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Electricity Consumers Protest in Owerri
FROM CHARLES OGUGBUAJA, OWERRI
FOLLOWING consistent power cut for three months, residents of Area N' in World Bank Housing Estate in Owerri Municipal Council, Evan Enwerem University, Owerri (former Imo State University, Owerri), near Okigwe Road, Works Layout and Chisome Estate, Okigwe Road, Owerri, protested at the weekend in Owerri.
The affected consumers marched to the premises of the Imo State-owned broadcast outfit Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), protesting what they called non-supply of power to their homes and the release of high bills for services not rendered.
Led by their leader, Mrs. Nkuwu Iwuji, the protesters regretted that they were not supplied power for about three months while bills were distributed to them. They also sought to know if they were not eligible to be supplied electricity.
Their placards read: "Why does PHCN supply power to others and leave us in Area N' World Bank Estate?; Why is it that we in IMSU and Works Layout and Orji end of Okigwe Road are not having power supply?; Are we not Nigerians and entitled to power supply?; Enough is enough; No more estimated bills; We need constant power supply".
Residents of IMSU/Works Layout, Okigwe Road particularly were irked that last year alone, around the period late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua visited Imo State in July till six months, no power was supplied to them. They said power was brought about late November/December, regretting that they had continued supplying power about two days in a week in the area.
Source: The Guardian, 26th July 2010.
Ohakim Faults World Bank's Report On Imo
Written by Abiodun Oluwarotimi
Imo State governor, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, has faulted the recent World Bank's report on the state, stressing that his state is one of the best states where business could be successfully transacted in the country.
It would be recalled that the report, "Doing Business in Nigeria, 2010", which was launched in Abuja last month, had indicated that Imo and Ogun States were the worst states for business transactions in the country.
The report, which was a collaboration between the World Bank Investment Climate Team for Africa, the sub-national Doing Business team and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), also declared Borno, Gombe and Jigawa States as the best places for business in Nigeria.
In a telephone interview with our New York correspondent, Mr. Chinedu Okpareke, the director-general of Imo State Investment Promotion Agency, who spoke on behalf of Governor Ohakim, said that the report was faulty, adding that the state government had done everything to promote the structural development and re-integration of the state into national limelight and also apply its material and human resources to a comprehensive development scheme that will defeat the long-standing paradox of scarcity in the midst of abundance that persistently plagues the region.
Mr. Chinedu Okpareke further told our correspondent that Governor Ikedi Ohakim, in his bid to serve the needs of the people and businesses, looking towards Africa as a future area of investment, had convened a two-day investment summit in Owerri, the state capital, between the 8th and 9th of June, 2010.
He noted that key decision makers at the last month summit provided a platform on which the future economic success of the region would be built, stressing that many companies were able to schedule business meetings with the state government commissioners.
Speaking on the Ohakim Power Initiative (OPI), Mr. Okpareke said that every effort was in motion in order to ensure that Imo State citizens enjoyed the fruits of the programme soon.
Source: Leadership, 24th July 2010.
Police arrest trigger-happy cop
FROM CHARLES OGUGBUAJA, OWERRI
THE Imo State Police Command has arrested a police corporal for allegedly shooting the tyre and windscreen of a tanker at the weekend in Owerri, Imo State.
Plans are under way to hold an orderly room trial for the arrested cop, who allegedly demanded money from the tanker driver at a checkpoint on the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road and pulled the trigger on the vehicle after the driver refused to part with his money.
Following the incident, other tanker drivers mobilised themselves and blocked the road, creating a massive gridlock on the road for hours, which only cleared after the intervention of law enforcement agencies.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aloysius Okorie, who condemned the shooting, said the police command would not condone such "irresponsible and unprofessional" act from any of its officers and men.
The commissioner who spoke to journalists in Owerri stressed: "I do not see any reason for the policeman to do that."
Okorie disclosed that the state police command had paid for the damaged tyre and windscreen, apologising for the action.
He assured that the command would continue to protect the lives and property of the people, urging motorists and individuals not to succumb to policemen's extortions, adding that "bail is free."
Source: The Guardian, 21st July 2010.
