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Tag: Imo

  • Low patronage of public places in Imo

    Low patronage of public places in Imo

    The Yuletide was a bit odd this time in Imo State. Most residents seemed to prefer staying back at home to visiting public places. But it was not strictly for cash reasons; security had more to do with it.

    Gaily-dressed women and children who usually patronised the parks in large numbers were nowhere to be seen, except for a handful of kids and their guardians who defied the apparent security fears to have a bit of fun.

    A few weeks to the Christmas, the Imo State Police command, uncovered explosives planted in a popular eatery in the state capital.

    Apart from this, the discovery of a large quantity of explosives at the headquarters of the Winners’ Chapel, equally instilled fear into the residents, despite spirited efforts by the police to assure fun-seekers of a crime-free yuletide.

    Hoteliers appeared to be the worst hit as they daily counted  their losses.

    Decrying the development, a resident, Chief Ngbemena Ikoro, said that the security threat in the state was responsible for the low turnout of people in public places.

    According to him, “the aborted terror attacks in the state, created apprehension in the people. Although the Police has done well to avert the attacks but the fear it created in the minds of the people cannot be easily erased. Today if you go around the state, especially Owerri, you will discover that the places are empty because people are afraid to take their children out”.

    Mr. Basil Obong, a bar owner, said, “We have never experienced this poor turnout of customers during Christmas before. I have not been able to recoup my investments but if it were before, you couldn’t have a place to sit. We are praying that the situation will improve soon”.

    For Gloria Ukeje, the security apprehension in the state coupled with harsh economic situation in the country, is responsible for the low-key celebration, “the situation is not peculiar with Imo State. All over the country, the situation is the same, people are complaining of bad economy”.

    Another civil servant, who pleaded anonymity, said the reason for the dull Christmas was the non-payment of salaries of civil servants, “Imo State is essentially a civil servant state, so when the workers are not paid, it affects all other sectors of the economy. For instance, I cannot take my family out because I was not paid my December salary”.

    He added further that, “the state government did well to beautify every part of the state but the people are not buoyant to patronize the places. I don’t totally agree that the people are afraid as a result of the discovered bombs, I think it is because they don’t have money to spend”.

    Uzoma Ifeka, blamed the low turnout on cash crunch in the state, “when people are not paid what do you expect. There is poverty in the land. Most of the civil servants did not get their salaries for the month of December and this affected their mood because they don’t have what to celebrate with.

    “Before the Governor embarked on the Presidential race, civil servants were paid before the state gets Federal Allocation but since he came back everything has not been the same and this affected this year’s Christmas”.

    But a reliable source within the Government House, who did want his name in print, said the problem was not peculiar with the government, “Imo is one of the few states that managed to pay December salary even though some people have not received their salaries but efforts are on to ensure that everybody is paid before the end of the year”.

  • Imo Deputy Governor visits historic spring

    The Imo State Governor Prince Eze Madumere has visited a spring not only steeped in history but also believed to have life-enhancing properties.

    It is located in Amuzi community, itself famous for its lush vegetation.

    Iyi in Igbo means a stream while Ehi means a cow.

    Madumere the Amuzi  Spring or Ishi Ehi stream to savour its awe and make a personal enquiry into its rich history and weigh its value to the people and the state.

    According to a legend, a wealthy member of the community built a house on a rock, where the spring has its source. The man had plenty cattle, one of which one day broke off the water source cap. The water came rushing out and has continued to flow ever since.

    Many believe that the legendary Amuzi spring water is then reason for the longevity of the residents.

    The oldest man in the community died at the age of 135, while it is said that the average age of the people is 80 or 90 years.

    This angle of the community’s history was made available to the deputy governor and his entourage by a renowned leader of the community, Hon. Chief Innocent Okporo whose father’s house, Late Chief Lawrence Okpokoro, sits at about 200 feet above the water source.

    Hon. Okporo is the Government Liason Officer of Amuzi and former Special Adviser, Security to Gover nor Rochas Okorocha. He is the current chairman of Board of Directors, Imo Development Finance and Investment Company Limited.

