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  • My five-day ordeal in prison over alleged attack on Obasanjo -Imo Deputy Governor

    My five-day ordeal in prison over alleged attack on Obasanjo -Imo Deputy Governor

    Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, speaks on his responsibilities as deputy governor, his relationship with Governor Rochas Okorocha, his marriage, family life and other issues of interest, in this interview with OKODILI NDIDI

    Many of your colleagues have described the office of the deputy governor as very challenging. What has been your own experience?

    Coming from where I came from as a former Chief of Staff in the Rescue Mission Government, the office of the Chief of Staff enabled me to know a lot about my current office as the deputy governor. And being that I was the coordinator and the engine room of the government at that time, most of the assignments the governor gave to the then deputy governor passed through me. This gave me enough understanding of some of the challenges that I am facing now as deputy governor.

    Of course, you know the deputy governor’s roles are very simple. Of course, you are supposed to basically complement the governor whenever he is absent. And the primary responsibility of the deputy governor as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended, is to be the chairman of the Boundary Commission in the various states. Other assignments are at the discretion of the governor. So, you are only at the mercy of your governor, depending on the kind of relationship you have with him.

    In my own case, I have a wonderful relationship with my governor. That is why I have the privilege to represent him whenever it is necessary.

    What is the secret of your cordial relationship with the governor?

    It is simple. The reason is that most deputy governors you see in the system emerged through political alliance, and it is not always good for the polity. So when someone has a mandate, it is good to allow the person to choose who he is very comfortable with. And most of the misunderstanding that come between governors and their deputies are as a result of political arrangements which they are not comfortable with.

    In my own case, the secret is that I grew through the ranks with my boss. We have been working together for more than twenty-three and a half years now. I started serving my boss as his Personal Assistant (PA) Foreign Affairs. Then I grew up in the system to become his Chief of Staff as a private individual. Then when we came into government, he also revalidated my appointment as a Chief of Staff. Then an opportunity came and I became the deputy governor the first time and was re-elected deputy governor. So what makes my relationship with my governor different from others is that we have known ourselves for a long time. It is like one big family. For me, Governor Rochas Okorocha is like a father. So I don’t even see myself as the deputy governor but as a PA (personal assistant) to my governor, and that has been my strength and secret.

    On different occasions, the governor has described you as his beloved son in whom he is well pleased. Can you explain this?

    His Excellency, my leader and my governor, is speaking from his heart. Like I said, this relationship has spanned more than two decades, and the governor knows me very well and I know him too. When the governor makes that kind of statement, it shows the trust and confidence he has in me, and I have always appreciated that from the bottom of my heart. I have always prayed to God to never allow me to let my boss down.

    Can you tell us what your experience has been working with him both as a private individual and as a governor?

    Like I have said, being with someone like Rochas Okorocha, my governor and leader, for the past 23 years, if you cannot know your boss within that time frame, you are not worthy to be his servant. My governor is a very dynamic individual. He is a multi-tasked and multi-talented individual. He is a man full of ideas, and every particular moment, he wants to let out those things that are itching in his head. But it takes the people around him to execute such things. So the experience has been enormous and challenging. Everyday has been a lesson.

    People perceive your boss as highly controversial. Having worked with him for such a long time, can you tell us who Rochas Okorocha really is?

    Those who perceive Rochas as controversial are people who do not know who he is. If you know him like I do, you will know that he is a man that is highly blessed by God and he is a great giver. He is a man that has the heart for the common people and does not want to see anyone in pain. He is also a man that is always willing to listen. Rochas Okorocha takes those decisions that politicians usually don’t take because he has the political will. Maybe that is why people say he is controversial.

    For instance, we are doing urban renewal in Owerri. We have done free education as a government and I can go on and on. But when such decisions are taken, people term them controversial. He is a man that is convinced about what he wants and all we need to do is to support him. The fact is that once things are not done the way the opposition wants it, they call it controversial. It is not proper to term Rochas as controversial.

    There are calls in some quarters that you should succeed your boss. Do you align yourself to such calls?

    Well it is not my call to make. First of all, you know I was the Chief of Staff. The day I became the deputy governor, I had no idea. It is also important for you to know that the letter that went to the House of Assembly for me to become the deputy governor came through me. The governor gave me the letter to go and submit to the Speaker, and I took the letter without even asking my boss whose name was in it, because I had the confidence that the governor knew what he was doing, despite the fact that we had extensive discussions till 1:00am prior to the letter and he asked me to go to sleep, that we would decide on what to do in the morning. Little did I know that the letter I sent to the Speaker contained my nomination as the deputy governor. So I never clamoured to become the deputy governor. There were many people then clamouring to replace the impeached deputy governor, but I was not among them. I was busy doing my work then as the Chief of Staff and now I am the Deputy Governor. So who am I to question God? If the Almighty God who we all worship says it is me, let it be so. But if God says no, it is not me, why will I struggle?

    I want to make it very clear, Rochas Okorocha does not owe me. He has done what he can do for me in life. He gave me an opportunity to be in Nigeria and be what I am today. I probably would still be living in America. So, for that platform he created for me, I will ever remain grateful. So if any opportunity comes in the future, we will deal with it. But for now, I am not clamouring for anything.

    Supposing it is the will of God that you succeed your boss, will you continue with his policies and programmes?

    Of course, it has been our dream that whoever will succeed my boss will be somebody who has the Rescue Mission vision at heart, so that the legacy of my governor and our team will be sustained.

    Six years running, how would you rate the Rochas Okorocha administration?

    The last six years have been challenging. But we are happy that in the history of Imo State, no administration has surpassed what this Rescue Mission administration led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha has done. Is it the free education programme from primary to university level, which is unprecedented in the history of the state, or the 27 brand new general hospitals, or the 105 schools, or the about 1000km rural roads or the modernization of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe cities and eight other satellite towns? This government has changed the face of Imo State. So the achievements are enormous and it will be a big task for subsequent administrations to surpass.

