Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia


Five months after Abia State government declared that it had cleared all inherited pension arrears, retirees have repudiated the memorandum of agreement(MoA) under which they were made to forfeit large chunks of their pension arrears.

The MoA signed between government and the leadership of the State Council of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) also led to the forfeiture of the unpaid gratuities of the retirees.

But at a press conference yesterday in Umuahia, the Abia Pensioners’ Forum(APF), which describes itself as a pressure group within Abia NUP, said that time has come for them “to present our side of the story”.

The Forum called on the state Governor,  Alex Otti, to reconsider the MoA, saying that retirees are unhappy as the NUP leadership were apparently beguiled to sign off the pension arrears and gratuities.

Records showed that 6,242 state pensioners and 5,237 local government pensioners were paid N9,023 billion arrears of pension, representing between 30 and 60 per cent of the total arrears owed each retiree. Those with arrears below N1 million got 60 percent payment; N1 – N2m, 35 per cent; N2m – N3m, 30 per cent; N3m-5m, 30 per cent while retirees whose pension arrears were above N5 million were paid 30 per cent of the total amount.

The Coordinator of the Forum, Mr. Okey Kanu, who spoke on behalf of the group, stated that “the purported clearance of arrears of pension and gratuity” has left much to be desired.

He recalled that Otti had, during his election campaign, promised to clear in full all pension arrears, thereby reviving the hope and expectations of the Abia pensioners, who were “deprived and famished for many years by the previous administration.”

Kanu regretted that pensioners’ expectations came to an anti-climax in March 2024, “when we started receiving (bank payment) alerts for their purported arrears of pension”.

“It became a case of total disappointment for most pensioners, especially those whose arrears were in upwards of 40 months,” he said, noting that the amount paid to each pensioner was at variance with the actual figures.

“It was totally unfathomable how the state government arrived at the figures it paid to each pensioner as arrears. It was a situation whereby the more one expected, the lesser he got.”

Kanu, who is a legal practitioner faulted the Memorandum of Agreement(MoA) signed between the state government and the leadership of  Abia NUP, which required government “to pay only a part of the arrears, while the balance will be forfeited by pensioners.”

He described the MoA as “weighty and devastating, illegal, exploitative and unconscionable”, given that “pension and gratuity are statutory and personal rights of each pensioner, hence nobody has the right or competence to negotiate them away.”

However, he noted that “the last straw that broke the camel’s back was when we learnt that our gratuity was also forfeited to the state government in this MoA”, therefore, instead of rejoicing, we were thrown into mourning.”

The Forum Coordinator pointed out that when the Otti administration came up with the idea that pensioners would forfeit percentages of arrears graded according to the amount each pensioner was owed, it was accepted with a condition.

He said that the pensioners had at an enlarged Council meeting adopted a proposal on payment schedule which required that pensioners whose arrears stood at N1 million and below should receive 100 percent payment.

According to the grading, those on N1 – N2m would get 90 percent; N2m – N3, (80 per cent); N3m – N5m (70 per cent), while those with accrued pension arrears of N5m and above would be paid 60 percent, forfeiting 40 per cent as “sacrifice”.

Kanu stated that when government started paying the arrears, “there was no template or parameters published” as used in the computation of the arrears,  adding that, “pensioners were paid paid what suited those who computed the figures.”

He appealed to Governor Otti to revisit the payment of the arrears in order to resolve the outstanding issues, even though government had maintained that pensioners have received “full and final” payments of arrears.

The coordinator said that the Forum had written a passionate letter to the governor since May 16, 2024, begging him to reconsider the forfeiture of the big chunk of pension arrears and the entire unpaid gratuities of retirees.

He stated that they had also formally written to prominent individuals and offices within and outside Abia State imploring them to intervene on their behalf and plead with Governor Otti to revisit and rescind the vexatious MoA.

The Forum suggested that instead of making pensioners to forfeit their pension arrears, the government should have used the N10 billion it said was spent on the arrears as part payment and let the remaining N20 billion remain as debt.

“By purporting to have cancelled these debts, the present administration is shooting herself in her foot as it will wittingly carry the cross and blame of the past administration that accumulated them(pension and gratuity arrears),” the Forum coordinator said.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo
in Umuahia

Following the elapsing of the deadline and the grace period for recertification of land title documents, Abia State government has invalidated land and property titles whose owners failed to submit them for recertification.
It has also withdrawn allocations given to allottees in government layouts across the state for failing to develop the allotted plots.
Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Chaka Chukwumerije, announced the new developments while briefing journalists on the progress made so far in the recertification programme which commenced in May 2024.
“The ministry is now verifying documents that have been submitted so far and activated the invalidation of titles for transactions until they are recertified,” he said.
He listed the layouts where allocations “shall be withdrawn for default in the terms and conditions of the offers, to include Valley View Estate, Phases I and II. Other layouts affected are Public Servants’ (Cattle Lairage) Layout at Mgbarakuma, Mgbarakuma Mini-layout, and Mbaisii Layout.”
The Lands and Housing Commissioner stated that the Abia State Estate Development Agency (ABSEDA) under the supervision of his ministry was involved in the  recertification exercise in all its estates. These include the Ohobo Afara (Old Timber) Phases 1 and 2, Ohokobe Afara Phases 1 and 2 (Madonna and Ceramics).
The commissioner said that ABSEDA has also suspended all allocations in Umuopara in Umuahia South Local Government and Nkpa in Bende LG.
He issued “a strong warning” to persons encroaching into estates of ABSEDA at Ogo-Nsukwe and Amibo Ubakala “to desist forthwith or face the law,” adding that anyone engaging in land transactions in the said estates was doing so at their own risks.
The land commissioner explained that the recertification exercise was initiated as part of efforts to clean up the mess in the state lands and housing records, adding that the process of transformation had already started.
In addition, Chukwumerije stated that the revocation of properties illegally acquired by individuals that served in previous administrations would be completed to pave the way for proper planning and cleaning up of the state’s land records.
According to him, the goal of bringing the innovations in the ministry was to achieve optimal management and administration in the land and housing system of the state.
He said that the recertification exercise which commenced in June aims to review and update land records, upgrade survey records from Nigeria/local origin to UTM, update payment of ground rents, and taxes, revalidation of allocation, as well as update the state’s social security number (ABSSIN).
Chukwumerije said that all property owners in Abia were adequately informed of the recertification exercise and were asked to submit their title documents to his ministry for revalidation.
However, he regretted that even with the grace period given to the allottees, some of them still failed to meet the deadline which ended on August 30, 2024.
For this reason, the commissioner made it clear that any title document not submitted for recertification would no longer be acceptable to the government.
On the controversial Ohobo Estate Umuahia alleged to have been acquired 10 years ago by a top politician in the country, Chukwumerije said that properties in the estate and others acquired in similar fashion have been revoked.
He stated that the revocations by the government were done in the overall interest of the people of Abia State.

* Dismisses threats of sanction by Abure group

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said that conducive environment has now been created for peace to be restored in the Labour Party (LP), following the successful convening of the NEC/expanded stakeholders meeting last Wednesday.

He expressed this optimism weekend while fielding questions at the September edition of his monthly media interaction in Umuahia, noting that: “A wide majority of our people (LP members) supported the outcome of the meeting.

“Peace can be restored in the party. That was the reason for the meeting we held here.”

The party stakeholders had, at the meeting, dissolved the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) and replaced it with a 29-member Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Nenadi Usman.

The Abure group has already kicked against the formation of the Caretaker Committee on the gound that the LP constitution has no provision for it.

But Otti, who is the only Labour Party governor, insisted that “what we did was the right decision” given that the term of the Abure-led NWC had elapsed since June 10, 2024.

He siad: “Anyone that followed what happened would notice that people are happy over the outcome of the meeting.

“I believe that what we did was in the interest of the party. We have a vested interest in ensuring that the party will continue to operate as a political party in Nigeria.”

He scoffed at the allusion that he and the national leader of LP, Mr. Peter Obi, could be among those targeted for sanctions by the Abure-led dissenters.

“I don’t think we should lose sleep over the people saying they will set up disciplinary committee. We are ready for them,” Otti said.

The LP Caretaker Committee was given the mandate to organise party congresses at the ward, local government and state levels culminating in the national convention where a new set of NWC would be elected.

Though Senator Usman, who is now the acting National Chairman of LP, acknowledged that the task ahead of her team was tough, she assured the stakeholders that they would achieve the goal.

In forming the membership of the committee, the stakeholders ensured that it was all inclusive by including “various interests and tendencies” in the party such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Also represented in the Caretaker Committee are the LP caucuses in the Senate and House of Representatives, state Assemblies, as well as the governorship candidates of the party in the 2023 general election.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Labour Party (LP) has sacked the national chairman of the party, Comrade Julius Abure, and members of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

To fill the leadership vacuum, the party set up a 29-member caretaker committee, with former finance minister, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, as chairman and Hon. Darlington Nwokocha as secretary.

The decision was the outcome of the “duly constituted” NEC and expanded stakeholders’ meeting hosted in Umuahia by the governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, the party’s only governor.

