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Tag: Imo State

  • I don’t believe in Zoning, says Imo governorship aspirant

    One of the governorship aspirants in Imo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chuks Ololo has said that he does not believe in the principle of zoning being canvassed for across the state, saying he was not in the race to become the next governor of the State based on the zoning arrangement.

    Ololo said he was in the race for governorship of the state because he believes that he has something to offer and the capacity to put Imo State on the wheel of progress and not because he is from Owerri zone.

    While asking the electorates across the state to shun the sentiments of voting based on zoning, he said the people of the state should vote for the right and capable person to liberate the people from their challenges, adding that he offered himself for the position because of his desire to transform the State.

    He said “I am running for the governorship of Imo State on the platform that is to help us to bring about change and that change will affect Nigeria if Imo is changed because the State is a very big component of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Group plans workshop for Imo guber aspirants

    On zoning, he said “First of all I am not running my campaign based on the zone I come from. I am an Imolite and we have always believed in the best. I am not saying that I must be Imo State governor because I am from Owerri zone. What I am saying is that if the people see that I am not competent, they must not vote for me because I am from Owerri zone. Do not make me governor because I am from Owerri zone. Let the best candidate emerge to lead Imo State.

    “One thing I must do first is to go back to the foundation that was laid by those who created Imo State. There is a vision behind the State and my government will actualize that. We used to be the academic hub of the zone, but today Imo has lost that status. We must go back to look at how things went wrong and what would be the remedy. My target would be on the revamping of education in Imo State.

    “Under my administration, agriculture, which has been the bedrock of Imo would be revisited to get the desired result. I will empower our farmers to develop agriculture in the communities.

    “Also Imo State would be transformed into a technology hub of Nigeria. We must work to export technology to the outside world. We must begin to define what we would do with our natural resources in Imo State and produce to stabilize our economy. We can no longer depend on the money from Abuja to build the State. It is a shame that any time government does not bring money, the State is shut down.”

    On endorsement of Uche Nwosu by Gov. Okorocha, Ololo, who is also an in- law to the governor said, “I believe we are in a democracy, that an aspirant is anointed by someone does not change the fact that the race is open to all. Nigeria has matured to full democracy, so it is left for the people to determine who would be their leader.”

  • Imo APC disowns Uzodinma

    …Senator cautioned on dropping Buhari’s name

     

    The leadership of the Imo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Monday said the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial zone, Senator Hope Uzodinma is not a member of the party.

    The State Chairman of the party, Mr. Daniel Nwafor, told journalists in a press conference at the party’s secretariat in Owerri, that the Senator, who runs a parallel APC office in the state, has not registered with the party both at his Ward and Local Government and is also not known by the State Executive Committee of the party.

    The party leadership also cautioned the Senator against dropping the names of President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole for selfish pursuits.

    Read Also:PDP leader joins APC in Akwa Ibom

    Nwafor stated that the Senator does not represent APC, adding that the party has just one authentic Executive that has been authenticated by various Court judgments.

    According to him, “In the last few days our party has been inundated with calls over the activities of some persons who are posing as members of the APC. Our party is particularly disturbed that this group of people whose nefarious activities as spearheaded by a Senator from this state, Senator Hope Uzodinma. Senator Uzodinma has been misleading the public about certain issues concerning our party. Sunday, our attention was drawn to a kangaroo meeting that was supposedly held by a faction of this party led by Senator Hope Uzodinma. We want to put it on record that Senator Uzodinma is not a member of the APC; his Omuma Ward Chairman has not informed the party that Senator Uzodinma has joined the party.

    “Also Senator Uzodinma has not declared on the floor of the Senate that he has joined the APC, THE Imo State Executive of our party is not aware that he is a member of this party. There has been a lot of statements credited to him inferring that the President Muhammadu Buhari and our Nation Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole have empowered him to determine delegates and aspirants, as well as run this party.

    “We want to inform the National Executive Committee of our party that to the best of our knowledge, Senator Hope Uzodinma is not a member of APC. If there are waivers for him, we have not been communicated formerly”.

