The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerians

  • Nigerians spend N3.5t on fuelling generators’

    Nigerians spend an estimated N3.5 trillion yearly on fuelling generators to meet commercial and domestic needs , as grid power is seriously inadequate. A report from GIZ, a German-based firm, said generators provide alternative source of energy and further improves economic activities for the country.

    The firm, which specialises in offering solutions to countries in solar and other forms of renewable energies, in a report, made available to The Nation, said Nigeria was one of the major importers of generating sets in Africa, noting that the country has spent huge amounts of money on buying, using and servicing generators.

    It said Nigeria has been spending between N3trillion and N3.5trillion yearly on fuelling generators in the past three years, adding that the country mostly imports generators from Asian countries such as China, Japan and others.

    The firm said it was working on a study that would capture the expenditure incurred on importation and maintenance of generators in Nigeria and other African countries for 2016, adding that generators consume huge volumes of fuel after automobiles in Nigeria because power supply is not regular.

    It said Perkins and other brands were used by manufacturers because they help in sustaining production activities.

    The President, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN), Mr. Segun Adaju, said the N800billion given by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as the expenditure on fuelling generators in a year was small when one considers the fact that the country was running what he described as a ‘generating economy.’

    He said virtually every home and office uses generators, adding that the cost of fuelling them run into billions of naira daily. According to him, firms, especially manufacturers, spend billions of naira weekly to procure fuel for generators. He added that they use high-powered generators that consume more fuel.

    Adaju said: “Though the German firm didn’t provide insight into how it arrived at N3.5trillion yearly spend on fuelling generators in Nigeria, its findings are not far from truth given the fact that Nigerians use generators a lot.

    “Millions of people use the smallest size of generators popularly called I better pass my neighbour. The cost of fuelling this brand runs into millions in a day let alone heavy brands such as Perkins that consume drums of diesel in day. Companies that use Perkins and other brands spend on average between N30million to N40million a day.”

    According to him, the study conducted on the use of generators in Nigeria by his association showed that individuals and companies spend billions of naira on generators monthly.

    Adaju, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Consistent Energy Limited, urged Nigerians to explore opportunities in solar and other renewable energies to save money. The need to save money informed the decision of his association to create awareness on the use of solar, wind, coal and biomass forms of energy, he added.

  • Buhari to Nigerians: Patronize made-in-Nigeria goods

    Buhari to Nigerians: Patronize made-in-Nigeria goods

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday called on Nigerians to change their habits by patronizing made-in-Nigeria goods and services.

    He made the call while speaking at the 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

    According to him, increasing local production of goods and services will not only create jobs for the youths but move Nigeria from an import-based to an export-based economy.

    He said: “I am also delighted that your theme is: ‘Made in Nigeria’ which lies at the heart of so many efforts we are making to lead us through this trouble times and lay a firm foundation for the future.

    “As I have said in the past, we need to diversify the economy so that we will never again have to rely on one commodity to survive as a country. So that we can produce the food we eat, make our own textiles, produce most of the things we use and create the right environment for our youth to be able to benefit and create jobs through technology.

    “This has been the commitment and the mandate of this administration and I have remain focus on it since the assumption of this administration.

    “There is clearly no better way to achieve this without building out economic foundation of made in Nigeria goods and services. Fortunately, we have champions of made in Nigeria that have defied the odds over the years to produce locally and contribute to our economy.

    “I hope by the end of this you will make useful and realistic recommendations and policies.” He said

    The President added: “Initiative and incentives that will enhance your work we are already doing by this administration, I encourage more local production, to improve ease of doing business environment, transfer our technology and innovation capabilities, improve quality and standards, promote export and change our old attitude and behaviours to made in Nigeria products and services.

    “My greatest desire is that Nigeria moves from import dependence to self-sufficiency in local production and become an export-led economy in goods and services,” he stated.

    He said that he is looking forward to feedback on the summit’s deliberations.

  • Timi Dakolo gives Nigerians hope with Great Nation

    Timi Dakolo gives Nigerians hope with Great Nation

    Timi Dakolo brought tears to the eyes of many Nigerians when he sang his hit song, Great Nation at the One Nation, No Shaking; The Independence Carnival which held on Sunday at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

    Known for his powerful voice, the composer and musician, like a preacher, moved those in attendance, singing along to the lyrics of the song which gives hope.

