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Tag: Ikpeazu

  • Ikpeazu’s claim of leaving N24bn in Abia false – Special Adviser

    Ikpeazu’s claim of leaving N24bn in Abia false – Special Adviser

    Mr. Mike Akpara, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Abia on Finance, has described the claim by former Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of leaving N24 bilion in the state government coffers as false.

    Akpara made this known on Thursday during a press conference at the Government House, Umuahia.

    According to reports, one Ikechukwu Iroha, a former aide of Ikpeazu, had made a Facebook post that several billions of naira were allegedly left behind for the Gov. Alex Otti led-administration by the former governor.

    The special adviser said that neither  Ikpeazu nor his spokespersons had refuted the false and offensive claims contained in the Facebook post.

    He said allies and former aides of Ikpeazu had resorted to  circulating the fake news with the intent to misrepresent facts and deceive the public, especially workers and pensioners.

    Akpara called on the people of Abia to disregard the false claims made by the previous administration, adding that state government’s records show that as at May 28 the state had a huge financial liability of N191 billion.

    He said that “the  Okezie Ikpeazu-led government did not leave any N24 billion in the account of Abia Government as they falsely claimed.

    “The 200 million U.S dollar and 50 million US dollars they claimed they left for the new administration are loans they were pursuing which are yet to crystalise.

    “Poor internal generation of revenue, with the little they generated frittered away in payment to consultants for no added value and they pay as much as 20% which is highly unethical.

    “The members of the Ikpeazu-led administration were busy picking money from everywhere towards the end of their tenure  as the N2.8 billion from SURE-P that came in through the Union Bank few days to Inauguration was taken by them.

    “We made efforts to stop them from taking the money but we lost out, however, we succeeded in stopping them from taking the N3 billion from JAAC, as we went as far as writing EFCC to stop them.”

    Akpara said that the previous administration left humongous  physical liabilities in all the key institutions which resulted in loss of Abia State University Teaching Hospital and Abia State Polytechnic accreditation for the first time in history.

    According to him, the regulatory authorities said that the basis for  withdrawing the accreditation of the institutions was non-payment of salaries, lack of equipment and lack of infrastructure.

    He said that the failure of Ikpeazu  to pay April and May salaries before leaving office was another indication that there was no money in the state government’s coffers.

    Akpara said that “if Ikpeazu is trying to preempt anti-corruption agencies by making such provocative false claims, he should know that they work with facts and figures.

    “Even if he runs into the APC to seek refuge as he is planning to do, these anti-corruption agencies would pursue and bring him to justice from there.

    “Already EFCC is on their trail and as we speak some of their bankers are being invited for questioning by the agency.”

    He said that the payment of salaries and pension remain sarcrosant, adding that the government had evolved payment strategies that would ensure that arrears and gratuities are completely paid before December and that workers would be paid on 28th of every month.

  • Abia South: Ikpeazu calls for nullification of Abaribe’s victory

    Abia South: Ikpeazu calls for nullification of Abaribe’s victory

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has called for the nullification of the declaration of Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe as the winner of Abia South Senatorial elections of Feb. 25.

    Ikpeazu, who is the Abia South senatorial districts candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Feb. 25 election, also faulted Independent National Electoral Commission’s, (INEC) declaration of Sen. Abaribe as winner of the election.

    Abaribe contested the election under All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), and according to INEC, he scored the highest votes in the election in which 108 polling units could not vote.

    The Returning Officer of the election, Prof Georgina Ugwuanyi had early morning on Tuesday declared the election inconclusive but returned in the afternoon to announce winners.

    Ikpeazu, who spoke through the PDP senatorial election collation agent, Mr Charles Esonu, noted that there were over 200, 000 voters in the 108 polling units where election did not hold.

    Ikpeazu said that the affected areas had a cumulative voter population of over 200, 000 which was more than the votes scored by the parties.

    He described the declaration as a “charade and brazen display of partiality” because the number of voters who did not vote were more than the total votes scored by the parties.

