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Tag: Rochas Okorocha

  • Okorocha’s Certificate of Return: Court decides PDP’s fate Thursday

    The Federal High Court Abuja has fixed May 9 to rule on an application by the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) seeking to be joined as parties in a suit filed by Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha, over his Certificate of Return.

    Justice Okon Abang fixed the date on Wednesday following arguments from counsel on why the party should or should not be joined as an interested party in the suit.

    Presenting his argument, counsel to PDP, Mr Stanley Imo, posited that the objection to his client’s application for joinder by Okorocha on the grounds that his client was already adequately represented was misguided.

    He said that because the second defendant in the suit, Mr. Jones Onyereri, was a candidate of the PDP in the election under contention was not enough reason to shut the PDP out of the proceedings.

    “We beg to disagree with this line of argument because this court, differently constituted, joined the defendant (All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA), as an interested party even when the 3rd defendant (Osita Izunaso) was a candidate of the 7th defendant.

    “It is not in doubt that a political party that sponsored a candidate is an interested party in an action of this nature.

    Read also: I’ve suffered ten times more in APC than in PDP- says Okorocha

    “The Electoral Act says the two people who can challenge the outcome of an election are the political party that sponsored a candidate or the candidate himself.”

    He submitted that it was wrong for Okorocha to say that the interest of the PDP could not be pursued by it, independent of its candidate.

    Imo prayed the court to discountenance the objection of Okorocha and allow his client to be joined as a party, adding that the interest to be considered should be that of the party and not of the counsel.

    The Counsel to Okorocha, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), objected to PDP being joined as a party on the ground that the application was brought in bad faith.

    “The application was brought for the purpose of truncating, delaying and frustrating the prompt hearing of this matter.

    “Mr Imo is someone I have great respect for but the court will find that from records, when the matter came up on April 5, he appeared for the 2nd defendant.

    “He also appeared as counsel to the 2nd defendant on April 9 and during all the proceedings, the urgency of the matter was highlighted and that was why accelerated hearing was ordered.

    “The matter was adjourned for definite hearing only for Imo to come round, disengage from the 2nd defendant’s team and file this application to frustrate the matter.”

    Ogunwumiju urged the court to look beyond Imo’s delay tactics and consider the nature of the dispute, which was time sensitive, in exercising its discretion, saying PDP was not a necessary or desirable party.

    In a short bench ruling, Justice Abang, agreed that the matter was time sensitive but gave assurance that all parties would be given fair hearing.

    He adjourned the matter until May 9 to rule on whether to join the PDP as a party in the suit or not.

    Earlier, there had been a long argument from counsel as to whether PDP’s application for joinder should be heard or not.

    The court had finally ruled that it would be a denial of fair hearing for a person seeking to be joined as a party in a suit to be shut out.

    Okorocha is in court asking for an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him with a Certificate of Return as the Senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial District.

    The matter was first assigned to Justice Taiwo Taiwo, but following an allegation of bias, he rescued himself from hearing the matter and returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the court for reassignment.

  • Okorocha, Ihedioha to meet ahead handover

    Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha will be formally meeting with the governor-elect Emeka Ihedioha to discuss formalities for proper handover on May 29.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, explained the duo will meet at the Government House first.

    Read Also: Easter: Okorocha urges Christians to positively touch lives

    It will be followed by another meeting with traditional Rulers, which will be attended by the governor and governor-elect.

    The statement also disclosed that the outgoing governor has set up a 21-member Transition Committee to interface with the Transition Technical Committee earlier set up by the governor-elect.

  • Okorocha’s litany of universities

    Given the outcome of the last elections in Imo State, one would have been hesitant to interrogate so soon after, the outgoing administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha. Not because there are no issues deserving of such grill.

    It does appear however, he would not allow the ruffled political atmosphere peter out. He seems to have found his voice once again, stirring so much controversy. Last Wednesday, he organized a media briefing in which he dwelt extensively on the giant strides he claimed to have recorded in the education sector. He told his audience with much confidence that he has established six new universities, four new polytechnics and two colleges of education fully ready to resume academic activities.

