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Tag: Okorocha

  • Buhari’s health: Fayose under fire from Okorocha, BMSG, lawyer

    Buhari’s health: Fayose under fire from Okorocha, BMSG, lawyer

    Imo State Governor and Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum Rochas Okorocha yesterday led attacks on Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose over his comments on President Muhammadu Buhari’s health.

    Others, who flayed Fayose, include Buhari Media Support Group (BSG) and activist lawyer Morakinyo Ogele.

    Fayose, at a news conference on Wednesday, claimed that Buhari had been on life support in a hospital in the United Kingdom.

    He called for the President’sresignation over his health issues.

    But, speaking on Fayose’s call, Okorocha said: “As you are aware, we are passing through a very difficult time in our nation and we have a lot of challenges – political, economical, social, cultural and what have you. I want to advise that this is what many great nations of the world have passed through before getting to their point of greatness and Nigeria will not be an exemption.

    “We must see this time as a trying period for Nigeria and by the grace of God, we shall overcome. So, this is the time to preach love, this is the time to love one another, this is the time to embrace one another, this is the time to preach peace, especially in more of the things that unite us as a people and talk not at all the things that will divide us.

    “And this called to question the recent statement created to Governor Fayose over the health of Mr. President. I want to advise that Fayose’s statement should not be regarded. It’s baseless and there is no substance for that information. What he said is not right, it is uncalled for and that is simply hitting up the polity.

    “In our culture and tradition, we do not pray politics with people’s lives and anybody can be sick, anybody can be in the hospital. So, making such categorical statement which is unfounded that Mr. President is on life support, is to the best of my knowledge, a statement of hate.

    “That is a cheap talk and Nigerians should not regard it. What we should do right now is to pray for Mr. President, wish him well, anybody can be sick. Even as he is sick out there, many people have been sick in Nigeria. So, we should not politicise this and play politics with people’s lives and try to create hate and confusion in the system.

    “I think that has become Fasoye’s style of talk and Nigerians must never take those kind of talk serious because is capable of creating confusion in the system.

    BSG described Fayose as a serial liar and attention-seeker, who will do everything possible to remain in full public glare.

    The group, in a statement by its chairman, Austin Braimoh and secretary, Chief Cassidy Madueke, described the governor as a born agent of confusion, who was ready to spread hate speech to achieve his aim.

    The statement reads: “The attention of BMSG has been drawn to a statement credited to Ekiti Governor, where he dished a cacophony of lies on the health of President Muhammadu Buhari, claiming that he has been on life support system for 20 days.

    “The comments of Fayose did not come as a surprise because of his penchant for exhibiting the characteristics of a serial liar and a born agent of confusion over the years and who thrives in hate speeches and campaigns of calumny.

    “We believe that most Nigerians are already familiar with the infantile character of the Ekiti State accidental governor. Nigerians are already familiar with his antics.”

    Ogele accused Fayose of raising false alarm on Buhari’s health.

    He said Fayose was not competent to speak on thepresident’s health status, noting that “only Buhari’s physician is competent tocomment on the health of his client”.

    In a chat with The Nation in Ado-Ekiti, Ogele berated Fayose for “always seekingundeserved attention through the backdoor and endlessly portrayingEkiti in bad light”.

    He claimed that Ekiti is bleeding under the watch of Fayose whom heaccused of bastardising government and mismanaged the state economy, leading to several job losses and flight of investors from the state.

    The lawyer, who is also the National Coordinator of Ekiti RedemptionGroup (ERG), criticised Fayose for “always playing bad politics” in abid to get at Buhari and his government.

  • Okorocha to mediate in Imo Catholic Church crisis

    Okorocha to mediate in Imo Catholic Church crisis

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has finally disclosed his intention to intervene in the lingering crisis that has rocked the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise Council Area of the state. The governor’s decision was not unconnected with the visit of notable priests from the embattled diocese to the government house.

    Governor Okorocha said his decision to mediate in the crisis was in the overall interest of the Catholic faithful in the diocese and Imo State in general. The priests’ visit was sequel to their earlier visit to the Vatican to meet the Pope over the crisis. The delegation, made up of some of the old priests in the diocese including Rev. Monsignor Edward Amakiri, met with the governor behind closed doors.

