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Tag: Rochas Okorocha

  • FG gave Obi N8b to prosecute Anambra election- Ngige alleges

    FG gave Obi N8b to prosecute Anambra election- Ngige alleges

    …as APC vows to recover mandate in Anambra

    The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, yesterday alleged that the federal government gave Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, N8 billion to prosecute the election.

    Ngige further alleged that the money which was given in the guise of Ecological Fund by the FG was to ensure that APC was rigged out in the election, adding that “the N8biilion is apart from the N4billion state resources used by Obi for the election.”

    Speaking in Owerri, the Imo State capital, during the Southeast APC leaders meeting, Ngige disclosed that the FG also allegedly directed security agents to clamp down on APC members during the election.

    According to him, “Even the Army and the Police were biased against the APC. They were arresting every vehicle with the APC logo. Some of our members were arrested in Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo States just to stop them.”

    Also speaking during the meeting, an APC leader, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, congratulated APC members for their solidarity and support during the recently held election in Anambra State, adding, “The PDP-led government was afraid of the APC and they ensured that APC came out third to stop us from going to the tribunal but we will disappoint them and fight on until the election is cancelled.”

    He observed further, “In the history of Nigerian politics, there has never been an opposition party as strong as the APC. We have 16 governors already and many more are joining. I can tell you that by 2015, the PDP will be the opposition party.”

    Earlier in his speech, the host and Chairman of Progressives Governors’ Forum, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, sued for unity and harmony among members of the party.

    He said, “In APC, we believe in the masses; there is nothing like consensus candidate in APC. Let nobody claim that because he is close to the leaders, he is anointed.”

    The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting read, “We have met and agreed that a contact committee be set up to reach out to people in the zone.

    “To recover the party’s mandate in Anambra State through all legal means and ensure that Senator Ngige becomes the Governor of Anambra State.”

  • 2014: Okorocha, Ogbeh, el-Rufai, Osoba, Fani-Kayode warn PDP against rigging

    2014: Okorocha, Ogbeh, el-Rufai, Osoba, Fani-Kayode warn PDP against rigging

    •APC mobilisation committee storms Osun

    The National Mobilisation Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday stormed Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to rally support for the party.

    Many chieftains of the party, including Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha; former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Chief Audu Ogbeh; former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba and former Minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode spoke at the rally.

    The Osogbo City Stadium, venue of the rally, was filled with APC members and supporters.

    Some of the Speakers, who spoke in turns, addressed the issue of future elections.

    The party chieftains warned PDP against manipulating next year’s governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, saying what was done in the last Anambra State governorship poll should not be repeated.

    Ogbeh said the progressives had never been allowed to rule “this nation”, adding that the APC was set to take over power at the centre to better the lot of Nigerians.

    Okorocha said Nigerians should not only vote, but ensure that their votes count in installing the right government.

    He urged Osun people to support Governor Rauf Aregbesola and enable him consolidate on the numerous achievements of his administration.

    Fani-Kayode warned the PDP led-Federal Government against rigging the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

    He said: “The rigging style used during the last Anambra State governorship election would not be allowed in Osun and Ekiti states next year. When the Federal Government did it in Yorubaland in 1964 and 1966, the government at the centre fell. The same scenario was repeated in Ondo in 1983 during the time of the late Chiefs Adekunle Ajasin and Akin Omoboriowo and the Federal Government fell as well.

    “In 1993, the election of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola was annulled with the connivance of the military and the government at the centre fell. So this time around, the progressives’ decision to come together to form a formidable party is not just a tea party. We warn that rigging should not be repeated in Yorubaland to foist unpopular governments on the people.”

    Osoba said he was impressed with the development in the state and hailed Aregbesola’s commitment to rapid growth.

    Aregbesola thanked the people for their support to his administration and pledged to always protect their interests.

    He said: “For seven-and-a-half years, you (the people of Osun State) were subjected to humiliation, but in the three years of our administration, we have tried to restore the people’s dignity in many ways with our programmes and policies.

