I begin every programme with Novena – CGC Commissioner

The Commissioner for Community Government Council (CGC) and Chieftaincy Affairs, Imo State, Barr. Lady Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro has attributed the success of her ministry so far to the power of Novena. A Novena is a series of prayers that are said for nine straight days, usually as a prayer of petition. Speaking during an interactive session with the press on the ongoing chieftaincy dispute resolution in the state, Barr. Nnanna-Okoro said God is using Governor Rochas Okorocha to bring peace to several communities most of which have been in turmoil for decades following ezeship tussles. Emphasizing the efficacy of Novena prayer, Mrs. Nnanna-Okoro, a Lady of St. Mulumba, said trouble laden communities now enjoy peace, adding…

FUTO VC counts blessings, challenges – After two years in office

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Chigozie C. Asiabaka (KSM) was two years in office on June 19, 2013, having assumed office on June 19, 2011. To mark the second anniversary as the 6th substantive Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Asiabaka addressed the press, June 17, during which he counted his blessings, prospects and challenges. Reflecting on the past two years, Asiabaka said: “We have indeed made remarkable and commendable progress towards re-positioning this university to world class standard”, adding that the laudable success which they have recoded so far would not have been possible without the support of the academic, administrative and other non-teaching staff of the university. He listed what he…

Justice Not Sympathy for Imo State Pensioners

Recently the democratically elected government of Imo State declared that with effect from April 2013 retired civil servants will be paid pension only at the Community Government Council offices of their home communities where the traditional rulers are to identify them as genuine pensioners. The general meaning of this directive is that government gazettes of appointments, promotions and retirements of these pensioners as well as the series of biometric capturing exercises held since 2006 are unreliable records until they are confirmed by traditional rulers who have no records to verify the claims of the pensioners. No wonder that in its editorial comments of May 2, 2006 “The Guardian” said that in advanced societies the respect…

Bombs still litter Igboland …43 Years After Civil War

It has been revealed that no fewer than  50,000 latent bombs and landmines could be found in the South East and South-South Nigeria.  They are remnants of explosives deployed during the Biafra/Nigeria war. which lasted from July 1967-January 1970. The disclosure came from the Media Director and Field Administrator of the Nigerian Mines Action Centre Owerri, Dr. Emeka Uhegbu, who spoke with The Leader recently. However he did not explain how they came about the number. The spokesman of the centre explained that more than four decades after the war ended, the region that was the theatre of war then, have remained unsafe as unexploded bombs, landmines and other forms of explosives have continued to…

Ihedioha restates commitment of NASS to Rural Development

.. flags off N6.2b road project in Mbaise Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha has assured that the National Assembly (NASS) would continue to appropriate funds to complete all projects initiated for execution in all parts of the country. He however warned that this would be contingent upon the cooperation and support of the benefiting states LGAs and communities to the contractors executing such projects. Chief Ihedioha gave the assurance weekend, while flagging off the construction of 30km Mbaise Ring Road estimated at nearly N6.2billion. The road project, which according to him cuts across the 25 communities in the three LGAs of Mbaise is meant to enhance the transportation difficulties of…

Youths storm Owerri for Rochas Jobs, stipend

Last week Monday, Governor Rochas Okorocha announced the release of N5bn for youths employment, and approved N20,000 monthly stipend for unemployed graduates in the state. Addressing the youths in their thousands at the Heroes Square, Owerri during the launching of youth empowerment Programme tagged, “Youth must work”, the governor said that under the programme, 100 youths will be trained as pilots in South Africa while another 200 will undergo entrepreneurial training in Singapore. The governor further announced that unemployed graduates of Imo State origin will be paid monthly stipend of N20,000 “to sustain them until they gain employment”. He explained that youths from each of the 560 communities in the State could form a co-operative…

Imo CGC begins payment of pensions in rural areas -As Ada and Opara Imo competition holds tomorrow

