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Tag: Ugochinyere

  • Ugochinyere seeks FG intervention over Imo gully erosion

    Ugochinyere seeks FG intervention over Imo gully erosion

    The lawmaker representing Ideato North and South of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has raised the alarm over the worsening gully erosion crisis ravaging several communities in his constituency.

    He called on the Federal Government for urgent intervention to prevent further loss of lives and property.

    Speaking with reporters in his Akokwa hometown on Friday, Ugochinyere expressed deep concern over the massive environmental degradation that has severely impacted livelihoods, infrastructure, and the safety of residents in affected areas such as Urualla, Amanato, and Obodoukwu.

    While appreciating the ongoing efforts by federal and state authorities to address erosion challenges in the area, the lawmaker stressed that new and more threatening erosion sites have emerged, now posing an existential threat to entire communities.

    “Let me thank the Federal Government for coming to our rescue when we raised alarm on the erosion in various towns in Ideato. The President and the Federal Executive Council unanimously approved N25 billion for erosion control and work started, before the state government wrote that they want to take over and complete it,” Ugochinyere stated.

    “I also want to thank the state government for keeping to their commitment to complete the project. We’ve seen work that’s ongoing and we hope it will be completed in due time,” he added.

    However, the lawmaker noted that despite the efforts, the situation in some parts of Ideato has deteriorated beyond control. 

    Read Also: Ugochinyere has no right to speak for Rivers people, says Bob

    He specifically highlighted the gully erosion in Umuechi and Urualla, which he warned was threatening major landmarks, including the St. Jude Catholic Church, the king’s palace, and other federal infrastructure.

    “It’s so devastating that farmlands have been cut up to Obodoukwu, because of the abandonment of the World Bank project. The World Bank invested up to N9 billion, but due to the greed of the state government then, they pulled away—and our people are dying,” Ugochinyere lamented.

    He urged the Federal Government, as well as the Ministers of Works and Environment, to urgently intervene and salvage the situation before it escalates further.

    “Let me appeal to the Federal Government, the Minister of Works and Environment—please find a way to intervene and save our people. Put an end to this erosion menace,” he pleaded.

  • Ugochinyere has no right to speak for Rivers people, says Bob

    Ugochinyere has no right to speak for Rivers people, says Bob

    The member representing Abua/Odual and Ahoada East Federal Constituency of Rivers State, Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers), has criticised Ikenga Ugochinyere, the spokesperson for opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives, for speaking on matters concerning Rivers State. 

    Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Bob accused Ugochinyere of exceeding his legal and legislative boundaries by neglecting his constituency in Imo State to focus on issues in Rivers, thereby creating unnecessary tensions. 

    Bob asserted that while Ugochinyere is a federal lawmaker, his position does not grant him the authority to speak on Rivers State matters.

    He emphasized that only lawmakers from Rivers, who are familiar with the state’s issues, have the legitimacy to represent its interests. 

    The Rivers lawmaker further alleged that Ugochinyere is being used by a Rivers indigene to carry out illegal activities and urged him to redirect his focus to Imo State.

    Bob highlighted the challenges in Imo, including the disruption of education and business activities on Mondays due to insecurity, as issues that demand Ugochinyere’s attention. 

    Read Also: JUST IN: PDP expels Reps member Ugochinyere over alleged anti-party activities

    He concluded by reminding Ugochinyere that a lawmaker’s primary responsibilities are representation, lawmaking, and oversight, rather than interference in the affairs of other states. 

    He said Ugochinyere could not engage in lawmaking, saying, “I’ve not seen him engage in any lobbying activity in the House of Representatives. He’s been here for a year plus now”.

    He said further that sections 49 and 72 of the Constitution tell you clearly that no federal constituency or state territories and by implication, you cannot speak for any place other than where you represent.

    “I have tried to put these issues before the House leadership, to call them to order. We as a caucus have written to the leadership and to the Speaker particularly, specifically, to take action on this.

    While questioning Ugochinyere’s rise to becoming the chairman of a major committee in the House as a first timer in the House, Bob asked the Speaker to remove him as chairman of a standing Committee of the House.

