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Tag: Okorocha

  • Okorocha endorses son-in-law as successor

    Okorocha endorses son-in-law as successor

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has named his Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, as his successor in 2019.

    Nwosu is Okorocha’s son-in-law.

    The governor, at a meeting with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Owerri Municipal Council Area, said his decision to support Nwosu is derived from the fact that Nwosu has “the qualities of an ideal leader”.

    The governor, however, said Nwosu is yet to inform him if he is nursing any governorship ambition.

    He said: “The monumental achievements of my administration will not be left in the hand of any how person. The Chief of Staff has not told me he wants to run for the governorship but if he does signify, I will support him.

    “Uche Nwosu is hardworking and never gets tired. He is a very humble young man; not proud; not arrogant. So, Power won’t enter his head. Despite the position he occupies, you can’t see him quarrelling or maltreating anybody. He does not segregate against anybody. I have checked him in and out and I have not found him wanting.”

    The governor called on the people not to repeat the mistake of 2015, stressing that the Igbo must vote for APC and President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 because according to him, “the Igbo need the North for political survival”.

  • Okorocha picks chief of staff as likely successor

    Okorocha picks chief of staff as likely successor

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Monday revealed the identity of the person that would succeed him in 2019.

    The governor said at a meeting with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Owerri Municipal Council Area, who visited him in the Government House in Owerri that he would support the governorship ambition of his Chief of Staff Chief, Uche Nwosu.

    He said his decision to support Nwosu fondly called Ugwumba stemmed from the fact that the chief of staff has “the qualities of ideal leader.”

    The governor, however, said Nwosu is yet to inform him of any governorship ambition.

    Okorocha said: “The monumental achievements of his administration will not be left in the hand of any how person.

    “The Chief of Staff has not told me that he wants to run for the governorship of the state. But if he comes out I will support him.

    “I have known him (Nwosu) over the years but does not know his parents and described him as an honest man who, whatever he tells you in the morning is what he will tell you in the evening.

    “Uche Nwosu is hardworking and never gets tired. He is a very humble young man. Not proud or arrogant. So, power won’t enter his head. Despite the position he occupies you can’t see him quarreling with anybody or maltreating anybody. He does not segregate against anybody whether from Orlu or Owerri or Okigwe zone. He relates with people enviously. I have checked him in and out, I have not found him wanting.

    “What the state wants is Imo governor and not Owerri Zone or Orlu Zone or Okigwe Zone governor. Zoning does not put food on the table of anybody. The young man is a team player, who does not use his office to molest anybody. He has the qualities of a good leader. If he says he will run for governor, I will support him.

    “Obviously it might be as a result of these qualities that most people are talking about Uche Nwosu for governor everywhere even when he has not declared for the governorship. It might also be the reason for the endorsements he is getting from all quarters. You see, you don’t hide a good product. And the joy of every leader is to have a worthy successor. You don’t mind political opportunists. We have done very well as a government and we should be concerned about what happens to the achievements after.

    “I am not from Owerri zone, but my administration has done more projects in Owerri zone and Owerri Municipal in particular more that the administrations before me had done put together. We need Imo governor and not a zonal governor. I have done in Okigwe zone what the man from the zone could not do for them. The records are there.”

     

     

  • Saraki, Wike, Okorocha, others in Rivers for Abe’s thanksgiving

    Saraki, Wike, Okorocha, others in Rivers for Abe’s thanksgiving

    • Amaechi misses out, opts for Ogoni rally

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso were some of the prominent political figures that attended the special thanksgiving and reception for Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers southeast) yesterday in Port-Harcourt, capital of Rivers State.

    But the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the South-South leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), was conspicuously missing.

    Though he was in the state, Amaechi chose to be at Bori-Ogoni for a rally by the Free Rivers Initiative where he blasted Governor Wike for destroying his legacies.

    His absence further fuelled insinuations he and Abe, who is gunning for the governorship under APC, have fallen out.