Owerri Varsity Qualifies For SIFE Global Contest
BY FELIX KUY
The Federal University of Technology, Owerri has emerged the overall winner of the just concluded 2010 Students in Free Enterprise {SIFE} Business competition. The school will represent Nigeria at the SIFE World Cup in the United States on October 11 and 12 this year.
More than 1,000 undergraduates from 36 tertiary institutions across the country participated in the competition that was held at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
According to a statement, the 36 institutions were shared through balloting system into six leagues namely; GT Bank League, First Bank league, MTN League, KPMG League, Coca-cola League and Indomie League.
In the panel of judges that evaluated the projects presented by the teams were Mr Peter Clauseen of the US State Department Office; ED Flynn of the US Embassy, Abuja; Tara Fela-Durotoye of House of Tara; Mr Olumide Olayinka, Partner, KPMG; Bode Agusto of Agusto and Co Ltd; Dan Shuaib, DGM GT Bank and Tayo Itseumah of GT Bank. Others were Abdul Bello of UAC; Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, Executive Director, Corona Trust Council and Peter Ekunkayo of Coca- cola Africa.
The University of Ado-Ekiti won the MTN League, Kaduna Polytechnic won the First Bank League, Bayero University, Kano won the GT Bank League, Adekunle Ajasin University won the KPMG League, University of Uyo won the Coca Cola League and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri won the Indomie League. The other award presented at the event was Spirit of SIFE that went to the Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
All the winners qualified for the final round. At the end of the whole competition, Bayero University emerged the first runner up and Kaduna Polytechnic emerged the second runner up, while FUTO (Owerri) emerge as the overall winners to represent Nigeria at the SIFE world cup competition.
The competition is an opportunity for SIFE teams to tell stories of how they have made remarkable changes in their communities by empowering individuals and changing lives through businesses.
Source: The Guardian, 18th July 2010.
Imo Needs People-Driven Projects
Written by Stanley Nkwocha, Abuja
A gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State, Barr. Ike C. Ibeh, has lamented what he termed the 'suspended development' in Imo State , saying what the people of the state needed at this time was people- driven projects that have direct bearing on their lives.
Ibeh, said this has become pertinent because of the complex nature of communities that have different needs in terms of social and infrastructural requirements. He lamented the dearth of leadership and foresight in Imo State, saying the business of politiking has taken centre stage, while the business of governance relegated to the background.
Speaking at the weekend, when he played host to members of the Ngor Okpala Journalists Forum in Abuja, the former speaker of the Imo State House Of Assembly and the State's trade representative to the United States, said that expenditures such as security votes be minimised as developments could rapidly take place if such funds were diverted to other sectors of the economy.
He said the success of most governments across the world largely depended on the forthrightness and political will of leaders, cautioning that except a leader sets the right standards, and de-emphasises corruption, it may be difficult for the growth and development to be achieved.
Source: Leadership, 18th July 2010.
Supreme Court seals victory for Ohakim
By Kamarudeen Ogundele
Supreme Court Friday sealed the victory of Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim in the April 28, 2007 governorship election.
It set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which ordered retrial in a suit filed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Mr. Martin Agbaso.
Agbaso had gone to court to challenge the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for cancelling an earlier election held on April 14, 2007.
He was seeking an order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to announce the results of the governorship elections held in the state on April 14, 2007.
INEC cancelled the said election believed to have been won by Agbaso on account of alleged irregularities and conducted a fresh election which Governor Ikedi Ohakim then of Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) and now a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won.
The Federal High Court which first heard the suit declined jurisdiction.
But in its December 12 2009 unanimous decision, the Justice Rabiu Danlami-led panel ordered the trial court to hear the matter on its merit and also granted accelerated hearing.
It held that the trial court was wrong for holding that the suit was a spoke in the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in the state.
Dissatisfied, Ohakim approached the Supreme Court. He contended that the Appeal Court ought to have dismissed Agbaso's appeal
Delivering judgment yesterday, four of the five-man panel presided over by Justice Mahmud Muhammad held that Ohakim's appeals were meritorious in that Agbaso could not seek an order of mandamus to compel a public official (INEC) to carry out its constitutional functions without first of all asking the officer to comply with the call of his office.
In the lead judgment, Justice Walter Onneghen said it is when the call to the public officer fell on deaf ears or refused that a sustainable cause of action could arise to the extent of praying a
court of law for a judicial review of what the public officer did not do according to the law or failed out-rightly to do.
