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Tag: Rochas Okorocha

  • 2019: Imo Speaker, 19 others endorse Nwosu

    …why we are backing Okorocha’s Chief of Staff- Lawmakers

     

    The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Acho Ihim on Wednesday led 19 other members of the House, under the aegis of Team Nwosu, to endorse the governorship ambition of the Chief of Staff to the governor, Chief Uche Nwosu.

    Ihim who read the position of the Lawmakers  during a press conference at the Kelvic Suites in Owerri, insisted that Nwosu remains “the best and most plausible panacea to the issue of disjointed and often abandoned projects syndrome that has hitherto constituted a clog in the wheel of progress in most instances”.

    He argued that the decision of the 20 Lawmakers to ensure that Nwosu takes over from Rochas Okorocha as the next governor was taken in the overall interest of the state, adding that, the legacies of the Okorocha-led administration “are so good and too numerous to be left in the hands of those who may not have any inkling of what they are, where they are or how to sustain them”.

    According to the Speaker, “in a bid to ensure continuity of the numerous democratic dividends of the Rescue Mission Administration in Imo State, 20 members of the Imo State House of Assembly have affirmed their resolve to project, support and back in its entirety Ugwumba Uche Nwosu as the next governor of Imo State after His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha come 2019”.

    He continued that “the Lawmakers singled out for mention the reality of the free, qualitative and compulsory education programme in Imo State which virtually all past governors and even the present crop of those jostling for governorship of the state to have said is an impossible task. Our people deserve Ugwumba Uche Nwosu for a continuation of this people-oriented policy to bring succor and hope for the poor and rich in the state”.

    The Lawmakers therefore resolved as follows; “that we the Honourable members of the Imo State House of Assembly recognize unequivocally Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the supreme leader of the ruling party in Imo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “That as Executive Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has done exceedingly well in governance hence deserves our commendation as representatives of our various constituencies.

    “That as an integral part of the Owelle success story, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is eminently qualified to paddle the canoe of the development of Imo State and will continue in the already established successes of the Owelle administration.

    “That we support unequivocally the governorship aspiration of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu. We therefore call on all Imolites everywhere to ensure that this aspiration comes to fruition”.

    the Lawmakers that signed the endorsement letter, were Hon Ozuruigbo Ugonna (Nwangele), Chinedu Offor (Onuimo), Hon Uju Onwudiwe (Njaba), Hon Ngozi Obiefula (Isu), Hon Max Odunze (Orsu), Hon Ikechukwu Amuka (Ideato South), Hon Arthur Egwim (Ideato North) and Hon Kennedy Ibe (Obowo).

    Others were Hon Nkem Nzeruo (Oru East), Hon Lugard Osuji (Owerri Municipal), Hon Henry Ezediaro (Oguta), Hon Chukwuemeka Loyd ( Owerri North), Hon Victor Onyema (Owerri West), Hon Uche Agabige (Orsu), Hon Chika Madumere (Nkwerre) , Hon Uche Ejiogu (Ihitte Uboma, Hon Emma Orie (Ohaji-Egbema) and Hon Lawman Duruji (Ehime Mbano).

     

  • Okorocha commends Police for drop in crime rate

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Monday commended the state Police Command for the ‘drastic’ reduction of crime rate in the state through effective policing.

    He said that his government is committed to the protection of lives and property of the citizens of the state.

    The Imo governor gave the commendation during the commissioning of refurbished crime fighting vehicles at the State Police Command Headquarters.

    Represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu, Okorocha stated that since the assumption of office by the current Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, criminal activities in the state has dropped to the barest minimum.

    He disclosed that funds have been approved for the different security agencies to refurbish their vehicles, including the Army, Police and Nigeria Security Civil and Defense Corps (NSCDC).

    He said, “Mr. Commissioner Sir, you have done better than your predecessor. These vehicles remind me of the Structural Adjustment Programme which is that vehicles can be refurbished to their almost new state and I commend your capacity to turn things around”.

    According to him, “it takes a man of vision and capacity to think and also know how to do it. And I commend your capacity and capability”.

    On his part, the State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike stated that crime is on a downward trend in the State.

    He disclosed that raids on criminal hideouts will be enhanced based on intelligence and information provided by the public.

    Ezike said “let me thank our people for always providing useful information. I assure you that we will continue raids on criminal hideouts in the different localities. While we will continue our visibility policing, so that anywhere you turn, you will see Police personnel protecting lives and properties”.

