The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rochas Okorocha

  • Biafra: ‘Can Kanu lead Igbos to war?’

    Biafra: ‘Can Kanu lead Igbos to war?’

    Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu came under fire from many quarters yesterday for his belligerency, particularly his call for the boycott of the November governorship election in Anambra State.

    He has also been threatening that unless a referendum is organised to enable the Igbo determine whether they should have Biafra, the Southeast will boycott the 2019 elections.

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and politicians chided the separatist advocate.

    The Ijaw Youth Council also threatened action should Kanu disparage former President Goodluck Jonathan again.

    Okorocha who spoke at the State House in Abuja said Kanu does not represent or speak for the Igbo, describing him as a young man seeking relevance.

    “Kanu, a young man seeking relevance, agitating for whatever he believes in, what he stands for must be treated separately from the entire Igbo nation.

    “He should be treated as a young man agitating and seeking for relevance, these are two different issues. And he can ride on the back of supposed Igbo marginalization which has been said is not right, and ride on that sentiments and push his agenda but that does not mean that the entire Igbos are speaking with him.

    The question is does Nnamdi Kanu have the capacity to lead Igbo to war? Or lead me and the governors to war? So I will stand now and Nnamdi Kanu will tell me stand up let’s go to war? So, sometimes we over dramatised the issue just to make a big deal out of it and that has been the big challenge.

    “Like the gentleman that spoke for the Arewa youths, and these are not more than 17 young men speaking for millions of Arewa youths and it doesn’t make sense because if you ask any Arewa youth now if he is part of this he will tell you no.

    “I was in Chatham House and I remember how I was attacked by the IPOB boys when I was delivering my lecture. They walked up to me and they were shouting and I said calm down and the young man has never visited Nigeria. So it is our duty to call our younger ones to order but I want to assure Nigerians that they should not see that as a break but agitation given what they perceived that the South East has been neglected over time politically, economically, socially and all that.

    “Their roads are impassable, you cannot pass Port Harcourt road, Enugu road, Aba Road, Bayelsa road and all the roads. You can hardly see federal government presence in the South East, all the things you see are self-made things. Even the Onitsha bridge has been a theoretical talk, fabrications which does not represent reality.

    “So, he speaks his own and joins it to our issues and it now looks like a nationwide thing. That is not the issue.

    “We have called for unity and have agreed that we will remain united. Very soon, some of us have taken it upon ourselves to reach out to this young men talk to them. We must understand that our young men are frustrated, if they are as comfortable as we are, they will not be able to say those.

    Ohaneze Ndigbo said Kanu has no right to stop the Anambra governorship election.

    Its president, Dr John Nwodo, described the IPOB leader’s statement as provocative, misleading and unproductive.

    He said Kanu’s statement was against the agreement he reached with Ohaneze Ndigbo when he visited him, adding that the IPOB leader had breached the agreement with Ohaneze without consultation.

    Nwodo and his executive council members spoke during a visit to the Anambra State House of Assembly yesterday as part of its sensitisation in the South East. Speaker Rita Maduagwu, lawmakers and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, attended.

    Nwodo said:  “News that reached us in the past few days that Nnamdi Kami, had declared that there will be no election in Anambra in November is shocking and disturbing. I hereby countermand that declaration as President General of Ohaneze

    “Whereas Ohaneze understands the marginalisation and unfair treatment of Igbos which have given rise to self-determination movements in Igboland, leaders of these movements must not arrogate to themselves the supreme leadership of Igboland. Statements of the kind credited to Nnamdi Kanu are provocative, misleading and unproductive”

    “Why should Anambra people be denied the opportunity to choose their own leader? Why should any of us not from Anambra, no matter how highly placed, descend to the arena and dictate for Anambra people when to vote, whether to vote or who to vote for?

    “Anambra, nay Igbos, are still part and parcel of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Yes, we are not happy with our treatment in Nigeria”

    “Yes, some of us want Biafra. Yes, some of us prefer a restructured Federal Republic of Nigeria. But the fact remains that we are still part and parcel of the present Federal Republic of Nigeria, bound by its laws, no matter how repressive or unjust”

    Umeh said it was only the people who do not have Igbo blood in them that would allow anybody to tell them what goes on in the society today, adding that the current Ohaneze was making Ndigbo proud.

    Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on legislative matters, Chief Chidozie Ezeugwa, condemned Kanu’s statement saying the government of Anambra state under Obiano was committed to the Igbo cause and would continue to do everything to support Ohaneze’s interest in anything in protecting Ndigbo in the country.

    Some politicians have also condemned Kanu’s call for a boycott of the Anambrapoll.

    They said the call was capable of derailing democracy in the state and expose the people to anarchy.

    Chief Sam Oraegbunam, Chairman of Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Anambra chapter, said although Kanu’s call for repositioning of Nigeria was popular, he must not use it to cause confusion in Anambra.

    The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has declared that further attack on former President Jonathan by Kanu, would be met with appropriate sanctions from Ijaw youths.

    IYC through its Spokesman Daniel Dasimaka, described as uncharitable and disrespectful, Kanu’s comments on ex-President Jonathan.

    The umbrella organisation of Ijaw youths said: “It is quite ironic and appalling that anyone will say ex-President Jonathan did nothing for the Southeast, when it is common knowledge in both informed and not-so-informed circles in Nigeria that the Southeast benefited even more than the Southsouth under Dr. Jonathan. It is on record that under the then President Jonathan, rehabilitation and expansion works were done on the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (SMICA), Owerri, Imo State, which he granted an international airport status.

    “In terms of appointment, Dr. Jonathan appointed the first female Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mrs. Rose Chinyere Uzoma (an Igbo). He also appointed the first Southeast Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and first Southeast Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ogbonnaya Onovo, among others.

    “We are calling on the true Igbo leaders to caution Nnamdi Kanu and to bridle his tongue, lest his unguarded rhetoric may strain the good relationship the Igbo and the Ijaw nation, and by extrapolation, the Southsouth and Southeast geopolitical zones, have enjoyed over the years.”

  • Okorocha: Manipulation of Mbaise votes nearly cost me victory in 2015

    Okorocha: Manipulation of Mbaise votes nearly cost me victory in 2015

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said the votes he got in Mbaise, the hometown of his major rival in the 2015 governorship election and former House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, were manipulated to favour the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

    The governor said he almost lost the election due to the manipulation of the votes from the area.

    Okorocha spoke yesterday in Owerri, the state capital, when he hosted a delegation of traditional rulers from the town.

    The governor said he won the election in the area by a landslide margin, adding that the result was altered against him.

    Ihedioha reportedly won in the three local government areas under Mbaise, the only areas he got majority votes in the 2015 poll.

    Okorocha noted that the people from the area voted massively for him though their votes were not allowed to count.

    He said: “I almost lost the election because of the result they churned out from Mbaise. I equally know that Mbaise people voted for me, but something happened along the line.”

    Then governor noted that the electorate in Mbaise voted en masse for him in 2011 when he defeated the then Governor Ikedi Ohakim.

    He said: “If there is one group of people I am proud of, who are so enterprising and have made the name of this state great globally, it is Mbaise people. In other words, Imo State can hardly be talked about without the mention of Mbaise. The people are a source of pride to us and adequately play a key role in the development of the state.

    “In the last election, I almost lost because of the result they churned out from Mbaise. I equally know that Mbaise people voted for me, thoguh something happened along the line. Yet, Mbaise is the place I have built a university, a factory, schools, hospitals, roads. The people are having the highest number of beneficiaries of the free education programme.

    “I took an oath to serve the whole of Imo State; I am not sectional. To that oath, I have been faithful. I am not a sectional leader and will never be. Mbaise will get the best from this government. All the projects I have in Mbaise will be completed before I leave officce.”

    The monarchs were accompanied by a member of the House of Representatives, Nnanna Igbokwe, representing Ahiazu-Ezinihitte Federal Constituency.

    Okorocha assured his guests that “politically, I will always work with the Mbaise people”.

    He added: “Mbaise people should start resisting the idea of Abuja selecting candidates for them for political offices. Nnanna Igbokwe is a young man who has the support of his people. Some politicians talk only about party while the wise ones talk about the people in the party. You cannot have a Cathedral without a Bishop.

    “There are three groups of Imo people: they are people who love one another and believe in the progress of the state; people who love themselves and believe in the progress of themselves. Finally, the docile ones who sit on the fence and fall to any group that favours them. Nnanna Igbokwe belongs to the group who love one another and believes in the progress of the state.