    People refer to you as Mr. Humility obviously as a result of your unassuming posture and attitude, which makes it difficult for people to easily identify you as the deputy governor. Where did you get the attribute from?

    It is the upbringing I had from my family. I came from a family of seven. I am the third male child. I have six brothers and a sister. One of the things our parents used to tell us in our early days was to always be ourselves no matter where we might find ourselves in life. When I was travelling to the US especially, I was advised to be myself and always remember home and not forget my roots. So I have always tried to be myself, and no person or position can make me change from being who I am.

    Talking about your growing up, were you born into a rich family?

    My father is an average but comfortable man. Although I was not born with a silver spoon, we were very comfortable. We had the opportunities every average Nigerian family would have. My father came from a very wretched family but broke the jinx by excelling in business. My father was once a major contractor in this state. The place I am living now as a deputy governor was actually built by my father in 1977. And as a young boy then, when they were building this house, I was running errand for the workers. My father and I never knew that many years later, I would live in the same house as deputy governor. Then, I was always involved in whatever my father was doing, and that greatly prepared me for life.

    As a young man, what did you do to make ends meet?

    My background of going to school in Lagos has so much to do with me, apart from my family upbringing. When I was in the primary school in Lagos, in between classes, we used to go to technical workshops and I used to participate in wood work. Then my school was at Alhaji Masha (Surulere), and we travelled all the way to Costaine for practicals. So that desire to succeed outside of my family has always been in me and I eventually I grew up with it.

    Even as a young chap during my secondary school days, what my grandmother used to call me was ‘Engineer’, because each time the generator was down, I would be the one to fix it and other technical matters. So, growing up in Lagos created a lot of opportunities for me. Even to travel to the United States, my parents never knew how I travelled. So it is basically the exposure that I got in Lagos that gave me the opportunity to do most of things I did in life and succeeded.

    Why didn’t you study Engineering, knowing that you are gifted in that field?

    The truth of the matter is that I was supposed to be an engineer, because basically, I was a science student. But along the line, during my college years, I had a scholarship from PepsiCo and the scholarship was to do Management. That was why I left Engineering, because I had to do what the organisation wanted.

    At what age did you get married and how did you propose to your wife?

    I had the opportunity to marry earlier than I did. I was 32 years when I got married, and there was so much pressure that I should marry then but I was trying to fix one or two things first, especially ensuring that your siblings were in good positions so that you won’t have things that would pull you down.

    I was already living in the US before I met my wife. It was during one of my holiday trips. If you know Owerri very well, I was coming out from the famous Works Layout when I saw a young lady that came out from a taxi and I was driving with my immediate elder brother, a friend and one other lady friend that came with me from the United States. So when I sighted the lady, I told everyone in the car, ‘Look at that lady; she is going to be my wife.’ They thought I was joking. When I levelled up with her, I called her but she refused to stop. So I came out of the car and kept following her until I cornered her and she said her father was around. So we agreed that I should pick her up at that corner the following day.

    The next day, before I came out, she was already waiting for me at the corner. That was how I met my wife. So I picked her up, but I didn’t know that she had malaria. So I ended up taking her to a clinic where she was treated for malaria that same day. Eventually, we started dating and I was shuttling between the United States and Nigeria. My governor was then a delegate to the Constitutional Conference and I was serving as his PA at the conference. That gave me the opportunity and I took a leave of absence from where I was working. So after two years of courtship, we finally got married in 1996. After our marriage, my first daughter came in 1997 and the marriage is blessed with four wonderful children: two beautiful girls and two handsome boys.

    At what point did you break even in life?

    It happened back in the United States. I was working with Pespsi and I was a very comfortable young man. I was one of those few people in the Nigerian community who bought a house in the US then at a very young age. I was not even married when I bought my first house. I bought the house in 1991 and five years later, I got married. Then it was not easy to see Nigerians buying houses in the US because they believed that they would be going back.

    The company I was working with gave me a lot of opportunities in so many countries overseas with a lot of bonuses attached. That gave me the resources to acquire few things around here. So, God has blessed us and we are very comfortable.

    A lot of people hold the opinion that you have not used your position as deputy governor to attract development to your area, especially in the area of road infrastructure…

    Well, what you need to understand is that the system we run is not the system  that the governor comes and says he is from his own local government and the deputy governor says he is from his own local government and every other person should go to the other side and stay because they don’t have the governor or the deputy governor. The truth of the matter is that everything we do in this state, we share it equally among all the 27 local government areas. The same amount is distributed round.

    For instance, 70 of our projects are situated in Owerri town. Is the governor from Owerri? The answer is no. Or is the deputy governor from Owerri? But the right thing has to be done. If we are what the previous administrations did, yes my people will not feel the same way; everywhere would have been developed and maybe we would have concentrated on the local government areas of the governor and the deputy governor. But we have had our own share. But you need to understand that over the years, nothing was done that my local government area is the closest local government to the city. Mbaitoli is the largest local government area and the people expect quick result because their son is the deputy governor, forgetting that Mbaitoli is vast and 20km of road is like nothing is there.

    But eventually, with time, most of these things will be in place. Recently the governor gave N20 million to each local government, but my local government got N40 million because of its size. Likewise Ngor-Okpala and Ohaji-Egbema. These are local government areas that have a lot of roads compared to others. If previous administrations did what we are doing, all these things would have been a progression. Before in this state, before you could see a governor to consider your road, you would have known how many cows you have presented. But this time, we don’t need to know you.

    You were reported to be in prison custody before your boss won the election. What actually happened?

