The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Okezie Ikpeazu

  • No automatic ticket for Ikpeazu, others in Abia – PDP

    No automatic ticket for Ikpeazu, others in Abia – PDP

    The Abia State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has said that it won’t give automatic ticket to its members aspiring for any elective position for the 2019 general election in the state.

    The party stated that it will provide a level playing ground for all aspirants irrespective of the position involved.

    The State Chairman of the party, Chief Johnson Onuigbo made the decision of the party known at the end of the State working Committee meeting held in Umuahia the State capital.

    He pointed out that the state PDP has resolved to do away with all manners of impositions and impunity in the party.

    Onuigbo noted that party also passed a vote of explicit confidence on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu based on his performance during the last two years and six months in office.

    He said, “The party has declared that all offices for 2019 general election are open and contestable in line with the Abia charter of equity and PDP zoning formula.

    “We urge all our party faithful to remain loyal, steadfast and continue to have confidence in party leadership”.

    Onuigbo also added that the SWC also passed a vote of explicit confidence on the state leadership of the party for transparence and effective leadership.

  • Kanu’s whereabouts: Ohanaeze slams group over allegations against Ikpeazu, Abaribe

    Kanu’s whereabouts: Ohanaeze slams group over allegations against Ikpeazu, Abaribe

    THE Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, yesterday slammed a South- East based group, the World Igbo Youth Congress, WIYC, for blaming Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe for the disappearance of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    Ikpeazu had told State House correspondents, after a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, that it was not his duty to locate Kanu. But the WIYC, through its Deputy National President, Dr. Fidelis Ugwu insisted that the duo of Ikpeazu and Senator Abaribe had answers to Kanu’s whereabouts.

    Reacting to the claims, the OYC said it was childish and trivial for anyone to associate Ikpeazu and Abaribe with Kanu’s sudden disappearance. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Obinna Adibe, the OYC warned the WIYC not to toy with the name of the Abia governor, who had taken pains to address all the issues thrown up by the Biafra agitation to the satisfaction of everybody.

    He said, “It is petty for anyone to link Governor Ikpeazu with the sudden disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu. It is very much on record that Nnamdi Kanu was last seen the very day the Nigerian Army took the Operation Python Dance to his door step.

    “So, we insist that security operatives are in a better position to tell the current location of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Neither the governor nor Abaribe is a soothsayer or a detective to actually say whether Kanu is alive or dead as well as his present location.

    “The governor and his colleagues in the South-East rose to the occasion and averted what could have been another major mayhem in this zone. We believe, just like other men of goodwill, that the governor should be commended not vilified.

    “We, therefore, warn that any further attempt to drag these our leaders into this matter will be stoutly resisted. The era where fifth columnists infiltrate some desperate political jobbers to cast aspersion on our people is over.

    “By this notice, the WIYC, and all the people behind the group, are warned to desist from further attempt to disparage the governor of Abia State. If they continue with this untoward business, we shall ensure that they are fished out and disn

  • Abia generates N1.4bn from Made-in-Nigeria products

    Abia generates N1.4bn from Made-in-Nigeria products

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia said on Thursday that the state had generated N1.4 billion from the sale of Made-in-Nigeria goods, since the campaign began.

    The governor disclosed this while addressing state House Correspondents in Abuja after conferring with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the proposed committee on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( MSME ) Council.

    “Part of the direct fall out of our campaign since the past 24 months is that today some parts of Ariaria market, where the shoe making enterprise is flourishing, has enjoyed steady power for three weeks now.

    “It is on a pilot scheme courtesy of the agency in charge of rural power supply.

    “Beyond that we are interfacing and having better relationship with funding agencies now.

    “And we were able to attract about N1.3billion or N1.4 billion on direct sales from the Made-in-Aba shoes, made in Abia dresses and all that,’’ he said.

    The governor stated that besides the investments the Made-in-Aba fashion show was held in Abuja and another one was held in New York where they (manufacturers) came face to face with world class designers “and we did not do badly at all’’.

    “The Made-in-Nigeria campaign has assumed international dimension now,’’ he added.

    He said the visit to the Vice President was because, “we are trying to set up a committee for the MSME Council and I am a critical stakeholder in that because Abia state is the SME hub of Nigeria today.