    Nwafor continued that, “before anyone in the Presidency or National Headquarters of our party, deals with Senator Hope Uzodinma, it is pertinent that the person as the question, who is Senator Hope Uzodinma, what are his antecedents. After you have determined these two important questions, who will now know how best to deal with him. APC as a party in this state has just one leader and that is Governor Rochas Okorocha and it is on record that when this party was tagged Boko Haram in this state, Governor Okorocha won elections with the party. There is also one state Chairman that has been affirmed by several Court judgments and that his Daniel Nwafor, my humble self”.

    Explaining the adoption of indirect primaries by the SEC as the mode for selecting the party’s candidate, Nwafor stated that it was in line with the directive of NEC reached at its last meeting.

    In his words, “at the NEC direct primary mode was adopted to choose the Presidential candidate, while states were asked to go and meet and choose their preferred mode among the direct, indirect and consensus modes and in line with that, the Imo SEC of our party met and adopted the indirect mode and we have also communicated same to the NEC as directed”.

  • Crisis rocks Imo PDP over alleged alteration of delegate list

    The alleged plan to alter the delegate list of the Imo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead the primaries has thrown the party into turmoil.

    A pressure group within the party, PDP Mandate Initiative, (PMI) has kicked against plot, expressing worry that similar acts of impunity destroyed the party in the past.

    The group, while addressing newsmen in Owerri, Monday, described the attempt as “undemocratic, unconstitutional, anti-party and clearly damaging”.

    Read Also:Saraki not a dictator, says PDP elders

    In a statement signed by the Chairman, Chief Luke Udo Anujiofor, Secretary, Dr. Peter Claver Akpataku, and PRO Mr. Azuchiekuta Udodinma, the group alleged that an unnamed governorship aspirant was behind the plot.

    It alleged further that ” a governorship aspirant and his cohorts are  involved in the ridiculous and unconstitutional practice of impunity, imposition and hijack of the process of three-man Ad-hoc delegates’ Congress, scheduled to hold across the 305 Wards in 27 Local Government Areas (LGA) of Imo State on the Friday, 8th of September”.

    It continued that “as part of this group’s inimical plot is its resolve to the claims that some LGA’s delegates list have been ceded to it, hence, there cannot be any delegate election in those Local Councils”.

    According to the statement, “we equally condemn in totality, the statement credited to Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, at a PDP leadership meeting of Ikeduru LGA, that the appointed delegates list, drawn by Senator Anyanwu will be adopted and used as the authentic delegates without voting or election. We view this sad development as the height of impunity, intimidation and suppression.

    “This is the same practice that nearly destroyed our party in the past. This is in gross violation to the PDP’s Constitution (as amended in 2017), which provides in Chapter 8, Section 50 (8)”.

    It continued that, “the position of our party’s Constitution is express on this issue and we call on the National Working Committee State Working Committee (SWC) to beam their searchlight to avert a looming crisis that could jeopardize the peace and stability our party has enjoyed since the recent past. Our party must hastily nip in the bud, any desperate act by any individual or group to undermine our chances at the 2019 general election.

    “More worrisome is the allegation that the Senator has been making frantic efforts to alter Imo State PDP statutory delegates list at the PDP National Headquarters, and replace them with strange names that will do his bidding during the primary election. This allegation is indeed unfortunate, unacceptable and must be investigated by the party”.

  • Lawyer drags Imo Govt. to court for alleged contempt

     An Owerri-based human rights lawyer, Mr Frank Ugboma and others have dragged the Imo Government, State Attorney-General and the Ministry of Lands Survey and Urban Planning to court for alleged contempt.

    Also joined as defendants in the suit marked HOW/328/2009 included Mr Simeon Iwunze, the former representative of Isiala Mbano in the Imo House of Assembly, and Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA).

    The suit was instituted following an alleged disobedience of a court judgement delivered on Nov. 18, 2013 against the defendants.

    The court awarded N1.5 million against the defendants for allegedly destroying the property of the claimants in July 2008.

    Ugboma also alleged that the defendants defied a perpetual injunction, which restrained them or their cronies from effecting further damage to the claimants’ buildings.

    He sought a court order directing the Commissioner of Police in the state to arrest Mr Simeon Iwunze, State Attorney-General, Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning and the Chairman of OCDA.

    In an affidavit, deposed to by one Ngozi Kalu, the claimants said in spite of the Nov. 13, 2013 judgment, which awarded the land and damages in their favour, the defendants further trespassed on the land.

    Read Also: Imo eats new yam

    They allegedly damaged the perimeter fencing and other property in the land.

