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Tag: Hope Uzodinma

  • How I was stripped naked, handcuffed on Uzodinma’s orders – Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu

    How I was stripped naked, handcuffed on Uzodinma’s orders – Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu

    The 2019 governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Imo State, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu has accused the State Governor of sanctioning his arrest, saying he was stripped half-naked, handcuffed on the orders of the State Governor.

    Nwosu, who is also the son-in-law of a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, now Senator representing Orlu Senatorial District, advised Uzodinma to eschew bitterness and concentrate on governance.

    The former chief of staff stated this while briefing journalists on Tuesday in Owerri, Imo state.

    He denied having hands in the insecurity in the state, saying the young man who accused him in a viral video of giving him money to escalate insecurity in the state was asked to implicate him.

    Nwosu who was visibly angry said those who abducted him manhandled him before ordering him to lie on the floor in the vehicle and one of them rested one of his legs on his head.

    Narrating his ordeal, Nwosu said,” When they drove off, they started calling in Hausa and unknown to them I understand Hausa. They were telling one Shaba, who is the Chief Security Officer that they have got me. At Umuaka, they stopped and ordered that I should get down. At that point, I thought they were to assassinate me. They bundled me into another vehicle and they drove off.”

    According to him,” When we got to Owerri, three other vehicles drove straight to the government house and the one carrying me drove towards Okigwe Road, and I asked them where they were taking me to but they never responded to me. They drove towards Okigwe and stopped. At this point, I thought they wanted to assassinate me. They asked me to remove my cloth, handcuffed me, snapped me, made a video, and sent it to the governor’s CSO.

    “We continued until we got to Enugu airport. We waited for about 90 minutes before a chartered flight arrived. We boarded and we landed in Abuja. We moved to force headquarters and we did interviews. They accused me of sponsoring insecurity in Imo state. I want to thank the IGP who intervened and ordered my release.”

    Reacting, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said Senator Uzodinma has no hand in Uche Nwosu arrest, it’s the law that caught up with him. It has nothing to do with Uzodinma. If he commits offence, he should be arrested like everyone.”

  • BREAKING: Uzodinma appoints Zamfara Commissioner as Commissioner in Imo

    BREAKING: Uzodinma appoints Zamfara Commissioner as Commissioner in Imo

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has appointed the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs in Zamfara State, Hajiya Rabi Shinkafi as a Commissioner in his State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Shinkafi resigned her Commissioner position in Zamfara to take up the appointment by Governor Uzodinma in Imo.

    According to Shinkafi, both Gov. Hope Uzodinma and his Zamfara counterpart, Governor Bello Matawalle discussed it as fellow All Progressives Congress (APC) governors before the appointment in Imo happened.

    “I resigned my appointment as commissioner in Zamfara to enable me to pick another appointment as commissioner in Imo.

    “I am immensely grateful to Gov. Bello Matawalle and his Wife, Hajiya Aisha Matawalle, for their kindness to me and for giving me the opportunity to serve Zamfara in different capacities.

    “All the speculations in the social media about my resignation are completely false; it was just work of mischief makers.

    “I have a perfect and cordial relationship with the governor and his wife. I consider them as my family and they were in the picture of my going to Imo.

    “Both Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo and Matawalle discussed it as fellow All Progressives Congress governors and as friends too,’’ Shinkafi said.

  • Imo assembly confirms Uzodinma’s 18 commission­er nominees

    Imo assembly confirms Uzodinma’s 18 commission­er nominees

    The Imo House of Assembly has confirmed 18 commissioner -nominees for the state as requested by Gov. Hope Uzodinma.

    This followed their screening at the committee of the whole, chaired by the Speaker, Mr Kennedy Ibeh (APC- Obowo) on Tuesday in Owerri.

    Ibeh had on Monday read a letter from the governor requesting that the confirmation of the nominees as commissioners and members of the State Executive Council ( EXCO).

    The nominees included Prof. Emmanuel Chuk­wuma, Dr Prosper Ohayagha, Prof. Ifunanya Oko­rodudu, Prof. C. Nwosu, Mr Keziechi Og­aziechi, Mr Rex An­unobi, Mrs Love Ine­h, Mrs Ruby Emele and Mr Simon Ebegbulem.

    Others were Mr Anukwu­em Chukwunyere, Mr Ford Ozurumba, Mr Sta­nley Obidiegwu, Mr Goodluck Nana-Opia, Mrs Ann Dozie, Prof Kenneth Amaeshi, Hajia Rabi Ibrahim, Dr Elias Emedom and Dr Ugorji Ugorji.