    In his response shortly after the meeting, the governor said that the lingering crisis in the diocese had never been a good public relations stuff for the state or the Catholic Church and must not be allowed to continue. He explained that he had delayed his intervention in the matter to see whether the concerned parties could resolve the issue in contention without government’s intervention.

    The visiting priests claimed that they must have been misrepresented before the pope following the decision of the Pope on the issue in question. The governor described the Ahiara Diocese of Mbaise as one of the most vibrant Catholic dioceses in the state and regretted that the crisis had not augured well for the diocese, and that disputes concerning the church and things of God should not be allowed to drag on for a long time.

  • Quit notice: Okorocha, Uwazurike cool tensions

    Quit notice: Okorocha, Uwazurike cool tensions

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and pro-Biafra leader Ralph Uwazurike have been trying to douse tensions since some Arewa youths ordered that the Igbo vacate the North. OKODILI NDIDI reports

    There has been a good measure of apprehension in the Southeast since June 6 when a coalition of Arewa youths gave the Igbo in the North until October 1 to leave or be forced out. There is a feeling of being threatened. There is also anger, and that eerie feeling that another civil war just might be in the offing. Will the Igbo lose their property should the Arewa youths make good their threat?

    While the Federal Government, security agencies and Igbo elders, as well as Southeast state governors are trying frantically to reassure the Igbo, pro-Biafra groups including the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are urging the Igbo to quickly return home before the expiration of the order. According to the pro-Biafra groups, the planned ejection of the Igbo from the North is a confirmation of the fact that they are no longer wanted in Nigeria and should therefore return to ‘Biafra’, where they belong.

    A small number of Igbo traders in the North have already started returning to the East.

    The leadership of the foremost Igbo group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, was quoted to have directed the Igbo living in the North to rise up and defend themselves and their property against any attack from the Arewa group or any other group in any part of the country.

    Factional leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, in a recent interview with The Nation, warned Igbo traders in the North to take the threat by Arewa youths seriously and vacate the region before the expiration of the quit notice in their best interest.

    He alleged that the Arewa youths have concluded plans to unleash mayhem against the Igbo in the North, stressing that if they may avoid the impending ‘pogrom’, “they should pack and return home”.

    Madu said, “MASSOB will not defend the lives and property of Ndigbo living in the North if they ignore the quit notice. They should take the recent quit notice by Arewa youths seriously by vacating the North.

    ”MASSOB is hereby advising the people of Biafra mostly the Igbo living in Northern Nigeria (Arewa land) to take this quit notice serious as the plan to violently kill their children, wives and demolish their investments are already perfected.“

    “MASSOB urges our people to start returning home now. Don’t wait till the 3 months of quit notice to expire. MASSOB is begging our people to bring their investments back to Biafra land”.

    Such rhetoric grates as far as another MASSOB leader, Ralph Uwazuruike is concerned. Uwazurike led a delegation to Kaduna to sue for peace. He said  said his group had pursued its cause without violence in the last 18 years.

    He said, “MASSOB had existed for 18 years without violence. In 2009, I went to London and opened the Radio Biafra and handed it over to Nnamdi Kanu as Director. Soon afterwards politicians hijacked him and he started working for them.

    “The Radio which was meant to educate our people was turned into the source of hate messages, blackmail, intimidation and others. The result is that the Northern youths came up to challenge us to say that they were not happy with the insults they are receiving from the radio”.

    He added further that, “I am here to assure the Northerners that those living in the Southeast are safe and nobody will harass them”.

    Former Chief Security to late Head of State, Sani Abacha and convener of the meeting, Hamza Al Mustapha, assured of the safety of the lives of the property of the Igbo living in the North, irrespective of the quit order.

    He said, “Youths must wear their thinking caps, use their brains and refuse to be used to foment crisis in the country”.

    In a similar vein, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha cautioned Arewa youths and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for spreading hate and inciting speeches that is capable of causing disaffection among the various ethnic groups in the country.

