Abia state governor, Chief Theodore Orji says his administration would continue to deliver public power supply to all rural communities in the state.
The governor, who was speaking during the handover of transformers to the representatives of eight benefiting communities, said the objective was to assist them in line with government’s efforts at boosting power supply across the 17 local governments of the state.
He disclosed the transformers were procured by the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC), an agency of the state government funded by the mineral derivation from the federation account to empower the youths as well as develop the state.
Orji, who was visibly elated at the occasion, recalled that his administration recently evacuated power from the 132 KVA Ohiya Power station to Umuahia and its environs, stressing that the transformers would assist in boosting power supply in those areas.
He disclosed that more transformers would be acquired for distribution to needy communities, adding that the state government in conjunction with the local councils is compiling a list of those to benefit, assuring that it will be equitably distributed to the three senatorial zones of the state.
Speaking on behalf of one of the benefiting communities, the traditional ruler of Osi-Eke autonomous community in Ugwunagbor local council, HRH, Eze Apostle Wilson Uhiara expressed gratitude to the governor for the donation.
Some of the benefiting communities include Umukabia Ohuhu autonomous community(Umuahia North LGA ), Awomukwu autonomous community(Ikwuano LGA )Ikwuorie autonomous community(Ukwa East LGA),Abo Ama-Ogudu autonomous community(Ohafia LGA);amongst others.
The United States has imposed sanctions on five Iranian nuclear experts and seven companies for helping Iran move closer towards enriching uranium — essential for building a nuclear bomb.
The new sanctions freeze the U.S. assets of those named and forbids any U.S. citizen or body from doing business with the 12.
Iran has refused U.N. and Western demands that it give up its nuclear program, which Washington says is aimed at building a bomb. Iran insists its nuclear activities are strictly for peaceful purposes
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says because of Iran’s continued intransigence on its nuclear program, it is essential to restrain Iranian violations.
Meanwhile, a team of United Nations nuclear inspectors is in Tehran seeking to convince Iran to resume nuclear talks.
Chief inspector Herman Nackaerts said the focus of the visit is to resolve outstanding issues related to Iran’s possible development of nuclear weapons.
The U.N. nuclear agency wants Iran to grant inspectors access to the Parchin military installation southwest of Tehran, which the West suspects is related to possible nuclear weapons development. Iran says Parchin is a conventional military site.
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left) assisted by the Chairman of PDP Ward 2 Angalabiri, Mr. Egberibulokemi Dibuya (right) introducing the winner of PDP Local Government Councillorship Ward 2 primary election, Ms. Alibina Apina (centre) at Angalabiri in Sagbama Local Government Area of the State. Photo by Lucky Francis, Government House, Yenagoa.
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson on Friday in Sagbama, Sagbama local government area of the state insisted on the 35 percent affirmative action for women, assuring the people of the readiness of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) to comply with the policy.
Addressing members of the party during the conduct of the PDP Councillorship Primaries which saw the emergence of three women, the governor said their victory was a demonstration of the PDP’s preparedness to adhere to the policy and give the women a greater sense of belonging.
The effective implementation of the policy, according to the governor will not only empower women but also afford them ample opportunity to contribute more meaningfully to national development.
Describing the PDP as a responsible and responsive political party, the Governor called on Nigerian women to always support the programs and policies of the present administration.
While congratulating the flag bearer of the party, on her successful election, the State Chief Executive commended the people for their peaceful conduct and urged them to vote massively for the party in the Local Government elections billed for next year.
The Returning Officer, Mr Christopher Ewhrujakpo announced the results while the Special Adviser to the PDP National Chairman on Monitoring, Hon. Bernard Mikko advised aspirants who may be aggrieved about the outcome of the elction to follow due process by forwarding their petitions to the party within 24 hours.
Chairman of PDP Sagbama Local Government Area, Hon. Bekeowei Oyinkuro (2nd left) assisted by the PDP Chairman Ward 2, Mr. Egberibulokemi Dibuya (right) formerly introducing the winner of PDP Local Government Councillorship Ward 2 primary election, Ms. Alibina Apina (2nd right) to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left) at Angalabiri Community. Photo by Lucky Francis, Government House, Yenagoa.
Hon. Dickson who later visited the Amakosiowei, (oldest man) of Angalabiri Community, Chief Smart Ogbelegbe, expressed his administration’s readiness to bring development closer to the rural areas.