    Ezike disclosed that a total of 15 vehicles have been refurbished to enhance policing in the State.

     

  • Revealed; Why Imo Catholic Archbishop is against Okorocha, APC

    Revealed; Why Imo Catholic Archbishop is against Okorocha, APC

    The main reason for the faceoff between the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and his erstwhile ‘spiritual father’ and the Archbishop of the Owerri Diocese, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna has been uncovered.

    It will be recalled that the Archbishop played a prominent in the emergence of Okorocha as the state governor in 2011 after he led a damaging campaign against the then Imo State governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who was accused of beating a Reverend Father, an allegation he was later absolved of.

    The cleric and the Imo governor had enjoyed a father-son relationship after he was sworn-in as governor in 2011 but things fell apart shortly after then.

    In 2015, the Archbishop had threatened to stop the re-election of the governor, who he said had failed to deliver on his electoral promises. He even went ahead to mobilize the Catholic against the governor.

    Since then the cleric had not made pretences about his hatred for the Okorocha-led administration and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The face-off got to a climax recently during a requiem mass at St. Michaels Catholic Church Ngwoma-Obube in Owerri North Council Area of the state when the Archbishop openly castigated Okorocha’s administration and told the people to vote out the APC and whoever the governor is supporting for any position in 2019.

    Read Also: Imo Assembly under fire for rejecting LG autonomy bill

    This almost resulted in a bloody clash between APC and PDP supporters that accompanied their different principals to the event, which also had the governor’s wife, Nkechi Okorocha, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Uche Nwosu and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Acho Ihim in attendance.

    Since then the media has been awash with news of assault on the Archbishop and being a predominantly Catholic state, the news spread like wild fire, even though the Cleric had denied that he was not physically assaulted as reported.

    Many people had erroneously attributed the feud between the governor and the cleric to the Archbishop’s insistence that the governor should pay the arrear of pension owed the pensioners.

    But the Nation findings revealed that the governor incurred the wrath of the Archbishop, when he refused to fund Catholic mission schools in the state, a situation that did not go down well with the cleric.

    After the return of the mission schools to the Churches in the state, the Governor Okorocha had given the Catholic Church N400 million takeoff grant but refused to part with further money, arguing that the state cannot afford to be funding all the schools belonging to the Churches, coupled with the fact the state is running a free education programme.

    But the Cleric dismissed the governor’s reason as a mere excuse, accusing him of being ungrateful to the Catholic family after the key role they played in his emergence as governor in 2011.

    The Archbishop according to investigations was alleged to be further infuriated when the governor turned down his request to post a Reverend Father as the Chaplain of the Government Chapel, which the governor said is interdenominational and could not be headed by a Catholic Priest.

    However when contacted, the Director of Communication of the Owerri Archdiocese, Rev. Father George Nwachukwu, said that Archbishop has nothing personal against the governor but is fighting on behalf of the people of the state.

    According to him, “the governor started very well in 2011 and he had a good relationship with the Archbishop until he deviated and the people started crying, the Archbishop being a representative of Christ on earth, stood up in defense of the people and there is nothing personal about that”.

    He continued that, “and on the issue of funding of Catholic schools, we have no problem about that the schools are doing well”.

    Also commenting on the alleged assault of the Archbishop by APC supporters, Nwachukwu, restated that the Archbishop was not physically assaulted, “I have told all the journalists that called me that the Archbishop was not physically assaulted but was only verbally assaulted and in this our part, we take verbal assault on such a person seriously”.

     

     

  • ‘You cannot govern Imo’, Okorocha blasts Araraume

    ‘You cannot govern Imo’, Okorocha blasts Araraume

     

    The cold war between the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha and former Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, who is nursing governorship ambition under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has deepened.

    The Imo governor on Tuesday dismissed the former Senator’s ambition as unrealistic, adding that he cannot even win the party primaries, talk less of wining the main governorship election.

    Governor Okorocha in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said, “I want to say this for the sake of emphasis. Senator Ifeanyi Araraume cannot win the ticket of APC for the 2019 governorship election in the State and can never govern the State. So people should not allow themselves to be deceived”.

    The statement continued that, “In 2007, Araraume won the ticket of PDP and failed the main election. In 2011, he also had the ticket of ACN and came fourth in the election. In 2015, he also failed the PDP Primary. So what magic would he perform in 2019?

