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Tag: Imo State

  • Imo: My name has not been dropped – Nwosu

    The winner of the Imo state governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Uche Nwosu, has described as unfounded and misleading, reports that his name has been dropped by the National Working Committee of the party.

    Nwosu said that the news trending on the online edition of one of the national dailies is a sponsored falsehood intended to create tension in the state.

    The online report had claimed that the NWC of the party had substituted Nwosu’s name with that of Senator Hope Uzodinma as the APC governorship candidate for Imo State.

    But reacting to the report, Nwosu said that he remains the authentic governorship candidate of the party, adding that the NWC of the party cannot contemplate any such action, when it has already upheld his candidacy.

    Read Also: Anti-Oshiomhole protest rocks Imo

    According to him, “Apart from available records, which showed that I am the authentic governorship candidate of our party, I also have a valid Court Order barring the partly and INEC from substituting my name. So the media house reporting that is obviously sponsored to do a hatchet job”.

    He stated further that, “There are no contentions to my victory at the Imo State governorship primary election. What we have in the records is that the governorship candidate of APC in Imo State is Uche Nwosu, not only that, I have a valid Court Order barring the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving any other name that is not my name.

    “There is no contention in that, the only primary that was upheld was that of Agbabiaka, which I won and everybody knew it was the authentic primary. The earlier primary that was to be conducted by Ahmed Gulak  was cancelled and disbanded and a new Committee was reconstituted, so Gulak never conducted any governorship primary, the only primary that was done in Imo State is the one conducted by Agbabiaka which I won”.

  • NNPC urges communities to calm vandals

    As calm returned to Osisioma Ngwa communities of Imo State following a fire incident last Friday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Monday appealed to the host communities to help stem the spate of vandalism of oil pipeline.

    A release in Abuja by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said that preliminary reports of the fire incident which recorded some fatalities and loss of properties affirmed that the inferno resulted from the activities of vandals who had breached System 2Ex Pipeline Right of Way (PROW) in Ososioma.

    The NNPC spokesperson explained that the confirmation of items such as jerrycans, among others, at the scene of the incident, by the report indicated that the activities of vandals in the area ignited the flame.

    Read Also: NNPC records N18.12b monthly surplus

    Ughamadu quoted the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, as saying that the incessant vandalism of pipeline facilities along System 2Ex PROW has prevented the corporation from pumping fuel to the Enugu Depot.   

    Baru lamented the loss of lives and properties in the inferno which occurred in the wee hours of Friday in Umuaduru and Umuimo communities both in Osisioma Ngwa, in Imo State.

    The GMD appealed to host communities to collaborate with the corporation to tame oil pipeline vandalism in their areas.

    Baru thanked the State fire servicemen and NNPC officials for their prompt response which rapidly brought the situation under control. 

  • ADP elects guber candidate in Imo

    The Action Democratic Party (ADP) has elected  a legal practitioner, Success Obioma as it’s  governorship candidate in Imo State.

    Speaking with newsmen in Owerri,  shortly after been declared winner of the primary election, Obioma, said he will probe the Rochas Okorocha’s administration with a view to ensuring that people take responsibility for their actions.

    Obioma however promised to reviews the  various Noble ideas created by the current administration and turn them into policies that will be backed by adequate legislation by the State House of Assembly.

    According to him, Governor Okorocha has initiated numerous ideas in the  areas of free  education, rural roads and other infrastructure but we’re  not turned into policies , which he said could have made them more efficient.

    Read Also: APGA, Frank Nneji and Imo guber race

    He further promised to return the State to God,  stating that it will take divine  intervention to get the State  to work again.

    The Lawyer turned politician, assured that  he will place priority on free and quality education as the best tool for transformation if elected.

    He also promised to revive the agricultural sector as an avenue to create wealth and employment for the people of the state.

    Obioma also disclosed that his administration will restore the dignity of the traditional institution,you which he said has  been ridiculed by politicians, “the situation where our traditional rulers are reduced to errand boys by governors will not be allowed in my administration”.

    Meanwhile he lamented the collapse of infrastructure in the State, pledging to make it a priority when elected.

