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Tag: Okorocha

  • Buhari ‘ll end Boko Haram insurgency, says Okorocha

    Buhari ‘ll end Boko Haram insurgency, says Okorocha

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday assured Nigerians that the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, if elected, would stop the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northern part of the country.

    The governor, who lost to Buhari in the keenly contested APC presidential primary election, stated that “the former Head of State has the capacity more than any other Nigerian to tackle the current insecurity ravaging the country.

    Speaking to journalists at the Government House, Okorocha recalled that Buhari as the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to President Shehu Shagari effectively tackled a sect similar to the Boko Haram sect.

    He said: “There is no doubt that Buhari as President will put an end to Boko Haram and other security challenges confronting the country which the present administration has failed to tackle. During the  Maitacini crisis in Kano, it was Buhari who resolved the crisis and it was as deadly as the Boko Haram”.

    Okorocha, however, described Buhari’s presidency as an interventionist administration that would hand over power to the Southeast after doing just one term.

    He said: “Buhari’s administration is going to be an interventionist government because I don’t see him doing a second term. After solving the country’s security and other challenges and putting it back on track, he will hand over power to the Southeast in 2019″.

  • Okorocha advocates redefined separation of powers

    •Swears in chief judge

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has urged the executive, legislature and judiciary to redefine separation of powers by discharging their functions separately, but with the spirit of oneness, rather than isolation and discrimination.

    He spoke yesterday at the swearing-in of the Chief Judge, Justice Paschal Obinna Nnadi, at the Government House, Owerri.

    The governor enjoined the judiciary to advocate a national conference of the three arms, discuss the challenges of the coming general elections and work out modalities to save the nation from doing anything unconstitutional or reaching ‘a point of no return’.

    He said Nigerians should love one another.

    Congratulating the new chief judge, Okorocha reminded him of the need to maintain his relationship with God, “who does not only hold the destinies of all, but will also judge everyone accordingly.”

    He advised him to discharge his duties without fear or favour, adding: “To whom much is given, much is expected.”

    The governor urged women, whom he described as ‘silent achievers’, not to relent in their prayers for the successes of their husbands in positions of authority and for peace at home.

    He advised politicians to shun violence and thuggery. Okorocha thanked the Judiciary Service Commission for the selection of their leaders and hailed the former chief judge, Justice Benjamin Njemanze, for ensuring the hosting of the Nigeria Bar Association conference, building the Judicial Service Commission secretariat and renovating the customary court buildings.

    Justice Nnadi described his uplifting as a divine will and thanked the Judicial Service Commission for using character, administrative skills and respect for constituted authorities as criteria for the position.

    He promised to deliver.

    Justice Nnadi thanked Governor Okorocha for good governance, pledging to support his administration. Deputy Governor Eze Madumere, Speaker of the House of Assembly Benjamin Uwajimogu, members of the Executive Council and other lawmakers attended the event.

  • Why I contested APC presidential primaries –Okorocha

    Why I contested APC presidential primaries –Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has urged Ndigbo to work with team spirit and unity of purpose, so as to return the zone to the main stream of Nigeria polity.

     The Imo Governor who gave the charge while receiving Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Imo State Chapter, at the Government House Owerri, regretted the level of marginalization of the Ndigbo in the affairs of the nation, “irrespective of the fact that they are part of the tripod of Nigeria”.

     Okorocha stated that all the key positions in the country eluded Ndigbo including the citing of developmental projects by the Federal Government, stressing that he contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Primaries to ensure that Igbo are given their pride of place in Nigeria.

    He noted further that “for me, time has come for Ndigbo to reason together, Ndigbo should no longer be relegated to the background, we should take our rightful position in Nigeria polity and say no to second fiddle.

    “With my action it is crystal clear to APC and entire Nigeria that Ndigbo are alive to take their position.  I will not stop the struggle till there is liberation for Ndigbo and until ordinary man is liberated. What we need is a national party that will carry Ndigbo along, Igbo are better off in APC”.

    The Governor challenged the apex Igbo socio-cultural group Igbo to reconcile their differences and speak with one voice, “as the umbrella body that covers the entire Igbo nation. You must speak for Ndigbo, and raise good leaders”.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, the President Imo State Chapter, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, commended Governor Okorocha on his tremendous achievements and the transformation of the image of the State within and beyond the State to the envy of many.