    He expressed shock that the INEC Returning Officer still went ahead despite protests from party agents, to declare winners in an inconclusive election which INEC had earlier scheduled a date for.

    Ikpeazu said that over 50,000 PDP supporters could not vote due to nonprovision and late arrival of electoral materials in most of the polling units in the six local government areas of the constituency.

    He also alleged that complaints by the PDP agents over the manipulation of election results and bypass of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) were ignored by INEC officials.

    He described INEC’s action as “irrational, biased, undemocratic” and demanded an urgent nullification of the declaration of a winner in an inconclusive election.

    Ikpeazu also called for the immediate rescheduling of election in the 108 polling units in the constituency where voting could not hold.

  • G-5 Gov Ikpeazu in dilemma over replacement of Prof Ikonne as Ayu must write INEC

    G-5 Gov Ikpeazu in dilemma over replacement of Prof Ikonne as Ayu must write INEC

    Barely two months to guber elections, the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu is in a dilemma over who replaces the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Professor Eleazar Ikonne who passed on just on Wednesday after a brief illness.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reliably gathered that this development has thrown the G-5 integrity group into confusion as the chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu who is at loggerheads with the group must write INEC within two weeks for a replacement.

    A topnotch of the PDP who spoke to TNG under the condition of anonymity revealed that Ikonne’s passage has placed Ikpeazu who is a prominent proponent of Ayu must vacate office saga into a beggarly position “because if Ayu refuses to play along that’s the end for PDP in Abia.

    “Mind you, Ikpeazu has just two weeks to throw the dice, and feelers we are getting from PDP secretariat is that Ayu may demand for his own pound of flesh to equate the scores.

    Asked how this will pawn out for PDP as the party too stands to lose if opposition wins, the source said:”well, this is politics, if the Abia governor plays his game well things might change.

    “If he decides to bury his pride and walk the talk by going to beg party leaders and critical stakeholders, he might be forgiven or Abia is gone for good.

    “Gone for good because without Ayu’s endorsement, another primary can’t be conducted and what it translates to is that PDP would be well roasted.

    TNG recalls, the integrity group decided to frustrate Ayu due to what they considered marginalisation of the south in the main opposition party in Nigeria.

    Several meetings were held in different parts of Europe but no succour to date and the presidential election is barely one month from today.

  • Abia gov, Ikpeazu’s wife rescues widow attacked for alleged witchcraft

    Abia gov, Ikpeazu’s wife rescues widow attacked for alleged witchcraft

    The Wife of Abia Gov., Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, has rescued a widow, Mrs Amarachi Okechi, who was brutally assaulted at Umueghu Amaegbuato Community for alleged witchcraft.

    Mr Chika Ojiegbe, the Chief Press Secretary to Ikpeazu, disclosed this on Monday, while addressing newsmen in Umuahia on the ugly development.

    Okechi was allegedly flogged repeatedly and held hostage for several days after being accused of being a witch by her husband’s relatives.

    Ojiegbe said: “When the First Lady heard about it on Sunday night, she immediately swung into action to rescue the woman.

    “Several stakeholders were involved in rescuing her alive, which is the first action that needed to be taken and this has been done.

    “Also, the woman has been taken to an undisclosed public hospital for treatment.

    “The next stage will be to address the issues surrounding the matter.

    “The case will be closely monitored,” he said, adding that Ikpeazu would foot the bill for her medical treatment.

    Ojiegbe said the rescue team included officials from the Gender Based Violence Resource Centre, Office of the Wife of thr Gov.

    He described the allegations of witchcraft as strange to the laws of the land.

    According to him, what is known to law is that no one can take the law into their hands to execute jungle justice.

    “In this case the law will take its course.

    “Ikpeazu will continue to work to prevent and mitigate such violence against humans.

    “She will also continue to sensitise the people against such harmful traditional practices, especially in rural communities,” Ojiegbe said.

    He further said that such incidents were not acceptable in the state.

    He said that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law had been domesticated and being implemented in Abia.

