National Confab – Are Ndigbo Ready?

As the drums continue to beat louder and faster for the National conference, strong signals are emerging as to who the players and the spectators are likely to be at the Confab. Emerging reports suggest that the Hausa/Fulani north are not quite ready neither are they fully in support of a national conference which is likely to question the rights and privileges they enjoy under the present system. However the Arewa joint body continues to meet and dialogue in the interest of the north. Ndigbo on their part appear to be dilly-dallying over leadership issues and who their spokespersons should be. Ohanaeze Ndigbo has, however, said that the group had chosen 30 possible representatives and…

Rekindle sense of good leadership – Msgr. Okere charges Catholic Education Directors

The National Association of Catholic diocesan Directors/Secretaries of Education (NACDDEN) has been advised to rekindle the high sense of good leadership and managerial acumen displayed by the missionaries who brought education to Nigeria. This statement was contained in the lecture titled: “Leadership and Management in Catholic Education, delivered by Msgr. Theophilus Okere during a five-day seminar organized by NACDDEN at Assumpta Pastoral Centre Owerri, Tuesday, February 4, 2014. Introducing the lecture, Msgr. Okere laid bare the devastating scourge which he said has engulfed Catholic education as a result of the Nigeria civil war where education was forcefully taken away from the rightful owners by the Nigeria government. “After the dog years of the Biafra war,…

The issue of judicious use of Federal Allocations in Imo state

I read with interest the assertion of Imo State Commissioner for finance, Deacon Chike Okafor that “we have used federal allocations judiciously” published on page 12 of the Daily Sun Newspaper of 14th January, 2014. The commissioner substantiated his point by giving “account” of how the federal allocations received by the state in the past two and half years were used, in response to the challenge given by the supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri. Details of the breakdown include: i.          ₦1.285billion on infrastructure development and ii.         ₦60million on construction of 15km asphalted roads in the 27 councils. The hasty reaction of the Hon Commissioner was not necessary because he is not under…

Alvan rounds off Golden Jubilee celebration with convocation of 1500

Activities marking the Golden Jubilee celebration of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri were rounded off on Friday, December 6, 2013, with the convocation of 1500 NCE graduates. In his speech, the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha (OON), reminded the graduands that they are ambassadors of the college and urged them to represent Alvan well in the labour market. He commended the efforts of the provost, staff and management of the college for their tireless endevours in see that the college is on the right track. His Excellency appealed to the Federal Government and ASUU to call off the five months strike for the sake of our youths saying that an idle mind…

Why Governor Okorocha intervenes in ezeship disputes – Perm Sec

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Community Government Council and Chieftaincy Affairs, Imo State, Lady Maria Amah has given salient reasons why the Imo State Government intervenes in ezeship disputes.   According to her, it is in the overall security interest of the state and harmonious and peaceful co-existence of communities that motivated the Governor to intervene and proffer solutions.   She further postulated that for the various Community Government Councils (CGC) to perform optimally, the autonomous communities should be devoid of rancor and acrimony that result from conflicts and disputes on who becomes the traditional ruler of an autonomous community.   Lady Amah observed that in the past, lives and properties were lost as a…

Imo commissioner nominees: All correct Sir! – Assembly tells Governor

The Imo House of Assembly has confirmed the 12 commissioner-nominees earlier sent to it by Governor Rochas Okorocha, following the recommendation of the screening committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Donatus Ozoemena.   The Chairman said the commissioner nominees having been carefully scrutinized with special focus o their administrative experience and been found eligible for the appointment.   The Speaker of the House, Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu stated that the nominees would be invited back to the house after six months to evaluate their performances.   The confirmed nominees are Prof. Uba Nnabue, Mrs. Mma Onyechere, Mr. Nick Oparandudu, Mr. Chike Okafor, Dr. Uche Ejiogu, Mr. Uche Nwosu, Mr. Gerald Okorie, Lady Ugochi Nnana-Okoro, Dr. Ifeanyi…

Primary School huge pension arrears: A task that must be accomplished

Perhaps work has started at the most difficult site in the state.  The PS and SUBEB Headquarters staff retirees whose pension payment is ignored for unknown reason smiled to their banks when cheques for 2 months were handed to them at their respective CGC headquarters.  This is for Sept and Oct 2012.  The biblical 5 loaves and 2 fishes, still 11 months in arrears November 2012 to September 2013.  other Imo State school system retirees are up to date.  This payment was made when the government trimmed itself of the army of lieutenants.  Can this be the reason for this breakthrough? The fact remains that the greatest leader is that, who identify and rescue the…

Why is Ogwa so neglected by every govt in power in Imo State?