    Abe said he had no apologies for inviting Wike, saying Amaechi was also invited but opted to be in Bori-Ogoni.

    Wike made a surprise appearance at the event tagged the victory thanksgiving, which Abe held with six other lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The APC lawmakers were Barry Mpigi (Eleme/Tai/Oyigbi); Maurice Pronen (Khana/Gokana) and Chidi Wihioka( Emohua/Ikwerre) constituencies in the House of Representatives.

    Others were members representing Eleme, Khana 2 and Tai constituencies in the Rivers House of Assembly, Josiah Olu, Friday Nkeeh and Mathew Dike respectively.

    Some of the state and federal lawmakers of the APC loyal to Amaechi were not part of the thanksgiving and reception by Abe and his allies.

    But chairman of Rivers APC Chief Davies Ikanya flew in directly from the United States of America (USA) to attend the event.

    Others who attended include Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, who chaired the reception; Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan and former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Tonye Graham-Douglas.

    Speaking at the reception, Wike said: “It is important for all of us to know that it is only God that gives power.

    “When I wanted to be governor, APC members did a lot of things against me but I became governor.

    “So also, when Abe and others wanted to go to the National Assembly, I showed them pepper but they won. It means that was how God wanted it.”

    In an indirect reference to Amaechi, the governor said: “I almost missed my way. I was heading for Bori (Ogoni, where Amaechi and his allies were holding rally), before I was called back that the reception is here (Polo Club, Port Harcourt).

    “I do not know what is happening there (Bori). These are Rivers people. Magnus Abe, carry go. Abe, thank your God that upon all I did, you still won (rerun).”

    Okorocha described Abe as very humble, stating greater things would come his way in the future.

    Saraki stated he had great respect for Abe, calling for unity within the party in APC.

    He said: “Abe is a good, loyal, courageous and humble man. We will continue to support you. APC members in Rivers State should embrace peace and reconciliation.”

    Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Hajia Aisha, who was represented by the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja, Mrs. Mary Ekpere-Eta, described Abe as visionary, dynamic, a role model and a source of inspiration.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, noted that he was pleased with the massive turnout of Abe’s supporters, an indication that he truly represents his people.

     

  • Okorocha slams Ohakim, charges predecessor to show achievements in office

    Okorocha slams Ohakim, charges predecessor to show achievements in office

    IMO State governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday challenged his predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim to publish his achievements in office. The governor who was reacting to Ohakim’s claim that his administration owes judges in the state 16 months salary, said that the former governor did not run an organized government and could not know that the salaries of judges are not paid by the state government. The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, in a statement made available to journalists, stated: “Chief Ikedi Ohakim was reported to have announced his desire to contest the 2019 governorship election in the state at a press conference.

    “While doing that, he never deemed it necessary to tell his guests one achievement his administration recorded while he held sway as the governor of the state, from 2007 to 2011. “Ohakim also never told those in attendance what he would do this time if elected governor again in 2019 which perhaps he didn’t have the time or resources to do when he was governor. “He accused the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of owing judges in the state 16months salary arrears and then threatened to go on protest naked if the salary arrears are not cleared by March. “When we read that report, we withheld our response with the feeling that the former governor must have been misquoted, and might do a refutal. He didn’t do that but rather maintained his position, occasioning this response. “We make hay to say this. If after being governor of the state for four years, the former governor didn’t know that the state government does not pay judges’ salary, then, something must have gone wrong somewhere and it is quite unfortunate.”

    The statement continued: “The National Judicial Commission (NJC) pays judges’ salaries. If the NJC handles the salary of judges, then, the former governor was either distributing falsehood or has become overwhelmed by Governor Okorocha’s achievements that he didn’t know what to say again against the governor and his administration than to resort to jokes. “we are always painstaking when handling issues concerning prominent citizens of the state like Chief Ohakim who had also governed the state, otherwise we would have made certain calls. And in any case, he didn’t run an organized government and didn’t therefore know who was paying who.

  • Okorocha: I’ll consider our tradition before signing death warrant

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said he will consider the people’s tradition before signing any death warrant.