    In the application, Ugboma stated:  “That a subsisting positive judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction remains binding until set aside.

    “That in spite of service of form 48 on the contemnors, they have continued to disregard the order of judgement of this honourable court.

    “That it is the duty of this honourable court to protect and enforce its subsisting order, otherwise the publics’ confidence in our courts will be eroded.”

    Listed as applicants in the case include Dr Robert Offurum, Mr Paschal Offurum, Mrs Monica Offurum, Mrs Angelina Offurum-Onyewu, Mrs Maria Offurum-Onukogu and Mrs Gertrude Onukogu.

    NAN

  • Updated: APC sweeps Imo local government elections

    The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission has declared candidates of the All Progressives Congress as winners of Saturday’s local government election across the state.

    Mr. Ethelbert Ibebuchi, chairman of the electoral body, announced the results of the polls on Sunday at the commission’s headquarters in Owerri.

    He said that 13 political parties fielded candidates in the elections across the 27 local government areas and 645 wards in the state.

    He said that the APC won all but four councillorship positions while five wards were stood down because of irregularities.

    He said the Accord, Rebuild, People’s Redemption and KOWA parties all secured one councillorship position respectively in the election.

    He listed the wards stood down to include Mbano ward in Oguta local government area, Amuzu ward in Isu local government area, Eziudo ward in Ezinihitte Mbaise and Umuhu ward in Aboh Mbaise.

    Ibebuchi said the APC chairmanship candidate for Aboh Mbaise local government, Chidi Nwaturuocha polled 15,411 votes to emerge winner, with Mr Adolphus Onuoha emerging victorious for Ahiazu Mbaise local government having polled 10,382 votes.

    Others winners include: Nwosu Reginald for Ehime Mbano local government polling 12,811 votes, Chioma Onwumere for Ezinihitte local government with 15,954 votes and Joy Ezebuiro scoring 40,746 votes to win chairmanship seat for Ideato North local government area.

    Also elected were: Osuoji Emeka for Ideato South local government with 17, 407 votes, Jude Mbachu for Isiala Mbano with 25,235 votes.

    Metu Chukwunyere emerged victorious in Ikeduru local government with 15,798 votes, Bonaventure Okafor got 18,118 votes to clinch the chairmanship for Ihitte Uboma council, while Nwadike Chimezie polled 9,981 votes to win in Isu local government area.

    Bertrand Mbah and Obinna Chinwe got 42,417 and 18,108 votes respectively to win in Mbaitoli and Ngor Okpala local government areas.

    Chizoba O. Chizoba won in Nwangele local government area with 13,465 votes while Kenneth Obioha won in Njaba local government area with 17,494 votes and Mbagwu Augustine won with 13,403 votes in Nkwerre local government area.

    Okezie Paschal won in Obowo area council with 15,073 votes while Gerald Mgborokwu won in Oguta council with 63,566 votes; Amadi Ebenezer emerged victorious in Ohaji Egbema council with 39,938.

    Clement Onwumere won in Okigwe local government with 12,322, Augustus Chikezie won Onuimo local goverment with 17,318 votes and Ikechukwu Onyegbule for Orlu local government area with 42,979 votes.

    Okonkwo Kingsley won with 16,809 in Orsu, Duru Evaristus won with 13,444 in Oru East, Udemba Obi won in Oru West with 7, 269, while Joseph Agor won in Owerri Municipal with 20,071 votes.

    Vitalis Anyaegbu won in Owerri North with 10,435 votes while Oduh Chidi won in Owerri West with 8,116 votes.

    Ibebuchi commended the 13 political parties that fielded candidates in the election.

    He also commended the security agencies and other democratic institutions for showcasing “affirmative inter-agency relationship and synergy” during the election.

    The chairman however appealed to the state House of Assembly to make a law that would confer nominal community status to Registration Areas in large communities without cogent status to enable them qualify for ISIEC wards.

    He also urged participants with genuine grievances to take up their cases at the elections petitions tribunal that is already in place. (NAN)

  • Anambra school leaver impregnates house-help on master’s bed

    A teenage boy has allegedly impregnated a 15-year old maidservant (names withheld) in Nkpo, near Onitsha, Anambra state.

    The illicit act was reportedly carried out on top of the bed of the victim’s master while he was away.