    In attendance was the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who was the special guest of honour while Waje, Omawunmi, Cobhams and Joke Silva were among celebrities that made the event colourful.

  • Nigerians building a better future, says US

    Nigerians building a better future, says US

    The United States has thrown its weight behind Nigeria in its bid to build a better future for the citizens.

    Washington, in a congratulatory message on the 56th Independence anniversary, expressed confidence that Nigeria will overcome its present socio-economic problems in due course.

    Secretary of State John Kerry in the message on behalf of President Barack Obama and the American people, said: “On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the citizens of Nigeria as you celebrate your Independence Day on October 1.

    “I recently returned from my third trip to Nigeria as Secretary, and I came away with a strong sense of the nation’s resolve to build a better future.

    “During my trip, I was reminded that many Nigerians are engaged in bringing people together across the divides of culture, religious practices, and ethnicity.

    “There is still much work to be done to provide economic opportunities for all, end corruption, win the fight against Boko Haram, ensure broad respect for human rights and provide humanitarian relief for millions of displaced people.

    “But we know that Nigerians are hard at work to address these challenges. The United States looks forward to deepening our partnership and friendship with Nigerians from all walks of life, so that we may work together for the betterment of Nigeria and all of Africa.

  • Kwara Gov, Speaker urge Nigerians to be patriotic

    Kwara Gov, Speaker urge Nigerians to be patriotic

    As Nigeria celebrates its 56 years of independence, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged Nigerians to demonstrate more patriotism, commitment and dedication to collective goals to overcome the current challenges in the country.

    Governor Ahmed said the economic situation in the country may make livelihood difficult at present, but if Nigerians join hands together, the country will surely and steadily bounce back to prosperity.

    He advised Nigerians to have confidence in the present administration as all things are being done to ensure that the days of economic recession are over in the shortest possible time.

    Gov Ahmed assured Kwarans that his government is committed to delivering the dividends of democracy to the people by embarking on infrastructural development as well as policies and programmes to meet the social and economic needs of the people.

    The Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, urged every Nigerian to put aside their ethnic differences, religious or political affiliation in order to make the country work.

    In a statement, media aide to the speaker, Shuaib Abdulkadir, said “there is no

  • Chivita marks independence with Nigerians

    Chi Limited, producer of Chivita 100% fruit juice, has said it will be celebrating with Nigerians ahead of the country’s 56th Independence Day anniversary coming up on October 1.

    The company said that as a truly Nigerian company with a proud heritage, it was delighted to be a part of the country’s development and success stories through its value adding products and initiatives, which have given Nigerians a reason to smile.

    The Managing Director of Chi Limited, Deepanjan Roy, said that with consistent high quality products, good marketing support, a good understanding of the market and consumers, and of course, an enviable consumer loyalty, Chivita has wormed its way to the hearts of Nigerian consumers.

    He said Chivita rejoices with Nigeria as she celebrates yet another year of nation building. “We use this opportunity of Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration to reiterate our commitment to a happy and healthy nation by always offering the Nigerian consumers the best in fruit juice and beverages. Nigerian’s health, nutrition and nourishment remain our priority.”

  • Questions for Nigerians to answer @ 56

    “I came to appreciate that the right question is usually more important than the right answer to the wrong question.”
    —Alvin Toffler

    Tomorrow, we celebrate our nation’s 56th Independence Anniversary. And we are still hoping and waiting for the GREAT NEW NIGERIA of our dreams. Just maybe we have been asking the wrong set of questions as a nation Nigeria and getting the right answers to the wrong questions. We need to ask a new set of questions that will provoke thought, action and new direction that will takes us to the promised land of greatness where we desire to be. Please kindly read the new set of questions we should be asking ourselves.

    Who are we? What do we stand for? What is Nigeria’s purpose? What does Nigeria exist for? Why does Nigeria exist? Why are we Nigerians? Who is responsible for where we are? What do we want and how are we going to get it? Where are we going? How are we going to get there?