    “Again, if he sees himself as a Political force, let him do what Rochas Okorocha did in 2011 by taking the ticket of APGA that was not on ground and won his election by defeating a sitting governor of PDP extraction and in 2015, when he defiled all the PDP onslaughts with Federal might and joined the Merger that gave birth to APC at the risk of his life and his second term bid and also won his election. Let Senator Araraume pick the ticket of any of the parties, contest and win and we will celebrate him. He should not always be working to undo sitting governors to become governor”.

    Read Also: Okorocha advocates closer ties between Igbo traders and Customs

    It added further that, “some of these people were among those calling Rochas, OkoroHausa, Alhaji in Government House and Buhari-Rochas and accusing him of coming to Islamize Igboland and Nigeria in general.

    “Name-dropping has also become old fashioned in Politics. In 2007 and 2011, it was Chief Tony Aninih’s name that was been dropped. Today, they have begun to drop the name of Chief John Oyegun. Powerful Politicians in the real sense of the word do not drop names”.

    The statement which apparently a reaction to the Araraume’s alleged claim that he was not in support of the elongation of the term of office of the APC National Chairman, noted further that, “it is unfortunate that while we have continued to exercise caution and demonstrate apparent decency and discipline in our media outings even as they concern some of the Politicians and governorship aspirants in the State, few of them have always thrown caution to the wind by thinking that the only way they can make impact or make a headway in their Politics and Political pursuits is by embarking on falsehood and sponsoring cheap blackmail against Governor Rochas Okorocha.

    “As a responsible government and as responsible people we do not trade on propaganda, falsehood and blackmail. We do not tell lies. They have sponsored lies against the governor over the outcome of the APC NEC meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 in which the tenure of the National Chairman Chief John Oyegun and others were extended.

    “The governor is the strongest pillar of APC in the South-East and one of the pillars in the Country. And he has remained supportive in all ramifications to the John Oyegun-led National Exco of the Party. And there is no reason anybody should begin to create the impression that Governor Okorocha was against the extension of Chief Oyegun’s tenure.

    “The APC governors who are all members of the APC Governors’ Forum which governor Okorocha heads supported the extension of tenure across the board. And with that, the governors are the greatest beneficiaries of the extension.

    “You may ask where these elements were when the PDP foot soldiers were invading Imo and South-East in general with Soldiers and other Security agents. Rochas made the survival of APC in the South-East possible, having a Senator, three House of Representatives, Majority in the House of Assembly (23 out of 27), and gave President Muhammadu Buhari the highest number of votes in 2015 in the South-East. And APC won that election but the PDP people doctored the whole exercise with the help of Security agencies and INEC then. Time will expose these folks who think that their Political survival lies with blackmail against Okorocha”.

    Meanwhile, the governor has congratulated Oyegun and other members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) of All Progressives Congress, APC over the extension of their tenure by one year.

    The governor also congratulated States, Local Governments and Ward Executives of the party who also benefitted from the extension.

    He noted that “such lofty action would not have been possible without the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the state governors and key stakeholders in the party who were at the NEC meeting”.

    The governor reminded Chief Oyegun and his team that “by the extension, they have been challenged to do more for the progress and victory of the party at levels”.

    He wished them a successful tenure, and praying that the” good Lord should grant them all they needed to succeed”.

  • Okorocha joins Imo West Senatorial race

    Okorocha joins Imo West Senatorial race

    …endorses deputy for Imo East Senatorial seat

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday declared his intention to contest for  the Imo West Senatorial seat in 2019.

    The Imo governor said his participation in the senatorial race will brighten the chances of President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in general election in the State. 

    Okorocha who made the disclosure during the inauguration of members of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) at Government House Owerri, also endorsed his deputy, Eze Madumere for Imo East Senatorial seat.

    He also restated his earlier endorsement of his Chief of Staff and son in-law,  Chief Uche Nwosu as his successor.

    According to the governor, “if Uche Nwosu will be home for governor,  I will tell the deputy governor to go to Senate.

    “I told you earlier that my interest is the Presidency but since President Buhari will be running in 2019 I decided to put my ambition on hold until he completes his tenure.

    “But I have decided to run for the Imo West Senatorial zones because if I don’t, bad people will take the position “.