    Responding to Deputy Governor’s question on the longevity legend, Mrs. Ngozi Ihekworo, 60, said she has drunk the spring water from her childhood.

    She said she also her laundry at the stream.

    She said she married into Amuzi from a neighbouring village.

    The water source which flows from below spectacular layers of rock, is described as the purest water source within the environs, even purer that any borehole water or table water. This was confirmed by Mr. Joseph Umoru, a natural water enthusiast, and a beverages and soft drink specialist. It was Mr. Umoru who brought the information on the spring to the desk of the deputy governor.

    According to the Technical Assistant to the Deputy Governor, the water source sits at an estimated 65 meters or over 200 feet below ground level. It has about four water sources flowing from same basin under a huge high rock.

    In what looked like a typical sci-fi movie in the Discovery Channel or the famous Nigerian Gulder Ultimate Search expedition, the deputy governor descended into the steep valley with his entourage. The descent into the valley is a breathtaking long journey that requires a proper firm grip of your foot on the slippery steep stairs. A little slip of feet will send you crashing down to 200 feet below ground level. Climbing up was even more tricky than ever, and it required high exhaustion of energy to make it out.  Hon. Okporo who led the expedition told the deputy governor that he last dared tried going to the water mouth to fetch decades ago when he was still much younger.

    At the foot of the water source, the deputy governor met members of the community fetching water and doing their laundry. Children also played around, but the valley was quiet and has the serenity of the “Valley of Life”, the types found in places like Israel and Palestine.

    Speaking to his audience at the foot of the rock and Ishi Eyi spring water, the number two citizen of Imo State said he was fascinated by the report brought to his desk by Mr. Joseph Umoru.

    Prince Madumere informed his audience that the purpose of his mission to the spring with his technical team is to see how government can improve the welfare of the people by helping them have access the water in large volume without having to climb the steep valley, and while developing the water mouth into a source of tourism.

    Continuing, the deputy governor’s assistant on technical matters, Mr. Alba said to achieve the feat will require the installation of a boaster to increase hydro pressure powerful enough to take the water to the high level surface. It will also require the installation of water treatment unit and other facilities that will make life easy for the people who drink from the water source.

    In their appreciation message to the deputy governor, the community represented by the expedition leader, Hon. Innocent Okpokoro and the CLO of the community, Mr. Emma Okpokoro thanked the Rescue Mission Government led by Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha for its grassroot-oriented development programme. They described Gov. Okorocha’s deputy, Prince Eze Madumere as a thorough  leader who cashes  in any opportunity to improve the welfare of the rural people. They asked God to give the governor another opportunity come the 2015 elections to consolidate on the development strides the governor has embarked on in the state, especially in Okigwe zone while promising their support in totality.

  • Journalists trained in Imo

    Journalists trained in Imo

    No fewer than 80 journalists have been trained for enhanced performance in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The trainees were drawn from various media houses in the state, including members of the council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). The workshop whose theme was “Re-engineering Imo journalists towards sustainable media and democracy growth in Nigeria”, held at Mayfair Suites and Conference Centre. It lasted three days. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha facilitated it in collaboration with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

    The journalists were trained in election reportage, effective media performance and the challenges and prospects of the media industry.

    The resource persons drilled the journalists on the application of modern technologies as relevant tools for effective media practice, the rights, privileges and limitations of journalists and the roadmap for effective performance.

    Dr. Saleh Dauda of the University of Abuja, in his paper titled the “Nexus Between Media and Democracy: Nigeria’s Example”, noted that the role of the media in the consolidation of every democracy cannot be over emphasised, adding that “the media being the watchdog of the society has a critical role to play”.

    He said, “Democracy and journalism are soul mates. You cannot have one without the other. It is only a democratic environment that can foster the best journalism.

    “Mass media and democracy have been established to be inter-twined. They cannot be divorced from each other. To govern therefore is to communicate. To democratise is to ensure free, unhindered flow of communication. In any democratic polity there must be a two-way communication flow, that is, from the government to the citizens and from the citizens to government. This is a time tested postulation, without which democracy cannot be established let alone consolidated”.