Besides, the Court held that since the complaint arose in the cause of conducting the election, it is a post election matter which could only be heard by an Election Petition Tribunal.
It said the Court of Appeal erred in law by assuming jurisdiction in the matter. It held that the trial court was right in declining jurisdiction.
With this judgement, all legal disputes over the April 2007 governorship election in Imo State are now over.
In the dissent judgment, Justice Chukwuma Ene contended saying that there were two distinct issues before the court.
To him, the fact that Agbaso participated in the elections of April 14 and April 28, 2007 does not deny him the right to insist on the release of the result of the first election.
Justice Ene added that there was no provision in the Federal High Court rules that equates order for a judicial review to order of mandamus stressing that the two issues are clearly different.
Ohakim had asked the apex court to set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal or in the alternative to remit the matter to another panel of the Court of Appeal for re-hearing.
Counsel to Agbaso, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led Chief Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) asked the court to allow their application and to dismiss Ohakim's appeal in its entirety.
The PDP candidate in the election, Chief Ifeanyi Ararume, wanted the Apex Court to dismiss the appeal and order for a re-run election excluding Ohakim.
In its reaction to the judgment, the Lagos branch of the League of Imo Professionals, a pressure group, commended the judiciary for "again demonstrating it is the last hope of the common man''. In a statement, it urged all the political actors in the state to bring an end to the "politics of hate and distraction" for the common good of all.
Signed by its Publicity Secretary, Architect Luke Igbokwe, the League's statement read in parts: "We join other well-meaning citizens of Imo State in saluting the judges of the Supreme Court for this historic and reasonable verdict in spite of the vicious blackmail and intimidation by some powerful interests who have sworn that our state will not know peace until they have their way.
"We congratulate Governor Ikedi Ohakim for yet another victory even as we urge him to remain focused and continue to work for the good of our state and give accommodation to anyone with genuine contributions for the overall benefit of our state.
Sources: The Nation, 17th July 2010
IMO: States Creation Tops Agenda
FROM CHARLES OGUGBUAJA, OWERRI
One thing that remained remarkable in the Imo Assembly debate is the demand for creation of additional state in the Southeast.
Members resolved that four clauses in the proposed constitution be addressed properly. They rejected the issue of educational qualifications on sections 65 and Section 16 sub section 131, independent candidacy as in section 10, sub section 106 and section 23, sub section 177.
They agreed that the document should be returned to the National Assembly with strong indication of the areas opposed by them.
In the public hearing, Prof. Nnamdi Obiareri, a law teacher at Evan Enwerem University, Owerri (former Imo State University, Owerri), Emma Ibediro, a Commissioner in the Imo State House of Assembly Service Commission, Emma Dike, a former member of the Imo State House of Assembly, the Imo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Fidel Onyeneke, representatives of women made contributions.
Most people accused the National Assembly of not organizing public debate at both senatorial districts and federal constituencies for people to air their views on amendment matters.
Ibediro and Opiah who consistently regretted the omission of state creation however urged that the process by included without further waste of time.
Ibediro said: "It is highly regrettable that the additional state creation in the Southeast was not included in this document. This should be included because this is the only opportunity."
Onyeneke regretted that the NUJ was not consulted properly in the amendment process, stressing that issues of professional hazards ought to have been addressed.
Commissioner designate in the Imo State Judicial Service Commission, Nkem Nwankwo (Jr.), harped on the need for the opinion of the majority of the people is reflected in the document.
"From all indications, people from the Southeast want additional state. This should be listened to. Let this request be granted to the people as opportunity of such exercise is at hand now." He said.
Legal practitioner, Donald Chika Denwigwe regretted that human rights issues are not addressed in the amendment.
The document has since been returned to NASS.
Source: The Guardian, 11th July 2010.
Imo Begins Campaign on Environment
FROM CHARLES OGUGBUAJA, OWERRI
FOLLOWING the growing level of environmental degradation and flooding of farmlands in Imo State, Governor Ikedi Ohakim has set up a committee to begin an awareness campaign through the electronic and print media, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Kelechukwu Okpaleke has disclosed.