He also expressed gratitude to the people for the massive support they gave to him in last February’s Governorship polls in the State, adding that the Angalabiri community has remained one his most reliable support bases in Sagbama Local Government Area.
The 43rd meeting of the National Council on Information was held at the NICON LUXURY Hotel, Garki – Abuja from Wednesday 12th to Thursday, 13th December, 2012, with the theme: “Information Management for Good Governance and National Transformation”. It was attended by 410 delegates from 31 States, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Goodwill and solidarity messages were received from the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
1.1 The meeting of officials to prepare the framework for the Council meeting was held on Wednesday 12th December, 2012, under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Mrs Kehinde Ajoni. She expressed regrets at the inconveniences caused by the Ministry’s inability to hold the 43rd Meeting at Osogbo but noted that the 43rd NCI was taking place at an appropriate time considering the on-going national Good Governance Tour as approved by Council at the 42nd Meeting.
1.2 In a keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, welcomed participants and delegates, and drew attention to the theme of the 43rd session, ‘Information Management for Good Governance and National Transformation. He noted that the meeting was both timely and appropriate in light of the intense focus on the performance of governments at all levels. Identifying openness and transparency in governance as critical elements, in any democracy, Mr Labaran Maku drew attention to the success of the just concluded One-Day Workshop on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, hosted in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Information in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
1.3 He described the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act as the boldest and most revolutionary step by any Administration in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, pointing out that its implication of open access to information is a challenge to Journalists and all who wish to know how they are governed and how their resources are managed. Mr Maku called on all State Governments and Ministries of Information to commence effective Public Enlightenment and facilitate the implementation of the Act in the interest of good governance. Finally, Mr Labaran Maku drew attention to the progress of the National Good Governance tour which he said was an eye opener as it was able to reveal the massive development and extensive work being done by governments at all levels.
1.4 He commended the Federal Government’s on-going Transformation Agenda, pointing out that in addition to the noteworthy improvement in the power sector the Nation’s Agricultural Sector is poised to create employments while the Transport Sector is set to receive a tremendous boost with the imminent reopening of the North-South and East-North rail lines. While he expressed his wish for fruitful deliberations and timely implementation of Council decision, the Honourable Minister declared the 43rd Session of the National Council on Information (NCI) open.
1.5 Earlier on the Permanent Secretary in her opening remarks emphasized the importance of the good governance tour in monitoring developmental projects all over the country. She also noted the need for the deployment of robust communication strategies for effective publicity as imperatives for the transformational agenda and vision 20:20:20
1.6 After exhaustive deliberations, Council resolved as follows:
i. that the National Good Governance Tour is an effective way of showcasing efforts of government at all levels and encouraged States to support the initiative of the Federal Ministry of Information.
ii. that States be encouraged to implement the Freedom of Information Act.
iii. that States should take advantage of the enhanced curricula at the National Institute of Public Information (NIPI) Kaduna, in order to create synergy in Information management and bridge the knowledge gap amongst Information Managers. Council noted the need for the Federal Ministry of Information and NIPI to embark on more aggressive marketing of its programmes.
iv. that Federal and State Ministries of Information should further collaborate and intensify public enlightenment on environmental challenges and national security. In this regard, States are encouraged to vote funds for public enlightenment while designs of specific strategies and publications are made available for implementation by the Federal and State Ministries of Information.
v. That the establishment of a Collective Management Organization (CMO) in the field of audio visual works in Nigeria will help deepen the Nigerian film industry and make it globally competitive. Council therefore encouraged the accelerated registration of the CMO.
vi. That States should provide access to computers for community schools and encourage e-governance at the Local Government levels.
vii. That all Citizens in Nigeria should be properly secured in their States of residence, irrespective of their State of Origin.
1.7 Council noted:
i. the need to support and encourage the establishment of a Collective Management Organization (CMO) in the field of Audio-Visual Works in Nigeria.
ii. the presentation of an update on the successful hosting of the One-Day first National Conference on Audio-Visual Archiving in Nigeria.
iii. the successful hosting of the 6th Edition of the biennial Zuma Film Festival with the theme “The Human Story: Connecting People”.
iv. the need to put in place legal provisions to check cyber crimes in the country and develop a platform to respond to issues on social media.
v. the presentation of an update on the work on Voice of Nigeria’s Abuja Transmitting Station project
vi. the submission on effective Information Management made by Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun,Oyo, Rivers and Yobe States.
vii. the Federal Ministry of Information’s efforts and expressed its appreciation to the Ministry for hosting the 43rd council.
