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Tag: Abia State

  • Otti award scholarship to children of police officers killed in Abia

    Otti award scholarship to children of police officers killed in Abia

    The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has awarded scholarship up to university level to all the children of two officers killed last Friday by unknown gunmen.

    Otti in a statement on Saturday commiserated with the families of the deceased officers, assuring that his government will continue to stand in solidarity with the police and other security agencies in the state to ensure that they discharge their duties without fear.

    The attack is coming almost a month after some soldiers were killed by criminals at Obikabia junction, which is less than a kilometer away from Opobo junction.

    The governor assured children of the two slain officers that the Abia state government would be supporting the families for their upkeep.

    Otti said, “Without doubt, these atrocious and reckless violent onslaughts against security agents in the state bear the imprimatur of a well sponsored act of terror geared towards spreading fear and confusion in the state, with a view to derailing the generally acclaimed progress being recorded in the state by the present government.

    “Our message is that, severe consequences await all perpetrators and enablers of terror in Abia State.

    “Having swung into action and apprehended some of the criminals directly involved in the killing of the five soldiers at Obikabia while investigation is still on-going to identify their allies and sponsors, our government will deploy the same energy and resources to ensure that those responsible for this latest killing are brought to justice.”

    The governor reassured the people of Abia that the same courage and commitment with which his government destroyed the criminal architecture erected by kidnappers and other criminals at Lokpanta in Umunneochi, and restored peace there, will be replicated to get rid of those behind the recent attacks in Aba.

  • Gov Alex Otti appoints new Chief Press Secretary

    Gov Alex Otti appoints new Chief Press Secretary

    Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has appointed Mr Ukoha Ukoha as his new Chief Press Secretary.

    The Commissioner for Information and Culture ,Mr Okey Kanu, stated this on Wednesday during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia.

    Kanu said: ”Gov. Alex Otti in a bid to rejig the media ecosystem of his administration has approved the appointment of a new Chief Press Secretary and his name is Mr Ukoha Njoku Ukoha.

    ”Mr Ukoha brings a lot of experience in advocacy and media management and of course his flair for writing to his new job.

    ”Gentlemen of the press you will be working with the new Chief Press Secretary in the days ahead.”

  • Army sends out “fierce” warning after IPOB killed 5 soldiers in Aba

    Army sends out “fierce” warning after IPOB killed 5 soldiers in Aba

    The Military High Command has promised to bring overwhelming military pressure on the proscribed Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) over the killing of five soldiers at a checkpoint at Aba in Abia on Wednesday.

    The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Buba said the military would be fierce in its response to the dastard act and would bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat.

    He said the troops of Operation UDO KA deployed at Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Areas adjourning Aba metropolis in Abia were  attacked and sadly killed by terrorist of IPOB/ESN.

    According to him, the troops deployed to enforce peace in the area and protect the citizens were massed attacked by the terrorist.

    He said the terrorist who were in three tinted Prado Toyota SUVs and others from built-up areas surrounding the checkpoint, sprang a surprise attack on the checkpoint.

    “The attack sadly took the lives of five personnel of the armed forces. The armed forces mourns these troops as each and every soldier lost in battle is a terrible loss.

    “Meanwhile, investigation are ongoing concerning the attack. Overall, it must be reiterated that the lifeline of the terrorist is the people and this situation is no exemption.

    “Winning the war without the support of the people is close to impossible and the IPOB capitalised on this to perpetrate attacks on the troops. The situation leave more to be desired.

    “Accordingly, it is absolutely imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops. The military would be  fierce  in its response. We would bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat,” he said.

  • South East Governors condemn attack on soldiers

    South East Governors condemn attack on soldiers

    The South East Governors’ Forum has condemned Thursday morning attack which left two Soldiers dead at a check point at Aba in Abia State.

    It was gathered that the attack, which occurred at Obikabia junction in Aba, was reportedly carried out by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in a bid to enforce sit-at-home.

    They also burnt down security patrol vehicles while enforcing the sit-at-home directive meant to commemorate Biafra Day.

    Addressing newsmen in Owerri on Thursday, Chairman of the Forum, and Imo governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, described the attack as “unfortunate”.

