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Tag: Imo

  • Fresh anxiety in Imo over guber polls

    As the political parties perfect their last minute preparations for the forthcoming governorship election, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that electorate in Imo State are afraid of possible violence arising from the complexities that have shaped the election campaigns

    THE tension that has punctuated the political texture of Imo State, following the implosion of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s political family, has deepened since Tuesday’s assassination of Ifeanyi Ozoemema, the All Progressives Congress Ward Chairman of Logara/Umuohiagu, Ngor Okpala Council Area of the state.

    Eyewitnesses confirmed that Ozoemema was shot few hours after he presided over a meeting of his party in the ward. The meeting, according to insiders was part of the party’s preparation for yesterdays rescheduled presidential and National Assembly polls.

    The Vice Chairman of Logara Development Union, Chief Martin Opara, had told reporters, while confirming the incident that the community had been gripped by panic and mourning.

    “This killing is strange to our community. Report said that he was shot several times in his house until he died. We have met with the Eze-in-Council and have sent a delegation to the DPO requesting that the killers should be arrested immediately.

    “Logara community is known for peace and we won’t jeopardise it. The deceased just finished hosting a meeting of APC members in his ward, before gunmen operating in a jeep came and requested to see him. On sighting him, they shot him several times before they left.”

    Coming at this time, sources said Ozoemema’s murder has reawakened the fear of some electorates and stakeholders that the crisis in Imo APC may further endanger the peace in the state during the forthcoming governorship election.

    Following the inability of Governor Okorocha and the other leaders of APC in the state to resolve their differences over the party’s governorship candidate in this election, informed observers have expressed fear that except the security agencies take extra care to oversee elections in the state, especially the governorship election, the state may be thrown into chaos as the desperate candidates and their supporters may be tempted to reach out to each other’s throat.

    It would be recalled that barely seven months earlier, at the peak of the leadership intrigues in the party, Chief Sunny Ejiagwu (Onaneze), the party’s Chairman in Ideato North Local Government Area, was also reportedly murdered in very worrisome circumstances. As would be expected, the news of his assassination caused panic in the state because he met his violent death shortly after he and 27 others were inaugurated as the party’s local government chairmen after the state APC rescheduled election as ordered by the court.

    Even before the recent assassinations, The Nation had reported that in the entire Southeast geo-political zone,

    Imo State, which is currently administered by an All Progressives Congress-led government, promises to be the hottest state to watch during the elections.

    Insiders confided to us that this fear is primarily because the disintegration of the political family of the out-going governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, had created so much bad blood that it is feared today that the estranged members of the ruling party in the state, the APC, and some of their estranged members now in other parties may make room for the opposition parties as they are likely to see themselves as the primary political opponents in the contest. If this happens, as is being feared during the governorship and other state elections, it may be difficult to guarantee violent-free elections there.

    We have reported earlier that the political tension in the state could be traced to the high level criticism against the leadership style of Okorocha almost all through his second term in office. This was worsened by the open disagreement of top members of his political family and other stakeholders within the political party over the result of the governorship primaries.

    It would be recalled that the bone of contention was the choice of the governorship candidate, a disagreement that led to a major division between Okorocha and his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, who is today the running mate to APC’s governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma. Okorocha had pushed for Uche Nwosu, his son-in-law, who also served as his Chief of Staff, as the party’s candidate, but APC national leadership finally chose Uzodinma with Madumere, as his running mate, a decision that Okorocha has continued to oppose openly.

    Not only had Okorocha condemned the decision of his party’s leadership on the matter, he had continued to back Nwosu, who had since defected to Action Alliance (AA) where he hopes to actualise his ambition.

    Since last December when President Muhammadu Buhari openly declared support for Uzodinma at a rally in Owerri, notwithstanding Okorocha’s disapproval, the complexities of Imo governorship election have become more obvious. This complexity was further emphasised by Okorocha and Nwosu’s AA supporters’ resolve to support Buhari in yesterday’s presidential election but to contest against APC’s candidates in the governorship election. Since Governor Okorocha remains a member of APC, observers wonder how his open support for AA candidate in the coming governorship election will ultimately affect the fortunes of both APC and AA and how it will impact on the polity?

