The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Imo State

  • Violence, electoral malpractices mar elections in Imo

    Violence, electoral malpractices mar elections in Imo

    The governorship and House of Assembly election in Imo State was Saturday marred by violence, shortage and late arrival of electoral materials, among other electoral malpractices in most of the Local Government Areas.

    There were heavy shootings in most of the Polling Units in Owerri North, Aboh Mbaise, Onuimo, Oguta, Oru East and Ohaji-Egbema Council Areas, as well as  ballot box snatching.

    At Okwele, in Onuimo Council Area, no fewer than three persons suspected to be hired thugs were feared dead in a car accident, while trying to escape with ballot boxes and sensitive electoral materials.

    In another place in Aboh Mbaise Council Area, hoodlums dressed in fake Army uniforms and armed with AK47 Riffles, were arrested by Soldiers, while attempting to snatch electoral materials.

    Imo State Governor and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rochas Okorocha, condemned the violence that marred the elections, stating that a Panel of Inquiry will be set up to investigate the involvement of some of the politicians.

    The governor, who briefed newsmen at his Polling Unit in Ogboko, shortly after casting his vote, blamed the growing violence in some parts of the state, especially Oguta, Ohaji-Egbema, Aboh Mbaise Council Areas, among others on the desperation of some of the politicians.

    He however noted that there was significant improvement in the operations of the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to him, “there is a remarkable improvement in the conduct of the security operatives. For instance in this election, there is no Armoured Tank in the front of my house. But the indiscriminate arrest of APC supporters including my Media aide is worrisome.

    “Even though the Card Reader rejected me four times, I will say that there is great improvement in accreditations generally”.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise, especially the performance of the Card Readers.

    According to him, “the turnout is impressive and peaceful. You can see the people waiting to be accredited”.

    Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, shortly after voting in his Polling Unit at Isiebu in Isiala Mbaise Council Area, noted that there was remarkable improvement in INEC preparations in the governorship election compared to the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

  • ‘Why I want to be governor of Imo State’

    Chief David Chukwuemeka Mbamara is a retired intelligence officer of the Nigerian Army. The 50-yer-old Accord Party’s governorship aspirant for Imo State in this interview told Justice Ilevbare how he plans to turn the fortunes of the Eastern Heartland around. 

    WHAT is your take on the prevailing insecurity in the country?

    There is no doubt that we are in challenging times, given the security situation in the country. The actors and players of the Nigerian nation are more patriotic to their various ethnic cleavages than the country. Nigeria, has unfortunately, towed other failed states such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia. Nigeria is multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation but these countries are homogeneous nations. It is not possible to make Pakistan, Afghanistan and Somalia out of Nigeria. We need to understand our strength and weakness to be able to come out strong. The foundation of our nation is faulty.

    How would you describe the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan?

    The president has been trying to transform this country as he promised. He has made tremendous progress in education, aviation, transportation, road construction, our economy is now the biggest on the continent. For example, it took me just five hours to drive from Upper Iweka in Onitsha to my Hotel room in Festac Town recently. It shows that the roads are now motorable. So many other sectors are receiving facelifts but the security situation has overshadowed every other thing. The state and local governments are really not living up to expectations.

    My position is that the president has done his bit; others must wake up to their responsibilities as well. The problem with our leaders is that they act as if they are going to be around forever. No Nigerian can live up to a thousand years. The perception of the average Nigerian about the world is that he/she can live to be 1,000 years on earth. While Nigerians believe this world is where to live forever, the people of the first world see this world as a transient place. What is expected of all of us not just the leadership, is to realise that we don’t have all the time in this world. We need to show moderation in the way we primitively acquire wealth. It is the absence of this simple understanding that this world is transient that we build super-human beings, instead of erecting super institutions that will outlive us. President Jonathan cannot employ everybody. My governor, Rochas Okorocha, sacked 10,000 workers because they were employed by his predecessor. So, the problem is that others are not complementing the president’s efforts.

    Why do you want to become the governor of Imo State?

    A terrible cabal has seized control of Imo State and it’s about time we rescue our beloved state from these mindless people. Imo politics is not about who willeth it, but about who God wants to show mercy. Every sector in Imo is in very terrible shape and we need to return governance to our people. We have after very careful study come up with Imo divine six-point agenda to take the state to greater heights.

    Agriculture will be accorded top priority in order to put food on the table and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.

    Our beloved Imo must regain its qualitative destination for education with special emphasis on the development of sports’ potentials of our people from primary school.  We would also aggressively build infrastructure facilities across the 27 local government areas. Our government would also construct the Owerri outer ring road and inner ring road and as a matter of utmost urgency, begin to build a new city that can compete with any other city in the world. We would pay serious attention to security by ensuring that life and property are not only secure, but safe. This is so because without security you cannot achieve anything.