    “Igbokwe, you are doing very well. You have remained consistent. We will support you. Coming with Ndi Eze shows your humility and unity of purpose. I want to thank you and request of you to join hands with those who think alike: be in that family. I will advise you to join people who share the same ideology with you.”

    Leaders of the delegation, Igbokwe and Eze Chidume Okoro told Okorocha that Mbaise indigenes were grateful to him for what he has done for them.

    They said their own people could not do for them what the governor had accomplished in their area.

    According to them, “aside from free education, which Mbaise people are key beneficiaries of, the citing of the University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in Mbaise remains an exceptional favour Mbaise people would not forget in a hurry”.

     

  • Okorocha calls for upgrade of FMC, Owerri, to teaching hospital

    Okorocha calls for upgrade of FMC, Owerri, to teaching hospital

    Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has appealed to the Federal Government to upgrade Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, to a teaching hospital.

    Okorocha made the appeal in Owerri on Tuesday when the Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, visited the centre to inaugurate six newly built projects.

    Okorocha, represented by the Deputy Governor, Ezedinobi Madumere, said the conversion of the centre to a teaching hospital was long overdue.

    The governor said the crisis in the centre between the management and staff was over.

    Besides, the governor said the centre had the manpower and physical structure to become a teaching hospital.

    Okorocha said he was directly involved in the resolution of the crisis which almost marred the activities of the hospital.

    He urged all parties to drop past grievances and work together to move the centre forward.

    Ehanire said the upgrading of the centre was possible, but would be better guaranteed when the management and staff were united.

    “I have seen physical structures and all met the international standard but management and staff must be at peace before such agitation will be considered,” he said.

    According to him, the Federal Government has resolved the lingering crisis in the centre and urged the workers to ensure that sanity is maintained.

    “I can assure you that the crisis is over and everybody should be ready to do the job which they are paid for,” he said.

    Ehanire said the government had plans to build a health centre in every political ward in the country to ensure a government’s health centre was at the door step of everyone.

    He commended the Medical Director, Dr Angela Uwakwem,  for the numerous achievements she had recorded within a short period.

    Uwakwem said that the hospital had manpower in various medical fields.

    She said that management embarked on the projects to reduce medical tourism by people in the state.

    She said the hospital had procured 16 Slice GE CT Scan and Fluoroscopy machines as well as C Arm machine to advance radiological services.

    Uwakwem, however, pleaded with the minister  to ensure the release of  the salaries of the workers, which were withheld during the crisis.

    “I wish to bring to the notice of the minister that peace has been reinstated in the hospital.

    “I plead that government should release salaries of workers which were not paid to them during the implementation of No Work,  No pay policy,” she said.

    The management and staff of the hospital had been at loggerheads over allegations of mismanagement of funds in the last two years.

    The crisis led to the closure of the centre and the suspension of Uwakwem.

    Uwakwem was later recalled by the Federal Government after a probe panel exonerated her from all the allegations against her.

  • Quit notice: Ag. President meets Northern leaders

    Quit notice: Ag. President meets Northern leaders

    • Okorocha slams Biafra agitators

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday read the riot act to purveyors of hate speeches, saying they won’t be allowed to destabilise the country.

    The Federal Government, he said, would ensure the country’s unity, adding that nobody would be allowed to get away with seditious speeches.

    “As a government, we are determined to ensure the unity of the country along the lines of our constitution and I want to say that hate and divisive speeches or divisive behaviour where it is illegal will be met with the full force of the law,” the Acting President said at a meeting with some elders from the North at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Some members of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), among other groups, were at the meeting.

    It was the first in the series of meetings with leaders from the six geo-political zones over the brewing discontent between the North and the Southeast.

    Last week, the Coalition of Northern Youths (CNY) gave easterners in the North 90 days to quit.

    The ultimatum followed the May 30 sit-at-home observed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the east to mark the 50th anniversary of Biafra.

    Similarly, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha described as nonsensical agitations for Biafra.

    Osinbajo said those pushing for disintegration by ordering other Nigerians in their domains to quit would face the law.

    The government, he said, would not fold its arms and allow peace and order to be disrupted in any part of the country.

    The Acting President said: “Every form of violence, every form of hate speech, any stone that is thrown in the marketplace will hit targets that are going to be deadly. So I need us to be fully conscious of that and the Nigerian people must be made to be fully conscious of that so that we do not create a crisis that is not intended.