    “On behalf of my brother governor’s in the South East Governors’ Forum, I condemn that incident and loss of the lives of soldiers who were on their duty posts.

    “Without any provocation, they were attacked by the men of the underworld.

    “The unfortunate thing is that it is going to act as a major set back to the peace process being pursued by the governors from the zone with the Federal Government, security agencies and other critical stakeholders on how best to resolve the problem of security in the region,” he said.

    According to him, the incident will also portray our people in bad light as if we do not have sympathy for human beings.

    The governor condoled the Chief of Army Staff and the families of soldiers, who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident.

    “We here in the South East will ensure that we leave no stone unturned to ensure peace in the region needed for development,” he added.

    Uzodimma urged security agencies to go all out to ensure that those behind the dastardly act were caught and prosecuted.

    He noted that people of the South East, out of fear of the unknown and memories of the past, obeyed the directive of the proscribed group.

    He urged them, particularly those in Imo, to find courage and understand that a lot had gone to providing security for them.

    “We have peace in Imo; I want people to go about their businesses without fear of being molested by anyone.

    “We are after the perpetrators. Those who think we shouldn’t live should not live,” he said.

  • Finally, Gov Otti abolishes ‘State Of Origin’ dichotomy in Abia State

    Finally, Gov Otti abolishes ‘State Of Origin’ dichotomy in Abia State

    Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said there will be no division in Abia under his watch as indigenes and non indigenes resident in the state will be treated equally.

    He said that his administration does not care where a resident of Abia comes from but was only interested in the competence and what the person can offer the state in service.

    Otti said this at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Umuahia on Sunday during the thanksgiving service to mark his one year in office. “I think what is most important is also that this administration does not discriminate, we don’t even want to know what part of Abia you’re coming from.

    “We don’t even want to know what part of Igboland you come from. Once you reside here (in Abia), you are a part of us.

    “That is why today, we have for the first time a Permanent Secretary, who does not come from Abia State, who does not come from any state in the South East but comes from Edo state,” Governor Otti stated.

    Otti, who said that his administration refused to throw a celebration party for his one year in office, announced that a multi-billion naira terminal project which would have all motor parks and a railway station in one place, would be flagged off by his administration in Umuahia on Tuesday.

    According to him, the city of Umuahia, which he described in the past as a glorified village, would witness a total infrastructural turnaround in the next one year with railway coming from Aba

    He appealed for more prayers and support from Abia citizens, saying that his administration would continue to do the right thing no matter the criticism from the opposition. Preaching a sermon at the thanksgiving service, Rev Uma Onwunta of the Presbyterian Church, said God expects thanksgiving from his people.

  • Former Abia first lady, Odochi Orji dumps PDP

    Former Abia first lady, Odochi Orji dumps PDP

    Mrs Odochi Orji, the former First Lady of Abia State has resigned her membership of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP)

    This was contained in her resignation letter dated May 21, 2024, and addressed to her Umuahia Urban Ward 1 Chairman of PDP.

    It would be recalled that her son and the immediate past Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji, also announced his departure from the PDP three weeks ago.

    The former First Lady, whose husband, Senator Theodore Orji, governed Abia State from 2007 to 2015, cited personal reasons for quitting the ‘Big Umbrella.’

    While tendering her resignation letter, she didn’t disclose her next move or destination.

    A copy of her resignation letter in Umuahia read: “I write to formally resign as a member of the PDP with effect from this day, May 21, 2024, for personal reasons.

    “Thank you for your support during my tenure as the First Lady of Abia and until date a strong supporter of the party. I wish you all the best.”

    She copied the Abia State Chairman of the PDP as well as the Acting National Chairman of the party.

    It is not yet clear if her husband and former governor, who ruled most of his eight years under the platform of the PDP, and also went to the Senate for another eight years under the PDP platform, would also quit the Big Umbrella.

    Contacted, Senator Orji’s Aide and former Chief Liaison Officer, Hon Ifeanyi Umere, confirmed that the former First Lady had resigned from the PDP.

    It has been observed  that the PDP in the South East, has been hit by a wave of resignation in recent times since the former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, dumped the party.

  • Abia Govt opens up on when to conduct LG elections

    Abia Govt opens up on when to conduct LG elections

    The Abia Government has expressed its resolve to conduct Local Government (LG) elections after revamping the LG system.

