The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Imo

  • ‘Operation Oil Palm’ in Imo

    ‘Operation Oil Palm’ in Imo

    The plan to diversify the Imo State economy has a life of its own. Palm trees are springing up in the state. Residents greet one another with a question: have you planted a palm? It is the state’s plan to diversify its economy and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.  It is the Operation Oil Palm.

    The programme, known as ‘Ikuona Nku?’, meaning, Have you planted a palm?, according to Governor Rochas Okorocha, was conceived to re-awaken the interest of the people in the cultivation of palm, which was once the mainstay of the state economy.

    The government has also revived other abandoned agro-based industries, especially the Ada Palm, the ailing oil palm plantation in the state.

    Before now the Ada Palm Plantation, with a sprawling 4310 hectares of full grown palm and arguably one of the largest in Africa, contributed over 60% of the total income of the state.

    The plantation established by the then Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr. Michael Opara, was however abandoned as a result of the oil boom.

    However following the depleting oil fortune, the Rochas Okorocha led administration launched a new plan to ensure that every family in the state owns a palm plantation.

    The idea according to the Governor was to alleviate poverty in the state, especially in the rural communities.

    To ensure a smooth take off of the programme, the state government disbursed a takeoff grant of N3300, 000.00 to each traditional ruler in the 637 autonomous communities in the state.

    The fund was to be utilised in the cultivation of the new palm seedlings provided by government and the establishment of local oil mills for the milling of the palm fruits.

    The Governor while addressing a meeting of the traditional rulers, conveyed to brainstorm on the possible ways of returning to agriculture, said that Imo State before now was the largest producer of palm oil but regretted that palm cultivation was abandoned over the years.

    Highlighting the benefits of palm oil cultivation, the Imo Governor, hinted that with the decline in the price of oil and the need to diversify the economy of the state, it has become imperative that the people return to their former ways of making a living.

    He disclosed that the state government will continue to provide necessary incentives and grants to encourage the people to cultivate oil palm, adding that in the next ten years if the programme is sustained, the state will be a leading producer of palm oil and other produce that can be harnessed from oil palm.

    He urged the monarchs to engage in and encourage communal oil palm cultivation to create wealth and employment for the people.

    He said, “Our greeting at all times in Imo State now is ‘ikuona nku?’ This is to drive home the importance of palm oil cultivation, which will truly transform the economy of the state faster than oil. Imo State used to be the greatest producer of palm oil but we lost this position because our people ran after oil”.

    Today more farmers in the state are keying into the programme and massively planting oil palm trees in previously fallow lands.

    Chief Sylvanus Uguru, described the development as a right step in the right direction, adding that, “this is healthy for the state. I think it is a proactive measure against the falling oil price, the state will benefit immensely if the programme is sustained.

     

  • ‘My vision for robust legislation in Imo’

    ‘My vision for robust legislation in Imo’

    T the conclusion of State Assembly primaries of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties, the electorates have begun to identify those who could champion the cause of governance as legislators from May 29, 2015.

    Pundits have said the country needs technocrats to drive good governance at all levels of government. They argue that it is high time electorates begin to emphasise on those who will not end up being liabilities to the people.

    It has also been said in many quarters that those who go into politics as established businessmen/women or career people, are not likely to be disasters in office unlike loafers who have no definite means of livelihood.

    Ken Agbim, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer for Ahiazu Mbaise constituency in Imo State, is one of those who had adequately prepared themselves for public office.

    Agbim is today soliciting the votes of people in his constituency on the basis of the huge success he had recorded in his business, which he strongly believes and pledges will be replicated in the House, if voted into power.

    Agbim, who was born in March 1970 into the family of Stanislous Agbim of Ogbor Ihitte-Aforukwu in Ahiazu Mbaise, became involved in political leadership at his early years.

    As a Mass Communication student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he was foundation member, Niger Committee of Friends (NICOF), an umbrella body set up to protect the rights and privileges of Eastern Nigerian students all over the country and to inculcate leadership qualities in the youth of South-East and South-South zones of Nigeria.