The meeting, chaired by the presidential candidate of LP in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, was well-attended by prominent members of the party, including all LP federal and state lawmakers.

Abure and his allies were not at the meeting.

The stakeholders insisted that Abure’s tenure had expired in June, hence, he no longer had any legitimacy to continue in the capacity of national chairman.

A five-point communique read by the LP 2023 deputy governorship candidate in Plateau State, Hon. Edward Pwajok, said the membership of the committee reflected “various interests and tendencies” in the party.

The critical interests include Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Senate, House of Representatives, Houses of Assembly, and the governorship candidates of LP in 2023.

According to the communique, the caretaker committee “should immediately ensure” that the congresses of the whole party were conducted at ward, local government, state and national levels “as soon as possible”.

The caretaker committee would preside over the affairs of LP in the next three months within which new leaders would emerge from ward to national levels after the party congresses.

The stakeholders enjoined “all party members to support the caretaker committee to carry out its mandate”.

Obi commended Otti for his efforts to reposition the party by ensuring that the meeting held as planned.

He said, “We consulted and discussed” before agreeing on the need to convene the expanded stakeholders’ meeting in order to resolve the troubling issues affecting LP.

The former Anambra State governor told his party members that they already knew “my own position” in the crisis rocking the party.

Obi said because of the position he had taken, “I have been called all sorts of names. Some said I’m not serious; some said I’m weak and should not present myself again as presidential candidate.”

He stated that unsavoury utterances from people will not change his position.

Obi added, “But I want due process to be followed. Whatever we are going to do in future, I want everybody to be free to participate in it. In going forward, let everybody learn to sacrifice for the party.”

The LP national leader spoke in a conciliatory tone. He said the meeting was not meant to suspend or sack party members, hence, “nobody would be secluded after this meeting”.

Usman said the caretaker committee had been saddled with “a big responsibility”.

But she assured the party stakeholders and elders that the committee would work to put LP back to its proper footing.

The caretaker committee chairman stated that the crisis in LP had been repelling prospective members, saying, “people have not registered with LP because of the problem that bedevilled the party”.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

After the initial renovation of the Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, and the Amachara General Hospital all in Umuahia, the government has embarked on “comprehensive upgrade” of the two secondary health facilities.

Commissioner for information, Prince Okey told journalists after the State Executive Council meeting that the goal in upgrading the hospitals was to enhance their capacity to handle medical cases that require highly specialised expertise.

He listed the special areas of medical treatment to include internal medicine, minimal invasive surgery, cardiology, nephrology, neurology, surgical services,  among others.

Kanu said that Governor Alex Otti has also given approval for recruitment of highly specialised medical professionals that would provide the needed specialist services in the various medical fields.

He explained that upgrading of the two secondary health facilities located in the capital city “is in furtherance to the ongoing reforms in the health sector of the state”, adding that the hospitals “would be retrofitted”.

According to him, the Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Centre would be retrofitted to offer all kinds of diagnostic and surgery services in a one-stop-shop.

Corroborating his information counterpart,  the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said that funds for the project and hiring of “high calibre specialists” has been approved by the governor.

He stated that the comprehensive upgrading of the health facilities involve renovation of infrastructures, procurement and installation of state-of-the-art medical equipment and bringing in the required manpower.

Prof Uche, who assumed duties as health commissioner last week, said that Otti was desirous of providing the highest standard of healthcare services in Abia thereby reversing the health tourism trend in the state and Nigeria.

“In the succeeding days and weeks, some of these retrofitting and upgrade of services will become manifest,” Prof. Uche said, adding that Abia would become a centre of excellence in various medical services.

To further improve the general health and hygienic condition of Abia residents, the SEC has also given the nod for the implementation of the Abia Integrated Water Sanitation and Hygiene Accelerated Programme.

Kanu said that the programme involved construction of solar-powered toilet facilities across the state, in line with global standards,  as well as revamping of abandoned water facilities and water treatment plants.

While throwing more light on the programme,  the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, said the programme would basically address water supply issues, which are critical to public health.

“When we took office, we assessed all the water facilities in the state and found that none of the 58 core water facilities was producing even a litre of water,” he said.

Monday said that the course of implementing the three-phased programme, existing boreholes would be revived and converted to solar power to ensure constant water supply instead of relying on inconsistent power grid.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti has expressed horror at the degree of bodily harm done to a woman by her spouse, Mr. Lawrence Uzor, in a failed attempt to gouge out the victim’s eyes for ritual purpose.

The man also inflicted matchet cuts on his landlady, Madam Lovejane Nwaiwu, who had rushed in to rescue the abused wife on hearing her distress cry for help.

At the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia where she went to sympathise with the two women, Mrs. Otti said she was deeply saddened at the sight of Mrs. Amarachi Lawrence, writhing in pains on hospital bed with her eyes barely sitting in their sockets.

“This is a terrible case of violence, attempted murder and abuse”, the governor’s wife said, adding that she would ensure that Mrs. Lawrence got the needed medical care and protection against domestic violence going forward.

The Abia first lady had recently signed the compact agreement on Gender-based Violence (GBV) with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) alongside other wives of governors and Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Mrs. Otti having been confronted with this ugly incident of GBV, called for tougher action on perpetrators of domestic violence and other forms of GBV in the state.

She promised that GBV responses front desk and team would take proper actions on such  incidents and commended the Umueze Ibeku community for their response and support to the two women victims of GBV.

The Abia first lady stated that the state GBV Response Team would be partnering communities to prevent incidents of GBV and to bring to justice anybody involved in perpetrating it.

She made cash donation for the treatment and upkeep of the two victims.

The Director, Medical Services, Mrs. Aisha Onyemaobi, had told Mrs. Otti that reports indicated that Mrs. Lawrence was deeply asleep when the husband woke her up and started cutting her.

“There was an attempt to gouge out her eyes and she had genital mutilation”, she said.

The perpetrator of the violence, Uzor, is said to be an aluminum worker from Umuchieze in Bende Local Government, but residing with his wife at Adiele Estate in Umueze Ibeku, Umuahia.

In her account of the ugly incident, Madam Nwaiwu said that it happened at about 1.00am on Sunday when she heard Mrs. Lawrence shouting for help as her husband was trying to pluck out her eyes.

She pointed out that, prior to the incident, she had heard Uzor praying very loud, shouting “odogwu, odogwu” (an invocation of greatness), adding that she had never heard the couple praying like that before.

The landlady said that at about 1.00am she heard Mr. Uzor’s wife, who is a teacher with one of the foremost private schools in Umuahia, shouting, “mummy, I’m being killed. I opened my door, came out and peeped through their bedroom window and saw the man pressing down his wife with a knife in his hands, trying to use the knife to remove her eyes.”

Nwaiwu said she tried to rouse neighbours to wake up and save Mrs. Lawrence from being killed but her efforts didn’t yield the desired results hence she rushed in to offer help to the helpless woman.

She further narrated that she entered the sitting room of the couple and “started knocking on the door and suddenly, he (Uzor) opened the door still holding the knife. He tried giving me cuts on my head but I defended it with my hand.”

Madam Nwaiwu added that the aggressor ended up cutting her hand and dealing matchet blows to her face and mouth forcing “many of my upper teeth out”.

However, she managed to escape and ran back to her room, locked herself in and made calls that eventually led to the arrival of the community’s vigilante team, who arrested Uzor and took the injured women to the FMC.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

As Abia State public schools prepare to commence new school year on September 16, 2024, the government has made good its promise of deploying security personnel to guard the institutions and maintain adequate security.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, made this known yesterday at a media briefing in Umuahia after the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council.

He stated the personnel of Abia State Vigilante Services (AVS) have already taken positions in the schools.

The Alex Otti administration had said that it inherited many anomalies in the schools, including destruction and stealing of school properties, land encroachments, and use of school premises for criminal activities by delinquent youths.

But Kanu said that government was determined to put an end to all the unwholesome activities in Abia schools hence the decision to checkmate the menace with security personnel.

“Posting security personnel is aimed at securing the lives and property of both the students, teachers and the property of the schools involved. The promise that the state government had made in the past has come to fulfilment with the posting of security personnel to our schools,” he said.

The information commissioner explained that safeguarding the schools was “part of the wider agenda of the state government to reform our education system.”

He gave assurance that the reformation of the school system is on course, saying that government “has concluded plans to train 2,000 master trainers for teachers in the state”.

According to him, 200 teachers have already passed through the training programme while the remaining 1,800 would soon undergo the same training.

He said the Abia State Basic Education Board(ASUBEB) has screened, interviewed and shortlisted 40 teachers for training under the Abia State School Enhancement Team Program, a quality assurance initiative  for monitoring performance in the school system.

Prince Kanu further stated that government was also keeping its promise to motivate teachers to higher productivity, adding that a total of 5,746 teachers at the basic school level have been earmarked for promotion.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr. Kenechukwu Nwosu, said that government was presently mapping out all the schools in line with their security needs assessment.