    Dr. Ezechi Chukwu described Ohanaeze as a mass movement organization which stands to support every government that is people oriented.

    He stated that governor Okorocha’s inability to secure the APC Presidential ticket is “an answered prayer for him not to leave Imo State at this point in time”.

    Chukwu conveyed the group’s unalloyed support to Okorocha, urging him to consolidate on his landmark achievements which are second to none in the State.

  • Udenwa gets knocks for criticising Okorocha

    Udenwa gets knocks for criticising Okorocha

    Imo State former Governor Achike Udenwa has been slammed for discrediting the achievements of the Governor Rochas Okorocha administration at  an interview he granted a national newspaper.

    In the interview published last Saturday, he dismissed the government’s free education programme as a ruse and alleged that Imo people “are poorer today under the Okorocha administration.”

    But the governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, accused Udenwa of lying about the achievements of the Okorocha administration in less than four years.

    The statement said: “The Imo State government has read with concern a two-page interview the two- term ex-governor of the state, Chief Achike Udenwa, granted Saturday Sun. At the end, it was obvious that the former governor was on a blackmail trip against the Rescue Mission Administration with Governor Okorocha occupying the driver’s seat.

    “In the interview, the ex-governor laboured in vain to discredit the achievements of the Okorocha administration, including its free education, massive infrastructural development and alleged that Imo people are poorer under the Rescue Mission Administration.”

    It went on: “It is  disturbing when leaders like Chief Udenwa, who people look up to for direction, distorts facts for political reasons.

    “The administration regards Udenwa as a statesman of Imo extraction, having governed the state for eight years and having also been a minister. We would have loved him to enjoy the respect associated with the status of a statesman by ensuring that whatever comes out of his mouth can hardly be faulted.

     “The government does not take delight in responding to comments by illustrious sons and daughters of the state because it belongs to all of us. But we take exception to lies against this administration.”

    Okorocha insisted that the former governor should have told his audience why he thought the free education programme was not working.

    “The free education from primary to the tertiary level is working. The recipients and their parents are happy about it. Chief Udenwa should have told his audience why he thought the programme is not working so that we can take him up. But to make a blanket comment that there is no free education in the state is worrisome.

    “Throughout the eight years of his administration, no school was renovated, but today most of the old schools have been transformed. Three hundred and five upstairs school buildings have been built in the 305 wards. The subvention of Imo State University under Chief Udenwa was less than N50million, but today government gives the university N257million as subvention.

    “Imo State Polytechnic is also a success story under the administration. Let him visit the teaching hospital in Orlu, his home town, which he could not give life, and see what it has become.

    “He talked about Imo people becoming poorer today. How? He did not say. He would have substantiated his claim. Adapalm could not pay salary for the eight years he was governor. Today, Adapalm has become productive. The shoe industry and Avutu poultry were never talked about during his time. But today they are flourishing. Which community did he empower?

    “How many Imo people did his government employ? How much did he pay workers and how regularly? How many pensioners did he pay? These are the areas he never touched. But today the Okorocha administration has touched all of them.

    “The former governor should have been happy that all he could not do and all that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government for 12 years could not do, the Okorocha administration has done in less than four years. The last time the ex-governor came home was when President Goodluck Jonathan received him and three others back to the PDP.

    “Chief Udenwa is liked in the state because of his humility and peaceful disposition, but engaging in the unpopular trade of trying to run down a government the indigenes have acknowledged is doing well, calls for concern.

     “Okorocha has dualised the Orlu/Akokwa Road, and the former governor is one of the beneficiaries because it passes through his town. There is nothing wrong if one’s successor is doing better than one. It is not a crime.

    “When this happens, the predecessor should be patriotic to praise his successor for doing well.”

  • Why I ran, by Imo Governor Okorocha

    Why I ran, by Imo Governor Okorocha

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said yesterday that he ran for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket so as to give the Southeast a sense of belonging in the opposition party.

     Okorocha, who hailed the organisation of the convention in his concession speech extolled the other aspirants, especially his Kano State colleague, Musa Kwanmkwaso and former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for their conduct.

    His aspiration, he said had not ended. “The loss,” he described as “a comma in my political life. It is not a full stop.”