The Imo State Community Government Council (CGC) has begun payment of pensions in the 637 communities in the state. The Commissioner for Community Government Council and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. (Lady) Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro disclosed this while interacting with the press in Owerri on Monday. She said that cheques were being distributed to the pensioners in their various kindreds. Lady Nnanna-Okoro explained that pensioners who did not see their names were those who did not fill the forms distributed to pensioners in their various areas. Barr. Okoro announced that the grand finale of Ada and Opara Imo competition will take place on Monday, May 27 at the Ahiajioku Conference Centre New Owerri. The Commissioner said the contestants…

Town Unions and Community Governing Council In Imo State

A town union is an association formed by members of a particular community for the socio-economic development of that community. Accordingly, town union collaborates with traditional administration, government at all levels and sometimes non-governmental agencies to achieve its aim. Town unions existed in communities in Nigeria even before colonialism. Interestingly, when the colonial masters came to the country, they also associated with town unions and made adequate use of them to foster their mission. With the country’s independence and the constitutional provision on Freedom of Association, town unions became stronger institutions. Also, with the promulgation of the Companies and Allied matters Act, town unions are now incorporated as legal persons. Today, many town unions are…

Irete youths and the display of hostility to non-indigenes

Undoubtedly, we are living in a precarious and hostile society.  A society where brutes and brutality are the order of the day.  This is indeed a society where atrocities are committed with impunity.  A lawless and barbaric society replete with animals in disguise in the name of human beings.  While the youths in civilized societies are busy making great impacts on ground-breakings and wonderful innovations, their Irete counterparts are busy wallowing in unethical behavior, violence and abuse of human rights.    This inference is drawn because of the attitude these young men exhibited at Mrs. Ibenye’s store on Friday at about 7.52pm, March 1, 2013.  Although similar dastard and barbaric acts had filtered through in the…

War against Boko Haram begins – We’ll crush them – Defence Headquarters

With a massive deployment of troops and equipment, the army, navy, air force and other security agencies have begun operation to “rid the nation’s border territories of terrorists’ bases and operations. President Jonathan had in a nationwide broadcast admitted that the Federal Government no longer controlled the entire territory of Nigeria. Three states where the emergency action was declared share common borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger.  These border communities have become bases for training, insurgency and other criminal activities against Nigeria. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) gave indication that the time was up for the Boko Haram sect and other terrorists groups in the country as it announced the deployment of massive troops to take…

Community Government: Is it viable?

Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has on several occasions enumerated what Imo people stand to gain from embracing his Fourth-Tier System of Government, otherwise called, Community Government.  The novelty of it all, being that the state power base will, as it were, relocate from Douglas House Owerri (Government House) to the various autonomous communities in the 27 local government areas of the state. According to the new structure, the duly recognized traditional ruler of each autonomous community will preside over the Community Government Council (CGC), which will include: a Government Liaison Officer (GLO), a Community Liaison Officer (CLO), a Woman leader, Youth leader and Secretary.  The concept is to bring development close to the people as…

Town Unions and Community Governing Council In Imo State

A town union is an association formed by members of a particular community for the socio-economic development of that community. Accordingly, town union collaborates with traditional administration, government at all levels and sometimes non-governmental agencies to achieve its aim. Town unions existed in communities in Nigeria even before colonialism. Interestingly, when the colonial masters came to the country, they also associated with town unions and made adequate use of them to foster their mission. With the country’s independence and the constitutional provision on Freedom of Association, town unions became stronger institutions. Also, with the promulgation of the Companies and Allied matters Act, town unions are now incorporated as legal persons. Today, many town unions are…

Mission Africa offers scholarship to 100 indigent students in Imo, Abia

…As Owerri Archdiocese plans to upgrade some schools to boarding house Mission Africa, a Non-Governmental Organization has uplifted 100 indigent students in Imo and Abia States by offering them scholarship to secondary school. Mr. George Ikoro Chuku, Chairman of the Board disclosed this at the inauguration of the NGO in Owerri, April 13, 2013. He highlighted the power of education, saying it can change and influence lives and communities in profound ways. Chuku regretted that often intelligent students don’t have people to train them adding that his NGO is dedicated to ensuring that all children, regardless of their level have access to quality education. According to him, “Investing in education will have a tremendous impact…