at the driver’s seat will reposition education, health, our collapsed infrastructure base, security, agriculture and industrialisation.

    “On education, we shall ensure adequate funding of the sector, capacity building; prompt payment of salaries of lecturers and teachers — for adequate motivation, which will enhance learning in all our educational institutions.”

    The two-time senator said it is regrettable that almost all the professionals course in the Imo State University are not accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), noting that Medicine and Law faculties are the worst hit.

    Senator Ararume added: “On assumption of office, my government will quickly put measure in place in concert with the NUC to secure accreditation for all the courses in the state university.

    “The Imo State Polytechnic in Umuagwo will also receive a new lease of life as all its courses will get full accreditation under my watch, as governor. We shall encourage the missionary schools with subventions and grants to enable them run their schools more effectively.

    “We will genuinely implement free education at both tertiary and secondary school levels. A synergy will be created between the education sector and the state’s economy to ensure that our institutions run courses and produce graduates that will serve the manpower needs for the economy. Education is our greatest industry and it will receive the attention it deserves.”

    He further promised that agriculture will remain the mainstay of Imo State’s economy, as over 70 per cent of the people, who live in the rural areas, are engaged in agriculture, adding that extension services will be offered to the rural farmers with incentives to enable them produce more for domestic consumption and for commercial purposes.

    Observing that unemployment has hit the roofs in the state, Ararume said that job creation will be a top priority for his government, promising that “an honest and properly” designed skill acquisition programmes will be implemented to make the youth self-reliant.

    He said: “Workers will no longer cry before they can get their wages; prompt payment of salaries of civil servants and regular promotion of deserving workers will be carried out regularly to motivate the civil servants and harness their energies for development.

    “Our pensioners who have been having a raw deal in the hands of insincere leaders will have a reason to be happy for serving the state. As senior citizens, the payment of their pensions shall remain a priority area to our government.”

    The governorship hopeful also vowed to recover and return all illegal acquired lands and assets — in the state’s hand to their rightful owners, appealing to his people to help recover Imo and put an end to incompetent leadership.

  • Imo 2019: Nwosu tipped for APC ticket

    …as Madumere, Uzodinma, Eche others weigh option

     

    The issue of who gets the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has dominated political debates and discussions in recent times, especially when it has become obvious that the party will retain power in the state in 2019.

    Political gladiators and aspirants have been forging alliances and wooing forces within the party to ensure that they carry the day.

    Those contesting the party’s governorship ticket include, former Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, former Secretary to the State Government, George Eche, Senator Hope Uzodinma, former Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, Engr. Chucks Ololo and Sir Jude Ejiogu.

    But Nwosu has been tipped as the aspirant that will likely clinch the party’s ticket ahead of the party primaries, having the uppermost control of the APC delegates.

    Another factor that gave the youthful former Chief of Staff the edge over other aspirants, is the unflinching backing of the state governor, Rochas Okorocha, who has severally endorsed him as his preferred successor.

    Aside from the governor’s support, Nwosu has firm control of the structure of the party in the state, being instrumental in the victory of the APC faction that was inaugurated after the contentious party primaries.

    Already, the State Executive Committee of the party, has adopted indirect primary as the mode to elect the party’s candidates, which further places Nwosu in overwhelming advantage over other contenders.

    More so the coast became clearer for the former Chief of Staff, after his fiercest opponent and leader of the Imo APC Coalition Group, which was vehemently opposed to his ambition, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) after losing out in the APC congress.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill Police Sergeant in Imo

    The Nation also gathered that most of those that bought and submitted the APC governorship forms in the state are only bidding for time to defect to other parties as a result of the fact that they cannot match Nwosu in an indirect primary that will be decided by the current delegates.

    To buttress this assumption, members of the Coalition Group, also known as the Imo Allied Forces, have opposed the indirect primary mode adopted by the SEC and instead demanded for a direct primary.

    Meanwhile the State Chairman of the party, Daniel Nwafor told The Nation that, “the state chapter of the party in line with the decision reached at the NEC meeting, met and adopted the indirect primary as the mode that better aligns with the peculiarities in the state”, adding that there is no going back on that decision.

    He also pointed out that all those that are opposed to the indirect primary are not members of SEC and are not in the place to take the decision.

    Nwafor however assured all aspirants of level playing ground.

    Flaunting his growing chances, Nwosu prided that he will clinch the party’s ticket, irrespective of the mode adopted for the primaries.

    He said, “as a loyal party man, I align myself with the decision of our great party, which is supreme. I am in total support of the indirect primary mode adopted by the SEC, but apart from that, I am comfortable with any mode, be it direct, indirect or consensus because I am sure I will win”.

    Meanwhile the Coalition Group led by the Senator representing Imo West, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who is also a governorship aspirant, has vowed to dump the APC if any of its member did not emerge as the party’s governorship flagbearer.

  • No plan to dump APC – Ararume

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, has dismissed claims that he plans to dump the party ahead of next year’s general election.

