2023 Governorship: Prof Ikonne leads PDP Abia Central aspirants, not anointed - ITREALMS

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It is not true that the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State has anointed Professor Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne, immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the Abia State University, as a possible successor of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, multiple sources confirmed at the party secretariat in Umuahia on Monday.

What is true is that stakeholders in his zone are making a case for Ikonne, an optometrist, as their most suitable aspirant. The party has not reached any decision.

Shell trains, equips 30 firefighters in Abia - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Shell Nigeria Gas has re-trained 30 firefighters in Abia State and donated firefighting equipment to the state fire service. This intervention was triggered by two recent fire disasters in the state which resulted in deaths and loss of property worth millions of naira, reports ITREALMS.

Over 150 shops in the timber and furniture section of the Nkwo Ngwa Market in Aba was gutted by fire mid-November barely five weeks after an explosion on a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Umuaduru and Umuimo communities of the state killed a number of persons.

The SNG intervention, according the company’s Managing Director, Ed Ubong, was to demonstrate the company’s continued care for the people and support to Nigerians particularly those in the company’s areas of operations.

“Some of these disasters are either avoidable or preventable. The major gaps are in training and equipment, hence our quick response to retrain the firefighters and provide them with modern equipment to support their operations,” Ubong said, adding that SNG would strengthen its gas distribution network in the Abia State to help in its rapid industrialisation.

The equipment donated included tunics and personal protective equipment (PPE). The state’s Commissioner for Transport, Charles Chinedum Elechi, received the items with a commitment that the state would improve on its safety record in a manner that would promote industrialisation and development.

Speaking at the donation, the state’s Fire Service Comptroller, Victor Gbaruko, described the training of his personnel particularly in hydrocarbon firefighting, as an investment worthy of emulation by other big players in the economy of the state.

The 20-year old SNG is fully owned by Shell and is the first gas distribution company run by any oil major in Nigeria. SNG’s extensive gas distribution network in Abia, Ogun and Rivers States has boosted manufacturing output and helped these states to grow their internally generated revenues while providing local employment opportunities.

In 2017, SNG executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Rivers State Government for the distribution of gas to industries in the Greater Port Harcourt area and its environs. The agreement provided further opportunities for SNG to promote gas as a more reliable, cleaner and cost-effective alternative to liquid fuels in Nigeria.

SNG has built a reputation for safety and credibility and is the only gas distribution company in Nigeria whose facility is ISO 14001 certified. The company has implemented various development projects in the areas of its operations, donating or renovating schools, providing information communications technology (ICT) centre, equipping science laboratories and launching numerous Road Safety Education and Awareness campaigns in 2016 and 2017.

Uboshe Uboshe/GEE

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Pix: L-R: Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Gas, Ed Ubong ; Abia State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Kate Onyemaechi;  Permanent Secretary, Governor’s Office, Bernard Ogbonna; Commissioner for Transport, Kingsley Imaga; and Abia State Fire Service Comptroller, Victor Gbaruko, at the donation of equipment to the state Fire Service in Umuahia… recently.

AfDB, FMW joint team visits Abia, inspects Federal Roads in Aba

ITRealms:

A joint team of experts were in Aba, Abia State from the headquarters of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, led by Mr. Mwila Aeron Katambula, the Bank's Transport Specialist, and a team from the Ministry of Works, for the final lap of talks between Abia State Government and AfDB on some developmental projects of interest to the bank in Abia State, reports ITRealms.

The state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, who received the team and another team from the Federal Ministry of Works Abuja that accompanied the AfDB team on Wednesday at the Government House Umuahia, said that Abia State can't wait to see the commencement of reconstruction of some major roads in Aba, especially Port Harcourt road and Ikot Ekpene road, among others.  

"Road infrastructure is very important to us in Aba. Apart from being the commercial nerve Centre of Abia, Aba is the SME Centre of Nigeria. Aba is very important to the economy of both Abia and Nigeria. So, the issue of road infrastructure, waste management and storm water management are the challenges we face in Aba. 

"Abia State does not have the resources to do good work at Port Harcourt and Ikot Ekpene roads. With your visit today, you've renewed our hope that help will come very soon and the roads will be fixed.

"On our part we have tried to do what is required of us in terms of ensuring that the ground work is done to enable AfDB come in." The Governor said. 

Speaking on why they're in Abia, Katambula said: "We are eager to participate in the development of Abia State. Our mission today is a follow up to meeting we had before, we want to ensure that everything is ready because we want to fast track the projects that the bank will take up in Abia."

The AfDB and FMW teams later met with the State's Commissioners for Works, Hon. Eziuche Ubani, and that of Finance, Hon. Obinna Oriaku, and other top state government officials.

After several hours of meetings, the Commissioner for Works, Hon. Ubani led the two teams to Aba, to have on the spot assessment of the two key Federal Roads: Port Harcourt and Ikot Ekpene Roads located in the commercial city. 

The inspection tour offered them the opportunity of first hand information of the level of decay of the roads and the trauma and suffering of the residents and travelers in and around these two key roads.

AfDB is currently doing the technical analysis and studies of the roads before releasing funds for repairs of the roads.

This accounts for why the AfDB team had to come with the FMW team to meet face to face with Governor Ikpeazu and his team in Abia. 

