Umuagwo Poly: Imo govt warns troublemakers

Imo State Government has decried the unpatriotic activities of some owners of the hostels at the State Polytechnic Umuagwo and few of their collaborators from the area who he noted are out to cause another trouble in the area with the aim of disrupting the activities and programmes of the institution. The Governor’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemedo stated that information at the disposal of the government is that these elements have begun to regroup, have sworn to cause problem in the institution and disrupt its academic programmes using the multi-campus policy of the government on the institution as an excuse. “The multi-campus status accorded to the institution has come to stay. …

Alleged N458m bribe: Jude Agbaso is innocent – EFCC

The controversial impeachment of the former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Sir Jude Ikechukwu Agbaso early this year for allegedly receiving N458 million bribe from the Managing Director of JPROS International Nig Ltd, Mr. Joseph Dina may have been conjured up. Nine months after the controversial impeachment, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after a thorough investigation has declared that Sir Agbaso is innocent of the allegation after all. Agbaso was hurriedly impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly in February this year following the decision of a seven-man probe panel inaugurated by the State Chief Judge, Justice Benjamin Njemanze. He was accused of demanding and receiving a bribe of N458 million from…

Robbers, prostitutes take over Control Post Owerri

Residents of Control Post, Owerri, want Imo State Government to save them from the activities of robbers, prostitutes and other forms of pick pocketers that have now infested the area.  There has been an upsurge in harassment from large number hoodlums since the demolition of Ukwuakpu along Assumpta Avenue, which forced the nocturnal men to relocate to Onitsha Road.   Some of the residents of the area who took their grievances to THE Leader Newspaper on Thursday, Nov. 14, said they now live in fear because the presence of fierce looking men and ladies.  One of the residents who owns a shop along Onitsha Road narrated how these robbers broke into her shop and snatched…

Counting the gains and cost of 643 Pension Pay Points in Imo State

Payment of pension at Community Government Council (CGC) offices is six months old from April 2013 to September 2013.  Its rejection was spontaneous the moment His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha (OON) announced it at the Heroes Square where thousands of pensioners gathered to hear from his good news about payments of gratuity, pension arrears, pension reviews and pension, harmonization.  When they heard a totally strange policy that as from April 2013 they should go to their villages to receive their pension their reactions ranged from visible shock to incredulity.  Since then their ears have been itching to hear the gains of moving them from sub-treasuries to CGC offices.  Imo State Government does not starve the…

Ahiara City Development: “Go Slow Is Not Our Portion!”

His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, in  2012 announced the creation of seven new cities in Imo State. The cities are Ahiara, Akokwa, Anara, Mgbidi, Nwaorieubi, Okpala and Umuaka. The development of these cities which is a strong plank in the Governor’s Agenda to rescue Imo State from “underdevelopment” and “rural-urban migration” thereby “creating employment, wealth and improved standard of living” was very welcome especially in Ahiara which has enormous comparative advantage for urban development. This comparative advantage has been waiting for years to be exploited. The Catholic Church saw it long ago and located their Mbaise headquarters there. Ikemba Ojukwu saw it and held the Ahiara Declaration there. Owelle…

IBC pensioners want Imo govt to takeover their pensions, gratuities -As Imo Newspapers Retirees demand gratuity

Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Pensioners Association has called on the Imo State Government to take over the payment of their pensions and gratuities. In an eight-point communiqué which they issued after a general meeting in Owerri recently, the senior citizens explained that, “whatever is given to the IBC as monthly subvention is not enough and can no longer sustain the payment of salaries of IBC staff as well as pensions and gratuities. They maintained that in the interim, the Governor should kindly approve the release of accumulated funds of IBC internally generated monthly revenue deducted monthly from the 27 local governments in Imo State to help offset the accumulated areas of pensions and gratuities. They…

The Constitutionality of CGC and the Roles of Local Government Council in Economic Development (2)

Applying that rules of expressio unius exclusio  alterius, which when applied excluded all functions not specifically granted by the constitution, one is tempted to agree with the suggestion that the role of Local government Councils are limited to the functions enumerated in the 4th schedule . However, it is still within the province of the state to ensure under a law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils. This clause under section 7 of the constitution is the reason for my submission that the state can add to the functions of the local government councils and in that regard, provides the constitutionality of any other role or roles attached…