    He started out his professional career with BTAS Communications Limited, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja Lagos. Thereafter, he worked with leading multinational companies, including SO&U Satachi & Satachi, Novartis Pharmaceuticals AG, and GlaxoSmithkline Nigeria Plc where he was Senior Brand Manager. As the senior brand manager of GlaxoSmithkline, Agbim was saddled with the responsibility of managing Lucozade, the company’s biggest consumer brand. He managed this global brand successfully and took it from a brand valued at about eight hundred million (800,000,000) naira to four billion, seven hundred million (4,700,000,000) naira in four years.

    Today, he is the CEO of Boom Productions Limited  a company specialised in media content development, events management and promotions.

    Agbim is a job creator and effective manager of human capital. This upcoming political master act is in plain terms a professional, a quintessential professional with priceless expertise, whose participation in public service sets the stage for what the Nigeria of tomorrow will be. He is an active member of various professional bodies such as Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN).

    These explain why his associates believe he has the qualities Nigerians are looking for in their choice of leaders in the next dispensation, starting from May 29, 2015. Some of the qualities he possesses are confidence, self-determination, intelligence, hardworking and ability to coordinate, and he organises people at community, state, national and international levels.

    Agbim, an illustrious son of Mbaise, has become an icon of loyalty and determination. His victory at the primaries is victory for doggedness. It is a reward for commitment by the PDP.

    On different occasions and at various fora, Agbim had unveiled his agenda and his dream for his constituency, if voted into office.

    According to him, his focus, if elected, will be on education and human capital development through scholarships and sponsorship of training programmes for the youth.

    He also promised that he would, in conjunction with other legislators, champion wealth creation legislation that would provide permanent solution to

  • How broken bridge wrecked Imo communities

    How broken bridge wrecked Imo communities

    Looking at the collapsed bridge, it is difficult to imagine that it was once a major reason two communities in Imo State   thrived.

    Umualum and Umuoma towns in Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area of the state, with a population of over 100,000, once kept the state in good supply of food.

    Few people cultivated yam and cassava better than they did, and they also had a good measure of fish to throw in. They packed their produce and catch, went over the bridge and, in about ten minutes, were in the capital Owerri to sell. Even when the farmers chose not to move their harvests out, their clients crossed the bridge and came to Umualum and Umuoma to buy. The two communities prospered and residents were happy.

    That was 20 years ago. Since then, the Otamiri Bridge has broken and the economy of the communities has also collapsed.

    Now, the bridge, brownish with dust, has almost fallen into the Otamiri River. At great risk to themselves, some residents place planks on a side of the structure and try to cross to the other side of the river, wisely avoiding the parts that have no supporting steel of any kind or are completely overgrown with weed. Even then, accidents do happen.

    The bridge now provides little boys something to play with. They strip off their clothes, climb to the top of the railing and plunge into the Otamiri River. They splash around for a while and go home.

    The economy of Umualum and Umunoma communities has nosedived. The traders have all vanished and the communities are disconnected and abandoned, thanks to the erosion that washed away the Otamiri Bridge, the only link to the riverside communities.

    Bemoaning the development, the traditional ruler of Umuoma, Eze Morrison Eke, said his community has been cut off from other ones, especially the state capital which was formerly a journey of less than 10 minutes.

    He stated that since the collapse of the bridge, about 20 years ago, the villagers have suffered untold hardship and accidents trying to cross the precarious bridge.

    “There is no other link road to the communities aside from the Otamiri Bridge and since it collapsed we have lost the once buoyant economy and now we are barely surviving because we have no other place to go”.

    The troubled monarch, appealed to the State and Federal Governments to come to their aid and rehabilitate the dilapidated bridge, which he said a lot of economic and geographical hardship on the people.

    According to some of the villagers, who spoke with The Nation by the bank of the Otamiri River, “it used to be a beehive of activities in this area when the bridge was functional many years ago because transportation on car, buses, tricycle and motor cycles were all easy. Fishermen sold their fish along the bridge and people come from far and near to patronise them and also to buy farm produce”.

    They lamented further that, “we were formerly the highest producers of yam and cassava but since there is no longer means to transport the produce to the markets, the farmers have been discouraged. We are appealing to the Federal Government to come to our aid because we have no other place to go because this is our ancestral home”.