  • JUST IN: What Buhari said after seeing projects built by Gov Uzodinma

    JUST IN: What Buhari said after seeing projects built by Gov Uzodinma

    President Mohammadu Buhari on Thursday inaugurated four key projects in Imo State and assured the people of the State of more Federal Government’s presence.

    Addressing the people on the occasion in Owerri, Buhari said he was delighted to see the projects executed by Gov. Hope Uzodinma within a short time.

    He said: “Seeing is believing. I received invitation to come and see what the governor wanted me to see.

    “I have seen it now, justified by his integrity in making sure he is working very hard to get things that are necessary for the good life of the people of the State.

    “I’m really impressed with what he has done.”

    The President, who emphasised the importance of infrastructure and security, said Uzodinma was going through the same problem as himself at the center to make sure that infrastructure was in place.

    “I am very pleased with what I have seen and I assure you that at the center, I will help Imo within the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “I thank you very much for being peaceful and providing the weather for us to go round with the governor to see what he is doing in the state,” the president said.

    Earlier in a speech, Uzodinma expressed joy that the president made the visit, “despite challenges”.

    He recalled that his administration commenced virtual commissioning of projects in March by Buhari.

    He described the projects as strategically and economically important to the people of the state.

    “When I took office last year, I undertook a holistic study of the needs of the people.

    “I found out that the infrastructure of the state had totally collapsed as almost all road network were broken.

    “Owerri was worst hit with flood sacking most part of the city, while property owners had surrendered to the flood, especially within D-Tiger and Chukwuma Nwoha axis,” he said.

    The Governor said the second phase of the Naze Road, through Obinze Link Road, which was abandoned for over 15 years, would be inaugurated before the end of the year.

    He said his administration had done 46 roads, including the Mohammadu Buhari Avenue, housing the Federal Secretariat.

    “We are doing more because we believe that with the right infrastructure, our economic development will be hastened and life would be much better for our people.

    “That is what informed our decision to permanently solve the perennial flooding in the capital city, Owerri.

    “The balloon-driven tunnel at the base of D-Tiger Road was built to check flooding in the area and to recover property swallowed by flood in the last 20 years.

    “The tunnel is 2.45 kilometers in length, 1.8 meters in diameter and between 0.9 and 11.5 meters in depth with 94 manholes,” Uzodinma said.

    He expressed confidence that Owerri would become flood-free, when the second phase of the projects would be completed.

    He said the Egbeada Bypass, also inaugurated by Buhari, would help to ease traffic in the city.

    He further said the new Executive Council chambers, which was rebuilt after 40 years, was equipped with modern communication facilities to ease policy and decision making.

    He thanked the president for his swift response to end the “politically-contrived security breach” in Imo.

    He expressed his administration’s commitment to the peace and unity of the country by building a mini-Nigeria within the state.

    Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, and Chief Andy Uba, the Governorship Candidate of the Progressives Congress in Anambra, attended the event.

    Also in attendance were some ministers and presidential aides from the southeast, the Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Land Development Authority, Mr Paul Ikonne, and other top federal and state government functionaries.

  • VIDEO: Owerri residents line up to welcome Buhari to Imo

    VIDEO: Owerri residents line up to welcome Buhari to Imo

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Owerri, Imo, on one-day official visit where he would inaugurate some developmental projects executed by the State Government.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Owerri residents line up to welcome the President as he arrived in the State to inaugurate projects executed by Governor Hope Uzodinma.

    The President was received at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport by Governor Uzodinma, the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, and the All Progressives Congress Anambra State gubernatorial candidate, Andy Uba.

    Others at the airport to welcome the president included some cabinet Ministers and Presidential aides from the South East,the Executive Secretary of NALDA, Mr Paul Ikonne, as well as other Federal and State government officials.

    The President is expected to, among others, inaugurate First Phase of Naze/Nekede/Ihiagwa/Obinze link road, Balloon Driven/Flood Control Tunnel and Egheada Bypass road.

    Also, before departing Owerri back to Abuja, the president will hold townhall meeting with stakeholders from the South East zone of the country.

    VIDEO: Owerri residents line up to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari as he visits Imo state to inaugurate projects executed by Governor Hope Uzodinma.

    Posted by Sumner Shagari Sambo on Thursday, 9 September 2021

  • Allow NDDC to operate – Uzodimma urges stakeholders

    Allow NDDC to operate – Uzodimma urges stakeholders

    Gov Hope Uzodinma of Imo has appealed to stakeholders to give room for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to work for the development of Nigeria’s oil-rich region.

    The governor made the appeal during a courtesy visit by the NDDC Interim Administrator, Mr. Effiong Akwa, and his team of Directors at the Imo State Government House, Owerri on Tuesday.

    This was contained in a press release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Oguwike Nwachukwu.

