TheNewsGuru

Tag: Abia State

  • Sudden disappearance of people from Aba hotel puts Ogbor Hill residents in fear

    Sudden disappearance of people from Aba hotel puts Ogbor Hill residents in fear

    Residents of Ogbor Hill, Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, have been living in shock and fear since last week following the news of “horror” taking place in Merry-Home Hotels Limited situated in their area, as mysterious deaths and sudden disappearance of people had become a regular occurrence.

     

    Worried by the ugly reports emerging from Merry-Home Hotels Limited, residents of Ogbor Hill had sent out a save-our-soul message to the Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Commissioner of Police and other heads of security agencies in the state to investigate reported cases of deaths and missing persons in the hotel.

     

    Some residents of the area who narrated their experience to TheNewsGuru.com lamented the notoriety of the hotel which they alleged had become the bastion of mysterious deaths and missing customers.

     

    The residents said they were further alarmed that despite several reports by concerned citizens and residents of the area to security agencies, they were yet to arrest or parade any of the suspected persons.

    Merry-Home Hotels Limited

     

    One of the residents, who gave his name simply as Ezenna, claimed that some of the residents who reported the hotel about cases of alleged deaths and missing persons to the police are now living in fear because of threats from the suspects and failure of the police or their sister agencies to arrest them.

     

    Ezenna said: “The latest case of death at the hotel occurred on 15th April, 2022 when a young lady, whose identity is yet unknown, was killed while her two-year-old baby girl was stolen by her killers.

     

    “Her killers were two young men, whose identities are yet to be revealed by the management of the hotel even though their faces were captured by the CCTV camera installed in it.

     

    “Information available to us says that more than seven murder cases have been traced to the hotel since the beginning of the year. But they were all said to have been covered up to save the hotel’s image.

     

    “Few days ago, some youths vowed to set the hotel ablaze if the killers of the innocent young single mother of one was not unveiled.

     

    “The police station is currently investigating and has released the director of the hotel who has not fed the police with the necessary information on the killers of the lady.

     

    “The incessant killings in that hotel and the fact that the police has refused to prosecute any member of the hotel’s management and staff for conspiracy and murder is annoying. The governor needs to do something about it.”

     

    Contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Police Command, Geoffrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the incident to journalists, added that the woman’s corpse had been deposited at the morgue while investigations were ongoing to unravel the people behind the dastardly act.

     

    Ogbonna, who disclosed that the matter was before the state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), urged anyone with useful information to help the police to identify the people behind the act.

     

    “Anyone with useful information could also walk into any police station in Ogbor-Hill in whose jurisdiction the incident occurred to report what they know about the murder and stealing of the two-year-old child,” he said.

     

    Following the outcry of Ogbor Hill residents and wide condemnation of the incident, the state government has sealed off Merry-home Hotels Limited.

     

    The state’s Commissioner for Information, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo said the seal-off was in view of repeated reports to security agencies about series of death within the premises of the hotel under questionable circumstances.

     

    According to Chikamnayo, the most recent was the death of a young lady who came in with two young boys and a baby in the afternoon. And as confirmed by the CCTV, the boys left with the baby in the evening without the lady only for the hotel management to break into the room around midnight and found the lady dead with her body dismembered.

     

    The information commissioner who revealed that reports available to the state government had shown other incidents of killings taking place in the hotel, especially around the hotel’s swimming pool corner, where unverified reports say young men gather to consume illicit substances and exotic drinks.

     

    He, however, disclosed that everyone suspected to be involved in the murder and kidnapping incidents had been arrested and the case had been transferred to the state CID for investigation while the hotel would remain sealed pending the outcome of investigation.

     

    He warned that Abia State is a no-go area for ritual murder and dismemberment of people’s body for any purpose, adding that the state has zero tolerance for any form of criminal act.

     

    He warned that any hotel in the state that offers itself for such ugly practices would be sealed automatically and the culprits would be brought to book.

     

    He frowned at the discovery in the hotel of more than 80 teenagers in very compromising positions and indulging in anti-social activities.

     

    The Commissioner advised parents to undertake full monitoring of their children’s movements, pointing out that the welfare of the citizens remain the priority of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who since he assumed office in 2015 has proved that security remains the bedrock of development in the state.

     

    Abians are begging the state government and security agencies to ensure that the latest incident is not swept under the carpet and that justice served as they wait patiently for the outcome of the police investigation.

     

    This is even as they have called on security agencies to beam their searchlight on hotels and brothels as 2023 elections approach.

