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Tag: Nwosu

  • Nwosu: I am not afraid of direct primaries

    Governorship aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State Uche Nwosu has said he is ready for any type of primary adopted by the party.

    Nwosu, who is believed to be Governor Rochas Okorocha’s preferred candidate,  spoke after his screening at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

    Nwosu, who is Okorocha’s son in-law, considers his closeness to the governor as an advantage to his aspiration. He, however, believes he is the best person for the job.

    “The party wants to ensure that you are qualified and credible to avoid having a governor that does not have what it takes to rule a state, because a governor is not a chairman. I am happy that our national chairman took it upon himself to actually interview and screen governorship aspirants.

    “It is the state executive committee which decides on the mode of primary. If they decide to use indirect, so be it; if they decide on direct, so be it. The party has the power; and the governor is just one member of the over 200 SEC members, so one member cannot stop its decision.

    “The party has decided it wants to go indirect and so we adopt that and go with it. I am fully prepared for the primaries and by God’s grace, I will become the party’s candidate.”

  • Imo shutdown as youths hold solidarity rally for Buhari, Nwosu

    Thousands of Imo youths yesterday held a solidarity rally in support of the reelection bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and governorship ambition of former Chief of Staff to the Imo State governor, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.

    The youths adorning customized T-shirts embossed with Buhari’s and Nwosu’s pictures marched through major streets in the state capital, chanting pro-Buhari slogans.

    The rally resulted in heavy gridlock along major roads as vehicular and human movements  were grounded.

    Receiving the youths at his campaign headquarters, Nwosu, who is a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), assured the youths  that the APC led administration is doing everything possible to ensure that Nigerian youths are given opportunity to achieve their goals through the provision of sustainable employment.

    He commended the youths particularly for supporting the reelection bid of President Buhari, stating that it is the surest way to Igbo Presidency in 2023.

    The governorship aspirant also promised the youths that if elected governor, his priority will be to create wealth for the teeming youths and women in the state.

    He commended the youths for purchasing his nomination form and expression of interest forms, pledging that he will not disappoint them when he assumes office as governor.

    Nwosu who received intermittent ovation from the mammoth crowd also stated that the APC will retain power in the state in 2019, adding that none of the opposition parties has the capacity to unseat the APC in the state.

    According to him: “I want to thank the youths for your unflinching support for me and President Buhari and I want to say it again that the reelection of President Buhari is the surest and shortest route to Igbo presidency”.

    He continued: ” I want to assure that I will not let you down, my administration will create wealth for the youths and women and we will sustain the free education programme which has benefitted our people so much. I want to also appeal to you to extend the support to all other APC aspirants.”

    Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Imo Youth Council, Hon Jeff Nwoha, said that Imo youths have come to thank him (Nwosu) for accepting the clarion call to join the governorship race.

    He said their decision to draft him into the race was influenced by the fact that he will sustain the legacies of the Rochas Okorocha’s administration, which they said has brought unprecedented development to the state.

  • Nwosu: my ambition not sacrificed for party structure

    Chief of Staff to the Imo State Governor Ugwumba Uche Nwosu has dismissed insinuations that his governorship ambition has been sacrificed for Governor Rochas Okorocha to regain the party structure.

    Nwosu, who addressed reporters when he returned from the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the chances of actualising his governorship ambition in 2019 are brighter now than ever before.

    He said: “Those peddling the rumour that Governor Rochas Okorocha has exchanged my ambition for the party structure are only jittery. In fact, my chances under this new leadership are brighter because those who had perfected plans on how to compromise the primaries, like they did with the APC congresses, are no more; we now have a crop of leaders that will certainly abide by the ideals and core values of our great party.

    “My ambition is divine and no man can alter it. Okorocha is only committed to producing a successor who will continue the good work from where he will stop. What is paramount in our mind now is to galvanise our party and reconcile those nursing grouses and position for victory in 2019.

    “Rather than engage in falsehood and campaign of calumny, members of the group who ganged up against the governor should apologise, return to the party and work with Okorocha to move our party forward.”

  • FG invites Abiola’s family, Soyinka, Tinubu, Nwosu, activists to investiture

    The federal government last night rolled out the programme for the conferment of national honours on the late Chief Moshood Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, his running mate Ambassador Baba Gana Kinbige and the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

    The event is scheduled for Tuesday in Abuja less than a week after government announced the declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in remembrance of the election adjudged as the fairest ever in Nigeria’s history and its intention to confer honours of the three men.