    He spoke when the Attorney General and Chairman of the Presidential Committee on prison decongestion, Justice U.I. Bello, led the committee to visit him at the Government House in Owerri.

    Okorocha hinted that 170 Imo indigenes are the on death list in various prisons across the country.

    The governor said he would carefully look at the cases of condemned prisoners and know whether signing the warrant for their death would serve any good purpose or otherwise, “considering the fact that Imo people are known for forgiveness”.

    He said: “One hundred and seventy Imo indigenes have been condemned to death. We shall take a decision. Whoever takes life should be ready for the consequences, but we shall look at the issues, especially from our cultural perspectives, before taking action. Where forgiveness should be the case, we shall also know. It is going to be a holistic approach.

    “Setting up the Committee for Prison decongestion means President Muhammadu Buhari has been doing special things, including the Agricultural Revolution, the N-Power, and now the Prison decongestion. These are wonderful innovations by the President. This is the first time a government at the centre is taking steps to see our prisons decongested.”

    Justice Malami said their visit was to review the cases of inmates and know those with minor offences and penalties. He hinted that the governor paid a huge sum for inmates who have fines to pay to regain their freedom.

    “The Committee started at the Federal Capital territory and got 128 inmates released; went to Kaduna and released 500 inmates, and 800 were released in Kano. We have come to Imo for the same purpose.

    “Another area of concern is the awaiting trial inmates. About 70 per cent of the inmates are awaiting trial. Governments at all levels should work in synergy. And the Imo governor has begun to demonstrate such political will by paying the fines of inmates who cannot afford it and building a new prison. We will review all the cases to properly situate the inmates,” he said.

  • Open letter to Okorocha

    Open letter to Okorocha

    SIR: You came into office popular and loved by an overwhelming majority of the Imo people which is obviously the reason you defeated a sitting governor, a no mean feat in our country. You made so many promises all of which you have kept but none of which have been fulfilled. Disregard all the sycophancy; the people are no longer happy with you. It is not a good thing that the people should be unhappy with you because in a democracy such as ours, it is the public’s opinion which should drive the nature and direction of your policies.

    Here are the reasons the people are not happy.

    You gave free education from the very basic to tertiary level to every child in Imo State. Yet, they end up paying so many surcharge fees that would be easier for parents if they were honestly told they were actually paying for their children’s education. Teachers whom you bought elegant suits with red ties to match and whom you graciously doled out Christmas allowances to have since started complaining that you no longer pay even their statutory salaries on time. Pensioners are groaning in pain and are forced to accept part-payment as their full pension after going hungry for so long. The one-storey primary school blocks in every ward in the state are all there quite alright but some have had their roofs blown out and their windows slip off even before they have been used.

    You have scraped virtually all the roads in the state on your bid to do massive road construction or to convert them to dual-carriageways, one of which has left my community without electricity since you assumed office. The people call the few completed or half-completed ones China roads because they are so substandard that the layer of asphalt can barely cover the gravel and now your men have started patching up the roads even when the original contract is yet to be completed.

    You are building a General Hospital in each of the 27 local government areas of the state on lands you literally snatched away from the owners without going through the statutory acquisition process or paying any dime in compensation to the owners.

    Your own kinsmen are complaining that all that vast area of land where you are building a new university campus in Ogboko, the five-star hotel and the Police College in Obiohia, the Command Secondary School in Mgbee, you didn’t pay the owners any compensation.

    Lately, you have started the demolition of marketplaces in stiff defiance of the people’s wish. The Nkwo Umuchima and some others are in rumbles and traders now have to make do with makeshift tents and umbrellas. Traders in Orie Akokwa are hastily evacuating before your bulldozers arrive. I

    I therefore strongly recommend that you use the remaining part of your tenure to put things in order and most importantly, listen to your people and follow due process, if for nothing, for posterity’s sake which you always speak of.

     

    • Uzoaganobi Ebuka,

    Imo State.