    Okorocha sought justification for the litany of his new tertiary institutions with statistics of students of Imo State origin who enlisted for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination UTME from 2012 to 2018. According to the figures, Imo had 183, 865 applicants in 2012 representing the highest number of applicants followed by Delta State with 88, 876. In 2013, it recorded 134, 610 again followed by Delta with 101, 610. Also in 2017, the figure was 101, 868 and 92, 890 in 2018.

    Barely 10 per cent of this population got admission in the nation’s tertiary institutions, hence the imperative for these new institutions to take care of the burgeoning student population, he told his audience. The new universities which he claimed the state House of Assembly has made necessary laws for their establishment are: University of Agriculture and Environmental Services Aboh/ Ngor-Okpala and Umuagwo where the state polytechnic is currently located, University of Science and Technology Onuimo and University of Creative Technology Omuma Isiaku/ Nkwerre.

    There is also the University of Medical Sciences at Ogboko and Marine University, Oguta which he said is still under construction. Okorocha further justified the University of Medical Sciences on the ground that his regime built new ultra-modern 200 bed hospitals in each of the 27 local government areas of the state that will provide outreach services to it. A day after the press conference, he was sighted displaying a certificate said to be operating license issued by the NUC for one of the universities.

    Those conversant with events in Imo State especially as they relate to the education sector must have received these disclosures with mixed feelings. There is first, the temptation to be swayed by the news. This is especially so given the limited admission spaces hitherto available to indigenes of the state in existing higher institutions.

    There is thus, the temptation to jump at the seeming rosy picture painted by Okorocha on which basis he seeks to justify the replication of universities and polytechnics in a manner that suggests he lacks proper understanding of the difference between universities and glorified secondary schools. A cursory appraisal will expose the inherent contradictions in some of the issues that have been traded.

    And as can be gleaned from statistics of UTME applicants within the timeframe, there have been a steady and sharp drop in the number of applicants from the state, dropping to an all time low of about 50 per cent in 2018 from the 2012 position. We needed to be told the factors responsible for the huge drop in the number of UTME applicants from the state.

    It is vital to account for this drop given fears that the trend could continue. If the trend continues, the very reasons on which he rationalized the establishment of the new institutions would have become demonstrably superfluous. He may as well discover that he has no need for the many universities and polytechnics he claimed to have established.

    Had his government subjected these figures to some form of rudimentary analysis, they may have discovered to their chagrin that the figures have been on a steady decline. The next thing is find out why it is so. With such inquisition they may discover that low standard of the much dramatized free education programme may have been largely contributory to the drop. It also bears positive correlation with the level of success recorded by its students in the relevant qualifying examinations for UTME applicants.

    And as can be seen from WAEC results, Imo has lost its position as leading overall performer. In 2016, the state came fifth after Abia, Anambra, Edo and Rivers states and fourth in 2017. Again, in 2018, Imo placed fifth coming after Abia, Anambra, Edo and Rivers states.

    When this is paired with the drop in the number of applicants for the UTME, the figures point to clear signs that something has gone awry with the overall standard of education in the state. Then, the real issue to address should be quality and not quantity.

    As if these contradictions are not worrisome enough, Okorocha shocked many when he claimed his new university of medical sciences at Ogboko will be served by the outreach facilities of 200-bed modern hospitals he built in each of the 27 local governments of the state.

    For all one may care to know, there are no such hospitals existing in the state now. So, their prospects of providing outreach services remain the figment of the imagination of the outgoing governor. We know as a matter of fact that some buildings were set up in 27 local governments, ostensibly as hospitals. These uncompleted buildings have since been overtaken by weeds and rodents in many parts of the state.

    While uncompleted buildings without any medical facilities and human capital do not constitute hospitals, it is no less correct that the one in Okorocha’s local government is now adorning the signpost of the Nigerian police as their office. Another somewhere around Owerri has been donated to the Nigerian Air Force. How these security posts will now serve as hospitals, betrays the hypocrisy and deceit in the claims.

    Again, he said the new universities will be funded under Public Private Partnership, PPP arrangement and that students will pay fees. How that will address the interests of indigent Imo students, remains largely illusory. At best, they will serve the interests of the elite who can easily find admission spaces for their children in existing private universities that are currently undersubscribed.

