Pay salaries, pensions arrears with Paris Club funds, Imo NLC tells Okorocha.

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Staff Reporter

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The Imo State wing of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Governor Rochas Okorocha to pay arrears of salaries, pensions, gratuities and other entitlements owed workers with the N13. 5 billion share of the Paris Club loan refund.

The NLC made the demand in a statement jointly signed by the state NLC Chairman, Austin Chilapku, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Paul Akalazu and Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Council (SJPSNC), Alloy Iwuanyanwu yesterday in Owerri.

They also urged Okorocha to stabilize the payment of their salaries at 100 % from the present 80%.

The Chairman of the NMA, Dr. Darlynton Akukwu, who was accompanied by past chairmen, Hyacinth Emele and Dr. Jide Egwim to Hot FM’s ‘Peoples Assembly,’ said they would not discuss with the Commissioner for Health, Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ngozi Njoku.

They pointed out that the appointment of Ngozi, who is a lawyer as Commissioner for Health instead of Women Affairs was a cause for concern and disenchantment.

Source: The Guardian

I have not borrowed money to execute projects – Okorocha

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State says he has not borrowed any money to execute ongoing projects in the state.

Okorocha made the disclosure in a statement signed and issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo.

“I was able to fund such projects following my unconventional style of administration that has blocked all financial leakages,” the statement quoted the governor as saying.

“ I have not borrowed any money; neither is Imo owing any bank or institution.

“I am using the state fund to execute all my projects for the state especially the new urban renewal program.

“Those people carrying rumours that the state is hugely indebted to new generation banks are either not well informed or enemies of progress.

“Upon completion of the massive infrastructural developmental stride of this administration, the incoming governors will have less work to do for the state.

“I am laying a solid foundation for the future and I have cut off all means of embezzlement.

“This bold step has enabled me to achieve what I am doing today,’’ he said.

Source: NAN

Okorocha calls for traditional method of oath taking to curb corruption

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha called for adoption of traditional method of oath taking in governance to curb corruption in the country.

Delivering his lecture titled: ‘Promoting Culture, Developing the Economy: A Nigerian Perspective’, Governor Rochas Okorocha explained that it would be difficult for public office holders to syphon public money or abuse their office if they were swore in with their deity, like ‘Ofo’ in Igbo or ‘Ogun’ in Yoruba.

He said people no longer fear Bible and Qur’an that are currently being used, because they knew that God is merciful, and did not kill instantly.

“Our government must begin to adopt our culture in government, if we must succeed. Even in the fight against corruption our (traditional) practices of oath taking should be applied,” he called.

Okorocha also called for the country’s education system to be structured inline with ‘our culture’. ? The Governor maintained that instead of celebrating other people’s language and culture, Nigeria should celebrate her major languages to promote its cultural values.

He said conditions given by regulators in the education system with particular reference to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, were major factors for staying at home by some intelligent students. “JAMB condition that you must have credit in Mathematics and English Language before getting admission to Nigerian Universities.

Who told them? Why are they suffering our children? Why not credit in Igbo or Yoruba or Hausa Language or any Nigerian languages? “Most of our intelligent children cannot go to school because of the JAMB condition and some of them end up doing nothing. “We must change our orientation and it must start from that. Our education system should be inline with our culture. I believe there is still hope, but we must go back to our culture.

“God has endowed us with brain but the problem is that we left our culture, which is who we are and we are chasing shadow,” he said.

Stakeholders seek Okorocha’s impeachment over Imo airline.

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Staff Reporter

Dr Cletus Nnorom, ex-Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Imo State, has called on the House of Assembly to commence impeachment process against Governor Rochas Okorocha over his recent inauguration of airline for the State.

Nnorom made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Thursday.

He said he would mobilise for the lawmakers recall if they failed to commence impeachment process against the governor,.

“Enough is enough, the governor thinks everybody is a fool in this state and we must stand for our rights.

“We have kept quiet for a long time and I am personally going to make it official with the lawmakers”, he said.

A trader, Mr Uchenna Ojigwe, said the governor had failed the people. We are dying of hunger in Imo and the governor is busy spending the state’s money without due consultations.

“Who told the governor that we needed airline at this moment of recession when he cannot even pay salaries of workers in the state?

“Is this not a governor that have refused to pay salaries of workers and pensioners, yet he is floating airline?,” he said.

The state Coordinator of True Ambassador, Mr Kingsley Ibe, said floating an airline by the governor was an impeachable offence because it was never captured in the 2016 budget.

“We are calling for the governor’s impeachment because he never followed due process in floating the Imo airline.

“The governor should limit his projects to the budget approved for him by the lawmakers and since he decided to run the affairs of Imo state as a private business, he should be impeached,” he said.

Okorocha, on Wednesday, commissioned Imo airline at the Sam Mbakwe International Airport.

Okorocha said Imo had no license to manage an airline but had 10 years partnership arrangement with Dana Airline to manage it for the state.

The governor also said the airline would boost tourism, create employment and encourage discounted rate for Imo indigenes.

Source: NAN

Okorocha Urges Igbos To Join APC.

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Staff Reporter

The Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has urged his fellow citizens and Igbos in the south-east to register in large numbers with the All Progressives Congress (APC) during its ongoing nationwide registration of members.

The Governor made the call at a meeting with APC members and state development council members at the Sam Mbakwe executive chambers in the government house in Owerri, the state capital.

He said that the All Progressives Congress in Imo state was hoping to register not less than one million people into its fold so as to strengthen the party to give the necessary support to the APC-led federal government.

This, he said, would help the government to ensure that Nigerians continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

“In the ongoing APC nationwide registration, we in Imo APC are targeting not less than one million people to register with APC.

“There is wisdom in joining the APC which is the ruling party. So I want to urge all Imolites and by extension the Igbos to join APC so we can attract more dividends of democracy to our people,” he said.

The Governor also commended the recent move by the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and former minister, Jim Nwobodo who recently joined the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party.

“I want to commend former Senate President, Ken Nnamani for his recent move into APC, it is highly commendable. Ken Nnamani is a man I respect and for this, he has earned more of my respect,” the Governor said.

Source: Channels TV

Wike did all he could to win Rivers re-run to remain Governor – Okorocha

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Imo State Governor and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, has stated that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was desperate for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to win the just concluded re-run elections in Rivers because he (Wike) wants to remain Governor.

Speaking with newsmen in Owerri yesterday, Okorocha stated that his Rivers counterpart did all he could to secure his office by making sure that the PDP won majority of the senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats in the state.

“If the governor did not do that to make sure he has majority of state and National Assembly members, he would have gone,” the Progressives Governors Forum chair stated.

This was as he noted that it is not an easy thing to defeat an incumbent governor in an election because he would do all he could to remain in power.

Speaking on the just concluded governorship elections which went in favour of the APC, Okorocha maintained that it is a testimony that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government was doing well.

He went on to assert that the APC would take over the governorship in Anambra State in 2017, adding that “Anambra State needs APC governor to succeed.”

Defection Speculation: Ayade Meets Kwankwaso, Okorocha, Others

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has met with bigwigs of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the weekend.

The meeting, which started during the thanksgiving ceremony organised by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, in Calabar, was believed to have focused on the governor’s political future.

A former senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, a former minister of defence and presidential aspirant, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, who graced the occasion, were said to have convinced Ayade to leave the PDP for the APC.

Later, Ayade drove with them and other top military brass that also graced the event in large numbers to an undisclosed location where Okorocha and other APC leaders were said to have got his firm commitment.

Speculations have been rife over Ayade’s secret ambition to cross over to the APC, having hobnobbed with key national leaders of the party few months after he was sworn in.

He has also been showering encomiums on President Muhammadu Buhari whom he had criticised before his victory in the last presidential election.