    Where do we want to be – 5, 10, 20, 30, 40…100 years from now – and how can we get there? What lessons have we learnt from the past? What lesson have we not learnt from the past? What is it that we want to achieve and how are we going to achieve it? Will we be committed and determined to achieve whatever goals we may set for ourselves? What is our fundamental reason for being? What guides and inspires us as a people and as a nation? What are our values?

    What are our guiding principles? What should Nigeria’s fundamental goal be? What should Nigeria’s other goals be? What makes a nation great?

    What will make Nigeria great? How can we build a great new Nigeria?

    How can we create a compelling vision that every Nigerian can

    buy into? How can we paint a clear picture of the new Nigeria of our

    dreams? What is great about the Nigerian problem? As a Nigerian citizen, what am I willing to do to make Nigeria the way I want it to be? What am I ready to stop doing to make Nigeria the way I want it to be? How can I enjoy the process of nation-building while I do what is necessary to get Nigeria to the Promised Land of greatness?

    What do we, as Nigerians, want? What do the Tivs want? How about the Jukuns, the Efiks, the Hausas, the Igbos, the Yorubas, etc.? What do we need? What do we value?  What do we expect? What are our interests as Nigerian citizens? What is the Nigerian’s frame of reference? What are our beliefs as Nigerians?  What is our national ideology? What is our vision? What are our hopes, dreams and desires? What do we want to create? What is important to us as Nigerian citizens? What price are we willing to pay to make our nation great? What do we believe in? What contributions do we want to make in the global village community? What legacy do we want to leave behind that future generations will benefit from?

    What do we want Nigeria to stand for? What do we want our nation to be? What do we want to achieve? What will guide our decisions so that we can achieve what we want? What can motivate us into greatness? If all the things we desire are possible, what should we be doing right now to ensure our nation becomes great? What is the Nigerian way vis-à-vis the American way or the British way or the Japanese way? How can the various ethnic nationalities live together in peace and harmony? How can we evolve a government to which all of us will be committed? How can we evolve a government that will guarantee every Nigerian equity and justice? How can we communicate our new vision both to fellow Nigerians and to the international community?

    How can we change the strategy for prosperity from natural resources to human capital?

    How can the private sector get more involved in nation building? How can all Nigerians get involved in nation-building? Name some of Nigeria’s many problems. What are the possible solutions to those problems? What are the little things that cause great problems in our society? And what are the other little things that will ensure positive change? Out of all our problems, which one should we solve first? Which one of our problems do you think could cause the disintegration of Nigeria? What can we do to prevent it? Which one of our problems is the most volatile? How can we turn this volatile problem around and use it to our advantage by getting Nigerians to stand in unity? Who are those that hold Nigeria – and therefore Nigerians – in contempt both inside and outside the country?

    Who are the scorners in Nigeria? Who are those that cause division, strife and contention? Who would you say are the power brokers? Who are the people that will influence our society? Why in the world should we stay together as a nation? Give reasons why Nigeria should not disintegrate. Also, give reasons why Nigeria should remain one nation. What are the things that bring Nigerians together in unity and agreement regardless of age, sex, ethnic bias, religion and political affiliation? What things can we use to foster greater unity?

    What are the things about Nigeria that make you beam with pride? What distinctions can Nigeria make about herself? What are Nigeria’s strengths as a nation? What are Nigeria’s weaknesses as a nation? What are Nigeria’s assets? What are her liabilities? What are Nigeria’s opportunities? What are our possibilities for change? What can be done to turn things around? What are the things we can do to sell Nigeria to Nigerians? What is the mind-set of the average Nigerian? How can we create a positive mind-set in Nigerians? What are we known for (good or bad) nationally and internationally? How can Nigeria position herself in the evolving global village economy? How can Nigeria distinguish herself in the comity of nations?

    Can globalisation benefit us? How can we make globalisation benefit Nigeria? How can we take advantage of globalisation? How can we make Nigeria a force to be reckoned with in the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry? How are we going to find Nigeria’s positive side with all the bad image and bad publicity we have acquired over the years? Is it possible for us to make the name Nigeria conjure up positive things in people’s minds in spite of the worldwide negative perception?