    It was during the grand finale of our governorship campaign. Then, we were in APGA and the then ruling party of Governor Ikedi Ohakim was PDP. I was heading the campaign of the Rescue Mission. We had sought for and got security clearance to hold our grand finale at the stadium and paid for the stadium. Eventually, the PDP decided to hold their grand finale the same day we were holding our own. They asked them to refund the money we paid for the stadium, saying that they were going to use the same venue.

    We went across to where they had township primary school. That is where the governor put a legacy project now known as the Owerri Township School. We paid for the place. But the PDP came again and took over the place, saying that they were using it as their parking lot and there was no other place that was comfortable. We went to our campaign headquarters, which was very close to the Okigwe Roundabout. That was where we set up to hold our grand finale. In the process, we heard that Governor Ohakim had invited the then President Olusegun Obasanjo for their grand finale at the stadium. I was at the ground coordinating our grand finale.

    You know that our venue was close to the road and there was bound to be a spillover of the crowd to the road. But they said that when the President’s convoy was passing, it was pelted with pure water, and I was accused of inciting the crowd against the President. Then in the night, they held a Security Council meeting and decided that since they could not get my boss, I should be arrested. That was how they stormed my hotel and arrested me in the night. I spent five days in the police cell. When women and civil society groups stormed the police headquarters, they promised to release me in the morning. But rather than release me, they quickly arraigned me in court the following morning with trump up charges, and without the Magistrate asking our views, I was remanded in prison custody and I spent a total of five days in prison. I was charged with 18 others I had never met in my life. We appeared before six different judges, and every morning, they would go to the house of the Judge we were to appear before and fire shots to frighten him. But with pressure coming from civil society groups, we were eventually granted bail six days before the governorship election.

    How do you unwind?

    I am somebody who likes to be alone. That is the best way I relax. Once I have my ipad, I will be okay. I just like to be alone and plan myself very well. I don’t drink or smoke. I don’t hang out. I stay out of trouble because one of the biggest challenges I have is that I don’t go anywhere, I don’t visit people. And in my position, when you start hanging out, people will start quoting you out of context, saying the things you never said or did. I didn’t come from any political alliance; that is why I am mostly on my own.

  • New home for orphans in Imo

    New home for orphans in Imo

    At the tender age of eight, Daberechi Egbu had already assumed the responsibility of taking care of her younger sibling, Paschal. She hawked pure water, cracked palm kernel, all in a bid to feed and send her brother to school.

    This burden of providing for herself and her little brother, as tasking as it that may be, was not the only nightmare young Daberechi and her brother were going through. They lived in a decrepit mud house, which had partly collapsed and contended with the rain and reptiles.

    Most nights according to Daberechi, who appeared to be withdrawn, apparently as a result of her experience, they slept without food in their damp mat, while neighbours looked the other way as if they were not aware of them.

    She narrated that most nights, she could cry all through, questioning why God allowed them to suffer such fate.

    There travail started after they lost their mother in 2007 and their father who was a petty trader shortly afterwards in 2013 in Amaifeke, in Orlu Council Area of Imo State.

    At that point, life for them became one long journey of agony, loneliness and frustration. They had no peers to play with, they were avoided like plague, obviously because of the circumstances that surrounded their parents’ death.

    Even close relatives could not offer them any form of respite, except for their poor uncle who took them in to live with him, in what later could be best described as running from the frying pan to fire. Their uncle it was gathered started to abuse Daberechi, until she summoned courage and ran away to their hut which had almost been reduced to ruins by the rain.

    But they were not deterred, they took every punch life gave to them and nursed the hope for a better tomorrow.

    Like the saying that in every cloud, there is a silver lining, the plight of the orphan finally caught the attention of the Imo state governor’s wife, Nneoma  Okorocha, after their matter was reported to her by the Transition Committee Chairman of the Council Area, Ijeoma Igboanusi, a lawyer.

    And thereafter fate which had shut her bowels of mercy against them for many years, suddenly smiled on them. Not only did they get brand new fully furnished two-bedroom bungalow, but were given enough money that will see them through university education.

    The council boss, who narrated her encounter with the orphans, said she was shocked by their tale of anguish and poverty, adding that, “the story is very touching and the fact that they lived in that kind mud house and survived is something to marvel about. After I visited them, I reported their case to Her Excellency who was deeply touched and quickly approved the building of the new home for the children”.

    Daberechi who was obviously dumbfounded by their sudden change of status, when asked to make a speech at the event, could only sing songs of praise amid tears, a situation that reduced majority of the audience to tears, especially the women that accompanied the Governor’s wife to the event.

    At the highly emotional commissioning and handover ceremony of the new house, Daberechi and Paschal, were shown the kind of love they never knew in their agony filled life. Highly placed individuals hugged them amid suppressed tears. People spoke glowingly about their courage and resilience and even those that despised them came back to make amends.

    Wife of the Governor, while handing over the keys of the house to the orphans, assured that her office will continue to see to their welfare and especially their education, assuring that they will never go through such ordeal again.

    Mrs. Okorocha, who fought hard to hold back tears, described the case of the children as pathetic, adding that with the new home, the children will no longer suffer the ordeal of sleeping in the old mud house where they were exposed to all forms of danger.

    She observed further that the only time the society can be better is when the people learn to care for each other, especially by assisting those who are needy and under privileged.

    It will be recalled that the Governor’s wife had built over 172 bungalows for indigent widows and other vulnerable people in the state under her pet project, She Needs A Roof Project (SNARP).

    Meanwhile, two other indigent widows, Hope Akali and Katherine Ihenacho, also got new homes, after their case was brought to the Governor’s wife.

    At Eziani-Mgbidi, in Oru West Council Area, one of the widows, Hope Akali, was all tears as she narrated her experience while living in an old mud house with her two children, after the death of her husband.