    As part of living together I know that misunderstandings and frustrations will always arise and people will always want to get the best part of the deal but we must be careful to recognise that we can only begin to talk about any part of anything if we are together in peace – Osinbajo.

    “These days, wars do not end and I am sure that those who have seen or experienced war in any shape or form will not wish it on their worst enemies.

    “This is not a time to retreat behind ethnic lines, moments like this are not for isolating ourselves, I want to urge all of us here and the entire Nigerian populace to come together and work together.”

    He added: “And I want to ensure that there is no doubt at all that it is the resolve of the government that none will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause sedition or that can cause violence especially because when we make these kinds of pronouncement and do things that can cause violence or destruction of lives and property we are no longer in control. Those who make those speeches are no longer in control.

    So, I want to emphasise that government will take very seriously any attempts to cause violence or disrupt the peace of this country. And that is very important because you cannot control violence once it begins.”

    At the meeting were ACF leader Ibrahim Coomassie, NEF leader Prof Ango Abdullahi, who gave his backing to the Arewa youths’ threat, former Sokoto State Governor,  Aliyu Wamakko, former Plateau State Deputy Governor Pauline Tallen,  Second Republic Minister and Benue State elder  Dr. Paul Unongo, Leadership publisher Sam Ndah-Isaiah, Liberty Radio/Television Chairman Tijani Ramalan and Editor-in-Chief of Daily Trust Dan Ali, among others.

    The acting President was supported by the Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olanishakin.

    Today, Osinbajo will meet with leaders from the southeast; the region’s traditional rulers will take their turn on Friday. On Sunday, the acting president will meet with traditional rulers from the North.

  • Hate speeches: Okorocha cautions Arewa youths, pro-Biafra groups

    Hate speeches: Okorocha cautions Arewa youths, pro-Biafra groups

    …Says call for secession nonsensical

     

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Tuesday 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 who was reacting to the quit notice served on the Igbo living in North by the Arewa youths and consequent reactions by pro-Biafra groups, while briefing journalists at the Government House, stated 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.

    According to him, “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 that, “these secessionist agitations are sponsored for personal aggrandizement. 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, however blamed Nigerian leaders for the growing spread of hatred among youths across the country, “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.

     

     

  • Okorocha receives new Brigade Commander, charges him on patriotism

    Okorocha receives new Brigade Commander, charges him on patriotism

    Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo  said on Wednesday  government would partner the military for effective security in the state.

    Okorocha made the assertion when he received the new Commander, 34 Field Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Brig. Gen. Hamza Bature.

    The governor  admonished him to equally work with passion to succeed.

    He said that he perceived a connection between him and the army chief which was a passion to strive to succeed and added that people of the state were very paramount to him.

    “The contact I have with anyone that comes to serve here is the people of Imo state and that is the spirit with which I speak.

    “I always maintain that my people come first before anything else; the people remain the pivot upon which the rescue mission agenda rotates.

    “My principle word as a governor is what can I do to effect positive change in the lives of my people,” he said.

    Okorocha said he had hunger for success and that in spite of the huge development his administration had effected, he was still not yet satisfied.

    “Because I have not got the Imo state of my dream; I am not working with the mindset of  this being a government job.

    ”I take it as a personal business held in trust for the people which must succeed,” he said.

    Responding, Bature said the visit was to officially present himself to the governor as the new commander and also to solicit government`s support in ensuring security in the state.

    “Our operation is guarded by the constitution and the trust of our operation has been captured in the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, encapsulated to have a professionally positive army discharging its constitutional roles,” he said.

    Bature pledged his  support to the government and people of Imo towards securing a peaceful and crime-free state.

  • 2019: Okorocha warns against inciting statements 

    2019: Okorocha warns against inciting statements 

    …says no group can threaten the security of the State

     

    The recent threat by political leaders from Owerri zone in Imo State to kill and burn down the property of anyone from the zone who supports any other politician from another zone for the 2019 governorship election has drawn the ire of the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha who warned against further inflammatory utterances that could undermine the peace and security of the State.

    The Imo Governor cautioned proponents of zoning, especially those from Owerri zone to desist from acts that could jeopardize the safety of lives and property of Imo citizens, asserting that the government will not fold it’s hands and watch “few overzealous politicians threaten the lives and property of the citizens for political reasons “.

