Tag: Rochas Okorocha

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has urged Nigerians to always work for the nation’s unity.

The governor said there is need to avoid toeing the lines of unpatriotic politicians who use religion and ethnic divisive methods to cause disaffection among Nigerians.

He noted that as Nigeria attained 54 years of independence, the emphasis should be on the things that unite the people and not on those that polarise the people along religious and ethnic lines.

Okorocha regretted that at 54, Nigeria was still facing religious challenges and ethnicity was taking its toll on the nation’s political development.

The governor reminded politicians that posterity would judge them, if they continued to fan the embers of religious and ethnic differences for their selfish gains.

He regretted that the Boko Haram insurgency, which had led to the death of several innocent Nigerians, would have been tamed early, if Nigerian leaders had detached insurgency from politics and confronted it as a national challenge when it started.

According to him, there is need for the political class to show patriotism by their actions and utterances to promote unity, peace and love among Nigerians.

A statement yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, said Okorocha noted that this would encourage the development of the country.

The governor added that as Nigeria celebrates its 54th Independence, eligible voters should ensure that they elect good leaders, not on the basis of their religion or tribe, but for having the capability to offer visionary and progressive leadership.

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has urged judges to advocate true federalism so that power would be decentralised from federal to the state and local governments.
The governor said this would make the economy to function more effectively.
He decried the poverty in the land, saying there is need for judges to make the cause of the common man the core of their adjudication.
Okorocha spoke yesterday in Owerri, the state capital, at the opening of the 30th annual Federal High Court Judges’ Conference.
The governor noted that with the institution of the Community Government Council (CGC) in Imo State, the people at the grassroots had been given a sense of belonging in governance.
He called for the replication of same at the federal level.
Okorocha blamed poverty, loss of confidence in leaders, lack of progress and insurgence in the land on the irrationality of most organisations that do not respect professionalism.
The governor said such organisations gave jobs to people with connections rather than those with the right qualifications.
He regretted that although the nation is endowed with vast natural and human resources, the nation was still faced with hunger, non-access to effective treatment, insurgence and other ills.
Okorocha said: “A hungry man is an angry man and has the tendency to commit crime.”
The governor described a good judge as “one who has the spirit of justice deeply embedded in his actions”.
He added: “It is that lofty, generous and noble spirit, which prices glory more than wealth, honour more than life. So, when this spirit is in anyone or government, sacrifices are made without counting the cost.”
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Ndahi Auta, noted that the Federal High Court was an off-shoot of the Federal Revenue Court, which was created in 1973 as a revenue court to hear expeditious causes and matters relating to the revenue of the Federal Government.
Imo State Commissioner for Justice Chukwuma Machukwu Umeh said the benefits from the annual conferences included the exposure of erudite judges to deliver on newly acquired insights.
He stressed that “the Judiciary is the soul of every civilised nation”.
Okorocha also hailed the judges of the Federal High Court for the speedy delivery of justice, especially on political disputes.
The governor spoke yesterday in Owerri, the state capital, when Federal High Court judges, led by the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, visited him at the Government House.
He described the Federal High Court as the foundation of the nation’s Judiciary.
Okorocha, who also urged judges to assist parties to resolve their deadlocked internal democracy, thanked the Federal Government for establishing a Federal High Court in Owerri.
The governor assured the judges of a favourable environment during their stay.
The governor said the Judiciary was not only the last hope of the common man but also the last hope of democracy.
He told the judges that the nation appreciated that they ensured smooth and speedy justice delivery.
A statement yesterday by Ngozi Onyeocha said Okorocha urged the judges not to relent.
The governor said his administration had begun the construction of a Judiciary complex, to be named after the late Supreme Court judge, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

The people of Obinugwu in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State have passed a vote of confidence in Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The people, comprising their traditional ruler, Eze Stanley Anezionwu Nwangwu, the Council of Chiefs and other members of the community expressed confidence in the Okorocha administration.

They spoke yesterday in Obinugwu when leaders of the apex socio-cultural organisation, the Orlu Zurumee, visited the monarch.

The people urged the governor to run for a second term to enable him complete the projects he started about four years ago.

Eze Nwangwu thanked Okorocha for enabling Obinugwu to benefit from his administration’s “Rescue Mission” and transforming the community.

The monarch noted that the restoration of his leadership after 40 years was a thing of joy for the community.

He promised to carry everyone along in the development of the community.

Eze Nwangwu noted that despite the harassment and intimidation by his opponent, the people still kept faith with him until God installed him.

The monarch, who said he was a foundation member of Orlu Zurumee in the 1980s, thanked the group’s leaders for their visit.

He promised to make justice, equity and fair play his watch word.

The 78-year-old monarch said he is a grassroots son of the community from Obinukabia village.

According to him, he is from the first of the nine villages that make up the Obinugwu community.

The monarch urged members of the community to unite for its development.