    Abiola will be honoured with the   Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), while Fawehinmi and Kingibe will receive the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, in a statement said the event will take place at the Conference Hall, State House, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

    He said: “Accordingly, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, the family of the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola and that of Chief Gani Fawehinmi, along with the underlisted key players of June 12 struggle are cordially invited:

    • Members of the National Executive Committee of the SDP including States Chairmen and Secretaries at the time of June 12, 1993
    • Governors elected under SDP platform
    • Former Senate Presidents – Iyorchia Ayu and Ameh Ebute and Speaker Agunwa Anekwe along with Principal Officers of the National Assembly elected under SDP platform
    • Speakers of the States Assembly elected under SDP platform
    • All Chairmen of the States Traditional Councils from the six South-Western States
    • Prof. Wole Soyinka
    • Mr. Femi Falana, SAN
    • Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
    • Chief Bisi Akande
    • Ms. Ayo Obe
    • Bayo Onanuga – The News
    • Kunle Ajibade – Tempo
    • Nosa Igiebor – Tell
    • Kayode Komolafe – Media Hope 93
    • Senator Janathan Zwingina – DG Hope 93
    • Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori
    • Prof. Humphrey Nwosu

    “Also invited are Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogora, Principal Officers of the National Assembly, Members of the Federal Executive Council and all State Governors.

    “Accommodation has been reserved for all invitees at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Tafawa Balewa Way, area 11, Garki, Abuja from Monday, 11th June 2018. For further inquiries please contact William Alo, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by telephone on +234 803 585 4332.

    “Invitation letters have been despatched. However, should the invitation arrive late, this publication serves as a formal invitation.

  • Nwosu promises to sustain free education

    Imo State governorship aspirant Uche Nwosu has promised to sustain the free education in the state if elected as governor in 2019.

    He also urged the students to support President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in the interest of the country.

    Nwosu, who spoke when the Imo State Students Unite (IMSSU) visited him, said President Buhari needs another four years to stabilise the country, especially the economy and other critical sectors that were neglected under previous administrations.

    The students organised a solidarity rally to support Nwosu’s governorship ambition.

    The aspirant said it took a lot of sacrifice from Governor Rochas Okorocha to initiate and run the free education programme, promising to sustain the programme when elected governor in 2019.

    He said: “Free education is non-negotiable in my agenda, it is one of the dearest to governor Okorocha, hence a legacy he wants to sustain and that is what I will do when I become governor.”

    Leader of the students’ union, Kingsley Ekenna, said they held the solidarity march to urge Nwosu to go ahead with his ambition, and to thank Governor Okorocha for his seven years of “giving free and quality education to students in the state”.

  • Nwosu: I’m still in Imo governorship race

    Chief of Staff to the Imo State Governor Ugwumba Uche Nwosu has described reports that he has suspended his governorship ambition as unfounded and baseless.

    Nwosu reiterated that his ambition has been strengthened by the activities of the opposition, which, he said, has prepared him for the task ahead.

    The aspirant, who was reacting to a publication that he may have jettisoned his push for the governorship, stressed that cheap blackmail and propaganda would not stop his ambition.

    Nwosu maintained that he is undisturbed by the political intrigues and controversies during the congresses, saying his ambition is “divine and cannot be truncated by any man”.

    He said: “There is nothing that can be farther from the truth than such report that I have suspended my ambition. It is those in the opposition that have suspended their governorship aspirations because of the fear of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu.

    “They are afraid because they know they don’t stand a chance against the will of God and the people. We are very focused on the goal and we cannot be distracted. If you watch carefully, you will see that we are not resting, we are moving and taking our message to the nooks and crannies of the state, while the so called Coalition Group are running around in hotels in Abuja looking for ways to subvert the will of the people, they are not on ground and none of them can win any election in Imo.”

  • Nwosu will win in 2019, says Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has assured supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that his Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, will win the 2019 governorship election.

    Okorocha said his support for Nwosu followed his conviction that he will be a good governor, judging by his acceptability  in the three zones.

    The governor, who spoke when political leaders, women and youth groups, traditional rulers came to endorse Nwosu at the Government House, said he would want to hand over to a governor, who will be fair to all zones.

    Okorocha reiterated that Nwosu will win, irrespective of objections from political ‘bigwigs’, saying the power to elect a governor resides with the people and not a few elite and godfathers.

    He said: “I have no doubt that Nwosu will win the governorship election, considering his pedigree and humble background. Nwosu has learnt the ropes and is better qualified than any other aspirant.

