Gov Orji receives parting award, speaks on vision as Abia Governor

Out-going Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji has explained that his vision in governance was to build a new Abia anchored on equity, justice and fairness.

Receiving award from the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia, Orji pointed out that the emergence of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as Governor-elect was a further testimony of government’s success and vision for a new Abia that is anchored on fairness, equity and fairness.

ASOPADEC honoured the Abia Chief Executive with the award of Epitome of Equity and Justice, as a parting gift for his relentless effort in developing the state.

Orji noted that the significance of the award was that it came from a unique organisation which also is a beneficiary of government’s push for equity, fairness and justice.

“I am, therefore, accepting this award as a valediction that whenever government and the people make selfless sacrifice they can attain new pedestal of hope,” he said.

Orji commended ASOPADEC for achieving so much in the state, stressing that “these achievements provide clear testimony that equity, fairness and justice can be a catalyst for socio-political and economic change in Abia State.”

He saluted the pioneer chairman of ASOPADEC, Chief Sam Wogu, the management and board of the commission for doing well.

Chairman of ASOPADEC, Chief Emeka Stanley, said at the award ceremony Thursday that the commission merely expressing its gratitude to the governor for working tirelessly to put Abia on the progressive map of development.

According to Stanley, the governor, through his fatherly disposition as an epitome of equity and fairness, ensured that all the 17 local government areas in Abia were carried along in the operations of ASOPADEC, notwithstanding that other oil producing states in the country allow their own commissions to exclusively take care of Oil producing communities and local governments

In a lecture on the Governance of Abia state by the Vice Chancellor, Abia State University, Uturu, Prof Chibuzo Ogbuagu, said equity and justice pervade virtually everything that Orji has done in governance, adding that the governor has pushed the state to enviable heights through his many achievements which cut across many sectors.

Abia Set For Economic Boom As Smedan Partners ACRO For Industrial Park

Based on its decision to relocate industrial workshops and warehouses within the state to a befitting site, the Abia State Government has entered into a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework with a firm, Acroideation International Limited, to commence the development of a $1 billion 300-hectare industrial park to be located at Osisioma.

The project, which first phase was expected to be inaugurated in December 2014 with the construction of about 34,346 units of workshops is however projected to consist of a totalled number of 68,692 units of industrial workshops and warehouses sited on 200 hectares, while 1,000 units of residential estate would occupy the remaining 100 hectares when completed.
Tagged the “Abia International Industrial City” (ABIIC), Head, Project Management Team of Acroideation, Seyi Olufade, told journalists yesterday in Abuja, that ABIIC, which was borne out of the need to establish key sectors of the economy of the state, would establish the foundation for the development of competitive domestic products for export, thus, launching the state into the rich field of global economy within time.

Olufade explained that with all its offerings such as expansive shopping malls, warehouses and over 10,000 capacity commercial car park amongst others, ABIIC which he said, was just about a kilometre from the state’s commercial town of Aba will be operated on a Build Operate and Manage (BOM) basis for 35 years from the date of inauguration by Acroideation.
He also said the firm had secured technical partnerships from European and Chinese firms, adding that the United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO), Nigeria’s Bank of Industry (BoI) and Nigerian Investment Promotions Commission (NIPC) amongst others have shown keen interests in the industrial park.

Olufade said: “With the visit of the then Work Bank President, Paul Wolfowitz, in 2005 to view the popular Ariaria market Aba in company of the now Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, it was clear that all the affluence and influence are tucked in Ariaria market and the sway it portends to the Nigerian economy.

Critical elements affecting the growth of the industrial market include lack of product branding, design, packaging, marketing and funding, the ABIIC project is the response to these problems; it is a landmass of 300 hectares in Osisioma, about 1km from Aba town.”

He disclosed further that the industrial complex would rely on the 24 hours electric power supply pledge of the Geometric Aba Independent Power Plant to power its activities with further alternative arrangements, adding that the PPP had been crafted to insulate it from political interference in the case of changes in government.

