The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Okezie Ikpeazu

  • Community raises alarm over incessant harassment by suspected cultists

    Aba-Ukwu Autonomous Community in Aba South local government area of Abia state on Friday, raised alarm over incessant harassment by a suspected cult group, Aroo Boys.

    The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Monday Ugbo, who raised the alarm while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Aba on Friday, called on Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to protect the community.

    Ugbo said members of the group were going after women in his domain in order to rape them at the slightest opportunity.

    “The menace has become unbearable to us and that is why we decided to cry out to the appropriate quarters to hear, and come to help us out.

    “I am using this medium to appeal to Gov.Ikpeazu to direct whosoever needs to be directed to do the needful.

    Read Also: Police arraign suspected cultists terrorising Lagos community

    “For the security agencies, I know they have handicaps like inaccessible roads, yet we need to cry out for help.

    “I want the Governor to direct the attention of the Aba Area Command of the Nigeria Police and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), the Central Police station to come to our rescue, through constant patrols.

    “My area starts from Number 1, Port Harcourt road to Crystal Park Hotel junction, including both side of the road.

    “It terminates at Nkwo Ngwa market where we have a common boundary with Etiti-Ohazu Autonomous Community, “he said.

    The traditional ruler said doing this would reduce the risk that the people faced, daily, in the hands of the boys who did all sort of things to them.

    He said that the community security outfit lacked the wherewithal to curb the menace of the boys moving around with weapons.

  • Ikpeazu distributes medical equipment worth millions to health centers

    Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on Monday distributed free medical equipment and consumables worth about two hundred and forty two thousand Dollars.

    The equipment which was donated to the state government by a non-governmental agency; Life Resources International in partnership with Zikora Foundation, Aba were distributed to various healthcare centers in the three Senatorial Districts; Abia North, Central and South of the State.

    Distributing the medical equipment at the Government House, Umuahia, the Governor said his desire was to bequeath to Abia people total healthcare delivery in the State.

    Ikpeazu, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. John Ahukanna, informed that the administration is committed to delivering total and qualitative healthcare with emphasis on vulnerable and elderly people in the State.

    Ahukanna stated that in line with Ikpeazu’s healthcare policies targeted at uplifting the health of the people, the governor has introduced Telehealth Initiative, Save One Million Lives Initiative Emergency Medical Services and the ensured the shipping of the medical equipment among other interventions in the State.

    Read Also: Ikpeazu mourns ex-CJN Kutigi

    The Health Commissioner said that the items are specifically made for primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare centres in the State, including a private hospital and charged the beneficiaries to make use of the equipment.

    In his speech, the personal physician to the Governor, Dr. Mike Enyinnaya said that the consignment which was given free of  charge and shipped to Abia from overseas was facilitated by Dr. Zik Ikeora, the founder of Zikora Foundation, Aba in partnership with

    Life Resources International, USA.

    He disclosed that the various types of equipment and consumables which worth 242 thousand Dollars were in the consinement and said that the equipment are necessary for healthcare delivery in the State.

    Dr. Enyinnaya appreciated the interventions in health sector, especially his commitment in ensuring Abia benefited from the free medical equipment.

    Earlier, in an address, facilitator of the free medical equipment and founder Zikora Foundation, Dr. Zik Ikeora said that the Life Resources International, USA, which Zikora Foundation is a member, is interested in achieving the universal coverage of healthcare in Africa.

    He stated that the equipment were donated free of charge to assist medical practice in Abia would supply more to the State.

    The benefiting healthcare providers include; Aba General hospital, ABSUTH, Abia Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Abariba General hospital, Abia Specialist hospital and a private hospital (Madonna hospital, Umuahia).

  • Abia partners chamber of commerce, think tank

    Abia State government is partnering Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) and Abia Think Tank group in a three-day investment summit in Aba aimed at repositioning the city as prime investment hub in the country.

    Addressing newsmen in Aba, the adviser on Job Creation to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Chief Chineye Nwogu said the state was partnering ACCIMA on the investment summit because the body has been projecting Aba’s economic potentials to the outside world.

    Nwogu said it was due to Ikpeazu’s desire to see that made-in-Aba goods were patronised all over the world that inspired his approval and support of the summit.

