When will Imo Ezeship nominees get their staff of office?

(An appeal to Governor Rochas Okorocha)  We wish to use this medium to congratulate our Governor, Rochas Anayo Okorocha for his effort in settling the long standing Ezeship tussle between the contestants and beginning another power tussle between the nominees and other COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT COUNCIL MEMBERS.  Months back, precisely in 2013, the Ahiajoku Convention Centre was a home for the king makers of various communities and Imo stakeholders.  This gathering served as an alternative dispute resolution procedure as against the court process that has entertained a lot of endless Ezeship cases. At the Ahiajoku Convention Centre, the citizens of Imo State at home and in diaspora, saw in you the Governor an impartial judge.  Your…

An Artist was born

Whether artists are born or made depends on who you meet. But when Paddy Obinna says he was born an artist, you can only agree. How else do you explain his multiple talents, plus the fact that he, literally, started to see colours from his mother’s womb?  The master designer wasn’t born with a brush in his hand, but he had eyes for beauty from the start. “I saw myself as an artist from the beginning. My father refused my uncle taking me to Lagos. He said, ‘don’t take Paddy to Lagos. He will start looking at things and vehicles will knock him down.’ I was still small, about six. From looking, I started to…

Abortion in any form is murder: It is anti-Christ

That Imo people have been betrayed by their own government following the signing into law of the bill which for all intent and purposes legalizes Abortion is no longer news.  Today, Imolites keep wondering what better reason is on the table of the present administration justifying its signing of the bill into law which previous administrations hadn’t the privileged of accessing. For once, one wonders whether both the sponsors of the bill on the floor of Imo State House of Assembly, the members of Imo State House of Assembly and the Governor (the apostle of rescue mission who cannot rescue helpless babies in the womb) are truly, Igbos, Africans or Christians. As an Igbo man,…

Lack of Portable Water in Imo

In most countries, Government is the main provider of clean, safe and portable water to the people, who in turn pay a small fee as water bill..  Here in Nigeria, it’s a different story. This essential commodity, second only to air, is still a luxury. Just as with electricity, people are compelled to generate their own water by sinking boreholes in their homes and offices. Right now in Imo State, the average person cannot get water except they have access to a borehole. The days of villagers gathering at a public tap to fetch water are evidently gone. Face2Face made a random check in Owerri to see if there’s still a public stand pipe anywhere…

Imo State Government reclaims Umuguma Specialist Hospital

The protracted Saga on the handing-over back of the Specialist Hospital Umuguma, Owerri West to the State Government has been put to rest. This followed a special intervention of the acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jonny Ihebereme between the interim Management of the Hospital headed by Dr. S. O. Amaechi the adviser on health to the Governor and the ministry. Receiving the hand-over note in his office, the Hon. Commissioner for health, Dr. Joe Obi Njoku, thanked Dr. Amaechi for submitting to the State Government’s demands on him to hand over the Hospital. The Commissioner further stated that the action would further bring to an end all other disagreements that had…

Imo State Government set to Privatize Water

Plans have reached advanced stage to privatize water distribution in Imo State. According to Government this is the only way to revamp the ailing Water Board and solve the endemic water woes in Imo. Commissioner for Public Utilities, Public Safety and Youth Empowerment Hon. Dr Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, who made the disclosure in an interview with The Leader said a buyer has been identified and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOD) soon to be signed. “We have been able to get three companies; we have interviewed them and been able to take one. So right now, we are trying to sign the MOU. Very soon the MOU will be ready and we will hand over the keys…

Combating Poverty in our communities

Charity, they say, begins at home and that’s why Dr Uju Magnus Amajirionwu has chosen to start his innovative community programme from his native Ngor Okpala. Although he lives overseas, Dr Amajirionwu has not turned his back on his people.  Instead, he has devised a meaningful way of helping to bring about a much-needed change to his community by investing in education and small business development. The Uvuruntu-born, Polytechnic Nekede and FUTO – trained engineer has donated a mobile library to the Archdiocese of Owerri. Amajirionwu took the bold and benevolent decision to come home and make the donation, despite losing his wife and partner recently. But the library is in memory of his late…

Imo gets 16 new Perm Secs – Dr. Iwuagwu for Education

The Imo State governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha on Wednesday, July 03, 2013 at the Government House Owerri, swore in 16 new Permanent Secretaries for the Imo State civil service. The swearing in ceremony which witnessed a huge gathering of friends and well-wishers at the Government House was the actual confirmation of the senior civil servants who were appointed acting permanent secretaries about a month ago. Speaking at the occasion, Governor Okorocha congratulated the new Perm Secs on their appointment. He urged them to work hard to meet up with the expectations of his rescue mission agenda. He challenged them to brace up and be ready to work round the clock to deliver to the people….