But in a swift reaction, Ayade’s media aide dismissed the insinuation that the governor was planning to move from the PDP.

Christian Ita, chief press secretary to Ayade, said the governor was just playing the role of a good host to the array of political, military and business leaders that thronged Calabar to honour a prominent son of the state.

“It is not true that the discussion our governor had with the APC leaders had anything to do with leaving the PDP for the APC,” said Ita.

Okorocha, who had visited the state and met Ayade previously over same issue, had commended the governor for having the blessing of God with the appointment of his “sons” into key national positions.

Remarking, Usani commended those who honoured his invitation and described them as his close friends. He stated that hatred for one another was the key reason for underdevelopment of Cross River State.

Credit: dailytrust

Igbos Most Truthful, Committed, Yet Misunderstood– Okorocha

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, on Monday described the Igbos as “the most truthful, committed and trust -worthy people but often misunderstood in the country.’’

Speaking when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Government House, Owerri, Okorocha said that Imo had witnessed tremendous progress under his leadership.

He described Imo as as “one of the safest states’’ in Nigeria, where there was no more kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and baby factory syndrome.

He attributed the relative peace and security in the state to the efforts of the security agencies, especially the Nigerian army.

He commended the military for the successes being recorded in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the North East.

He noted that such successes had not been achieved in Syria and other parts of the world battling terrorism.

Okorocha also commended the army for the “Exercise Crocodile Smile” and newly introduced “Exercise Python Dance” in the South-South and South-East zone.

He urged the security agencies to do whatever they could to secure the pipelines to enable free flow of oil to generate revenue for the nation.

He promised to continue to support the army.

Earlier, Buratai told the governor that he was in the state for the 2018 Chief of Army Staff Conference.

He told the governor that “Python Dance” was an exercise to update troops in the South- East on their rudiments and basics of their job.

Buratai said during the conference, the army would offer free medical services to the people of the state.

Credit: NAN

Igbos are Nigeria’s most truthful yet misunderstood people – Gov. Okorocha

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, on Monday described the Igbos as “the most truthful, committed and trust -worthy people but often misunderstood in the country.’’

Speaking when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, in Government House, Owerri, Mr. Okorocha said that Imo had witnessed tremendous progress under his leadership.

He described Imo as as “one of the safest states’’ in Nigeria, where there was no more kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and baby factory syndrome.

He attributed the relative peace and security in the state to the efforts of the security agencies, especially the Nigerian army.

He commended the military for the successes being recorded in the fight against insurgency and terrorism in the North East.

He noted that such successes had not been achieved in Syria and other parts of the world battling terrorism.

Mr. Okorocha also commended the army for the “Exercise Crocodile Smile” and newly introduced “Exercise Python Dance” in the South-South and South-East zone.

He urged the security agencies to do whatever they could to secure the pipelines to enable free flow of oil to generate revenue for the nation.

He promised to continue to support the army.

Earlier, Mr. Buratai told the governor that he was in the state for the 2018 Chief of Army Staff Conference.

He told the governor that “Python Dance” was a training exercise to update troops in the South- East on ther rudiments and basics of their job.

Mr. Buratai said that during the conference the army would offer free medical services to the people of the state.

EXCLUSIVE: Obasanjo, Okorocha, Sanusi, Ooni of Ife, Others slay at the #SokotoDurbar

Posted on November 5, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Omojuwa.Com was ably represented at the Durbar ceremony organized to commemorate the 10th coronation anniversary of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muammad Sa’ad Abubakar, which kicked off on the 2nd of November.

In attendance were all dignitaries including politicians and royal fathers from all parts of the country. The Durbar which came in last in a 4-day long celebration drew international attention to the Seat of the Caliphate, Sokoto State.

Among some of the dignitaries were; Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, HOR Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Kwara State Governor Abdulfataah Ahmed, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Former Deputy HOR Speaker Emeka Ihedioha amongst others.

Apart from the ceremony, the event was an opportunity for the state governor, Aminu Tambuwal who was the speaker of the house representatives in the last administration to showcase and publicize some of his legacy projects which after inspection were commissioned by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.

Security was top-notch as armed forces in conjunction with other sister agencies ensured the state was under adequate security due to the ravaging Boko Haram attacks in the state in recent times.

Sokoto state, heavily laden with a vast and rich historical and cultural background seized the opportunity to show off some of it’s heritage to visitors and tourists from all parts of the world. The Caliphate happens to be one of the biggest in northern Nigeria. However, with untold stories of the Jihad among other historical struggles.

It is rumored that over 700 Horses and Camels participated in the colorful event. And with confirmation from the Omojuwa.Com correspondence, that rumor is not far from the truth.

The Durbar, like this one is usually a common event set up to celebrate special occassions in northern Nigeria. It is also an event that dates back to the pre-colonial history of the Hausa-Fulani people across the country.

Below are some of the pictures from the event:

There is so much bitterness within APC – Okorocha

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha says the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not been able to manage its electoral victory, The Punch reports.

Okorocha who is the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governors’ Forum said this on Wednesday when he visited the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

A statement by the Office of the Senate President quoted Okorocha as saying there was a lot of bitterness within the party since its victory at the 2015 polls.

He said, “This is the very first time I am coming to your office and I am here because I am concerned. I am here because I am a stakeholder. I am here as the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum — your friends and colleagues in the struggle.

“Mr. Senate President, leaders of this great Senate, you may recall a few years ago that we were all in the trenches, in battle, asking for change in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I recall vividly the role most of you played in that very struggle. We became a government when no one gave us a chance to be so. And shortly, Nigerians believed in us and entrusted us with the responsibility of leading this nation.

“But one year and several months after, we have not been able to manage this God-given victory very well and it is very worrisome, Mr. Senate President. That Nigerians expect so much from us but yet we seem to be in crisis within ourselves.

“Not crisis made by the opposition parties but crisis created by ourselves for ourselves and which has kept us in totally difficult position that we are not making the headway we need to make as a party.

“One wonders then what went wrong. Where did we get it wrong? And after these troubles and after the much hope we have given to Nigerians, we still cannot work together as a party, as a family. And I noticed particularly that there is so much bitterness in the system — from the party, from the legislature, from the executive, from the governors — and it seems to me like there is no more platform for us to chant those old songs, which we used to sing in the days of struggle for change.

“One wonders, was this what we were asking for or was this the change we were asking for? I think Nigerians expect so much from us and at the end of it all.”

APC governors meet Buhari, flay envoy-nominees’ list.

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Aggrieved governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have protested against the mode of nominating non-career ambassadors by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governors who held an emergency meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday expressed anger at an alleged decision by the president not to consult them in the selection of the nominees whose names have already been forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha also recently confirmed the frustration of APC members while fielding questions from State House correspondents over federal appointments made so far by the President Buhari.

Lalong who specifically spoke about the situation in his state said: “All the states that have complaints are going to put them in writing and the president promised he is going to look into them.”

He noted that a former deputy governor in Plateau, Pauline Tallen rejected her nomination as ambassador based on principles in line with the political disposition of the state and not necessarily about her husband as reported in a section of the media.

Governor Lalong said he had already complained to the president that appointment into federal positions from the state should not be concentrated in one particular zone.

“Pauline is an astute politician from my state, and part of the issue we also raised was on some of the appointments that were made.

“It is not only about her husband, I think it is the dimension of Plateau politics.

“All these appointments came again from one zone, in that particular zone. So the complaint that is coming from our state is not about her own personal interest, it is about the fact that two ambassadorial appointments are coming from the same zone,” the governor said.

Governor Lalong also said that “that is my zone. We had complained that the next appointment should go to the other zone, the central and the northern zone. And so when that appointment came the kind of uproar that followed that appointment also necessitated an intervention.”

Also fielding questions, Governor Okorocha said the emergency meeting with the president also discussed the successes made in fighting the Boko Haram sect and the recent release of 21 Chibok girls kidnapped over two years ago.