  • Okorocha: why I’ve not disclosed my successor

    Okorocha: why I’ve not disclosed my successor

    •‘Ohakim on a revenge mission’

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said he has deliberately refused to name his successor  not to expose him to harm.

    Okorocha, at a media parley yesterday, said: “If I show them my successor now, they will kill him. The politicians here are very wicked, but at the right time, when I disclose the identity of my successor, I will stand behind him to protect him.”

    He urged the people to ignore pleas by his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim, for another chance to govern the state.

    According to him, Ohakim is on a revenge mission and cannot be trusted with state resources.

    Okorocha said if the former governor, by any means, returns to power, he will “loot the state blind” to make up for the long time he was out of power.

    “I learnt that Ohakim is contesting the governorship in 2019. But this time, he is seeking for vengeance, and if finds his way to power, he will pack the money of the state to cover up for those years he was out of power. So Imo people should not allow that to happen.

    “The governor we want is a man that will continue with what we have done, because my administration has laid a solid foundation for the next governor,” he said.

  • 2019: Ohakim on a revenge mission – Okorocha

    2019: Ohakim on a revenge mission – Okorocha

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Monday advised the people of the state to ignore the plea by his predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, to be given another chance to govern the state.

    The governor insisted that Ohakim, who lost his re-election bid in 2011, is on a revenge mission and cannot be trusted with the resources of the state.

    According to him, if the former governor by any means returns to power, he will “loot the state blind” to make up for the long time he was out of power.

    He said: “I learnt that Ohakim is contesting the governorship election in 2019 but this time he is seeking for vengeance and if finds his way to power he will pack the money of the state to cover up for those years he was out of power so Imo people should not allow that to happen.

    “The governor we want is a man that will continue with what we have done because my administration has laid a solid foundation for the next governor.”

    The governor, who spoke during a media parley with journalists at the Government House, said he has deliberately refused to disclose the identity of his successor so as not to expose him to harm, adding that “if I show them my successor now, they will kill him. The politicians here are very wicked but at the right time when I disclose the identity of my successor, I will stand behind him to protect him.”

     

     

  • Why Imo politicians are fighting me, by Okorocha 

    Why Imo politicians are fighting me, by Okorocha 

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said his determination to free the state from the clutches of mischievous politicians has attracted enmity to him.

    Okorocha, who spoke at a special service to mark Imo at 42, at the Victory Chapel in the Government House, said his coming as governor was to rescue the state and the people, including their mindset.

    He said: “Today, I’m happy as I stand before you as governor. This is an honour I can never take for granted. Before my advent, I had nursed it in my mind to one day become the governor.

    “After my first attempt in 1999, I decided the place was not for me. But on the other hand, I discovered that Imo State was in bondage and in the hands of a very few. That was the reason I decided to condescend from my presidential ambition to rescue this state.

    “But my coming to rescue Imo was not just the people alone and the state of affairs, but the most important rescue was the mindset of the people. Hence, the team, Rescue Mission. It has been a battle not between me and the citizens, but a battle between me and those who kept the state in bondage.

    “The beginning of changing the mindset of the people was the composition of the state anthem. For the first time, a people owned their state. A sense of direction was established and I most cherish this anthem when pupils recite it…”

  • Madumere: I’m the most qualified to succeed Okorocha

    Madumere: I’m the most qualified to succeed Okorocha

    Imo State Deputy Governor Eze Madumere has reiterated that he is still the “most qualified and experienced” to take over as governor.

    Madumere said he has garnered the requisite experience and exposure to pilot the the state and consolidate on achievements of the Rescue Mission administration.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Uche Onwuchekwa, said he has “the right spirit and is well prepared to take over the mantle of leadership”.

    It added that he has the “right temperament and experience” to stir the ship of state.

    According to Onwuchekwa, the deputy governor has “equally gathered more experience on the job than any aspirant, coupled with his exposure to the world best standards in governance”.

    Madumere has continued to receive endowments from political groups in the state, including women and youth organisations.