    The Nation gathered that the house-help, a junior secondary school student of a private school in the area, has been in a secret love affair with the suspect.

    A resident of the area, who simply identified himself as Anthony, said the suspect, a secondary school leaver, usually sneaked into the apartment to sleep with the victim in the absence of her master and the wife.

    He however added that luck ran out on them when it was discovered that the maid was pregnant.

    “The illicit relationship went on unnoticed until the girl’s pregnancy became noticeable, and when she was accosted, she mentioned the boy’s name,” Anthony added.

    Read Also: Four die, nine injured in Anambra multiple crashes

    Narrating her ordeal, the victim confessed how the suspect took advantage of the master’s absence and his wife to have sexual intercourse with her.

    “He frequently visited me after school hours when my oga and her wife were not around and the fun normally took place on my oga’s bed,” she said.

    She added that they preferred the master’s bed to that of the madam for the act because of what she described as the “care-free attitude” of the master.

    “As a woman, my madam will easily know that the bed was touched but my master does not have time for such matters,” she added.

    The Nation further learnt that the mother of the victim, who resides in Orlu, Imo state, had attempted to broker a marriage with the lover boy immediately the development was communicated to her.

    The efforts were however unsuccessful, as the suspect’s parents declined the offer, arguing that their son was too young to take up such responsibility.

  • Imo LG Polls: 14 political parties vie for 27 Chairmanship

    … 645 Councillorship seats

    Fourteen political parties including the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Accord Party, Green Party of Nigeria (GNP), Young People’s Party (YPP), KOWA, Mega Party of Nigeria (MPN), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), among others will be participating in tomorrow’s Local Government election in Imo State.

    The Chairman of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Hon Ethelbert Ibebuchi, made the disclosure while briefing journalists on the preparedness of the Commission.

    He said the political parties will be contesting for 27 Chairmanship positions and 645 Councillorship positions.

    The ISIEC Chairman stated further that the Commission has concluded all necessary arrangements to ensure a hitch free and credible polls.

    According to him, “the Commission is ready for the election and we are urging the people to come out perform their civic responsibilities. Let me assure all and sundry that ISIEC has made available to all participating political parties and their candidates, a level playing ground to actively take part in order to actualize their political goals”.

    Read Also: Imo APC inaugurates State, LG Executives

    He continued that, “may I in unequivocal terms assures our numerous publics that ISIEC is sufficiently ready to go. Be rest assured that as part of our altruistic design to ensure a hitch free exercise, there shall be restriction of movement of persons between 8am and 4pm when polls are expected to come to an end”.

    Meanwhile the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) considered the main opposition parties in the state are boycotting the election over pending litigation that retrained the state electoral Commission from conducting the election.

    But the ISIEC boss dismissed the claim as unfounded and mischievous, adding that, ” I am not aware of any Court Order or judgment stopping the Commission from conducting the Local Government election. It is a different thing altogether for people to go to Court to make certain demands and conducting an election”.

  • Okorocha calls for free and fair election

    As LG polls hold Saturday

     

    The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has called for a credible poll as the state holds Local Government election on Saturday.

    The Imo governor also urged the people to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.

    A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, stated that “Imo people will be electing 27 Chairmen for the 27 Local Government Areas in the State and about 645 Councillors, in the Local Government election slated for Saturday and to be conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC)”.

    It continued that, “in line with the vision of Governor Rochas Okorocha and policy of the State Government to take government to the communities, the State House of Assembly enacted a law that has warranted every autonomous community to elect a Councillor, with the State now having about 645 autonomous communities.

    “The governor has always believed that government should be taken to the people at the grassroots which had also occasioned his administration to come up earlier with the idea of Community Government Council (CGC) which has also transformed most of the Communities in terms of development”.

    Read Also: Okorocha: APC will win Southeast in 2019

    It also added that, “and having seen the great impact of the CGC in the communities, an executive bill was sent to the State House of Assembly for a law that would enable autonomous communities to elect their Councillors and the Councillors will be the link between the government at all levels in the State and the individual communities for development.

    “The Councillors will also be working hand-in-glove with their respective traditional rulers for the Development or Progress of the autonomous communities involved.

    The governor’s aide further stressed that, ” the Governor has urged the Imo electorate to vote for the Chairmanship and Councillorship Candidates of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election since the APC government has done very well for the seven years it has held sway in the State.