    There is the need for full disclosure on what this arrangement really entails; the overall financial commitment of the government to the projects, the identities of the private sector participants and their financial contributions. It is hoped nobody is using state funds to set up these institutions using surrogates as private sector participants. It is also curious how Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies which operating license the NUC was said to have issued, can fit into the PPP arrangement given its current status as a state university.

    He claims the state assembly has made the necessary laws to back the setting up of the institutions. But details of such laws remain the exclusive preserve of the government. No one will be surprised if a compromised and comatose assembly comes up today to cover up what seems an obvious attempt to shortchange and compromise procedures for setting up of such institutions.

    More seriously, why would a government with barely one month to go, embark on bogus projects that are yet to come before the table of the approving federal agencies? Why would Okorocha overburden the incoming administration of Emeka Ihedioha by inaugurating an implementation committee for ill-conceived projects; projects that only exist on imposing billboards?

    Or is it part of the subterfuge to continue to massage his ego (as is the case with his 27 hospitals) that he set up so, so and so universities but his successor abolished them? Why would he be inaugurating implementation committee for the institutions; boards of parastatals et al, a couple of days to his exit? They betray his ambition to hang on to his current office through other means. He had no plans to leave office so soon. So sad!

  • Rumbles in Imo, Ogun over out-going governor’s last-minute transactions

    Perhaps more than in any other states, last-minute activities of the out-going governors in Imo and Ogun states, have elicited controversy, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    ALTHOUGH they would be concluding their eight year’s tenures by May 28, 2019, barely a month and some days from today, governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State are in the news for initiating new projects, awarding new contracts or making major appointments.

    As would be expected, though the direct beneficiaries of such employments, appointments or contracts and their relations and well-wishers are understandably celebrating and heaping encomiums on the out-going governors for remembering them at last, others, especially those who consider the last-minute contracts, establishments or appointments as mere traps for the incoming administrations, are kicking and warning that the out- going governors should stop creating problems for the new governments and the states deliberately.

    In Imo, the grumbles started soon after it was learnt that Okorocha, who had only few weeks to leave the seat of government, has inaugurated a six-man committee, led by Prof. Chima Iwuchukwu, to see to the implementation of six new universities, colleges of education and polytechnics in the state. The proposed new schools include: Aboh Ngor University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; University of Agriculture and Developmental Science, Umuagwo; University of Science and Technology, Onuimo; University of Creative Technology, Isiaku-Nkwerre; University of Medical Science, Ogboko, Ideato South; Marine University, Oguta; College of Health Technology; Mbonu Ojike Polytechnic, Arondizuogu; and Bishop Shanahan Polytechnic, Ahiara Mbaise.

    One of the people that have kicked against the move is Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the Governor-Elect in Imo. Ihedioha reportedly wrote to the National Universities Commission (NUC) not to honour the approval of more universities in the state.

    Reacting, Okorocha said the Imo State House of Assembly backed the committee’s inauguration with a law.

    He explained that his action can be compared to a similar move in Ogun State that led to the establishment of about 15 universities. According to him, the establishment of these universities in Ogun has enhanced admission opportunities and job placements in the Southwest state. He therefore reasoned that the establishment of the new universities in the state will enhance university admission in Imo and offer greater opportunities to the youths.

    “With these institutions put in place, the dreams of our people would have been achieved. Education will remain the industry of Imo State. What we plan was to lure investors into Imo State. They will come and invest in our institutions, under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to assist us in the full take-off of the universities.

    “For those of you who are conversant with the history of Imo State, education is one of the viable industries in the state.

    “When I came into office in 2011, I told Imo people that my top priority is education and I want to tell you that we have done a lot in this area.

    “We have created six new universities, four polytechnics and two colleges of education. By the time they take off, this will accommodate thousands of our children who go outside the state in search of admission and in most cases, they do not get it. Now, the opportunity is here for them to take advantage of,” he said.

    Reacting to allegation that the idea of setting up six new universities few days before leaving office is a trap to put the in-coming administration into problem, Okorocha said, “Let me say that I am not setting any trap for the incoming administration either do I want the incoming government to fail with the setting up of these universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

    “The dream behind it is that our children who are the highest in seeking of university education in the whole of the federation will have more opportunities of having access to university education.

