Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, has congratulated the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the sixth House of Assembly on their victories.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Godwin Adindu, Ikpeazu wished the Speaker a successful tenure as they work to ensure a vibrant and dynamic legislature for Abia State.
The governor felicitated with the members and urged them to perform their duties in the interest of the electorates.
Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has urged the people not to address him as ‘His Excellency’.
The governor spoke through his Special Assistant on Media, Ugochukwu Emezue. He said it is only God that should be addressed as ‘His Excellency’.
Emezue said Ikpeazu wants to bring simplicity to governance and part of this he demonstrated at the flag-off of construction of roads in Aba when Ikpeazu ordered that a crane be brought from Aba to lift the a fallen vehicle and saved the victims of an accident.
The Special Adviser said the convoy stood at the accident site until the crane arrived and lifted fallen vehicles off the victim, “He did not stop there as he went the next day to visit them at the hospital to know how they were faring”.
A former commissioner in Abia State, Ekele Nwaohanmuo, has said Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has no reason to perform below the people’s expectations.
Nwaohanmuo, in an interview with reporters in Aba, said Ikpeazu must work to earn the people’s trust by fulfilling his campaign promises.
“Governor Ikpeazu has no reason to fail to deliver democracy dividends to the people. He has served in two administrations before emerging governor, so he knows the problems of the state.
“Ikpeazu has what it takes to take the state to the desired level. He can only have himself to blame if he fails to perform because everything is going well for him.”
The former commissioner dismissed fears that former Gov. Theodore Orji will control the present administration, saying the outgoing governor cannot afford to drag the state backward.
“Orji is now a senator-elect and he will concentrate on his new job. He also laid such fears to rest when he said he has no plans to interfere in the current administration.
“Again, people who hold such views do not know the history of the state. Judging from what he suffered from his predecessor, I don’t think Orji would want Ikpeazu to pass through such an experience.
“From Orji’s body language, I doubt if he will abandon his job at the National Assembly to interfere in Ikpeazu’s administration,” Nwaohanmuo said.
The vibes from the new governor of Abia State on local fabric are promising.
Why? Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said he will wear clothes made in Aba all through his tenure.
Local tailors and designers are likely to cheer up after years of neglect by majority of Nigerians who seem to prefer textile from other lands.
Dr. Ikpeazu has pledged that he would be wearing clothes sewn and designed by Aba tailors.
Ikpeazu was speaking at the Umuahia township stadium after he was sworn into office as the fourth democratic governor of the state since its creation in 1991.
The governor promised to give adequate attention to Aba artisans including small and medium entrepreneurs in order to help them get the needed support in harnessing their technological prowess and the spirit of ingenuity in them.
The governor whose speech lasted for about 20 minutes said that his administration would promote trade and economic activities in the state, equip over 700 health centres across the 17 local government areas of the state with medical facilities, promote education and also to sustain the security template of the out gone governor Chief Theodore Orji.
He used the opportunity to call on Abians in the Diaspora to come home and invest as part of their contribution to the growth of the state’s economy, assuring them of the safety of their investments, adding that attention would also be given to infrastructure and urban renewal.
Ikpeazu praised his predecessor, Chief Theodore Orji for fulfilling his promise of handing over power to the people of Abia South.
He promised not to let the electorate down, asserting that he will run an all-inclusive government even as he extended a hand of fellowship to his defeated governorship candidates.
The governor who pointed out that it was not going to be all rosy for him owing to the task ahead of him, stated his desire to work collaboratively with the Judiciary, legislature, traditional and religious institutions.
He said that he was also going to ensure that service delivery in the civil service would be enhanced, disclosing that plans were already on ground for training and retraining of civil servants in order to equip them with the modern ways and skills of service delivery.
He also used the opportunity to announce that there shall be a cultural carnival in the state every December which would be aimed at promoting and sustaining the rich cultural values of the people of the state, even as he sought for the support of every Abian to help his administration succeed.
Meanwhile some Aba residents who spoke to our correspondent over the decision of Ikpeazu to wear Aba made clothes lauded the step taken by the new Governor and called on other in the Southeast including political appointees under Ikpeazu’s administration to emulate the pace set by him.
They said that such step if the Governor of the state would fulfill his promises and not being carried away like his predecessors would go a long way to showcase their ingenuity and competence to the world at large.
“For us, what the Governor said is a welcome development. At least, it has given us sense of belonging. But the truth remains that most of the clothes our senators and other politicians wear are being sewed in Aba. Like you can see, most of the clothes I am sewing now is owned by one of my customers that has a boutique in Abuja. They come to this place, show us what they want us to sew for them and we do same. When they go back to Abuja, they will sell them as if they were imported.