He explained that deployment of the AVS security personnel was not limited to only schools in Umuahia, the capital city, adding that fencing of schools was being considered as well.

“In this first phase, we are also expanding to Aba and to other parts of the state  as the Abia Vigilante Services continues to build required capacity,” Nwosu said.

On her part, the Chairman of ASUBEB, Lady Lydia Onuoha, said that government properly selected the teachers that would benefit from the training programmes organised in five centres across the 17 Abia local government areas.

She further threw more light on the Abia State School Enhancement Team, saying that it would be “the eye of the government in the schools to ensure adequate compliance to the plans of government in the schools”.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRIC) has expressed “grave concern” over the continuing incidents of killings, kidnappings and banditry happening across Nigeria in recent times.

They noted that the spate of violent crimes should be a cause for worry to all patriotic Nigerians, and demanded an “urgent attention by the government and security agencies.”

The royal fathers made their feelings known in a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary, His Eminence, Dr. Eberechukwu Oji, Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom, and made available to journalists yesterday.

The council condemned the recent shocking murder of His Royal Highness, Alhaji Isah Mohammed Bawa, the Emir of Gobir in Gwata town of Sokoto State by kidnappers.

While bemoaning the killing of the emir, the southern monarchs commiserated with the Government of Sokoto State, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the family of the deceased royal father over the painful loss.

“The council is worried that the unscrupulous killers do not understand that traditional rulers are the custodians of our culture and heritage, the link to our past, ancestors and nation’s history which should not be desecrated,” the Southern monarchs lamented.

SNTRIC wondered why royal fathers should become targets of the criminal elements knowing that traditional institutions do not hold any key to the national purse or receive direct government allocations.

The council, therefore called for “an immediate end to the ugly trend of kidnapping and killing of traditional rulers and other Nigerians across the country.”

On the prevailing harsh economic condition in the country, the royal fathers said they are quite aware of what Nigerians are passing through, adding that they “will continue to engage the constituted authorities to make life easy for all Nigerians.”

However, the monarchs pointed out that “we need peace and unity to forge ahead and overcome these trying times.”

In order to achieve sustainable peace and stability, the council called for restraint on incessant calls for strikes and protests by diverse groups in Nigeria.

According to the traditional rulers, disruptions to economic activities would only continue to deter foreign investments in our country.

For this reason, they advised the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and other groups allegedly planning another protest on October 1 to shelve the idea and embrace dialogue.

SNTRIC said that irrespective of their grievances, the organised labour and inheritance groups should see reason “to avoid putting further strain on our economy and the citizens.

“Nigeria needs peace and all hands on deck to make the country work.”

They also admonished all arms of government, saying that the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms must “remember their oaths of office, and work for better living conditions and a sustainable economy for the citizens.”

The Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council with ‘Togetherness, Strength and Progress’ as their motto, was formally inaugurated on July 30, 2024, in Owerri, Imo State.

Their goal is “to work in synergy for the peace of Nigeria and the furtherance of the unity of the Southern Traditional Institution.”

Aside the council itself, the statement said that the executive members were also inaugurated on the said date with the Ooni of Ife as the chairman; Obi of Obinugwu, co-chairman; Jaja of Opobo, co-chairman; and the Dein of Agbor, the general-secretary.

Others are Assistant Secretary, Olofin of Isheri; Publicity Secretary, Eze Aro; Financial Secretary, Alara of Ilara; Treasurer, Amanyanabo of Abonnema; Welfare Secretary, Elegushi of Ikate, while the Legal Advisor is Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu.

Emmanuel Ugwu–Nwogo in Umuahia

Following the successful training of over 400 Abia State students in computer software skills, the senator representing Abia Central, Senator Austin Akobundu, has expressed his intention to make the district a hub for ICT and innovations.
He stated this, weekend, at the conclusion of a training programme in computer software for under-18 Abia students, sponsored by the Austin Akobundu Foundation in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy.
“These efforts are part of my strategy to make Abia Central a viable and technologically advanced district”, he said.
“My vision is for our community to be a leader in innovation and a hub for technological advancement,” the Abia Central Senator added.
The two-week intensive training programme targeted at secondary school students from Abia Central was held in Umuahia at the arena of Innovation Growth Hub Computers, an indigenous firm that served as the trainers.
Akobundu urged young Nigerians to develop interest in acquiring skills in computer software as it would enable them “to innovate, create and solve real life challenges”.
He noted that the acquisition of knowledge in computer software is a sure way of getting ready for the future given the place of ICT in this innovation-driven age.
According to him, the knowledge acquired by the students in the course of the training programme, tagged “Build-a-Thorn”, represents a seed that has been sown, adding that “it will germinate, grow and multiply if nurtured”.
The young minds were trained in embedded engineering, robotics, programming and coding, which kept them busy in the ongoing long vacation.
“I have always been passionate about education and empowering our people through knowledge,” Akobundu said.
He stated that his passion for empowerment “led me to sponsor 113 teachers at the Teachers Training Institute (NTI) because I believe in the power of training and seeing individuals grow”.
The Abia Central Senator said that his commitment to this cause of empowering people would not stop, adding that more people would continue to benefit from his empowerment programmes.
To this end, he announced his plan to equally train 1,000 people across his senatorial district this September. He said that the training programme would cover various skills, including digital marketing, graphic design, web development, UI/UX design, cyber security and forex trading.
“As your Senator, I want you to know that I’m committed your success, I’m always here to support you, to listen to you and to help create more opportunities for you to grow”, Akobundu told the students.

He expressed his satisfaction at the outcome of the training programme and commended the students, notably the ones that displayed exceptional skills and artistry in creating makeshift houses, motor vehicles, among other.

The Senator expressed his gratefulness to both the federal government and Innovation Growth Hub for their partnership with the Austin Akobundu Foundation to train the youths.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Innovation Growth Hub Computers, Mr. Daniel Chinagozi, explained that the programme was designed to train the students on how to use computer software to create and solve live challenges.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has undertaken the reconstruction of the 41.4km Ohafia-Arochukwu federal highway despite the non-commitment of the federal government to reimburse the state government for doing its job.
Otti, who disclosed this at the flag off ceremony at Ohafia, said that the federal government was still foot dragging on the issue of repaying Abia after completing the long abandoned federal road.
He said that the federal authorities had suggested that he should toll the road to recover Abia’s money, adding that he didn’t accept the proposal.
According to him, putting a toll gate on the road “may actually not be the best way of rewarding the faithful taxpayers in these communities after what they had been through.”
Otti pleaded with the federal government “to consider making the necessary financial provisions to eventually reimburse the State since we have taken the bull by the horn by doing what a responsible government should do for the citizens.”
He promised that the road project would be completed in the next 18 months thereby putting an end to the age-long maxim: “there’s no easy route to Arochukwu”.
The Ohafia-Arochukwu highway ranks among the worst federal roads in the country having been abandoned in a state of dilapidation by successive federal and Abia governments.

But Otti said that, unlike his predecessors, he would not hide under the pretext of a federal road and allow this strategic highway to remain in perpetual dilapidation to the detriment of the people of Abia.

“Even though it is a federal road, it is in Abia State and the people of the state are the ones using it in the course of their economic and social activities,” he said.

The Abia governor recalled that the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road was conceived and built as “an economic enabler” by the late Michael Okpara, the Premier of the defunct Eastern Region in the first republic.

He said that the road was meant not only to  enhance seamless evacuation of farm produce but connect several communities in Abia North and the neighbouring communities of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

However, he regretted that despite its strategic economic importance, the Ohafia-Arochukwu highway was not given the needed attention hence “for several decades, coming to Arochukwu from anywhere was an uphill task”.

It is generally believed in Abia that the Ohafia-Arochukwu highway is jinxed following several aborted attempts by the federal government to reconstruct the road.

The Petroleum Trust Fund(PTF) had in the 90s awarded the contract for reconstruction of the full stretch of the road beginning from Umuahia, totalling 78.1km.

But no sooner had the contractor commenced work from the Umuahia end than it was abandoned following the sudden death of then Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, whose regime had set up the PTF.

Under President Goodluck Jonathan, the road was awarded and flagged off in a fanfare but after mobilisation to site the contractor soon disappeared with his equipment, abandoning the project.

This time around, however, Otti assured that the road would be completely reconstructed and extended right to the border of Arochukwu with Akwa Ibom, adding that Akwa Ibom had already done its side of the border.

He reasoned that waiting for the federal government to come and reconstruct Ohafia-Arochukwu highway was no longer an option as there is apparently no political will to do so.

He said: “What we have come to do today is to take our destiny in our hands, convinced that the federal government, whose approval we have fully obtained to execute this project, will eventually do what is right and fair in the long-term economic interest of the good people of Abia State.

“We have sincerely taken this bold initiative in order to save the federal government the embarrassment this road has brought it before international visitors and tourists.

“Our intent is to give Nigerians who are resident in this part of the country or travelling through this road for business and social engagements, a sense of belonging because no nation should watch its citizens pass through the nightmare our people have endured for years.”