    Uzodimma lamented that in the years past, politics had hampered the progress of work by the NDDC, and urged Niger Deltans to de-emphasise politics and sentiments.

    According to him, the NDDC is an interventionist agency established to fast-track development of the oil-producing region of the country and not an ethnic or tribal organization.

    He warned those trying to portray it in that light to stop while regretting that some young people from the region were being sponsored to protest the activities of the NDDC

    He appealed to them to allow peace to reign noting that development can only take place in a peaceful atmosphere.

    Uzodimma also noted that Imo was in dire need of NDDC intervention in the education and health sectors, quality roads infrastructure and provision of sufficient palliatives.

    He specifically implored the NDDC to furnish the hostel it built for the state university so that students could use the facility in comfort and safety.

    The governor also lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio on the choice of Akwa as the NDDC Interim Administrator pending the composition of a new board for the Commission.

    “Since it is the wisdom of Mr President to put in place an Interim Administration, we are bound to respect his position and support the Interim Administrator.”

    Earlier, the NDDC Interim Administrator, Mr Akwa said the visit was both to acknowledge the governor’s strategic importance to Niger Delta development and to seek ways of forging a stronger alliance with the government and people of Imo.

    Akwa said the Interim Management was meeting with important stakeholders of the Niger Delta region as directed by President Buhari.

    The administrator said this was important because partnership was a key aspect in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);

    “It advocates for a shared vision, shared responsibility, shared commitment, as well as shared budgeting process and implementation of development initiatives.

    “After so many years of neglect, it is important that, together, we do far more for our people and a region which has provided the bulk of Nigeria’s wealth, and accounted for our rise in the comity of nations,” Akwa said.

    He also commended the governor for embarking on many projects which were helping to open up areas with rich agricultural potential.

    “You are helping to boost the economy of these areas and helping to improve the living conditions of the people. We are here to learn from you,” he said.

    The NDDC boss stressed the importance of energising the commission’s Presidential Advisory Council, comprising the state governors in the nine Niger Delta states.

    “The past practice where the commission undertook projects and programmes in the states, without first building a working coalition with the state governments, to integrate our plans, policies, projects and programmes into the state government’s overall master plan, will no longer hold.

    “We are determined to continue to make a difference in the Niger Delta region in general, and in Imo State, in particular.

    “We remain committed to providing projects and programmes of enduring quality because to build the Niger Delta is to build ourselves,” he said.

    The Interim Management team handed over four waste disposal trucks to the Imo State Government to assist the efforts towards improving the sanitary conditions of the cities in the state.

  • South East Governors wade into Imo gov’t, Okorocha tug-of-war

    South East Governors wade into Imo gov’t, Okorocha tug-of-war

    The South-East Governors Forum has waded into the impasse between the Imo government and the state’s former governor, Sen. Rochas Okorocha.

    Recall that a squabble ensued between both sides’ supporters on Feb. 21 when Okorocha allegedly broke into the Royal Spring Palm Apartment, Owerri, sealed by the Imo government on Feb. 19.

    The situation was brought under control by the Imo Police Command, which later arrested the senator.

    Chairman of the forum, Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Francis Nwaze on Monday said that the forum was already handling the issue.

    Umahi said that contacts have already been made to resolve the impasse and assured that both parties have agreed to a truce.

    “South-east leaders are capable of settling their disputes internally instead of washing their linen in public.

    “We sue for calm among the supporters of both leaders to ensure a timely and amicable resolution of the disagreement,’’ the statement read.

    The forum’s chairman urged Imo and south-east citizens to conduct their business peacefully and according to the law.

    “They should also shun provocative statements as we work towards restoring normalcy to the situation.’’

  • See videos and pictures of Okorocha and Uzodinma war in Imo State

    See videos and pictures of Okorocha and Uzodinma war in Imo State

    The seeming tug-of-war brewing between former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and incumbent, Hope Uzodinma has assumed a new dimension.

    Uzodinma had sealed Royal Spring Palm belonging to Okorocha, but the former Governor, who is a sitting Senator, stormed the property on Sunday to unseal the premises.

    Okorocha was accompanied by his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu and several of his loyalists in the move to unseal the property.

    On arrival at the property, he demanded to enter the estate, telling the security personnel guarding the place that there was no court order to back up the sealing of the building.

    Hence, he insisted on entering the building, which he eventually did after the locks were broken by his men.

    Gunshots started when two of Uzodinma’s aides, Chinasa Nwaneri and Eric Uwakwe arrived at the place with another group of police officers and young men.

    Open confrontation followed, leading to sporadic shooting and one of Okorocha’s men got hit by a bullet.

    See photos and videos below:

    #Breaking News.. Senator Rochas Okorocha Vs Hope Uzodinma at WAR.???