    Okorocha added further that, “if my name appears on the ballot paper as contesting for Senate, it will boost APC chances in the State. And many from my Senatorial zone have come to me and said they will not contest if I am interested “.

  • Okorocha advocates closer ties between Igbo traders and Customs

    Okorocha advocates closer ties between Igbo traders and Customs

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has called for a more cordial relationship between traders and leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service.

    The governor suggested a national Summit between the traders and the Customs at to correct the impression that the actions and policies of the Customs are targeted against the Igbo traders.

    Governor Okorocha also advised the Customs personnel to concentrate at the borders instead of mounting road blocks in the cities, stating that “if the Customs Officers do what they are expected to do at the borders they have no business mounting road blocks again in the Cities”.

    Governor Okorocha spoke when the Comptroller of Customs, Federal Operations, Zone C, Mr. Azarema. A. Abubakar paid him courtesy, Wednesday, at the Government House Owerri.

    He regretted that “there has been a very dangerous communication gap between the Customs authorities and the Igbo businessmen”, adding that communication is key in the relationship between the two interest groups”.

    According to him, “once the goods have passed the borders and enter the cities, checking them becomes the duty of the Police and no more the functions of the Customs’ officials. Custom officials have no business mounting road blocks inside the cities. Even the issue of under payment should not be the responsibility of the Customs. Customs should also assist the NDLEA to fight illicit drugs, because the NDLEA does not have the needed personnel and resources to fight illicit drugs”.

    His words “I request that Customs’ authorities come down to Imo State or anywhere in the Southeast and talk to the Igbo traders because 90% of the importers are Igbo, come and talk to them and explain to them why the customs take the actions or do some of the things they do that do not go down well with the importers. Our people misunderstand some of these customs’ actions. The impression in the country now is that the Igbo are been witch hunted by the Customs on daily basis because they are Igbo. While that may not be true, there is need to give them proper explanation to some of these actions.

    Read Also:  Okorocha  as instinctive monarchist

    “Due to this lack of communication, some corrupt custom officials take advantage of it and extort money from innocent importers. I will be ready to discuss with my brother governors on this summit. This will help to smoothen the relationship between customs and Igbo importers because for now the relationship is sour and not good for our national unity”.

    He said “Another problem that must be taken care of is the situation where somebody will clear his goods at Apapa Wharf with receipts and when the person gets to Owerri or Aba, they will stop him and insist that he underpaid. It is not the duty of somebody who is here to decide whether somebody underpaid or not in Lagos instead people that cleared him should be held responsible. This double payment of customs duties should stop especially on this side of South-East. This is extortion in my understanding.

    “I Commend the customs for saving millions of lives in Nigeria through the seizure of illegal arms imported into the country as each of those AK47 could take over 100 lives if they enter into the wrong hands. I encourage that the prosecution of those importers who bring in the containers should be made known to the public to serve as a deterrent to others. All we hear is that this number of pump Actions have been seized and AK47 also seized but at the end, the public will not be informed of what has happened to the people that bring in these guns. Custom owes it a duty to explain to people actions taken on persons who commit these crimes”.

    Comptroller Customs, Federal Operations Zone C, Mr. Azarema .A. Abubakar told the governor that Zone C, is made of South-South and South-East with headquarters in Owerri, adding that the South-East is the hub of trade which makes it incumbent on them to seek for Cooperation and support of the governor.

    He said aside checking illegal goods or import the Customs also have to do the job as a security agency, adding that they would work closely with all the relevant persons and bodies.

     

  • Buhari meets APC Governors in Daura

    Buhari meets APC Governors in Daura

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with 18 state governors in the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Daura, Katsina State.

    Three of the governors were represented by their deputies at the meeting which started at 2: 45 p.m.

    Those at the meeting were – Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abubakar Muhammed (Bauchi), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).

    Others were – Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger) and Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa).

    Governors of Benue, Osun and Ogun were represented by their deputies.

    The governors of Yobe and Plateau were also represented at the meeting.

    NAN

  • “We won’t pull down Zuma’s statue”, Okorocha replies critics

    “We won’t pull down Zuma’s statue”, Okorocha replies critics

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha on Friday, said the state will not pull down the statue of former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, who resigned in the heat of corruption allegation.

    The Imo governor had erected Zuma’s statue in Owerri last year, amid widespread criticism.

    Okorocha in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary,  Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said, “on the Jacob Zuma’s Statue in Owerri and the resignation of the man few days ago as President of South Africa, the statue will not be pulled down. The statue was erected when the man was a sitting president. We should also be keen in his life story”.