     

    How another middle-aged lady was gang-raped, killed in Ebonyi hotel
    A lady in her 20s identified as Ugochi Nworie was on Saturday night allegedly murdered in a popular hotel in Ebonyi State. Her body was found days after she had lodged in Hope-In Hotel located on Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway.

     

    There were, however, conflicting reports of the circumstances that surrounded her death in the hotel. While one report on the case claimed that the victim was ganged raped, another claimed that it was a case of ritual killing.

     

    The victim, an indigene of Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was said to have encountered some “strange” men at the hotel, after a party that lasted into the night. It was gathered that the men, who came into the hotel in a saloon car christened “Colonel”, negotiated to give the victim N50,000 to enable one of them spend the night with her.

     

    It was gathered that the victim’s lifeless body was later discovered in the hotel on Sunday afternoon, after her female friends had reported a case of a missing person to the police.

     

    Sources close to the victim alleged that late Ugochi’s vital organs, including her eyes and breasts, were missing at the time her body was deposited at a mortuary in Abakaliki. But another source said the victim was found dead on Monday, May 2, 2022, a day after she arrived at the hotel located at G-Hostel Junction, Abakaliki, the state capital, with some men.

     

    An eyewitness claimed that Ugochi was found dead with her two hands and legs tied, her eyes blindfolded and her private part allegedly cut off. The source said the lady was found dead in the hotel room after the door was opened by the police, with her legs, hands and mouth tied.

     

    Many used condoms that were said to have been recovered from the room, however, suggested a case of gang rape.

     

    One of the female friends to the late Ugochi, who pleaded anonymity, said: “After we partied in the hotel with Ugochi, we decided to go home but Ugochi decided to stay back because some men promised her N50,000 to spend the night with them.

     

    “They priced me N100,000 but I refused because I didn’t know them. I lied to them that my boyfriend was in town, so I would not be able to spend the night outside my home.

     

    “We warned Ugochi not to follow them but she refused because of the money. So, we left her behind and went home.

     

    “When we didn’t see her the next day, we went to the police and reported the matter.

     

    “We heard the men tell someone that they were from Ghana. We don’t know whether it is true or not. One of the vehicles they came with to the hotel had “Colonel” written on the number plate.

     

    “Ugochi killed herself. Assuming she listened to us, she wouldn’t have died. This is too bad and painful.”

     

    Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of Ebonyi State Police Command, Loveth Odah, vowed that the police would arrest and prosecute the killers. She said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Aliyu Garba, had directed thorough investigation of the matter.

     

    Odah said that efforts were in top gear to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the act to serve as a deterrent to possible offenders. She said the investigation indicated that the deceased lady was gang-raped, as more than 12 used condoms were discovered in the room.

     

    “Investigation is still ongoing and we will continue to update the media and public as we unravel more details on the matter,” she said.

     

    The police spokesperson said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Kpirikpiri Police Division in the state indicated that the incident happened in Hope-in Hotel, situated at 9, Ngbowo Street, Abakaliki.

     

    “The DPO reported that the incident was discovered during a routine check on the hotel when it was found that a room not accounted for.

     

    “So the DPO decided to enquire from the receptionist, who told him that the guests in the room were unknown to him.

     

    “Efforts to open the room proved abortive until he requested for the spare key to open the door, only to discover the lifeless and naked body of the lady with her legs, hands and mouth tied to the bed in the room,” Odah said.

     

    She said the corpse had been deposited in a morgue.

     

    Odah warned the general public, especially young ladies, to be careful of the type of friends they keep and where they go, especially at night.

  • Why Abia’s political woes will continue – APC Chairman

    Why Abia’s political woes will continue – APC Chairman

    Abia’s political woes will continue unless the people take bold steps to free the state from politicians without character.

    The declaration was made on Monday in Aba, Abia, by the state’s chapter chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Kingsley Ononogbu.

    “Abia’s case will continue to grow bad unless we stop choosing politicians without character.

    “We must break the cycle, restore the state and place it on the upper end so that those coming after us will take it higher,’’ he said.

    Ononogbu further said that the APC would liberate Abia from rogue politicians and change its leadership narrative by fielding politicians with character to contest and win in 2023.

    He urged Abia people to get their voters cards ready to vote for credible candidates to lead the state on the platform of the APC.

    “That is the reason the people we are fielding are products of deep knowledge, deep thinking, and deep research and not people who will carry peoples’ money and run.

    “If they have shame, why would same persons ruin this state for 24 years and they still think they should continue to rule it? Let anyone of them come to the television; let us talk,’’ he said.

    Ononogbu said no Abia person should watch Abia’s current political developments from the fence.