     

  • Imo launches urban taxi scheme

    Imo launches urban taxi scheme

    The transportation problems experienced by residents of Imo State, especially within Owerri, the state capital and its environs, will soon be a thing of the past as the state has commissioned the first batch of 500 taxi cabs for its urban taxi scheme.

    Launching the scheme, the state governor Rochas Okorocha said the gesture is to bring relief to commuters who face enormous challenges.

    The governor added that aside from the fact that the scheme will help tackle the transport challenges, the government will also through the scheme create over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.

    He assured that his administration will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state, adding that aside from the taxi scheme, the state government has also embarked on dualising major roads in the city under its urban renewal programme.

    He said, “We are in a hurry to develop the land and do many projects. In the next few weeks you will be seeing over 600km of road to be refaced, refurbished across our communities and villages to make the Christmas season a memorable one. Again we have also approved the construction of 15-20 kms solid road asphalted linking major cities, villages and Local Government Areas and this project will cost about N14.6 billion all put together”

    He continued that, “the idea of this urban taxi scheme is to give Imo state a new look. When we see bad cars it portrays poverty in the land and we are not a poor people and we refuse to be poor. But this will help to change the image of the state, not many would like to go into certain vehicles but these vehicles everyone would like to go into it. And we are making sure that transport owners, keke operators, buses and taxis would be our first priority of engagement because as soon as we have 1000 pieces of these cars available, we might decide which route they will follow and the routes the keke operators will go and the buses to bring about a clean environment.”

    In their separate speeches, the State Commissioner for transport Mrs Josephine Udoji and the Taskforce Chairman on

    Imo transport system, Engr. Kingsley Uju, said that “the laudable gesture has once again proven that the Okorocha led administration has the welfare and wellbeing of the masses of Imo state at heart”, adding that “the new Imo taxi scheme which is the first in the history of the state, will no doubt address the difficulties and numerous challenges facing the transportation sector in the state.

    Mrs Udoji said, “This is to make transportation easier even as the government has subsidized the fare to make it N50 per drop in order to reduce the sufferings of Imo citizens in the transport sector and at the same time creating job opportunities for our youths. The Imo city taxi scheme was conceptualised by the governor as a result of the shortfall in functional taxi transport system in state capital”.

    She disclosed that the state government under the scheme entered into PPP with First Nig Ltd which allows Imo citizens to purchase over 500 brand new cars in such a manner that it would be easier for them to pay off the cost within 2years and become car owners.”

    Uju said, “Today, Imo people are experiencing a new thing in the transport system and not just in the transport system but we are directly as a government empowering the people in Imo state with brand new cars which they will now use to solve the transport problem in the state. And as the chairman task force on transport system in Imo state, this is one of the best things that has happened to Imo state in terms of transport system in the last ten years.

    “You can feel the reactions of the people because they are actually receiving empowerment as a way of livelihood.”

  • Governors, others honour Imo Speaker

    Governors, others honour Imo Speaker

    State governors, parliamentarians and other leaders were among dignitaries who honoured the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Acho Ihim as he became president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, African Region.

    The state governor Rochas Okorocha was there at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC) where the reception was held for the new IICC president. So were governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Aminu Bello Masari (Kastina) and former Senate President Ken Nnamani and other political and religious leaders.

    The Speaker, who had not been in the limelight of the state politics, was showered with encomiums, some describing his cordial relationship with the Executive as exemplary.

    He was praised for supporting and creating harmonious working relationship between the state governor and the legislators, which was cited as the reason for the monumental achievements recorded by the Okorocha’s administration.

    Another cause for joy for the Speaker, according to feelers, was that the highly successful reception may have added impetus to his alleged ambition of succeeding Okorocha as the state governor.

    Meanwhile, in their separate speeches, the three governors who graced the occasion submitted that a healthy collaboration between governors and legislators will speed up the growth of democracy in the country.

    They advised state governors to always work in harmony with the legislators, enjoining the executive the legislative arms of government to eschew undue suspicions.

    Governor Okorocha said, “Things are working well in the state because my government is working with a strong and patriotic parliamentarians, hence, the four-year rolling plan which the legislators in the state had okayed, which has helped the us to record monumental achievements to its credit”.

    Okorocha said, “My administration would not have recorded the volume of monumental achievements on ground to its credit without the cooperation and understanding of the members of the State House of Assembly”.

    He stated that the working relationship would continue to be strengthened.

    Governor Tambuwal stated that the parliament gives democracy the needed teeth.

    He noted that the success recorded in Imo state shows the cordial working relationship between the executive and the legislature.

    The Sokoto State governor advised the Speaker to sustain the virtues that brought him this far.

    He urged the governors to work closely with the legislature for the good of the people, adding that “the legislature is not all about making bills or being in fight or being in competition with the Executive but for checks and balances for a good democracy.”

    Governor Masari, who was the chairman of the event, in his speech, advised that governors should not see legislators as rivals, but  as partners in progress.

    Nnamani while highlighting the roles of the legislature, said that the bridge between autocracy and democracy is the budget, adding that speedy passage of the budget by the Imo legislature helped the government in delivering dividends of democracy and called for such relationship between other governors and their legislators.

    In his speech, the Speaker, expressed gratitude to Governor Okorocha and assured that he won’t fail in his new assignment.

    He noted that the continued support for the Governor by the lawmakers was in the best interest of the people of the state, adding that the existing cordial relationship between the Governor and the lawmakers will continue to be improved upon and sustained.

    Ihim insisted that a vibrant House is not the one that is endlessly engaged in a battle of supremacy with the Executive but the one that is focused on the responsibility of making legislations that will impact the lives of the people and the overall development of the state.