1.8 The next meeting of the National Council on Information is to hold in Osogbo, Osun State in September 2013.
COMMUNIQUE COMMITTEE
Federal Officers
1. E. N. Agbegir – FMI
2. J. K. Lawal – FMI
3. F. N. Chetden – FMI
4. G. O. Adeoye – FMI
5. Wofai E. Agbam – FMI
State Representatives
1. Ibim Semenitari – Rivers State – South-South
2. Arthur A. Bosah – Anambra State – South East
3. Hon. Gide Sani Batagarawa – Katsina State – North West
4. Emmanuel Bello – Taraba State – North East
5. Taiwo Ibiyemi Otegbeye – Oyo State – South West
6. Hon. Victoria Titi Monde – Nasarawa State – North Central
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the volcano as he is now fondly called in some quarters, had a quick succession of eruptions in the past few weeks as he made good use of the autonomy of the CBN to fire his salvo of economic policy razzmatazz, not sparing anyone from the legislature to the hardest hit, the civil servants, calling for 50 percent reduction of federal workers and other apparatus of government, as a means of reducing the cost of governance. His diagnosis was right but his prescription not just defective but insolent with a sprinkling of megalomania.
The CBN Boss, with an uncanny reputation for hitting up the polity, had in the past stirred the hornet’s nest with issues such as the contentious Islamic banking debate that polarized the Nation along religious lines, his aborted N5, 000 note introduction. He facilitated the donation of N100 million on behalf of the CBN to victims of the Boko Haram menace in his state of origin, Kano, attracting criticism from the media and the National Assembly, adamantly maintaining it was not the first time the CBN will be assisting victims of disasters. He had bitter run-ins with the National Assembly for calling for a reduction of their salaries and emoluments by at least 25 percent. The law makers had at a point muted a review of the CBN Act to strip the CBN governor of his autonomy.
Widespread reactions trailed his latest comments that Nigeria cannot make any meaningful progress, economic growth or develop infrastructure if it continued with a recurrent expenditure of 70 per cent. He was pummeled from all sides. The organized Labour and the NLC described the ‘loquacious’ CBN governor as a ‘hollow economist’ and one whose policy proposal is anti-people and ruinous to the Nigerian economy. The Labour therefore called for his immediate sack. His familiar foes, the law makers were not left out in pouring vitriolic attack, describing him as an ‘economist of turbulence’. A deluge of opinion from Nigerians joined the discourse that ensued.
Discarding Sanusi’s recommendation in total would be throwing the baby away with the bath water, certain aspects of Sanusi’s comments need be given a serious thought. Truly the executive and other apparatus of government must reduce its overhead cost by even more than 50 percent, the profligacy in government must stop, though Sanusi failed to add this. Nigerians had almost forgotten that Jonathan’s inauguration ceremony alone gulped about 5billion. Investigations revealed that the President and his entourage have spent not less than N3.35bn on foreign trips since 2010. Nigeria, a country without a Nigeria carrier spends an estimated N9.08bn annually on the Presidential Air Fleet of 10 aircrafts which is the third largest fleet, in queue behind commercial airlines with Arik Air the largest in the country with 23 aircrafts. How about the billions allocated for ‘refreshment’ in the Presidential Villa? The recent N2bn budget for the construction of the Vice-President’s official residence and another N2.2bn for a banquet hall for the President are landmark achievements of a government renowned for its culture of profligacy. This legacy of waste, impunity and fleecing of our commonwealth by past and present administration at all levels of government is what the CBN governor should be talking about. There is also the monster of corruption that needs to be tackled headlong. Indeed the private sector should be engaged to handle industrialisation and manage government owned businesses, the local governments and civil service should as a matter of urgency be repositioned for better service delivery. Inasmuch as the CBN governor’s submission was correct, in some areas, his implementation strategy is defective.
The dust of Sanusi’s latest controversy had not settled when news broke of the theft at the Mint! Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, is currently embroided in the mysterious disappearance of N2.1 Billion in N1000 denominations from the watch of its officials. Though there are conflicting figures of the missing sum but it is inconsequential, a theft of N20 at the mint, a place meant to be secured and immune to theft, should be considered a serious dent on the image of Nigeria, an all new level of fleece now extended to the stealing of newly minted notes.
The CBN governor as the head of the company board, scurried to a meeting with the board of the Mint company to investigate the magical disappearance of such colossal sum. The outcome so far has been the order to proceed on leave with immediate effect handed to the chief executive and the head of security of the NSPMC.