    Ararume, who is a eyeing the APC governorship ticket for the 2019 election, said he was working with other stakeholders to ensure victory for the party in Imo and the South East region.

    He said those spreading rumour of his plans to defect from the party were afraid of his profile, adding that despite the anti- people’s policies of governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration in Imo, the “real APC” would produce the next governor of the state.

    Ararume said as a founding member of APC in the state, he would stay and fight those who want to bring the party down.

    He urged his supporters to ignore the speculations, saying he was working seriously with his ‘’brothers and sisters’’ to deliver the South-East geopolitical zone to the party and President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

     

  • Fresh protest trails Ihedioha’s emergence

    Fresh protest trails Ihedioha’s emergence

    •Aggrieved members want Ararume declared winner

    Hundreds of aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Imo State yesterday demanded the declaration of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as winner of the governorship primaries.

    They protested the emergence of House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, who was announced winner by the Electoral Committee, led by Terngu Tsegba.

    The protesters, who marched on  major roads in Owerri, the state capital, said Ararume was robbed of his victory by members of the Electoral Committee, who, they alleged, connived with Ihedioha.

    They warned that if the result was not reversed, PDP would not win any election.

    The protesters carried placards, such as: “Declare Ararume winner now”, “We want justice and fair play”, “Ararume is the true winner”, “Give Ararume his mandate now”, “Ararume is the sure bet for PDP”, among others.

    According to them, the plot to impose a candidate on the party would be resisted.

    One of the protesters and the Chairman of Ararume’s Campaign Organisation in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government, Mr. Ozioma Ufommadu, said: “Everybody knew that Ararume won the election, but we were shocked that another person was announced the winner. We are here to protest this injustice and we are sure the party leadership will do the right thing and give the ticket to the rightful winner.”

    A PDP chieftain, Mr. Jasper Ndubuaku, said the massive turnout of protesters was an indication that the people had spoken against injustice.

    The Secretary, Mr. George Eguh, urged members to remain calm, saying: “We will ensure justice prevails.”

    At press time, the PDP secretariat on Okigwe Road was sealed off by stern-looking mobile policemen.

     

  • Ararume: No ill-feeling against Obasanjo over 2007 Imo guber ticket

    Ararume: No ill-feeling against Obasanjo over 2007 Imo guber ticket

    •Asks PDP to ensure level-playing field to make inroads in 2015

    A member of the PDP in Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, yesterday revisited his 2007 aborted governorship ambition and said he bears no grudges against ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo for denying him the ticket even after winning the primaries.

    But he wants the party to ensure a level-playing field for all aspirants  ahead of the   2015 elections.

    If the primaries are free and fair, there will be less crises in the party, he told reporters in Abuja.

    Ararume said he will vie for the governorship ticket of PDP again in the coming primaries.

    He said:  “I had my primaries; the first was cancelled, the second I won. If the party wanted to stop me, it should not have got to the point of primaries.

    “I won the governorship primaries and I was asked to come and go back to the Senate and I said no.   It wasn’t my party that denied me the ticket. The party submitted my name to INEC but somebody who got three votes, one Ugwu, was asked to take my place.

    “The then President (Obasanjo) felt I challenged him. I did not challenge him. What would I have told my children? That I won primaries but I was denied the ticket? I said if you have anything against me that could stop me, I said bring it.

    “That is history; I do not hold it against anybody. Whoever played any role against me at that time, I have moved forward; I have forgotten all that.

    “I have had occasions of seeing our former president. On one occasion, I saw him in the church when our leader, Chief Tony Anenih, celebrated his 80th birthday. As we were walking out of the church, he was behind me. I turned back and I greeted him. He is our former president; he deserves all respect and honour.  I am sure if he is given another opportunity, he is going to do things differently.”

    Ararume said he would take a fresh shot at the governorship race again. He advised the party to place premium on free and fair primaries to maintain what he described as the party’s “leading position.”

    He added: “I believe the president has promised us, when he came to Imo State, that the party under him and the new National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, will be fair to all its members.”

  • Senator Ifeanyi Ararume over the moon

    Senator Ifeanyi Ararume over the moon

    Senator Ifeanyi Ararume is presently over the moon. Yes, he is now a grandfather, as her daughter, Amaka Benson, who is married to Yomi Benson, the son of late Chief T. O. S Benson, recently gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. And the new baby has been named Demilade. The child’s dedication has been fixed for tomorrow Sunday, April 27, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja. The Ararume and the Benson families will dig into their depth of vast socio-political contacts to make the day as remarkable and grand as possible.

    The invitation letters sent out to invitees are so beautiful that a few invitees have enthused that its quality could make anybody go green with envy. Expectedly, many people are eager to be part of the memorable celebration. Everything points to the fact that the child dedication would be classy. Celeb Watch gathered that Yomi Benson would be sparring nothing in his boundless reservoir of goodwill and resources to celebrate his woman and new baby.