Wares seized from street traders will go to prisons inmates — Okorocha.

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has unveiled the next step of his government in banning street trading in the state, saying that henceforth, seized items from anyone trading along the streets will be used to take care of prisons inmates of the state.

Okorocha revealed this yesterday in Owerri, in a release he issued to newsmen through his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo.

According to the release, the delay in enforcing the street-trading ban was just to demonstrate the meekness of his government, saying no further warning should be expected to that effect but that actions will ensure that the streets are kept clean.

“So, those involved in street trading should go to relief market or Egbada market to have shops to avoid regretting because when government begins to enforce the directive, goods or wares seized from those selling on the streets will be donated to the prisons and motherless babies homes.”

The release also stated that, the government has not declined in its proposed plan on the issue of markets in the state, adding that the next thing would be to take action.

2019: I’ve not decided on my successor – Okorocha

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said he is yet to decide on which of his loyalists would be his successor in 2019.

He said he would make his choice known to Imp people at the at the appropriate.

This was just as he described his deputy, Eze Madumere, as one of his diehard loyalists in the last 23 years, who has stood by him during his political travails and has proved to be a man who could be trusted no matter the circumstance.

Okorocha, who stated this yesterday during the public presentation of a book written on the deputy governor by Peter Clever Obi, entitled: “Eze Madumere: A True Manifestation of Loyal Prince,” disclosed that while he was yet to decide on his successor amongst his loyalists who he described as his true “children,” noted that the deputy governor has stood by him in all his political struggles even when others deserted him.

“I have known Madumere for 23 years, we first met in the United states and he followed me to Nigeria and ever since he has been dedicated. I don’t see him as the deputy governor. My relationship with him is like that of a son and a father,” Okorocha said.

He added that Madumere has always be there with him in all his political struggles since 1999 and even when others deserted Madumere did not.

“He never knew he would be the deputy governor, I gave him a letter to take to the state Assembly that it contained the name of the new deputy governor but Madumere never inquired to know who the person was but after he had submitted the letter and left he was called back by the speaker that he has been appointed the new deputy governor. That is the kind of person he is because he believes in me and never doubts me.”

The Imo State governor expressed delight on the honour done to his deputy by the author, saying “he is my son with whom I am well pleased.”

Also speaking at the event, the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said being a deputy governor is very difficult and expressed happiness that the Imo State governor has confidence in his deputy.

He said: “I hope the endorsement of the Imo State governor of the book written on his deputy will translate to coronation because for your governor to have implicit confidence in his deputy is good.”

Similarly, chairman of the event, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) said the Imo State deputy governor is a lesson in humility and urged other deputy governors to emulate him.

Okorocha Gifts Paralympians Cars For Winning Gold

Posted on September 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Rochas Okrocha has fulfilled a promise he made to the victorious Paralympic gold medalists by presenting car gifts to them after a nice outing in the concluded RIO 2016. Three contingents from Imo state were among those that represented Nigeria and they all won gold medals in power lifting.

See photos below;

Court Freezes all Imo State Government Accounts

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, has ordered the freezing of all the accounts of Imo State Government and the confiscation of all monies domiciled in them. The court gave the order while delivering judgement on an appeal filed by the Governor of the state Rochas Okorocha, the Attorney General of Imo State, the Environmental Transformation Committee and the Ministry of Petroleum and Environment, Imo State.

The state government had approached the court to upturn earlier judgments delivered by Hon. Justice

Maryann Anenih of Maitama High Court, Abuja, and Hon. Justice Ijeoma Agugua, in suit numbers FCT/HC/M/9257/2016 and HU/538/2011, filed by one of its contractors, E. F. Network Nigeria Limited and Mr. Gideon Egbuchulam who the state owed N1 billion.

The Abuja courts had delivered judgments in favor of one of the state contractors. The Court of Appeal in its ruling yesterday ordered that the confiscated funds of the state be used to offset the N1 billion debt owed E. F. Network Nigeria Limited and Gideon Egbuchulam.

Okorocha Reads Riot Act To Opposition Over Relocation Of Owerri Main Market

Posted on August 30, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Imo State government, yesterday read riot act to indigenes of Owerri Municipal council opposed to the proposed relocation of the Owerri main market popularly known as Eke-Ukwu Owere, stressing that there is no going back on the exercise.

Governor Rochas Okorocha who stated this in a chart with journalists highlighted that the relocation which would soon be effected would entail total demolition of all structures in the market in line with his urban renewal and Imo my pride programme, even as he advised traders in the market to move their wares to the new site of the market at the out-sketch of the Owerri Capital City without further delay.

The governor, who similarly directed all mechanics in the city to relocate to the Avu Mechanic Village, said that henceforth all marooned vehicles not found at the mechanics village would be impounded and a penalty fee of N10,000 imposed on the owner.

Furthermore, he warned the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state still reluctant to embrace his novelty of three days for work and two days for farming for civil servants to have a change of heart, stressing that the measure was in the best interest of the workers and the state.

He regretted that most of the civil servants in the state are not computer literate and disclosed that 3,000 computer literate graduates who would be trained as experts from South Africa would be recruited into the state civil service to stimulate the civil service.

Okorocha who decried insinuation trailing his recent overseas trip and the rumours of death peddled against him by some faceless individuals said that he was neither slapped by an evil spirit nor suffered any strange illness abroad, saying that “I have a lot to accomplish for Imo people and it is God who, not only protects a man, but the vision in him.”

He accused the opposition in the state of master minding the rumours of death against him, describing the act as the height of enmity and opposition which he said both the late Dr NNamdi Azikiwe, Awolowo and Dr Michael Okpara never suffered.

“We must never surrender our state to deities because these are some of the things that have continued to hold us down. Some people do not want to hear anything positive in the government but only the negative ones but I am prepared to change this with my rescue mission programme”

Civil Servants Are Not Farmers – Onwubiko Emmanuel

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

It is strange to observe that some state governments are currently using their civil servants as guinea pigs for farming duties. Benue State governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, called this unknown practice a ‘novelty’, which he said could combat the downturn of the nation’s economy.

He was reported to have told civil servants in the state to embrace farming to augment their meager salaries, which may not come at the end of each month. The governor declared every Friday of the week, a public holiday to enable state workers till the land for agricultural produce. The Governor thereafter proceeded on two-week annual vacation, as he said, to enable him tend crops in his farm.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Odeh Ageh, who made the announcement, said the work- free day was approved by the the state executive council meeting chaired by Governor Ortom. Ageh explained that the idea would help workers to produce enough food to feed their families in the face of the current economic reality which has made the regular payment of salaries a major challenge.

According to him, the work-free day would commence from Friday, June 10 and would last till the end of July, 2016.

The Commissioner also announced that the governor would proceed on a two-week vacation as part of his annual leave to work on his farm while the Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, would act in his absence.

It is safe to argue that in Benue State, the government opted for persuasion and has set out a timeline when this practice of conversion of civil servants to farmers would end. But Imo State governor took his version of the modern day slavery practice to a ridiculous heights.

Governor Okorocha, who is also of the All Progressives Congress, with the Benue State Governor decided to declare two days work-free days to enable Imo State workers go to farms, to use his words, “to produce food to assist the State’s economy.” The governor said the practice will be for one year in the first instance.

The Imo State governor also looked at the rule book adopted by the then old Rivers State’s governor, Chief Clifford Okilo, to term his new agricultural rule “Back to land for Agriculture” even as he stated through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, that the policy of not working Thursdays and Fridays is meant to enable the state civil servants invest inagriculturalactivities.Butunlike his colleague, Mr. Okorocha did not lead by example by showing journalists his farm. But, he cancelled all annual leaves which are statutory entitlements of the state workers.