Contrary to reports of absence of Close Circuit Television Cameras known as CCTV at the NSPMC, investigation revealed the in-house administration of security of the premises and products is detailed, strict and computerised. Both physical and Materials’ security of the premises is ensured through the use of the most up-to-date electronic surveillance equipment, supported by adequate and well-trained security staff. Attributing the ease with which the funds developed wings to the absence of CCTV is a ploy to cover up the circumstances and personnel behind the brazen robbery.
The resurgence of sleaze in a sensitive place where banknotes are minted with top-notch security gadgets, is unimaginable, condemnable in strong terms and a mystery that must be unraveled. Regrettably, it is coming at a time when government officials are still protesting the Transparency International corruption index of the county. Nigerians hope it is not swept under the carpet again as the appropriate authorities must do more than the usual response of invitation for questioning by the House of Representatives, Police and the EFCC.
The Minister of state for Power, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi was quoted as saying evil spirits were preventing Nigeria from achieving sustainable electricity, she also recommended exorcism – “We must resolve to jointly exorcise the evil spirit behind this darkness”. It became obvious other sectors needed exorcism as well. The disappearance without trace of a sum that would have needed three bullion vans to move presents a quintessential scenario where evil spirits are at work. The earlier we collectively start to exorcize these powers that be the better.
Nigerians will not forget in a hurry how Mallam Sanusi teamed up with the duo of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke to remove fuel subsidy, partially, in January 2012. The National Assembly through its findings discovered that whereas N245 billion was appropriated in 2011 for fuel subsidy, the Central Bank illegally paid out N2.3 trillion to the NNPC and other fuel importers on the recommendation of the Federal Ministries of Finance and Petroleum Resources. The CBN at a time paid about N20bn ($133m) for a piece of land, originally owned by a government agency, NITEL, to build “a world class conference centre”. It would have been expected that in line with his recommendations, the workforce of the CBN should have been pruned down from 5,022 but instead within three years of his assumption in office the CBN employed about 1,000 people. It is also public knowledge that last year the CBN spent N300 billion, no where close to N150billion of the National Assembly. In the light of the misdeeds of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, his call for the sack of civil servants as a way of improving the economy and the recent theft at the Mint, he must realize that the light that shines farthest must first shine brightest at its base.
The Chairman of the Imo state Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Jude Ejiogu and the Accountant General of the state, Mr. George Eche, after arguments by their team of lawyers led by Louis Alozie, Esq., has in two separate rulings in the High Court of Imo state, obtained an Ex-Parte order restraining the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar from arresting them or continuing with investigations into the management of local government fund in the state pending the determination of the substantive suit.
This followed a letter dated 16th October, 2012, from the office of the IGP, signed by ACP Bala Ciroma inviting Prof. Gozie Anwukah, Secretary to the Imo State Government; Mrs. Lilian Asuzu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Mr. Chike Okafor, Commissioner for Finance; Chief Gerry Okolie, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Mr. George Eche, Accountant General of Imo state and Mr. Jude Ejiogu, Chairman, Local Government Service Commission to appear before the Inspector General of Police to answer questions concerning the administration of local government funds in the state.
In his affidavit in support of his originating summon, Ejiogu noted that the police were investigating an allegation of ‘conspiracy, diversion, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of procedure in local government statutory allocation’ of which he had explained to the police that he knew nothing about local government allocation and disbursement as they are outside his job schedule.
Adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was already investigating a case of misappropriation of local government allocation and sundry matters in the state and did not invite him.
According to Ejiogu, on November 14, 2012, ACP Bala Ciroma of the IGP Monitoring Unit, Abuja ‘called me to inform me that he has a warrant for my arrest and will come into Owerri any time to effect the arrest.’
Following the incessant harassment of arrest and detention, Ejiogu and the five other top functionaries of the Imo state government proceeded to court to seek protection of their fundamental human rights.
Jude Ejiogu obtained the restraining order through suit No. HOW/753/2012 by Justice N.B. Ukoha while George Eche obtained his through suit No. HOW/755/2012 by Justice Ngozi Opara.
Hearings on the substantive suits were adjourned to 28January, 2013.
Information reaching 247ureports.com indicates that the mother to the Finance Minister for the Federal Ministry of Finance has been released by her abductors.
Mama Ngozi was abducted on Sunday December 9, 2012 by unknown gunmen – who had demanded for the resignation of the Federal Minister along with some ransom money – which originally pegged at $1billion before it was later reduced to N200million.