    The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Uzor Nwachukwu, made this known on Monday during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Umuahia.

    Nwachukwu said that this became necessary because by the time the present administration took over   the local governments were in a decadent situation.

    “If you visit any local government headquarters, you will see bushes and collapsing buildings,”he added.

    He said that the government injected local government funds into the development of the 17  LGAS to achieve even socio-economic growth.

    Nwachukwu said that as part of efforts to revamp the LG areas, the government appointed Transition Committee Chairmen with track records sof efficiently handling human and material resources.

    He said that the chairmen were given a directive to immediately revive the dying LG system and bring the LG headquarters back to life.

    He said:”So, upon the appointment of  the Transition Committee Chairmen in December, the governor gave the TC Chairmen a marching order to retrofit the LG headquarters.

    “We believe that is a starting point to revamping the local government system.

    “This is because the headquarters is where the local government workers perform their duties and that is where the policies are made for the development of the local government.

    “This is not what you do and you say you want to conduct elections

    “The governor needed to get people, who had the capacity to manage men and resources to be able to get back to life the Local Government system and stabilise the system.”

    According to Nwachukwu, stabilising the LG system  remains an important determining factor for the conduct of local government elections.

    “When you conduct an election anybody can win elections but he needs to get the best hands to bring the local government areas back to life before conducting elections.

    “We agree that it is important to conduct local government elections but it is not the most important thing.

    “Now, if you conduct elections without building this foundation for the system, where will the elected locals start from?

    “So the money for conducting elections can be used to revamp the local government system,” he said.

    Nwachukwu said that the governor had promised to conduct elections and would keep his promise to the people of Abia.

    He said that the government was afraid of conducting local government elections, but was determined to deliver good governance to the people.

    “The maximum time for the TC Chairmen in office is one year and  once the government is satisfied with the level of work done in the local government then for the first time,  Abia people would see a transparent local government election.

    “We are not afraid to conduct local government elections. We are not here to play politics, we are here to deliver on governance,” Nwachukwu said.

  • Otti receives defecting YPP lawmakers into Labour Party

    Otti receives defecting YPP lawmakers into Labour Party

    The two members of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the Abia House of Assembly on Tuesday formally defected to the Labour Party (LP).

    The defectors,  Mr Iheanacho Nwogu, representing Osisioma North State Constituency, and Mr Fine Ahuama, representing Osisioma South State Constituency, were received by Gov. Alex Otti at the Government House, Umuahia.

    Speaking at the brief ceremony, Otti said that the two lawmakers had always supported his administration from its inception, irrespective of their political affiliation.

    The governor said that his administration was committed to transparency, service and merit as evident in his style of leadership.

    He said: “One thing that I have assured members of the House of Assembly is that because we are running a transparent kind of leadership, we will never come to you with anything untoward.

    “We don’t have anything to hide because Abia Government is working for the people of Abia.

    “I even told them in Rivers that when you are governing people and they’re not happy there’s something wrong with the leadership.

    “This is because the essence of governance is stewardship and I am happy because my people are happy.”

    Otti said that LP would provide a level play field for all its members and urged the defectors to work towards bringing their constituents into the party.

    He congratulated them on the bold step they took to join LP, adding that he looked forward to receiving more defectors into the party.

    Earlier, the Majority Leader of the house, Mr Uchenna Kalu, said while presenting the two decampees to the governor that they announced their defection to the LP during the house plenary session.

    In their separate speeches, Nwogu and Ahuama said that their decision to dump their former party was informed by the achievements of the Otti-led administration.

    They said that belonging to the same party with the governor would enable them to join the support for his administration to deepen democracy at the grassroot for the benefit of their constituents.

  • Why initiated forensic audit of State govt’s account – Otti

    Why initiated forensic audit of State govt’s account – Otti

    Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has said that he initiated forensic audit of the State Government’s account to recover stolen government funds and not to witch-hunt anyone.

    Otti said this on Sunday during an interactive session with constituents of Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

    The governor said that upon assumption of office as governor, he established an audit with the primary objective of recovering stolen government funds and not to send anyone to jail.