    As a Nigerian, how would I like Nigeria to be? If the future of Nigeria as a nation depended on me, what would I do? What can I do on a daily basis to get Nigeria to the Promised Land of greatness and abundance? What can I do to create a positive change in my immediate environment? How can we produce a REVOLUTION OF THE MIND in Nigerians? How can we start a campaign for a GREAT NEW NIGERIA?

    What do we need to do to crack the code called N – I – G – E – R – I – A?

    If we can answer all these questions and take immediate action, our actions will quicken our arrival into Promised Land of GREATNESS!

    Happy question-filled Independence Day anniversary Nigerians!

  • At 56 Nigerians not yet in promised land

    SIR: If a country’s greatness is determined by the promises and rhetorical prowess of its leaders, Nigeria of course would have become one of the most powerful and economic vibrant nation. Since 1960 the agenda to transform the country into a developed nation has never been lacking. The pledge and desire to make Nigeria a formidable force to be respected in international community by every Commander-in-chief can never be overemphasized. Every inauguration of new President presents a wind of hope across the length and breadth of the country. But after a while the national interest becomes optional and citizens betrayed as the leader in charge usually blazes through a solo path of self-enrichment and compensation of cronies. As a result Nigerians have been placed in a permanent state of expectations.

    Nigerian as a country is blessed with abundant human and natural resources. It is no longer news that Nigerian is the most populous black nation and one of the largest exporters of petroleum on earth. Ironically, there is no gainsaying to state that in spite of these natural gifts, Nigerians are still suffering from endemic poverty, epileptic power supply, dilapidated infrastructure, ethno-religious and resource control crisis. In essence Nigeria’s problem is not paucity of resources, but rather the inability of successive governments to convert the windfalls into public good.

    Some school of thought relates poverty with large population and therefore blames population growth in Nigeria as a major setback to human and economic development whereas China the largest populated country is indisputably the fastest growing economy in the world. In as much as we recognize the efforts and sacrifices of our leaders to get things done the right way, it is however pertinent to state categorically that apart from natural disasters and war, the major causes of poverty and underdevelopment are bad governance, corruption, injustice, mismanagement and lack of diversification.

    Just as a deaf person needs no warning at a troubled market, every Nigerian knows without recourse to economic indicator that hard times are here. However, since a day is not criticized until nightfall, there could be hope of a better and prosperous Nigeria if government should guarantee observable progressive difference in social, judicial and political setting. It is also expected that government should reduce unemployment and inequality, create conducive political space to accommodate eligible Nigerians without regard to their creed, tribe and party affiliation.

    While we commend government on relative security and the courage to declare war against corruption, it should also declare state of emergency on food security and fight corruption without any trace of vendetta or favour. Another challenge before the government of Nigeria and the people is that the world attention is still on the fate of the Chibok Girls and the Internally Displaced Person (IDPs).

    We therefore call on government to quickly initiate the release of our girls and provide adequate security and food to the IDPs in short term and subsequently resettle them in their ancestral homes.

    Finally, the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency revive the economy, dialogue with the aggrieved persons or groups, improve health standard and standard of education, then Nigeria  could stand shoulder high again in the comity of nations.

     

    • Comrade Chike Leo Oguanya;

    Tudun Barki Suleja, Niger State.

  • ‘Nigerians want food on the table’

    ‘Nigerians want food on the table’

    Chief Chukwunwike Esiole is National Coordinator/Executive Board, African Farmers and Cultural Organisation (AFCO), a socio-cultural group dedicated to agriculture development across sub Sahara Africa. In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf he attempts a critique of the Agriculture Roadmap by the Federal Government among other issues. Excerpts:

    The Federal Government recently launched the agricultural sector roadmap otherwise known as the Green Alternative, for promotion of agriculture from 2016-2020.do you think this is a right step in the right direction?

    First of all, I think it’s a good initiative. But having said that, I believe it’s coming rather late. Giving the way and manner the present administration has being mouthing the so-called mantra for diversification of the economy, by now, we shouldn’t be complaining about food insecurity or lack of food for that matter. Beyond newspaper publication, I’m yet to see real concrete evidence that the government is serious about this whole thing. But again, let’s give the government the benefit if the doubt and hope that in the coming months we shall begin to see real manifestation of the much-promised goodies.