Details are still sketchy. It is not certain whether the demanded ransom was paid to the abductors. Over 63 suspects were arrested over the abduction.
A few weeks ago, Bianca Ojukwu, caused a stir when she said that it was the Massob Leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, that donated the 2011 governorship victory to Owelle Okorocha on a platter of gold. It is not possible to know how Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the late Biafran war Lord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, arrived at this bizarre conclusion. As one who was deeply embedded with the various caucuses of the APGA in the various efforts to effect regime change in Imo State in 2011, I am in a position to say a few things about those who played critical roles in the victory of Owelle Rochas Okorocha in the 2011 Imo State governorship election which held on April 26th and May 6, 2011. In fact, long before the election, I was a regular visitor to the Rochas Foundation Plaza, the seat of Owelle Rochas business Empire in Imo State and I published series of interviews which were granted me by either Owelle Rochas Okorocha himself or some of his aides especially, the incumbent Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Comrade Kenneth Emelu, the DG Agenda Foundation, Dr Hillary EKE, and Lolo Chioma Ogoke, the former Commissioner for Commerce. When Owelle Rochas Okorocha held his 48th birthday bash on September 25, 2010, a cross section of very important dignitaries graced the occasion. Chief Raphael Uwazurike was neither present nor represented in the carnival- like event. In December, 2010, Owelle Rochas Okorocha returned to the venue, the then Wetheral Road Township School, to formally declare his intention to aspire for Imo Governorship under the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike was neither represented nor present. Bianca Ojukwu flew in from her London base to represent her husband who was then lying critically ill in a London Hospital. She mounted the podium and delivered her husband’s address which appealed to the electorate to cast their votes for Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Bianca Ojukwu had described Owelle Rochas Okorocha in glowing and superlative labels as she described him as a man who was exceptionally gifted in diverse ways. She described Owelle Okorocha as an asset to Imo State in particular and to Ndigbo in general. At the end of her speech, she was given a rousing applause by the sea of humanity who thronged the venue.
Again when the leaders of APGA convened a summit at Rosy Arts Theatre, Ikenegbu Layout, Owerri to formally announce a reconciliation of both Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the leaders of APGA, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike was neither represented nor present. At the reconciliation party in Rosy Arts Theatre, both Owelle Okorocha and Chief Martin Agbaso embraced each other and resolved to work for the victory of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the APGA candidate, in the Governorship election of 2011. Chief Ralph Uwazuruike was not seen anywhere in these caucuses which reconciled Owelle Okorocha with some aggrieved members of APGA.
At a stage the absence of Chief Ralph Uwazurike in these events became a matter for worry and concern among the Okorocha and APGA faithful. Before long, it became an open secret that Ralph Uwazuruike had decided to support his brother, Chief Ikedi Ohakim. The cat was let out of the bag by the members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra(MASSOB) who told us that “CHIEF” has told us to support Governor Ohakim”. The Massob boys were confused and frustrated by this order from their leader. This is because they (the Massobians) formed the bulk of the masses who formed the backbone of the struggle for Regime Change in Imo State. They were loyal to Owelle Okorocha.
It is pertinent to state that both Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and Chief Ikedi Ohakim hail from the same Okigwe senatorial zone of Imo State. The pertinent question is “If as Bianca Ojukwu claimed, Chief Ralph Uwazurike was solidly behind Owelle Okorocha, why did the party, APGA, perform so dismally and woefully in that election in Okigwe senatorial zone in general and in Ralph Uwazuruike’s polling booth in Okwe community. How can a person whose polling booth and local government were won by the PDP be labeled as the man who delivered the Imo Governorship victory to Okorocha on a platter of gold? Does charity no longer begin at home? Is this development not incongruous with the maxim: “nemo dat quod non habet”, a Latin maxim, which translates to “no one gives what he does not have”? APGA lost the Okigwe senatorial seat, lost the six seats in the state legislature and also lost the Federal House of Representatives seat, yet people like Bianca Ojukwu delude themselves that it was Chief Ralph Uwazuruike that facilitated the emergence of Owelle Okorocha as Governor of Imo State. Is this line of thinking logical? It is a classic case of the proverbial physician who could not heal himself. Does it make sense to posit that Chief Ralph Uwazurike who could not deliver his polling booth to APGA should be described as the one who donated the governorship crown to Owelle Okorocha on a platter of gold? I advise those who are on the pay roll of Governor Okorocha to obtain a complete breakdown of the results of the governorship election in Okigwe Zone and publish it so that facts can speak for themselves. I write as a volunteer media consultant to Governor Okorocha’s Administration and not as a person on Okorocha’s pay roll. So, I have my limitations.