    “So no amount of threat by the opposition party in the state can intimidate us. With God on our side, no rigging in 2014 in the Osun governorship election will succeed. Our party, APC, will take over power in 2015 in Nigeria. So whoever is yet to register should do so when the voter registration begins.”

  • Imo to complete roads

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has reinstated his administration’s resolve to complete all ongoing road projects in the state before the expiration of his tenure in 2015.

    Governor Okorocha made this pledge while inspecting some ongoing projects in Owerri the state capital.

    While inspecting the Ring Road that spans from Egbu Road through Imo State University that also connects Works Layout with Orlu Road, Governor Okorocha said that the dual-carriage way, on completion, would ease traffic congestion in the municipality.

    Governor Okorocha therefore called on Imo citizens living within the urban cities to de-silt their drainage to avoid flooding; adding that the forecast by meteorologists that many states, including Imo, will witness heavy rainfall and flooding should not be ignored.

    He said that his administration embarked on tackling flood problem at Works Layout by constructing drainage system that will take care of the entire flood from Orji and Mbieri so as to give the residents of Works Layout a lease of life.

    Governor Okorocha disclosed that Egbu/IMSU/Orlu dual carriage road which is about 11.5 km will cost the state N1.7 billion.

  • Okorocha marks second anniversary with prayers

    Okorocha marks second anniversary with prayers

    The Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has attributed the success of his administration within two years in office to the unrelenting prayers by Imo citizens.

    Governor Okorocha, who disclosed this during his thanksgiving Mass to mark his two years in office and Imo Freedom Day at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri, urged the people not to relent in their prayers, stressing that with prayers, all things are possible.

    He assured that his administration was committed to transforming the state with massive infrastructural development such as road construction, construction of 305 primary schools, 27 general hospitals, Imo Conference Centre, Ikemba Ojukwu Centre and many others.

    In his sermon earlier, the Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. Andrew Nkwocha, urged Christians to always pray for their leaders and those in authority to enable God to direct their footsteps aright, even as he stressed the need for leaders to see themselves as servants and not masters. Fr. Nkwocha commended the state government for the massive developmental projects in the state and appealed to government to create job for Imo youths in order to reduce crime rate and unemployment in the state.

    He also urged detractors to the government to retrace their steps from their dubious acts so as not to truncate the development movement in the state.

    High point of the occasion was the award of Grand Patron of the Catholic Men Organization (CMO) Assumpta parish to Owelle Rochas Okorocha and some of his cabinet members.

    Dignitaries present at the church service include, the wife of Imo state Governor Her Excellency, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, the deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Sir Jude Ejiogu, the Secretary to the Government of the state, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, the chairman of Ndi Eze, HRH, Eze Samuel Ohiri, the Deputy Speaker, Imo state House of Assembly, Pharm. Donatus Ozoemene, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and other top government functionaries.

  • Okorocha sustains head injury in motor accident

    Okorocha sustains head injury in motor accident

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha on Friday  sustained a head injury in an accident involving his convoy.

    The governor’s official car had a head-on collision with a Mercedes Benz car, along the Orlu/Owerri road  when the yet to be identified driver rammed into the governor’s convoy.

    Okorocha who was on a project tour before the accident  was rushed to an undisclosed hospital where he was treated and discharged.

    The Commissioner of Information, Mr. Chinedu Offor said that the governor’s condition was stable. “The governor’s official car had a head-on collision with a driver but he escaped with minor injuries and his condition is stable now,” he said.

    According to the Commissioner, no other person in the governor’s convoy sustained injury.

    Meanwhile, when our reporter visited the scene of the accident, the vehicles had been removed.

  • Imo: Chief of Staff sworn-in as Deputy governor

    The former Chief of Staff to Imo state governor, Prince Eze Madumere has been sworn-in as the new Deputy Governor of the state.
    Madumere replaces Sir Jude Agbaso who was impeached during the week by the  State House of Assembly for allegedly  demanding as gratification from Mr. Joseph Dina, the Managing Director of JPROS Int’l Ltd, a Lebanese company handling some of the major road projects in the state.
    Governor Rochas Okorocha urged the new deputy governor to discharge his duties diligently and selflessly.
    He urged Madmere not to be found wanting in his new position advising that “For you to succeed in this job, you must think less of yourself and think more of the people. You must never think of the next election but the future of the next generation.