    What is your appraisal of the agricultural sector in Nigeria, do you think it has a pride of place in the scheme of things?

    Agricultural sector in Nigeria is supposed be the leading sector that generate the highest revenue for government because we have the land and the capacity to produce more than self sufficient and we have the consumption power. But like said earlier, the neglecting of the sector for too long has it made it difficult for us to survive and be self-sufficient in food production. But I’m very, very optimistic that going back to agriculture is one way to get us out of this present economic recession.

    Do you think the policies and programmes of the current administration encourage businesses?

    To the best of my knowledge all the policies and programmers of this current administration are only on paper. Frankly speaking, we are yet to see the practical aspect of it because what we have at the moment hardly gives room for the ordinary farmers and agro-processors to come on board. For instance, where on earth does the National Food, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) want a local farmer to get the huge amount they are requesting to register a product if he or she wants to go into processing and packaging of his or her farm produce.

    In USA, the Food and Drug Control, product registration is free, you only pay $100 agency fee. The current administration is calling on Nigerians to come back to farming but we don’t know under what platform that can happen. Let me shock you, in a survey our organisation conducted recently, we discovered that nearly all the respondents we sampled were all interested in going back to farming but they don’t know how to do that. That’s the problem. However, at AFCO our mandate is to help fill that gap by helping would-be farmers to get back to farming seamlessly with the right tools, and mindset.

    What led to the establishment of AFCO and what can you say about the vision?

    The idea of AFCO came about during my visit to UK, when I watched a documentary of the founder of the UK Music Festival, and how collective sponsorship projects has helped in developing western world infrastructures. I thought of developing an event that will attract not just the youths but also government, traditional rulers and the public at large.

    As you know, the western world has been using the World Cup and Olympic hosting to develop their counties through collective sponsorship of project s, and Africa is not benefiting much from this. Then I said to myself it is time to develop an event that will not only create a platform for the promotion of made in African goods and services but will bring about unity, peace and progress to Africans at home and the Diaspora at large.

    How many countries does AFCO has presence now?

    We currently operate from Ghana right now but planning to make inroads into the rest of the sub region and the continent as a whole.

    Is AFCO modeled after any particular organisation in Nigeria or overseas?

    Somehow we want to copy from FIFA, but then it will have a lot of African flavor in terms of culture and mores. Of course, AFCO prides itself as the engine room of valuable interaction between African farmers, cultural practitioners, Africans at home and in the Diaspora, by promoting the culture of “eat what we produce and produce what we eat!

    What other programmes does AFCO hopes to bring on board?

    AFCO has a lot of programmes but a journey of 1000 miles starts with one step. We hope to formally launch AFCO in Nigeria by the first quarter of 2017. Besides, we also plan to organise the African Crops and Cultural Festival by the last quarter of the year. It’s after the festival we will unveil plans for massive farming and food processing and marketing in Nigeria.

    What do you hope to achieve with proposed African Crops and Cultural festival scheduled for next year?

    We hope to achieve a lot. Of course, as you know, farming is the mainstay of Nigerians and the rest of Africa. We have a lot of agrarian communities, with many rich crops and cultures which have been the core values of our civilisation and contact points to the rest of the world. Our occupations are mostly rooted in our biosphere which forms our societies and heritage. These long reached established traditions are the point which African Farmers and Cultural organisation is hopes to improve upon.

    Our organisation is a community of African farmers that tamed its philosophies towards agro-industry and cultural skills for the development of mankind. We depend on farming and culture as our identity and we are encouraging non-active African farmers and the active African farmers to come together in alliance in developing agricultural wealth to drastically reduce poverty in Africa. For this to be achieved, we must first come together in a forum to exchange our ideas to reduce ignorance and gain knowledge to develop our produce in such a manner that is simple to understand and easy to practice.

    Let’s look inward to what have delayed us from producing enough food, and what certain belief have kept us for too long, and for so long in one position that has allowed poverty to keep advancing, while we have the capacity to build a bridge of farmers cooperation’s to cross-hatched knowledge and resources amongst potential community producers and commodity providers within.

    What is AFCO doing to encourage the youths to take up agriculture as a vocation especially in the midst of scarcity of jobs, especially in Nigeria?