If Chief Ralph Uwazuruike was the brain behind Governor Okorocha’s victory in the April 26 and May 6th, 2011 governorship elections, how come that the relationship between both has since plummeted to an all time low? Again, why has none of them paid a courtesy visit on the other in order to celebrate the Revolution of May 6, 2011? It is on record that shortly after Governor Okorocha’s victory in the 2011 election, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike paid a visit to a prominent traditional ruler in Imo State during his New Yam festival for 2011. Speaking on that occasion, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike made a scathing innuendo on “those governors who show no respect to the traditional rulers”. He described them as “bastards”. Who are the governors he was referring to in that innuendo? Those who are on the ground with the politics of Imo State know that the subject of Ralph Uwazuruike’s attack is not far to seek. It is pertinent to state that during his maiden radio broadcast to Imo State on the 6th June, 2011, Governor Okorocha announced some changes in the leadership structure of the Imo State Traditional Rulers’ Council. It was this leadership change that culminated in the emergence of HRH Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri as the new chairman of the Council. It is also instructive to note that traditional rulers from various parts of Nigeria attended the said New Yam ceremony while Governor Okorocha was conspicuous in his absence. In fact, the grapevine confirmed that he was not even invited to the high brow event. So, what happened/
My investigation on the failed relationship between Chief Uwazurike and Governor Okorocha reveals that the crises that erupted in the 2007 election caused irreparable damage to the Okigwe nation. Okigwe politicians were in disarray through 2007 to the 2011 election. The face off between Chief Ikedi Ohakim and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume did irreparable and irremediable damage to the Okigwe monolith. Throughout the period (2007-2011), the Okigwe politicians were at daggers drawn to the extent that a prominent Imo Son of Okigwe extraction, Senator Ararume, was ostracized by the traditional rulers in Okigwe on the grounds that it was an offence and taboo for him to be nursing governorship ambition while there was no vacancy in the Government House in 2011. A traditional ruler from Okigwe nation, HRH Oliver Ohanwe, was deposed in July, 2007 by Chief Ikedi Ohakim on the grounds that he was alleged to be very close to Senator Ifeanyi Ararume. HRH Eze Ohanwe regained his staff of office as traditional ruler a few days to Ikedi Ohakim’s ouster from office. Recall that Ikedi Ohakim was one of about three governors who were voted out of office in 2011. He bowed out of office on May 29th, 2011 the same day that Owelle Rochas Okorocha was inaugurated Governor of Imo State. In spite of this humiliation of HRH Eze Oliver Ohanwe, there is no record that Chief Ralph Uwazurike condemned it, more so, since the episode took place in his senatorial zone. But when Governor Okorocha effected a minor leadership change in the Traditional Rulers’ Council, Chief Ralph Uwazurike started launching vile and indecorous language to denounce those governors who he alleged did not have respect for the traditional institution. This innuendo on real or perceived governors shows how low the relationship between the two erstwhile bosom friends deteriorated. Is this what one should ordinarily expect from one who delivered the governorship to Governor Okorocha on a platter?
On an important note, Ralph Uwazuruike was very sad that Chief Ohakim did not show interest in his travails during the period of his incarceration by the federal authorities. During that period, Ralph Uwazuruike was incarcerated in detention together with some ethic irredentists from the South South and South West. At a point, those others were released while Chief Ralph Uwazuruike was left languishing behind bars. He was disoriented and frustrated as a result of the indifference and perfunctory approach of Chief Ohakim over his adversity, more so, since Ikedi Ohakim was not just the State Governor but, in fact, hails from the same Okigwe Senatorial zone. So, when the drums of the 2011 electioneering were rolled out, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike was probably not enthusiastic in supporting the ticket of Chief Ikedi Ohakim; it was a time to pay Chief Ikedi Ohakim in his own coin. He might even have fantasized and romanticized with the idea of Owelle as Governor in order to humiliate Chief Ohakim. I wouldn’t know. All in all, when the chips were down, it dawned on both Uwazuruike and Senator Ararume that they should bury the hatchet and support their brother, Ikedi Ohakim, for reelection. It was already too late and the Rescue Imo Initiative of Rochas Okorocha was already a mass movement which nobody could stop. The Rescue Imo Train had packed so much kinetic and potential energy to crush any obstacle in its way as it was moving with such a frenetic speed that nobody, not even Owelle Rochas Okorcha, could stop it. The Rescue Imo train continued moving with this speed until it screeched to a halt on 6th May, 2011when Owelle Rochas Okorocha was declared Governor-Elect of Imo State.