  • Police burst baby factory, rescue 16 expectant teenagers

    Police burst baby factory, rescue 16 expectant teenagers

    The Imo State Police Command yesterday continued with the clampdown on ‘baby factories’ with the rescue of 16 pregnant teenagers between the ages of 14 to 19 years from an illegal orphanage operated by a fake medical doctor, James Ezuma in the guise of a Non-Governmental Organization.
    Ezuma who is currently standing trial for alleged gun running, anchors a registered NGO, the Ezuma Women and Children Rights Protection Initiative (EWCRPI), a platform that shields his nefarious activities from security operatives.
    Briefing newsmen, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammad Musa Katsina, disclosed that “the NGO is a baby factory where teenage girls are encouraged to get pregnant and paid N100, 000.00 on delivery to abandon their babies who are eventually used for purposes ranging from child trafficking to rituals”.
    He said that the Command is battling to unravel the whereabouts of a new born baby that was forcefully snatched away from the teenage mother, Nnachi Chinaza by the suspect who refused to disclose to the Police who the baby was sold to.
    “So far he has taken us to Abia state where he said the baby is but we were unable to recover the baby, though investigations are still ongoing, the presumption at the moment is that the baby may have been used for ritual purposes”, he stated.
    The CP warned parents to keep an eye on their teenage girls to prevent them from falling prey to child traffickers and baby factory operators.
    According to him, “It is pertinent to mention that the suspect was arraigned before an Owerri Chief Magistrate Court 1 on November, 2013 for the offence of conspiracy and Unlawful possession of firearms.
    “When a search was conducted on the premises, sixteen pregnant girls between the ages of fourteen and nineteen were found; also recovered was an automatic eight loader pump action gun which is a prohibited firearm”.
    Speaking to journalists amid tears, the 19- year- old mother of the missing child from Ebonyi State, said she was directed to come to the home by a lady who promised she will be taken care of.
    She said that her baby was taken away two hours after she put to bed without her consent, “when I started disturbing him to give me my baby, he gave me one hundred thousand naira instead”.
    The names of the rescued expectant mothers were given as Peace Effiong (24 yrs. Rivers state), Rita Nnanna (25yrs. Anambra), Blessing Ubbah (20yrs. Lagos), Joy Brown (19 yrs. Imo),Precious Anyadike (18yrs. Lagos), Kelechi Wenwu (17yrs. Imo), Chidinma Okoro (19yrs. Enugu), Iheekanma Onwubiko (21yrs. Imo), Chinyere Ibenime (20yrs. Imo), Nkiru Alozie (16yrs. Abia), Nnachi Chinaza (19yrs. Ebonyi).
    Others were Victoria Peter Udoh (16yrs. Akwa Ibom), Ngozi Ike (20yrs. Rivers), Chika Eze (18 yrs. Abia), Jecila Nwonke (19yrs. Abia) and Chinaza Samsom (14yrs. Abia).
    Also recovered in the vast premises of the purported NGO were ten exotic cars which include a green Jaguar Car with registration number PD787 IKJ, a red Lincon Navigator with registration number, DN 494 ABC, ash Jaguar Car with registration number BT 929 GWA, white Chrysler with reg. no RBC 335 AS, Red Chrysler with reg. no BH 168 GWA, white Chrysler with reg. no JZ 608 ABC, black Lincon Car with reg. no EU 917 LND, ash Honda Jeep with reg. no EZ 388 ABJ and two other unregistered cars, ash Nissan Quest and Nissan Partfinder Jeep.
  • Imo to partner WHO

    Imo to partner WHO

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has expressed the willingness of his administration to partner with World Health Organisation (WHO), especially in the area of health care delivery.

    Governor Okorocha disclosed this when the Country representative of World Health Organisation led by the Deputy, Dr Ruigama Vaz paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Owerri.

    The governor said that the state was particularly interested in manpower training and human resources to operate the existing health facilities in the state and the 27 general hospitals under construction.

    He stated that without the required manpower development, Nigerians and indeed Africans would continue to depend on the western countries for its health needs.  “WHO should take into consideration the culture and peculiar need of a society before implementing any health care projects in those areas”

    Owelle Okorocha noted that WHO has contributed immensely in assisting Africans in the areas of health care delivery as well as immunisation and stressed the need for the organisation to redefine their relationship with Africa.

    He regretted that Nigeria lacks human resources development and suggest that WHO should partner with the state on the area of human capital development through the establishment of an institution that will go a long way to train the doctors to enable them perform effectively in their professions.

    Governor Okorocha assured them that the equity contribution of the counterpart fund must be paid if the organisation agrees to partner with the state and appealed to the members of WHO to ensure a better approach.

    Dr Ruigama Vaz pointed out that the aim of his visit to Imo State is to strengthen their relationship with the state government and made clear that the primary functions of WHO is to ensure adequate health care delivery and prevention of disease in the country.

    He praised the state governor for embarking on construction of 27 new general hospitals in the state, cold store for vaccine and the establishment of WHO’s office in the state. Dr Vaz hailed Governor Okorocha on his free education programme as well as the pet project of her Excellency which he said would go a long way to eradicate poverty in the state.

  • Anxiety as youths disrupt Imo political summit

    There was palpable tension yesterday in Owerri the Imo State capital when youths stormed the venue of the heavily publicised Imo Political Summit and chased away some of the participants who had arrived earlier for the event.