     

  • Imo APC Primary: ‘I was not directed to deliver any aspirant’

    …caution against breach of public peace

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Imo State Ali Janga, has dismissed as laughable, speculations that he was directed to deliver a particular aspirant by the leadership of the party.

    Janga who is also the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, also explained that he was only in the state for the primary election, adding that the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi is still in charge of the Command.

    According to him, he was deployed to the State by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and will return to his Command immediately he concludes his official duty.

    He said, “It is normal routine in the Police Force to deploy officers and men for special duties. I am in Imo State specifically for the election to ensure transparency in line with the directive of the IG. The state Commissioner of Police is still in charge of the Command, he has not been removed I am only here for the election duty”.

    Janga, who was the CP in charge of the just concluded Osun State governorship election, assured all aspirants of adequate Police protection, “the Police is ready for task of providing adequate security for the primary election”.

    He however cautioned politicians and their supporters against any act that could breach public peace, warning that anyone found compromising the process, will be thoroughly dealt with.

    Read Also: APC Primary: Buhari scores 697,532 votes in Imo

    Speaking earlier, before handing over their the Duty Order to the visiting Commissioner of Police, Galadanchi (Imo CP), said that he was only stepping for the election duty, adding that he still in charge of the Command as the CP.

    Those running for the governorship primary include Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, Eze Madumere, Chucks Ololo, George Etche, Jude Ejiogu, Chris Nlemoha, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Peter Gbujie and China Anozie.

    The visiting Commissioner of Police, Ali Janga and the Imo State CP, Dasuki Galadanchi.

  • Imo State move to end Osu caste system

    Twenty four traditional rulers in Oguta Local Government 8 of Imo have endorsed abolishing the Osu caste system, to free affected people from stigmatisation.

    The age-long system is also known in some Igbo tradition as Osu, Diala or Ohu, depicting slavery to either a human being or deity.

    The royal fathers believe that the caste system had caused major deprivations, dehumanisation, stigmatisation and lack of marriage among units on a particular class of people in the society considered to be slaves.

    The resolution was taken and endorsed in a joint meeting organised by a Civil Society Group, Initiative for The Eradication of Traditional and Cultural Stigmatisation in Our Society (IFETACSIOS) on Monday.

    Eze Franklin Okafor, Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in Oguta LGA who led the royal fathers, described caste system as “Man Inhumanity to Man”.

    Okafor said that in Igbo land,  those considered to fall among the class of Ume, Ohu, Osu and Diala caste system did not enjoy common relationship with others.

    According to him, the system has led to a major deprivation, dehumanisation and stigmatisation on the affected people.

    “This system is evil and devilish; our people cannot intermarry with others, while a major deprivation is meted on the affected people due to fetish tradition.

    “We have resolved today that we will partner with IFETACSIOS group to carry the crusade against caste system to the entire Igbo land and ensure that it is abolished,” he said.

    Prof. Dele Odigbo, who is also a traditional ruler in the area, noted that many of the affected persons had committed suicide, while others went on exile due to the fetish tradition.

    He said that the Ume, Osu, Ohu and Diala caste system was against the constitution of the country and a violation of human right of association.

    He observed that those considered to fall in the class were deprived of certain privileges in the society, adding that the resolution would not liberate the people from bondage and make them have a sense of belonging in the society.

    The system was predominantly practised in the Igbo land, where affected people were deprived of certain privileges in their various communities.

    They were also restricted from intermarriage with other people, while they were not allowed to participate in certain traditional privileges.

    Stella Ogechukwu, President of the IFETACSIOS, said emergence of caste system in Igbo land was the greatest evil and injustice meted on the affected persons.

    She said IFETACSIOS had launched the campaign in various states in the South-East to drive their point home.

    She said abolition of the system would save many innocent persons from dehumanisation, stigmatisation and inequality which they had suffered in the past.

    “Our royal fathers are the major key players in this struggle and that is why we are partnering with all of them to see how we can end this evil system and to set our people free from bondage.

    “The IFETACSIOS group is advocating the abrogation of Osu, Ohu, Ume and Diala caste system in Igbo land which have done more harm than good,’’ she said.