    Apart from the farmers and traders, students also share in the plight. The Federal Polytechnic Nekede is situated in the area and the fact that cheap and affordable houses abound in Umuoma and Umualum communities, the population of students is high in the area.

    Chijioke Obinna,  a student of the Polytechnic who lives in one of the communities, lamented that, “since the wood and steel used in building the bridge are now weak and dilapidated, it takes courage and caution for one to trek across the bridge without falling  into the river”.

    He added further that, “we are more than 60 students that live in the two communities and we have to cross the bridge everyday to go to school. We are also joining the indigenes to appeal to the authorities to fix the bridge and reconnect the communities with the other parts of the state.

    They shouldn’t wait until major disaster happens”.

    An indigene, Mr. Stephen Njoku, noted that indigenes of the affected communities who live outside no longer visit home due to the collapsed bridge, adding that “even though there is perceived Federal Government’s presence around the bridge, little has been done to help the plight of the people”.

    The lawmaker representing Owerri West in the state House of Assembly, Hon Innocent Eke, who enumerated efforts made by the State Assembly to alleviate the plight of the people, stated that, “since it is an ecological fund project that requires counterpart funding, the state government has paid its counterpart fund and in no time the Federal Government will commence work on the ‘Otamiri’ bridge”.

    He appealed to the people to be patient with the Government, adding that palliative measures will continue until the collapsed bridge is fixed.

    As the waiting game continues, the residents of the two communities will continue to live under the fear of lurking disaster, which may happen at any time, going by the deteriorating shape of the bridge which is begging for urgent attention.

     

  • NDE ‘empowers 50 youths in Imo’

    The Director-General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Mohammed Abubakar, has said 50 youths from Imo State have been empowered by the NDE through the provision of skills and equipment to ensure they are self-reliant.

    He spoke while presenting resettlement items to the youths at the weekend at Enyiato Development Centre, Enyiogugu in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state.

    The equipment include generating sets, hair drying machines, cooking gas, sets of kitchen utensils, decoration chairs, and satellite dish installation equipment.

    Mohammed, who was represented by the State Director of the NDE, Engineer Jaja Isichei, said  the step was part of government’s efforts at reducing unemployment in the country by empowering the youths.

    He said the beneficiaries were trained in various skills ranging from hair dressing, confectionaries, decorations, satellite dish installation and tiling under the community based training and resettlement scheme of the directorate.

  • Imo governor seeks lawyers’ input in electoral process

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has enjoined lawyers to show interest in the electoral processes.

    He said they should also show interest in the campaigns of the presidential and governorship candidates.

    The governor spoke at the 2015 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri branch, with the theme: “2015 General Elections in Nigeria; The Task Before the Legal Profession”.

    He said lawyers should not wait until election cases were brought to them before knowing that they were stakeholders in the electoral processes.

    Okorocha urged the lawyers to come up with a communiqué that could address the presidential and governorship campaigns and the need for those concerned to talk more about issues, rather than non-issues to blackmail opponents.

    Said he: “What can you do for the people?  What can you do to change the society, should be the issues and not religion or where one comes from.  Indeed, I liken this to a man who is in a boxing ring and wants to face his opponent and instead of rising up to the occasion, all he tells his opponent is, listen I am from so, so place. That is not the issue. The issue is that you must wear your gloves, and give a good punch to him because those sentiments won’t determine the winner.”

    The governor went on: “I want to urge you today to advise politicians to discuss issues because you handle their cases, the aftermath of the elections.  It pains me that even the elite no longer think about issues. For instance, for me, I said, having done all these infrastructural development, my second tenure, if I return by the grace of God, I will engage in factory, factory, factory, industry, industry, industry, job, job, job, etc.”

    Okorocha told the lawyers that “in Nigerian politics, there are factors that determine who wins election. I would want you people to speak about such.  Unfortunately, the Federal Government has all the power. So, I enjoin you to be independent if you must render judgment without fear or favour.

    “I wish this honourable house would come up with policy statements on some of these issues. I thank God for the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.  Today, Nigeria is going through a very difficult moment. Many are imagining that there will be no election. Some think there will be no election in Maiduguri and some of these states where there is Boko Haram. But the question we must ask ourselves today is that in the face of all these challenges, who among the candidates can stop corruption, stop Boko Haram and unite Nigeria, which is about to disintegrate?  Your answer is as good as mine.”