    The university teacher also stated that “the leadership role of the media is seen in the fight by the media to draw attention to bad policies of government and also to drum support for the positive initiatives of government. The watchdog role played by the media can be seen in thwarting former President Obasanjo’s attempt at a third term in office. The media mobilised support against the third term agenda”.

    Dauda affirmed that, “the media has performed well in respect to elections. They have provided the platform for Nigerians to have insight in the personalities of political office seekers. In Nigeria the media has played a significant role in the sustenance of democracy in several areas”.

    He concluded that for the media to continue to play its role in the growth and sustenance of democratic polity, “journalists should be trained and retrained; this will equip them to face the challenges of the 21st century which is knowledge driven. The freedom of information act should be implemented to the fullest and journalists should be motivated through welfare packages”.

    Dr Austin Uganwa in his paper titled “Roadmap for effective media performance in democratic Nigeria”, observed that social responsibility is the cornerstone of media practice in democracy, adding that “the greatest demand of social responsibility is that media should not only be participants in the political environment they operate but serve as social crusaders, political reformers and watchdog of public welfare”.

    He stressed that the media are expected to checkmate the perceived excesses of those in government and expose prevalent political and social ills in the society.

    Uganwa also posited that it is the role of the media under a democratic setting to among other things, expose corruption in high places, pursue the restoration and sustenance of the social, political and democratic values of the nation, advance the cause of democracy and good governance and strengthen all sectors of the economy.

    In his speech at the closing ceremony of the tree day event, Ihedioha disclosed that the workshop was designed to enhance the professional competence of Journalists in Imo State, adding that “considering the crucial place of the media in democracy, a workshop of this nature is symbolic and germane”.

    He noted that the training will have a far reaching effect in reinforcing media practitioners’ capacity towards driving the growth and development of democracy in the country.

    According to him, “evidently two fundamental objectives informed my desire to facilitate this training workshop. One was to re-empower Imo journalists towards consolidating their critical role in democracy. The other was to prepare them for the efficient coverage of the 2015 general elections.

    ”The significant nature of the enumerated goals informed the expansive participation base of the workshop by ensuring that all media organizations operating in the state have an opportunity to take part”.

    He added further that, “the critical role of the media in democracy, politics and policy making makes any workshop geared towards scaling up journalists to enable them report democratic institutions and structures much better, a development imperative”.

    Ihedioha charged the media to be alive to their responsibilities to the people and the nation, adding that, “the media not only inform, educate and entertain the people but serve as a veritable tool for social change, economic reform and democracy consolidation.

    ”In democracy therefore, the media serves essentially as one dynamic institution that builds bridges between the leaders and the led. The media essentially constitutes a genuine vehicle for democratic change, swaying rulers and the governed towards synthesised political orientation. Essentially the media operate to advance the cause of democracy and good governance; strengthening the polity, economy and ensuring the overall mechanisms of national development”.

    Commending the organisers and the Deputy Speaker for training journalists in the state, the state Chairman of NUJ, Sir Innocent Igwe, assured that the knowledge imparted in the cause of the workshop will assist the media in effectively covering the 2015 general elections.

    He however appealed for continued training and retraining of journalists in the state and the expansion of the programme to accommodate more participants.

    The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Atan Agbakuru, described the timing of the training as apt, adding that the correspondents have benefited a great deal of the teachings of the renowned mass communication lecturers.

    He called on the state government and other political office holders to learn from the gesture of the Deputy Speaker and assist in alleviating the challenges of journalists in the state.

     

  • Hope for cancer patients in Imo

    Hope for cancer patients in Imo

    The relief is coming on two fronts. One, more cancer-treatment centres are opening up closer home, helping patients to save money that would otherwise cover overseas flights and the like. Two, cost of treatment is cheaper, all things considered.

    The relief is huge in Imo where the state government has flagged off a fully-equipped cancer treatment facility called Ochiedike Dialysis Centre. It is the first in the state.