    ACCIMA president, Chief Andy Obasi said the summit would not only provide solutions to the economic problems of the city, but would also stimulate the investment potentials of Aba.

    Obasi informed that the Chamber has registered Aba Business School (ABS) which he said is basically meant for artisans in the city and beyond to further their education to hone their skills and improve on their trade.

    He said the major problems the business community in Aba is lack of information and power, a twin problem he said they are tackling.

    “Our major problem is power and we are discussing with Geometrics Power Ltd. and we thank God that Governor Ikpeazu is weighing in to solve the problem between Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Geometrics Power.

    “Another problem we have is that of lack of information by the artisans concerning how business are carried on in other parts of the world which we have tackled and asked artisans to come and access them”.

    The summit runs from October 25 to 27 in Aba.

  • Leave my family out of your re-election campaign, Kanu warns Ikpeazu

    When the community where the Abia State Government House is presently located paid a curtesy visit to Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor reportedly promised the people that their monarch, the father of the Leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, would soon be reunited with them. Since then, the statement credited to Ikpeazu has generated a lot of mixed reactions among the Abia populace. In this interview with newsmen, Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, speaks on why the family isn’t moved by the governor’s statement and other issues, reports Sunny Nwankwo

    YOUR people went to see the governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and he reportedly promised them that your father, His Royal Highness, will be back before the end of the year. Can we say that statement is a good development?

    It is kind of shocking, in fact let me make this clear, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu should leave the Kanu’s family out of his second term project and that’s as simple as that. The governor’s comment; I consider it as an afterthought. No amount of hypocrisy would exonerate Ikpeazu and his Southeast counterparts from culpability, to be honest with you, over the invitation of the military for the Python Dance.

    We are surprised you are saying this because the governor said he was not in the country when your father’s palace was invaded by the military last year and that he was not consulted by the FG before the action was taken

    The governor was present in Umuahia when the operation took place and soon after the invasion, there was something he said that was all over the place. He said that he sacrificed the family of Kanu to save Biafra land; that he averted war in Biafra land by sacrificing Nnamdi Kanu; that was what he said. He wants to identify with Nnamdi Kanu now, but funny enough, when Nnamdi Kanu was incarcerated, he never visited him in prison; nor after, so, it’s shocking, what he is saying.

    Are you saying the promise the governor made about bringing your father back is not going to happen?

    That is a political statement; you know the way some politicians behave. He shouldn’t think that we can easily be deceived by hiring his supporters from our community to visit him in Government House and by making all sorts of flowery comments about our family; you know, it’s just about politics. If you look at the list of those that went to see him, no elite from my community was there. The President-General never attended, the traditional Prime Minister never attended too.

    It’s like you are suggesting the visit has some political undertone?

    Of course, of course, yes of course because this is all about election; it’s all about campaign. How come you’ve not done anything, you’ve not said anything, you’ve not visited the community since after the invasion, all of a sudden you started talking of bringing my father back, from where?

    If that visit could eventually facilitate the return of your father, won’t you be happy?

    So, all along we’ve been talking about the whereabouts of my father, he never said anything my brother, he never said anything. How come suddenly nearing election period Ikpeazu is summoning people and telling them about the return of my father. So, all along, he’s been in custody of my parents and my brother as well, so, he should tell the world where they are. The thing is this, you invaded a community, you destroyed them, you never visited again and all of a sudden, you went and mobilized handful of people to come to Government House where you issued a statement; what I may call political talk to them, trying to entice them, trying to get them along to vote for you.

    The governor said he was not consulted by the federal government before your father’s palace was invaded, why lay the blame on him?

    He is not saying the truth, of course everybody knows that he is lying; I keep saying this. If you look at the record of those who went to see Ikpeazu, they were a handful of people that were picked. Of course you know because of the level of hunger in the land, people can do the unthinkable; it is well understood. They never went to see Ikpeazu because they wanted to see Ikpeazu, they went to see him probably because of what they could get from him, but that is the simple truth. I’m not against anybody who wants to visit Ikpeazu, but they should remove my family’s name from it; they should not play politics with Nnamdi Kanu or my father’s name.

    Are you optimistic of your father coming back and are there plans of visiting the governor so as to finalize arrangement for his return?