    AFCO is working to introduce practical farming to the grassroots by collaborating with Nigerian schools to form AFCO Student Club, where we hope to devote time and resources for the development of agriculture in Nigeria. AFCO will be funding all the cost as well as provide welfare support in the process.

    Do you know that most of the research institutes in the western world are funded by NGOs? I think it’s time for NGOs to support youths in the area of research rather than waiting for government to do everything for us. Our target really is to make youths see faming as a vocation they can take up and enjoy, and of course eke out a living with.

  • ‘Nigerians should be patient with Buhari’

    ‘Nigerians should be patient with Buhari’

    The Chief of Staff to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Chief Uche Nwosu, spoke with reporters in Owerri, the state capital, on the face-off between his boss and his predeccessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, the Buhari administration and challenges of governance in Southeast state. Excerpts:

    WHY has it been difficult for the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to fix the country?

    From the beginning, I strongly believe that President Buhari will fix this country. And there is nobody who saw where Nigeria was going to before Buhari came in that did not know the country was heading for doom. Those who are calling for Buhari’s resignation are the same people that brought us to where we are today. And when we talk about recession; major countries like US, Britain and many others have gone into recession. Remember that there was a time the US went into recession; the US has gone into recession from 1790 till date, more than 40 times, but it came out strongly. In 2001, the US went into recession; and the entire world thought that the US has fallen, but they came out strongly. Recession does not mean that the country has gone completely; it brings out the strong part of a country. In Nigeria, for example, the problem we have today was caused by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). If the PDP was able to manage this country very well for 16 years, we wouldn’t have gone into this problem. Take for example, what is happening today, billions and billions of naira was looted out. Some were used for campaigns; some were taken into private pockets, are these monies not Nigeria’s money? Most of them are saying Buhari should resign, why should Buhari resign? Is it because the man was open and told Nigerians why we are having this problem? On the issue of recession, it is a challenge we have to take and it was caused by the PDP, this recession had showed signs before Buhari took over from President Jonathan. And let me tell you, our people love enjoyment a lot because any country that goes into recession, the people will go back to re-strategise, but here the PDP government made Nigerians to believe that every day is for enjoyment. I have said it before, it is better for us to suffer today and enjoy tomorrow, than we will enjoy today and our great-great grand children will suffer because of the hardship we brought to this country. The recession will not last, it will not take time this country will bounce back to its normal position. Buhari I believe very well is the only man that can fix this country. Remember that Buhari ran for the presidency for the first, second, third and fourth time, if God Himself knows that Buhari will not fix this country, Buhari would’ve failed. God knows the reason he brought him at this time. When the children of Israel disobeyed God, you saw the hardship they went through and God brought somebody who now took them away from that hardship. So, I think Buhari is the messiah Nigerians need at this time to put this country back to the right track; so by the time he is done with this country, people will be clapping hands for him.

    How should the government handle the challenge of militancy in the Niger Delta?

    The President is doing a lot to stop militancy in the Niger Delta, remember he has set up a lot of committees. President Buhari is a man that comes with peace first. He has told them that the Federal Government is ready to negotiate with them, they should come out from the creeks and hand over their weapon which I believe is the best option. Remember also, he did that to Boko Haram and asked them to surrender; he gave them time but they refused and today you have seen the consequences. I think it is a good opportunity for the militants to come out and state to our dear president, our father, this is what we need in the Niger Delta, help us to address them, this oil spillage and others, and he will listen to them. Like look at what is happening in Ogoni, for years, the cleaning of Ogoni has been a thing for politics, but immediately President Buhari came in, he ordered for the cleaning of the entire Ogoniland. So, this is a man that has the interest of his people at heart. So, the militants should listen to the Federal Government and come out to negotiate with it and all these things will be sorted out. They should know that President Buhari is a man of peace. But, if you say you don’t need peace, he is ready to confront you in order to keep the unity of this country intact.

    Former Governor Ikedi Ohakim has accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of bad governance. What is your reaction?