“Some aides to some of the senators do come to us and we sew for them. some of them do waybill of materials and now that social media is the order of the day, some of them send us email and we also chat on facebook and whatsapp to tell them when they are going to pick their clothes. And we try as much as possible to deliver on time, though some of them pay us for urgent service delivery”, a respondent stated.
The embarrassing heaps of refuse in Aba, the heartbeat of Abia State, are giving way. The agency in charge of waste management, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has started evacuating the rubbish that littered most parts of the city.
Over one month ago, residents of Enyimba City had lamented the choking prevalence of refuse in most parts of the city. Some voiced their concerns over an epidemic. They even sent an SOS to the newly sworn-in governor of the state Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.
Ikpeazu who was once in charge of managing Aba waste, told our correspondent that he has mandated the agency to evacuate 100 trucks of domestic waste on a daily basis.
Ikpeazu expressed hope that the action embarked on by ASEPA would go a long way in addressing the situation.
Our reporter who went round the commercial town, reports that at about 2pm Monday afternoon, the refuse heap at Ukaegbu Road by Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway, Asa Road by Saint Michaels which were about to cover the road had already been evacuated while evacuation was ongoing at Jubilee by Asa Road, among others.
Shop owners in the affected places have expressed their happiness over the evacuation job, stating that it was a relief that they had long awaited for even as they urged the state’s waste management team to sustain the tempo.
They also called on the governor to provide logistics and other materials that the agency would need to discharge their duties promptly and efficiently.
In a another development, Abia State Governor, on Monday inspected equipments to be used for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of some roads in Aba that were in a bad state and needed urgent government attention.
The roads include Ukaegbu (1.4), Umuola (1.4km), Ehere (700 meteres), Kamalu (1.5km), Old Express (6km), Umuocham (1.7km), Faulks by Ariaria (5.5km) including the Aba-Owerri road which would be re-asphalted.
The Nation learnt that the essence for the road projects awarded to mainly indigenous firms were ease off the sufferings of Aba residents and the stress motorists were subjected to go through in the city.
Sources said that the projects would be going on simultaneously while they were expected to be completed within the 100days of the Governor in office.
All is set for the inauguration of Abia State governor-elect, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the fourth governor to be democratically elected.
It is expected that Ikpeazu would unveil his blueprint for the development of the state and tell the people his plans for them in the next four years.
The chairman of the Transition Planning Committee, Mkpa Agu Mkpa, briefing reporters in Umuahia, said all was set for the inauguration.
Mkpa, who is the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) said the 24-member transition committee has gathered relevant information that the incoming governor would need to start his work.
The SSG said the committee would let the incoming governor know the present financial status of the state, including the debt profile. Mkpa said Ikpeazu’s inauguration would be conducted in two segments at different venues with the swearing-in ceremony to be held at the new International Conference Centre.
After the inauguration, an interdenominational church service, organised by the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) would hold at Umuahia township stadium.
He said invitation was open to Abians and well wishers of the God’s own state.
The family of late Justice Chuba Ikpeazu, two-time Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) marked with fanfair his 10th year memorial service at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Friends, family and a large number of admirers flocked to the residence on Sunday to be part of the service.
The late jurist and football icon died in 2005 at the age of 92.
The late Ikpeazu was appointed NFA chairman by the late Head of Government, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in 1964, a position he held until outbreak of the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War in 1967.
He was reappointed chairman in 1987 by a former President, Ibrahim Babangida.
In a sermon at the service, Pastor Onyechi Mbamali of the Lunch Hour Fellowship, Lagos described Ikpeazu as “a man who pursued his dreams of excellence in law practice and sports to its logical conclusion.’’
He said Ikpeazu would be remembered for his contributions toward the growth of football and the legal profession in the country. “He was a legend”.
Onyechi Ikpeazu, a SAN, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his late father, was one the first Nigerians to establish and run a privately-owned football club “The Ikpeazu Redoubtables’’ in the 60s.
According by him, the club went into extinction, but had since been revived by one of his son’s, Odi.
Onyechi recalled that the revived team participated in the just- concluded Federation Cup qualifiers in Anambra State.
He said that old Redoutables had challenged the best teams in the country and almost won the Challenge Cup in 1958, but lost via a penalty shootout at the finals in Ibadan.
He said his father as the NFA chairman then contributed immensely “to the Miracle of Dhaman”, where the national team — the Flying Eagles was losing 0-4 to Russia at half time. But Nigeria eventually won that match, 5-4 at full time.
Ikpeazu (Onyechi) notes: “It was a combination of the half time intercessory prayers and pep talks from the chairman that gave the Eagles the victory.
“We celebrate the life and times of an intellectual, tenacious advocate and yet a flamboyant socialite, a just judge and football team proprietor.
“An accomplished two time NFA chairman, a financier of noble causes, a strict and loving husband and father, an indigene of the proud and historic land of Onitsha,’’ Ikpeazu said.