  • Governors, others honour Imo Speaker

    Governors, others honour Imo Speaker

    State governors, parliamentarians and other leaders were among dignitaries who honoured the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Acho Ihim as he became president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, African Region.

    The state governor Rochas Okorocha was there at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC) where the reception was held for the new IICC president. So were governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Aminu Bello Masari (Kastina) and former Senate President Ken Nnamani and other political and religious leaders.

    The Speaker, who had not been in the limelight of the state politics, was showered with encomiums, some describing his cordial relationship with the Executive as exemplary.

    He was praised for supporting and creating harmonious working relationship between the state governor and the legislators, which was cited as the reason for the monumental achievements recorded by the Okorocha’s administration.

    Another cause for joy for the Speaker, according to feelers, was that the highly successful reception may have added impetus to his alleged ambition of succeeding Okorocha as the state governor.

    Meanwhile, in their separate speeches, the three governors who graced the occasion submitted that a healthy collaboration between governors and legislators will speed up the growth of democracy in the country.

    They advised state governors to always work in harmony with the legislators, enjoining the executive the legislative arms of government to eschew undue suspicions.

    Governor Okorocha said, “Things are working well in the state because my government is working with a strong and patriotic parliamentarians, hence, the four-year rolling plan which the legislators in the state had okayed, which has helped the us to record monumental achievements to its credit”.

    Okorocha said, “My administration would not have recorded the volume of monumental achievements on ground to its credit without the cooperation and understanding of the members of the State House of Assembly”.

    He stated that the working relationship would continue to be strengthened.

    Governor Tambuwal stated that the parliament gives democracy the needed teeth.

    He noted that the success recorded in Imo state shows the cordial working relationship between the executive and the legislature.

    The Sokoto State governor advised the Speaker to sustain the virtues that brought him this far.

    He urged the governors to work closely with the legislature for the good of the people, adding that “the legislature is not all about making bills or being in fight or being in competition with the Executive but for checks and balances for a good democracy.”

    Governor Masari, who was the chairman of the event, in his speech, advised that governors should not see legislators as rivals, but  as partners in progress.

    Nnamani while highlighting the roles of the legislature, said that the bridge between autocracy and democracy is the budget, adding that speedy passage of the budget by the Imo legislature helped the government in delivering dividends of democracy and called for such relationship between other governors and their legislators.

    In his speech, the Speaker, expressed gratitude to Governor Okorocha and assured that he won’t fail in his new assignment.

    He noted that the continued support for the Governor by the lawmakers was in the best interest of the people of the state, adding that the existing cordial relationship between the Governor and the lawmakers will continue to be improved upon and sustained.

    Ihim insisted that a vibrant House is not the one that is endlessly engaged in a battle of supremacy with the Executive but the one that is focused on the responsibility of making legislations that will impact the lives of the people and the overall development of the state.

  • Praise for Imo Deputy Governor at book launch

    Praise for Imo Deputy Governor at book launch

    Owerri, the Imo State capital buzzed and hummed as state governors, their deputies and academics, among other dignitaries, gathered to heap praise on Deputy Governor Prince Eze Madumere.

    It was at the public presentation of his autobiography, ‘A True Manifestation of a Loyal Prince’.

    Among eminent Nigerians who graced the occasion were the Kano State Governor Abdulahi Umar Ganduje and his wife, Deputy Governors of Oyo, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Oyo states, as well as the chief host Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha and his wife Nneoma.

    From one speaker to another, the Imo deputy governor was eulogised for his uncommon sense of humility and service, which they said stood him out among other present Deputy Governors in Nigeria.

    Akintola described Madumere as a man with uncommon sense of humility, adding that, “the first time he came to pick me from the Airport, there was nothing to show that he was the Deputy Governor, he was down to earth and ever ready to do everything to make his boss succeed”.

    Ganduje, a former Deputy Governor, while describing the Imo Deputy Governor, said, “his level of humility beats me, since I knew him as a colleague then I have never seen him get angry or show pride. He is always quiet and very calculated and always projecting his master far above himself”.

    Confirming the humility of Madumere, his boss, Governor Okorocha noted that he had never had any course to worry since he nominated him as his deputy after his first Deputy, Sir Jude Agbaso was impeached two years into his first tenure.

    He said Madumere has immeasurable confidence in him and does everything possible to ensure that his policies succeed, adding that his sense of loyalty is genuine and not sycophantic.

    He said, “I am proud of Madumere not just as my Deputy but as my son in whom I am well pleased. He has come a long way with me and he understands every of my move and he carries out every of my instructions to the letter in the spirit of the rescue mission. I was very happy when he told me about the book and what is written about him in the book is a true confirmation of who he is. He is indeed a loyal prince”.

    Ganduje said that with the confirmed attributes of the Deputy Governor, it will be in the best interest of the state for him to succeed Okorocha.

    He opined that having served as Kano State Deputy Governor for eight years and eventually succeeded his boss as governor, he knows the benefits of continuity in the polity through seamless transition.

    He said, “I want to congratulate Madumere for being so loyal to his boss but most importantly I want to commend the governor for taking him into confidence and giving him the latitude to operate, because you can be loyal and still not be trusted by your boss”.

    Speaking further, he said, ”The write-up we are presenting to the public today is an honest testimony of the life of the Deputy Governor and from what I know about him that he has the capacity to succeed his boss who I describe as a political bridge builder. So I want to appeal to the Governor that the next time we gather again here, it will be the inauguration of Madumere as Governor “.

    He however charged the Deputy Governor to be patient and desist from listening to gossips and rumour that could have negative effect on the relationship between him and his boss.

    Ganduje, who attended the ceremony in the company of his wife and members of his cabinet, also admonished Governor Okorocha to guide against the antics of sycophants, adding that sycophancy is “a deadly disease in governance “.