    “Education and health sectors have received the highest attention in Imo state within the last eight years of my administration. The free education programme in the state has reduced crimes in the state. Children are no longer hawking; they are now in schools because there is free education in the state.

    “Nobody has any reason not to continue with the free education, which I introduced. Education is our culture and it is the main stay of our lives in Imo State. It has drastically increased literacy level in the state. Children of the poor now have unlimited access to quality education up to university level.”

    He also denied claims that its funding will put a strain on the finances of the state when he said “the schools will be managed under Public Private Partnership arrangement.”

    Similar controversy erupted in Ogun State when Governor Ibikunle Amosun, less than two months to the end of his tenure, approved the appointment of 18 new permanent secretaries from the state civil service.

    Lanre Bisiriyu, the state’s Head of Service, who made the announcement in a press statement dated April 9, said the new appointees are Mosuro Olatunbosun, Bajela Abayomi, Abosede Ogunleye, Olufunke Ogunremi, Odulana Dolapo, Olanrewaju Saka, Olaleye Alao and Adebiyi Ayinla.

    The others, he said are Idowu Olubunmi, Awere Abiodun, Olukoga Olumuyiwa, Adewunmi Olufemi, Oladeinde Olufunmilayo, Ogunlana Fatai, Lanre -Iyanda Olusegun, Olabimtan Akande, Aboaba Ishola and Oresanya Yetunde.

    At the same time, the governor also approved the appointments of Oludiji Akinhanmi and Festus Kehinde as the General Managers of Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) and Ogun State Television (OGTV) respectively.

    As would be expected, Amosun has been under fire since then as observers and critical stakeholders wonder why he had to wait until now to make such important appointments and how expects the in-coming administration to relate with the new appointees.

    One of the popular lawyers that have spoken to newsmen on the futility of such appointments and contracts is Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN). He was quoted recently as saying “the outgoing governors should bear in mind that the incoming governors reserve the right not to confirm the appointments being made and contracts awarded. According to him, those who are being employed now will be under probation by the time the new government will come in and they stand to lose their employment depending on the findings of the new government concerning their engagement. He said: “They should know that the new government has the right not to confirm the appointment of those under probations. When governor Rocha’s Okorocha came into power, he sacked about 10,000 workers. It is clear now that the appointments being made and the contracts being awarded are out of malice. ”They should also know that a searchlight is being beamed on them by anti-graft agencies. The whole thing is about malice and intended to create problems for the new administration,” he stated.

    Not all lawyers and politicians see it the same way. Sunday Mbaku, a lawyer in Imo State, told The Nation that there is nothing wrong for Okorocha, Amosu or any other out-going governor to do their statutory duty until the last day of their four year tenure, adding, “A good project is a good project no matter how late it is awarded. My advice to the in-coming governors is to look at the appointments, contracts and recruitments objectively and act accordingly.”

    He also said: “An elected governor has four-year tenure. He is expected to work as a governor all through the tenure and not to stop working after a new governor-elect emerges. So, in the eyes of the law, until May 29, every executive function performed by these governors are legitimate. But if after their tenure the new administration finds genuine reason not to continue with any of the decisions, it is free to follow the laid down legal processes to quash such actions.”

    The concern over the last minutes actions of the out-going governors is not limited to Ogun and Imo states.

    Other states where such concerns have been raised recently include Adamawa, Bauchi and Oyo. While blaming the out-going governors for delaying some of the controversial actions until the tail end of their tenure, observers said the in-coming governments must first assess the genuineness of the action before cancelling them in the interest of the state.

     

  • Easter: Okorocha urges Christians to positively touch lives

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has called on Christians in the state and beyond to use the Easter celebration to positively touch on the lives of others, especially the less privileged in the society.

    In a statement in Owerri on Friday, he also urged them to show love to one another, bearing in mind that Jesus died on the Cross because of the love he had for mankind.

    The governor further urged that in celebrating Easter, “Christians should be conscious of what the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ signifies and shuns selfishness’’

    Read Also: Why I want to go to Senate by Okorocha

    He also called on the Christians to eschew hatred as demonstrated by Jesus who died on the cross for the redemption of mankind.