Briefing journalists on Tuesday on the outcome of the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting chaired by the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Ada Okwuonu, Okpaleke said the governor had approved N1.5 million of the recommended N3 million for the project, adding that he had begun liaising with the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in the state, Chief Longers Anyanwu on the assignment.
Okpaleke said five persons emerged winners in the New Face of Imo Quiz, Edward Lewanya (Onuimo Local Council, Imo State), taking the first position, Rosemary Uneze of Nnewi South, Anambra State, second position, Joy Jesil Onwuewu , third position, Anukem Kingsley (Owerri West), fourth position and Obinna Chinaza C. (Ngor Okpala local council), had fifth position. Five of them went home with a total of N45,000.
Okpaleke said in compliance with the directive from the Federal Government that each state government should build a monument of golden jubilee of Nigeria's independence, the state government set up a four-man committee headed by the state Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development to work out a befitting legacy.
Source: The Guardian, 8th July 2010.
State Rejects World Bank Report,
As Workers Protest In Imo, Borno
FROM CHARLES OGUGBUAJA (OWERRI) AND NDJADVARA MUSA (MAIDUGUR
IMO State Government has formally disagreed with a recent World Bank Report, which ranked the state as one of two states in Nigeria with the most unfriendly business envoronments, even as workers in Imo and Borno States over salaries.
A World Bank report published recently had penciled Imo and Ogun States as the most difficult states to do businesses in. The report was subsequently carried in some national dailies.
Briefing journalists at the weekend, in Owerri, three Commissioners— Planning and Economic Development, Chief Levy Oguike, Information and Strategy, Dr. Kelechukwu Okpaleke, Health, Dr. Vin Udokwu, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Calitus Ekenze, insisted that the current United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) from its 2009 – 2012 publication placed the state in better stead.
Oguike disclosed that, at the moment, there are 17 UN agencies carrying out business in the state, adding that the government would formally write the World Bank Country Representative to register its feelings and ask that the impression be addressed in favour of Imo State.
Oguike insisted that the publication must have been done before the recent investment climate put in place by the Ikedi Ohakim administration.
Source: The Guardian, 4th July 2010.
NAPEP offers N147m to Imo households
FROM CHARLES OGUGBUAJA, OWERRI
AS part of measures at reducing poverty in Imo State, the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) has earmarked N147 million for more than 500 households in the state, Mr. Oliver Enwerenem, state coordinator of the programme, has disclosed.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian at the weekend, Enwerenem said N30 million has already been disbursed in the past 12 months to beneficiaries spread across 10 local councils in the state towards the education of their wards.
He said 50 beneficiaries were selected in each of the 10 local councils across the three geo-political zones of the state.
According to him, each of the beneficiaries will receive N84,000 from NAPEP to establish businesses in line with trades or skills acquired in the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) training programmes.
Enwerenem disclosed that the disbursement would kick off in Ohaji/Egbema Local Council this week.
He said: "This programme started about 12 months ago. The second phase will be completed this week with the flag-off of disbursement of N42 million to 500 households of 50 in each of the 10 local councils selected. This will help them start small-scale businesses in which they have been trained by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in various skills. N84,000 will be given to each beneficiary.
"In the first phase, a maximum of N5,000 was disbursed to each of the identified 500 households in the councils for 12 months, making it a total of N30 million. The total now is N72 million".
Source: The Guardian, 29th June 2010.
10,000 Imo jobs: 12,630 candidates pass test
Emeka Ihiegbulem, Orlu
Project Director of Imo Job Centre (IJC), Prof Obioma Iheduru has said that out of the 19,642 candidates examined for the 10,000 jobs, 12, 360 passed the test.
Prof. Obioma disclosed this to journalists in Owerri during a press briefing and frowned at the news peddled by some Imo citizens that it was only 16 candidates that scaled through the test.
In his classification , Prof. Iheduru said 13 Master's , Bachelors and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders scored 80 and above adding that 265 candidates of the above-mentioned qualification with nine National Certificate in Education (NCE) holders scored between 70 and 79.
He said 1,424 graduates and 130 NCE holders totaling 1,554 scored between 60 and 69 while 3918 graduates and 530 NCE holders summing 4,448 had 50 to 59.