One is of the conviction that it is wrong for any state governor to use the parlous state of the economy as a reason to compel civil servants to start farming as part of their job specification. This pol- icy should be abrogated without further wasteoftime. Thepolicyisalsoabreach of the labour law since workers working for their states have valid employment letters specifying the duties expected of them. I am afraid that the conversion of workers to farmers is not part of these terms of contracts signed by them. Government cannot abridge, amend or alter the original terms of employment without proper, adequate and transparent agreement of all the parties to the employment contract. Let us consult the eighth edition of “Black’s Law Dictionary” edited by Bryan A. Garner to get some insights on the meaning of contract so as to situate it within the context of the illegality by the Imo and Benue state governors to convert their State Civil Servants to farm slaves.

“The term, contract, has been used to refer to three different things: (1) the series of operative acts by the par- ties resulting in new legal relations; (2) the physical document executed by the parties as the lasting evidence of their having performed the necessary opera- tive acts and also as an operative fact in itself; (3) the legal relations resulting from the operative acts, consisting of a right or rights in personam and their corresponding duties, accompanied by certain powers, privileges, and immunities. The sum of these legal relations is called ‘obligation.’

Apart from the fact that state governments are obliged to respect the employment contract it entered into with her workforce without unduly introducing some strange conditionality, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended) has also made copious provisions making it a legally binding obligation that government is not allowed to turn its workers into agricultural “guinea pigs”.

Section 17(3)(a)(b) and (c) provide as follows: “ all citizens without discrimination on any group whatsoever, have the opportunity for securing ade- quate means of livelihood as well as ad- equate opportunity to secure suitable employment.” “The State shall ensure that conditions of work are just, and humane, and that there are adequate facilities for leisure and for social, reli- gious and cultural life” and “the health, safety and welfare of all person in em- ployment are safeguarded and not en- dangered or abused”.

Globally, the most salient aspects of employment laws state that workers must enjoy basic rights at work which must necessarily include getting a writ- ten statement of the main terms and conditions of employment within two months of starting work. Other basic rights of a worker are: The right to an itemized pay slip. This applies from the day the employee starts work; The right to be paid at least the national minimum wage. How did Governors Okorocha and Orthom arrive at the illegality of converting their workforce to farmers? If I may ask, particularly the Imo State governor, have you set up farm settlement centres and obtained good yielding lands for such an initiative?

Also, Benue state governor should tell Nigerians if his administration has succeeded in getting President Buhari to stop the rampaging armed Fulani herdsmen from destroying farmlands?

Currently, Benue, like most other farming communities across Nigeria is battling Fulani herdsmen.

Thursdays, Fridays Are Now ‘Farming Days’, Imo State Government Declares.

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Imo state government has reduced the working days of some civil servants in the state. Workers are now to work for three days in a week, while they can spend the remaining two days on their farms.

This was as the government introduced a policy tagged: “Back to Land for Agriculture”, which is meant to enable the state workers engage and invest in agriculture for self-sustenance.

Governor of the State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, made the policy known when traditional rulers from the state, operating under the aegis of Royal fathers in Agriculture, paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri on Monday.

He further explained that the State Executive Council has given approval to the new policy.

A statement by the state governor’s Chief Press secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, however assured that the new policy will not affect the salaries of workers.

The statement reads, “Against the backdrop of the “Back to Land for Agriculture” Programme, the governor directed that public servants in the state would now work from Mondays to Wednesdays, and use Thursdays and Fridays for agriculture (farming) while Saturdays can be used for ceremonies. And the directive takes effect from Monday August 1, 2016.

“However, the governor exempted public servants on essential duties like the teachers, nurses, doctors and people involved in Internally Generated Revenue drive. Political appointees are also exempted from the three-days working periods.

“We shall try this programme for the period of one year, starting from 1st of August 2016 and hopefully this will help. Let me make this emphasis before it is misconstrued or misrepresented, that this does not in any way affect the salaries of the workers.

“Workers will get their full salaries as been the practice. So the policy does not mean that there will be a cut in salary rather let us now find a way for our workers to supplement their salaries”.

He continued, “For this reason the issue of annual leave and casual leave is hereby cancelled. Resumption time for work has changed from 8am to 7.30am in the morning and ends by 4pm. Any worker that is not found on his or her seat between7.30am and 4pm on the days concerned will be summarily dismissed.

“Everybody must go back to agriculture. Every political appointee must own a farm. The youths would also be encouraged to take to agriculture. Schools including Universities, Polytechnics and Secondary schools in the state must own farms. The Community Government Council (CGC) must be strengthened for the sake of this agricultural programme.

“Two billion naira (N2b) has been set aside at the micro-finance bank for the purpose of this Back To Land For Agriculture policy so that those willing can access it. And time is gone again when politicians and some Imolites will come to government in the pretence of farming and collect loans and use it to buy cars and marry new wives.

“Again, the June and July Salaries would be paid this week. We are making sure that our workers are comfortable and our pensioners are happy because this is one area the whole nation is having a serious challenge.

“Our problem is not being unable to pay salaries but paying over-bloated salaries. We are also making effort to pay our pensioners once the harmonization is over.

“I also want to announce that government has appealed to families and those who organize burials on Mondays to Wednesdays to please change and have their burials on Saturdays so that we can concentrate on the government’s work and on the agricultural programme.

“Everything that has to do with agriculture no matter what shape it comes, government will support it. So many countries are going through economic crisis because of the fall in oil.

“Our nation is also going through very difficult moment. We have taken responsibility as leaders and we are not blaming anyone. Wise nations and leaders save for the rainy days.

“There were periods the oil price was in our favour. But those in charge then blew the money. They made no savings. Today the oil price globally has crashed and here we are. And we must fall back to agriculture as the panacea.”

You Can Now Work Only 3 Days A Week, Rochas Okorocha Declares To Imo Workers

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has said that civil servants in the state are to work for only three days a week while the remaining two days will be for other pursuits to sustain their families.

Okorocha made the declaration on Friday while addressing newsmen at his residence in Owerri.

According to him, those that will not be involved in the arrangement are hospital workers, teachers, fire service personnel and other essential workers.

He pointed out that after the payment of outstanding salaries for the months of May, June and July, workers in the state would begin to receive their salaries as and when due.

Chief Okorocha also said that he was considering calls from several quarters to drop the free education programme which he started at the inception of his administration.

APC Wins Imo North Senate District, 2 State Constituencies In Re-Run Election

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Staff Reporter

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Ben Uwajumogu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) winner of Imo North Senatorial District rerun election held on July 28.

Uwajumogu scored 56,076 votes to defeat Mr Athan Achonu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 43, 815 votes.

Prof. Arinze Agbogu, the INEC Returning Officer for Imo North Senatorial District, who announced the result in the early hours of Friday, said the outcome was a summation of scores of July 23 and that of July 28 exercise.

It will be recalled that Uwajumogu had scored 48,921 on July 23, while Achonu, of the PDP, scored 40, 142 votes which made INEC to declare the rerun inconclusive.

Agbogu said that available data before him showed that Uwajumogu had majority of lawful votes cast, and therefore returned elected for the Imo North Senatorial District.

Similarly, INEC declared Mr Nkenna Nzeruo of the APC winner of Oru East State Constituency, while Mr Collins Chiji also of APC was declared winner for Isiala Mbano State Constituency.

The two state constituencies’ elections were equally declared inconclusive due to reported cases of violence that marred the exercise in some communities in the two areas on July 23.

Uwajumogu told journalists in Owerri that he was highly elated over the victory, adding “my gratitude goes more to Governor Rochas Okorocha whose structure helped me to win this senatorial election’’.

Okorocha Dragged To Court Over Assault Linked To Aides

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been dragged to court for allegedly ordering his aides to beat up Anthony Amadi and Chigozie Oparaku, who were in the Compound of Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, when the Governor arrived with a demolition squad that demolished part of Iheanacho’s compound.