    “The situation is not just complex, we hope it is not an open invitation to chaos. The truth is that in Imo State today, there is confusion, especially among the members and supporters of APC. Some of us do not know who to believe as our known leaders in the state have parted ways and are telling us different things. It will be a miracle if in this circumstance; the forthcoming governorship election in Imo is violent-free. We are not only worried but afraid,” said Mrs. Nkechi Chikezie, a woman leader in Okigwe.

    APC governorship candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has also expressed concern over the complexities that seem to define Imo governorship elections. Uzodinma, who spoke to journalists after the last women rally, said “The world has seen how the governor is working against APC in the state. I want to appeal to the leadership of our great party to look into the matter and take appropriate action. I cannot tell you whether his action is anti-party or not but you could see the response of our members when he made his comments. You people will judge. But I will only tell him that only God, and not him, can make me governor. And I will become governor because Imo people have spoken and God heard their cries. Rochas has only few months to leave Government House and whether he likes it or not, he will leave on May 29, 2019,” he said.

    These concerns, according to Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, confirm the fear in the state today that the ruling party in the state, the APC, may have become the most endangered as a result of the disagreement of its leaders.

    The Nation however reports that in the forthcoming governorship elections, APC is not the only party that is now under tension. The other leading parties have issues that have made the likely outcome of the elections rather difficult to predict. It would be recalled, for example, that the governorship candidates that would contest with APC’s Uzodinma, include the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Ararume (APGA), Honorable Tony Nwulu (UPP), Linus Okorie (YPP) and of course, Uche Nwosu of AA.

    Backed by Okorocha, there is no doubt that Nwosu will be one of the major frontrunners in the governorship contest. Sources said his campaign was one of the most funded and intense but added that because of the circumstances that threw him up as a candidate, it is feared he may suffer some protest votes not necessarily intended against him as an individual but against the political forces that is desperate to crown him.

    Commenting on the development, Dr. Vincent Nwahunanya said “the campaigns for this year’s elections in Imo were very tough and intriguing. Apart from the fact that all the parties have strong and rich backers, the emergence of AA and its candidate specially helped to spice up the campaigns.  The situation was that Uche, the AA candidate, has enormous financial backing to embark on grassroots campaigns but the long drawn campaign against Okorocha’s plan to impose his son-in-law on Imo people may be the major challenge for the youthful politician. The fear is that most of the people, who would have voted for him ordinarily, may deny him of their votes as protest against the outgoing governor’s brand of politics,” he said.

    Whatever is the case, our investigation shows that the fortunes of Uche and his party, AA, in the governorship election is of special interest to all informed observers of Imo State politics today. Most of the respondents who spoke to The Nation during the week also alleged that the fear that the governorship election may witness unnecessary violence can be traced to the explosive relationship between APC supporters and AA members.

    Another source of concern, we gathered, is the fact that with the implosion in APC, it is yet to be determined which political party is in the majority in Imo State today. It would be noted that unlike Nwosu’s AA, which is a child of recent and intricate circumstances, the other major parties, like PDP and APGA have strong roots in Imo. In 2015, the state had to hold a supplementary election before the serving governor can claim victory.

    Then, the result of the election was declared inconclusive. It was only after the supplementary election that Okorocha was returned re-elected, with Ihedioha of PDP coming second and Emmanuel Ihenacho of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) coming third .

    Today, PDP is still strong but its opponents said it can no longer be described as being very strong in Imo as it was in 2015 because of Okorocha’s dominance in the politics of Imo during this period. Insiders said the only thing the PDP’s governorship candidate, former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, will need to do to remain on top is to reach out to estranged members of the party in the state so as to have a more united house than APC.

    Already, it is certain that Ihedioha, the PDP candidate, is enjoying support even from unexpected quarters because of the intricacies of this year’s elections in the state, including, but not limited to the quest to realise the Owerri zone’s demand on the governorship seat.

    APGA is another political party with deep roots in Imo. The party’s governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, is also another popular political leader in the state. But with the exit of many popular politicians who contested for APGA ticket, following the circumstances that threw up Araraume, observers are wondering if APGA can still be regarded as a strong contender in the elections?

    Perhaps because of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim’s personal influence, and the agitation of the Okigwe Senatorial District to be allowed to complete its second term, his Accord Party has also become a frontline player.

    With these complex sensibilities, deepened by the in-house fighting in the ruling APC, it can be seen that the forthcoming governorship race in Imo

  • Anxiety as rain disrupts counting of votes in Imo

    Counting of votes was disrupted in Imo state by heavy downpour that continued late into the evening.