    The governor also appealed to Christians to pray earnestly for the nation and its democracy, so that Nigeria could take its rightful place in the comity of democratic nations of the world.

    He wished Imo people and all lovers of peace and progress hitch-free Easter celebration and prayed that Imo people would live to witness more celebrations.

    NAN

     

  • Okorocha upgrades Imo poly to degree awarding institution

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, announced the formal upgrading of the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, to a full-fledged university.

    The institution is now to be known as Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo.

    The governor also inaugurated an implementation Committee to oversee the immediate take off of the six universities, four polytechnics and two colleges of education established by his administration.

    The committee is headed by Prof. Chima Iwuchukwu.

    Speaking during the inauguration of the Committee at the Sam Mbakwe Council Chambers, the governor stated that he is bequeathing a sound education legacy for the people of the state, which was propelled by the well-articulated free education policy of his administration.

    The governor disclosed that the laws establishing the institutions were passed by the state House of Assembly.

    According to him, from one university, the State now has six, which has satisfied the growing tertiary education needs of the teeming youth of the state.

    He said that his free education policy has taken thousands of youth off the street, with the attendant drastic reduction in crime and criminal related activities, stressing that “education remains the biggest industry in Imo state.”

    READ ALSO: I’m leaving behind a viable, secured Imo – Okorocha

    Okorocha said that he was not setting traps for the incoming government with the establishment of the new institutions, but rather to encourage the incoming administration to continue with the free education policy which the people have been enjoying for the past seven years.

    He said “Let me say that I am not setting any trap for the incoming administration either do I want the incoming government to fail with the setting up of these universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.”

    On whether the state has the financial capacity to fund the new institutions, Okorocha said that the schools will  be managed  under Public Private Partnership arrangement, adding that  “The dream behind it is that our children who are the highest in seeking of university education in the whole of the federation will have more opportunities of having access to university education.”

    “Education and health sectors have received the highest attention in Imo state within the last eight years of my administration. The free education program in the state has reduced crimes in the state. Children are no longer Hawking; they are now in schools because there is free education in the state.”

    “Nobody has any reason not to continue with the free education which I introduced. Education is our culture and it is the main stay of our lives in Imo state. It has drastically increased literacy level in the state. Children of the poor now have unlimited access to quality education up to university level.”

  • Ignore Ihedioha’s directives, Okorocha tells Imo workers

    Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha on Thursday directed Imo workers to dismiss any directive handed to them on discharge of their official responsibilities by the governor-elect, Hon Emeka Ihedioha.

    The governor pointed out until Ihedioha takes the oath of office, he lacks the power to issue directives on how civil servants should carry out the duties.

    The governor, who was reacting to the directive by the governor-elect that civil servants in the Ministry of Lands should stop the issuance of Land titles forthwith or be penalised, said that he is the only one with the Constitutional right to give a directive until the end of his administration.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, in a statement, explained: “A Press Release with the referenced Caption, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, through his media aide stated that“Processing, Issuance, Execution and Collection of Certificates of Occupancy in respect of land within the Owerri Capital Territory are hereby suspended.

    “He threatened to deal with “all the Civil Servants, Public Officers, Special Aides and Government Officials in all Departments of Government” who would disobey this order.

    “We want to ask those mentioned in the press release to ignore both the directive and the threat. There is no Office like governor-elect in the Constitution of Nigeria or in any other known ordinance.

    “In other words, there is only one office of the governor in the State. And Owelle Rochas Okorocha is the Occupant of that Office now.

    “Owelle Okorocha is the only one that has the Constitutional right to issue such directives not the governor-elect. Therefore, those concerned should continue to do their works without fear of molestation since they have not contravened any law of the land or any Civil Service rule.

    “And the activities of government cannot be kept on hold because someone has been declared winner of a contentious governorship election.

    Okorocha added:  “Once again, Chief Ihedioha should remain civil until he is sworn-in on May 29, 2019. When he comes in, he knows what to do on any action taken by Owelle Okorocha’s administration. It does not require too much noise or rascality.

    “Rochas Okorocha has transformed Imo State to a very large extent. Introduced and ensured free education from Primary to the University since 2011, made Owerri a befitting State Capital with 8 to 12 lane-roads and street lights.