    He added that the people should be angry enough by now to engage and fight to retrieve the state from its clueless politicians.

    The party chair said Abia people should not feel overqualified and contented with staying in their homes only to complain and grumble, leaving the political turf to people not qualified by training, character and background to talk about governance.

    He assured that the APC in Abia would bring transparency, quality, and character to bear when it wins the 2023 elections and positively change Abia’s political narrative.

    “We have the capacity, the capability and the brain power to do what needs to be done in Abia which other leaders are doing in their states and the people are applauding.

    “How much is teachers’ salary that we should be talking about owing teachers in Abia and how much are the pensioners paid that we should be talking about that?

    “We want to bring governance to Abia people based on knowledge and character. No more sharing of money.

    “That is what we are offering Abia people. We are not giving any bribe. We don’t have bribe to give anybody. Abia APC will offer good and accountable governance.

    “We will not allow godfathers in Abia APC. People must be qualified for whatever positions they get,’’ Ononogbu stressed.

    He noted that Abia had about seven retired army Generals who never wanted to enter into politics, but that Abia’s embarrassing condition had moved them to join politics.

    The APC chair stressed that Abia people should all be genuinely angry about the backwardness in the state and join hands with his party to change the state’s situation.

    Ononogbu said APC would use the strategy of openness, transparency, and integration to ensure that contestants who lost elections remained in the party to ensure its victory at the polls.

    He said that his mission in politics is to liberate Abia, rescue its citizens and reposition the state for better performance.

    He noted how God used former Gov Chris Ngige to break Anambra State free from evil chains to liberate it, while former Govs. Peter Obi and Willie Obiano improved on the development of the State.

    He added that sitting Gov. Chukwuma Soludo is now taking the Anambra to higher heights.

    Ononogbu expressed regret that the reverse was the case in Abia where “Orji Uzor Kalu who did not do well from 1999 to 2007 is an angel when compared with what is being done today”.

  • 2023: Leaving PDP a painful decision, says Abia gov’ship aspirant

    2023: Leaving PDP a painful decision, says Abia gov’ship aspirant

    A governorship aspirant in Abia, Prof. Greg Ibe, has formally announced his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), barely three weeks after declaring his aspiration.

    Ibe, a founding member, declared to run for the governor on the platform of PDP on March 9.

    He said his desire to run on the party’s ticket was predicated on an alleged agreement by the party elders that the slot would be zoned to his Abia North Senatorial District.

    However, the party later zoned the slot to both Abia Central and North Senatorial Districts for the 2023 general elections.

    Addressing newsmen in his Achara Uturu country home on Sunday, Ibe said he had joined the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), where he hoped to pursue his ambition.

    He said that he decided to resign his membership of PDP to protest against its “controversial” zoning formula.

    He described the decision to dump the party as a painful one, considering the strategic role he played in funding and nurturing it to becoming a dominant party in Abia since the return of democratic governance.

    He said that he expected the party to reward him with the governorship ticket for his huge investment through financial assistance and donation of equipment to support health and educational programmes of PDP-led administrations in the state.

    He, however, said that his resolve to look elsewhere to realise his ambition became inevitable because he realised that the party did not want his immense experience, contact and pedigree.

    He said that it became obvious in the last few weeks that PDP had repudiated an agreement by its elders and chieftains to ensure that power returned to Abia North in 2023.

    Ibe, who was in the governorship race in 2015, said the elders of the party prevailed on him to drop his ambition so that power would move to Abia South Senatorial District for fairness and equity to reign.

    He said that it was also agreed that power would return to Abia North in 2023, in line with the dictates of the Abia Charter of Equity and rotational arrangement.

    He said that subsequent meetings of the party leaders reinforced the agreement during the campaign for the re-election of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu in 2019.

    “The aftermath of these meetings led me and my people in Abia North to monilise men and materials to ensure Ikpeazu’s re-election against all odds,” Ibe said.

    He expressed dismay that whereas other political positions in the party’s State Working Committee were rotated among the senatorial districts ahead of the 2023 general elections, that of the governor was shrouded in controversy.

    The governorship hopeful alleged that the current zoning arrangement was designed to allow for the emergence of an “annointed candidate” and deny Abia North the right to produce the next governor.

    He, therefore, charged the political class to rise against the “retrogressive style of foisting on the people a reluctant and unprepared” persons as governors.

    According to him, the time had come for the state to evolve a leadership recruitment process that encourages the emergence of the best and most competent people for the office of the governor.

    Ibe said that he was confident that the Abia electorate would continue to support him, even in APGA, considering his philanthropic and humanitarian programmes that had touched the lives of the people across the state.