This was just as the victims are asking the court to award them N50 million in damages for the varying degrees of injuries that they sustain during the brutal assault by the Governor’s Aides.

The duo said that their only crime was that they had brandished an order of the Federal High court, Owerri restraining the Governor from demolishing Ihenacho’s property, that rather the governor ordered his security details to beat them up.

According to him, “About an hour later, the Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha in company of his full security detail came to Captain Ihenacho’s house and the Governor ordered the engineer to demolish Ihenacho’s house, we then went towards the Governor as much as the security details would allow us and showed him the court order, thereupon, the Governor ordered his security details to beat us up and arrest us,” Amadi narrated.

In an affidavit deposed to by Anthony Amadi, he said that on the 7th of July, 2016, while at Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho’s house, they noticed agents of the Imo state government advancing towards Ihenacho’s house with heavy equipment and with intent to demolish the property. They approached the engineer in-charge of the demolition and showed a copy of the restraining order against the said demolition and the Engineer obeyed and withdrew his equipment.

The victims recalled that they were beaten for over half an hour by more than 20 security details of the governor just for daring to show them a restraining order of court against their illegal action.

“At the end, we could hardly stand or walk, and they carried us and dumped us at the Shell Camp Police Station without any medical treatment,” Oparaku they submitted.

Amadi’s left eye still have blood clots and opens with difficulty while Oparaku has an ugly lump on his back all sustained after the beating.

They also said that in spite of the fact that the Imo state Police Commissioner had duly acknowledged a petition by their Lawyer Amadi Obi against the Imo state Governor,that they were dumped in the Shell Camp Police cell without treatment.

“Receipt of the petition was acknowledged the next day, yet the commissioner refused to release us to seek medical care instead we were transferred from Shell Camp Police Station to Owerri Area Command at Fire Service.

We were released on the fourth day without any charge against us. We were only told that we were detained on the orders of Governor Rochas Okorocha and that was exactly what was written on the incident board.”

However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo said that the Governor has not been served with any court summons.

Credit: Sun

Okorocha Inaugurates Education Trust Fund Committee

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Monday inaugurated a 13-man State Education Trust Fund Committee to sustain the free education programme of his administration beyond 2019.

Inaugurating the Mr Emma Ezeonyasi-led committee in Owerri, Okorocha said there was the need to institutionalise the policy in the overall interest of the state.

“As governor, I am poised to seeing that the free education programme of my administration is sustained in the state beyond 2019.

“There is no greater gift you can give to a child than education. Education remains the pivot upon which the wheel of every success in life rotates.

“We must do everything as a people and government to keep the free education programme alive,” he said.

Okorocha said that the poverty rate in the state had reduced as parents who were selling their valued possessions to pay school fees of their children and wards no longer did so, with the introduction of free education.

“The lives of our children born and yet unborn are very important. So, this is the time to secure the future of our children and children yet unborn by saving for their education.

“Every child must go to school and education must be made free so that the children of the poorest of the poor can go to school as we don’t know where the person who may change the face of the state or the nation will come from,” he said.

The governor charged the committee members to leave no stone unturned in the realisation of the goal for which they were chosen.

In his vote of thanks, Ezeonyasi, the chairman of the committee, assured that they would live up to expectation since they were called to serve the state and her people.

(NAN)

Okorocha Praises Wife For Building Skills Acquisition Centres

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Wife of Imo State governor, Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, has been commended for embarking on projects that touch the lives of the people of the state, especially the unemployed, indigent widows and orphans in the society, by building and commissioning skills acquisition centres in the state.

Handing down the commendation during the commissioning ceremony and first matriculation of students of the newly built ultra-modern skills acquisition centres in the three senatorial zones of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe christened “Nneoma Skills Acquisition Centre”, the State governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, said that if only the previous wives of former governors had done the same, unemployment in the society would have been reduced.

Describing the construction of the centres as a step in the right direction in view of the nation’s prevalent disturbing economic climate, the governor expressed the desire to link them with the relevant department of the State Polytechnic so as to design requisite certificates that would be awarded to the students when they graduate.

According to him, “Education alone is not just preparation for life, but it is life itself. The best form of education is that which allows one to develop the talent inside thereby making oneself his/ her own boss. This great initiative needs not to be re-emphasized. It calls for all and sundry to support the first lady of Imo State”.

Credit: Thisday

Gov. Okorocha Recalls Suspended Workers, Unions Suspend Strike

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Staff Reporter

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo has agreed with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), to immediately recall all suspended workers and stop everything about concession in the State.

The National President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, read the statement to the protesting workers shortly after the conclusion of their negotiation with the Imo State Government.

The statement was signed by A. N. Eluwa -Solicitor General of Imo, for the government, Chairman NLC in Imo, Austin Chilakpu, Chairman, TUC, Ezeji Ezeji and eight others for the NLC.

Mr. Wabba directed the workers to suspend the protest and go back to work.

The agreement stated that government would source for funds to pay workers which would be verified by the joint committee of government and labour.

According to the agreement, government would fund its operations with not more than 30 per cent of the verified revenue for the month.

The committee would apply the balance of 70 per cent in the settlement of salaries of public servants and pensioners.

Economic and social activities had come to a halt in Owerri following a mass protest organised by the NLC.

The organised labour had shut down the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, all ministries and offices, including the LGAs and the state Secretariat as workers trooped out for the protest.

Okorocha Presents 102bn Naira 2016 Budget

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Governor Rochas Okorocha State has presented a 102-billion-Naira budget proposal for the 2016 fiscal year before the Imo State House for Assembly.

The Governor made the budget presentation on Tuesday at the hallow chamber in Owerri, the capital of Imo State in southeast Nigeria.

Governor Okorocha explained that the budget, which was tagged ‘Budget of Consolidation and Continuity’, showed that 43.1 per cent of the total budget was proposed for capital expenditure while 56.9 per cent was proposed for recurrent expenditure.

He disclosed that the budget targeted 23 billion Naira from the Imo State’s share of the Federal Allocation, 17 billion Naira from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and 148 billion Naira from Excess Crude Oil among others.

Credit: Channelstv

Okorocha Denies Accusing Tinubu, Others For Killing Audu

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday denied having a quarrel with Senator Bola Tinubu, saying the envisaged rift only exists in the imaginations of those who have chosen the path of dishonour.

Governor Okorocha, who was reacting to a report published in a social media on Sunday, claiming that he accused Senator Tinubu and other APC members of being responsible for the death of the APC governorship candidate in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, described such claim as “ungodly blackmail.”

The governor said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuameodo, that the envisaged rift between Senator Tinubu and himself “only exists in the imaginations of those who have chosen the path of dishonor, because only dishonourable people could have authored such an inglorious write-up. Decent people do not do such thing.”

The governor said he never accused the former governor of Lagos State and one of the key pillars of the APC in the country, Senator Tinubu, of being responsible for the death of the APC governorship candidate in Kogi State, Prince Audu.

Credit: NationalMirror

Okorocha Advocates Military Training In Nigerian Educational Curriculum

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has advocated that military and paramilitary training should be introduced into the educational curriculum from the secondary school to tertiary education level in Nigeria.

He said this would help prepare Nigerians and give them adequate security training in the face of rising spate of insecurity and terrorist attacks facing the nation.

Governor Okorocha made this call in Owerri, the Imo State capital, while addressing officers and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) at the state headquarters, during the quarterly achievement and assessment programme of the command.

Credit: ChannelsTV

“Stop Hating Other Nigerians If You Want To Produce President” – Okorocha To Ndigbo

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Imo State governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has advised people of the South-East zone to refrain from harboring bad blood against people of other parts of the country, if they are serious about producing the country’s President in the future.