    The Imo State governor also warned those hoping to benefit from the current agitations by the different separatist groups across the country to jettison such ambitions and work for the unity of the country instead, adding that the secessionist calls “is an ill wind that will blow no one any good”.

    Governor Okorocha also observed that the “so-called sit-at-home order by IPOB, which may have triggered the controversial quit notice, was not observed by the Igbo as generally believed”.

    He said, “We never supported the sit-at-home as believed. What happened was that the sit-at-home order came a day after the May 29 public holiday and knowing our people who also love to extend their holiday over any slightest opportunity decided to stay at home for one extra day. Then most of the traders closed their shops for fear of hoodlums who may want to take advantage of the situation to loot their goods”.

    He continued, saying, “These secessionist agitations are sponsored for personal aggrandisement. At a point, it was believed that the Yoruba got the presidency because of the agitations of the Oduduwa youths, while it was also believed that former President Goodluck Jonathan became President as a result of the agitations of the Niger Delta militants. So, people think that the Igbo presidency can be achieved through IPOB and MASSOB agitations.

    “These agitations are nonsensical and I condemn it in its entirety. We should not be talking about another state within a sovereign state, all we need to do instead of talking about Biafra and MASSOB is to push for the economic emancipation of the Southeast. I know what they will expect me to do as a Governor, is to encourage the Biafra agitation and ask our people to prepare for war. But I will never do such thing. I will never support any call to divide Nigeria.

    “What we should not forget is that the Igbo paid the greatest sacrifice for the unity of this country. The Igbo has the highest investments across the country. The Igbo developed Lagos and other parts of the country and that makes them the highest investors in the Nigeria project”.

    The visibly agitated governor blamed Nigerian leaders for the growing spread of hatred among youths across the country, “we have failed as leaders to instil love in our children. It is about time we took responsibility as leaders to end this threat to our unity. We should not transfer this hatred to the next generation”.

    He also appealed to Ndigbo to have a rethink about the agitation to secede.

    However, another Igbo socio-cultural organization, the Igboezue called for immediate prosecution of all those behind the “embarrassing Quit Notice”.

    National President of the group Elder Pius Uchenna Okoye, in a statement recently, stated: “We are saying enough of the persistent threat of Igbos by the Northerners. Igbo are the pillars of the unity of Nigeria, yet they are not wanted in the country they have invested so much to build and unify the country.

    “But because the Igbo have remained law abiding in the face of all provocations, intimidations and marginalisation by the Northern elements does not represent cowardice. Henceforth, we will not tolerate further insult from any ethnic group.

    “All these other ethnic nationalities thinking about abandoned properties by the Igbos should start to have a re-think, because Ndigbo have the capacity to defend their lives and properties in Nigeria and any part of the world”.

    Okoye called on the security agencies, the Acting President, National Assembly, South East Governors Forum and the National Security Adviser to immediately arrest and prosecute those behind the statement threatening the unity of the nation.

     

  • Agitation for Biafra nonsensical, says Okorocha

    Agitation for Biafra nonsensical, says Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, yesterday cautioned Arewa youths and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against spreading hate  speeches capable of causing disaffection.

    Okorocha also warned those hoping to benefit from the agitations by different separatist groups across the country to jettison such ambitions and work for the unity of the country.

    He described secessionist calls as “an ill-wind that will blow no one any good”.

    Okorocha, reacting to the quit notice served on Igbo living in North by some Arewa youths and the consequent reactions by pro-Biafra groups, said the “so-called” sit-at-home order by IPOB, which might have triggered the controversial quit notice, was not observed by the Igbo as generally believed.

    He said: “we never supported the sit-at-home as believed. What happened was that the sit-at-home order came a day after the May 29 public holiday and knowing our people who also love to extend their holiday over any slightest opportunity decided to stay at home for one extra day. Then most of the traders closed their shops for fear of hoodlums who might want to take advantage of the situation to loot their goods”.

    He added: “These secessionist agitations are sponsored for personal aggrandisement. At a point, it was believed that the Yoruba got the presidency because of the agitations of the Oduduwa youths, while it was also believed that former President Goodluck Jonathan, became President as a result of the agitations of the Niger Delta militants. So, people think that the Igbo presidency can be achieved through IPOB and MASSOB agitations.