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Works, Otumchere Oti, said that the road would be reconstructed in line with standard specifications, adding that all the steep hills along the length of the road would be reduced to acceptable level.

Former Finance Minister, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, thanked Governor Otti for undertaking to reconstruct the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road that has defied past governments.

He said that he has not only brought joy to the people but has put them in an expectant mood for better days ahead.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The federal government has been urged to use dialogue to put an end to the ongoing agitations in the South-east geopolitical zone.

The royal fathers under the Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers made the call in a statement signed the chairman, HRM Eze Innocent Nwaigwe and Secretary, HRH Eze C. Emelike, made available to the media yesterday.

They noted that past governments at the centre had chosen to believe that “brute force” would quell the agitations, adding that the President Bola Tinubu administration should not follow the same path that has not achieved the desired results.

“For 25 years since the agitation began in the South-east, no government has reached out to the agitators to genuinely engage them in a dialogue, to find out why they are pissed off with Nigeria as presently constituted,” the royal fathers said.

They pointed that the regular deployment of brute force by the federal authorities against the agitators has only resulted to mindless killings of youths while the agitation continues.

The royal fathers recounted the carnages that have resulted from such show of force against agitators “to crush them by fire by force.”

They cited the past bloody incidents at Bridge Head Onitsha, Aba High School compound, St. Edmund Catholic Church, Nkpor, as well as the massacres at Emene, Enugu State and Obigbo, Rivers State, among others.

“In all these, the agitation has not been crushed since 1999. Not on one occasion has

the authorities demanded a genuine tet-a-tet, to identify the grievances of the agitators and the reason for their agitation. Never,” they said.

The monarchs wondered why government is using double standard to solve the same problem in different sections of the country.

They noted that the federal government had sent Ibe Kachikwu to the Niger Delta to engage the Niger Delta Avengers to a dialogue that eventually yielded peace dividends.

“The same government dispatched Godswill Akpabio to the creeks for a peace meeting with Tompolo, leading to peaceful reconciliation and resolution,” the royal fathers further stated.

“The reason Igbo agitators and activists for justice and equity must be crushed forcefully, befuddles fair minded citizens.

“If after 25 years, 1999 till date, isn’t

enough time for the realisation that only sincerely engaging the agitators to a dialogue, will bring about resolution and closure, we wonder if another 25 years  suffices.

“Those blocking direct engagement and dialogue with the agitators for whatever

reasons are the ones actually responsible for the crisis in the land,” the royal fathers said.

They warned: “Those manipulating the system in order to use the agitators to achieve certain ends” saying that karma would eventually catch up with them.

According to the traditional rulers, it was the same anti-peace elements that pretend they want Nnamdi Kanu released,  “while they are simultaneously working under the table blocking his release.”

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The United Kingdom has given its backing to the Governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, in his ongoing reforms of the state civil service to fit and ready to move with the times.

Otti made this known when he received a delegation of the British High Commission to Nigeria, led by the High Commissioner, Dr. Richard Montgomery during a visit at his Nvosi country home, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government.

He said that the British government has demonstrated its valuable partnership with Abia with the funding of the training of over 500 civil servants in digital skills.

Otti expressed gratitude to the High Commissioner for the gesture, saying that his ultimate goal is to birth a civil service driven by innovation and technology to fit into the demands of the 21st century.

He described Abians as highly innovative, energetic and industrious, hence the government workforce must be in tune with the digital age.

 “We want a civil service that is ready for the future, a civil service that is ready for technology and a civil service that is ready for innovations,” Otti said.

The Abia chief executive told the delegation that since assumption of office 14 months ago, he has been de-risking the business environment of Abia to make room for full private -sector participation.

To this end, he said that the business environment is being made conducive through provision of power, road infrastructure, security, and other basic needs.

The former bank chief said that he came to governance with a clear vision and mission, adding, “We came prepared with some solutions in terms of strategies (and) we have put a lot of things together”.

“For us, governance is about the welfare of the people. It is about making the people happy. That is why we support the private sector,” he explained.

He stated that the South-East Governors were engaged in collaborative efforts to achieve regional integration for the overall development of the region.

As part of the regional economic agenda, Otti said that the South-East Governors Forum was already considering a regional rail to promote trade and other economic activities.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria has earlier in his remarks commended the Abia Governor for the significant improvement he has made in resource management, digital compliant civil service and improved infrastructure.

Dr. Richard, who doubles as the UK Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), assured Abia State of further supports for economic growth.

He said that aside from the digital space, the British High Commission was ready to partner with the state government in areas of trade, energy, transportation, technology, manufacturing and other areas of interest that would create jobs.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to promptly address the outstanding issues that have encumbered the development of Nigeria universities.

President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, handed down the ultimatum Wednesday during a press conference at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State.

He said that the notice for an impending showdown with government has become necessary following a comprehensive review of the outcomes of the union’s previous engagements with government.

Osodeke said that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of ASUU had, at its meeting held at the University of Ibadan between August 17 and 18, “received alarming reports of government’s failed promises”.

According to him, government has failed to address the lingering issues that caused the nationwide strike of last year, which led to the closure of public funded universities for nine months between February and October.

“Our union is worried that government appears fixated on its self-serving approach of legalistic and bureaucratic arm-twisting,” he said, adding that: “Our universities have been grappling with grim situation since the government-ASUU renegotiation was aborted in 2021.”

The ASUU president noted that nothing has changed on the continued poor funding of universities and education in general, adding that the union has remained consistent in advocating adequate funding of the nation’s universities and the education sector.

He explained that ASUU’s struggle for better funding of education was based on the fact that education plays a crucial role in national development being the catalyst for sustained development of other sectors of the economy.

Osodeke said that the Nigerian government has breached all international protocols on adequate funding of education, including Agenda 2063 and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) 2016-2025.

He further lamented ASUU’s frustration with consistent budgetary allocation of between five and six per cent for education, well below the 15 – 20 per cent annual budgetary recommended by the United Nation’s Fund for Population Activities(UNFPA).

“The consequences are there for all to see. Our universities can no longer provide basic services such as uninterrupted power supply, pipe-borne water, and maintenance of clean surroundings to their communities,” he said.

ASUU called on the Federal Government to restart the abandoned renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement which, according to the union, was “unceremoniously terminated by agents of the Federal Government”. 

It specifically stated that the then  Labour Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, and his cohorts in the Buhari government frustrated the signing of the agreement.

“Since the truncation of the draft agreement, the Nigerian university system has continued to sink deeper and deeper into the abyss of arrested growth and underdevelopment,” the ASUU president said.

“For the umpteenth time. ASUU calls on the President Tinubu-led administration to immediately set in motion the process leading to the review and signing of the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated draft agreement as a mark of goodwill and assured hope for Nigeria’s public universities.”

While reiterating its stand against the inclusion of the universities in the IPPIS, which it described as “corruption-ridden monster”, ASUU also kicked against funding of students loan with TETFUND.

Osodeke said that it remains a union’s irony that Nigeria could not adequately fund its education sector in spite of its abundant resources, adding that less resource-endowed nations are poaching the best brains from Nigeria.

He said that even in the dire situation facing the education sector and the general well being of the nation, the police class has continued with its profligacy and insensitive appropriation of resources to frivolities.

He said that the N150 billion spent on the purchase of a presidential plane was more than what ASUU is asking for, while the money used in renovating the residence of the vice-president was more than the amount needed by all the universities in the South-east.

The ASUU president insisted that government has no reason to treat the demands of the union with disdain, saying that political leaders were elected by the people and the money they control belongs to the people.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, has sparked outrage in his home state of Abia following his declaration that Alex Otti would be unseated in 2027 by whatever means.

Kalu in a video footage of his media interview had declared that Otti would be the last Labour Party governor in Abia. He boasted  that as Nigeria’s number six citizen, he would not sit by and allow an opposition party to control Abia.

The Deputy Speaker further stated that Abia must be taken over by his own party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), though he confessed that “I don’t know how it will happen”.

But while his comments have set off the alarm bell in Abia, a fellow member of the House of Representatives from Abia, Hon. Obi Aguocha, has fired a salvo at Kalu, saying that his comments smacked of arrogance and power drunkenness.

Aguocha, who represents Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South federal constituency, in a statement Monday told the Deputy House Speaker to perish the thought of unseating Otti come 2027.

As a federal lawmaker on Labour Party platform, Aguocha said he was shocked by Kanu’s “open declaration of Abia State becoming an APC state in 2027”, upbraiding him for displaying indiscretion in his “quest for national political relevance.”

“My dear colleague, your open vituperation and remarks against our governor, Labour Party, and Abia State was very condescending, denigrating, and disrespectful in every sense of the word,” he told Kalu.

The LP lawmaker reminded Kalu that his “patently repeated boasting and referring to yourself as No.6 in the order of leadership hierarchy of the federal government portrays you less as a leader and more like a man with an open display of brazenness and rabid indiscretion”.