    The Centre named after the late father of the state Governor, Ochedike Okorocha, who died of kidney failure, was declared open by the Governor, Rochas Okorocha announced free tests and diagnosis for prostate and breast cancer for people over 40 years.

    The governor disclosed that the Centre is 100% owned by the state government but leased to Israeli medical experts to manage for 15 years.

    He noted that cancer has claimed the lives of many Nigerians but added that when detected at early stage, the disease can be handled and the patient’s life saved.

    The governor maintained that with the modern facilities in place and the medical team working at the Centre, people of the South-East and Nigerians at large will have no need of going to India again for treatments on kidney and cancer related ailments, adding, “I thank God for a dream come true. My vision to save the lives of numerous poor indigenes has become a reality.”

    He explained further  that the 27 new General Hospitals under construction will specialize in different fields of medicine when completed, priding that, “we are not only good in the education sector, we are also good in the health sector”.

    Earlier in her remarks, the Medical Director of the Centre, Mrs. Judith Glick recounted how her team led by Dr. Obi Njoku, former Commissioner for Health, presented the proposal for the Centre to the governor three months before the 2011 elections where he replied, “Why not, if I become the governor I will establish this diagnostic centre with you.”

    Dr. Glick said her team will develop and establish more medical units in the centre, just as she disclosed that investors are ready to establish a world class hospital in the State.

    ”It is time we stopped sending money out to other countries in search of medical attention; we are here for Imo people and Nigerians at large to remain strong, vibrant and healthy to enable everyone contribute in building a better Imo State and Nigeria,” she assured.

    In his speech, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Edward Ihejirika regretted the progressive increase in chronic diseases, despite efforts made by government through immunisation and improved hygiene.

    He explained that the Governor established the Centre to provide adequate medical care and services via the most efficient and experienced Dialysis Technicians and Nephrologists as well as reduce capital flight.

  • Anger as voter card’s distribution ends in Imo

    The distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Continuous Voter’s Registration has ended in Imo State with a call for its cancellation. Aggrieved voters called the exercise a flop.

    The exercise which started on a shaky note left much to be desired as over 20 million PVCs were reportedly missing. The exercise was characterised by heavy protests and severe criticisms.

    For instance, in most of the local government areas visited by The Nation, there was a large turnout of people but the few capturing machines were either slow or totally out of service, resulting in chaos at most of the centres.

    In the absence of INEC staff, the ad-hoc personnel told agitated people waiting to be registered that the setback resulted from lack of sustainable power to run the machines.

    At Umudagu Mbieri and Ezinihitte Mbieri both in Mbaitoli Council Area of the State, the situation was worse as aggrieved indigenes accused INEC of systematically disenfranchising them.

    At Orie-Agu Central School in Ehime Mbano Council Area, foreigners from Niger Republic were caught with Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC), while many others caught registering.

    The State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, who monitored the exercise on the first day, blamed INEC for the shortcomings.

    He noted that the electoral body was not prepared for the exercise, “with what I have seen today, it is obvious that INEC was not prepared for the exercise. You can see the impressive turn-out; the people have been waiting but none of the machines are functioning and that is quite appalling”.

    In the first two days, the voters endured the frustrations of waiting endlessly at the polling units to collect their PVC, but when it became obvious that the names of some of those they were registered in 2011 were no longer on the INEC list, all hell was let loose as the people took to the street in mass protest against what they claimed was a ploy by the Commission to compromise the 2015.

    On that fateful day, thousands of angry voters who could not collect the PVC overrun the INEC Headquarter in the state, calling for the immediate redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Selina Oko.

    The protest which resulted in heavy gridlock along the busy Port Harcourt-Owerri Road and other parts of the capital city, crippled activities at the INEC Secretariat as the REC and other staff of the Commission were held hostage by the protesters who locked up the entrance gate and prevented vehicles from going in or leaving the premises.

    Addressing reporters, Victor Okonkwo alleged that INEC colluded with some politicians to hijack the PVC, saying that the Commission has proved that it cannot be trusted to conduct a free and fair election in the state.