Okorocha, who made this known yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen in Owerri, the Imo state capital, declared that he has been vindicated by the eventual victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 election.

According to him, “I appeal to Ndigbo to avoid unnecessary bickering and antagonism with the
North, West and other parts of the country, so as to brighten the prospects of a president of Igbo extraction in future.”

While noting that Rivers and Akwa Ibom states are very strategic to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and that the electorate in the two states voted overwhelmingly for the APC in the last election, he alleged that, “their votes were stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through various forms of electoral malpractices.”

Although he refused to disclose the strategies his APC political platform intends to use in sacking PDP in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, the APC bigwig however noted that plans were on to actualize the target.

On why his administration was yet to appoint commissioners and special advisers, the Governor said it has enabled him to save money for the state, for capital projects, explaining that, “If I appoint them now, they will start demanding for impress, traveling allowance, hazard allowance and this is outside their monthly pay. This has enabled me save some money for the state, for capital projects.”

Asked why all public taps in the state have dried up, he noted that he preferred sinking water boreholes for communities instead of procuring chemicals, maintaining machines and other facilities.

Source: DailyPost

Supreme Court Upholds Election Of Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Rochas Okorocha as the Imo State governor. At a ruling this morning, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP candidate, Emeka Ihedioha, challenging the election of Okorocha during the April 14th election. The court said the appeal lacked merit and consequently threw it away.

‘Consider South East In Your Appointments’ – Okorocha Appeals To Buhari

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha has appealed to President Buhari to consider the people of the South East in his appointments. According to Vanguard, Governor Okorocha made the appeal during a meeting with selected stakeholders in the state over the weekend

“What I can only do is to continue to appeal to the president to consider the South-East in his appointments. And as far as I am concerned, the president had executed what the office empowers him to do, and it is believed that he did that in the best interest of the nation.
Again, most of the appointments the president has so far made are like his personal staff. I don’t think South-East will ever be forgotten in this administration, we will get our due. In fact, if you ask me, I would say we should be more interested in the projects coming down to the South-East, and as much as we can get. The projects will bring about development of the South-East. Although the South-East had expected so much, we believe all will be well with the Buhari presidency and for the development of the South-East. It is wrong for some people to begin to use the issue to incite the people of the South-east against the president.

The government is about to celebrate its one hundred days, and the appointments are just beginning to come, and by and large, the South-East will get their dues. The point is that we cannot begin to judge President Buhari with the appointments so far made. We cannot obviously use it to judge his intention. I think he means well for the nation and with every geo-political zone inclusive. So, let us give him a chance” he said.

Stop Insulting Me, Face Tribunal- Okorocha Tells Ihedioha

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Imo state governor,Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has urged the former speaker of the House of Representatives and former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Emeka Ihedioha, to respect his office and stop insulting him on the pages of newspapers.

Okorocha who was reacting to a media report credited to Ihedioha alleging that he has stolen funds of the state since he assumed office in 2011, asked the former lawmaker to rather face his case at the election tribunal and stop what he described as “unnecessary distraction”.

The governor, who reacted through a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, also said that Ihedioha, in the said report, accused the governor of acquiring a multi billion properties since he assumed office.

Read More: leadership

Imo Assembly Bans Sale Of Locally Brewed Gin

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Staff Reporter

The Imo State House of Assembly has adopted two motions urging ministries, departments and agencies to improve the sanitation of the state and banning the sale of locally brewed gin.

Presenting the motion on sanitation on Wednesday, Mr Chukwuemeka Lloyd (APC-Owerri-North) stressed the need for the offices charged with environmental sanitation and food hygiene to step up their activities to stop the spread of diseases.

The motion also urged public health officers to inspect market places, abattoirs and the means of conveying animals slaughtered in the market to their retail outlets.

The motion also called for sanitation trucks to be covered with tarpaulins to prevent littering the roads with garbage.

Similarly, the assembly adopted another motion banning the production, sale, distribution and consumption of locally brewed gin in the state.

Presenting the motion, Mr Innocent Egwim (APC-Ideato North) noted that the consumption of locally brewed gin posed a danger to the lives of its consumers.

He prayed that the state health ministry be compelled to trace the producers for possible prosecution while the brewing, sale, distribution and consumption of the product without legal approval be banned.

The motion also called on the Imo Orientation Agency to educate the residents on the dangers of the product.

Following the unanimous adoption of the motions by the lawmakers, the Speaker of the assembly, Mr Iheanacho Ihim (APC-Okigwe) ruled in favour of them.

How Okorocha, Ikpeazu, Ishaku Won In Imo, Abia, Taraba- Report

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Imo State governor and candidate of All Progressives Congress, Chief Rochas Okorocha, was early this morning declared winner of the governorship election in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Meanwhile, In the other two states where supplementary governorship elections also held on Saturday, the governorship candidates of Peoples Democratic Party in Abia and Taraba states, Dr Victor Ikpeazu and Mr. Darius Ishaku, respectively, won, after results were collated and declared by INEC.

Okorocha scored 416,996 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who polled 320,705 votes. Okorocha was declared winner by the State Returning Officer, Professor Ibidapo Obe, who is Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Ikwo, Ebonyi State.

In the senatorial election in Delta Central, Ighoyota Amori of PDP won the election, polling 115, 000 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Ovie Omo-Agege, of Labour Party, who scored 53, 000 votes. Amore was declared the senator-elect. Amori polled 2, 981 votes in Ughelli South, while Omo-Agege polled 681 votes. In Sapele, Amori got 8, 864 votes, Omo-Agege got 1, 541. In Udu, the PDP candidate got 9, 194 votes, while his LP challenger got 3, 956 votes. In Uvwie, Amori got 4, 819 votes, while Omo-Agege got 2, 366 votes. In Okpe, the PDP candidate scored 8, 613, while the LP candidate got 2, 022 votes. In Ethiope West, Amori got 172, while Omo-Agege had 12 votes. Also in Ethiope East, Amori scored 14, 142 votes, while Omo-Agege scored 7, 168 votes.

The results announced early this morning by INEC showed that Okorocha led Ihedioha in 20 of the 23 local government areas where the supplementary polls took place in Imo State. Okorocha won in Nkwerre (APC 255, PDP 164), Oru west (APC 395, PDP 129), Okigwe (APC 603, PDP 76), Orlu (APC 687, PDP 179), Ihitte Uboma (APC 131, PDP 66), Nwangele (APC 271, PDP 55), Orsu (APC 471, PDP 218), Njaba (APC 1095, PDP 236), Obowo (APC 697, PDP 505), Ow. North (APC 674, PDP 620), Onuimo (APC 412, PDP 207), Ohaji/Egbema (APC 1210, PDP 996), Owerri West (APC 1342, PDP 793), Ehime Mbano (APC 604, PDP 393), Mbaitoli (APC 3997, PDP 2422), Oru East (APC 7154, PDP 1168), Ngor Okpala (APC 416, PDP 323), Isu (APC 2773, PDP 979), Isiala Mbano (APC 1415, PDP 1000), and Oguta (APC 5030, PDP 1378). Ihedioha won in three local governments, namely, Ezinihitte (APC 213, PDP 715) and Aboh Mbaise (APC 686, PDP 939), Ikeduru (APC 786, PDP 1022).

Okorocha had polled 385, 671 votes, while Ihedioha scored 306, 142 votes at the main election on April 11. That gave a difference of 79, 529 votes between the highest scorer and the runner-up, and the number of cancelled votes was 144, 715. The election was declared inconclusive by the INEC Returning Officer in the state, Obe. After the supplementary election, APC had 31,326 votes while PDP had 13,624.

The Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) stipulates that where the number cancelled votes exceeds the difference between the number of votes polled by the candidate who comes first and the person in second place, a winner cannot be declared until the conclusion of a supplementary election in the areas affected by the cancellations.