“My brother, we are distinguished colleagues with you representing the good people of Bende Federal Constituency. Whilst we elected you to be our Deputy Speaker, it does not confer on you an audacity to declare vacant the seat of the governor of Abia State in 2027,” Aguocha stated.

He warned Kalu to tread cautiously, saying that the Bende Federal Constituency seat being occupied by him is indeed very shaky hence he might not return to the National Assembly in 2027.

According to Aguocha, it was LP that actually won the 2023 poll in Bende Federal Constituency, insinuating the result was manipulated in favour of the APC and its candidate, Kalu.

“We can also be brazen enough to declare that seat vacant again,” Aguocha told the Deputy Speaker.

He insisted that as far as Abia State is concerned, “there is no vacancy” in government house come 2027 even if Kalu, as of his own right, is nursing his ambition of becoming governor.

Aguocha, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of All Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees of the 10th House of Representatives, said that Abians would not bid Otti good bye in 2027 after completing his first term in office.

According to him, Otti’s emergence as governor “is the first time Abia has awakened to great leadership and governance strides in almost 24 years”, adding that anybody thinking of displacing him in 2027 is daydreaming.

The LP federal lawmaker pointed out that Kalu had even contradicted himself having admitted that Governor Otti is doing well for Abia people and then turning around to say that he would be ousted in 2027.

He said that it amounted to “a brazen and uncontrolled outpouring of emotional fury” for Kalu to declare that he was duty bound to deliver Abia to APC and President Bola Tinubu as a payback for favours he received from them.

“But I assure you that as you want Abians to repay Tinubu for his good works, so shall Abians repay Alex Otti for his mammoth achievements come 2027. Alex Otti will be reelected governor of Abia State,” Aguocha stated.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

As Nigeria continues to rely heavily on imported machinery in every sector of its economy, a university don has called for an end to reliance on foreign technology, saying that legislation was needed to curb the appetite.

Professor Kayode Simonyan made the call in the 55th inaugural lecture he delivered at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike(MOUAU), saying that Nigeria must adopt endogenous technology to achieve food security.

Simonyan, who is a professor of agricultural and bioresources engineering in the Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering of MOUAU, and the Director, Directorate of University Research Administration, maintained that researchers in the nation’s tertiary institutions have acquitted themselves.

However, he regretted the absence of the needed political will to adopt and adapt local research outputs to solve problems in the nation as leaders have continued to pay lip service to application of endogenous technologies.

“There is a need to think and act locally through the adoption of locally developed technologies. There is a need to walk the talk if the local content executive order must stand,” he said.

As a way of curbing the voracious appetite for consumption of foreign technology, Professor Simonyan said that legislation should be put in place “to look inward to purchase agricultural equipment and machinery developed in the country”.

According to him, importing of foreign machineries should only be considered “when there is no such equipment in the country”.

In the drive for endogenous technology, he stressed the need for standardization, saying that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria(SON) and the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization(NCAM) should be strengthened to develop standards for local technologies.

Prof Simonyan, who has put in over 30 years in research “focusing on solving local issues rather than only generating data for paper publications”, reeled out some of the equipment he has developed.

These include irvingia(bush mango) nut cracking machine, cassava peeling machine, motorised bambara groundnut shelling machine with a shelling efficiency of 95 percent and percentage damage of 5.1 percent at cylinder speed of 267 rpm.

He has also developed motorised stationary sorghum threshing machines, motorised ginger processing machines(including splitting, peeling and juice extraction), garri processing machines, and periwinkle extraction machine, among others.

However, the agricultural and bioresources expert lamented the difficulties faced by technology-based researchers in Nigeria because of the poor state of the nation’s power system.

He said: “The power situation should be improved. The merry-go-round on power situation in most tertiary institutions and the country as a whole has to end,” he stated.

“There cannot be serious research work without a constant electricity power supply,” he insisted, adding that the research ecosystem needs a conscious intentional overhaul and upgrade while adequate funding must be sustained.

To build Nigeria’s endogenous capacity, the MOUAU engineering researcher called for productive use of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and other steel industries.

The Vice-chancellor of MOUAU, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, commended Prof Simonyan for his research outputs that have direct bearing to the local needs of the nation.

He said that Nigeria could no longer afford to be overlooking its endogenous technologies as they hold the key to its advancement in technology and the consequential national growth and development.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia 

The National Working Committee(NWC) of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has intensified its drive to reconcile aggrieved members and restore peace in the party across the states.

The nationwide peace and reconciliation drive became expedient following the resolution of the protracted leadership crisis that had rocked the party as Chief Edozie Njoku and Chief Victor Oye tussled for control of the party.

The legal battle finally ended on July 9, 2024 when the Supreme Court affirmed Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of APGA.

Speaking with journalists after a stakeholders meeting yesterday in Umuahia, APGA’s National Youth Leader, Mr. Chuks Nwoga, said that the peace and reconciliation was permeating the party for good.

He said that the NWC, which serves as the Reconciliation and Harmonisation Committee has so far visited 19 states and preached the message of peace.

Nwoga, who spoke on behalf of the NWC after the stakeholders meeting, insisted that “APGA is one and has come to stay in Abia”, adding the meeting was part of the reconciliation efforts.

He stated that the party was waxing strong in Abia and is not only ready to participate and win the incoming local government elections in the state, but also poised to take control of God’s Own State come 2027.

“APGA is rooted in Abia because our pioneer National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, who is now the Chairman, Board of Trustees, is from this state,” he said.

He added that the current Abia Governor, Alex Otti, had contested the governorship elections of 2015 and 2019 under the banner of APGA, thereby underscoring the popularity of the party in the state. 

Aside from the Supreme Court verdict, the National Youth Leader of APGA said that the recognition of Chief Edozie by the Independent National  Electoral Commission (INEC) further doused the embers of the crisis in the party.

He said that Abia was not immuned from the leadership crisis that divided the party hence the NWC was in the state to reconcile members and restore peace in Abia APGA. 

Nwoga also stated that the NWC has come to tell the relevant authorities in Abia that “Chief Onuoha Egbe (Benon) is our acting state Chairman, while Mr. Chijioke Ekeledu is the Secretary”.

In his address, the acting state Chairman, Egbe noted that APGA had always won elections in Abia and is now prepared to demonstrate its strength and acceptability in the forthcoming council poll.

He expressed delight over the visit of the party’s national leadership, saying that it would boost the morale of party members to work together for the progress of the party.

Egbe said that the APGA leadership in Abia has keyed into Chief Njoku’s agenda of peace and reconciliation, adding, “our mandate now is to reconcile our members, which I have done and still doing”.

“We have been visiting the aggrieved members of our party, who turned their back on us as a result of bad leadership of the past, preaching the message of peace and reconciliation,” he said, adding that “the outcome is on the positive”.

Corroborating the acting Chairman, the immediate past Chairman of Abia APGA, High Chief Emmanuel Egwu, described the deliberations as a fruitful one, that will go a long way in uniting members and winning new members for the party.

He said that the APGA of yesterday is different from the present APGA under Njoku, noting that “APGA is a movement and it is moving forward and we will remain the beautiful bride of Ndigbo”.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia 

As Nigeria continues to rely heavily on imported machineries in every sector of its economy, a university don has called for an end to reliance on foreign technology, saying that legislation was needed to curb the appetite.

Professor Kayode Simonyan made the call in the 55th inaugural lecture he delivered at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike(MOUAU), saying that Nigeria must adopt endogenous technology to achieve food security.

Simonyan, who is a Professor of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering in the Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering of MOUAU, and the Director, Directorate of University Research Administration, maintained that researchers in the nation’s tertiary institutions have acquitted themselves.

However, he regretted the absence of the needed political will to adopt and adapt local research outputs to solve problems in the nation as leaders have continued to pay lip service to application of endogenous technologies.

“There is a need to think and act locally through the adoption of locally developed technologies. There is a need to walk the talk if the local content executive order must stand,” he said.

As a way of curbing the voracious appetite for consumption of foreign technology, Professor Simonyan said that legislation should be put in place “to look inward to purchase agricultural equipment and machinery developed in the country”.

According to him, importing of foreign machineries should only be considered “when there is no such equipment in the country”.

In the drive for endogenous technology, he stressed the need for standardisation, saying that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) should be strengthened to develop standards for local technologies.

Prof Simonyan, who has put in over 30 decades in research “focusing on solving local issues rather than only generating data for paper publications”, reeled out some of the equipment he has developed.

These include irvingia(bush mango) nut cracking machine, cassava peeling machine, motorised bambara groundnut shelling machine with a shelling efficiency of 95 per cent and percentage damage of 5.1 per cent at cylinder speed of 267rpm.

He has also developed motorised stationary sorghum threshing machines, motorised ginger processing machines(including splitting, peeling and juice extraction), garri processing machines, and periwinkle extraction machine, among others.

However, the agricultural and bioresources expert lamented the difficulties faced by technology-based researchers in Nigeria because of the poor state of the nation’s power system.

He said: “The power situation should be improved. The merry-go-round on power situation in most tertiary institutions and the country as a whole has to end,” he stated.