    Expressing his doubts over the 2015 general elections in the state, Okonkwo described the withholding of the PVC by INEC as ‘electronic’ rigging, which he said was one of the newly introduced measures to undermine the conduct of the election in the state.

    According to him, “we demand the immediate release of our PVC. Let this not be an electronic rigging, INEC, our PVC is our right, let us be real Nigerians, why hijack some booths, INEC has failed. About 20 million PVC are missing in the state”.

    He threatened further that, “there won’t be election in the state until INEC does the right thing. INEC should not disenfranchise Imo people, we say no to this plot”.

    Meanwhile, addressing the protesters at the Government House, the Commandant General of the Rochas Campaign Organization and Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Barr Iheukwumere Araribe, assured that the obvious malpractices will be urgently addressed.

    He noted that the reported malfunctioning of the machines could be one of the ploys by INEC to disenfranchise the people.

    Also irked by INEC’s poor performance, the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha also called for the total cancellation of the ongoing voters’ registration in the state.

    He insisted that the exercise has grossly fallen short of standard and expectations.

    The Imo Governor noted that the shoddy manner the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has handled the registration exercise as well as the distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC), has shown that the Commission was not ready for the exercise, stressing that INEC should cancel every other activity relating to the registration until it is seen to be ready.

    The Governor while meeting with leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the 27 Council Areas of the State, who had, through their individual reports given worrisome accounts of how the exercise failed in the areas, frowned at the indifferent attitude adopted by INEC, despite the widespread complaints against the exercise.

    Meanwhile before the meeting, various groups had also described the INEC exercise as a sham and a deliberate attempt to reduce the voting strength of the state.

    According to the Governor, ”I have gone round myself to over 20 wards and I found out that there is no evidence to show that the INEC voter registration exercise is designed to succeed in the State. I saw lengthy queues of people without any registration going on. And the machines are not available in most of the places. And the few available ones are not working. Either the battery is dead or the printer is not printing or the computer cannot register anybody”.

    He added further that, “some people have been to most of the wards for more than five times since the exercise began to register but, they have not been registered. At some places where the old machines are available you see only ten people being registered between 9am and 4pm. The aim for which we declared public holidays appears to have been defeated.

    “So, from all indications the exercise is designed to fail. It is obvious INEC is not ready for the exercise. So, I would advice INEC to cancel this registration exercise and come up when they are fully prepared. People are suffering for desiring to play their civic role. And INEC wants to end this registration by Monday which will see hundreds of thousands of our people willing and ready to register not doing so.

    “I also want to call on INEC to register our people in their respective polling booths and not giving one machine to a ward with some of the wards having about 20 booths that does not make any meaning. I therefore call on Imo people to remain calm while we hope that INEC will do the right thing”.

    However in her response via a radio broadcast, the REC appealed to the people who were yet to get their PVC to remain calm as efforts were already on top gear to get it distributed.

  • Anxiety as youths threaten to shut down oil wells in Imo

    The fragile peace prevailing in the oil producing areas of Imo State is being threatened, following the threat by youths in the area, under the auspices of the Oil Mineral Producing Area Landlords’ Association of Nigeria (OMPALAN) to shut down the oil wells.

    The youths called for the sack of the Managing Director of the Imo State Oil Producing Development Commission (ISOPADEC) Dr. Henry Okafor, blaming him for their woes.

    They accused the Secretary to the State Government Prof Anthony Anwuka, of not promoting their interest.

    But Okafor described OMPALAN as a popularity-seeking group, adding that they do not have the support of youths from the area.

    The youth, who gave the warning during a peaceful protest at the Government House, called on Governor Rochas Okorocha to sack the duo.

    Addressing reporters, State Youth Coordinator of OMPALAN, Comrade Chidi Jackson, decried the marginalisation of the people of the oil producing communities.

    He said: “the major problem of the people has been Prof. Anthony Anwuka and Dr. Henry Okafor”.

    Addressing the protesters, the governor advised them to remain calm, peaceful and law abiding, while assuring that his administration would ensure that the OMPALAN was carried along.