“We have the strong partnership of the state government, the needed funding and technical expertise have been secured and we are ready to push forward the project with a groundbreaking event slated for September 2013 to herald the commencement of construction,” he stated.

Group accuses Uzor Kalu of attempt to influence tribunal

Acts capable of influencing the current election tribunal sitting in Abia State by former Governor of Abia state Dr Orji Uzor Kalu has been condemned by a group under the aegis of Peace and Media Advocacy.

According to a statement signed by the group’s leader, James Okoronkwo ‘’ We condemn in the strong terms the current propaganda being spread by Chief Orji Uzor Kalu and his political partners aimed at distracting the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia by alleging that some of the ad-hoc staff that participated in the March 28th National Assembly election “allegedly” carted away falsified electoral
materials’’.

They insisted that Kalu came third in the election of Abia North Senatorial constituency and yet, has been going around trying to influence INEC to declare him winner.

The group called on the tribunal to be wary of his antics and carry on with their job without fear or favour. It will be recalled Abia north senatorial election was won by Senator –elect Mao Ohuabunwa under the Peoples Democratic Party PDP who has since been given his certificate of return. However the candidates of APGA Chief David Ogba who came second and Chief Orji Uzor Kalu are in the tribunal trying to upturn the election.

We'll Run Open Government in Abia - Ikpeazu

Interview
By Linus Effiong

Umuahia — Abia State governor-elect Dr Okezie Ikpeazu during his maiden media conference after being declared winner of the governorship election in the state elaborates on his vision for the state. Excerpts:

How would you describe your victory?

I dedicate the victory to God Almighty that fulfilled His own words and crowned our efforts and struggles with a resounding victory. We also want to thank the people of Abia State, those that found time to express their confidence in me and my party, the PDP, through the ballot, by voting massively and resoundingly, both during the 11th April and the re-run that came on the 25th of April. They made a statement. I want to say that statement was symbolic, because for the first time, we saw the endorsement of an ordinary Abian on somebody who has come to represent the middle class, more historically, somebody from the Ukwa Ngwa ethnic divide of nine local governments. My commitment to Abia people from Arochukwu, Ummunnochi to Ukwa to Ikwuano is that I will treat every person that is from Abia, that is doing business in Abia, equally and fairly. My mandate is to serve the Abia citizenry and to catalyse the infrastructural development, unity on all spheres of human endeavour, politically, economically and also to fraternise and catalyse unity among Ndigbo, within the South-east and wherever they may belong and to also support the overall development plan of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with Abia making a strong economic statement as an economic hub of the country.

Do you have plans to extend the hands of friendship to those that lost to you at the poll?

I want to say that they are welcomed, because the most important thing is the good of the greater majority of our people. So, anybody that has positive ideas that can bring about the unity, progress and development of the state is most welcomed. I will say that God has given me the grace to recognise quality materials, so it will not take anything out of me to go to them to say, 'please, come let's work for Abia State.' So, what I have come with to the table is humility to create level playing ground upon which every person that has an idea will be given the opportunity to make contributions to the development of the state. I do not also have doubt that they will be forthcoming.

What should Abians expect from you in your first one hundred days in office?

I want to say that within the first one hundred days in office, the main frame of our administration would have been defined. Like we said, it is not going to be business as usual. And it is going to be a serious business. There is a lot of work to be done, there will be no time to sleep on the bicycle. So, from day one, we will decide and define the interjectory that we are to pursue.

Did you receive any congratulatory call from any of your opponents?