Orlu Zurumee’s President-General Chime Nzeribe said the group was happy with the monarch’s ascension to the throne.

A statement yesterday in Owerri, the state capital, by the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, William Unadike, said there were songs and dances by the community’s women.

Traditional rulers from  Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu and Ezinihitte local governments in Imo State apologised yesterday to Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha over the embarrassment he experienced at the ‘Iri Iji’ Mbaise Festival at the weekend.

Okorocha in a statement demanded an apology from the House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, whom he accused of verbally attacking him at  the ceremony.

The Mbaise monarchs decried the action of the Speaker, accusing him of taking advantage of the cultural event to insult the Governor.

Addressing reporters at his palace at Amano Obohia autonomous community in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government after a meeting, the Chairman of the Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Chidume Okoro, said Mbaise people were against the incident.

He said: “We tender an unreserved apology to our Governor for the insult meted out to him by  mischievous politicians and enemies of Mbaise people. The incident is unfortunate and condemnable because Mbaise indigenes are not known to embarrass their guests.”

Okoro, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, said he cried out a few days before the event over the mobilisation of youths and women by politicians who wanted to canvass for votes.

Said he: “When we learnt that politicians were mobilising youths and women, we went on air to warn that the event should not be turned to a political rally. We took that measure to preserve the sanctity of the cultural festival and for public safety, but some politicians and enemies of Mbaise people, who were bent on tarnishing the image of our people, took advantage of the event to insult the Governor, who attended the event to honour us.”

The monarch went on: “A few days before the ceremony, a high-powered delegation was sent to the Governor to invite him as a Special Guest of Honour, which he accepted. We also sent a similar delegation to our son, Ihedioha, who is the Chief Host, being the highest political office holder from Mbaise and he promised to receive the Governor, but we were shocked to witness what almost turned chaotic, following the actions of the politicians. We apologise to the Governor and other visitors who were embarrassed by the incident.”

To buttress their resolve to punish those behind the unfortunate incident, the monarchs banished a popular musician, Mr. Felix Ndukwe, for his alleged role in the incident.

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has warned that the mismanagement of the information on the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) could be harmful to the economy.

The governor, in a broadcast to the residents, described the outbreak of the Ebola virus as unfortunate.

He said the wrong handling of the information on the disease could cripple the economic activities of the nation.

Okorocha said: “Ebola is unfortunate. But what is more deadly is the handling of Ebola information. It can create tension and cripple the economy of any state. Creating awareness is good. But if the information is mismanaged, it can cripple the economy of any state.”

The governor said there was no record of the disease in the state, adding that his administration would not allow the virus to enter the state.

He said the government had put in place several measures to keep the virus away from Imo.

According to him, the measures include the establishment of a diagnostic centre, Ochiedike Diagnostic Centre, on Concorde Hotel Road in Owerri, the state capital.

Okorocha said his administration had bought vital equipment to combat any likely case.

The governor warned against unprotected handling of the dead or lying-in-state of bodies in churches until the disease is rooted out.

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has assured Mbaise people that the building of the Imo State University campus at Mbaise will be completed by December.

He spoke when Mbaise monarchs and political leaders visited him at the Government House, Owerri to invite him for the Iriji Mbaise Festival.

Okorocha, who hailed the leaders for their sense of purpose and for upholding the bond among Mbaise indigenes through the festival, promised to ensure the people’s happiness.

He said his administration has built 36 primary schools, three general hospitals and over 40-km asphalted roads in the town.

The governor thanked the people for supporting his government.

Okorocha vowed to reconstruct the 1.5-km Douglas Road at Mbaise and meet the people’s other needs.

The traditional ruler of Amanano Obohia Aboh Mbaise and Chairman, Owerri Zonal Traditional rulers, HRH Eze Chidume Okoro, thanked the governor for carrying the indigenes along.

He said the cultural festival, which has been celebrated since 50 years ago, unites the 91 kingdoms that make up Mbaise.

The monarch appealed for government sponsorship and assured Okorocha of their support.

IMO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has denied issuing a dud cheque of N50 million to the Archbishop of the Owerri Archdiocese, Anthony Obinna.

He made the denial after an Enugu-based Catholic cleric, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, accused him of issuing the cheque.

Mbaka reportedly made the claim last Sunday at the thanksgiving service organised in honour of former Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, at the Christ the King Church Parish, Enugu.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, in a statement yesterday, described the allegation as false and malicious.

He added that it was politically-motivated to undermine the governor’s integrity.

He said: “Aside the publications in the newspapers to that effect, we have continued to be inundated with calls from editors of well-known newspapers and magazines across the nation and online media outfits demanding confirmation of the allegation or otherwise of same.

“Let us simply aver that the claim is not only false, but spurious and curious in many respects.

“There is no iota of truth in the wild allegation. You can call it an ‘unholy blackmail,’ taking into account the person behind it. We challenge Rev Fr Mbaka to go beyond his claim and provide the proof since cheques are not invisible objects.”