    Ojiegbe also said that efforts were being made for the House of Assembly to domesticate the Obnoxious Widowhood Practices Prohibition Bill, Equal Opportunities Bill, Child Rights Bill, Disability Bill and many other rights bills.

    Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, said that the matter had been brought to the command.

    Ogbonna said that the command had commenced full investigation into it but no arrest had yet been made.

  • Abia State Governor, Ikpeazu visits Buhari, explains why South East region should produce president in 2023

    Abia State Governor, Ikpeazu visits Buhari, explains why South East region should produce president in 2023

    The Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu has said that the Southeast has a right to produce Nigeria’s next president because the people have a better understanding of Nigeria as a whole.

    Ikpeazu made this assertion today after a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in his office at the State House.

    “I think that the southeasterners have a right to take a shot at the presidency of Nigeria and I dare say that our qualification starts from the fact that we understand and know Nigeria better than the other states of Nigeria.

    “I dare say, this is my opinion. We go everywhere, we are everywhere, we invest everywhere, we are Pan-Nigerian people,” the governor declared.

    On a lighter note, he added, “Today, a lot of people are afraid of Sambisa, but for an Igbo man, Sambisa is a business opportunity,” he grinned.

    In a chat with State House correspondents, Ikpeazu listed some qualities that Nigeria’s next leader must possess and urged Nigerians and political parties to be magnanimous and consider the yearnings and aspirations of the southeast geo-political zone.

    “The question of Nigeria president of southeast extraction is a national question that required negotiation, discussion and conversation with all parts of this country and I am least qualified to determine what happened in 2023.

    “I also want to spend my time supporting the incumbent president to do his time and do his best while we wait for what happens to begin to unfold. So, these are my views about the presidency

    “In first place, anybody who wants to aspire to the highest post of the presidency, it doesn’t matter where you come from, must have what I regard as Pan-Nigerian mentality. He must be somebody who has an understanding of all the contending interests and influences in this country. He must understand that we are a country of diversity with the different persuasions, traditional, cultural, religious and all of these must be put at a place where you can understand and respect them.

    “That individual must also be somebody who is ready to accommodate the youths of this country because turning it into a slogan the fact that youths are our leaders of our future have bit sever us correctly because we are drifting into an age that youths understand which many people may not understand, those who grew up before this era.

    “So, that people must be willing to accommodate the youth without necessarily throwing away very experienced ones, he must be able to find a labyrinth of all the interests.

    “He must also reflect an extreme women agenda. Such a must also be in investor-friendly, he must be and individual who understands the nuances of economics and what is the relationship between international politics and economy and the person must be strong enough to face up to the issue on the front burner, which is security.

    “He must be able to create jobs, he must be able to not deploy the kinetic device all the time, he must able to also listen and negotiate peace.

    “I’m a Christian and religion believes that you seek peace and you will find it. So, that which you seek is not commonplace. So, must be able to dredge up courage to listen to one another and then find a middle course all the time for the interest of our people.

    “What the political parties need to do. Well, the political parties need to be sensitive to the feelings of the various contending ground because politics should not be a winners take all thing.

    “It’s not at all times that you want to use your might, at times you listen even to those whom you think are weak or those whom you think may not be able to find themselves at the centre stage due to circumstances.

    “Because of you don’t do that, you will bottle up sentiments that will implode the system going forward. So, you must be able to create ventilations from here and there so that you can accommodate diverse opinions and have strategies to help you run the country.

    “So, all the political parties should be alive to this sentiments and feelings in taking decisions going forward. And we are at a critical point in our history and anything that is self-serving, anything that is selfish, anything that is leads to winner take all mentality should be jettisoned at this time. We need to rescue our nation; we need to work hard to put Nigeria in a strong footing before we can begin to look at other things.

    “So, if we have this at the back of our minds, my thinking is that we will arrive at the fact that there is a geo-political zone that has been clamoring and yearning for an opportunity to lead.

    “And we should be gracious and magnanimous enough to give consideration to such yearnings and aspiration.