“There cannot be serious research work without a constant electricity power supply,” he insisted, adding that the research ecosystem needs a conscious intentional overhaul and upgrade while adequate funding must be sustained.

To build Nigeria’s endogenous capacity, the MOUAU engineering researcher called for productive use of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and other steel industries.

The Vice-chancellor of MOUAU commended Prof. Simonyan for his research outputs that have direct bearing to the local needs of the nation.

He said that Nigeria could no longer afford to be overlooking its endogenous technologies  as they hold the key to its advancement in technology and the consequential national growth and development.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Another fatal motor accident has yet again claimed 11 lives on the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway at the Arongwa axis in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government of Abia State.

The latest crash occurred barely 72 hours after five persons were killed in a road accident at Egbelu Mbutu on the same Isiala Ngwa South axis of the expressway. The state Sector of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) confirmed the latest road crash in a statement signed by the Corps Commander, Ngozi Ezeoma.

She said that the latest crash which occurred last Wednesday involved a Nissan Caravan commercial bus with registration number SSM 320 ZR conveying 19 persons, comprising eight male adults and 11 female adults.

According to the CC, the bus rammed into a HOWO commercial truck with registration number T2828LA.

Adding that five male adults and four females died on the spot while 10 persons sustained various degrees of injuries.

She stated a combined rescue team from FRSC RS 9.31 Aba and RS 9.32 km78 Aba Unit Commands arrived at the scene of the crash within five minutes of notice and conducted rescue operations.

“The injured victims were taken to Ronald Hospital, Umuikaa, and Living Word Hospital, Aba, while the dead victims were taken to Alanwemadu and Peace Mortuary Aba,” she said

The CC further noted that during a hospital follow up on the crash victims, it was discovered that one male adult and one female adult died later in the evening, while one of the victims was referred to the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the cause of the crash was excessive speed,” the Corps commander said.

With this latest fatal accident, the FRSC in Abia State confirmed a death toll of 16 persons comprising eight male adults, six female adults and two male children, between July 11 and July 14 2024. The total number of injured victims stood at 11.

A United States-based engineer and member of Abia State Advisory Council and Diasporan Commission, Bob Ibeneme, in this virtual interview with Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo, speaks on the burning desire of Abia Diasporans to assist Governor Alex Otti realize his vision for a New Abia.

It is over a year since a new government came on board in Abia State. How do Abia people in Diaspora perceive the administration of Governor Alex Otti?

A – Before Dr. Alex Otti’s emergence as the Governor of Abia State, he was already quite popular with the Abia Diaspora community.

In 2014, when he announced his intention to contest the governorship election, he understood the importance of the Diaspora community and actively sought their support. Supporting Otti was easy because he was the most qualified, experienced, and prepared candidate for the position. Although he won the 2015 election with a landslide victory, we all knew what happened to the mandate given to him by the Abia people.

In 2019, he made another attempt, and the Diaspora community supported him once again. By 2023, with the intervention of principled individuals like Professor Nnenna Otti, and the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the mandate was safeguarded from the die-hard political class who sought to cling to governance indefinitely. Otti has a robust support base among the Diaspora, including the popular Diaspora Alliance for Good Governance group, which comprises top Abia Diasporans who are well-accomplished and distinguished in their respective fields. These individuals came together to give him massive support.

So, I can confidently say that Abia Diasporans are very happy with the governor’s performance since he took office. Many of us now walk with our shoulders high because the governor has proven that our decision to support him over the years was indeed the right one.

When Governor Otti won the election, the Diaspora Alliance for Good Governance installed billboards at strategic locations across Abia that read, “It is a New Abia, Keep the Faith, and Stay Strong.” This demonstrates the extent of belief and confidence they have in Otti.

Today, across the state, we can all agree that it is indeed a New Abia, with significant changes from the old norm. The faith of Abians in the leadership of Dr Alex Otti has been magnified.

Are there specific policies and programmes already put in place by the Governor to justify your optimism of a New Abia emerging through the Otti administration?

Consider the civil service reforms: Governor Otti ended the core and non-core workers dichotomy, ensuring prompt payment of salaries and fair treatment of all workers, regardless of political affiliation and whether they work in ministries or parastatals. Now, Abia civil servants are more motivated than ever before. I receive commendation text messages from Abia civil servants in my constituency, praising the governor. One of them wrote to me about gaining field experience from on-the-job site exposure due to Otti’s policy of using staff in the Ministry of Works for road maintenance.

Also, consider Otti’s appointments: they are all based on merit, equity, and justice. Gone are the days when mediocrity was rewarded with appointments due to political connections. One of the Abia Diasporans who visited Nigeria in May called me upon his return, saying that Aba now looks like a city, clean and not stinking as before.

I had the privilege of joining the governor to flag off the Clean Up Abia program shortly after his inauguration. I witnessed how refuse was dumped on major roads. We all remember how we had to cover our noses to avoid the stench from refuse dumps in the streets of Aba and Umuahia. Today, the Clean-Up Abia policy is changing the narrative of Abia and its major cities.

An infrastructure revolution is underway in Abia State, courtesy of Governor Otti’s administration, and security has significantly improved. It is no longer news that Abia is now becoming the beautiful bride of investors in the Southeast region of Nigeria. These achievements are a result of Otti’s leadership, and the trust people have in him. These milestones are significant, and the Diaspora community is taking note, hence the rising popularity of Otti among the Diaspora.

You were appointed into the Abia Diaspora Commission as one of the commissioners. This is a novelty in Abia, what does it entail?

The Governor in his wisdom, appointed me and four eminently qualified Abians, namely Chief Okey Agbara, who serves as the chairman, Ambassador Dr. Annie Onu-Onwuchekwa, Chief Leon Ibeka, and Professor Ndubuisi Ekekwe, to the Abia State Diaspora Commission. I remain very grateful to His Excellency for this privilege to serve.

As members of the Commission, we are Abia Ambassadors, providing a link for Abians in the Diaspora to participate in the development of Abia State in line with the vision of Dr Otti. It is our duty to leverage the network, skills, knowledge, and experiences of Abians living abroad for the development of Abia State.

In terms of government policies, it is our responsibility to promote these policies within the Diaspora community and ensure their voices and inputs are incorporated into Abia governance.

Can the Commission be able to engender capital inflow into Abia in terms of Direct Foreign Investments (DFI)?

Definitely. We will explore the most attractive and cost-efficient means for capital inflow, investments, and technology transfer by Abians in the Diaspora. We are tasked with promoting cooperation and interaction between Abians in the Diaspora and organizations, as well as state and local authorities. Additionally, we will carry out other duties aligned with the governor’s vision to advance the Commission and develop Abia State.

We will liaise with other relevant government agencies to generate concessions of land for infrastructure or opportunities for Abians in the Diaspora. Presently, the Commission is working on a comprehensive database of Abians in the Diaspora. As I mentioned earlier, we have very competent and well-grounded members in the Commission. Together, as a team, we will serve the Abia State government and the Diaspora community to the best of our abilities.

What’s the level of involvement of Abians staying abroad in the affairs of Abia, their state of origin?

With the emergence of Dr Otti as the Governor of Abia State, we have witnessed a significant increase in the involvement of Diasporans in the affairs of Abia State. The executive cabinet now includes some Diaspora members. Last Christmas, Abia experienced the highest number of Diasporan visits for the holiday season. In the Southeast, we love to celebrate Christmas in our villages, and December 2023 recorded the highest number of visitors.

We also have numerous Abia cultural organizations across the globe eager to engage with the Commission. The level of involvement of Abians in the Diaspora has significantly increased. Members of the Diaspora community are reaching out to the Commission, seeking ways to partner with the state government to develop Abia.

These are all positive signs pointing to better days ahead for Abia State. Leadership is indeed everything. The leadership of Dr Otti has restored hope and confidence in the people of Abia, and that confidence is attracting investors to the state.

In actual terms, can Diasporans really influence things here at home in terms of how people make democratic choices during general election cycles?

This is a very interesting question. There is a common misconception that diasporans cannot influence the outcome of elections in Nigeria, but that is wrong.

I would like to give you an example. During the voter registration and PVC collection periods, our group, the Diaspora Alliance for Good Governance, tasked all our members in the diaspora to mobilize their constituencies to register and collect their PVC voter cards. We came up with a strategy we called “Card to 10K.” What this means is if you register and have your PVC, we will give you N10,000. I can tell you that this worked out very well, and the results were quite impressive.

During the elections, we ensured that our candidate’s manifesto was broken down into our native language and summarized in English with illustrations so that even a layperson could understand the policies and plans of our candidate, Dr Otti. The simplified manifestos were also turned into jingles that played constantly on radio stations. Fliers were shared in churches and markets, and a public address system played the summarized manifesto jingles in busy areas and on market days. We had informative billboards and a strategy we tagged “Weekend to Call,” which means members were expected to call political leaders in their LGAs and try to convince them to support our candidate.