  • Why PDP Govs must save party now, by Ugochinyere

    Why PDP Govs must save party now, by Ugochinyere

    October 1, , 2024

    Spokesman of the Opposition Lawmakers Coalition in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has asked Governors and Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to do everything humanly possible to redeem the party from the current crisis, saying the party may continue to lose credibility in the country.

    Speaking at a news conference in his office at the National Assembly on Monday,nUgochinyere also said that the PDP leaders in the North Central zone must immediately call a stakeholders meeting and select one person who will take over the position of the National Chairman of the party at the next National Executive Committee meeting of the party.

    He frowned at the conflicting court judgement from a federal High Court in Abuja stopping the conduct of the local government elections in Rivers State and ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the register of voters to the Rivers state Independent Electoral Commission for the conduct of the elections scheduled for Saturday, October 5. 2024.

    He however commended Justice IPC Igwe of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt for standing by the judgement of the Supreme Court on local government autonomy which paved the way for the conduct of local government elections in the state.

    The Federal lawmaker wondered why the PDP Governors have allowed personal interest of an individual to over ride the general interest of the party, adding that is they failed to do what is right, the PDP may not be in the right frame for a contest in 2027

    He said the Governors and other leaders of the party must prevail on the Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagun to step aside and allow for the election of a substantive National Chairman from the North Central zone in accordance with the provisions of the party constitution.

    He described the judgment delivered by Justice Igwe allowing the conduct of the local government elections on Saturday as victory for democracy, while blaming the pro-Wike lawmakers of running around to obtain court injunction in order to frustrate the process.

    He expressed concern that rather than engage in quality campaign for the vote of the Rivers people, the pro-Wike group within the PDP are running from one court to the other searching for court orders to frustrate the process, adding that whether they like or not, the local government elections in the state must go ahead as planned.

    Read Also: Ugochinyere, Okojie, others congratulate Abbas, Kalu on first anniversary

    He said in accordance with the judgement of the court, the Police and other security agencies were duty bound to provide adequate security for the conduct of the election.

    He wondered why the pro-Wike group were looking for an order to stop INEC from releasing the voters register when the register is already with the various political parties, adding that every effort to stop the election has already failed.

    Justice Igwe had in his judgement in a suit filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) against the Rivers state Independent Electoral Commission ruled that defendants are bound to make adequate provision for election into the Local Government Councils of Rivers State and to ensure that the affairs of the local Government Councils in Rivers State are conducted by democratically elected Local Government Councils.

  • Steer clear of Rivers politics, Reps caucus warns Imo lawmaker Ugochinyere

    Steer clear of Rivers politics, Reps caucus warns Imo lawmaker Ugochinyere

    The leader of the Rivers caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon Dumnamene Dekor, has called on the member representing Ideator North/South Federal constituency of Imo State, Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere, to steer clear of the politics of Rivers state.

    Dekor, in a statement on Friday, June 21, said this following the Imo lawmaker’s comments on the ongoing disagreement between the governor of Rivers state, the House of Assembly, and the local government chairmen.

    In the statement titled, Need to Call Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere to Order”, Dekor said he is not from Rivers state, hence his political value is “unquestionably non-existent.”

    According to him, the Imo born lawmakers was an “insignificant twerp in the social space and particularly, in the grand scheme of Rivers politics.”

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Rivers Caucus in the House of Representatives has been drawn to yet another unfortunate and misleading press briefing by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere on Tuesday 18th, on the ongoing disagreement between the governor of Rivers State and the House of Assembly, and latterly, Local Government Chairmen.

    “Since the disagreement, Hon. Ugochinyere has thrown caution, decorum, and responsible conduct – expected of the high office he now occupies – to the wind. He has, instead, put himself forward as a veritable tool and an agent provocateur for a cause he knows nothing about and for no other reason except to feather his nest.

    “His latest sponsored intervention is laden with all the ingredients that characterised all his previous outings: blackmail, half-truths, outright lies, misinformation and disinformation, and malicious propaganda.

    Read Also: Ugochinyere, Okojie, others congratulate Abbas, Kalu on first anniversary

    “In every instance, his prejudicial media statements also constitute a thoughtless assault on due process and ongoing judicial processes aimed at resolving the disagreement in Rivers. As our colleague who sits in the House of Representatives today courtesy of the judgment of a court, that is beyond embarrassing. 