  • Imo senior citizens relish eight years arrears pay

    Imo senior citizens relish eight years arrears pay

    Their sad story has changed. After eight years, pensioners of the Imo State civil service have been paid their arrears, thanks to Governor Rochas Okorocha.

    It looked more like a dream than reality for hundreds of the retirees as they sat in the expansive hall of the state International Conference Centre (IICC) waiting to be paid their arrears of pensions and gratuities for eight years. The beneficiaries retired from the state civil service between 1993 and 2001.

    As they waited, their wrinkled faces appeared to have assumed the freshness of youth and their otherwise sunken eyeballs sparkled with expectation. Although some of them who were led into the hall by their wards or other relatives as a result of failing health, dozed off immediately they sat down, other senior citizens chatted away happily as they relived their years of service to their state.

    While most of them looked radiant and happy, others wore a look of despair and indifference, apparently because they had been abandoned for a long time by previous administrations in the state and had suffered untold hardship, so much that the decision to offset all the entitlements owed them by the Rochas Okorocha’s administration, meant little to them. Many of their close friends and colleagues have died in penury while waiting for their cash.

    That notwithstanding, it was a memorable day for the pensioners as they relished the joy of been remembered and rewarded for their contributions to the growth and development of their father’s land. Even some of their family members who came with them also shared in the moment as they lauded the state government for not allowing the labour of the senior citizens be in vain.

    One of the pensioners, Mrs. Gladys Njoku, who leaned heavily on her walking stick as she spoke with The Nation, rejoiced that at last God has answered her prayers, adding that she had been prayerfully waiting to receive her gratuity after her retirement from the state civil service 13 years ago.

    According to the octogenarian who broke into dancing midway into the interview, despite her obvious health challenges, “I am a widow, because my husband died three years before I retired and two of my children child in a car accident the same year I retired so I am left with my youngest daughter who has tried very hard with her husband to take care of me, especially my medical bills but with what the Governor has done, my life is restored. I can now live out my years joyfully and cater for my needs, instead of dying painfully out of want”.

    It was also a song of joy for 78-year-old John Ubanze, who thanked God for sparing his life to see the day, “I had given up hope that I will ever receive my gratuity, so I am indeed very grateful to God for sparing my life to this see this day. Most of my colleagues that retired with me and even those that retired several years after, are no more today, so I have every reason to thank God and my Governor for remembering us and wiping away our tears”.

    Nze Christopher Njoku, was among those that had taken ill while waiting for the gratuity. Looking pale and weak, Njoku, who was brought into the hall by his grandson, cut the figure of a man who had long given up hope of any form of reward from government.

    Partially paralyzed from stroke, the retired Director in the state Ministry of Health, who spoke through his son, commended the state Governor for his kind gesture, adding that it will motivate the current generation of civil servants to be more dedicated in the service to their state, knowing that they will be rewarded at the end.

    Justifying the decision of the state government to pay the eight years arrears of pensions and gratuities to the retired workers, the state Governor, said that it was a fulfillment of his election promises and not politically motivated as insinuated by the opposition.

    He said it was the continuation of his administration’s resolve to pay the last kobo owed all the retirees in the state.

    The Governor argued that “it is a crime against humanity and sin against God to owe citizens who spent the most vibrant parts of their lives to serve the state”.

    He stated that the problem would have been less cumbersome “if previous administrations had seen the payment of pensions and gratuities as a special case”.

    The governor maintained further that, “all my life I hate seeing people suffering or going through pains. That is why I established the Rochas Foundation. That is why I introduced free education. That is why I am doing all these in Imo. I won’t rest until I see all these pensioners go home with their pensions and gratuities. I regret those who must have died without collecting what they worked for before my administration.

    “I decided to run for governorship in 2011 for issues like those of pensioners, children who suppose to be in school but do not because nobody to train them and others. Governance is all about services to God and mankind. It is not all about acquiring wealth”.

    According to him, “the payment of the bulk pension arrears and gratuities to the retired workers is for both local government and state establishments. The Rescue Mission Government is determined to wipe away their tears by also paying those involved from 1993 to 2001.