    He said that the report of the audit revealed that “a lot of money was looted and stolen brazenly” for non-existing projects which include the Abia Airport Project.

    “I am looking for the airport for which funds were moved from the coffers of the government for.

    “The people concerned with the act of moving the airport project funds in question went to the media and  began to say all manner of things.

    “If you are following the happenings in the media space, you will see these things there.

    “The problem with lying is that when you tell one lie, you will need another one to cover the first lie and need three more lies to cover the second one.

    “We are looking for our money and we must find our money. If we don’t find the airport, then they will refund our money,” he added.

    According to him, the government will not relent in improving the welfare of the citizenry through various progressive initiatives that facilitate socioeconomic growth.

    He said that the government was determined to recover the funds and  utilise it for the development of the state.

    Otti commended the House of Assembly member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency , Mr Roland Chinwendu, for playing “politics of no bitterness”.

    “Immediately, after the elections he  came to me to make it clear that as the member representing my Constituency, he would work with me  to move Abia forward.

    “It is worthy of note that he is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and I commend him for that,” he said.

    Earlier, Chinwendu said that the emergence of Otti as the governor was an indication that the citizens desire good governance.

    “The elections are long over and I was elected to deliver effective representation and not elected to play politics of opposition or bitterness.

    “We have a governor whose dictum is practical government and good governance and I have no reason not to identify with him,” he said.

    He assured the governor of the unalloyed support of his constituents and urged him to extend his infrastructural development to every part of the constituency.

    Also, a Chieftain of Labour Party, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, commended the lawmaker for reaching beyond party affiliations to support the Labour Party-led government in Abia.

    He said that the present administration was poised to reposition the state through governance.

    In an interview with newsmen, Mr Henry Ori, Leader of the Ebubedike Movement for PDP in Nvosi Ward 5, said that the programmes and policies of the present administration were development-oriented.

    “It is for this reason that we are here to show solidarity and support as well as encourage the governor to sustain the good works,” Ori said.

  • Otti signs Dig Once Policy for Abia

    Otti signs Dig Once Policy for Abia

    Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has signed the Dig Once Policy to regulate installation of underground, broadband technology infrastructure in Abia.

    Otti speaking during the ceremony on Wednesday at the Government House, Umuahia, said that the policy would provide guidelines for companies whose activities involved excavation, laying of cables and the installation of underground utilities infrastructure.

    The governor said that the policy would serve as a very effective tool for coordinating all excavation and trenching projects along utility corridors in ways that avoid duplication of efforts.

    He also said that the implementation of the policy would play a vital role in protecting road infrastructure from unintended consequences.

    Otti further said that through the erection of underground ducts, service providers would deploy their service infrastructure at reduced costs in finances and time.

    “Additionally, the Dig Once Policy will bring about drastic reduction in the needless losses arising from the destruction of underground cables and other infrastructure and prevent the subsequent disruption in internet services.

    “The policy we have just signed is the product of strategic inter-ministerial collaboration directed by my office with the active involvement of the State’s Ministries of Digital Economy and SMEs, Science and Technology and Works,”he said.

    Otti described the policy as an indication of government’s firm commitment to take advantage of the endless opportunities in the world of high-speed internet and telecommunications services.

    He expressed the government’s resolve to make high speed internet widely accessible to individuals and businesses to facilitate the adoption of smart enterprise initiatives, improved innovation and expanded access to global markets.

    Otti said: “Our target is the young people who are actively migrating to the digital space in pursuit of new opportunities.

    “This policy will give them wings to fly as high-speed internet services become commonplace in all parts of the state.

    “Whether they are setting up their independent ventures, working remotely for firms in diverse parts of the world, the aim is to offer them the backbone they need to live their dreams.

    “The Dig Once policy is therefore looking beyond just laying of underground cables and pipes.

    “The goal is more far-reaching as we hope to drive job creation for our young people through this policy, fight poverty and make life better for everyone, no matter where they live.”

    He charged telecom and utility companies, construction firms and individuals who may need to excavate along utility corridors to interface with the government to avoid breaching the provisions of the policy.

    The Dig Once Policy was introduced by the Federal Government to promote installation of readymade fibre conduits for seamless fibre deployment across the nation.