It wasn’t just leaders in Abia; we also tried to engage prominent individuals here in the States who were not showing interest in politics to encourage their people to support our candidate. During the elections period, we organized young graduates in our various wards to conduct voter education on how to thumb print at the Labour Party logo. We also sent delegates from the US who were on the ground to ensure everything went smoothly and to provide us with real-time feedback.

So, if you look at the efforts and analysis, you can agree with me that even though we are in the diaspora, our contribution was very much felt. This is just one example of how individuals and organizations in the diaspora significantly contribute to making democratic choices. It is only an ignorant politician who will ignore the contributions of diaspora groups in Nigerian politics. Our principal understands their role and contribution, and that is why he takes everything about diasporans very seriously, appreciating their efforts toward the growth of the state beyond politics.

With their exposure and experience on how countries are efficiently run by good, visionary leaders, why do Diasporans apparently feel reluctant to contest for elective positions from where they can engender positive changes in Abia and Nigeria in general?

We have had diasporans run and win elective positions in Abia State. The current Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly was a diasporan residing in the US before joining politics. I also understand that the present Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives came from the diaspora. However, to address your question, it is an individual choice. Not everyone is interested in holding elective positions, and indeed, not everyone can be in government.

Some people believe they can contribute significantly from outside the political arena, and that is a valid perspective. Additionally, family structure plays a role; it is not always easy to uproot one’s life and start anew.

We must acknowledge that fact. Furthermore, Nigerian politics is very expensive. Not many people are willing to risk their life savings to enter politics in Nigeria, and that’s a reality we must accept.

In one of his monthly media engagements, Governor Otti announced that he has created Diaspora Estates in Umuahia and Aba. Does this initiative make any meaning to Diasporans?

Absolutely. A master-planned live, work, and play secured community with supporting facilities and amenities like functional hospital/clinic, school, shopping plaza, restaurant, innovation hub, golf course, and tennis court will be a delight to many diasporans and elite citizens in Abia. This is similar to what they are accustomed to in the Western world, and I am sure many people will buy into it. We in the diaspora are all excited about this vision of the governor and will contribute our quota to make it a success.

How will Otti harness the offshore resources of Abia Diasporans to bring them to bear on the development of the State?

He is already doing that by creating an enabling environment for security and businesses to thrive in Abia State. His policies are diaspora-friendly, and he has the political will to make decisions that align with the principles of diasporans. He has a fantastic diaspora outreach approach and a mechanism for consultation. In the last three months, he has been to the US and UK delivering lectures focused on good governance and accountability and engaging with Abia diasporans.

He has robust diaspora-oriented programmes mapped out for the future. I can assure you that in a short time, Abia State will be a model state to reference in all aspects of governance and growth.

What area(s) would you advice Governor Otti to focus on as the days roll into his second year in office, considering that the next election cycle will soon be around?

Great question. While I prefer not to offer specific advice on the pages of a national newspaper, I can comfortably say that Dr Otti understands the high expectations of the Abia people. He knows that power belongs to the people and remains committed to his people-oriented programmes to improve the lives of all Abians.

The governor is constantly engaging with the Abia citizens at the grassroots level to understand their needs. Most recently his government initiated a N1 billion interest free loan under the state cooperative support scheme for 10,000 macro and micro business operators drawn from the 184 electoral wards of the state.

Additionally, the training for Abia indigenes in modern methods of agriculture to address food security and curb unemployment is ongoing. The governor is very committed to fulfilling his electoral promises within the state’s available resources and will remain firm and resolute in his duties, despite any push or distraction from the opposition.

I can also assure you that with the support Dr Otti has in Abia State, the next election cycle is the least of his worries. The people of Abia are experiencing the dividends of democracy like never before, and when the time comes especially, they will rally behind their leader,  Otti, just as they had done in past elections. For now, it is all about good governance and delivering democratic dividends in Abia State.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The coronated Eze Aro IX of Arochukwu Kingdom, His Majesty, Eberechukwu Kanu Oji has filed an appeal at the Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal asking the appellate court to preserve his kingship by voiding an ominous court order.

An Abia State High Court in Umunneochi had in a ruling on July 31, 2024 ordered the Abia State Government to withdraw the staff of office issued to Oji thereby rendering his coronation on July 27, 2024 a nullity.

But in a notice of appeal filed at the Appeal Court Owerri Division, dated August 2, 2024, the Aro monarch and other joint appellants said they were dissatisfied with the court order and urged the appellate court to set it aside on three grounds.

The appellants faulted the entire decision and orders made by the lower court, saying that it committed errors in law by making orders that “amounted to substantive reliefs” without full hearing of the matter.

The appellants contended that the court orders were averse to them at the interlocutory stage. This is because the lower court mandated the state governor to withdraw the staff of office and certificate of recognition from Oji and hand them over to his rival, Godwin Kanu Idei.

Part of the particulars of errors outlined by the appellants was that the respondents commenced their action “by the writ of summons and statement of claims filed on January 24, 2024, seeking in the main declaratory reliefs”.

On the second ground of appeal, the appellants said that the judge at the lower court erred in law when he made the orders without adhering to the principle of fair hearing.

According to the appellants, the judge issued the orders “with the full knowledge that the appellants and their counsel were not served hearing notice for the sitting of the court on July 31, 2024”.

They therefore pointed out that making orders that affected them without serving them hearing notice amounted to “substantial miscarriage of justice”.

Meanwhile, the Aro monarch and the other defendants/appellants have also filed a stay of execution notice at the lower where the order for the withdrawal of certificate of recognition and staff of office emanated.

In the stay of execution notice dated August 2, 2024, filed by their counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala, who is at the head of the legal team, the defendants/applicants hinged their demand for stay of execution on three grounds.

They maintained that they were not served hearing notice as required by law hence, “the court proceedings of July 31, 2024 and the outcomes thereof are a nullity”.

The defendants/applicants also faulted the inclusion of Governor Otti and two of his commissioners as defendants in suit No. HUM/1/2024.

They contended that the governor and the government officials listed as defendants “are not proper parties before the court as they were not served with the originating summons as required by law”.

Given the circumstance, the defendants/applicants stated that the lower court was “divested of the authority to assume jurisdiction to adjudicate on suit No. HUM/1/2024”.

Therefore, “the purported sitting/proceedings of the court in July 31, 2024 and the outcome thereof are nullity,” they contended.

The Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, had initially hinted that government would appeal the orders of the court.

However, Governor Otti, AG and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzo Nwachukwu have been listed as defendants in the appeal filed by Nwa Mazi Eberechukwu Oji and the other aggrieved persons.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Traditional and religious leaders in the South-east geopolitical zone have condemned the festering hate speech and ethnic profiling pervading the national landscape, saying the federal authorities should descend heavily on perpetrators.

The leaders, under the aegis of Joint Body of South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and Religious Leaders on Peace and Conflict Resolution,” in a statement, expressed “grave concern” over the ballooning ethnic hatred.

Representatives of the traditional and religious leaders that signed the statement included Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, and the immediate past  Chairman, Enugu State/South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu.

Other signatories were Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Chibuzu Opoko, and Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke.

The joint body stated, “The resurgent escalation of hate speech and ethnic profiling targeting Ndigbo community was becoming common, thereby posing ‘significant threat to the unity and stability of Nigeria’.

“The destructive potential of hate speech and ethnic profiling cannot be overstated. History has shown us how quickly unchecked hostility can lead to catastrophic consequences, such as the tragic events of

the Rwandan genocide and the Nigeria Civil War.

“We must learn from these painful chapters of our history to ensure they are never repeated.”

The body added that Nigerians should be alert at “recognising that the path of division and hatred leads only to destruction”.

While it commended President Bola Tinubu for condemning and issuing a warning to ethnic bigots and merchants of hate speech in his speech on August 4, the joint body said prompt action was needed as “it may be disastrous if the law tarries”.

it stated, “More concrete steps and visible actions need to be taken to urgently address this issue, which we note is not specifically linked to the #EndBadGovernance protests but has rather become a recurring theme of Nigeria’s socio-political turbulence.”

In order to stem the tide and prevent ethnic bigotry and hate speech from spiralling out of control, the prominent South-east leaders called for “legal and legislative action”.

They stated, “We urge the government to immediately sanction and prosecute all those using and supporting the use of hate speech and ethnic profiling against Ndigbo and other ethnic groups.

“We also urge the National Assembly to expedite the passage of comprehensive legislation that criminalises hate speech and ethnic profiling, with stringent penalties for offenders.”

The statement noted the need for education and creation of awareness on the dangers of ethnic bigotry, saying that a nationwide campaign should be launched immediately “to educate citizens on the dangers of hate speech and the importance of ethnic harmony”.

It said, “This can be achieved through public service announcements, workshops, seminars, media and community outreach.”

The leaders added that “all lovers of peace in Nigeria should undertake or support this at individual and corporate levels”.

The joint body called on community leaders, traditional rulers, and religious leaders across Nigeria “to initiate dialogue sessions within their communities to foster understanding and cooperation among different ethnic groups”.

It stated that the media had a crucial role to play in stopping ethnic bigotry and hate speech on their tracks through manifest responsibility and accountability.