"The total of 6,071 and 4039 of the candidates scored 40- 49 and 30 39 respectively. Those who scored below 30 numbered 2,616 with 13.3per cent. There was the 627 unclassified of 3.2 per cent, " he divulged.
He said candidates who failed to shade test options and examination number had no result. He added that 49 per cent was the pass mark approved by the state Executive Council and was used in WAEC, NECO and university grading system.
The Project Director however, reiterated that the 10,000 jobs opportunity was not a mere joke but a serious business of the Ohakim led administration to reduce the level of qualified unemployed youths in the state.
He said: "The 10,000 job opportunity for Imolities is real. It was designed that 5,000 successful candidates will be absorbed in the Imo Civil service while the other 5,000 will be accommodated into the teaching sector, 2500 for Primary School and the other 2,500 for Secondary School".
He said owing to the importance of the project, the Catholic Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Rt. Rev Dr. V.A Chikwe was made the Chairman of the Technical Committee while he was the Secretary.
"With the Catholic Bishop as the Chairman of the Committee everything surrounding the test was guarded by merit. The LG spread was also given due consideration by the committee," he stressed.
Source: Daily Champion, 29th June 2010.
I Inherited N4.7b Pension Arrears, Ohakim Tells Imo Workers
Written by By Ebere Uzoukwa, Owerri
As workers all over the country celebrate their day otherwise known as May Day on Saturday, 1st May, 2010, Gov. Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State has told workers in the state that he inherited N4.7b arrears of pension funds from the past government under Chief Achike Udenwa.
Addressing the workers during a rally at Dan Anyiam stadium, Owerri, the state capital, the governor also disclosed that apart from reducing the huge amount to the barest minimum, his administration had increased workers' salaries by 15 percent, paid minimum wage and promoted workers massively to boost their morale.
"In order to further vitalise the civil service, we have embarked on the recruitment of 10,000 new graduates into the civil and teaching services. We are creating opportunities for 5,000 jobs for non-graduates in order to minimise unemployment", Ohakim revealed.
The governor, however, urged the workers to disregard 'some disgruntled politicians' whom he accused of causing disaffection in the state with falsehood, rumours and smear campaigns and reiterated his commitment to the development of the state.
While urging them to re-brand their unionism by shunning strike action, Ohakim also charged them to always engage in progressive unionism that promotes productivity, manpower development, greater efficiency and wealth creation.
Source: Leadership, 2nd May 2010.
Auchi monarch flays recycling of leaders
By Chidi Nkwopara
OWERRI—The Chairman, South-South and South East Council of Muslim Traditional Rulers and Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, Edo State, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, has called for an end to what he called the "endless recycling of leaders in Nigeria."
The royal father made the call in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, in the palace of Eze Kierian Ejiogu, Ogbujioma autonomous community, Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Goernment Area of Imo State.
"I don't support the endless recycling of leaders in Nigeria. Any leader who has led and has led in a way that people don't appreciate him, why should people vote for the person again? People should allow one man one vote. This system will allow for the qualities of an individual to play a prominent role in determining if he will be elected or not," he said.
Saying that there should be a balancing factor between the young and the old, he, however, noted that "we cannot say because you are young, you have nothing to offer the country."
On the seeming security breach in parts of the country, Alhaji Momoh said that security agencies should be given the necessary equipment to fight crime and criminals in Nigeria.
"In all parts of the world, kidnapping is a very easy way of making money. Very soon and if we are serious about our security problem, as well as the security outfits that we have in this country, we will be able to fight crime," he said.
On the issue of periodic killing and maiming of Nigerians in parts of the country, the Otaru said "it is an experience we are passing through in the history of Nigeria," adding that "what is offensive about it all is that the people who have nothing to do with siphoning the wealth of this country are victims of these killings, kidnapping and other serious crime,"
He was of the opinion that the people, who started giving money to thugs to devour their perceived enemies and those who are opposed to them are the people they should have been gunning for.
Speaking also, the Chief Imam of Imo State, Alhaji Dauda Onyeagocha, said Islam abhors violence, stressing that anybody killing in the name of religion is a criminal and should be treated as such. "Islam is peace. We must learn to propagate peace in all we do and in all places we find ourselves. I also have a strong feeling that the killings in the Northern States are not religious in content," Onyeagocha said.
Source: Vanguard, 28th April 2010.
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