During the visit to Aba, the Commissioner for Works, Hon Ubani told the AfDB and FMW team that the state government "is desperate to fix roads in Abia, and Aba in particular to stimulate economic activities and drive development across the state" 

"So far we've done a good number of roads which fall within the responsibility of the state, but unfortunately, we can't fix federal roads without first agreeing on terms of fixing them with the Federal Government. 

"Unfortunately we don't have the amount of money required to fix these roads, especially Port Harcourt and Ikot Ekpene roads that is why we are delighted to have the AfDB here together with a team from the Federal ministry of works, to see the level of deterioration of these roads."

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Pix: the visiting team on inspection.

I remain Abia State governor - Ikpeazu

ITRealms:

... Appeals Justice Abang order to vacate office

The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has reacted to the news making a round of his sack from the government house in Umuahia, saying he remained the State governor and assured citizens of no cause for alarm, ITRealmsreports.

ITRealms recalls that a judgment by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja was delivered in favour of Mr. Uche Ogah who instituted the case against Ikpeazu, for allegedly forging of tax receipts, thereby requesting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Ogah with a certificate of return.

But the Governor Ikpeazu, through his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, issued on Monday, said that he has faith in the judiciary and rule of law maintaining there is no cause for alarm as he had appealed the ruling.

The Governor also pointed out that as an appointee of the Abia State Government from 2011 to 2014, when he served as the General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), and first Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba and Environs respectively, before his resignation in October 2014 to contest the Governorship election in the state, his taxes were deducted at source within that period.

As said by him, when he had need of his tax clearance in 2014, he applied to the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, and was duly issued with his tax receipts for the period in question.


Ikpeazu further said that he remains the Governor of the state according to law and will await the final determination of the matter by the appellate courts.

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WASSCE feat: Ikpeazu offers scholarship to 17 Abia students

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The Abia state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has congratulated students and teachers in the state over the ranking of the state as the number one state in the May/June 2015 West African School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result as released by the West African Examination Council.

The Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, said in a press statement available to ITRealms in recognition of the excellent  performance of the schools and students in the state's school system, said Ikpeazu has approved the award of tertiary education scholarship to the best students from each of the 17 local government areas of the state in any Nigerian tertiary institution.

Governor Ikpeazu has directed the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ikechi Mgboji, to forward to him the list of the best student from each LGA of the state in the 2015 WASSCE examination results to enable him.

The Governor also directed that, going forward, the best performing student in WASCE from each of the 17 LGAs will receive automatic tertiary education scholarship from the state government.

It will be recalled that West African Examination Council (WAEC) recently released details of the performance of students by state and Abia State came first as the best performing state, while 35 other states and Abuja queued behind.

Abia State has consistently maintained top position in the WASSCE performance chart in the past five years.

In results released for 2014 and 2013 Abia came second behind Anambra State but has now overtaken Anambra state as the overall best and 1st in the WASSCE performance chart for 2015 examinations. The State topped the chart with 33, 762 of its 52, 801 candidates, scoring 63.94 per cent.

The Governor is challenging the Commissioner, teachers and students in the state to ensure that the state maintains this top position, promising that he will do everything possible to ensure  much more improved students and teachers welfare that will enhance the performance of Abia students in future examinations.

Recall that Governor Ikpeazu recently donated 3 cars to the best primary teachers from each senatorial zone of the state.

Ikpeazu who was a University teacher prior to his emergence as Governor is also appealing to private individuals and organizations to support his "adopt a school" program and help his administration fast track infrastructural renewal in Abia Schools.

He is also committed to ensuring that the recently launched school feeding program, which the Abia State Government is doing in partnership with farmers in the state, is sustained.

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Oganiru urges Ndi-Igbo to be vigilant, defend themselves

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A socio-political and cultural organization of Igbo speaking people in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States of Nigeria, the Igbo Improvement Union (Oganiru Ndi-Igbo) has urged Ndigbo to be vigilant and ready to defend themselves, life and property by any and every means possible, reports ITRealms.

A communique issued by the group and made available to ITRealms on the gruesome attack on Ukpabi-Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State, and endorsed by 14-man signatories led by its President-General, Hon. Ugochukwu Agballah and Secretary-General, Chief Edozie Njoku, made this known after a closed door meeting with Igwe John Ikemefuna Akor, Agaba Idu XXIV of Ukpabi-Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State.

The group expressed shock and disbelief on the wanton destruction of lives and property in Ukpabi-Nimbo, the Union said it is scandalized that such ethnic cleansing and palpable act of brigandage could take place in a 21st-century Nigeria.

The Union was dismayed over inability of the joint patrol team stationed at Uzo-Uwani LGA in arresting these criminals in spite of all reports to the law enforcement agencies about the impeding attack.

Oganiru Ndi-Igbo reaffirmed its earlier position taken at Umuahia, Abia State on April 23rd 2016, “That the entire Igboland should be excised from the proposed grazing reserve/ranch, noting that this latest invasion is a proof that the Fulani herdsmen are the greatest threat to the corporate existence, territorial integrity and structural indivisibility of the Nigerian State.

The Union further admonished the Buhari-led Federal government of Nigeria for its inability to use security forces in apprehending Fulani herdsmen who unleash mayhem on communities all over the country and wondered why it is only Fulani herdsmen that are allowed to carry AK47 all over the place without police ever  arresting any of them.

“The genocidal activities of the Fulani herdsmen are most injurious to the Nigerian state than the activities of secessionist organization,” the union said.

Ike Okeugwu/GEE

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