Odi Ikpeazu, the second son who revived his father’s club, said his father helped to employ the Dutch duo of Clemens Westerhof and Bonfrere Jo in 1988 to improve Nigerian football at the time.
“Recognising the technical shortcomings of Nigerian football at the time, he became the first NFA boss to employ the services of professional European coaches to train the national side, then known as the Green Eagles,’’ he said.
Abia State Governor-elect Okezie Ikpeazu will inherit many challenges when he assumes office on May 29. To reposition the state for progress, he has unfolded plans to run a transparent government, reduce the cost of governance and foster economic development. EMMANUEL OLADESU reports.
Okezie Ikpeazu, former university teacher and Abia State governor-elect, will inherit many challenges when he assumes office on May 29. The state is very poor. It is also a disunited state. The infrastructure is ebbing away. To many observers, governance cannot be a tea party in post-Orji era.
The governor elect has many advantages. He is a very educated politician. He also has the experience. His antecedents as a public servant of note speak for him. Now, many indigenes expect him to make a big difference. His first assignment is to heal the wounds of a bitter contest and reconcile with his rivals at the poll.
The governor-elect has promised to set a standard. His no-nonsense demeanor has sent a huge message to those capable of distracting him. Ikpeazu has read a riot act to agents of perfidy in the state, saying that it will not be business as usual. When he assumes office, he said he would not entertain courtesy calls, receptions, and chieftaincy titles. He also ruled out an elaborate and money spinning thanksgiving service and grand reception, except for a solemn one with five widows and five motherless children at the Government House Chapel. He does not want the title: “His Excellency.” The governor-elect said that he will prefer to prefix his name with ‘Dr’ because he holds a doctorate degree.
“I want to leave the stadium immediately after swearing to commission a project for starters,” Ikpeazu told his associates in Umuahia, the state capital.
The governor-elect said that there will be no merry making in the State House. Instead, he promised to embark on projects that will make his administration stand out in two years. These include five major roads across the state. Also, he promised t sanitise the environment by making the cities clean through effective waste disposal. He said the drainage system would be upgraded to support the new roads to be constructed.
Ikpeazu promised to run an accountable government, adding that due process will not be compromised. He said jobs must be created for youths to reduce unemployment.
Already, the governor-elect has hinted that the huge political bureaucracy must give way. He has therefore, promised to reduced the cost of governance by reducing the number of ministries to 10. He explained that the ministries will be manned by core professionals or technocrats.
Ikpeazu has unfolded what he described as “nine development ideas” that will guide his administration. The first is economic transformation. “For economic growth to occur, certain things must be done to facilitate gainful employment and I believe that agriculture is a factor. Abia has the natural advantage of growing cash and food crops. We should also pay attention to industrialisation. Our local firms and industries should be able to compete globally. We will create industrial parks as centers of excellence to further enhance the historical strengths of the state in garment and leatherworks,” he said.
Ikpeazu also promised to encourage small scale enterprises, especially in garment and leather works space, by building their capacities through access to finance and power.
The task of wooing investors is also a priority. This will boost commerce in Aba, the major commercial hub, where plans are underway to raise the Ariara and Aregua markets to a modern standards. In fact, Ikpeazu said the 14 major markets across the state will be upgraded with modern facilities.
Abia is not a major oil-producing state. But, this has not fully robbed off on the state. The governor-elect said that the state has the capacity to develop a major operational and logistics base for oil and gas firms. “Abia State will explore the presence of, and potential for, crude oil or gas exploration and production,” he said.
Education is also a priority. Stressing that his administration will defend the critical sector, the former university don said: “We believe that the strength of Abia lies in her people. As such, the transformation of the education sector in Abia will involve both the public and private institutions. We will develop an all-inclusive master plan to drive development and progress within the sector.
“This master plan will incorporate the restructuring the education curricula for primary, secondary and state-owned tertiary institutions to ensure our children and youths are empowered with sound knowledge and technical skills required to survive and add value in the ever-evolving labour market.”
A major challenge in Abia is insecurity. It is not peculiar to the state. It is a national problem. As the Chief Security Officer, he said no stone will be left unturned to guarantee safety of life and property.”We shall enhance the security of Abia State by achieving the following key targets: Keying into the federal government’s Identity Management Scheme to generate identity documents for residents of Abia State.
“This will provide us with the data for our planning as well as give all Abia people a common identification card to facilitate their business transactions with the state and each other,” adding that he would also “empower the security agencies with funds to improve on equipment and intelligence gathering through the use of information tools and a structured vigilante network.”