    He appealed to “lovers of equity, fairness and justice and all those who desire the progress of Abia” to join him in APGA.

    He said he would soon embark on consultations within the party to convince the members about his readiness to champion the cause of the party to achieve electoral victory in 2023.

    He appealed to Abia residents to work toward a rancour-free electioneering, while urging the security agencies to continue to sustain the prevailing peace and security in the state.

    Ibe, who is the Founder and Chancellor, Gregory University, Uturu, is a Lead Consultant to the World Bank, ECOWAS Commission and many Ministries, Agencies and Departments of government.

    He said that he became a PDP stalwart during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first tenure.

    Ibe promised to leverage his vast experience and exposure to transform the state, if given the mandate.

    He gave assurance that his involvement in partisan politics and governorship race would not in any way jeopardise the fortunes and sustenance of the university.

    He said that the institution had made massive investments in other viable sectors as an independent entity, removed from his political pursuit.

  • Pastor docked for strangling two women

    Pastor docked for strangling two women

    A pastor with The Apostolic Church in Umuahia, Salem Chigozirim, has been arraigned before Justice Uchechi Enwereji of Umuahia High Court, Abia State, for allegedly strangling a 45-year-old housewife, Virginia Ndife, and a lady, Chioma Nwoke.

     

    He was arraigned on three counts bordering on murder and demanding a ransom.

     

    Chigozirim was said to have strangled Virginia on September 21, 2021.

     

    The deceased’s husband, Mr Christian Ndife, said his wife on the day of the incident went to their new house on 67, Agulu Street, Umuahia, to do some work with the suspect, who was also a plumber.

     

    Christian said he was at their family house when his daughter informed him that his wife had been killed.

     

    He said, “I rushed to the house, only to see the lifeless body of my wife. I reported to the police and the DSS. After two weeks, the DSS captured the suspect.

    “I saw that my wife was strangled with a blue bathing sponge in the neck; the entire room was scattered. The defendant wrote something on a sheet and placed on the ground that he was looking for some documents and when he called my wife, she told him to do his worst.

     

    “He said he had done some plumbing services for my wife and also sent same message to my brother-in-law, Anthony Okeke, that he was looking for his keke documents.”

     

    Chigozirim, during interrogation by the DSS, was said to have confessed to the earlier killing of Chioma in August 2021.

     

    The victim’s mother, Mrs Clementina Nwoke, a member of Chigozirim’s church, said she was called on August 20, 2021, that her daughter, who lived in Owerri, Imo State, had not been seen for one week.

     

    “I started looking for her through the DSS in Umuahia and Owerri. I later got a message from my daughter’s phone that I should pay N1.5m. The DSS asked me to offer N50,000; I offered N100,000. Using my daughter’s phone, he (suspect) called me to come to Mbgoko Amiri in Obingwa LGA.

     

    “On reaching there, a voice directed me to where to place the money. Though I was not seeing the person, I dropped the money at the foot of the pole I was directed to.

     

    “I asked him about my daughter and he said after dropping the money, I would see her at Umuikea Junction. This was on September 7, 2021. When I got to Umuikea Junction, I did not see my daughter.

     

    “Towards the end of September, the DSS asked me to show them the picture of Chioma and later invited me to Umuahia, where I met two of my pastors, and all of us went to our apostle at the World Bank Estate, Umuahia.”

     

    She said some of the church leaders later broke the news to her that Chioma’s decomposing corpse was found at Mbano, Imo State.

     

    Mrs Nwoke said her daughter was strangled with a head tie and “left upside down at the foot of a tree.”

     

    She said when the suspect was arrested over Virginia’s murder and his house was searched, he was caught with Chioma’s phone and ATM card, adding that he withdrew a lot of money from the deceased’s bank account.

     

    While in court, the defendant informed the presiding judge, Uchechi Enwereji, that he was photographed by certain persons, who threatened to deal with him.

     

    But the judge assured him that nothing would happen to him in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service.

     

    The case was adjourned till May 24, 2022.

  • 2023 Governorship: Ikpeazu promises to disclose leaning soon

    2023 Governorship: Ikpeazu promises to disclose leaning soon

    Abia State Governor Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has assured Abia stakeholders that he will reveal his preference of a successor and political direction soon.

    Ikpeazu spoke in response to requests from Bende PDP stakeholders who paid him a solidarity visit at Government House, Umuahia.