    I do not know his whereabouts and I cannot be so sure, but since Ikpeazu has said that, I think IPOB is in a better position now to ask Ikpeazu to tell them about the whereabouts of my parents. As to whether I want to visit the governor, I can’t visit the governor, a governor who came to my house and killed my people and never visited my community again, why would I go and visit him? I’m mourning. So, if the governor wants, the community is there, why can’t he come and visit the community and explain to them what really happened? Why would a handful of people go to meet the governor in the first place? I will find it difficult to go and see the governor. If anybody wants to discuss about my parents, the person should come to our house and meet me and not me going to meet the person because that was where the operation took place; that was where my people were killed, so, the person should also come to the house and meet me, I won’t go and see anyone.

  • S’East govs never against Peter Obi’s candidacy – Ikpeazu

    The governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on Wednesday denied reports making round that South East governors and Igbo leaders of the People Democratic Party (PDP) extraction were against the nomination of former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for 2019 presidential election.

    Ikpeazu who was answering questions from journalists at the Governor’s lodge located in Aba, the commercial hub of the state when Obi paid a condolence visit to him and the people of Abia State over the pipeline explosion in Osisioma Ngwa which has reportedly claimed over hundred lives, said it was wrong for anyone to claim that the governors of the South East were against Obi’s nomination.

    He described Obi as a worthy son of Igbo land and a gift from Ndi-Igbo to Nigeria whom every Igbo man both at home and in the diaspora will queue behind considering his pedigree.

    He said: “You were told a lie. Let me use this opportunity to congratulate our brother and a worthy son of Igbo Land for his nomination. He’s a gift from Ndi-Igbo to this country. His works and pedigree bears eloquent testimony of the Igbo DNA.

    “It will be foolhardy for anybody not to queue behind a man like this to continue to serve this country to the best of his ability. What the South East governors said was that we expect our candidate to come back from his trip and have a tete-a-tete with us. And he said he will come to speak with us.

    “There were no time leaders of Ndi-Igbo and South East Governors said we are not happy. His choice was apt and you can see the wide spread reception it is getting. If we are banking on the eleven million Igbos in the diaspora to vote it is only Mr. Peter Obi that can get them to do so.”

    Read Also: Ikpeazu: Nnamdi Kanu’s father’ll return soon

    Also speaking, the chairman of the South East caucus of the National Assembly and senator representing Abia South Senatorial District in the senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said that Peter Obi’s selection is one that has lifted the spirit of every Igbo person and has no opposition from any angle.

    “As the chairman of South East Senate caucus of the National Assembly that the whole National Assembly is behind Peter Obi  and at no time was there any problem about his nomination as running mate to our presidential candidate.

    “We know that ourselves, the governors forum and everybody in the South East are all in support of him. Because today, Nigeria needs men and women who their yes is their yes and no is no.

    “We need people who will not see subsidy and call it under recovery. We need people who will not say that they’ve defeated Boko Haram and they turn around and keep executing Red Cross Workers. Today, what we have is somebody we can all queue behind to rescue Nigeria. Let me say it without equivocation that all Igbo leaders are queuing behind Peter Obi.”

    Meanwhile, Mr. Peter Obi while speaking during his condolence visit urged Abia people to take heart. He consoled the locals and made personal donations to the affected people.

    Speaking on his nomination and the perceived opposition from South East Obi said, “We in the South East has never been divided and we have never acted against each other.

    “We have always acted as a team. The governors and the leaders are my own leaders. Since this wrong insinuation started, I’ve consulted governor Umahi, Ugwuanyi and of course today I’m here with my brother Ikpeazu, all the three PDP governors I’ve spoken with them.

    “I have spoken to Senator Ike Ekweremmadu, one of our leaders.  Of course Senator Abaribe  is here with me. I’ve spoken with all of them including T. A Orji and Sam Egwu. For us,  we are going to work like a team. For us what is important is to rebuild Nigeria and rebuild the South East.

    “What we need is to create jobs and make Nigeria better. We have always acted as a team. It is an opportunity for us to come out and vote massively for the PDP. we must put all hands on deck to get this mission accomplished.”