    First of all, I am really disappointed in the former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim. When he said that people are angry, I think it is only him that is angry. You know when a man was defeated, you are angry. I think he himself is the person that is angry, no other person in Imo is angry. I wouldn’t expect the former governor to speak on developmental projects in Imo State which he did not even deem fit to do. He made mention of the Nworie River, during his administration, N8 billion was given for the dredging of River Nworie (by NDDC) and nothing happened. During his time, did he not know that it was important to do first, third, fourth mainland roads to connect new Owerri to old Owerri and he said it was coverts? Ask him why didn’t he do his own coverts? You know, when somebody is already down and some other person is up, he will try to draw the person down too. He made mention of demolition, I was the former Commissioner for Lands; I challenge the former governor to come, let me show him where the original setbacks on Orlu road are; he was a former governor, he should have known where the setback of that road is on Orlu road, that is the first thing he should have done; to go and find out, this demolition where is the original setback of the road? Why you have a setback of either 20 or 30 metres away from the road, is to give room for expansion in future. But most people tend to go beyond the setback, the green bar, to put their fences; they tend to fence it up to the drainage system point. So, what the governor did was to demolish fences; that was why most of the demolitions you saw were kiosks and small shops people built on the setback, no major building was affected. If you go to Orlu road, no major building that was there right from the master plan of Imo State was demolished. You can go there yourself, start from the Amakohia flyover and see where the original fence is from the left hand side to the right hand side. But, of course, we need to get this state right. Will I be happy that in the next 10 years, people will start building on a major road? It will not be good for the state. So, when former Governor Ikedi Ohakim made his allegations, as a former governor, I thought he should have been well informed of the situation in the state. Development in a state is not something you put sentiments, even Governor Okorocha himself, some of his buildings went down in Orlu during the construction there, an entire building of his went down in Orlu. What I expected former Governor Ikedi Ohakim to tell us is, this is what I did as governor. He was there, did he deem it fit to think we deserved new general hospitals as he mentioned? He said the hospital will not function, why didn’t he do one? He built 27 schools, very small, four classrooms, while the present state government built 305, one in each ward; former Governor Ikedi Ohakim didn’t deem it fit that every ward should have a school. He talked about the road he did in Owerri city, he just did Yar ‘Adua road and then put demarcation on Okigwe road to say the road is dualized and that was the only road. Did he build any market? Has he gone to Relief market? Has he gone to Orlu? Has he gone to Okigwe? I think he should have taken his time to go to some of these places before taking up his pen to write. Whoever advised him to do that has misled him; and the earlier he knows that Governor Okorocha is not his match, the better for him. I heard that he said he has stepped aside from politics, and yet he is still talking about politics. I think we should not start joining issues with him. Let him go to the field and see things for himself. Let him go to Concord Hotel, he knows how he left Concord Hotel, has he ever gone to that hotel and see Concord Hotel he left with rats and rodents inside? Has he gone to Imo State Trade and Investment Centre, the popular Ohiajoku Centre he commissioned uncompleted, has he ever passed there and see how Ohiajoku centre is now. Has he ever seen Imo International Conference Centre? He used to pass that road then and the place was covered with bushes. Did he ever think that there will be a road that can cross from there to Emmanuel College? And he was happy cruising as a governor, blowing his sirene inside the city with grasses and trees grown everywhere. He should not allow us to remind Imolites how he mismanaged the state for four years. My former governor, please what I want to tell you is that you should go to the field and one after the other see each project by project. Compare all the projects Governor Okorocha did and tell us your own projects; that is what we want to hear, tell us what you did, side by side with those of Governor Okorocha. To me, his allegations made no sense.

    The expansion and demolition in Owerri are quite enormous and Ohakim has said the project was not captured in the budget. How do you plan to complete this exercise?

    Who told him that it was not captured in the budget? I don’t know where he got that information or who gave him the information that the road was not captured; he should go and make his verifications first. Of course, this project will be completed and Governor Okorocha has said it several times that none of his project will remain uncompleted. He will exit with all his projects fully completed. If that was his fear; his problem was that he was not able to manage his money well during his own time, remember that during his time, the state had more money than now. So, if we had that kind of money that was given to him, this state would have been like London. So his fear was that they were not able to manage the money they had then, so because of that, they believed that the mismanagement will still happen in this government.