    Okorocha said that although he was yet to make up his mind on who his successor will be, but assured that he will hand over the state to one of his loyal followers who believe in the values of Rescue Mission administration.

    He described Madumere as a deputy any governor would like to have, adding that there are no pretenses about his loyalty and humility.

    He said, “Though I am yet to decide on my choice of a successor, I know that one of my sons will succeed me and Madumere is a son in whom I am well pleased”.

    The Historical Society of Nigeria conferred its highest award of “History Shield of Excellence” on the Imo Deputy Governor, at the University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. The president of the Society, Prof Christopher Ogbogbo, who enumerated the efforts of the Society in ensuring that history is incorporated into the academic curricula of every level of education, stressed the need for history in planning and national development.

  • Customs impounds contraband goods in Imo

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, yesterday impounded contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,957,529,375 in 231 seizures, Haruna Mamudu, the contoller, has said.

     Speaking to reporters through spokesman Onuigbo Ifeoma,  he said this figure contrasted with the 379  (DPV N2,224,245,797), seized  last year.

    According to Haruna, 22 suspects were also arrested, while 16 caese were pending.

    He said the feat was accomplished following a determination of Comptroller-General Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd) to rid the country of illegal importation.

    Haruna said N548,700,997  recovered this year from underpayment was an increase in revenue compared to N105,207,807 underpayment last year.

    The controller listed the items as 121 vehicles,  3,082 bags of rice (50kg), 1,454 pieces of furniture, 5,120 used foreign tyres,  625 cartons of fake drugs and 2,600 imported school bags.

    Also seized were 63 containers log of wood, 97 pieces of 14-stroke engine generator, 30,181 cartons of imported frozen poultry, 1,148 bales of second hand clothing as well as 2, 331 cartons of foreign detergents and creams.

    Others were 1,339 pairs of foot wear, 142 pieces of used refrigerator and compressor, 155 cartons of plastic and articles of plastics, 129 cartons of ceramics and articles of ceramics in addition to 803 bags of scrap metals.

    Expressing concern about persistent despite penalties for culprits, Haruna said: “The NCS will remain resolute and undeterred in its effort to stamp out the scourge. The NCS is equipped, mobilised and motivated to dislodge smugglers, their collaborators and agents.”

    He warned smugglers to desist and appealed to people with information about them to make such available to his men or personnel of sister security agencies.

    The controller said the information would be treated with confidence.

  • Imo tackles old tradition

    Imo tackles old tradition

    Ancient and discredited but still widely practised in Imo State, Female Genital Mutilation has an influential opponent, reports OKODILI NDIDI

    It was once thought normal and commonly practised. The girl-child, sometimes as young as one month, had parts of her genitalia cut off, with the active participation of her parents. Newly-married women who escaped the ritual in their early years, were made to go through it usually before they had their first babies.

    In those days it was called circumcision, a procedure believed, among other things, to curb sexual waywardness.

    Nowadays that practice is called female genital mutilation or FGM. Its new name suggests some crudity in method and even violence on the subject.

    It is also believed to be unhealthy, causing infection, lifelong trauma, retardation in sexual functions and even death, in some cases.

    Old and largely discredited as the tradition may be, it  remains rife across the states of the federation. with Imo reputedly posting the highest rate of prevalence, 68%.

    Why this is so, considering that the state is also said to be quite enlightened and educationally advanced, is difficult to understand. One thing that is sure, though, is that someone is leading the fight against the age-old ritual. That someone is Mrs  Nneoma Okorocha, wife of the state governor.

    The practice is predominant in four local government areas of Ohaji-Egbema, Ngor-Okpala, Ikeduru and Oguta.

    But respite has come. Mrs Okorocha in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNFPA) has launched an intensive campaign against FGM and other practices that are inimical to the wellbeing of the girl-child.

    The governor’s wife who anchored the campaign under the auspices of her pet project, the Women of Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI), noted that she keyed into the passion of the wife of the President, Aisha Muhamadu Buhari to end the barbaric practice that has resulted in the avoidable deaths of women and children, especially in the rural areas.

    The governor’s wife who decried the prevalence rate of the practice in Imo State, during launch of the anti-FGM/C campaign at the Imo International Convention Centre in Owerri, called for a collaborative efforts to end the scourge.

    She observed that the practice does not only violate the rights of the girl child but makes it difficult for her to live up to her responsibilities as a wife, as well as endangers her life.

    Mrs. Okorocha lamented that despite global condemnation of the practice, Imo State is still leading in the barbaric act, adding that the campaign will be taken to all the nooks and crannies of the state to create awareness on the dangers inherent in female circumcision.

    She hinted further that part of the measures she has adopted to eliminate the menace in the state, is to criminalize the practice through an Executive bill she has presented to the State House of Assembly.

    According to her, “Female Genital Mutilation is a form of violence against women which is perpetuated by unfounded myth and baseless traditions. It is a practice that is very rampant in our region and unfortunately Imo State was found to have one of the prevalence rate of 68 percent.

    “In Imo State, intervention by UNFPA through the Ministry of Health, Women Affairs and Social Development has focused on four Local Government Areas of Ikeduru, Ohaji/Egbema, Ngor-Okpala and Oguta.

    “In spite of this intervention, it is noted that this practice is undertaken in our communities throughout the state and has been continuing unabated, parents especially mothers have been secretly indulging in the act, leaving the victims in perpetual agony and regrets.

    “This can no longer be allowed to go on. It has therefore become imperative to end this harmful traditional practice.”

    The state Attorney General, Barrister Miletus Nlemedum, while commending the governor’s wife for the initiative, assured that the judiciary will take the matter seriously.

    He promised to assist make the war against FGM a success in the state.