    “These agitations are nonsensical and I condemn them in entirety. We should not be talking about another state within a sovereign state, all we need to do instead of talking about Biafra and MASSOB is to push for the economic emancipation of the Southeast. I know what they will expect me to do as a governor, is to encourage the Biafra agitation and ask our people to prepare for war. But I will never do such thing. I will never support any call to divide Nigeria.

    “What we should not forget is that the Igbo paid the greatest sacrifice for the unity of this country. The Igbo has the highest investments across the country. The Igbo developed Lagos and other parts of the country and that makes them the highest investors in the Nigeria project”.

    Okorocha blamed Nigerian leaders for the growing spread of hatred among the youths. “We have failed as leaders to instill love in our children. It is about time we took responsibility as leaders to end this threat to our unity. We should not transfer this hatred to the next generation”.

    He also appealed to Ndigbo to have a rethink about the agitation to secede, saying the Southeast could not afford another civil war.

  • Group passes confidence vote on Okorocha

    Group passes confidence vote on Okorocha

    As critics slam the leadership style of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, a group Ndi Imo in Lagos whose members are indigenous to the state, has described such criticisms as mere distractions from the opposition and those who have no access to the state’s treasury to pilfer as was the case in the past.

    Rising from their monthly meeting held at the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre, Okota Lagos, members of the group noted that critics of the policies and programmes of the governor were ignorant of the impressive achievements recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in Imo State.

    “Within few years in office, Governor Okorocha has achieved laudable, dramatic, and exhilarating changes at all levels of government, in all strata of the state and in every nook and cranny of society. The Rochas’ fame for good governance is applauded by an anonymous many even beyond his state. He has, in a positive manner, touched the lives of the common man to the chagrin of his opponents,” they said.

    The group further noted that Rochas is the man the people wanted, adding that he is fulfilling his campaign promises to the people.

    “Governor Okorocha is a man who wants to enhance the welfare of the downtrodden. Every technocrat in Imo  State had maintained that free and compulsory education is not possible but he has proved them wrong by providing free and compulsory education for the people,” they said.

    On infrastructural development, Ndi Imo in Lagos maintained that Okorocha has performed wonderfully well.

    “Consider the number of roads being opened in just few years. It’s incredible and unheard of in any state in Nigeria. People are asking where the money is coming from.  Imo State has enough money to do whatever it wants to do. The unfortunate thing is that previous administrations had been siphoning the money meant for development and taking care of the welfare of the so-called godfathers who take enormous share of the state’s funds every month.

    “Rochas has no godfathers except the Almighty God. He is really God-send because he is doing things the way the people want them done,” they said.

    The group regretted that unnecessary criticisms in Imo State against all serving and former governors of Imo State was as a result of business men in the state who indulge in partisan politics.

    In other states, the group said, business men do not indulge in partisan politics; rather they sponsor those who are interested in politics. They also stated that “Rochas Okorocha has done so well more than any other previous governor of the state which some of us have witnessed when we had visited Imo State in various times.”

    On issues of pensioners and workers owed months of salaries, the group maintained that “the impression being created that pensioners and workers were not paid was  erroneous based on our interactions with some of the workers. Pensioners have been paid and are happy for having substantial amount of money to start up tangible businesses.”

    Explaining how Governor Okorocha struck a positive deal with pensioners, the Special Assistant to Imo State Governor on Liaison/Liaison Officer Imo State Liaison Office, Lagos, Nze Steve Asimobi said: “Having considered the huge amount of money owed to pensioners by previous administrations, Governor Okorocha summoned the pensioners for a meeting where he discussed with them the possibility of giving them 40 per cent of the backlog of pension arrears owed them by previous administrations while they continue to receive their current monthly pension every month. They agreed, not out of coercion but after many meetings even at ward levels of the concerned pensioners.”

    Continuing, the Liaison Officer said: “Governor Okorocha is making giant strides to enhance the economy of the state, noting that some moribund industries have been revitalised. He also revealed that Imo Airport has been approved as an international cargo airport.