     He said having ran for the presidential ticket, “the Southeast has a sense of belonging in this party.”

        Atiku hails Tinubu, party leaders Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in his concession speech yesterday hailed party leaders for their commitment to the cause of democracy.

     He pledged full support for the party’s standard bearer.

    Atiku described Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as “my contemporary in the fight to restore democracy, sustain democracy and deepen democracy,” saying I want to single him out to pay a special tribute for his contributions”.

    He added: “This party is here to redeem our democracy in this country. Since last night, you have witnessed what I described as the most credible, transparent election to ever be conducted by any political party in this country.

     “Let me use this time to congratulate and thank the chairman and the members of the convention committee for a historic assignment that has been conducted undoubtedly as the best.

    “I also want to use this opportunity given to me to congratulate the winner of this primary election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    He has been an embodiment of nation building in this country for decades. And he has continued to offer himself in services to this country.

    “Your Excellency, I want to assure you of the support of this great party which is the newest political party in Africa today.

    You have been given the responsibility of marching this party to victory in elections that are to come in less than two months.

    “What I want to assure is that all of us here and those that are not here are committed to working with you and supporting with you to ensure that you bring about the victory, a change that the people of this country desires so much.

    “Mr. Chairman, I am not the only person to speak but I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to make a few remarks. God bless you all thank you.”

  • Buhari declared winner of APC primaries

    Buhari declared winner of APC primaries

    Former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), on Thursday secured the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket after edging out four other aspirants at the party’s primary election held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

    According to the result announced by the Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Buhari polled 3, 430 votes to brush aside competition from Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who recorded 974 votes.

    Former vice president Atiku Abubakar came third with 954 votes.

    While Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, got 624 votes, the Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Dr. Sam Nda –Isaiah, garnered 10 votes.

    16 votes were declared invalid by election officials.

    The election result was signed by agents of the five presidential aspirants.

    Following Buhari’s success at the APC primaries, the stage is now set for a titanic battle between the Daura-born former army general and President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party in next February presidential poll.

    The former head of state had contested three previous presidential elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011, losing on those occasions to PDP candidates.

    Over 7,000 delegates took part in the exercise  monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, including the National Commissioner, Col. M.A. Amanga and the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola.

    Meanwhile, Atiku has congratulated Buhari over his victory at the primaries, saying his triumph at the poll was well deserved.

    “Gen. Muhammadu Buhari ran a spirited campaign, and that since the delegates have spoken, he fully deserves the victory.

    “I am very confident that you will provide the needed leadership to turn this country around. I have no doubt that you will work with dedicated and qualified Nigerians to protect our citizens, improve our economy, create jobs, improve education, reform governance and fight corruption.

    “You will indeed bring the change Nigerians have been yearning for. Once more, congratulations,” the former vice president said in a statement issued by his media office in Lagos.

     

  • ‘Okorocha: I‘ll stop Boko Haram’

    ‘Okorocha: I‘ll stop Boko Haram’

    Imo State Governor and a presidential aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Owelle Rochas Okorocha, said yesterday that he would stop the Boko Haram insurgency, if elected as  President.

    He said he would solve the problems causing insecurity, such as illiteracy, poverty and youth unemployment.

    Okorocha spoke in Kaduna when he visited the headquarters of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

    He said if President Goodluck Jonathan was re-elected, the Boko Haram insurgency would continue.

    The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the ACF, Ibrahim Comasi, urged the governor to get the support of “our members as ACF is apolitical.”

    He advised other aspirants to support anyone who emerged as the APC presidential candidate.

  • APC clears Buhari, Atiku, others for presidential primaries

    APC clears Buhari, Atiku, others for presidential primaries

    The Presidential Screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to contest the December 10 the party’s presidential primaries slated for December 10 in Lagos.

    Also cleared are Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, his Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

    Before their clearance, the five aspirants were made to sign an undertaking not to decamp to any other party if they failed to get the party ticket and to support whoever emerges as candidate at the end of the primaries.

    Speaking before presenting clearance certificates to the five aspirants who were screened on Tuesday, the Committee Chairman and former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, said the time has come when Nigerians must make a decision whether to continue with the present state of affairs in the country or effect a change for the better.