Before that election, about six hours or so, around six governorship candidates have joined our party, so we are celebrating together. Chukwu Udensi of the PPA is celebrating. I know that APC is not angry with our victory. Everybody has a common aim-to develop Abia State. Generally speaking, Aba is going to be our front burner, I do not have any other city than Aba, but as governor, Abia is my constituency, Arochukwu, Isiukwuato, everywhere. But one thing is that what we will get from Aba will help us develop other areas. It is not going to be a winner takes all. My strongest point is that I will provide the platform that will give every Abian, including those in the Diaspora, the opportunity to contribute their quota to our state's development. I want to put it on record that you cannot cast an iron on stone. Let us come to the table and talk. If you win the argument, then we run your idea, then if I win, you should be humble enough to accept a superior argument. I am open to all kinds of contributions that will help us make progress.

Are you not disturbed that the APGA governorship candidate, Dr Alex Otti, has said that he would go to the election tribunal on the allegation that his mandate was stolen?

That is the way of bad losers, all of them say the same thing and behave the same way all the time. So, it is not a threat. If I had told you that I did not expect it, then, I am not a serious minded person. Luckily for me, the litigant went to the tribunal in my absence. I will be there to defend my mandate. I am the custodian of that mandate, and going with me will be 1.3 million voters of Abia State or, if I like, I narrow it down to those that voted. I am bothered that we still have desperate losers in Nigeria today. I thought some of us would have looked at what President Goodluck Jonathan did, because Jonathan conceded defeat and decided to tow the path of a statesman, but if somebody takes his desperation to the wires, there it goes.

Could you elaborate on your plans for Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state?

Aba is not the only city in Abia. The state is not synonymous with Aba, but we think that our greatest challenge in Abia is to have a strong economic base. We should focus on our economy, because if we get our economy right, then, you can put food on the table of many, generate employment, and if you do that also, you know that the pillar in which trade and commerce strive is good roads. We expect that all those pot holes around Aba will be a thing of the past in my time, and we expect to do a ring road that will decongest the city centre, which will pass through about seven local governments, starting from Ugwunnagbo where it will interject from the expressway. We have to do a third bridge from Aba River, and it will enter some parts of Obingwa and also go to Ossioma, between Aro-Ngwa junctions. The idea is to allow the city to develop horizontally in a way that it will be decongested. The old fashion of resurfacing the roads should be taken for granted, because I do not like to campaign with such things. The most important thing is that we will build a strong foundation for our medium and small enterprises in Aba, which will employ thousands of people in. We will think of how to bring back to life some moribund companies like the textile mill in Aba and those you see around Owerrinta axis. We are going to speak with the owners of those companies on how to make them come back to production. If we can make those companies to function, we will keep our youths out of the streets as unemployed people. We are going to take stock of those that are jobless in all the 17 local government areas. We will look at their competency and qualifications so that we can target our efforts specifically on those that need them.

How will you strike a balance between recruiting technocrats and party loyalists to work with you?

Our political loyalists are Abians, and they will help me take technocrats that will do the job that we need them to do. We are going to make sure that we put round pegs in round holes. I will design that from the first day in office, so there is no way for me to throw away the political loyalists. Yes, I'll choose good technocrats that will do the work.

What are you going to do with illegal structures that are not approved by government in the state?

Any structures that are not approved by government, in the eyes of law, do not exist.

I will never tele-guide my successor, Says Gov T.A.Orji

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, said he would not tele-guide his successor but rather allow him use his discretion to run the state.

Governor Orji who stated this at the Government House, Umuahia, when he received in audience the Ukwa Peoples Assembly who paid him a courtesy visit, said that once his tenure ends on the 29th of May of this month, he is off from the state except on invitations, pointing out that he would not want to be seen as tele-guiding anybody.

The Governor said that having been elected by the people as their governor, his successor should be given a free hand to govern the state and pleaded with the people to cooperate with him for the rapid development of the state.

Governor Orji who said that he ran an inclusive government in the state, stated that it was his belief that the next Governor should also follow in the same vein and have a listening ear.
According to him, "as the first Ukwa Ngwa Governor he knows the enormous expectation of the people on him" adding that he will not disappoint the people.