     

     

  • Kanu’s family to Ikpeazu: don’t politicise our dad’s disappearance

    The family of the Eze of Afaraukwu Autonomous Community in Abia State, Israel Kanu, has warned Governor Okezie Ikpeazu not to politicise the disappearance of the traditional ruler.

    The monarch is the father of the leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    He is said to have disappeared following the alleged invasion of his home by soldiers and his whereabouts have been unknown.

    At a meeting with some members of Eze Kanu’s community at the Government House in Umuahia, the state capital, Ikpeazu reportedly promised them that the monarch would soon return home.

    He said Southeast governors were working hard to ensure that the traditional ruler is reunited with his family before the New Year.

    It was learnt that the governor’s promise did not go down well with the Kanus and supporters of the IPOB leader.

    They reportedly cautioned the governor against playing politics with their father’s whereabouts.

    Addressing reporters, Kanu family’s spokesman, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, urged Ikpeazu to “look for better ways to entertain his guests and not use Kanu as a campaign slogan for his re-election bid and to score cheap political points”.

    Emmanuel also urged the governor to be mindful of his utterances on the whereabouts of the monarch and other members of his still missing since the military invaded the community.

    He wondered why “the governor didn’t think it was wise to visit the family in the last one year that our father, mother and brother disappeared suddenly. And now, he is making them his campaign tools”.

    Emmanuel added: “It is shocking; in fact, let me make this clear that Ikpeazu should leave the Kanu family out of his second term project. That’s as simple as that. I consider the governor’s comment as an afterthought. No amount of hypocrisy would exonerate Ikpeazu and his Southeast counterparts from culpability, to be honest with you, on the invitation of the military for the Python Dance.

    “The governor was present in Umuahia when the operation took place. Soon after the invasion, there was something he said that was all over the place. He said he sacrificed the family of Kanu to save Biafra land; that he averted a war in Biafra land by sacrificing Nnamdi Kanu. That was what he said.

    “He wants to identify with Nnamdi Kanu now. But funny enough, when Nnamdi Kanu was incarcerated, he never visited him in prison, nor afterwards. So, it’s shocking what he is saying.

    “That is a political statement. You know the way some politicians behave. He shouldn’t think that we can easily be deceived by hiring his supporters from our community to visit him in the Government House and making sorts of flowery comments about our family. You know, it’s just about politics.

    “If you look at the list of those who went to see him, no elite from my community was there. The president general never attended; the traditional prime minister never attended too.

    “Of course, because this is all about an election, it’s all about campaign. How come you (Ikpeazu) have not done anything, you’ve not said anything, you’ve not visited the community since after the invasion? All of a sudden you started talking of bringing my father back; from where? How come that any sensible man having children will leave his house to go and visit as a king? It’s impossible; it’s not done anywhere. That gathering was not genuine…”

  • Nnamdi Kanu’s father to be home soon – Ikpeazu

    The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has reportedly assured traditional rulers in Abia and indigenes of Afaraukwu Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state of safe return of His Royal Highness, Eze I. O. Kanu; father of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    Recall that Eze Kanu, his wife and some members of his family were reportedly declared missing after the invasion of his palace on September 27 by personnel of the Nigerian Army and has since remained incommunicado with his loved ones and his subjects.

    But Ikpeazu however while speaking during a courtesy visit on him by the people of Afaraukwu-Ibeku at the Government House in Umuahia, the state capital raised the hope that Eze Kanu would be back home soon.

    According to Ikpeazu, Governors of the five Southeastern States are working assiduously to ensure that Kanu’s father returned home to meet his kits and kin, stressing that efforts were already in place to ensure that the traditional ruler doesn’t spend the New Year outside his community.

    “Eze Ibeawuchi can tell some of the efforts the government made to prevent the invasion of the community. I was outside the country when the crises started on a Sunday and returned immediately to take charge in the hope of preventing the escalation of the crises. We went as far convening an emergency meeting of traditional rulers to help persuade the military not to engage the unarmed youth.

    “We had to impose curfew to de-escalate the situation and moved in to ensure that those who were injured were treated.

    Read Also: Ikpeazu’s stand on plastics

    “The south east Governors as a body is doing its best to ensure that Eze Kanu is re-united with his community. Your traditional rulers will go with me to meet other south east governors and we will work to ensure that Eze Kanu does not spend the New Year outside his domain.”