    Abia State has increasing anxiety concerning the geo-political direction, also referred to as zoning, of the gubernatorial succession in the State. The Governor has remained above the fray. Instead, he committed to abiding by the choice of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    One group contends that the gubernatorial seat should return to Abia North Senatorial Zone as the three senatorial zones have had their turn. The other group says it should revert to the Ngwa side of the Abia Central Senatorial Zone. Most of the arguments cite the Abia Charter of Equity 1981 between the Aba Division comprising parts of Abia South and Abia Central and Umuahia Division (old Bende), including parts of Abia Central and Abia North.

    Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the first civilian Governor of the State, hailed from Abia North, though he now belongs to Ebonyi State and served two years. Orji Uzor Kalu also followed from Abia North and served eight years. He handed over to Chief Theodore Orji whose side of Abia Central is in old Bende, also had an eight-year tenure.

    Incumbent governor Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is from Abia South and will conclude eight years in May 2023.

    Those from Abia North or the former Umuahia Division have done 18 years. The equity advocates argue that it should remain in Ngwa part of Abia Central for another eight years.

    Against this backdrop, Ikpeazu responded to the Bende PDP stakeholders.

    “I have witnessed the two transitions in this State. I was here when Governor Orji Uzor Kalu managed his transition. He showed the way, and we all followed. My immediate predecessor also played his part during his time and showed the way we all followed. The lot is on me now, and I will live up to that obligation. I will show the way, and I know that we will follow,” Ikpeazu said.

    Ikpeazu assured, “Ndi Bende, unu sim gbaa torch. Azutalam battery and agam agba torch ahu in a matter of days.” It means, Bende people, you have asked me to put on the torch. I have bought batteries, and I will deploy the torch in a matter of days.

    The PDP processes for these matters across the country are due to be commerce in full swing in a few days.

  • Fuel scarcity disgrace to Nigeria – PDP Governors lambast Buhari

    Fuel scarcity disgrace to Nigeria – PDP Governors lambast Buhari

    Governors elected under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has flayed the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the lingering fuel scarcity being suffered by Nigerians is a disgrace to the country.

    The PDP Governors under the aegis of the PDP Governors Forum made this known in a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Aba, Abia State.

    The Governors at the meeting reviewed the excruciating hardship and suffering in the land and expressed readiness to take over and offer qualitative leadership options to rescue the nation.

    This is while urging Nigerians to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a party the PDP Governors say is run undemocratically by a committee contrary to the Constitution (S.228) with Mr President regularly issuing instructions and dictates.

    Read full communique below:

    COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE PDP GOVERNORS’ FORUM AT THE END OF THEIR MEETING AT ABA, ABIA STATE OF NIGERIA

    The PDP Governors’ Forum comprising all elected Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party held its regular meeting on Wednesday, 23rd March, 2022, at Aba, Abia State.

    The meeting reviewed the excruciating hardship and suffering being meted out to Nigerians by a failed APC led Federal Government; the near collapse of the APC as a viable political party, the readiness of the PDP to take over and offer qualitative leadership options to rescue the nation and issued the following Communique:

    1. We lament the terrible pain and hardship facing Nigerians in virtually all aspects of life. The meeting noted that life was much better in 2015 under the PDP than today under the APC as exemplified in the following Comparative Indicators obtained mainly from the National Bureau of Statistics:

    a. Diesel which is critical for running of SMEs was N131.47 in 2015, it now costs above N700

    b. Fuel: Official and Black-Market was N87/155 in 2015, it now costs N167/350.

    c. Aviation Fuel/Air Ticket Rate on Domestic Flights was N110 per Litre/N18,000 in 2015, it now hovers around N700 per Litre/N70,000, where available. Indeed, the scarcity of fuel which has resulted in loss of several man hours is a disgrace to Nigeria.

    d. The collapse of the National Grid (126 times in 7 years – (June 2015 to March 2022) and its consequences for non-availability of power is most unfortunate.

    e. Kerosene (NHK) used by the ordinary Nigerian for cooking and power was N180 in 2015, it now sells at ₦450.

    f. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) – 12.5kg Cylinder sold for N2,400 in 2015, is now sold at between N8,750 and N10, 000.

    g. Prices of basic food stuffs are now three times higher than what they used to be in 2015. Staple foods such as rice, beans, cassava flakes are now slipping out of the hands of average Nigerians. Indeed, a Bag of Rice sold for N8500 in 2015 is now N39,000.

    h. Electricity was N14.23 per kilowatt in 2015, it is now N38.530, and not even available.

    i. Unemployment rate was 11.4% in 2015, it is now over 33%, one the highest in the world.

    j. The poverty rate in 2015 was 11.3% but now about 42.8%.

    k. Accumulated Inflation in 2015 was about 4%, it is now 15.50%; Inflation Rate was 9.01% in 2015 and now 15.7%.

    l. Perhaps the Exchange Rate has been one of the most disastrous. N150 to a dollar was the parallel market (patronised by most businessmen and Nigerians) rate in 2015, it is now about N580 to $1 in the parrel market and still rising.

    m. Debt and Debt Servicing:

    Domestic Debt of N8.4T and External Debt of USD 7.3b was incurred between 1999-2015.