    Ogechukwu noted that if the system was abolished, human dignity would  be restored in Igbo land. (NAN)

  • APC must work hard to win Osun governorship rerun, says Okorocha

    Says essence of governance to create happiness

    Says it’s difficult to reconcile with his political opponents

     

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) needs to work hard to retain Osun State among the state it is controlling in the country.

    He gave the warning while reflecting on the result of the last Saturday’s governorship election in the state as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Okorocha, who is also the chairman of the APC Governors Forum, spoke with State House correspondents in Owerri, Imo State.

    According to him, the result of the election in Osun State where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led the APC with over 300 votes showed that there was a good fight between the APC and the PDP.

    The fight, he said, helps in checks and balances.

    Okorocha was however optimistic that the APC will come out well in the 2019 general elections.

    He said “Well, it is inconclusive (the election), as long as it is made inconclusive, it is inconclusive and it is a good fight.

    “I love that kind of democracy where there is a close margin; it shows that there is checks and balances.

    Read Also: Okorocha sacks aides contesting election

    “That is why I tell APC, we must never go to bed to sleep, we have a lot of work to do because you are more endangered when you are in power than when you are not in power.

    “The forces to pull you down are more than the forces to build you up when you are holding unto power.

    “So APC has a lot of work to do and I hope we will come out fine.”

    Speaking on some elites, who are presently opposing him in the state, Okorocha said that the fight was all about the state treasury.

    He said “The issue of reconciling with the elites is a very difficult one and the more you reconcile you either not to give up or you reconcile because what they want you cannot afford to give them.

    “The elites want you to give them the local government so that the money that comes from the local government, they take it that is the reconciliation they want. The elites will want you to give them the contract of the entire state budget. The elites will want you to pay their medical bills in their hundreds of millions.

    “The elites want to be in power and then do whatever they want to do with the treasury of the state. The struggle for power in this state is not for power really to govern the people, it is a struggle for the treasury of Imo state and that is what I am protecting.” he added

    Okorocha explained that the essence of any governance is to create happiness for its citizens.

    His administration had earlier created a novel ministry named the Ministry of Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment.

    Stressing that his administration has completed over 1000 projects in the state, he promised that there will be no project left uncompleted at the end of his tenure.

    Some of the projects, he said, included new wing of the government house, chapel, 8-lane road, multiple level car park, 5000 capacity Imo International Convention Center, Freedom Square, Cabinet Office, first inland bridge, second inland bridge, third inland bridge, Jacob Zuma road, permanent and temporary sites of the Ministry of Happiness, Heroes square, Heroes apartment, Imo Youth Center, renovated state secretariat, ISOPADEC,

    Others are 3000 capacity Imo Trade and Investment centre, Police Headquarters, modern prison, Imo State High Court complex, sentinary towers, Nigeria Labour Congress House, Nigeria Union of Journalists House, Creative Arts and Entertainment house, Imo foundation complex, CAN Secretariat Imo chapter, two tunnels, drug house, new Ministry of ICT complex,

    Also completed are the Eastern Palm University and 200-bed Nigeria Air Force hospital.

     

  • Breaking: Court declares Imo Deputy Governor’s impeachment illegal

    The Imo state High Court sitting in Owerri  has declared the impeachment of Deputy Governor of the state, Eze Madumere as invalid and of no legal effect.

    Read Also:Imo Deputy Governor Madumere removed for ‘gross misconduct’

    Justice Benjamin Iheaka in his ruling which lasted for over two hours  justice lashed the Chief Judge of the state, Paschal Nnadi and the Attorney General of the state, Militus Nlemadim for not following  the provisions of section 188(5) of the 1999 constitution as amended in the impeachment of Madumere on July 31,2018.
    Details later…

  • Imo Governorship : I’m not afraid of direct primaries, says Nwosu

    Chief of Staff to the Imo state governor and alleged anointed governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo state, Uche Nwosu has said that he was ready to face party members in the state through whatever mode of primary adopted by the party in the state.

    Also, the preferred governorship candidate in Rivers state, Tonye Cole said he was prepared for whatever mode adopted by the party in Rivers state, saying what was important was for the party to present a credible candidate for the general election.