    Onu said the problems of Nigeria has persisted not because they are insurmountable, but because the nation has not found the right leadership, pointing out that the APC was formed to fill the vacuum and provide the leadership required for the nation to grow.

    He said: “This committee would want to appeal to Nigerians that the time has come for our country to take a stand. There is a choice before us. Are we going to continue the way we have been going in the last 16 years when our security forces are used to intimidate and harass the very citizens who pay for their maintenance?

    “Are we going to continue a situation where we are the sixth largest exporters of crude oil and yet we import virtually all the petroleum products that we use and as we do this, we are exporting jobs and rendering our people unemployed? Is this what Nigerians would want to do?

    “Are we going to allow a situation where the rule of law is violated and there is no orderliness whatsoever? This is a choice for Nigerians. The ruling party has had 16 years and so, it is not a question of making promises. We are judging them on their records because they told us that within two years, there will be regular and reliable supply of power for 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This is the 16th year and that promise has not been fulfilled.

    “So, Nigerians have a choice to make because when you have two things, you can never know until you try them. So, Nigerians ought to try the APC and give us a chance to show that the problems in the country can be solved.”

     

  • 2015: APC screens Buhari, Atiku, others for primaries

    2015: APC screens Buhari, Atiku, others for primaries

    The All Progressives Congress has began the screening of its presidential aspirants ahead of the party’s presidential primaries slated for December 10.

    Those screened by the committee headed by a former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Ogbonnaya Onu are – the Publisher of Leadership newspaper, Sam -Isaiah, Kano Stage Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd).

    Addressing journalists before commencing the screening exercise, Chief Onu said the committee will put into consideration the constitution of the party, the constitution of the country and the 2010 Electoral Act.

    He said that any of the aspirant who fail to confirm with the relevant section of the party’s constitution, the constitution the country and the electoral act will be disqualified from the contest.

    He said: “In screening the aspirants, we will take into consideration the constitution of our party, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, 2010.

    “We will be doing something that is novel in this country because we will really want to effect change in the country. We want to produce a candidate that will effect change in the country, a candidate that will be able to address the problems confronting our nation.

    “So, in screening our aspirants, we will attach a lot of importance to the manifesto of the party. We will sensitize the aspirants on the urgent need in the area of security, the economy, job creation, foreign policy and corruption.

    “We believe that those who will be successful in this exercise will now be presented to our national convention that will be coming in the next few days and a candidate will emerge from there. It is only those we deem qualified that will emerge successful at the end of the exercise. By tomorrow, we will present certificate to those who scaled through the exercise.”

    He added that the committee will extract some commitment from the aspirants to accept the outcome of the convention and work in harmony with whoever emerges as the candidate of the party since only one of them can be the candidate.

    He said, “There will be some commitment on the part of the aspirants.

    “We want to be sure that all aspirants of the party that will deserve to be presented to our delegates at the national convention must undertake to abide by 10 rules and regulations of our great party, the nomination guidelines, the manifesto, the electoral act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We would also want every aspirant to give us a commitment because only one will become the candidate, that at the end of the national convention, when the candidate emerges, that all others will support that person and will support the party to ensure that the party will be successful in the presidential election of February 14, 2015.”

  • 2015: We have gone beyond consensus in APC – Atiku

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday ruled out any plan by leadership of the All Progressive Congress to pick a consensus candidate ahead of the party’s presidential primaries.

    He said that at this stage of the race, the issue of consensus candidacy is not being considered, adding, “we have gone beyond consensus and we are all working and looking towards the actual primaries.”

    Atiku, who stated this in Owerri, Imo State, during his consultation tour of the Southeast zone, noted that he was in the presidential race to make history in the APC.

    He urged the party delegates to work for the victory of the party, even if their candidate is not picked at the primaries, saying the quest to take power from the People’s Democratic Party should be put ahead of individual interest.

    The former vice president also confirmed that he has a pact with the state governor, Rochas Okorocha, who is also in the presidential race.

    “I chose to make Imo the last state I will visit in the Southeast because of two major reasons. The first reason is that Imo State is my second home and, secondly there are two of us that are in the presidential race from this state – myself and Governor Okorocha.

    “Any vote for him is a vote for me. When you have voted for him you have voted for me and when you vote for me you have voted for him,” Atiku stated.