Results, as announced by INEC, from the eight local government areas of Abia State where the supplementary governorship elections held showed that in Aba North PDP got 754 while APGA polled 857; in Ikwuano PDP 1,748, APGA 2179; Ohafia, PDP 2,479, APGA 326; Isiala Ngwa North, PDP 60, APGA 60; Aba South, PDP 722, APGA 2536; Ogwunagbo, PDP 1893, APGA polled 1289; Umuahia South, PDP 1377, APGA 4184; Umuahia North, PDP 1,899, APGA 2,376, and Osisioma, APGA 5,322, PDP 1668.

The Collation/Returning Officer for the Abia State governorship the election, Professor Benjamin Ozumba, had on April 12, announced that the governorship elections were inconclusive and subsequently rescheduled in some polling units where either did not hold or were cancelled due to irregularities. But Ikpeazu had polled 248,459 votes against Otti’s 165,406 votes after the first election on April 11, making a difference of 83,053 votes, while 177,000 votes were cancelled – which was more than the vote difference between the top candidate and the runner-up. This had necessitated the supplementary election.

In Taraba State, as results of the supplementary election continued to trickle in, the governorship candidate of the PDP, Darius Ishaku, was steadily consolidating his lead in the April 11 gubernatorial election, which was declared inconclusive by INEC. Going into yesterday’s supplementary election which was conducted in 218 polling units, Ishaku was ahead of his main challenger, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan of APC by 54, 812 votes.

Results announced from the various polling units across the 10 local government areas indicate that PDP won in Kofar Sarki in Takum local government by 588 votes against seven votes polled by APC.
In Daka polling unit in Takum, PDP polled 378 while APC scored 110 votes just as PDP scored 178 against APC’s five votes in Rafin-Kada ward in Wukari local government.

At Asibiti ward in Donga local government, PDP scored 4,412 while APC scored 604 and in Akete ward still in Donga local government, PDP polled 2,065 votes in 11 out of the 12 polling units collated while APC scored 1,506.

Also at Suntai Daaji in Donga local government, PDP garnered 1,139 votes against APC’s 74 votes, while at Nyitan ward in Donga, PDP scored 4,304 while APC scored 199 votes. In the only polling unit where election was held in Yorro local government, PDP scored 469 while APC polled 34 votes.

At Muhammed Tukur polling unit which was the only polling unit where election was conducted in Jalingo local government, APC polled 362 votes while PDP polled 90 votes while in 17 out of the 20 polling units in Bali local government, PDP polled 5,370 votes while APC polled 750 votes.

The PDP candidate is also leading in Karim Lamido local government where the acting governor of the state, Alhaji Sani Danladi, hails from just as PDP is leading in all the four polling units in Ussa local government.

The total number of registered voters in the 218 polling units where the election was conducted is127, 125 and based on the low turnout of voters, the number of accredited voters in the election is not expected to be more than 50 per cent of the registered voters.
The local governments where the additional elections were held are Donga, Bali, Takum, Karim Lamido, Kurmi, Yorro, Ussa, Wukari and Zing.

Credit: vanguardngr

Okorocha Optimistic Of Victory After Repeat Election

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo has expressed optimism that he will be victories in the governorship election in the state after the conduct of repeat poll in some wards in the state.

Okorocha, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), made the statement when he briefed newsmen at the Government House, Owerri, on Monday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the governorship poll inconclusive on Sunday. The commission said a date would be fixed for the conduct of a fresh poll in some wards which witnessed some problems on Saturday. The governor said that he was used to repeat elections having been elected through a supplementary election in 2011.

Okorocha said he had nothing to fear considering the fact that he was already leading the poll with more than 70 000 votes. He attributed his performance in the election to the determination of Imo people for him to continue with the rescue mission of his administration.

Okorocha explained that the spread of APC victory in 23 local government areas of the state was a clear indication of the confidence the people had in his government.

He thanked Imo people for their support and commitment to his administration’s policies and programmes. Okorocha also encouraged the people to come out en mass to vote for the party any time INEC announced for the conduct of the election.

Credit: NAN

Okorocha Claims Victory, Says Supplementary Election Unnecessary

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Staff Reporter

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Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has faulted the independent Electoral Commission for declaring the state gubernatorial election inconclusive and announcing supplementary elections in some wards across the state.

Mr. Okorocha, who spoke to journalists at the Government House in Imo State early Monday, said the supplementary election would have been unnecessary if INEC had considered the number of Permanent Voters Card distributed in the affected areas instead of the number of registered voters.

INEC Returning Officer of the State, Ibidapo Obe, announced that the election was inconclusive because the margin (79,529) between the frontrunner, Mr. Okorocha and his contender, Emeka Ihedioha of Peoples Democratic Party, was less than the number of registered voters (144,715) in wards across the state where elections did not hold or were cancelled due to violence. He said a new date would be announced for a supplementary election.

Though Mr. Okorocha recognised the provision of the electoral law in respect of the number of registered voters, he said INEC should have considered distribution of PVC in the affected areas instead of registered voters as only voters with PVC can vote.

“The electoral act has talked about registered voters and in the workings of that act and in the spirit of the law, you cannot not make use of number of registered voters, you have to make use of number of PVC collected…”

Read More: premiumtimesng

Okorocha Sets Up Committee To Meet With Oba Of Lagos

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Against the backdrop of the alleged death threat issued to Ndigbo residing Lagos by Oba of Lagos if they failed to vote for his preferred candidate in Saturday’s governorship election, the Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha yesterday step up a committee of prominent traditional rulers in the state headed by Eze Agunwa Ohiri for a parley the lagos Monarch.

Okorocha has directed that the Eze Ohiri Committee leave for Lagos immediately to meet with the Oba to enable them have one-on-one discussion over the said threat by the traditional ruler, and extract some commitments from him.

The chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum said although the traditional ruler was reported to have denied the report, it should not be enough to accept that refutal without traditional rulers from the South-East meeting with him to discuss the controversy and the way forward, to ensure that the long existing cordial relationship between the Igbos in Lagos and their host community remain harmonious.

“No serious Igbo man or Yoruba man would like trouble to exist between the Igbos and the Oba of their host community, and limiting the attendant actions to comments on the pages of newspaper won’t solve the ripple”.

Read More: sunnewsonline

Buhari Visits Owerri On Thank You Tour

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Staff Reporter

In the absence of any last minute changes, the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will visit Owerri, the Imo State capital today on a thank you visit.

According to a Government House statement signed by Governor Rochas Okorocha’s media aide, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, and made available to journalists in Owerri, the visit will serve as avenue for Mr. Buhari to meet people of the state and thank them for contributing to his resounding victory at the recently concluded presidential polls.

“His Excellency, General Muhammadu Buhari, the President-elect on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, will be visiting the state to thank the people and government of the state for their unalloyed support that contributed greatly to his resounding victory at the polls on March 28”, Onwuemeodo said.

While noting that God used Gov. Okorocha to make the state and the South-East geo-political zone to be part of the success story of Mr. Buhari’s victory, Onwuemeodo assured the people that they would be carried along in the unfolding dispensation.

“In the new emerging order, everybody will be carried along and people will not be discriminated against on ground of their political leaning”, Onwuemeodo said.

Although the state government described the president-elect’s visit as a thank you tour, some political analysts are of the view that it is meant to be a campaign tool for the re-election bid of Mr. Okorocha.