The organisation said, “We urge media houses to be self-accounting in adopting a code of conduct that discourages the dissemination of divisive content and encourages reporting that builds bridges between communities.

“The media must continue to play its pivotal role in promoting unity as time-honoured members of the fourth estate.”

The group called on security and law enforcement agencies “to be vigilant and proactive in addressing incidents of hate speech and ethnic profiling”.

it said, “Perpetrators must be held accountable to deter others from engaging in such harmful behaviour.”

The leaders implored all Nigerians “to remember the horrors of the past and to work together to build a future based on mutual respect, understanding, and unity”.

They stated, “The strength of our nation lies in its diversity, and it is only through embracing this diversity that we can achieve lasting peace and progress.”

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

It has been confirmed by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Abia State Sector Command, that five persons lost their lives in the road crash that occurred on the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway last Sunday.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Corps Commander of the Abia State Sector, Ngozi Ezeoma, said that the initial fatality figure of 11 dead reported in the social media was incorrect.

According to her, the accident occurred at Egbelu Mbutu by Cherubim bus stop, Isialangwa South Local Government Area of Abia State at about 1.45p.m. on last fateful Sunday. She added that “preliminary investigation revealed that the cause of the crash was fatigue.”

Ezeoma explained that the crash involved a Toyota Previa with registration number BKL 291 ZI travelling to Enugu which rammed into an unnumbered stationary Mack truck.

“Eleven persons were involved in the crash, they include six male adults, two female adults and three male children,” Ezeoma said.

The CC stated that at the time of the crash, four persons (two male adults and two male children) died on the spot, while three injured persons were taken to the hospital.

However, she said that on a follow up by FRSC officials, it was confirmed that another male adult later died while receiving treatment in the hospital, thereby bringing the number of dead to five.

Ezeoma said that a rescue team from RS9.32 KM78 Aba Unit Command had arrived the accident scene within 10 minutes of notice and conducted the rescue operations.

“The injured victims were taken to Ronald Hospital, Umuikaa, and the dead deposited at the Mighty Moon Mortuary, close to Umuikaa Junction,” she said.

The CC said that the death of one of the injured “brings the number of deceased accident victims to five (three male adults and two male children) and injured victims to two persons(one male and one female).

“The male victim was transferred to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, this morning for further medical treatment while the female victim remained in Roland Hospital, Umuikaa.

“Three adults and one child survived the crash without injuries, and the  only surviving child has been handed over to Umuikaa Police Station.”

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

To end the pervasive neglect of the outcomes of indigenous research and development, experts in the field of engineering have urged the federal government to show the way in promoting the application of the local engineering innovations.

The advice was among the four recommendations in a communique issued by engineers after brainstorming at the international conference hosted by the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU).

The conference themed, “Engineering for Sustainable Economy, Security and Agricultural Development”, was the third in the biennial event. It attracted no fewer than 1,651 partcipants from various fields of engineering.

In the revised communique signed by the Dean, Engineering Faculty of MOUAU, Prof Edwin Ahaneku, and Prof. Bethrand Nwankwojike, the conference planning committee chair, the experts stressed the important role of the FG in the applications of indigenous research outputs.

According to the engineers at the conference, “the Federal Government of Nigeria should take the lead in the adoption, standardization and commercialization of indigenous engineering innovations and inventions for growth and prosperity of engineering industries in Nigeria”.

To this end, the conference participants recommended that “public-private sector collaboration should be vigorously pursued and encouraged by government at all levels to advance local production of agricultural, manufacturing, communication and surveillance systems”.

They noted that the PPP approach in promoting local innovations in research and development could be achieved “through policy initiatives and incentives by providing adequate grants for research and development”.

“Government and organized private organizations should redouble efforts in engineering infrastructures investment and enforcement of safety standards and regulations in their operations to advance agricultural and industrial development in Nigeria,” the experts said.

They also called for sustainable economic practices and national strategy for empowerment of our citizens with our engineering research outputs.

These two-pronged initatives were identified as “crucial to enhancement of Gross Domestic Products(GDP), cyber and food security indices of the nation”.

In the course of their “exhaustive deliberations” between July 3 and July 5, 2024, the participants observed that “Nigeria of today needs serious relief from the dwindling conditions in all facets of the human development index”.

They also pointed out that Nigeria’s economy “holds immense potential for growth and diversification but presently vulnerable due to its over- reliance on unmanufactured export and imported consumer goods”.

“Nigeria has enough human and material resources as well as indigenous research inventions/innovations to revive her devastated economy and security,” the engineers noted in the communique.

While lamenting the huge payments by government in combating crime instead of focusing more on “human empowerment aspect of national security”, the participants concluded that the approach “is counterproductive”.

The technical sessions of the international conference involved the presentation of 94 papers with the lead paper presented by the  Executive Director/CEO, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization(NCAM) Ilorin – Engr. Dr. Kamal Abdulgafar Rasheed.

The other 93 papers were structured around three thematic areas, namely, Advances in energy and information technology; Sustainable engineering innovations for agricultural development and food security; and Materials processing/manufacturing and infrastructural development frontiers.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

As part of the efforts to stem the tide of ‘japa’ syndrome in the health sector in Abia State, Governor Alex Otti has announced an upward adjustment of the retirement age for nurses.
He said nurses in the state would now retire at 65 years instead of the existing retirement age of 60.
The governor made known the new policy on Friday night during his monthly media interaction at the Government House in Umuahia, saying that the new retirement age would become effective next week.
Teachers working in Abia public schools have already been enjoying a new retirement age and extended years of service since May 2023.
On the planned Abia Medical City, the governor stated the state-of-the-art city would be realised in partnership with two international medical groups – Extended Hands and Lifted Hands.

“We are committing everything to it because it is going to be one of our signature projects,” he said, adding the major aim of initiating the project was to reverse medical tourism.
Governor Otti also allayed the anxiety of the state employees over the implementation of the new minimum wage of N70,000, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
He said a committee had been set up to work out the modalities for the implementation of the minimum wage in Abia State in a way that would take into account the “meagre resources” of the state.
Otti had earlier promised that his government would be among the first to implement any minimum wage agreed on based on the tripartite negotiation by the government, organised labour, and the private sector.
However, he explained that a committee had become necessary for the implementation of the new minimum wage as it entails consequential adjustments across the board.
According to him, the committee was collaborating with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) “to work out a solution that is practicable,” which would not suffocate the state.

Otti further stated that even as his government had set in motion the mechanism for the implementation of the new wage, it was still waiting for more clarification from the federal government.
He assured workers that he would not renege on his promise, saying that with the impending review of the half-year performance of the 2024 budget, adjustments would be made to accommodate the salary increase.
“We are already making provisions for an increase in salary based on the new minimum wage,” he said, adding that there would be virement if necessary.

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

As Nigeria counts the losses and possible gains of the nationwide protest against bad governance, state governments have been advised to get involved in addressing the issues that sparked the resentments.

The President of Cosmo Base Consortium, Rev Benson Ezem, made the call while reacting to the aftermath of the hunger protest that gripped the country from August 1 with consequential loss of lives and property.

He said that though the protest was essentially directed at the federal government which dictates Nigeria’s macro-economic policies, the states have their roles to play in tackling the issues that caused the anger in the land.

“The states must begin now to address some of the issues raised during theprotest. They are to see themselves as the quasi federal government,” he said.

Ezem, who is a chartered architect and development expert, said that states have to come up with strategic development initiatives and intensity internal revenue generation.

He argued that since the federal government doesn’t dictate development strategies and IGR of states, there was no reason for state governments to rely solely on the federal government without charting their own course for development.

According to him, “I can’t see why the state governments cannot go into industrial development or partner industrialists to develop industries that will utilise the mineral resources in their different states.

“There is no state today that doesn’t have at least one mineral resource on a large scale.”

Ezem noted with regrets that state governors would rather prefer to go into projects considered to be “soft targets, low hanging fruits that will only benefit them and their cronies.”

Speaking “from a position of knowledge and as a statesman,” Rev Ezem flayed the state chief executives for spending so much and getting so little in project initiatives.

He said: “When you interrogate their infrastructural development, the quality and the cost, you cannot but feel sorry for our country.”

The Cosmo Base president, who has remained consistent in advocating for reduced cost of governance, condemned the arrogant display of opulence and extravagance by the ruling class.

He said: “How much do we need to survive or even to live as a millionaire, billionaire. You don’t need all the money you are stealing; that big mansion which you’ve built to accommodate your whole village is not just necessary.

“Some people ignorantly plan to amass wealth for their unborn grandchildren, not even their children. Let me make it clear here, such wealth will grow wings and fly away.

“The only thing that can outlive a man is the lives you’ve touched and he legacy you left behind and not the amount of money you stole.”

The cleric and project development expert declared that those public officials indulging in primitive accumulation of wealth were engaged in pursuit of vanity.

“What happens to (the acquired wealth) when you are no more? Yes, one day your soul will be required when no amount of money will be accepted as a replacement. It is all vanity,” he asserted.