    “Indeed, Rochas Okorocha has more than one thousand verifiable projects to his credit. PDP only promoted share-the-money policy and dwelt extensively on merriment with expensive wines like MOET, XO, HENNESY as their choice drinks.

    :And we do not expect them to perform any magic this time. So, they should curtail the whole noise. We know their capacity”.

  • Flight operations resume at Imo Airport after fire outbreak

    Flight operations have fully resumed at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport Owerri, Imo state after a fire outbreak that razed part of the arrival terminal of the Airport.

    When The Nation visited the Airport on Tuesday, passengers were seen queuing to get their boarding pass, even though the number of passengers was minimal compared to what it used to be before the fire incident.

    The Nation findings disclosed that the Executive lounge of the airport was completely razed and has been cordoned off.

    The Airport Manager, Mrs. Rejoice Ndudinachi, said that the cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained as investigation is still ongoing.

    Read Also: Fire guts arrival terminal of Imo airport

    According to her, flight operations have fully resumed, adding that the fire incident didn’t affect any critical infrastructure or equipment.

    She said, “we are following Airport contingency plans to make sure that flight operations resume at the airport and it has resumed. We are sorry for what happened, there was no casualty, the fire department was able to contain the inferno”.

    Meanwhile speaking during separate visits to the Airport, Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha and the governor-elect, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha commended the Airport management for the proactive measure taken to avert what they say could have been a major disaster.

  • Flight operations resume at Imo Airport after fire outbreak

    Flight operations have fully resumed at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport Owerri, Imo state after a fire outbreak that razed part of the arrival terminal.

    When The Nation visited the Airport yesterday, passengers were seen queuing to get their boarding pass, even though the number of passengers was minimal compared to what it used to be before the fire incident.

    The Nation findings, disclosed that the Executive lounge of the airport was completely razed and has been cordoned off.

    The Airport Manager, Mrs. Rejoice Ndudinachi, said that the cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained as investigation is still ongoing.

    According to her, flight operations have fully resumed, adding that the fire incident didn’t affect any critical infrastructure or equipment.

    She said, “we are following Airport contingency plans to make sure that flight operations resume at the airport and it has resumed. We are sorry for what happened, there was no casualty, the fire department was able to contain the inferno”.

    Meanwhile speaking during separate visits to the Airport, Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha and the governor-elect, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha commended the Airport management for the proactive measure taken to avert what they say could have been a major disaster.

  • Why I want to go to Senate by Okorocha

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, Monday gave hint why he wants to go to National Assembly as Senator representing Imo West Senatorial zone.

    He said that he wants to build a strong political bring between the Southeast and other geopolitical zones of the country.

    The governor also hinted that he would pursue the policy of Free Education at the National Assembly “so that the children of the poorest in the society would have hope of survival in Nigeria”.

    According to him, “I also want to use the opportunity in the Senate to rebuild the Political Bridge that has linked the South East with the rest of Nigerians. The Political Bridge is somehow faulty and it is dutifully incumbent on me to rebuild this bridge so that Igbos will play a recognized role in the Politics of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    Read Also: Okorocha inaugurates boards, parastatals

    He continued that “I am going to the Senate to promote the course of ordinary Nigerians. These are some of the things I am going to the Senate to do. Otherwise, I have no business there”.

    Governor Okorocha who spoke when he received the new Commander, 34 Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) Obinze Brigadier-General Yusuf Tukura when he came on Courtesy Call at the Government House Owerri, also disclosed that he is leaving behind a viable and secured State.

    He said  that his administration in the State from 2011 to 2019 saw the disappearance of kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual killings, baby factories, militancy and other organized crimes in the State, adding that he would not be happy to hear that these crimes are back to the State when he has left.

    He said “We have enjoyed a very good working relationship with all the past Army Commanders and we are hopeful it will continue. Imo is a peaceful State. It was made peaceful through the efforts of the rescue mission government, in partnership with other Security Agencies in the State.

    “The transformation you have seen in Imo State eight years down the line is as a result of Sacrifice. A leader who does not make sacrifices has no business with leadership. What you are seeing in Imo is a product of sacrifice. Sacrifice of self, Sacrifice of Comfort and personality, denial of yourself who you are, that you might serve your people well”.