    The rain that started at about 3.30pm, flooded most of the Polling stations with voters running for shelter.

    INEC officials and the Adhoc Staff were forced to run away with the sensitive materials to prevent them from the rain, especially in areas where there are no buildings to run into.

    Voters waiting in the queue to be accredited were also dispersed by the rain.

    Read Also: Buhari will accept polls outcome, says Osinbajo

    At Emmanuel College, the entire Polling Units were submerged.

    When The Nation visited the school housing about 6 Polling Units, drenched party agents were seen squatting in a corner, while INEC officials were taken refuge inside the few security vehicles.

  • Polls: Police reads riot act to politicians, hoodlums in Imo

    The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of the Southeast for the general elections, Micheal Ogbizi Anthony, has warned politicians and hoodlums not to underrate the resolve of the Police and other security agencies to deal decisively with anyone planning to subvert Saturday’s election.

    He warned that any person or group of persons found to be sponsoring violence or other acts capable of disrupting the election process will not go unpunished.

    The DIG who addressed journalists shortly after a joint meeting of Security Chiefs, said that politicians who procure fake military uniforms and arms for thugs to cause mayhem during and after the election will be fished out and punished.

    According to him, “the essence of this meeting is to underscore the importance of this election, we have a directive to ensure that no one subverts the election process and we will not allow that to happen.”

    He continued that, “we are assuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the voters of adequate security during and after the election. We urge the people to come out and vote for candidates of their choice without fear of intimidation”.

    Meanwhile the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Hamza Bature, has warned against the announcing of election results by unauthorised persons or establishments.

    He noted that it is the sole responsibility of INEC to announce election results, adding that announcement of fake results is capable of triggering crisis.

  • Gunmen kill APC ward chairman in Imo

    Gunmen have killed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Logara/Umuohiagu Ward, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, Ifeanyi Ozoemena.

    It was gathered that Ozoemena was killed at home on Tuesday night after he presided over a party meeting.

    A community leader, Chief Martin Opara, who confirmed the killing, said the community was mourning.

    According to him, the community had never witnessed such an incident before. He urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute the killers. He said: “This murder is strange to our community. Reports said he was shot severally until he died. We have met with the Eze-in-Council, and sent a delegation to the DPO requesting that the killers be arrested immediately.

    “Logara community is known for peace and we won’t jeopardise that. The deceased finished hosting a meeting of APC members after which gunmen, operating in a jeep, came and requested to see him. On sighting him, they shot him severally before they left.”

    Commissioner of Police Dasuki Galadanchi, who confirmed the murder, said the police have evacuated the body.

    He said: “Investigation is on. The gunmen came in an SUV jeep and shot him dead. The incident happened at a time we were busy with the preparations for Saturday’s elections.

    “We have visited the scene and evacuated the body. We have done the preliminary investigations, including taking of photographs, and we have launched an extensive investigation into the killing. We will get the killers.”

  • INEC retrieves election materials from Jigawa, Imo, Oyo, others

    •As Lamido, Ohakim, Ladoja, others condemn postponement

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has retrieved sensitive materials distributed in states like Jigawa, Imo, following yesterday’s postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Administrative Secretary of Jigawa State INEC, Malam Ahmed Ado Danaji, confirmed the move while fielding questions from newsmen in the commission’s office in Dutse, the state capital.

    Malam Ahmed Ado Danaji explained that “immediately after the decision, we were directed to retrieve back all the elections material which already arrived some local government areas headquarters. We safely retrieved back it all and they are now in our (INEC) custody, well secured.”

    According to him “at the time the elections were postponed, our materials have arrived six local government areas such as Kiyawa and Taura. We used the heavy security to return them.”

    He added that “we (INEC) will keep all the materials in our custody; we will not return them back to the Central Bank where it was kept”.

    Also speaking, the former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, expressed disappointment over the postponement, which he described as indication of total failure.

    All Progressive Congress (APC) Chieftain in Jigawa State, Hon. Faruk Adamu Aliyu, said the election postponement will not in any way affect the APC chances of overwhelming victory.

    Also, the senatorial candidate for Jigawa Central of Jigawa State, Mustaph Sule Lamido, condemned the INEC action, describing it as a demonstration of high level of incompetency of the INEC chairman.