There Is Hope For Nigeria’s Nascent Democracy’—-Gov. Okorocha

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo says there is hope for the nation’s democracy. Okorocha said this after being accredited at his home town in Eketa Ogboko Ward 2 in Ideato South Local Government Area on Saturday. He urged Imo electorate to ensure that they were accredited to cast their votes. While stressing the need for peaceful election, the governor said that the nation’s collective interest was greater than any individual, group or party interest. “People should cast their votes and do the necessary good things despite any form of provocation. I am hopeful that at the end, the mandate of the people will speak.” The governor said that accreditation started in his ward while the card reader took about two minutes to recognise his PVC. Okorocha, however, decried the alleged ill-treatment of some youths in his community by some soldiers. He alleged that some indigenes of Ogboko were locked up by soldiers, whom he said, claimed that they were involved in illegal gathering, describing it as `man’s inhumanity to man’. On the arrest of his special adviser on security matters and four members of the state vigilante group by the Police, Okorocha described it as `much ado about nothing’. “The men were not caught with AK 47 but with only three pump action rifles,’’ he said. He said that before now, the state security outfits had been working in collaboration with the police to curb crime in the state.

Buhari Is Nigeria’s Modern Day Nelson Mandela – Okorocha

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has said the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) is the Nelson Mandela of our time and urged Nigerians to vote for him..
According to Vanguard,speaking to Imo State indigenes at a reception for him at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Okorocha who spoke in Igbo said

: “Buhari is the Mandela of our time. At 72, what does he want? He will do one term, fix the country and move on and then power will be come back to the South. When power rotates to the South, the South-East will have it in 2019 because the South-West has had it through Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the South-South through Dr Goodluck Jonathan.’’

‘’Under President Jonathan administration, the South-East is not among the five topmost positions in the country (President, Vice President, Senate President, Chief Justice of the Federation, Speaker of the House of Representatives), does not have any of the service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Controller of Customs, Immigration, Civil Defence, etc. We only have controller of Prisons. This is not fair.’’

PDP Debunks Okorocha’s Claim that its Governors Plan to Join APC

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Staff Reporter

PDP has debunked planned defection of its Governors to APC. The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisah Metuh in a reaction to a statement made by Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha alleging that seven PDP governors were set to defect to the APC, described the allegation as baseless and one of the lies being peddled by the opposition.

The PDP spokesman also lamented what ?he termed APC’s habit of peddling lies in a bid to win voters over to its side.

Read More: dailypost

How Okorocha Is Campaigning Against Buhari

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Staff Reporter

Word on the streets of Owerri, the Imo State capital, is that Governor Rochas Okorocha has depleted the state’s finances in his failed bid to emerge presidential candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC) and subsequent financial contributions to the party’s eventual candidate, Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign. Here is an analysis how it is possible that Okorocha could, albeit unintentionally, be campaigning against Buhari.

Hitherto hugely popular in the state, Governor Rochas Okorocha, who rode on the wings of this trend to defeat the then incumbent, Ikedi Ohakim, in 2011, is fast losing the love of his people as a result of recent happenings.

On February 26, hundreds of contractors in the state protested alleged non-payment of over N180 billion owed them by the state government. The jobs being owed for, according to the protesters, who formed an association known as Unpaid Imo Contractors, ranged from road construction to supplies of road construction materials.

Led by their chairman, Ugodadi Ononiwu, and Vice Chairman, Uche Madu, the contractors alleged that Governor Okorocha has failed to pay for several approved projects since 2011. Mr Ononiwu claimed that his firm is being owed N58 million, which was contentiously reduced to N45 million; adding that 19 of their members have died as a result of illness associated with the pains of the situation.

A similar situation is currently playing out in public schools across the state, as thousands of teachers engaged under the government’s ‘Youth Must Work’ initiative allege that they were last paid salaries in November 2014.

“It is so unfortunate because my wife and I relocated to the state from Port-Harcourt to take up these jobs,” said Caleb Egwu, one of the teachers. “Now, we are all stranded. How can Rochas use our money for elections? This is so unfair.

Read More: naij.com

Okorocha Provides Free Buses for Imo Indigenes in Lagos, Oyo at Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2014 by Staff Reporter

To encourage Imo State indigenes in Lagos and Oyo states to return home for the Christmas celebration, Governor Rochas Okorocha, has provided buses that will convey them free of charge to Owerri, the state capital on Wednesday, December 24, 2014.

The Imo State Liaison Officer, Lagos State, Mr. Alfred Ononugbo, who disclosed this in a statement, urged Imo indigenes residing in Lagos who intended travelling home for Christmas celebration to assemble at National Stadium Surulere, Lagos tomorrow by 8am for the trip.

Ononugbo urged Imo indigenes in Oyo State, to assemble at Saint Gabriel Catholic Church, Mokola, in Ibadan at 8am tomorrow for the journey.

He assured that adequate security had been provided in all Imo communities, adding that the homecoming would afford them the opportunity to see and feel the dividends of democracy provided by the Okorocha administration.

Credit: Vanguard Nigeria

Apologize Now to Ndigbo for Losing APC Presidential Primary, Okechukwu tells Okorocha

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Staff Reporter

A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East, Osita Okechukwu, has accused Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of allegedly gambling with the chances of the Ndigbo to bargain for Vice President slot in the 2015 general elections, noting that his (Okorocha) failure contributed in weakening that opportunity.

According to him, “His Excellency’s statement is one of self denial, for rather than apologizing to Ndigbo for his gambit, which made Ndigbo to lose the national chairmanship of the APC, placed us in a weak position to vie for Vice President, he is regrettably justifying the unjustifiable.

“One had thought that as a leader he could had placed the collective interest of Ndigbo above his Nollywood show, since he is quite aware of the position of the party as regards zoning.

“For the avoidance of doubt, in a South East Caucus meeting at His Excellency, Dr Ogboninya Onu’s residence at Abuja in July, 2014, some of us agreed that he is eminently qualified to vie for presidency, but given the prevailing understanding that the presidency is going North, we should vie for chairmanship and vice president slots, waiting for the next 8 years when it is coming South. He refused and boasted that he is going to win the presidential primary.

“I personally narrated to him that zoning like every convention has its moral weight, the North having patriotically zoned the presidency to the South. I further persuaded him to go back to Imo State and conclude the good works he is doing so as to present a good legacy, when the rotation comes South, the South West and South South having occupied the coveted presidency respectively since our return to civil rule in 1999.

That Dr Onu should be supported for chairmanship, he backed out”, the statement added.
Defeated Okorocha had said that “by participating in the contest I have been able to prove that the president can come from any part of the country. It is the understanding of APC that the president should come from the North ever since. I know about that, but I don’t like those facts, so I have come to distort those facts which are not the truth”.

Credit:

I Would End Boko Haram Insurgency If Elected, Rochas Okorocha Promises

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Presidential aspirant on platform of All Progressives Congress, Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo, has promised to stop insurgency in north east if elected president of Nigeria in 2015.

Okorocha made the promise when he paid courtesy visit to the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna on Wednesday.

He added that he would tackle other problems in the area of education and youth unemployment. “These are responsible for the country’s insecurity

“I have the burning desire to change Nigeria for good; my intention to become the president of the country is for the benefit of the masses and not for personal gain.

“This is because God has blessed me”, he said.

He added that his mission was to solicit the support of the forum toward the success of his presidential ambition.

“My coming to the ACF is to reaffirm my relationship with the north because the people of the region gave me the platform to be educated.

“It is also to relate and make my intention known to the north that I will be running for the post of president in the country come 2015.

“Though ACF is not a political group, but I want you to see me as a son. My records in Imo state are such that can guarantee me a second term as a governor, but as a president, I will do more for the country at large.’’

– Source – www.vanguardngr.com

I Want To Unseat Okorocha For Good Governance Of My People – Ararume

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Staff Reporter

An aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, has given reasons why he wants to unseat the incumbent governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

According to Senator Ararume, the inability of past governments in the state to resolve development issues facing the state made him enter the race once again.

He said: “I really want the opportunity to be able to salvage the heartland of Igboland. For me, I had the aspiration first in 2007 but it didn’t work out that time.
“I strongly believe that Imo State being the heartland of the South East will work well and serve its people if the right leadership is in place.