    “We are actually interested in what happens; the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products in Abia is going up,’’ Ikpeazu explained.

    On what the state had done to encourage local industries, the governor stated that having direct sales of N1.4 billion was not a joke and ensuring that there was constant and uninterrupted power supply for three weeks was not also a mean feat.

    According to the governor, exposing them to fairs as far as to New York is not something you sweep under the carpet.

    “Confidence is returned; everybody now places“ Proudly Aba, Proudly Nigeria’’ on his ware.

    “If our youths are happy doing what they are doing then we have started something.

    Ikpeazu stated that his administration had been working on infrastructure steadily including roads, electricity, security as all of them were part of enablers that would drive the vision.

    According to him, this government has completed about 45 roads and about 25 of those roads are in Aba.

    “We are doing the first flyover in the entire Abia state in Aba and the cement roads we are doing; our roads have survived three rainy seasons now and they are standing.’’

    On Nnamdi Kanu’s whereabouts, the governor described him as his brother but noted that Kanu was not in the custody of Abia government.

    “Those who are looking for him may have a better knowledge and have the capacity to determine the location of anyone in Nigeria.

    “There are people who are trained to track people and it is their responsibility not mine,’’ the governor stated.

    Kanu was the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ).

    NAN

  • It’s not my duty to produce IPOB leader – Ikpeazu

    It’s not my duty to produce IPOB leader – Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, on Thursday said that it was not his responsibility to produce the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
    He spoke with State House journalists after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    According to him, it was the duty of those that were trained to track people that should give information about the whereabouts of the IPOB leader.
    Stressing that Kanu was his brother, he insisted that the state government does not know his whereabouts.
    He said: “Those who are looking for him may have a better knowledge and have the capacity to determine the location of anyone in Nigeria.
    “There are people who are trained to track people and it is their responsibility, not mine.”
    According to him, the state was trying to set up a committee for the MSME Council and that he was a critical stakeholder in that because Abia state was the SME hub of Nigeria today.
    He said: “The patronage of Made in Nigeria products in Abia is going up.
    Part of the direct fall out of our campaign since the past 24 months is that today some parts of Ariaria market where the shoemaking enterprise is flourishing has enjoyed steady power for three weeks now on a pilot scheme courtesy of the agency in charge of the rural power supply.
    “Beyond that, we are interfacing and having the better relationship with funding agencies now and we were able to attract about N1.3bn or N1.4 billion on direct sales from the made in Aba shoes, made in Abia dresses and all that.
    “And apart from that, the Made in Aba fashion show was held in Abuja and another one was held in New York where they came face to face with world class designers and we did not do badly at all.
    “The made in Nigeria campaign has assumed international dimension.
    On efforts to encourage the local industries, the governor said that having direct sales of N1.4 billion was not a joke and ensuring that there was constant power supply uninterrupted for three weeks which he said was not a mean feat.
    He said exposing them to fairs as far as to New York was not something you sweep under the carpet.
    He said: “Confidence is returned; everybody now places proudly Aba, Proudly Nigeria in his ware. If our youths are happy doing what they are doing then we have started something.
    “We have been working on infrastructure steadily, roads, electricity, security as all of them are part of enablers that will drive our vision going forward.
    “This government has completed about 45 roads and about 25 of those roads are in Aba. We are doing the first flyover in the entire Abia state in Aba and the cement roads we are doing our roads have survived three rainy seasons now and they are standing,” he stated.
  • FG disburses N380m loan in Abia

    FG disburses N380m loan in Abia

    The Federal Government through the Government Entrepreneur Empowerment Programme (GEEP) said it has disbursed N380 million to develop micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Abia.

    Uzoma Nwagba, Chief Operating Officer of GEEP made this known on Friday during the disbursement of GEEP Moni Market Loan to beneficiaries of the scheme at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

    He said:”We want to disburse 30,000 loans in Abia in this year alone; as long as you are qualified you will be entitled to it”.

    “This programme is meant for alleviating poverty and putting money in the hands of the people at grassroots to empower them. The focus is on women and youths.”

    Speaking at the occasion, Tola Johnson, Technical Adviser to Vice-President on MSMEs, described the initiative as a strong partnership between the Federal Government ,the state government and different  parastatals.