    The statement continued that “for instance, a man who didn’t receive any formal education but rose to play a major role in the freedom of his people and also became president of one of the leading African nations calls for sober reflection.

    Read Also:  South Africa: Zuma out, Ramaphosa in

    He also resigned honorably. And after his coming to Imo where he spoke against the killings of Nigerians in South Africa, the situation came under control to a large extent. Zuma came to Imo to partner Rochas Foundation College for Africa. He didn’t come for politics. And even after his departure as President, he would still go ahead to make his contributions to the education of the less privileged children in Africa”.

    It added further that, “and whatever Okorocha has done in Imo, he has done so for the good of the people. Okorocha’s achievements in Imo are unequalled, and have exceeded the achievements of all those before him put together. This has continued to be our usual claim and nobody has challenged us on this claim including ex-governors of the State still alive. Our achievements will speak for us in 2019. Our achievements will be our electoral talisman in 2019.

    “Imo people have seen our monumental achievements and have also read criticisms against us. But seeing they say, is believing and not reading”.

  • Our timid electorate and Rochas Okorocha’s priapism of lusts

    Our timid electorate and Rochas Okorocha’s priapism of lusts

    You could be forgiven for thinking Rochas Okorocha, Imo State governor, suffers priapism of lusts; that curious hankering that incites a man’s ambivalence towards his innate moral constructions – relative morality to be precise.

    If Okorocha truly lives and breathes the excellence and native wisdom he projects, he just might understand the dangers of persistently yielding to crooked impulses.

    His erection of the statues of former Liberian and South African presidents, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Jacob Zuma respectively, in his state, trumps his antecedents and strikes a wrong chord across social and political circuits in a state grappling with poverty and government inefficiency.

    At first glance, the statues excite feelings of wonder and revolt. Wonder at its patron’s curious lusts and revulsion at the true import of the effigies in the state.

    While controversy raged over the alleged billion naira effigy, Okorocha struggled to dispel notions of his alleged profligacy in commissioning the statues, hinting that the cost is less than a billion. He accused opposition parties in the state of inciting the controversy through shady insinuations.

    He particularly condemned the Socioeconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for calling for a probe of his government over the statues. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sam Onwuemeodo, in Owerri, Okorocha challenged SERAP to name any law stopping his activities. He hinted that the statues might not have been funded from the government’s purse?

    Okorocha initially claimed to erect the statues in celebration of leaders, who had through “selfless efforts” contributed to the development of the state, Nigeria and the African continent.

    “With the statues, they have been inducted into the Imo Hall of Fame and have received the highest award in the state called the Imo Merits Award “ said one of the governor’s lackeys, according to a recent media report.

    Following the humiliating resignation of South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, over corrupt allegations, Nigerians have been wondering what will become of his statue erected in Imo state.

    It would be recalled that sometimes last year, Okorocha immortalized Zuma with a gigantic statue; a street was even named after Zuma in the state and he was also given a chieftaincy title.

    Given that Zuma was forced out of office by his own party ANC, for being corrupt. Has Okorocha immortalized corruption in Imo state? Has the man with native wisdom, gone the way of the madding crowd to institutionalise sleaze in his native state?

    This of course is discussion pursuable in subsequent forum.

       To be continued…

  • Okorocha to Ohakim: show your achievements in office 

    Okorocha to Ohakim: show your achievements in office 

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, Thursday challenged his predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim to publish his achievements in office.

    The Imo 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 that, “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”.

    The statement continued that, “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 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”.

    It added further that “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.

    “Let Chief Ohakim publish his achievements for the four years he was governor, with their locations, or publish all the achievements of the PDP governments in the State from 1999 to 2011, or publish the achievements of all those who had governed the state from 1976 when the state was created to 2011 when Rochas came on board and let Rochas publish his own achievements. Let there be issues and not petty lies”.

    The governor’s aide also stated that “Chief Ohakim also ran for the governorship primary of his party in 2015 and came third, which means his party members still have reservations over his tenure as governor from 2007 to 2011.

    “If one good tenure deserves another, should Chief Ohakim’s abysmal tenure also deserve another? The answer is NO.

     “We want to appeal to the former governor to look for another issue to talk about and not the issue of Judges’ Salary because the State does not pay Judges’ Salary”.