    “Again, the absence of strike action by Imo workforce in the past three years was due to the regular payment of salaries. The administration won’t relent”.

    He further stated that, “the very sick and old retirees will be paid cash to save them from the inconveniences of going to the banks. Those talking about politics with a sensitive issue like the payment of pensions and gratuities only want to justify their failure to pay the pensioners.”

     

  • PVC: aggrieved voters barricade INEC office in Imo

    PVC: aggrieved voters barricade INEC office in Imo

    …REC, others held hostage

    Thousands of angry voters who could not collect the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) in Imo State, Friday, overrun the Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in protest of what they called deliberate attempt by the electoral body to disenfranchise the people.

    The protest which resulted in heavy gridlock along the busy Port Harcourt -Owerri road and other parts of the capital city, crippled activities at the INEC Secretariat as the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Selina Oko and other staff of the Commission were held hostage by the protesters who locked up the entrance gate and prevented vehicles from going in or leaving the premises.

    Addressing Newsmen, Victor Okonkwo, alleged that INEC in collusion with some politicians, had hijacked the PVC meant for the people, stating that the Commission has proved that it cannot be trusted to conduct a free and fair election in the state.

    Expressing his doubts over the 2015 general elections in the state, Okonkwo described the withholding of the PVC by INEC as ‘electronic’ rigging, which he said was one of the newly introduced measures to undermine the conduct of the election in the state.

    According to him, “we demand the immediate release of our PVC. Let this not be an electronic rigging, INEC, our PVC is our right, let us be real Nigerians, why hijack some booths, INEC has failed. About 20 million PVC is missing in the state”.

    He threatened further that, “there won’t be election in the state until INEC does the right thing. INEC should not disenfranchise Imo people, we say no to this plot.”

    However in her response via a radio broadcast, the REC appealed to the people who were yet to get their PVC to remain calm as efforts were already on top gear to get it distributed.

    Meanwhile, addressing the protesters at the Government House, the Commandant General of the Rochas Campaign Organization and Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Barr Iheukwumere Araribe, assured that the obvious malpractices will be urgently addressed.

    He noted that the reported malfunctioning of the machines could be one of the ploys by INEC to disenfranchise the people.

  • Imo to host Igbo Music Award

    Imo to host Igbo Music Award

    The Imo State government will host this year’s edition of the Igbo Music Award, an event seeking to preserve and promote the Igbo culture through its music.

    It is through Igbo music as produced by the practitioners that its language is documented and stored for generations to come.

    Again, Igbo contribution to world culture is a product of Igbo music and musicians. It is in tandem with this obvious position that the annual Igbo Music Award otherwise, called Ekwe Award has become an important event in the cultural calendar of the Igbo nation. Inaugurated in 2013 by the Ogbakoro Theater Company, Ekwe Award is the promotion and the recognition of the finest in Igbo music, with Igbo language as a vehicle of such rendition and composition.

    The 2014 Ekwe Award, which is the last big item in the Igbo Cultural Calendar, is on. The process for selection and award ceremony has commenced. Billed for the last quarter of the year, it is expected that the 2014 Ekwe Award will be hosted by Imo State. The 2013 Award Ceremony hosted by Ebonyi State took place at the prestigious Women Development Center, Abakaliki. Many multinational conglomerates have shown interest in partnering the organizers in show casing the best in Igbo music and culture since, the award is geared not only in bringing out the best in Igbo music regardless of genre, it is also meant to tell the world that the Igbo peoples language which many fear is going into extinction, is a major contributor to world culture and civilization.

    Meanwhile, call for entries have commenced and voting for winners in the various categories will be announced soon. The organizers have promised to stage a once in a lifetime event, which will not only be promoted in the South-East but will register in the cultural timetable of all lovers of music and culture.

    While we welcome the 2014 Ekwe Award, it is worthy to note the pathetic attitude of South-East government and Igbo leaders towards the advancement and propagation of Igbo Culture, Language and music.

    In 2013, after several promises and pledges it was the far seeing Governor and Government of Ebonyi State that supported Ekwe Award.