    Johnson also said tthat the progress of the scheme would be monitored to ensure that the objective for establishing it was achieved.

    In his speech, the Governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu, thanked the federal government for initiating a programme that would strengthen SMEs in the state and urged the beneficiaries to utilise the loan appropriately.

    Ikpeazu disclosed that the state government would organise regular training programmes for the beneficiaries to ensure that the programme would be a success in Abia.

    In separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), some beneficiaries expressed delight over the opportunity they had received to grow their businesses.

    Mrs Adanma Ogbonna, a beneficiary of the programme said that the money would enable her to grow her business, promising that she would make her payment on time and in full.

    Mr Osinach Chigbu, another beneficiary, said that he had received a bank transaction alert which indicated that the loan had already been paid into his account.

    Chigbu expressed hope that the programme would go a long way to improve the livelihood of the people of Abia. (NAN)

  • Ikpeazu promises N10m for films shot in Abia

    Ikpeazu promises N10m for films shot in Abia

    As part of the efforts to develop tourism sites and promote tourism potential in Abia, the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has pledged N10 million as grant for any film shot in the state.

    Ikpeazu made the pledge when he received Dr Chidia Maduekwe, the Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation ( NFC ), his office in Umuahia.

    A statement signed by Mr Brian Etuk, the Head of Public Affairs, NFC, in Jos on Friday, quoted the governor as saying that the production ‘should be 100 per cent shot in Abia.’

    The statement said that the governor charged film practitioners to improve on the quality of their production so as to compete with the global market.

    It stated that Ikpeazu promised that his administration would participate in the capacity building offered by NFC, saying that Abia played a key role in the revolution of the market and sales of Nollywood movies which has had multiplier effects on the nation economy.

    “We have a policy to open up our market to genuine investors, private and public agencies amongst others through promoting `Make in Abia` instead of Made in Abia, proliferating more industries in the state,’’ the statement quoted Ikpeazu.

    The statement said, Maduekwe had commended the governor for approving office accommodation for the organisation’s South-East Zonal office in the state.

    It noted that Maduekwe said the gesture would create more employment opportunities for the youths, saying that corporation was also working toward establishing two more zonal offices in the North-East and South-South.

    The NFC currently has three zonal offices in Lagos, Kano and Abuja with headquarters in Jos, Plateau State.

    NAN

  • Relief as Abia lifts curfew

    Relief as Abia lifts curfew

    Residents of Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State and its environs have hissed sigh of relief following the decision of the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to lift the curfew imposed on Aba at the heat of the crisis that erupted between members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and personnel of the Nigerian Army.

    Ikpeazu had on September 12 imposed 6pm to 6am indefinite curfew on Aba which later changed to 10pm to 6am as a security measure to restrict movement of people while government and other security agencies in the state were making frantic efforts to contain the security threats in Aba after yet-to-be identified persons set the Ariaria Police Station ablaze using petrol bomb.

    Residents who spoke to our reporter on Thursday stated that they were happy that the governor has decided to lift the curfew.

    They expressed hope that night life which has been grounded in the past one month would gradually come alive as it was the case in the past.

    A fast food vendor who identified himself as Kelechi who sells food at night near Aba Main Park lamented the effect of the curfew on his business, stating “business has been at its lowest ebb in the last one month due to the government’s restriction on movement of people and vehicles in and out of Aba.

    “With this ban on movement of vehicles and persons being lifted and trading hours now elongated, we expect that our night business will improve. We expect that social life will also improve”.

    A shoe maker at Ariaria International market who corroborated Kelechi’s position said that they (shoe makers) would be at the advantage of the end of the curfew as they expect to have more customers from different parts of Africa coming to buy from them especially as they approach November when many people come to buy what they will sell or use for Christmas.

    A release issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos said that the state government after reviewing the security situation in Aba and its environs decided to rest the curfew because of the improved security situation and peace which has since returned to Aba after the unrest.

    According to the release, the Governor thanked heads of security agencies in the state for rising to the challenge of nipping insecurity in the bud and also called on Aba residents and visitors to the commercial city to remain vigilant while they go about their lawful businesses without any fear of intimidation and harassment by any person.