    A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo,  read in part, “the attention of the Governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been drawn to the recent threat by a group of politicians from a particular political zone in the state to kill and burn the properties of people from their zone who would support candidates from the other zones of the state for the governorship of the state in 2019.

    “This uncivilized and undemocratic threat bothers on the lives and properties of Imo citizens, and no responsible government would fold its hands and watch few overzealous politicians threatening the lives and properties of the citizens for political reasons”.

    The statement continued that,  “the Governor is worried that such threat could also elicit similar threats from the other zones of the state and a situation like that could lead to undue bickering, especially when it is recalled that there is no zone that has not governed state and those concerned were elected by the people on merit and not on zonal sentiment.

    “It is the popular wish of Imo people that anybody who has what it takes to offer the state and her people purposeful leadership should come out when the time comes not minding which political zone of the state the person might come from. And that has been the stock in the politics of the state since 1979.

    “It is also important to remind these elements fanning this ember of division among Imo people out of zonal bias that Imo people have never left political contest in the state for the governorship to one particular zone for any reason”.

    It also clarified that,  “for instance, in 1979 Chief Sam Mbakwe of NPP from Okigwe zone, Dr. Nwakanma Okoro of NPN from Umuahia zone, Dr. Nnanna Ukaegbu of GNPP from Owerri zone, Mr. Steve Evuleocha of PRP from Owerri zone, and Mr. Zacheaus Nwosu of UPN from Okigwe zone ran for the governorship of the state and at the end of the day, Imo people settled for Sam Mbakwe from Okigwe zone.

    “In the 1983 election, Sam Mbakwe of NPP from Okigwe zone, Chief Collins Obih of NPN from Orlu zone, Mr. Sylvanus Ekeanyawu of UPN from Owerri zone and so on, contested the election which Mbakwe also won.

    “In the 1991 governorship poll, Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu from Orlu zone, Prof. Fabian Osuji and Dr. Alex Obi from Owerri zone ran for the ticket of SDP, while Chief Evan Enwerem from Owerri zone and Dr. Douglas Acholonu from Orlu zone ran for the ticket of NRC in the primaries. At the end of the day, Chief Enwerem from Owerri zone won the election proper.

    “In the 1999 election, Chief Achike Udenwa, Rochas Okorocha, Greg Mbadiwe, Ezekiel Izuogu from Orlu zone and Humphrey Anumudo and Desmond Iwuagwu (Barnax) of AD from Owerri zone all took part in the gubernatorial election.

    “In 2007, Hope Uzodinma, Tony Ezenna, Festus Odimegwu, ThankGod Ezeani from Orlu zone with Kema Chikwe, Bright Nwanne, Emma Ojinere from Owerri zone and Ifeanyi Araraume from Okigwe zone slugged it out in PDP. At the end of the day, the contest was narrowed down to Ifeanyi Araraume for PDP and Ikedi Ohakim for PPA all from Okigwe zone and Martin Agbaso of APGA and Ugo Opara of ANPP all from Owerri zone.

    “While in 2011, it was between Ifeanyi Araraume of ACN, and Ikedi Ohakim of PDP from Okigwe zone, and Rochas Okorocha of APGA from Orlu zone and Chief Vitalis Ajumbe of ANPP from Owerri zone. At the end, Rochas Okorocha won.

    “And in 2015, it was between Ikedi Ohakim, Ifeany Araraume from Okigwe zone and Emeka Ihedioha, Chris Anyanwu from Owerri zone in PDP, vis-a-vis Owelle Rochas Okorocha of APC from Orlu zone and Captain Emma Iheanacho of APGA from Owerri zone, which Rochas Okorocha also won.

    “From the foregoing, it is clear that Imo governorship has never been left for any particular zone. Imo people have always elected their governor on the basis of merit. And the trend won’t change in 2019 no matter the level of threat from some self-centered politicians in the state. Imo people do not succumb to any political colouration that will deny them the freedom to elect someone who will take the state to the next level of development and growth”.

     

  • Lawyer wants Imo to adopt whistle blowing policy

    A lawyer in Imo, Mr Blessing Iweajunwa, has advised the State Government to key into the whistle blowing policy introduced by the Federal Government to effectively tackle corruption.

    Iweajunwa, who is also a right activist, gave this advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Owerri.

    She said that with the level of success the policy had recorded at the federal level, it could be replicated in Imo.