    “In the circumstances, Governor Okorocha, in his determination to ameliorate the sufferings of Southeast traders, has acquired five cargo aircraft to enable them to bring their goods straight to Imo State instead of going through other states.

    “Imo Air, he said, will be operated by Dana Air.

    “Again, the dilapidated Imo Concorde Hotel has been revived and it’s fully functional.”

    Along Aba Road, he said, there are many industries that are springing up which will provide employment opportunities for Imo people.

    The group also noted that it was not correct that Governor Okorocha had sold off most of the parastastals in the state, even as they said some of the parastatals such as Imo Transport Corporation and Imo State Water Corporation were concessioned to some agencies for efficiency and they are working hard to make them efficient, even as they are paying members of their staff.

    On security, Ndi Imo in Lagos noted that Imo people can now sleep with their two eyes closed, in contradistinction to what used to be. They revealed that Governor Okorocha had put in place serious security plans that made criminals to flee the state.

    They stated that “there are still few isolated cases of kidnap and robbery, Imo Security Network has been able to checkmate the activities of criminals. Robbery and other related vices have drastically reduced.”

    The group advised Ndi Imo back home to draw a line between politicking and governance. Mingling politics and governance, they said,  should be consigned to the trash can of history in 2019.

    On the mandate for every local government to construct 15 kilometre roads, the group noted that: “If all the 27 local governments construct 15 kilometre roads, it will ensure rapid development.

    However, while one may admit that some roads in the grassroots lack quality or standards due to lack of commitment to job specifications on the part of some contractors, it is incontrovertible that no government in Imo State has opened more roads than Okorocha’s administration.

  • Okorocha: my election freed Imo

    Okorocha: my election freed Imo

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said his election rescued the state and its people from oppression.
    Okorocha spoke at the Freedom Square in Owerri, during the Freedom Day celebration, at the weekend. He maintained that his election was a turning point in the political history of the state, saying he shunned godfathers to defeat an incumbent governor.
    He said: “Before I was elected governor, Imo State was under spiritual and financial bondage. The state was dedicated to, and ruled by deities, and the people were in captivity, but my victory rescued the state and her people from all forms of oppression.
    “I never benefitted from the politics of godfatherism. When I ran in 2011, I was literally rejected in the political equation. No single politician of note stood with me; this was perhaps the only election in the history of Nigeria that was won through the support of the ordinary people, and not by the support of political elites, security agencies and money bags.
    “My victory came from God and the people, and that is why I have been saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that I fulfill that which I promised my God – to make life better for the ordinary man and release them from captivity.
    “Today, I remain grateful to all Imolites, especially those seen as the nobodies, because they are the reason I became the governor. I promise that I will continue to do all within my powers to make Imo State great, and lift it higher as a sign of appreciation for the support I have received from the masses. I remain eternally grateful to the people.
    “I try to use this Freedom Square to dramatise what I saw in Imo when I came in. The statue demonstrates a man who has endured untold hardship, ignorance, lack, systematic poverty, living in a society that is morally bankrupt; that was the situation when I came. People were about to give up on politicians and leadership because of the sufferings and deceits, but a hand of help came; this is what we are celebrating today as rescue mission.”

  • Okorocha alerts to looming jailbreak

    Okorocha alerts to looming jailbreak

    •Wants Owerri prison relocated

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has alerted to the looming jailbreak in Owerri Prison due to congestion and inadequate facilities.
    Okorocha, who rose from a crucial meeting with members of the State Security Council and heads of security agencies, expressed worry with the condition and location of the prison, which is directly opposite the Government House.
    “The government is worried about congestion of the Owerri Prison, as well as its location – just opposite the Government House. We are concerned with the number of inmates in the prison without adequate facilities.
    “The council is, therefore, calling on the Federal Government to act quickly by relocating the prison to a more suitable place to prevent a jailbreak.
    “The judiciary also needs a lot of infrastructure and personnel to dispense justice speedily. This will help to decongest the prisons. The government has, therefore, declared a State of Emergency on judicial infrastructure”.
    Giving more details about the closed-door meeting, the governor said the Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, has officially declared whistle blowing on criminals to help fish out hoodlums.
    He urged traditional rulers of the airport’s host communities to ensure adequate security in their domains, especially now that the Cargo airport is about to take off”.
    To strengthen security, Okorocha said “the council approved the establishment of an expanded security council, which will include heads of tertiary institutions, heads of Federal parastatals, security agencies, local government chairmen, head of ‘Keke’ operators, clergymen, market unions, labour union, among others”.