    “The Governor wishes to also express his appreciation to Aba residents, visitors and security agents for ensuring compliance with the curfew which was imposed to ensure the preservation of lives and properties.

    Governor Ikpeazu wishes to appeal to residents and visitors to remain vigilant to ensure that the prevailing peace and tranquility in the commercial city is not threatened or breached.”

  • Ikpeazu lifts curfew in Aba

    Ikpeazu lifts curfew in Aba

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has lifted the 10p.m. to 6a.m. curfew imposed on Aba on Sept. 12, as a result of improved security situation in the commercial city.

    Ikpeazu via a statement issued in Umuahia on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Enyinnaya Appolos, commended Aba residents for compliance during the period the curfew lasted.

    The governor commended the residents of Aba for complying with the curfew order and urged them to remain law abiding in order to ensure lasting peace in the city.

    Read: Ikpeazu slams soldiers for harassing Abia residents

    He thanked security agencies for their efforts during the period the curfew lasted and protection of lives and property in Aba.

    The Abia Government imposed the dusk-to-dawn curfew, following clashes between some members of pro-Biafra group and the military.

    The curfew was reviewed on Sept. 18 from 10 p.m to 6 a.m.

  • Ikpeazu warns soldiers against extortion, manhandling of Abia residents

    Ikpeazu warns soldiers against extortion, manhandling of Abia residents

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has warned soldiers deployed in the state to desist from alleged extortion and molestation of residents.

    Ikpeazu gave the warning in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information Communication Technology, Mr John Okiyi, in Umuahia on Sunday.

    In the statement entitled, “Call Your Men to Order”, he expressed worry that soldiers were allegedly extorting money from residents and subjecting innocent people to unwarranted “corporal punishments”.

    He described the development as unwholesome, illegal and provocative, warning that the acts could trigger civil unrest and a breach of the existing peace in the state.

    “The unwholesome activities of some men of the Nigerian Army, who have formed the habit of subjecting members of the civil populace to corporal punishments and extortion of money, have reached the government of Abia.

    “These acts are more prevalent along the Bende-Umuahia road, Ohafia town and within Aba and environs.

    “These acts are not only illegal and extremely provocative, they are capable of triggering off civil unrest and a distortion of the peaceful atmosphere the government has worked hard to put in place,” Ikpeazu stated.

    He assured that his administration would continue to cooperate with all security agencies in the discharge of their lawful operations in the state.

    He, however, warned that government “shall not condone a situation where the presence of the army in the state becomes a platform to assault our people and subject them to inhuman and degrading treatments”.

    The governor, therefore, charged the Commander, 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Ohafia and all heads of army formations in the state to closely monitor activities of their men and ensure that the practices were stopped immediately.

    According to him, government shall no longer condone this unwarranted assault on the people of the state.

    “Our people, as law-abiding citizens, are fully deserving of their basic freedom and fundamental rights to life, personal liberty and dignity of the human person,” Ikpeazu added.

    Cases of assault, inhuman treatment, molestation and extortion of motorists, allegedly perpetrated by soldiers deployed to military checkpoints in strategic locations in the state, have been rampant.

    NAN

  • Abia to partner FG on rural electrification

    Abia to partner FG on rural electrification

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of  has expressed the willingness of the state government  to support  the Federal Government to actualise its  proposed electricity project in Ariaria market.

    Ikpeazu made this known on Tuesday when officials of  Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria paid him a visit in Abia Government Lodge in Aba.

    The governor said that the decision of the Federal Government project aimed at providing steady power supply in Ariaria market was commendable.

    According to him, steady power supply is an important resource required to drive economic growth in the state and the nation.

    He said that the state government would support the Federal Government’s efforts to  ensure that the project was a huge success.

    Ikpeazu said that the entire Ariaria market community would be happy with the project if it was eventually realised.

    Earlier, Mrs. Camilla Ogunbiyi, the Managing Director of the Agency, said that the agency was in Aba to provide energy solution to the power challengs of Ariaria market.

    Ogunbiyi said that the agency had identified the energy needs of Ariaria market, and disclosed that the power supply project would be run with sustainable  natural gas solution,

    She said that a few thousands of shops in Ariaria market would be used for a test run of the steady electric power supply  project.

    NAN