Ogwa in Mbaitoli Local Government area is marginalized, dejected and entirely neglected by Imo State Governments.  Ogwa is about seven kilometers away from Owerri.  It is an agrarian society and believes in agriculture and its allied products.  It has a big market called Afor-Otusi (Afor-Ogwa) an eight-day market that attracts people from far and near. Ogwa, which is land-locked but thickly populated and second in population only to Mbieri has about seven autonomous communities.  It has many primary schools and four secondary schools.  Apart from Ogwa Girls’ Secondary School, built by Catholic Mission, others were built by the self effort of Ogwa Community before the civil war. There is a dispensary in Ogwa built by…

Abortion Law: Why Imo People have continued to reject It

The decision by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the Imo State Governor last Tuesday, Sept 3, 2013 to make a U-Turn, mandating the State House of Assembly to take the necessary steps to repeal the controversial Abortion Law, which had attracted widespread condemnation across the state, is a welcome development. That directive followed a stakeholders’ meeting which Okorocha convened at the Ikemba Ojukwu Conventional Centre Owerri attended by State Legislators, religious leaders, including bishops and pastors of various Christian denominations; opinion moulders as well as pressure groups. The legislation in contention is: The Imo State of Nigeria, Violence Against Persons Protection, Law No. 12 Section 40 passed into by the House and approved by the governor on…

Royal Collision: Ilomuanya, Ohiri clash at Orlu

New Yam literally turned sour at a New Yam Festival in Orlu, when two traditional rulers jostling for position clashed. The New Yam Festival hosted by the chairman of the Orlu Zonal Council of Traditional rulers, Eze Emmanuel Okeke of Amaifeke autonomous Community in Orlu Local Government Area (LGA) became a war of words when the traditional ruler of Obinugwu  Autonomous Community, Eze Cletus Ilomanya arrived at the scene of the event. Speaking while blessing the Kolanut,  Eze Ilomuanya who is the Chairman of the South East Council of Traditional rulers said he had become the chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional rulers, following a recent court ruling which seemingly nullified the position…

Hon. Victor Mere and neglect of World Bank Estate

I am compelled to express my accumulate displeasure once again on the poor state of development in world Bank, New Owerri, most especially in Area L and Site and Services. Shortly after the swearing of his Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha in May 2011, I dispatched an open Letter to him in one of the national tabloids congratulating him on his emergence as the executive Governor of Imo State and at the same time represented the repined and defective minds of the people resident in World Bank, New Owerri on the state of basic amenities, particularly in the areas of Electricity and Roads. I equally appealed to his Excellency to come to their rescue. But pathetic…

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…

My help to the poor, God’s doing – Mrs. Okorocha

The Imo First Lady, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, has described her benevolence to indigent widows in the state as the work of God and a way of giving hope to the hopeless in the society.  Mrs. Okorocha said this when she visited an indigent widow, Mrs. Patience Onyepeme in Ugbele-Umuaka in the Njaba LGA, Imo State on July 3, 2013. She disclosed that her visit to Mrs. Onyepeme was in line with her pet project “She Needs a Roof”, designed to identify with the poor widow who has 10 children that she is single-handedly catering for.  The First Lady promised to build a two-bedroom flat that will be furnished with kitchen utensils and other house equipment….

Church demands Subvention to Catholic Hospitals – As Imo State Council on Health meets

Catholic Health Services of Imo State has once again appealed to the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to approve subvention to Catholic Hospitals in the state. This is contained in their submission to the 2nd Imo State Council on Health Meeting held July 9-12 at the Imo Concorde Hotel Owerri. The State Council on Health meeting is convened to bring together all stakeholders to assess the situation in the health sector, identify areas of priority and proffer solutions. The Catholic Church’s submission was read on behalf of the Catholic Bishops in Imo State by the Provincial Health Co-ordinator, Lady Stella Maris Achunine. She gave reasons for the request for subvention, which include; that some patients…

APGA Woman Leader blasts Okorocha

“He has no respect for rule of law, his free education is a Greek gift” The Imo State Woman Leader of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Mrs. Ijeoma Nwachukwu has come hard on Governor Rochas Okorocha for his political romance with All Progressive Congress (APC). In a release made available to THE LEADER, she observed that Governor Okorocha is at war with the power brokers who facilitated his victory in 2011 governorship election.  These power brokers include support from the political machinery of late Chief Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, the Agbasos, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Chief Emeka Offor, former Governor Achike Udenwa and what she called “the strategic support” from President Goodluck Jonathan who were all deceived…

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…

Members dedicate Imo Int’l Modern Market to God

The Coordinators of General Goods Section “Imo International Modern Market” Naze Nekede, have added their voice appealing to Imolites in other parts of Nigeria to “come home and help develop the State”. They made the call last week at the site of the International Modern Market while dedicating the site to God.  Performing the dedication, Pastor Anselm Onuoha charged the association to seek the face of God with all their hearts.  He assured them that anybody who has God as his foundation would not have any problem in life, “when you have God as your foundation, you will have no problem”, he noted. Continuing he said “the success you will have if you believe in…

Governor Okorocha unveils Assumpta CMO Hall of Faith

…As Cathedral Administrator harps on love The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has unveiled the prototype of St. Joseph Hall of Faith, being planned by the Catholic Men Organization, Maria Assumpta Parish Owerri. The unveiling was part of the activities marking the Christian Father’s Day celebration by the parish May 5. Governor Okorocha thanked the Church for its prayers during the turbulent 2011 election which brought him to power, saying “your prayer is responsible for my victory and prayer remains the magic wand for my continued progress and successes in the past two years”. Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere assured the CMO that the Owelle’s administration will ensure quick realization…

My enemies are after money – Rochas

The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has revealed why his administration is under attack especially by members of the former regime and their cronies. The Governor fingered money as the prime reason, because, according to him, he has stopped them from milking the state dry and that is why they are angry with him and his administration. Speaking during a thanksgiving Mass at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri, Sunday, May 5, to mark his two years in office, Governor Okorocha compared the frustration of his enemies to that of a child who was suddenly pulled out from the mother’s breast. “I stopped them from sucking the breast of Imo State and naturally they are not…