    Even Corporate Institutions like the GSM Providers, MTN showed little commitment to this worthy course. It was as if while we lament the onslaught and battering the Igbo language is facing today, the Igbo nation as a people has failed to recognize the very unique role music plays and will continue to play in the sustenance of the language, as one of the body of world languages.

    In 2013 the organisers had to through dint of ruggedness of spirit and vision carried out the epochal arrival of All Igbo music award. It is therefore, hoped that the governments and people of the South East should do the needful in promoting this laudable project which not only chronicles the different genres of Igbo music in their uniqueness but helps in recognizing Igbo music stars and ambassadors with the aim of giving them their rightful place in the Pantheon of stars and legends.

    As Imo state is billed to host the 2014 Ekwe Award, it is gratifying to note the interest shown by the people towards the awards but this enthusiasm can be better complimented if the Imo state government should take interest and contribute towards its success.

    Also, we call on the governments of Southeast states to rally resources in culture promotion and support great and iconic ideas like Igbo music award when they do this, the Igbo language and culture will not only be enriched but archived for posterity.

     

     

  • Imo builds hospital for the needy

    Imo builds hospital for the needy

    Ailing and indigent patients must not be allowed to die for lack of care, neither should they be held back at the hospital where they are treated just because they cannot pay their bills. It is a common scenario, but in Imo State great care has been taken to ensure that the poor and needy do not end up in agony. A hospital has been built in the state where financially weak persons are treated for free. The hospital also boasts a cancer centre. It is the first charity healthcare facility in the state, built by the Imo Foundation. Many see the development as the stuff of good governance, a huge relief for many when it fully takes off.

    The facility, according to the Director General of the foundation, Mrs. Ngozi Njoku, was conceived to reduce the cost of taking indigent patients to distant hospitals or even outside the country.

    She described the Imo Foundation as the humanitarian arm of the state government, which caters for the needs of the less privileged, adding that since inception, the foundation has become a one-stop place of succour for the people.

    Conducting reporters round the newly completed hospital, the DG stated that the foundation has organised numerous free medical programmes with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Imo State medical practitioners based in the United States.

    She said that before now, the foundation sponsored various medical trips to India and other countries for helpless patients, including those going for kidney transplant, and treatment for cancer and other terminal diseases.

    She said the cost of sponsoring an increasing number of helpless patients overseas was beginning to take a great toll on the resources available to the foundation and this, she added, inspired setting up  a charity hospital, where volunteer doctors will perform surgery on the patients.

    Said she: “The charity hospital concept was as a result of the fact that many of our poor patients are unable to pay required deposits in the hospital and as a result they suffer untold pains for cases that need surgical attention”.

    Njoku further noted that the concern for cancer patients, gave rise to the Cancer Palliative Centre, also in the hospital.

    “During my last trip to America,” she said, “I visited the Managing Director of the World Cancer Centre in search of collaboration and partnership and the meeting was quite rewarding and we are expecting that our cancer patients will receive adequate help in various ways”.

    She explained that the hospital has a 20-bedroom facility that will accommodate health personnel coming to provide medical service.

    “The cottage hospital has three theatres, one recovery room, a laboratory, two consulting rooms, two wards, among other departments. The project when commissioned will be the first charity hospital in this part of the country”.

    The DG hinted that the Cancer Palliative Centre will reduce the trauma of cancer patients.

    “The palliative centre will serve as a place where those suffering from cancer will be counselled by experts and given the needed medical and spiritual support to reduce their suffering so that when eventually they pass on it will not be out of pain and frustration”.

    Calling for collaboration and support from public-spirited Nigerians and corporate organisations, Njoku said that more funds are required to cope with the growing demand of catering for the needs of the sick and poor by the Foundation.

    She added, saying, “Currently the foundation has no budget from the government but depends on voluntary donations from civil servants in the state who part with certain percentages of their salaries monthly. We need adequate funding to cope, because of the huge cost of flying indigent patients abroad for treatment but the state governor and the state first lady have been very supportive but more needs to be done”.