Bishop Okorocha reassures ISOPADEC youths Over N500m youth empowerment fund – As restive youths smash Women Ministry louvers

Youths of Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas have been assured of equitable sharing of the N500 million economic empowerment fund given to youths of oil producing communities (ISOPADEC Youths) by the Imo State Government.   Rt. Rev. Cyril Okorocha, the Bishop of the diocese of Owerri Anglican Communion and Chairman of the five clergymen-committee appointed to handle the fund gave the assurance recently while addressing youths of the areas at St. James Anglican Church Mbaise Road, Owerri.   According to the prelate, the N500 million will be shared into two equal parts of N250 million per local government.  He went further to promise them that no money will be taken from the empowerment fund…

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…

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…

OGUTA STATE CONSTITUENCY RE-ELECTION (2) – Why I am not excited

Also, there are many students in state public schools that have not gotten this so called stipend before but fund is regularly allocated on their behalf monthly. Interestingly, allocation for this project has been made available for more than 12 months now but no student in the state can claim that he or she has received stipend for up to 12 months. The rest of the fund for the supposed stipend is not remitted to government coffers but ‘disappear’ at the end of the day and PDP is still in the majority. Generally, the selective sharing of this stipend is just to justify the fund allocated and for political show-off and PDP is still in…

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…

Angry Youths Disrupt Okorocha’s Convoy

The convoy of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s was yesterday attacked in Oguta LGA of Imo State by angry youths purportedly hired by a candidate for the postponed Imo House of Assembly elections scheduled for next week. Report has it that the Imo State Governor Okorocha, who was in Awa community in Oguta LGA to drum up support for the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) – Chief Walter Uzonwanne for the upcoming election scheduled for next week met with opposition candidate driving into Awara on his way out of the community. An eyewitness reports that one of the motorcyclists on the campaign train of the PDP candidate was knocked down by one of the…

Man who put mum’s body in cupboard Banished …Also baby factory suspect

Imo State traditional rulers have banished Dr. Chimezie Osigwe, in whose home was found the embalmed body of his 73-year-old mum declared missing 10 years ago. Also banished is the proprietor of the Ahamefula Motherless Babies Home, “Madam One Thousand” where 26 expectant teenagers were rescued. “Madam One Thousand”, is no longer to reside in the state, the traditional rulers ruled. Dr. Osuigwe, a native of Ezuru Umuagwu village in Ejemekwuru Autonomous  Community, Oguta LGA Imo State  is a member of the Satguru Maharajji sect. Announcing the verdict, the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri, said the action of the duo desecrated the land, warning that henceforth all forms…

Cleric admonishes Christians against materialism – As Oguta celebrates Father’s Day

The Catholic Men Organization (CMO) of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Oguta in Oguta LGA of Imo State have been admonished not to allow materialism to becloud their sense of judgement. The Episcopal Vicar of Zone 9 of Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri and Parish Priest of the Church, Very Rev. Fr. Jude E. Ike gave the admonition at a Mass to celebrate the Patron Saint (St. Joseph) of the Catholic Men Organization worldwide on Sunday, May 5, 2013. In his sermon, he enjoined the Christian Fathers to always be close to their wives and children, positing that a good home begets a good society and a good society is the pride of the nation. Fr. Ike…