KSJ 422 celebrates birth of John the Baptist – commissions security house

Knights of St. John International (KSJ) Holy Cross Commandary, and their Ladies Auxiliary (LAUX) 350 Owerri, last Sunday, June 30, 2013 celebrated the birthday of the patron Saint of the Ancient and Nobel Order, St. John the Baptist. The Grand finale of the week-long activity –packed celebration were: the two-day seminar featuring talks by two distinguished personalities- ”Who is John the Baptist and what does he stand for?” by Prof. Goody Obodo and ”Waves of Doctrine” by Major Peter Opara, the Worthy President. There were also Sunday Eucharist celebration at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Special Awards and commissioning of the Security House. Preaching the homily at the Mass, Rev. Fr. Andrew Nkwocha, the Cathedral Administrator…

Jonathan condemns irregularities in Oguta rerun election – As PDP, APGA trade Accusations

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday in Abuja, condemned the irregularities that characterized the rerun election to the Imo State House of Assembly in Oguta on Saturday, June 29, saying that the conduct of certain persons and groups involved in the election negated the spirit of one man, one vote, which his administration was trying to foster in Nigeria. Speaking at an audience with a delegation from the Nigerian Senators’ Forum, President Jonathan urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) and the nation’s security agencies to take immediate steps to bring all those who played any role in the violence and irregularities that marred the election to justice. The President said it had become apparent that…

Rochas Okorocha must hear this

One Dr. James Madubuonu, not real name has made very frantic efforts these years to see Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Governor Imo State, to help solve the most important problem facing the state but his aides have made it impossible for them to meet. The said citizen is a lawyer by profession specialized in security matters for 43 years in the U.S. but those who think that they matter so much feel that insecurity is not a problem in Imo State. This man, being a citizen of Nigeria feels that charity begins at home that is why he chose Imo State as the home of the program and he named it Imo Security System. It is…

60% of drivers cannot drive – Mr Emeka Osuorji

It was once reported overseas that 30 per cent of people driving vehicles in Lagos were visually impaired and have no business behind the wheels. General Manager, Imo State Traffic Management Authority (IMSTMA), Mr. Emeka Osuorji, re-echoed that recently when he expressed concern that 60 per cent of those driving in Imo state could move a car but didn’t know how to drive. IMSTMA boss and his men are trying to clean up the roads much like the police, road safety, civil defence and orientation, all uniformed organizations trying to control traffic on perpetually crowded and crazy roads. Whether this is a duplication of service or a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth…

OGUTA STATE CONSTITUENCY RE-ELECTION: Why I am not excited

On the 29th of June 2013, there will be a re-run election for the representative of Oguta State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly. This is as a result of the nullification of the election of Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the court. The front runners in the election, the PDP and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)/yet-to-be registered All Progressive Congress (APC) have been campaigning and mobilizing in a very big way. The battle line seems to be drawn between both parties. On the side of the PDP are Senator Hope Uzodinma, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Author Nzeribe etc. while Governor Rochas is leading the other side…

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…

Woman disappears on daughter’s wedding day

The whereabouts of a widow, Mrs. Kate Onwuhara, a lecturer at Novena University in Delta State is still a mystery following her disappearance on the day she was to give out her daughter in marriage. Her daughter, Ugonne Onwuhara’s wine-carrying was to take place on the evening of Thursday, June 20, 2013.  Earlier that day, it was thought that some persons from her own family in Imo State were supposed to be at the event and so she went to inform and invite them.  She was said to have driven in her Toyota Corolla car (marked Rivers, WY433PHC) to Umuelemai in Isiala Mbano LGA.  It was around 11am. Speaking to the press (not The Leader)…

Parishioners pray for kidnapped choirmaster -As gunmen abduct two in Owerri

Kidnappers appear to have staged a come-back in Imo State after about one month break. On Friday, June 23, 2013 the hoodlums struck at Ubomiri in Mbaitoli Local Government Council at night and abducted two prominent members of the community – a Lagos-based retired bank director and an Owerri-based contractor, who is also a choirmaster at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri. Reports said that the choirmaster had gone to the Ubomiri residence of the former bank director, who is his brother-in-law when they were kidnapped. Both of them hail from Umuabali Ubomiri. The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Joy Elemoko Ugo confirmed the incident saying that the police are on top of the…

Okorocha, Contractor trade blames – over N1.3bn contract

A N1.3billion contract for the building of an ultra-modern judiciary commission headquarters in Owerri, the Imo State capital awarded to Nnutouch Global Ventures is now a source of sharp trading of blames between Governor Rochas Okorocha and the Managing Director of the company, Dr. Osita Okereke. Problem began last week when the Governor after an inspection visit to the project site said that he had resolved to terminate the contract awarded in April 2012 owing to the failure of the contracting firm to deliver by April this year as contained in the Contract Agreement. But in a swift reaction, Dr. Osita Okereke, the Managing Director, warned that the Governor dares not carry out his threat,…

Retired Alvan Staff groan under unpaid entitlements

- Head of Service says govt is addressing their problems Retired staff of the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) Owerri beween 2007-2009 have carried to the media their battle for survival over their unpaid end-of-service financial benefits (July 2007-Dec. 2009). Two spokespersons of this Group Sir Alex Onyemekara, former Dean School of Sciences and Sir Alex Ukaegbu, Principal Lecturer, Department of Agriculture, who were interviewed, described their members as “The Unfortunate Group”.  They lamented that those who retired before them, (1993-2007) have fully received their gratuities and were enjoying their pensions without any outstanding arrears while those who retired after them (since Dec. 2009) have been adequately covered in the PENCOM Pension Scheme….

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…

Imo Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) must be autonomous

The Imo State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) should be made autonomous if the much needed increase in Internally Generated revenue (IGR) for Imo State is to be realized. It must be realized that the establishment of Task Forces on revenue Generation is usually not the solution to the dwindling Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) situation in any State.  Rather, the only way out is to make the BIR autonomous and free from the day to day Government control, supervision and monitoring.  By this process, BIR should be allowed to utilize about 5% of whatever IGR they generate for personnel and overhead costs including maintenance of office equipments while the balance of 95% is paid into…