    In Imo State, INEC’s office yesterday said it has commenced the retrieval of sensitive materials already deployed to local government areas for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Francis Ezeonu, said the sensitive materials will be retrieved and returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for safekeeping, while awaiting further instructions.

    Meanwhile, anger and disappointment have continued to trail the postponement of the election in the state.

    Electorates, who had travelled long distance to the respective places where they are registered to vote, expressed dismay over the timing of the postponement by INEC.

    When our Correspondent visited one of the Polling Units in Owerri, a handful of voters were seen waiting for the arrival of INEC officials.

    One of the aggrieved voters, Mazi Chuks Ofulum, lampooned INEC for toying with the nation’s democracy.

    Also expressing disappointment over the postponement, former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, stated that “postponement does not go down well with any patriotic and right thinking citizen of this country.”

    Ohakim, who is also the governorship candidate of the Accord Party, advised INEC to take steps to ensure that there won’t be further postponements.

    Also in Oyo, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mutiu Agboke, yesterday confirmed that sensitive election materials earlier distributed across some local governments of the state have been retrieved and lodged at the Agodi, Ibadan headquarters of the commission for safekeeping.

    According to Agboke, the commission decided to warehouse the materials at the headquarters office owing to the huge volumes of other materials yet to be sorted or distributed at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dugbe, Ibadan office.

    He added however that the security of the office has been beefed up with security operatives including police, army, civil defence and state security while anti-bomb vehicles, patrol vehicles and surveillance dogs are seen within and outside the premises of the commission.

    But mixed reactions have however trailed the postponement of the polls, as a former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja called for the probe of the decision after the entire INEC leadership might have been sacked due to what he described as their incompetence in handling electoral matters.

    Agboke who noted that just like every other Nigerian and observers, the management of the Commission also felt bad about the need for the postponement, however said it should not translate to apathy of voters on the newly stated date.

    “We have started the distribution of our sensitive materials and in fact, some of them have been deployed to the local governments but along the line, we got the news of the postponement by one week.

    “Immediately, we retrieved all the materials back. We retrieved them back in the presence of the police.

    “What we did was that the retrieval was to the state office because we still have large volumes of cartons of ballot papers at the CBN office, so we are trying to decongest the CBN. What we have done is that those we have sorted out, we are taking their custody here in our Agodi head office and we are fortifying the security around here.

    “The Commissioner of Police was here earlier in the day and more policemen have been deployed. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) had been contacted and men of the Nigerian Army have been stationed here. NSCDC personnel are also here. Even at the CBN, more personnel have been deployed to fortify the place for us. I want to assure the people of Oyo State that nothing has happened to any of our sensitive materials. They are intact,” he said.

    But Senator Ladoja who was visibly angry at the postponement described it as a sad development which shows the incompetence of INEC leadership.

    He said “If you cannot even conduct an election, and you are talking about democracy, what democracy is that? People will read a lot of meanings into it. I want to repeat that it is due to the incompetence of the people that are there, he said.

  • Imo: Uzodinma, Araraume boycott Peace Parley

    …as Nwosu, others sign pact

     

    The governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Hope Uzodinma and that of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Araraume, Tuesday boycotted the signing of a Peace pact by candidates participating in the general election in Imo State.

    Also absent at the event organised by the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) was a former governor of the State and candidate of the Accord party, Ikedi Ohakim.

    Meanwhile the governorship candidates of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu and that of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Emeka Ihedioha, signed the Agreement alongside other candidates including Ikenna Emmanuel of the Change Advocacy Party (CAP), Linus Okorie of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), among others.

    Addressing the candidates shortly before the signing of the Agreement which was witnessed by Security Chiefs, Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), religious leaders and journalists, the State Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, urged the politicians to play by the rules and jettison all forms of violence.

    According to him, the State has witnessed relative peace when compared to other states in the Federation, as a result of the “cooperation and support of the people of the state”.

    He said, “You will agree with me that this hard earned peace and tranquility we enjoy and experience in Imo State should be guarded jealously, thus, we have no other option than to ensure this endures before, during and after the elections”.

    In his brief speech, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Pro. Francis Ezeonu assured that INEC is prepared to conduct credible election that will meet the aspirations of all the parties

    He restated his commitment to provide level playing ground for all the political parties participating in the election, while pleading with the candidates to abide by rules and regulations guiding the election.