    While Nwosu is widely believed to have been announced for the governorship position by Governor Rochas Okorocha, Cole is believed to be the preferred candidate of Minister of Transportation and former Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

    Read Also: APC governors insist on indirect primaries

    Speaking after being screened by the National Working Committee of the party, Nwosu who is also believed to be the son-in-law of the Imo state governor said he consider his closeness to the governor as an added advantage to his aspiration, adding however that he believe that he was the best candidate for the job.

    He said “You know that the party wants to make sure that you are qualified and credible to avoid having a governor that does not have what it takes to rule a state because a governor is not a Chairman. I am happy that our National Chairman took it upon himself to actually interview and screens those who wants to run for the office of the governor.

    “It is the state executive committee of the party that decides on the mode. If they decide to use indirect, so be it. If they decide on direct, so be it. The party has the power and the Governor is just one member of the SEC where you up to 200 members and so, one member cannot stop the entire state Executive from taking a decision.

    “The party has decided that they want to go indirect and so, we adopt that and go with that. I am fully prepared for the primaries and by the special grace of God; I will become the candidate of the party.”

    Asked if he consider his relationship with the governor as a plus or minus, he said “Of course my relationship with the governor is a plus. When you have a sitting Governor in your party, you need his support to come up because he is a member of the party.

    “Except where you have another party man as the governor of that state. But once the governor belongs to your party, you will automatically need his support.”

    On his part, Tonye Cole believed to have been anointed and adopted for the governorship by majority of APC leaders in Rivers state who are loyal to the Minister of Transportation said he was ready to go for any form of primary chosen by the party in the state.

    Cole said “I believe that democracy has come a long a way in Nigeria and one of the things we are seeing now is that the people are now looking at the evidences of things that you have done and not what you are promising to do and how you can make a difference in the People’s life.

    “I believe at the end of the day, both direct and indirect primaries are constitutional. What we want to see is the right candidates emerging and how they emerge is a parry affair.

    “As far as I am concerned, we are because we believe that we have the right candidate for Rivers state and whichever way it comes out, I am ready for it.”

  • APC may adopt direct primaries in Imo – Oshiomhole

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that the party may use the direct primary option for the conduct of its governorship primary in Imo state in other to avoid litigation that may affect the chances of the candidates of the party in the general election.

    Oshiomhole who spoke at a peace meeting between for leaders of the party in the state told all aspirants in the state to go and test their popularity with the people since they all  believe in their popularity.

    Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Acho Ihim led the governor’s group while Senator Uzodinma led the other group.

    The APC chairman appealed to the state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to cede part of the leadership of the party in the state to the Senator Hope Nzodinma led faction of rye party in the interest of lasting peace in the state.

    Oshiomhole told the Okorocha faction to take 55 percent of the party structure in the state while the other group led by Senator Hope Uzodinma takes 45 per cent so as to achieve lasting peace in the Imo APC.

    While acknowledging the leadership of the governor in the state, the APC Chairman said “I will not allow any body to take him for granted or rubbish his personality”.

    The APC Chairman, who described the first congresses held in Imo State as a fraud, stressed the need for the warring members to sheath their sword in the interest of the party.

    Read Also: APC governors insist on indirect primaries

    He said “the essence of this meeting is to seek equity and justice. I respect Governor Rochas because he is one governor that fought to ensure we have APC in Imo State. But now more people are joining the party, the House has gotten bigger, we need peace in Imo state and I am urging you people to reconcile and harmonize.

    “I suggested a formula to the Governor. It is not right that under my watch a faction of our members are wiped out. If we don’t work together it will weaken our party and that is why I am suggesting 55 per cent to the Governor’s group and 45 per cent to Senator Uzodinma’s group. Some people are speaking law but I want to win election in Imo State not court cases.

    “That is why we have chosen not to talk about the law but coexistence. Court don’t give peace they give judgment. We should talk less about power and talk more of peace. Everybody matters in this business. It can be dangerous to take one for granted.

    “Don’t ever take one another for granted on the day of election and any one of us who have not learnt on former President Jonathan’s mistake is not a politician. So we must all swallow our pride and embrace peace for the sake of the party”

  • 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.