    Similarly, the State Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers,Eze Sam Ohiri represented at the occasion by Eze G.N Ejiogu, assured of the support of traditional institution in eradicating the practice in the State.

    He said, “henceforth, we are going to keep watch on the women to find out those who are still engaged in the practice. it may not be an easy task but we are going to do everything possible to check the practice in our domain. it is not part of our culture and we will no longer allow it”

    Giving bite to the campaign, the state governor Rochas Okorocha, warned women who still engage in the practice to desist from doing so or risk imprisonment.

    The Imo governor disclosed that as soon as the bill against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is passed into law by the State House of Assembly,the punishment for offenders will be several years of imprisonment as will be specified by the establishing law.

    He described the practice as barbaric and unacceptable.

    According to him, “barbaric cultures which are not beneficial to the people should be abolished”.

    He urged the State Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the bill into law, to enable a permanent solution to the problem.

    In her speech, the country representative of UNFPA, Mrs Beatrice Mukta, commended the wife of the Governor for her relentless fight against FGM.

    She noted that the battle against the practice will not be an easy one and therefore appealed to traditional institutions as well as women in the state to support the move by the Governor’s wife.

    Meanwhile at the launch of the campaign, which was preceded by a road-walk, the participants were moved to tears as they watched the emotional clips of the horrible practice.

  • Militants lay down arms in Imo

    Militants lay down arms in Imo

    Peace returns to Imo State communities following militants’ surrender, OKODILI NDIDI reports

    It was as dramatic as it was momentous. Immediately it was confirmed that militants had surrendered their weapons, pledging to be of good behaviour, the residents started celebrating. Economic and social activities began to pick up in the hitherto deserted oil-producing communities. Traditional rulers who fled their thrones in the height of the militancy came back. Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of Imo State had found peace again after two and a half years in the grips of militants.

    The agitators and other cult groups in the state renounced militancy and surrendered their weapons to the state government and were pardoned.

    No fewer than 300 were killed while properties millions of naira were destroyed during the crisis. At Awara, the epicentre of the militancy and cult activities in Ohaji-Egbema council, the scars of those years of horror are still fresh. Bullet-ridden and skeletal remains of razed buildings that were once the beauty of the serene community are still standing.

    But thank God for the state governor Rochas Okorocha, who initiated the disarmament programme that saw the dreaded militants embracing peace and renouncing violence and all manner of criminalities.

    It was an emotional moment as the residents returned in droves to start rebuilding their ruined homes.

    The monarchs have written the state governor to convey their joy and gratitude that they were able to return to their kingdoms after wandering for more than two years.

    Among those who surrendered their arms and ammunition and renounced militancy was the Niger Delta Red Squad, the major militant group that has been responsible for the bombing of pipelines and other oil facilities in the state. Also embracing the state government amnesty programme were over 9,000 militants belonging to other armed groups which also handed over their automatic weapons including AK 47 Riffles, Rocket Launchers, Pump Action Guns of different sizes and large quantity of explosives.

    They were consequently granted pardon by the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who presided over the disarmament exercise under the watch of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General KAY Isiyaku and other security Chiefs.

    Presenting the militants to the governor at the Government House Chapel, the chairman of the State Disarmament Committee Mr. Kingsley Uju, an engineer, said that it took the committee over four months concerted efforts to get the agitators to renounce militancy and embrace

    the state government amnesty programme.

    He noted that from their interactions with the militants at their various camps in the creeks, the major reasons they gave for taking up arms after the Federal Government Amnesty Programme of 2008 was their exclusion from the resultant empowerment programme and the

    underdevelopment of the region.

    He said, “These people you see here gathered are from Oguta and Ohaji-Egbema Council Area of the state. Your Excellency, on assumption of duty, the committee met with the militants and in the course of our deliberations with them we were able to find out that the oil companies that have been operating in their land since 1953 have done nothing to develop the communities.

    “It was on this note that we appealed to them to renounce militancy and embrace peace as the only way the development they are yearning for will come to them. Today these ones are yearning to be reintegrated back to the society. They have decided that they are tired of sleeping in the bush and carrying guns. This is why we are presenting these leagues of agitators today for state pardon, having lost a lot to militancy. We are appealing that the state will therefore extend pardon to these ones and save them and their families by recommending to the Federal Government to grant them full amnesty”.

    While publicly renouncing their membership of all militant and cult groups, the armed militants said they were forced to resort to armed struggle as a result of marginalisation by oil companies operating in the communities.

    They also expressed their anger over their exclusion from the training opportunities and empowerment offered to other militants from other Niger Delta States by the Federal Government, adding that they felt used and abandoned after they were lured to surrender their arms in 2011.

    They said, “We are happy to announce today that we will no longer destroy pipelines or kill anyone. We have embraced the amnesty programme of the state government. We want to be empowered and we will help to guide the pipelines. We are happy that we have been forgiven of our crimes and we want to be reintegrated back to the society”.

    Speaking further on behalf of the militants, one of the Commanders, General Bobo Uzo Ndem, aka Cross and Die, and Commander Amonon Uzoma alias Motor-Boy, admitted that they had been responsible for all the killings, and blowing of oil pipelines in the Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Oil producing areas of the state, stating that their areas have been abandoned by oil companies operating in the area and were not carried along in the Amnesty programme of the federal government.

    They assured that they won’t fight again but would rather help to ensure peace in the areas, and also asked that attention should be given to their areas while the contract for the surveillance of the oil pipelines in the areas should be given to them, thanking the governor for his initiative which has brought them out from the bush where they had been fighting.

    The State Governor, charged the repentant militants to go back as responsible members of the society and contribute to the development of their state.