The Abia State chief executive further assured the Ukwa people that their rights will come their way and urged them to remain patient and tolerant while using the opportunity to apologize to all  those he might have offended in the course of his duties as Governor to forgive and forget.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and former Senate President, Senator Adolf Wabara said their visit was to thank the Governor for supporting fully the Ukwa Ngwa course, noting that without him the governor of Ukwa Ngwa extraction would have been a mirage and urged him not to forget Ukwa people.
In their separate speeches,the Deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Asiforo Okere and Dame Victoria Akanwa, thanked the Governor for giving Ukwa people a sense of belonging and pleaded that they should be carried along in the new government.

Why I Am Owing 13 Months' Salary - Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo has attributed the poor state of the nation’s economy for the non-payment salary arrears being owed government workers in some states of the federation. Okorocha said this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of a meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and governors-elect on Tuesday in Abuja.

The governor said that just like the states, the Federal Government was also finding it difficult to pay the salaries of its workers. It would be recalled that Okorocha pledged to pay the 13 months salary arrears owed primary school teachers in the state during this year’s Workers Day. “We must say that the economy is bad, let’s face the fact. Most governors are not able to pay salaries and there is no magic any governor can do to pay salary under the present situation. “We intend to take that up with the President-elect to inform him of the challenges before him, to prepare his mind to know that there is a lot of challenges that the states are facing in terms of payment of salaries, including Federal Government. “Here, you have an incoming president coming to meet almost an empty treasury, which tells you the challenges we have ahead of us.”

According to him, the APC governors and governors-elect have decided to meet to also review the just concluded 2015 general elections. This, he said, would enable the party and its elected officers to strategise on the best possible approach to tackle the country’s challenges. “Basically, what we did was to review the just concluded election and we have congratulated each other and it’s on record that today, APC has 22 governors-elect, while we are looking forward to getting more by the time we finish with the court processes. “So this is the first introductory meeting to know one another and to discuss all that took place in the last election, the challenges, the merits and demerits.” Okorocha said that some of their colleagues had embarked on holiday and medical checks to enable them regain their strength after the tedious electioneering campaigns.

He said that the presence of Senator Bukola Saraki at their meeting was not in any way connected to who emerged the Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives. “Senator Bukola visited during our meeting, but we did not discuss the issue of who becomes the Senate President, or who becomes Speaker of the House of Representatives. “Our mission is to familiarise ourselves and look at the state of our economy and see how we can meet the president-elect and make some suggestions on what he can do to move Nigeria forward.” The meeting was attended by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, his Nasarawa counterpart, Tanko Al-Makura, Kaduna Gov.-elect, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and the Speaker of the House of Representatives who is the Sokoto State Gov.-elect, Aminu Tambuwal. Also present at the meeting were Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, former Ekiti governor, Kayode Fayemi, Deputy Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje and APC national chairman, John Oyegun. –

NAN reports.

Abia Election fall out: INEC Staff arrested with Sensitive INEC materials indicts Alex Otti/APGA.

*Enyioma Uche, Charles Mba and Amah Uche Eddy are the three INEC ICT staff caught with card readers and other sensitive materials at the wee hours of yesterday as they were trying to smuggle these sensitive materials out of the INEC office in Umuahia.

Following the ongoing interrogation at the Police Zonal Headquarters, Zone 9 in Umuahia, the three staff confessed that they were induced to manipulate ballot papers in those areas that PDP won with wide margin. They also went further to confess that they were asked to legitimize the malpractices done in Aba South, Aba North, Umuahia South and Arochukwu LGAs during the April 11 election in Abia State.
The arrested INEC officials upon further interrogation revealed that they were paid by APGA to carry out this mission before the Tribunal cases instituted by APGA against PDP commences.
However, The INEC REC for Abia State, Professor Selina Oko confirmed that the three INEC Staff currently in Police custody are ICT staff of INEC. She said the men have confessed to have been paid some undisclosed amount of money by a Political party to alter and manipulate materials to be used in the tribunal by those still challenging the outcome of the polls. According to her, the perpetrators will be charged to Court by the Authority in due course.