    “You must also hate the idea of primitive accumulation of wealth. Let me say to all of you that a day must come when all of us must bow before God; a day that need no EFCC, no Police and Army to stand on issue of accountability. So, be guided by the fear of God knowing that one day, this job will end”.
    The governor described the circumstance that led to the removal of the former deputy governor as unfortunate, adding that his relationship with Sir Jude Agbaso remains cordial.
    ” I have to miss the former deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso whom I worked with and whom I have very unique love for. The circumstances that led to his removal are very unfortunate and I want to use this opportunity to wish him well in his future endeavor”.
    Earlier in his speech, the new deputy governor promised to remain focused and committed to the doctrines of  the  Okorocha-led Rescue Mission administration.

  • CELEBRATING OBASANJO

    CELEBRATING OBASANJO

    1. L-R NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF PDP, ALHAJI BAMANGA TUKUR; VICE PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO ; FORMER PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO; MRS. BOLA OBASANJO ;FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA , JOHN KUFFO  AND GOV. ROCHAS  OKOROCHA   DURING THE CELEBRATING  OF BABA   OBASANJO AN   OUTSTANDING NIGERIAN  STATESMAN  AND  NATIONAL ICON IN OGUN STATE ON SATURDAY (19/01/130)
    2. VICE PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO ;FORMER PRESIDENT,  OBASANJO AND GOV, GODSWILL AKPABIO  OF AKWA IBOM STATE .
    3.  VICE PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO WITH FORMER  PRESIDENT  OBASANJO
    4.  HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, OBA ADEDOTUN  AREMU GBADEBO  ALAKE OF EGBA LAND ; GOV. IBIKUNLE AMOSUN  OF OGUN STATE  AND VICE PRESIDENT NAMADI SAMBO

  • Group condemns mob action against homosexual suspects

    A Non Governmental Organisation, NigeriaHIVinfo.com has condemned the  mob action by the people of Umuka, in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State on  Monday, January 14, against the three men alleged to be caught having homosexual relationship.

    The organization in statement by its Coordinator Steve Aborisade  said it has reliably confirmed and authenticated the incident and the identity of one of the men in the picture and called on security agents to quickly respond to the plight of these men.

    “As it is, only the perpetrators and the community can tell the whole world what has become of these men who were seriously beaten up, stripped naked and paraded around the community bounded together like animals on allegation that they were caught having sex together.

    “Our source reliably confirmed that the men were yet to be released from the location where they are being held in Umuka, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State.

    “We demand that the plight of these men be given the urgent attention it deserves by the Nigerian Police and other security agencies, and we especially appeal to Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Executive Governor of Imo State to intervene to save their lives.

    “While acknowledging that several Nigerians find the practice of homosexuality strange and unnatural, we also realize that it does not confer a license to trample on the rights of people who engages in it, with the sort of inhuman treatment that was meted out to these them.

    “So many informed commentators, including Nobel Prize winner, Prof Wole Soyinka have commented on the scientifically proven fact that more than anything, gays are just victims of biology.

    “We note and condemn the prevailing adverse legal and social environment that most LGBT now have to face in Nigeria, being criminalised for their sexual orientation and being made a target for harassment and violent assault fuelled by the on-going debates by the nation’s parliament on criminalizing homosexual acts.

    “Instead of being singled out for harassment and prosecution, what this community deserves is support and access to sexual health services that they lack as citizens of this country. The LGBT community remain a high risk group to HIV/AIDS infection, yet it is a community that has been denied of all access to life saving HIV/AIDS services. We suggest that our parliamentarians should devote equal energy at fishing out and punishing our treasury thieves who are doing more harm to the continued survival of our nation instead of dissipating energy on an issue that borders on private morality.

    “We enjoin other rights group to show solidarity and ensure that the rights of sexual minorities are protected like other marginalized groups in the country” Aborisade stated.