    His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is a man that manages resources well and the little money we get from the Federal Government and the small one we get internally from the state, he manages it very well. So, he should not fear, let him just keep calm by 2018 he will clap for this government, he will see those projects completed.

     

     

    We know how to complete projects including the 27 hospitals; they are almost in 80 per cent completion, it’s remaining only furnishing. I challenge him to go to one of the hospitals, he should stop at the one along Aba/Airport road which is the one he passes through every day; he should go inside. Most of them are completed, what we need is just to equip them which we are going to do very soon.

     

    Probability, what moved Ohakim to suggest that the 27 hospitals be converted to cottage industry was maybe because of His Excellency’s slogan of factory-factory. Are you people building more factories or renovating the old ones?

    Yes we have already reclaimed some of the factories that we have in the state, remember the Resin Paint Mbaise, we have recovered it, remember the issue of Paper Packaging Industry at Owerre Ebiri, we have recovered it. Many companies are coming to Imo State. Remember His Excellency has been moving from one country to another trying to get some investors to come to Imo to put up small scale industries and large industries. On the issue of factory-factory, I still want to let people know that when you say factory-factory, most people believe that until you see a car producing factory, then this is factory-factory. The best factory-factory is the power to start a small scale industry. Let me give you an example, I have a farm, I was able to have been given small money to start up a poultry and fishery farm, it is a small scale industry. I have up to 10 people in that farm, I’m paying them, so our government is not a government of bill boards, like the former governor will build a gigantic billboard to announce the Oak Refinery or airline meanwhile there was nothing on ground to show for it. We don’t want to tell Imolites that we have Oak Refinery and tomorrow there is no Oak Refinery anywhere. Are you aware that in Ohaja-Egbema, we are bringing an Industrial Park? That industrial park will not take anything less than 1,000 youths in employment. So, our former governor should not be scared of what we are going to do. The day we talked about the issue of education, he didn’t believe it, and today, free education, this is the fifth year of free education. He made mention of converting the hospital to cottage industries, did he wake up from his left side of the bed? A big hospital like that, how many industries and hospitals did he build himself? He didn’t build one. During his time Adapalm went down the drain and we came and revived it except that we had problem with the indigenes; during his time the Avutu Poultry never worked for one day, we came and the place started working except that we have some little challenges there which we are correcting now.  During his time the Resin Paint was not functioning yet he was passing through that road. The place was bought over by NDCI but today we have brought it back and Resin Paint is functioning again. So, let me repeat it, we shouldn’t listen to what the former governor is saying, he should just wait to see where we are going to.

    Again there was this news that went viral in the social media that Governor Rochas Okorocha was confronted by a ghost and he developed some health challenges that took him away to India, as an inside can we know what actually happened or was it just a mere rumour?        

    I think that when some people carry some rumour, I wonder what is the faith or religion because I remember that if you are a Moslem it is not right for you to say negative things that are false against your fellow human beings. And as a Christian I know that you don’t wish death to your fellow human beings. So when that news and rumour came up I laughed, I said so people can be that wicked to fabricate that kind of lies against a sitting governor or against another human being. I asked one of my friends, I said you are talking about ghost, is the ghost not afraid of a governor of a state? Do you know what a governor of state is? Do you know that the governor of a state carries the seal of the state and thus is the governor of all, including the ghosts, the human beings that are living and human beings that are dead. So, the ghost should be scared of the governor not to talk of coming close to the governor to slap him. You can see that the governor is back and health and working 24 hours.

    But the governor was away when this rumour was rife, what did he go to do overseas then?

    His Excellency went abroad then on a business trip; one he was in Dubai, remember he wants to bring in some investors on the issue of housing because Imo State is becoming one of the centres where people from the South-East and South-South come to live and relax. So, we now have shortage of houses in Imo State; he also went to the US to see his grandson, as well as some investors in the country, they were even here recently, some investors who are interested in bringing some industries to Imo State; he also went to South Africa and the investors in South Africa are now ready to come to Imo State, they are coming to invest in the Oguta Lake, the Oguta Lake that has been abandoned for many years, they want to come and open it and make it a tourist centre. So, very soon we will start to enjoy in full the benefits of that his trip.