    “He is the least of the political children I trained, but I don’t know any of them as much as I have known Nwosu. I took him up when he was just nobody and he grew to the height he is now; his only sin is that he is my son-in-law.”

  • Abia guber: Nwosu fails to stop Ikpeazu

    A contestant in the Peoples Democratic Party December 8, 2014 governorship primaries in Abia State, Friday Nwosu, yesterday, lost his bid to stop the election of the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as the Supreme Court upheld the election of the governor.

    The apex court, penalised Nwosu for filing what the court considered a frivolous appeal. The Supreme Court, in a judgment on Friday, awarded N4million as penalty against Nwosu and in favour of the four respondents in the appeal. Nwosu, by the judgment, is to pay each of the respondents N1m as cost. Nwosu had, in his appeal marked: SC/693/17, challenged the judgment of the Court of Appeal, in which it was held that Okezie Ikpeazu was qualified to contest the 2015 governorship election in Abia State.

    Justice Amina Augie, in the lead judgment, upheld Ikpeazu’s election and dismissed Nwosu’s appeal. The lead judgment was read on behalf of Justice Augie by Justice Sidi Bage. Nwosu, who contested the December 8, 2014 governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but lost to Ikpeazu, sued at the Federal High Court, accusing Ikpeazu of submitting false information and fake tax documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Yesterday, Justice Bage, while reading Justice Augie’s judgment, said: “The appellant contested the party’s primary and lost to the 3rd respondent (Ikpeazu) and instituted a number of suits in the various divisions of the Federal High Court, challenging the outcome of the primary. “The appellant’s suit was initially filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja. It was transferred to the Federal High Court Umuahia and it was again, transferred to the Federal High Court, Owerri.

    “This is court affirm the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which set aside the disqualification of the 3rd respondent. “It upheld his victory at the primary and his ultimate election as the Executive Governor of Abia State. “The 3rd objection is upheld and the appeal is hereby dismissed. The appellant is ordered to pay cost at N1m to each one of the four respondents.” Justices Mary Peter Odili, Amiru Sanusi, Bode Rhodes-Vivour and Bage, who were on the panel, agreed with the lead judgment and the consequential orders made.

  • Imo Speaker, 19 others endorse Nwosu

    Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly Acho Ihim and 19 lawmakers have endorsed Chief of Staff to the governor, Uche Nwosu.

    Ihim told reporters at the Kelvic Suites in Owerri that Nwosu remained “the best and most plausible panacea to the disjointed and often abandoned projects syndrome that has constituted a clog in the wheel of progress in most instances”.

    The Speaker argued that their decision was taken in the interest of the state, noting that legacies of the Okorocha-led administration “are so good and too numerous to be left in the hands of those who may not have any inkling of what they are, where they are or how to sustain them”.

    He said: “To ensure continuity of the numerous democratic dividends of the Rescue Mission Administration in Imo State, 20 lawmakers have affirmed their resolve to project, support and back Uche Nwosu as the governor in 2019.

    “The lawmakers singled out the reality of the free, qualitative and compulsory education, which virtually all past governors and even the present crop of those jostling for governorship, have said is impossible.

    “Our people deserve Ugwumba Uche Nwosu for a continuation of this people-oriented policy to bring succour and hope to the poor and rich.

    “The lawmakers, therefore, resolved as follows: -that we the members of the Imo State House of Assembly recognise Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the supreme leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.”

  • Aspirants give conditions to support Nwosu

    Some governorship aspirants in Imo State have given conditions have agreed to jettison their ambitions and support Uche Nwosu.

    They, however, gave conditions to that effect.

    It was gathered that the aspirant’s decision may not be unconnected to the outcome of the tensed meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) last Sunday.

    A top party official, who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed that most of the aspirants have shown interest in supporting Nwosu who has been endorsed in nearly all the 27 councils.

    He, however, denied rumours that the aspirants made personal demands as condition for stepping down. “Our governorship aspirants are all established and successful people, and well known in the society. So their decision was taken in the best interest of the party and not for any pecuniary reason. Remember that we are going for an election and we need to go with our best if we must win,” he said.

    He added: “The step was also taken by the aspirants as a mark of respect for the governor, who they know means well for the party. None of them was pressurised into taking the decision. We are still hoping that at the end of the day, other aspirants will see the need for the decision.”

    But The Nation gathered that some of the conditions listed by the aspirants include reimbursement of the monies spent so far on servicing the party, and an opportunity to nominate people into key positions in the government that will be formed thereafter.

    Efforts to reach the state Chairman, Hillary Eke, were unsuccessful.