    He assured them that all their grievances will be articulated and forwarded to the appropriate quarters for prompt attention, “those of you who are involved with militancy or in agitation, or those of you who have killed many innocent souls, today, I speak as the governor of Imo State to grant you pardon, SIN NO MORE, come back to the society and be part of the society and contribute to the development of our state.  I hereby declare as the Governor of Imo state that you are hereby pardoned”.

    Okorocha stated further that, “the state Government will take every necessary step to meet your needs and make life better for you. For that reason, I hereby request that the army from today henceforth, no more shooting in Oguta and Ohaji Egbema. Your presence there will be for peace.  I hereby declare as Governor of the state, no more shooting, no more firing, you will only be there to maintain peace and order and to you no more violence”.

    “After all the killings, arson, blowing of pipelines, today peace has returned in Ohaji Egbema”. The amnesty programme will be declared by the President, I will convey all your request and concerns to President Muhammadu Buhari for immediate action, he is aware you are coming here today and has promised to do the needful.  He has sent the Chief of Naval Staff who will soon arrive to see for himself. “The Federal Government is aware of what you are doing, we know that our sons and daughters are not violent people, situation and circumstances must have led you to this.  From now henceforth I believe you will keep your promises of dropping arms and been peaceful people”.

    “I assure you again that the government will meet your needs, all your issues of request we shall meet them, but please it will not be an issue of today or tomorrow, it will take a short time to meet your long agitations such as light, road and hospital, we shall call on all the oil companies immediately to meet the committee which will be set up by government to discuss about the welfare of the people of the Niger Delta”.

    He also stressed that, “we are aware that some of the leaders are taking advantage of this situation, and taking the money from behind and making you kill yourselves, now that government is involved you shall never see that again. So a new committee known as the Amnesty Committee by the President comes in which will be headed by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Army and Police will be members and equally the Priests and Pastors from the areas”.

     

  • Imo fights genital mutilation

    Imo fights genital mutilation

    Its enlightenment and educational accomplishments have not weaned Imo State off the age-old horrors of female genital mutilation or FGM. The state has the highest percentage of FGM in the country with 68 % prevalence. But there is someone fighting it with all the resources she can muster: Mrs  Nneoma Okorocha, wife of the state governor.

    Many young girls between the ages of one month to five, as well as married women have been forced to undergo this painful ritual with the attendant consequences, which include lifelong trauma, infection and sometimes death.

    This practice has been predominant in four Local Government Areas of Ohaji-Egbema, Ngor-Okpala, Ikeduru and Oguta.

    But respite has come. Mrs Okorocha in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNFPA) has launched an intensive campaign against FGM and other practices that are inimical to the wellbeing of the girl-child.

    The governor’s wife who anchored the campaign under the auspices of her pet project, the Women of Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI), noted that she keyed into the passion of the wife of the President, Aisha Muhamadu Buhari to end the barbaric practice that has resulted in the avoidable deaths of women and children, especially in the rural areas.

    The governor’s wife who decried the prevalence rate of the practice in Imo State, during launch of the anti-FGM/C campaign at the Imo International Convention Centre in Owerri, called for a collaborative efforts to end the scourge.

    She observed that the practice does not only violate the rights of the girl child but makes it difficult for her to live up to her responsibilities as a wife, as well as endangers her life.

    Mrs. Okorocha lamented that despite global condemnation of the practice, Imo State is still leading in the barbaric act, adding that the campaign will be taken to all the nooks and crannies of the state to create awareness on the dangers inherent in female circumcision.

    She hinted further that part of the measures she has adopted to eliminate the menace in the state, is to criminalize the practice through an Executive bill she has presented to the State House of Assembly.

    According to her, “Female Genital Mutilation is a form of violence against women which is perpetuated by unfounded myth and baseless traditions. It is a practice that is very rampant in our region and unfortunately Imo State was found to have one of the prevalence rate of 68 percent.

    “In Imo State, intervention by UNFPA through the Ministry of Health, Women Affairs and Social Development has focused on four Local Government Areas of Ikeduru, Ohaji/Egbema, Ngor-Okpala and Oguta.

    “In spite of this intervention, it is noted that this practice is undertaken in our communities throughout the state and has been continuing unabated, parents especially mothers have been secretly indulging in the act, leaving the victims in perpetual agony and regrets.

    “This can no longer be allowed to go on. It has therefore become imperative to end this harmful traditional practice”.

    The State Attorney General, Barrister Miletus Nlemedum, while commending the governor’s wife for the initiative, assured that the judiciary will take the matter seriously.

    He promised to assist make the war against FGM a success in the state.

    Similarly, the State Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers,Eze Sam Ohiri represented at the occasion by Eze G.N Ejiogu, assured of the support of traditional institution in eradicating the practice in the State.

    He said, “henceforth, we are going to keep watch on the women to find out those who are still engaged in the practice. it may not be an easy task but we are going to do everything possible to check the practice in our domain. it is not part of our culture and we will no longer allow it”

    Giving bite to the campaign, the state governor Rochas Okorocha, warned women who still engage in the practice to desist from doing so or risk imprisonment.

    The Imo governor disclosed that as soon as the bill against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is passed into law by the State House of Assembly,the punishment for offenders will be several years of imprisonment as will be specified by the establishing law.

    He described the practice as barbaric and unacceptable.

    According to him, “barbaric cultures which are not beneficial to the people should be abolished”.

    He urged the State Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the bill into law, to enable a permanent solution to the problem.

    In her speech, the country representative of UNFPA, Mrs Beatrice Mukta, commended the wife of the Governor for her relentless fight against FGM.

    She noted that the battle against the practice will not be an easy one and therefore appealed to traditional institutions as well as women in the state to support the move by the Governor’s wife.

    Meanwhile at the launch of the campaign, which was preceded by a road-walk, the participants were moved to tears as they watched the emotional clips of the horrible practice.