    “This policy has helped the Federal Government to recover billions of naira and many corrupt leaders are now facing trial.

    “I want Gov. Rochas Okorocha to adopt the policy in Imo because many people are willing to blow the whistle here,” he said.

    According to the lawyer, since successive governors in Imo have not deemed it fit to probe their predecessors, only the whistle blowing policy can expose such leaders.

    She said in spite of the Federal Government’s bailout Paris Club fund, which was given to Imo, workers had yet to be paid their salaries.

    Iweajunwa pointed out that with the policy; the Imo Government could realise millions of naira from corrupt leaders and use the money to clear the controversial pension arrears.

    She, however, urged the State Government not to relent in its efforts of ensuring adequate security in the state.

     

  • Imo industrial park to gulp $2bn – Okorocha

    Imo industrial park to gulp $2bn – Okorocha

    Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Monday said that the construction of Imo Industrial Park located at Asa community in Ohaji/Egbema Area of the state would cost N 2 billion dollars.

    Okorocha, who made the disclosure when he visited the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Owerri, said the park would stimulate economic activities in Imo, when fully developed.

    “The Imo Industrial Park, which will include a gas plant at Asa in Ohaji, is the brain child of my government.

    “It will be constructed under public/private partnership agreement and a foreign firm will fund the project with over $2 billion.

    “Though the project may not be completed before 2019, but my appeal is that whosoever that will succeed me should support the project and see to its completion because the project will stimulate economic activities in Imo,” he said.

    The governor, who listed various developmental projects he embarked on since assumption of office, said that his vision  was to turn the state to one of the best for business in the world.

    “When I assumed office as governor in 2011, most governors who visited Owerri usually did not like to pass a night in Owerri because the hospitality industry and the environment was still not up to acceptable international standard.

    “Today, we receive hundreds of letters from groups requesting government’s approval for them to hold their programmes in Owerri,” he said.

    According to him, the state can now boost of a lot of world class hospitality firms.

    “Government is planning to organise three months training for the hospitality workers on ways to enhance their service delivery,” the governor stated.

    On agricultural programme, Okorocha said that mega farms would be established in each of the 27 local government areas, while each commissioner, schools, churches, and professional bodies would be encouraged to set up farms.

    He also said he would expand the executive council members to enable him realise the concluding programmes and projects already listed by his administration.

    He said that after the urban renewal projects, from September 2017, he would commence the construction of 540km of rural roads spread across the 27 local government areas of the state.

    Okorocha appealed to illustrious sons and daughters of Imo to invest at home, saying, “bringing your investments home is a better way to develop Imo and address the problem of unemployment and insecurity”.

     

  • You can’t quell Biafra agitation with force, Obi warns FG

    You can’t quell Biafra agitation with force, Obi warns FG

    Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, Thursday warned against the current approach adopted by the Federal Government in handling pro-Biafra agitations in the Southeast.

    Obi who spoke with journalists after a closed door meeting with the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha at the Governor’s lodge in Owerri, the Imo State capital, insisted that the use of force or the continued incarceration of Biafra activists cannot quell the growing agitations.

    According to him, the Federal Government should continue to engage the players in continued dialogue as a means of finding a lasting solution to the challenges, particularly the issue of Biafra, which he said is given Igbo leaders serious concern.

    In his words, “I have warned against the use of force against Biafra agitators. The Federal Government should be open to continued dialogue, which is what we are supporting. That is why I am here today to thank Governor Rochas Okorocha for his efforts in managing the Biafra challenge”.

    He continued that, “our people won’t support the use of force against those agitating for Biafra; it is a very delicate matter that must be treated with caution. As a matter of fact, the FG should release all Biafra activists that are currently in detention to begin the process of meaningful dialogue”.

    Although details of the meeting were not made known to journalists, but The Nation gathered that it may not be unconnected with the plan by the former Governor to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    It was also suspected that the ex-Anambra Governor also came to perfect plans on how to assist the APC win the November 22 governorship election in Anambra State.

    Obi, who has been locked in a cold war with his successor, is said to be weighing the option of joining other Igbo leaders in the APC and helping the party win the governorship election will brighten his chances in the APC.

    But the former governor dismissed any plan to join the APC, “I am a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and I am not dumping the party for any other party. So I am not joining the APC. I am here for a private visit that is all, nothing more”.