    While Domestic Debt of N7.63T (June 2015-Dec 2020) and USD28.57b as at Dec 2020 was incurred. External debt of USD21.27b was incurred between June 2015 and 2021.

    n. National Debt to GDP Ratio was 23.41% (2016) it is now 36.88% (2022).

    o. The Corruption Index has risen from 136 in 2015 to 150 now.

    p. Nigeria’s Misery Index, an indicator used in determining how economically well off the citizens of a country are, is usually calculated by adding the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to the annual inflation rate, has moved from 14.75 percent in 2015 to 50.48 (2021).

    q. The major threat to the agricultural sector and food security in Nigeria is insecurity. In the northeast of Nigeria, it is estimated that no fewer than 70,000 hectares of arable farmland have been abandoned in the affected States and Local Government areas. The trend is the same all over the country. This further contributes to food inflation. The APC led Federal Government must take steps to cooperate with States to bring security down to the grassroots.

    2. The Forum is surprised that in the face of these statistics of complete failure in all ramifications and areas, the APC still wants to be on the ballot in 2023.

    This shows how uncaring and insensitive the APC is. IT HAS BECOME A MENACE TO NIGERIA.

    3. The Forum urges Nigerians to reject the APC, a party run undemocratically by a Committee contrary to the Constitution (S.228) with Mr. President regularly issuing instructions and dictates. It is impossible for a party so disorganized to offer good governance to the people of Nigeria.

    4. The meeting expressed concern and alarm over various reports and claims of incidents of stealing of crude oil ranging from 80% to 95% of production made by industry practitioners and called on the Federal Government to set up an appropriate mechanism to reverse this trend and bring perpetrators to account.

    5. The PDP Governors once again decried the inability of the NNPC to make its statutory contributions to the Federation Account, inspite of Oil selling at above $110. It is patently unconstitutional for NNPC to determine at its whim and discretion when and what to pay to the Federation Account, as it is a mere trustee of the funds for the three tiers of Government: Federal, States and Local Governments. We once again, call for investigations and audit of the quantity of consumption of fuel ascribed to Nigerians and for deployment of technology at the filling stations to determine in a transparent manner the volume of consumption.

    The Governors would resist any further attempt by NNPC to ascribe unsubstantiated subsidy claims to other tiers of government.

    6. Furthermore, S.162 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended stipulates that “The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called “the Federation Account” into which shall be

    paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation…”

    and S.162 (10) states that “For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, “revenue” means any income or return accruing to or derived by the Government of the Federation from any source and includes –

    (a) any receipt, however described, arising from the operation of any law;

    (b) any return, however described, arising from or in respect of any property held by the Government of the Federation;

    (c) any return by way of interest on loans and dividends in respect of shares or interest held by the Government of the Federation in any company or statutory body”

    a. As of today, 18 (Eighteen) Federation Revenue Agencies are not paying/remitting any revenue to the FAAC Account. These include (i) Central Bank of Nigeria (ii) Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) (iii) Nigeria Liquefied National Gas (NLNG) (iv) Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) (v) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (vi) NPA (vii) Security and Exchange Commission etc

    (b) FIRS and DPR takes cost of collection of 4% (Four percent) of Revenue collected while Customs collects 7%. In March 2022 for instance, FIRS took N15.4Billion as cost of collection and Customs took N8.4b. If these are annualised, FIRS and Customs collects about N1.84Billion and Customs N100B per annum. Obviously, some states of the Federation’s capital budget does not come close to these.

    (c) Nigeria Federation has 49% shareholding in NLNG. According to the Minister of Finance during the 2020 budget performance brief at the National Assembly stated that the federation received dividend of N144billion (One Hundred and Forty Four Billion) from NLNG. These figure to the best of our knowledge was never paid into the Federation Account.

    (d)) NNPC deducts N8.33Billion monthly for the rehabilitation of the Refineries in Nigeria. Till date no refinery is working.

    (e) On priority projects of the Nation’s oil industry, NNPC deducted N788.78Billion for various investments between 2018-2021 without recourse to FAAC.