    #breaking News Senator Rochas Okorocha Vs Hope Uzodinma at WAR. S.a Special duties to Hope Uzodinma attack Okorocha with thugs all cars destroy.????? #WeMoveTogether

    Posted by Bitter Truth on Sunday, 21 February 2021

    The incident has led to the arrest of the former Imo State Governor.

  • Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma confirms inviting Military to flush out ESN, IPOB members in Orlu

    Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma confirms inviting Military to flush out ESN, IPOB members in Orlu

    Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State on Friday confirmed inviting military to flush out members of Eastern Security Network (ESN) linked with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that there was panic in Orlu and Orsu Local Government Areas of Imo State on Thursday as the Nigerian military began operations in search of the camps.

    TNG recalls that a similar incident had played out some three weeks ago with some residents shot dead.

    Speaking on the most recent military operations, the governor stated that he invited soldiers in Orlu to restore calm in the area after members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), killed several policemen and innocent citizens in the area.

    Uzodimma, who gave the explanation through the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Cyprain Akaolisa, at a press briefing in Owerri, said the narrative that innocent people were being killed by the military was intended to shift attention from the despicable activities of IPOB in Orlu.

    According to the governor, the government discovered that there were deliberate attempts by IPOB to attack Orlu people and the government in the guise that they were looking for Fulani herdsmen.

    These attacks, he said, started during the #Endsars protests last year.

    Uzodimma said, “The attacks on police stations and killing of policemen during #Endsars were carried out by IPOB and not protesting youths for the sole purpose of hijacking and stealing weapons.

    “They are now using those arms to destroy Orlu.

    “They killed 10 policemen, a prominent Orlu soon, Ignatius Obiezu and one Emmanuel Okeke (Soludo) collected their Hilux vehicles

    “The IPOB also shot and killed four Moslems doing their business in Orlu.

    “IPOB said they were looking for herdsmen, but these victims they killed before the crisis, were they herdsmen?

    “We heard Nnamdi Kanu celebrating the activities of his men in Orlu that they are doing well by killing innocent citizens. There’s no Fulani herdsmen in Orlu.

    “So, we asked ourselves, what is the colouration that IPOB is trying to give this onslaught in Orlu?

    “That’s why our government decided to invite military to flush out IPOB and their so called ESN.

    “We discovered that there was a camp which IPOB established at Umutanze, Orlu and we sent police to dislodge them. But, it happened that they attacked the policemen and killed two of them. It was after they killed those policemen that government had to bring in the military.

    “It was not easy for the military to push them out of that place. But the military succeeded. That was why they came on a reprisal attack and killed the innocent ones.

    “They also relocated to Udah in Orsu LGA, a camp at a boundary between Imo and Anambra States. The place is a very depressed groove that no one can easily enter.

    “For the past two weeks, surveillance was monitoring that place and there were more than 200 people being trained in that camp. The military had to deploy their arsenal to diminish the IPOB people there.”

    The governor expressed surprise that people could call for withdrawal of soldiers from Orlu.

    “We can’t do that. We can’t fold our arms for these boys to continue to kill people everyday”

  • Imo gov, Uzodinma drops message for those calling him ‘Supreme Court Governor’

    Imo gov, Uzodinma drops message for those calling him ‘Supreme Court Governor’

    Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has faulted those referring to him as a “Supreme Court Governor”, saying that they are ignorant.

    Uzodinma spoke on Channels Television’s Hard Copy programme monitored on Friday.

    The governor explained that he emerged through a legitimate means, adding that he was not the first to be favoured by a Supreme Court judgement.

    Asked how he feels when people call him a Supreme Court governor, Uzodinma said, “It is the height of ignorance because they don’t know what they are saying. There is a reason for the Supreme Court. In the doctrine and principle of democracy, the law expected that there would be grievances and malpractices in the electoral process.

    “When this happens, the only legitimate right you have is to seek redress at the court. And of course, the court determines. Remember that this is not the first time, so many elections had held where the candidates went to court and they got justice. So, why will mine be different?

    “Human beings voted and the votes were not counted. I went to the Supreme Court and INEC was unable to explain why they did not enter the result. It was a simple judgment. The Supreme Court said INEC was wrong.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that apex court had, on January 14, removed Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party on the ground that he did not score the lawful majority votes in the Imo governorship race.

    The court said it arrived at that decision after adding votes scored by Uzodinma in 388 polling units, which showed that he won the race.

    It subsequently declared Uzodinma the winner of the election and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to give him a Certificate of Return as elected Imo governor.

    Ihedioha, however, returned to the Supreme Court with a view to seeking a review of the judgement that removed him from office but failed.