    Governor Ikpeazu gave the assurance at the Government House Umuahia during a visit by the people of Afaraukwu Ibeku.

    The Governor reiterated that the Government of Abia State was never consulted by the Federal Government before carrying out the operation that led to the invasion of Afaraukwu community last year by the military.

    The Governor described the people of Afaraukwu as reliable allies and partners in progress, assuring that they would always receive special attention in terms of development projects, empowerment and employment as host community of Government House.

    He thanked them for their prayers and support, and assured that the Trinity college road will be completed soon while work will resume at the Afara Ring road.

    He said that fund has been released for the electrification of major roads and street within Orieogwu market to ensure the extension of trading time.In his address, the President General of Afaraukwu Development Union, Chief J. C. Ezebuiro, applauded the Governor for his developmental strides and assured him of the support of the community in his re-election bid

    He also informed the Governor of the resolve of the community to support his re-election bid because of his good performance, equity and good governance.

    “Talking about Security, you have been uncompromising, in education Abia is setting the pace, in infrastructure you have set a standard and under your watch Abia has returned back to her lost glory in Agriculture, the state has also become indomitable in Sports.”

    He recalled “the grief and psychological trauma which the people are going through as a result of the sad event of September 2017, when the military unleashed mayhem on our community, coupled with the sudden disappearance of our foremost Traditional Ruler, HRM Eze Sir I. O. Kanu, The Egwu Ukwu II of Afaraukwu. We believe that the Governor being a true son of Igboland will know what to do in order to reunite our traditional ruler with our community.”

  • Let us do away with acrimony, strife – Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has called for the collaborative effort of all Nigerians to build the country of our dreams.

    The governor who made the call in his independence anniversary message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, noted that a better Nigeria is possible if we do away with acrimony, strife and politics of bitterness which remains the bane of our national growth.

    Read Also: Ikpeazu calls for early submission of budget proposals

    Governor Ikpeazu call on all men of goodwill to stand up for the country and work hard to make Nigeria a country we can all be proud of and where equity, justice and fairness rules, maintained that there is no price too high to pay for a better Nigeria

    He added that he is sure that with everybody working together, our tomorrow will certainly be better than our present and past.

    Governor Ikpeazu therefore wish all Abians and Nigerians a happy fifty eight independence anniversary.

  • NPC laments low productivity in public sector

    The Director-General of National Productivity Centre (NPC), Kashim Akor, has said  productivity in Nigeria, particularly in the public sector, is low.

    He said many public servants were being paid salaries without them providing quality services to tax payers.

    Speaking with Journalists in Lagos, the he recalled that since 1945, several panels have been established to review and recommend appropriate salary structures and conditions of service to enhance quality service delivery in the public sector for Nigerians, but not much progress has been achieved.

    He said: “It seems with increased pay package and improved conditions of service, the public service has continued to deteriorate as they have been unable to render quality services to the public. These are unseen by labour unions in various sectors of the public service. These and other factors have further made the Nigerian public sector particularly unproductive and uncompetitive globally.”

    Akor said the centre has developed a model called Productivity Linked Wage System (PLWS) in the public sector, saying if well managed it would lead to increase in productivity, build and promote a performance based culture.

  • Nigeria cannot progress under its current structure – Saraki

    The Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that Nigeria cannot make reasonable progress under its current political structure.

    He said the present political structure does not allow the country to move forward.

    Saraki stated this during his presidential campaign visit to Abia at the Peoples Democratic Party state secretariat in Umuahia the State capital.

    He promised to restructure Nigeria to enable each state to be economically viable if elected president 2019.

    Saraki who also paid a visit to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, with other seven Senators at the Government House, said Ikpeazu has through his land mark achievements shown the people of Abia the importance of having a leader with vision and capacity to deliver and noted that It is time we had a Nigeria that represents all of us, a Nigeria that believes in equity and justice

    In a remark Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said that Nigeria requires a leader with requisite experience like Saraki who has served in the position as governor of Kwara State and now Senate President adding that Dr Saraki has the capacity to give Nigerians the needed hope.

    Ikpeazu said that its time for Nigerians to be careful and throw away all kinds of sentiments that are primordial to our immediate needs and unity of Nigerians.