    (f) NNPC in 2021 alone claimed to have paid over One Trillion Naira as petroleum subsidy. Indeed, the month of March 2022, N220Billion was deducted as oil subsidy with a promise that N328Billion will be deducted in April 2022. This is unacceptable.

    (g) NNPC and FIRS as well as other remitting Agencies continue to apply an exchange rate of N389/$1 as against the Import and Export window of N416/$1. The extent of this leakage can be better felt, if this rate is compared to the current N570/$1.

    (h) From available records about N7.6T is withheld between 2012 and 2021, by NNPC from the Federation Account. All these are said to be payments for oil subsidy.

    (i) Conclusively, we believe that all these leakages in NNPC have been made possible because the President is also the Minister of Petroleum. The urgent separation of these two portfolios have become necessary

    7. The Forum noted the approval by the PDP NEC of the Time Table and Timelines for Congresses and Convention of the Party and urged all party members and party leadership to remain focused and united to win power in 2023, to tackle the myriads of problems facing the country.

    8. The PDP Governors congratulated the host, His Excellency, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the PDP Governors’ Forum Vice Chairman, for his generosity and hospitality in the hosting of the meeting.

    9. In attendance are:

    • Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal – Sokoto State – Chairman

    • Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu – Abia State – Vice Chairman

    • Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri -Adamawa State

    • Gov. Udom Emmanuel – Akwa Ibom State

    • Gov. Bala Mohammed -Bauchi State

    • Gov. Sen. Douye Diri – Bayelsa State

    • Gov. Samuel Ortom -Benue State

    • Gov. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa – Delta State

    • Gov. Godwin Obaseki – Edo State

    • Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Enugu State

    • Gov. Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde – Oyo State

    • Gov. Nyesom Wike, CON – Rivers State

    • Hon Haruna Manu, Deputy Governor – Taraba State

  • The relevance of the OUK formula in Abia succession politics – By Chido Nwakanma

    The relevance of the OUK formula in Abia succession politics – By Chido Nwakanma

    By Chido Nwakanma

    Both sides of the dispute over the tilt of the governorship of Abia State circa 2023-2027 may find in former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu an unlikely resource for its resolution. Kalu implemented a formula that changed the state’s power structure into a quadrant. He did so unwittingly in 2007 when he ensured that Chief (now Senator) Theodore Orji succeeded him in office.

    Orji Kalu came from the Old Umuahia zone in the old configuration. The governor came from Abia North Senatorial Zone in the new geopolitics. Rather than follow the formula of Abia’s fathers’ drawn ab initio ahead of the creation of the state, he chose a new procedure. He picked on Chief Theodore Orji, his then Chief of Staff, from Umuahia or the new Abia Central senatorial zone. It is interestingly coincidental that both men sit in the Senate currently representing Abia North and Abia Central.

    Abia Central, however, is a mini-Abia State in its configuration with six local governments. There is an equal representation of three local governments front Aba and Umuahia. The local governments are Ikwuano, Umuahia North, Umuahia South from the Umuahia axis, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, and Osisioma of the Ngwa axis.

    Representation in the Abia Central senate seat swings between the Ngwa and Umuahia in the legislature. Senator Bob Nwanunu from Ngwa land took the first shot in 1999 and served for one term. Senator Chris Adighije from Umuahia took over and did one tour as well.

    Nkechi Nwaogu from Osisioma became the Senator in 2007. She served for two terms based on a consensus of the political leaders following the exit of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu from the PDP to form the Progressive People’s Alliance.

    The senatorial seat swung back to Umuahia in 2015, with former Governor Theodore Orji from Ibeku Umuahia becoming a senator.

    Significantly, in anointing Theodore Orji for the governor’s seat when he did, Orji Uzor Kalu carved the political structure of Abia State into a quadrant rather than the triangle upon which some base their succession arguments.

    Abia Central has honoured the Abia Charter of Equity 1981 in political representation in the legislature. It would need to continue. It has respected the quadrant that is now the structure of Abia politics.

    The Ngwa of Abia Central base their claims to the governorship rotation on this quadrant and the Abia Charter of Equity 1981. One half of the senatorial zone took its turn for eight years with Theodore Orji as Governor. It then went to Abia South with Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.

    It should return to Abia Central with the remaining part of the quadrant, the three Ngwa local governments. It is equitable and in line with what the players have done in the legislature since 1999.

    The other issue is the length of stay in the Governor’s Office. It currently stands at 18 years for Umuahia Division or Abia North and seven years for Aba Division or Abia South senatorial zone. When Ikpeazu leaves office in May 2023, Aba Division would have done only eight years versus eighteen years.