On his plans for the judiciary, Ikpeazu said: “We will develop and strengthen our state judicial system to ensure the timely delivery of justice in matters affecting our people. In this regard, the areas we will address include:
“Introduction of a fully automated judicial system leveraging a Centralised Information Management system, an automated Workflow Court Calendar, Case File view etc. In addition to this, we shall ensure the improvement of the remuneration and welfare packages of our judicial workers to improve morale and drive efficiency.”
Health and housing are two other areas that the incoming government intends to invest on because of their effect on the generality of the people.
He said: “To provide effective and efficient healthcare services to all our people, in every part of the state, we will strengthen the 710 government-owned healthcare centers by improving their infrastructure, funding and improving the quality of healthcare professionals deployed in them. We will partner world-class healthcare providers to train our personnel and provide complimentary infrastructure.”
On housing, Ikpeazu said:”We will promote increased development of affordable housing through the provision of necessary infrastructure and PPP. Our government will optimise the Land and Title Registration process to encourage increased investment in the sector.
“We will attract private and corporate home developers to build in Abia State, and ultimately mastermind a ‘reverse brain drain’ which will see a majority of Igbo families moving their primary abode back to Abia State from Lagos and Abuja.”
Also, in preserving the environment, Ikpeazu promised to undertake “extensive drainage rehabilitation and channelization of flood prone areas within the Aba and Umuahia metropolis; construction of storm water management and erosion control sites.
He added: “We will embark on the development and beautification of numerous leisure parks across the State; encourage and promote horticulture across our cities; boost the quality of waste management and traffic management services to improve quality of life and boost IGR generation.”
“The governor-elect has promised to set a standard. His no-nonsense demeanor has sent a huge message to those capable of distracting him. Ikpeazu has read a riot act to agents of perfidy in the state, saying that it will not be business as usual. When he assumes office, he said he would not entertain courtesy calls, receptions, and chieftaincy titles”
“I pledge to protect and treat all equally as I am determined to cater for all irrespective of where they come from…I will ensure that the economy of the state is improved upon and also make Ndigbo to believe in and make Abia the economic hub of the Southeast… I believe that those who lost against me will come and join hands with me for the development of the state and its people”
The governor-elect of Abia State, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu has said his success at the just-concluded governorship and House of Assembly polls was an act of God, even as he has dedicated his victory to God and the people of the state. He promised to justify the confidence the people reposed in him by working hard to enhance their well-being.
He expressed his gratitude to the people for their trust in him and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the April 11election and the supplementary election held on April 25, saying that the people have made a bold statement for progress.
Speaking with reporters at his Umuobiakwa country home in Obingwa Local Government Area, Ikpeazu said for the first time the people had elected a native of Ukwa/Ngwa as governor.
Promising that as the incoming governor of the state, Ikpeazu said his mandate is for both citizens and resident.
“I pledge to protect and treat all equally as I am determined to cater for all irrespective of where they come from,” he said.
He pledged to improve the state’s infrastructure and perk up the development of all sectors of the state’s economy.
“I will ensure that the economy of the state is improved upon and also make Ndigbo to believe in and make Abia the economic hub of the Southeast,” he said.
The governor-elect further explained that there was no election in the state, but an endorsement by the people of the state.
“What happened in the state was an endorsement and not a battle or election which is the reason there is peace in the state,” he said.
He then urged those who contested with him to come forward with their positive ideas and join hands with him to ensure that there is rapid development in the state.
Ikpeazu said: “I believe that those who lost against me will come and join hands with me for the development of the state and its people as they professed love for the state during their campaigns.”
On Otti, who intends to contest his defeat at the tribunal, Ikpeazu said: “His reason for going to the tribunal does not mean threat against me but the trait of a bad loser: I assure you that I will meet him at the tribunal as I have nothing to fear.
I wonder why there are still bad losers in the country and this shows that the APGA governorship candidate is very desperate. I expected him to have towed the line of President Goodluck Jonathan who conceded defeat. Let him go to the tribunal.”
Ikpeazu said six hours before the supplementary election, the candidates
of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and the United Peoples Party (UPP) had collapsed their structure into his, saying that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accepted the outcome of the election.
Abia State Governor-elect Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has dedicated his victory to God and the people, promising to reciprocate the confidence reposed in him by working for them.
He thanked the people for their trust in him and in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking with reporters at his Umuobiakwa home in Obingwa, Ikpeazu said this was the first time the people would endorse a middle-class man from Ukwa/Ngwa as governor.
The governor-elect said his mandate was everyone.
“I pledge to protect and treat all equally, as I am determined to cater for all.
“I will ensure that the state’s economy improves and characterise Ndigbo to make Abia the economic hub of the Southeast”.
Ikpeazu noted that what happened was not an election but an endorsement by the people.
“What happened was an endorsement and not a battle or election, which is the reason there is peace in the state,” Ikpeazu said.