    The Chairman of NBA, Owerri branch, Mr. Stanley Chidozie Imo, hailed the appointment of a new chief judge for the state.

    He thanked Governor Okorocha and the Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Chukwuma Machukwu Umeh (SAN), for their roles in ensuring that the state had a substantive chief judge.

  • APGA candidate promises to rescue Imo

    APGA candidate promises to rescue Imo

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Imo State, Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho, has assured that his administration will rescue the state from the “visionless government of Rochas Okorocha”.

    The former Minister of Interior, who spoke at a campaign at Ugwu Ekwema Square in Owerri, said the governor “only came to rescue members of his family and not Imo people.”

    He said the people voted for Okorocha in 2011 out of sentiments, adding: “The way the governor has personalised governance showed he came to rescue his siblings, family, in-laws and associates from poverty and not Imo people.”

    Urging the people to vote APGA in the elections, Ihenacho said it was “unfortunate that Concorde Hotel, which was the pride of the state, has died under the present government. Okorocha lacks the training and capacity to industrialise the state.”

  • ‘Presenting Imo PDP flag to Ihedioha futile’

    A former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate in Owerri Federal Constituency, Mr. Ben Onyechere, has decried the handing over of the Imo PDP governorship flag to House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha.

    He described it as “futile and an aberration.”

    Onyechere said in a statement that the decision to give the flag to Ihedioha “cannot hold water because it is a negation of the democratic and legal processes recognised by the constitution.

    “That attempt only seeks to undermine the sensibilities of the electorate and to ignore the institution of the judiciary, which possesses the power to adjudicate on matters that suffocate and infringe on the rights of the people to freely exercise their choice of leaders because the time of impunity and imposition is in the past.”

  • Imo monarchs seek good roads, employment

    Imo monarchs seek good roads, employment

    Traditional rulers in Imo State have urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard-bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to tackle unemployment, bad roads and other problems in the Southeast.

    They spoke when Buhari and his campaign team visited the Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri, at his palace in Owerri.

    Eze Ohiri described the long years of neglect of the Igbo, despite their contributions to national development, as the height of ingratitude.

    He said they were denied top federal appointments, job opportunities, good roads and other developmental projects by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, hoping that the APC would redress the situation.

    Eze Ohiri said monarchs were the worst hit by corruption, because of their interaction with grassroots people, who cried out against the diversion of federal funds meant for empowerment and developmental projects, by greedy politicians.

    He added: “If my people vote for you, remember to show appreciation.”

    The royal father enjoined the Federal Government to restore subsidy on petroleum products, to reduce suffering.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha, who is also the Chairman, APC Governors’ Forum, said traditional rulers contributed to the success of his administration, noting that as chairmen of the Community Government Council in the 637 communities, they promoted palm planting, maintenance of public institutions and combated crime.

    He advised them to be apolitical.

    The governor said Gen. Buhari would not Islamise the country, as he was religiously tolerant, which he demonstrated by his choice of a pastor, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, as his running mate.

    His words: “He wants to make an impact and show Nigerians what he has, by stabilising the nation.”

  • Buhari in Imo Government House

    Sir: The need for change of government was in the air. One Father Mbaka had reversed himself from support for President Goodluck Jonathan to General Muhammadu Buhari in a sermon. Nigerians being vaingloriously responsive to prophecy drifted in massive support of Buhari. His visit was described by some as evidence of Divine intervention. Party faithful were mustered with GSM invitation to Governor’s office and they thronged out to hear what the governor had to say about the visit. Elders were invited to boost authenticity. I was among the invited.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha had invited us to develop an advice to him on what he would raise before the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC). Our discussions on what was to be presented to the prospective president, was marshaled out in dilated offerings that denied aged people their promise of breakfast. Table had been laid. Consensus was reached on two people to make presentations on behalf of Imo Council of Elders after some contentions were raised on persons within the fold. The candidate was believed to be on board and landing time was long since reached. All of a sudden alert came that entourage of the candidate was on ground at Governor’s private residence. The governor in his usual reverence for visitors almost dashed out to receive them and forgot that he had assembled at least 20 seniors in his home from time-barred breakfast time of 7.30 up until alarm blew. Some seniors were on medication that demanded food before using. They suffered through the long period before Buhari came and after 11 a.m. when his entourage moved in. The seniors were abandoned in separate parts of Okorocha’s mansion to their pains. It was necessary after breakfast with the hallowed guest to move to Sam Mbakwe Chambers for a formal meeting with the visiting guest and his entourage comprised of top executives of APC and some of their board members.