Bianca Ojukwu’s story that it was Ralph Uwazuruike that took Owelle Okorocha to the late Ikemba is laughable. Was Owelle Okorocha so insignificant and unknown to the extent that he could not on his own visit the Late Dim ‘Emeka Ojukwu? I ask this query because I have a perception that there is nobody on Planet Earth today that Owelle Rochas Okorocha cannot simply walk into his house/office for interaction. I have a feeling that Owelle Rochas Okorocha is a global brand(I may be wrong) and that he can even pay a courtesy visit on global leaders including the President of United States of America(Barrack Obama) who is the most powerful man on Planet Earth today. So, when people like Bianca Ojukwu tell us that it was the Massob leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, that took Owelle Rochas Okorocha to Dim ‘Emeka Ojukwu, some of us are unable to understand what she intends to achieve by telling such a pedestrian and lousy fairy tale. Yes, there is no doubt that both Okorocha and Uwazurike might have visited Dim ‘Emeka Ojukwu. The pertinent question is: “Did they go together as two eminent Igbo sons who went to see an Elder brother and Igbo leader? Or did Ralph accompany Owelle because he (Owelle) did not have the influence/clout to visit Dim Ikemba Ojukwu on his own personal antecedent? Why is it that the so- called role of Chief Uwazurike in making Owelle Okorocha governor was not heard until Bianca Ojukwu started speaking from all sides of her mouth? Why did people like Peter Orji (Big Doo) who have corroborated Bianca’s fairy tale wait on Bianca Ojukwu to remind them of this angle of the 2011 election? Anybody who is so gullible to swallow Bianca Ojukwu’s fiction story had better be careful because all that glitters is not gold. Why is Bianca Ojukwu the only person who knows about this intervention of Chief Uwazurike during the 2011 elections?
Even more important is the fact that several top PDP members had severally given reasons why the PDP lost the 2011 election. None of them ever said anything about the intervention of Chief Ralph Uwazurike in the 2011 election.Dr Ethelbert Okere, a top aide of Chief Ikedi Ohakim, has just launched his new book which discusses the myriad of reasons why Chief Ohakim lost the 2011 election. Those who have read the book confirmed to me that there is no mention of the role of the Massob leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, in the defeat or victory of any of the governorship candidates in that election. If Dr Ethelbert Okere, a top and cerebral member of Ikedi Ohakim’s war room did not know about Uwazurike’s role in the defeat of his principal, Ikedi Ohakim, is it possible that Bianca Ojukwu knows more than Ethelbert Okere and other top PDP bigwigs on what transpired during the 2011 election in IMO State? So, it is safe to conclude that Bianca Ojukwu’s statement should be jettisoned and treated as gibberish because it was probably made in an ambience of hallucination and phantasmagoria.
In conclusion it is my advice that Bianca Ojukwu should learn to talk with diplomacy and tact. She should stop catalyzing conflict in Igbo land by her penchant for making unguarded utterances on sensitive issues that affect prominent Igbo sons and politics. Since she is still a green horn and eaglet diplomat, she should be given adequate lecture on how to conduct herself as a diplomat. As a neophyte in the hallowed discipline of diplomacy, I advise her to borrow a leaf from the like of Professor Viola Onwuliri who also lost her husband recently. As a diplomat and widow, Professor Onwuliri has exhibited a high degree of decorum and diplomacy in her utterances and carriage. It is evident that the way she walks, talks, dresses etc shows that she conducts herself with diplomacy and flies all her activities at half mast in deference to her Professor husband who transited to eternity recently. This is what we expect Bianca Ojukwu to emulate and not to be talking like the late Wada Nas of the moribund Sani Abacha junta or Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, an aide to President Jonathan on political Affairs, who recently ordered the Imo State Legislature to impeach Governor Okorocha. In normal countries, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak should have been sacked for making such an irresponsible utterance but in the PDP government, nothing ever shocks. Bianca Ojukwu should grow up and stop talking like a typical WAWA woman of the pre-civil war years. If she remains incorrigible, she should be redeployed to ASO-Rock where she will collaborate with those in Aso Rock to actualize the ongoing but subtle effort of the PDP-led Government to kill APGA and foist a one party state on NDIGBO. She will be more useful in executing this dirty job than in becoming an ambassador. All in all, I rate Bianca Ojukwu as a diplomat without diplomatese( a word used to describe the courteous and respectful manner of speaking/ conduct which has become associated with diplomats).She has never exuded the age-old mannerisms, affectations and shrewdness usually associated with diplomats. Somebody should please intervene and rein in her excesses before she sets Igbo nation in conflagration.