  • Imo: Uzodinma storms Nwosu’s village, receive traditional rulers’ backing

    TRADITIONAL rulers from Nkwere Local Government Area of Imo State, the home town of the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Mr. Uche Nwosu, during the weekend, endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Hope Uzodinma.

    They attributed what they described as an attempt by Governor Rochas Okorocha, to run for a third term in office as reasons for their decision, notwithstanding the fact that Nwosu ‘is a son of the soil’.

    The traditional rulers led by Eze Uzoho Emmanuel Anuruo of Umuezeanoruo autonomous community Nkwere LGA, bared their minds when the campaign train of Senator Uzodinma stormed Nwosu’s home soil.

    According to Eze Anuruo: “Senator Uzodinma is our choice for governor. We are aware that one of our sons wants to be governor, but we believe it is an attempt by the outgoing governor to get a third term. All this government has done is to undermine the traditional institution and we need somebody like Hope Uzodinma, who has the experience to lead our state”.

    Speaking after receiving the blessings of the elders and Ezes from Nkwere, Uzodinma, who vowed to restore the dignity of the traditional institution, lamented that the Governor Okorocha-led administration borrowed N312 billion between 2015 till date, without any visible development.

    “As we speak, the courts have garnisheed the accounts of Imo State government; so what has been happening is that the money accruing to us from the Federation Account goes into private pockets. Those in Government House now share our money as if its their private funds.

    “Today, they are going up and down paying people to vote for them. When they give you money collect it, it is our money, but don’t vote for them. We will recover all they stole and give back to our people. It is a shame Rochas and his family embarked on primitive acquisition of wealth,” he said.

    The campaign train also stormed Okigwe, Onuimo, Ideato North and South and were welcomed by mammoth crowd who are craving for a change in Imo Douglas House.

  • EFCC, ICPC should investigate 2016 audit report – CSO

    A civic organization, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) on Wednesday called on the anti-graft agencies the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to investigate the 2016 Audit Report.

    The organization stated that N2.97 billion meant for 30 critical projects in the country was unaccounted for as stated in the report.

    Executive Director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, stated these at the launch of its Independent Findings of priority projects captured in the 2016 audit report.

    Elomo stated that the organization monitored 19 priority projects in 12 states captured under the report this year and found out that most of them have been abandoned.

    According to him, ten out of the projects have been abandoned even when monies have been paid for them.

    He noted that only one out of the 19 projects had been completed when PLSI visited the states this month.

    The monitored states by PLSI include; Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Adamawa, Imo and Enugu.

    Some of the abandoned projects include; construction of mini-water scheme phase two, contract for the construction of small earth dam, rehabilitation of two-township water supply schemes, improvement of Olode water supply scheme under the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

    Others are construction of Weru bridge fencing of Okene water works among others which was supposed to be implemented by the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

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    Projects abandoned under the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing include the rehabilitation of Ikorodu road with about N112.8million unaccounted for, also the rehabilitation of 24km Akungba-Ikare-Omuo-Kabba road among others.

    Elomo said: “We visited 12 states over the last six months and monitored 19 out of the 30 priority projects highlighted in this report. While one of the projects had been completed, two were not executed, 10 abandoned, three poorly implemented, another two currently ongoing and one now provided for in the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    “The major issue for us is how procurement laws and financial regulations are flagrantly disregarded at the risk of public funds and the negative effect on Nigerians, many of which are in rural areas in terms of access to clean portable water, access roads, quality health facilities.

    “A total of N2.97 billion is said to be unaccounted for by different contractors on these 30 projects and we are calling on the anti-corruption agencies to quickly investigate these cases in order to ensure deserved value for money is achieved.”

    Also, Project Director, TrustAfrica, Chinedu Nwagu, called on the National Assembly to carry out a review of the 2016 report.

    He said it is only when a review of the report is done and recommendations forwarded to the Executive arm of government that the anomalies found in the report could be corrected.

    Nwagu said: “There is need for the National Assembly to do the needful by ensuring extensive review of the 2016 audit report of the federation. It is only when this is done and recommendations forwarded to the Executive Arm that these anomalies can be corrected.

    “Parliament should equally make effort in sending the new Audit Service Commission Bill 2018 to the president for assent. The new law will go a long way in preventing such illegality from occurring again,” he said.

  • ‘Let’s secure future generations of Imo’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • ‘Let’s secure future generations of Imo’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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