  • Okorocha: my election freed Imo

    Okorocha: my election freed Imo

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said his election rescued the state and its people from oppression.

    Okorocha spoke at the Freedom Square in Owerri, during the Freedom Day celebration, at the weekend. He maintained that his election was a turning point in the political history of the state, saying he defied the rejection of godfathers to defeat an incumbent governor.

    He said: “Before I was elected governor, Imo State was under spiritual and financial bondage. The state was dedicated to, and ruled by deities, and the people were in captivity, but my victory rescued the state and her people from all forms of oppression.

    “I never benefitted from the politics of godfatherism. When I ran in 2011, I was literally rejected in the political equation. No single politician of note stood with me; this was perhaps the only election in the history of Nigeria that was won through the support of the ordinary people, and not by the support of political elites, security agencies and money bags.

    “My victory came from God and the people, and that is why I have been saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that I fulfill that which I promised my God – to make life better for the ordinary man and release them from captivity.

    “Today, I remain grateful to all Imolites, especially those seen as the nobodies, because they are the reason I became the governor. I promise that I will continue to do all within my powers to make Imo State great, and lift it higher as a sign of appreciation for the support I have received from the masses. I remain eternally grateful to the people.

    “I try to use this Freedom Square to dramatise what I saw in Imo when I came in. The statue demonstrates a man who has endured untold hardship, ignorance, lack, systematic poverty, living in a society that is morally bankrupt; that was the situation when I came. People were about to give up on politicians and leadership because of the sufferings and deceits, but a hand of help came; this is what we are celebrating today as rescue mission.”

  • I’m not an ideal governor, says Okorocha

    I’m not an ideal governor, says Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday declared he is not an ideal governor.

    “I am not an ideal governor. I don’t behave, I don’t act. I don’t speak like an ideal governor because I am not a normal governor.

    “I am a radical governor who has come to effect a radical change in the state,” he said in reference of his unusual approach to governance.

    “So people should excuse my unusual behaviours. When you see me act the way I am acting, you should not be surprised because I am not a normal Governor and that is particularly why I am not given to due process,” Okorocha stressed.

    He spoke at the 6th anniversary of the Imo Freedom Day in Owerri.

    To underscore his approach, he supervised the public presentation of petitions against government officials or any other highly- placed persons.

    The governor, who summoned affected government officials to publicly respond to complaints against them, explained the idea was to give the people the opportunity to express themselves and register their grievances as expected in a democracy.

    He said: “This Freedom Square is designed as a place where the people can come and speak out their mind against anything they are not comfortable with, including policies of government without fear.

    “They can speak and question even the governor and nobody will be victimised or arrested for expressing himself.”

    In an emotion-laden voice, he recounted how he overcame tremendous odds to win the 2011 governorship election against the then incumbent IkediOhakim.

    “I was totally rejected by every group that could make one win an election but I remained determined and focused.

    According to him: “When I started the journey, there was no politician of note with me.

    “The elites rejected and abandoned me and it took the resolve of the common people, the market women, the artisans, the Keke riders and disabled people for me to win that election even when all the apparatus of government, including the Police, Army, DSS, INEC were against me”.

     

  • 2019: Okorocha warns against inciting statements

    2019: Okorocha warns against inciting statements

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has warned against inflammatory statements which can undermine peace and security in the state.
    This warning followed threats by political leaders from Owerri zone, to kill and burn down the property of anyone who supported any candidate from another zone in the 2019 governorship election.
    The governor cautioned proponents of zoning, especially those from Owerri zone, urging them to desist from acts that can jeopardise the safety of life and property of Imo citizens.
    According to him, the government will not watch “a few overzealous politicians threaten the life and property of the citizens for political reasons”.