    The aggrieved youths demanded outright cancellation of the summit which they said clashed with the burial of the late National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Donald Onukogu who died in a ghastly car accident alongside four others.

    Speaking with The Nation, the acting president of the National Association of Imo Students (NAISS), Celestine Uzoma, maintained that the holding the summit on the same day the youths were mourning, was tantamount to insensitivity to the plight of the youths.

    He insisted that, “If they have the good of the youths on their agenda, they should have rescheduled the summit and commiserated with the youths in a day the entire country was mourning with Nigerian students and we won’t allow the summit hold.”

    The Chairman of the Imo State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), John Nwakama, questioned the rationale behind the summit, stating that, “it is another gathering of those corrupt politicians that plundered the resources of the state.”

    Also speaking, the Chairman of the Imo State Youths Parliament, Comrade Thank-God Samuel, said the summit was conceived to plot how to disrupt the current peace and development going on in the state by a group of politicians who have been recycled at the detriment of the good people of the state.

    However the youths, numbering over 500 who stormed the All Season’s Hotel, venue of the summit in a Toyota Coaster bus were dispersed by armed mobile policemen who flooded the place to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

    The summit which commenced immediately after, amidst tight security was attended by chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), including Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Minister for State Foreign Affairs Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Imo State Chairman of the PDP, Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), Dr Chris Asoluka, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho, former Minister of Interior, while the Deputy Speaker of the House of Rep

  • One killed in kingship tussle

    Where is a crisis in Umuhu Onicha community in Ezinihitte Local Government of Imo State, following the killing of the driver of the Eze-elect, Christopher Ibeokwu, who was shot in his house by gunmen allegedly hired by Ibeokwu’s opponents.

    The crisis escalated when youths of the community went on the rampage, razing down nine houses belonging to the perceived opponents and injuring several people.

    It was gathered that the gunmen, who invaded the community at about 2am, apparently to kill the monarch-in-waiting, could not get him. They then went to his driver’s house and shot him in the presence of his wife and daughter.

    But for the quick intervention of the police, the mayhem would have continued as many people have fled the community, including elders.

    The youth leader, Kingsley Ezurike, said: “What happened was an assassination attempt on the Eze-elect by his rivals, who have sworn that he will never become the Eze.

    “But when they did not see him, they decided to kill his driver. In fact, the opponents of the Eze-elect have already listed names of those they are going to kill.”

    He disclosed that the youths protested because of the constant invasion of armed thugs allegedly been sponsored by the enemies of the community.

    Another member of the community, who pleaded for anonymity, lamented that the people now live in fear.

    He said: “Since 2009 when a new Eze was elected, we have not known peace because those who lost the contest and their supporters have vowed to make life miserable for the rest of the community.”

    Police spokesman Joy Elemoko said she had not been officially briefed and could not confirm what actually happened.

  • QUOTES OF THE DAY

    QUOTES OF THE DAY

    QUOTES OF THE DAY, OCTOBER 12, 2012

    Everybody has gone on training. It has never happened in five years. The mood here is very sad, and those at the board meeting are running away from everybody, so we don’t really know what went wrong.

    Anonymous Keynote Bank staff on the resignation of the Managing Director of the bank, Oti Ikomi.

    At the risk of sounding like a broken record, may I re-emphasise that we must pursue attitudinal change concomitantly with constitution review.

    Senate President David Mark on the 1999 Constitution review at a public hearing in Abuja.

    Despite allegations of widespread security force abuses, the Nigerian authorities have rarely held anyone accountable…further solidifying the culture of impunity for violence.

    Human Right Watch on the state of insecurity in Nigeria.

    Since I was born, I have witnessed ocean surge once but nothing can be compared to what we are seeing today…

    Pa Rufus Ignatius, a 70 year old man on the flood that recently ravaged Oguta Lake in Imo State.

    I must say that I was embarrassed by the entire scenario, because my wife does not deserve it. She should not have been abducted for any reason, because she chose to stay with my children in my home town  doing her legitimate business to support me at the home front. So, if she was kidnapped to get at me, she does not deserve it.

    -Najeem Salaam, Osun State House of Assembly Speaker on his wife’s abduction in Ejigbo, Osun State.

     

  • Imo police disown text message

    The Police in Imo State have debunked a text message circulating in Owerri, the Imo State capital, that the state has been invaded by kidnappers.

    The message, which was alleged to have emanated from the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, reads: “Owerri is on red flag as regards the deplorable security situation. Present CP said citizens should totally avoid lonely places, driving exotic/flashy cars, especially Jeeps. A group of 16 kidnappers is in the state. The police are battling to track them down, but no success yet”.

    In a statement, Police spokesman Vitalis Onugu urged the public to disregard the text message.
    He said: “The text message is the handiwork of hoodlums and people, who are poised to destabilise the state and blackmail the police, but we have begun investigation into the matter.

    “We urge residents to go about their legitimate duties without fear, as the police are poised to ensure crime-free ember months.”