Structure without Sanity in Owerri

Please permit me a space in your widely read newspaper to register my feelings with regard to the pressing issue of sanity in Owerri metropolis, the capital city of Imo State. I must first appreciate the obvious efforts of our indefatigable governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to transform Imo state far beyond what it was before his inception in May, 2011. The problem of traffic in Owerri has been remarkably dealt with as he has opened up alternative routs to fast track movements in the city. Our governor has created numerous roads within the city as by-pass from the crazy traffic jam that held Imolites to ransom a few months back. He has also given the…

Iwuanyanwu not responsible for Nekede Ihiagwa road disaster

The Chief Executive of Hardel and Enic Group of Companies, and frontline politician in Imo State, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has denied the allegation making the rounds in the State that he abandoned construction work on Orji-Egbu-Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze road. Iwuanyanwu, in a statement issued by his construction firm, Hardel & Enic Group of Companies, described those who bandied such allegations against him as detractors who are bent on destroying and tarnishing his integrity. The statement signed by Bon Nwachukwu, Managing Director of the firm, blamed former Governor Achike Udenwa for the present condition of the road, arguing that Udenwa terminated the contract because he had a political misunderstanding with Chief Iwuanyanwu. The statement reads in part “He…

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…

INEC blacklists Imo over Electoral violence

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would not conduct elections in Imo State until the violence and unruly conduct by some politicians that led to the inconclusiveness of the Oguta constituency in the State Assembly re-run on June 29, 2013 are addressed by politicians in the state. Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Attahiru Jega announced this at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room organized by Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC). Jega, who insisted that eight polling units remained canceled, indicted officials of Imo State Government and some members of the National Assembly for flouting the restriction order on the Election Day. He said, “the commission received reports that the election…

Dr Reginald Anyadike – Government has done well but…

He wears two complementary hats – one as Assistant SecretaryGeneral, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the other as Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in charge of ImoState. Bold and articulate, Anyadike describes himself as the “foremost labour leader in ImoState” and, like most labour leaders likes to hear his own voice. But the Agbala-born trade unionist doesn’t make noise for nothing. He heads the largest trade union and speaks for thousands of workers, teachers especially. He finds himself in hot water sometimes but most times he is the one who turns on the heat on employers when labour is unhappy. Right now, Anyadike and his unions are at loggerheads with Government over the following…

Restoring Pipe-Borne water in our cities

It is generally believed that the four most basic needs of man are: air, water, food, and shelter, in that order. That water ranks second in man’s hierarchy of needs speaks volumes about its indispensability to life. Perhaps this explains why the creator of the universe made water to comprise three quarters of the entire surface of the earth in the form of seas, rivers and lakes. Man needs water to drink, wash and clean up his surroundings, while plants need water to sustain their life. This informed the reason why politicians seeking the people’s mandate always, include potable water in the list of Democracy Dividends they dangle before the electorate. It is on this…

Dr Joe Obi-Njoku : Rising from the Grassroots

Imagine him chopping wood with an axe.  Imagine him also shirtless, barefoot, a climbing robe “akpi” on his left shoulder and a machete in his right hand, dividing the bush and heading for the nearest palm tree to cut down the ripe fruits for sale, so he and his family could eat.   Imagine him again taking bamboos from the raffia palm and carefully weaving the traditional bamboo bed – “okpukpo,” (agada in some dialet)  also to make a living. Finally, see him riding an old bicycle from his home at Umueme, Uzagba, in Ikeduru local government, to Mbaise to go to college.   That’s the life of Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, as a young man,…

Auto crash: Why Okorocha was not treated in Government hospital

Insecurity and protracted labour dispute between the State Government and staff of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), were reasons why Governor Rochas Okorocha was not taken to the hospital for treatments when he was involved in an auto crash recently. Okorocha’s vehicle had head-on collision with another vehicle belonging to one Osita Nnawuihe on Friday, April 19, 2013 at Umuoma, Orlu, while driving himself without the usual outriders and government house ambulance. Daily Sun learnt that the governor was rushed to St. Mary’s Children and Community Hospital, Umuowa where he received first aid, while Nnawuihe was taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri for treatment. The State Government and the teaching hospital…