    “As a Caucus, we consider Hon. Ugochinyere an insignificant twerp in the social space and, particularly, in the grand scheme of Rivers politics. To begin with, he is not from Rivers State. So his political value is unquestionably non-existent, except to those who are naive enough to fall for his cheap gimmicks.

    “Secondly, we had put Hon. Ugochinyere’s deplorable behaviour down to exuberant infatilism, which sometimes affects some new members, and had hoped that his apparent lack of understanding of his duties as a federal lawmaker would diminish as he grows into his new position.

    “Obviously, we were wrong. One year into his term as a lawmaker, Hon. Ugochinyere has rather doubled down on infamy, dishonour, and disreputable behaviour details of which we have at our disposal. 

    “The current situation in Rivers State does not concern Hon. Ugochinyere in any way because he is from Imo State; a state that is grappling with myriad political and social issues of its own in respect of which Hon. Ugochinyere cannot find his voice. The disagreement in Rivers has never been brought to the floor of the House of Representatives to warrant other members’ intervention in a debate.

    “Unarguably, Hon. Ugochinyere’s actions (in the guise of representation) outside of the House impinge on the privileges of members of this Caucus, the integrity of the House itself, and constitute a reckless violation of the constitution vide sections 49 and 72.

    “Consequently, we hereby publicly call on the leadership of the House of Representatives to take urgent steps to discipline and rein in this errant member who is gradually bringing disrepute to the House and soliciting the support of some gullible members without disclosing fully to them his pecuniary interest.”

  • Federal lawmaker hails Yabuku’s appointment as DG Budget office

    Federal lawmaker hails Yabuku’s appointment as DG Budget office

    The member representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere has hailed the appointment of Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi as the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation by President Bola Tinubu.

    Yakubu was Chief Economic Adviser to President Umaru Yar’Adua from 2007 to 2010.

    Ugochinyere in a statement said that Yakubu with his sound economic knowledge will bring about reforms that will help reduce economic pains.

    Expressing confidence in him, he said he did well as late President Yar’Adua economic adviser and will help reform budget process and deliver economic growth.

    Read Also: Tinubu appoints Yakubu DG Budget Office

    Ugochinyere said: “I want to congratulate Yakubu on his appointment as DG budget office, this is the one of the appointments that inspired confidence in the ongoing attempt to rescue the economy and have a sustainable agenda that will stem the tide of economic difficulties. 

    “Years back as the Chief Economic Adviser to to late President Yar’Adua had a lot of transformational changes that helped to stabilize the economy. Most of the reforms carried out by President Yar’Adua were largely as a result of the economic expertise and knowledge of the workings of the economic principles by Tanimu. 

    “I have confidence that he will deliver on this assignment, I want to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding him worthy to work as DG budget office. It’s coming at a time we need to clean up the budget process to ensure that budget proposals and expectations deliver on the core mandate of alleviating the suffering of our people and creating a sustainable economic roadmap that will help make life better. 

    “The whole country is waiting on him to ensure that the budgeting process is streamlined in line with the needs of the people and be able to deliver and touch lives. I congratulate him and hope he will deliver on the mandate.”

  • Ugochinyere hails Abbas, Kalu, Bichi over speedy passage of 2024 budget

    Ugochinyere hails Abbas, Kalu, Bichi over speedy passage of 2024 budget

    A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ideato North and South federal constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, has hailed Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Kalu and chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Hon. Abubakar Bichi, over the speedy passage of 2024 Appropriation Bill.

    Both chambers of the National Assembly held an emergency session on Saturday and passed the budget for the 2024 fiscal year.

    Speaking on the budget passage, Ugochinyere, who is the chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), said that Bichi’s competence, team spirit and all-inclusive leadership capacity made the passage of 2024 Appropriation Bill seamless.

    Read Also: Peter Obi pledges N5millions to support Plateau attack victims

    According to him, all House members were impressed and Bichi has earned their confidence with the way he worked tirelessly with his colleagues to ensure that everything was concluded on time and the budget passed before the end of year 2023.

    Ugochinyere expressed optimism that Bichi will sustain the tempo set by the 9th House of Representatives on ending delay in annual budget passage, adding that the lawmakers will carry out their oversight function on Ministries Department and Agencies of government (MDAs) to ensure that budgetary allocations were judiciously utilised.