    Chief of extemporization, Governor Okorocha opened up at Sam Mbakwe Hall formally welcoming candidate Buhari to Owerri. His wits about his defeat at primaries set up a mild uproar. He himself rushed through what could have been presented by the nominated duo for time to return on a scheduled flight had come. Governor Okorocha could only speak about roads-Enugu to Port Harcourt, Aba to Calabar and Owerri Port Harcourt as primary arteries. He wanted direct contract on Second Niger Bridge. He forgot Petrochemical Plant that had huge employment and subsidiary industry potentials. He did not dwell enough on national insecurity and the threat on Igbo people with amazing potentials for dispersal all over the world and the need to ensure their safety and productive life wherever they may dwell and make positive contributions. He forgot to stress that the real responsibility of leadership is protection of the led and assurance that only the best technocrats should be engaged without discrimination to fend for the betterment of the majority. Those who qualify to add multiples to national wealth and well being should be engaged without qualms as to origin. The bottom line of good governance is pervasive wealth and well being of all in the land. If one tribe can assure that why should a president bother? The decline of Nigeria should be levied on Quota.

    Buhari did not address any of the issues raised to him by Governor Rochas. He spoke of his military exploits and precipitately landed on his quip on Jonathan that corruption was growing in leaps and bounds under his watch and something drastic had to be done about it. I believe he will choose the right technocrats for the job if he lands it. He did not address the price Ndigbo have had to pay through the war years and the losses of relevance their loss of the third position in Nigeria has cost them. Neglect of Ndigbo will always count as Nigeria’s loss any time into the far future. The disintegration proclivity was not even on Buhari’s radar. The Boko Haram debacle did not feature.

    Famished like desert dwellers, elders dispersed with glum faces and utter revulsion for the treatment meted out to them.

     

    • M A C Odu,

    Owerri, Imo State

  • Lawyer’s death: Imo inaugurates Coroner’s inquest

    The Imo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chukwuma- Machukwu Ume (SAN), has said the government has taken steps to unravel the mystery behind the sudden death of a lawyer, Appollos Nduka Anyille.

    Ume spoke at the valedictory court session held in honour of the late member of the state’s House of Assembly, Mrs. Eudora Igwe, a lawyer, who died, describing the late Mrs. Igwe as “a strategic thinker, brilliant, innovative, creative visionary and a good lawyer.”

    He said the state government has constituted a coroner’s inquest to help unravel the circumstances that led to Anyille’s death. Anyille’s lifeless body was found in the pool of his blood in his bedroom on October 16, last year. He was the immediate past Secretary of the Orlu Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    The Attorney-General said the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has appointed a lawyer, Chuzzy Attama, as the Coroner to undertake the task of investigating Anyille’s death

    “The inquest is on now. From information so far available, the Coroner is professionally doing the state proud in the way and manner he is carrying on with the inquest. I request all to please, co-operate with him,” Ume said.

    On the importance of the inquest, Ume said the Coroner’s report, when submitted, will assist the state in reviewing “some salient occurrences that should make each of us live in a safer environment”.

    He noted the late Mrs Igwe was always forthright and “never left one in doubt about where she stood on issues”, recalling that the late Mrs. Igwe distinguished herself as an administrator (during her tenure as the Chairman of Ideator North Local Government).

    He said the late Mrs. Igwe was elected in 2011 as a member of Imo State House of Assembly, representing Ideator North State Constituency.

    “Her service in Imo State House of Assembly is an eloquent testimony to the fact that she left a legacy of excellence of service marked with courage, discipline, integrity and great industry,” Ume said.

    The Attorney-General canvassed the establishment of a Legal Practitioners Exigency Fund to cushion the effect on dependents where a lawyer died suddenly or suffered any other form of disaster.