    Fairness and equity dictate that the Ngwa half of Abia Central should do eight years to try to close the gap.

  • Gov Ikpeazu insists Abia PDP will choose guber candidate

    Gov Ikpeazu insists Abia PDP will choose guber candidate

    Abia State Governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has pledged to ensure that the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state “emerges through the decision of the party.”

    Ikpeazu so declared at a meeting of leaders of the Abia State PDP held on Wednesday 16 March 2022 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.

    PDP leaders, in turn, commended “the decision of the State Governor that the leadership of the Party and all the ward chapters will participate in charting a direction towards the emergence of a worthy flag bearer.”

    Governor Ikpeazu told the party executives that he benefitted from the decision of the party twice and would not stand in the way of the party in exercising a similar choice for his successor.

    Ikpeazu stated, “I affirm that the choice of the people and the party is my choice. I am a democrat brought up and elevated by the choice and decision of our party members. You are the ones to make the choice. I can only provide guidance and counsel. I respect the supremacy of the party and the voice of the majority”.

    Abia State Chairman of the PDP Rt.Hon. Alwell Asiforo Okere, PhD and State Secretary Barr Iro David disclosed the decisions in a communique issued on Wednesday in Umuahia.

    Participants at the meeting were members of the State Working Committee, State Executive Committee Members, Local Government Executive Committee Members of the Party and Principal Officers of the one hundred and eighty-four (184) wards in the State.

    Ikpeazu’s declaration comes as party faithful and other stakeholders in Abia State politics await his direction or lean towards a successor as his tenure ends in May 2023. Contentions on representation based on the Abia Charter of Equity or the zoning formula to adopt.

    The Abia PDP leaders pledged to work harmoniously and “mobilise all Party resources to work for the success of our Party’s candidate at the general election come 2023”.

    The PDP leaders also passed a vote of confidence on Governor Ikpeazu “for his giant strides in the state”. Those strides include “outstanding improvements in Foreign Direct Investments as captured by the records of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS)” and “for his ability to make Abia State the West African hub for Small and Medium Enterprises”.

  • Abia govt kicks as gunmen kill 8 traders in Omumauzor cattle market

    Abia govt kicks as gunmen kill 8 traders in Omumauzor cattle market

    The Abia State Government has confirmed the killing of eight persons by gunmen at the new Cattle Market in Omumauzor village in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

    Commissioner for Information, Chief Eze Chikamnayo, who confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen in Aba on Wednesday, condemned the attack.

    He said that on Feb. 15, at about 11.35 p.m., some yet-to-be-identified hoodlums attacked traders at the cattle market.

    The commissioner said that government responded swiftly by mobilising security agencies to the scene to secure the lives and property of the traders and fish out the assailants.

    “This was followed this morning (Wednesday) by the visit of a high-powered team, made up of Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Anthony Agbazuere and Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief Okiyi Kalu.

    “Others included: Commissioner for Homeland Security, Chief Sopuruchi Bekee, Ukwa West Local Government Executive Chairman, Chief Okey Kanu and the Commisioner of Police, CP Janet Agbede.

    “We are shocked and saddened by this mindless and barbaric act of violence that claimed the lives of no fewer than eight innocent citizens of our great country.

    “We totally condemn this dastardly act, together with its wicked perpetrators”, he said.

    Chikamnayo further said that government was working assiduously to provide support for families of the victims of the attack.

    He said that people, who were injured in the attack, were being given medical attention.

    The commissioner added that government had begun immediate relocation of the traders, while working out compensation for lost property.

    “We shall leave no stone unturned to ensure that the evil perpetrators are brought to justice,” he added.

    Chikamnayo said Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu had prayed to God to grant the affected families the fortitude to bear the loss, while awaiting the outcome of the investigation.

    He urged residents of the state to remain law-abiding and to report any suspicious movement to the authorities.

  • BREAKING: Court orders FG to pay Nnamdi Kanu N1 billion, says arrest illegal

    BREAKING: Court orders FG to pay Nnamdi Kanu N1 billion, says arrest illegal

    A High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State has ordered the federal government and the Nigerian Army to pay Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) the sum of N1 billion.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Justice Benson Anya gave the order on Wednesday while delivering judgement on a suit filed against the FG, the Army and others by Mazi Kanu.

    Justice Anya, while delivering the judgement, also ordered the FG, the Army and others to tender an apology to the IPOB leader for the invasion of his house in September 2017.

    The Umuahia High Court ruled that the invasion of Kanu’s house was illegal and that the FG and the Army violated the Fundamental Human Rights of the IPOB leader.

     

    Details shortly…