The All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] received with interest the news that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega said elections in the country after 2015 should be held same day, as staggered elections were costly. We are encouraged by this welcome development, though we wonder why we should wait till 2015 to start reaping the benefits of this historic electoral policy. In any case, this is a pointer that our vision of free and fair elections are about to become a reality. With free and fair elections, the problems faced by our great nation shall be solved and we will begin to excel.
It is on record that our great party, under the leadership of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, was the first voice to call for all elections to be held in one day. We have maintained that this will save cost and guarantee better participation. For instance, some people that may only want to vote for a particular presidential candidate during the presidential election alone, will now be made to join in voting for the legislative members because the whole voting holds on the same day. As we can testify, when massive number of citizens turn out to vote it will be very difficult to rig or manipulate the process. Moreover, it will also erase the problem of bandwagon effect that always dogs the electoral process, and threatens the stability of the polity.
Furthermore, we wish to use this opportunity to call on the National Assembly to also consider our other suggestion on how to achieve free and fair elections as it amends the Constitution. We want a situation where after elections all matters concerning the electoral litigation and court cases would have been solved and concluded before swearing-in. We envisage that this will stop all the bad-blood, and unnecessary advantage endowed on the incumbent as they are predisposed to use the resources and powers of Government to executive their electoral litigation, thereby provoking strife in the political space.
Finally, let it be known that our aim is to lead the nation away from politics of personality to issues-based and ideas-driven politics as is obtained in many developed democracies that we envy. As a party, we believe that Nigeria has all it takes to become the giant we are destined to be.
The Minister of Information Mr. Labaran Maku has called on Commissioners for Information across the Federation to champion the implementation of Freedom of Information in their respective states. He made the call in Abuja while declaring open the 43rd National Council on Information Meeting.
Mr. Maku observed that some State Houses of Assembly have begun deliberations to enact their own versions of the Freedom of Information Law, but warned that such Edicts would be null and void to the extent of their inconsistencies to the Freedom of Information Act passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said as Information Managers, they should manage information in such a way that would improve transparency and accountability in governance as well as provide opportunity for people to use public information organs to contribute to the governance process.
He remarked that democracy differs from military dictatorship through openness and free flow of information to the people so that they would be enlightened citizenry who could engage their leaders constructive as well as express their views in order to promote good governance.
Mr. Maku said in furtherance of the Transformation Agenda of this administration, which is anchored on good governance, the Federal Ministry of Information organized a Ministerial Platform for Cabinet Ministers to interact with Nigerians across the world on a multi-media platform to explain the activities and programmes of ministries, departments and agencies.
He added that the Ministry equally embarked on a National Good Governance Tour of projects across the country to verify the claims made by Ministers on the Ministerial Platform and held citizens forum in the states visited, which provided avenue for robust engagement between citizens and their leaders on governance and the challenges in project implementation.
He also observed that the recent flooding that devastated many states of the Federation was a wake-up call for Information Managers to mount sustained sensitization campaigns on environmental issues, urban planning and settlement patterns in flood-prone areas to protect life and property of citizens.
“It also behooves us to popularize weather advisory reports, since forewarned is to be forarmed. To succeed in this task, we must seek active collaboration with MDAs that have responsibility for environment– related matters, to enable us design appropriate messages that we should carry far and wide”, he said.
Mr. Maku called for more investment in public information organs to meet the deadline of migration in broadcasting from analogue to digital by 2015. “:Already, the DigiTeam that will oversee the crossover process has been drawn up, and it is important for stakeholders to fully apprise themselves of the milestone requirements ahead of 2015,” he stated.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Mrs. Kehinde Ajoni said the 43rd National Council on Information with the theme “Information Management for Good Governance and National Transformation” is an indication of the government’s commitment to promoting good governance with special emphasis on development issues as the rule of law, transparency and accountability, welfare of the people, responsiveness, participatory and purposeful leadership.
She said there is no doubt that the deployment of robust communication strategies for effective publicity at all tiers of government is an imperative for the successful implementation of the Transformation Agenda and the National Vision 20: 2020.