    “The governor also called for peaceful Conducts on the sides of the Political Parties and Candidates taking part in the election, while ISIEC should ensure free and fair election. He wishes all the Candidates well”.

     

  • Obaseki attributes Edo’s progress to people-centric governance

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has ordered the immediate payment of workers’ August salaries ahead of the Eid-el Kabir celebrations next week, noting that the progress being recorded in the state is the result of a people-centric governance model adopted by his administration.

    According to Obaseki, the focus of his team is the well being of Edo people and residents and not a few individuals.

    The payment of August salary on the 17th day of the month, the governor explained, is the result of the prudent and sound management of the state’s resources, which has prioritized a robust reserve, grown over time, despite the massive investment in infrastructure and other critical sectors of the state.

    Recall that in June, the state governor released funds to the local government councils to settle workers’ salaries following the stand-off between the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and the state governments, which resulted in the delay in salary payments in other states of the country.

    Obaseki gave the order during the Second Anniversary Thanksgiving of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Christian Prayer/Contact Committee, held at Government House in Benin City, on Friday, August 17, 2018.

    The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., said: “We cannot be sharing the money for the development of the state and still be able to meet up with our electoral promises to the people. Our focus is on the people, to develop the state and make life better for everyone.”

    He maintained that his administration has done well by fulfilling some of the promises he made during the electioneering campaign, such as the restoration of law and order, strengthening of critical institutions of government, creation of jobs and provision of infrastructure.

    He added that pensioners no longer protest over delayed payment of their entitlements as they are now paid, as and when due, while the civil servants receive their credit alerts, on the 26th of every month.

    He reiterated his administration’s commitment to quality education with the   Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) programme, which is revolutionising teaching and learning in Edo schools.

    “We spend $40 on every Edo child in the Edo-BEST programme and our children in the primary schools can now read. Every primary school in the state will be part of the Edo-BEST programme before the end of this administration,” he assured, adding that the dream of his administration is to turn the state into the economic hub of the country.

    Read Also: Human trafficking: Obaseki lauds EU, Benin Monarch

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on religious matters and chairman APC Prayer/Contact Committee, Edo State, Pastor Eghosa Omoruyi, said that governor Obaseki is a blessing from God, to Edo people and residents, as he has touched the lives of many people in the state.

    “This is just the second year and as a state we have experienced good governance with landmark achievements in critical sectors of the state, and it can only get better,” Omoruyi said.

    The General Overseer of Covenant Ministry International, Imo State, Bishop Chukwu Anayo, who also participated in the Thanksgiving Service, said the governor has made the state peaceful for people of various religious convictions to worship God.

    “Prayer is very helpful, and you can see the impact as the governor has achieved huge developmental strides and the people are benefiting from his leadership style” Bishop Anayo added.

  • Hijacked Rivers bus: Two bodies recovered, six missing, eight rescued

    The 18- seater passenger bus  hijacked by unknown gunmen along Elele-Omarelu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has been found.

    The spokesman of the state Police command, Nnamdi Omoni confirmed this in Port Harcourt on Friday.

    Omoni further disclosed that two of the passengers onboard the bus were however found dead, six are still missing, while eight have been rescued alive from their abductors.

    The commercial bus was reportedly travelling from Owerri, Imo State, to Port Harcourt, when the arm-bearing hoodlums ambushed and diverted their vehicle to unknown destination.

    The Commander of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, in Rivers, Bennett Igwe, broke the news to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Thursday.

    Read Also: Gunmen hijack commercial bus in Rivers

    Igwe, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), assured the public that efforts were on by men of his team to ensure successful and safe rescue of passenger from the kidnappers, in no time.

    The command confirmed Friday evening that the bus and some of the passengers have been rescued but two of the victims were found dead.

    Omoni said, ”The Police have rescued the kidnap victims and recovered the bus they were travelling in. They were rescued at the early hours of Friday. However dead bodies of two of the passengers were recovered, six are still with them, but eight of them were rescued alive.” he said.

    Meanwhile the command also regretted the ‘unfortunate’ death of a Catholic priest that was abducted by the criminals before he could be rescued.

    According to him, the Reverend father was kidnapped two weeks ago, but the body seen abandoned in part of the state.  He suspected that his abductors might have collected ransom from the family before killing him.