    “But as I said earlier it cannot not be done in isolation. It’s not a matter right, it’s not a matter of ‘I have to.’ It’s a matter of negotiation, conversation and discussion going forward.

    “And I think Nigeria is alive to all of that. We can find people who listen,” Governor Ikpeazu enunciated.

    He emphasized that he is not interested in the presidency, noting that he is very busy as governor and “thinking about what I will become now will amount to shortchanging my people who gave me a mandate for an initial four years and renewed it for another four years and it will terminate around May 2023”.

    According to Ikpeazu, it will be self-serving for him to begin to think about what he will become instead of concentrating on serving his people for the period which he has been elected to serve.

  • Ikpeazu reviews curfew in Aba, Umuahia, others

    Ikpeazu reviews curfew in Aba, Umuahia, others

    The Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led Abia State Government has announced a review of the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Aba, Umuahia, Ohafia, Bende, Umunneochi and Arochukwu Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    The Commissioner for Information, Chief John Kalu, announced the review in a statement in Umuahia on Wednesday.

    Kalu stated that the curfew now holds from 10pm to 6am as against 8pm to 6am in Aba and Umuahia, the state capital, with effect from June 18.

    In Ohafia, Bende, Umunneochi and Arochukwu LGAs, the curfew would now be effective from 8pm to 6am as against 6pm to 6am.

    The commissioner noted that the relaxation of the curfew followed noticeable security improvement in the state and its neighboring states.

    “Government wishes to advise citizens and residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security agents,” he stated.

    He admonished residents to ensure full compliance with the new curfew regimes which, according to him, is subject to further reviews.

    Recall that the state government imposed curfew on Aba, Umuahia, Ohafia and Arochukwu on April 6, following the escalation in security breaches in the areas.

    The measure was later extended to Bende and Umunneochi LGAs in the wake of the spread in the phenomenon.

    The commissioner stated that the curfew became necessary to contain the security challenges and ensure the protection of lives and property across the state.

  • Be vigilant; we’ve uncovered plans to attack Abia, Gov Ikpeazu tells residents

    Be vigilant; we’ve uncovered plans to attack Abia, Gov Ikpeazu tells residents

    The Abia State Government said it had uncovered a plot by some unidentified hoodlums to carry out an attack in the state.

    Information Commissioner John Okiyi-Kalu said in a statement that the hoodlums’ targets were key locations.

    Okiyi-Kalu said security agencies in the state have been fully mobilised and placed on high alert to thwart the planned attack and bring those concerned to justice swiftly.

    He advised members of the public to be vigilant and ensure that they keep indoors between 6pm and 8am.

    He said: “We wish to advise members of the public to be extra vigilant, ensure they are at home before the curfew hours of 8pm to 6am as well as monitor the activities of their neighbours.

    “Parents and guardians are also strongly advised to ensure that their children and wards are securely at home and not in any way associated with the hoodlums some of whom are said to be coming from outside the state.

    “Law abiding citizens are encouraged to go about their normal duties but ensure they return home before 6pm to avoid the rush associated with movement before the onset of curfew time.

    “While we remain confident that the security architecture within the state is robust enough to prevent the planned attack and/or bring those involved in the plot swiftly to justice, the state government led by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu will not spare any resource in ensuring the protection of law abiding citizens.”

  • Why South-East Governors launched ‘Ebube Agu’ – Ikpeazu

    Why South-East Governors launched ‘Ebube Agu’ – Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has explained why South East governors formed their own regional security outfit, ‘Ebube Agu’.

    Ikpeazu who spoke on Sunday on a monitored Channels Television programme said the new security outfit would oversee and monitor the activities of vigilante groups in the region.

    “Today we have come together to synergise and see how best we can protect lives and properties of citizens within this geopolitical zone,” he said.

    “Security situation across Nigeria as it is today is dynamic. We are just trying to respond to our peculiar circumstances in the southeast.”

    When asked if the new security outfit would bear arms and wear uniforms, Governor Ikpeazu neither confirmed nor denied it.

    The Abia governor explained that he and his colleagues from Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu would cooperate to ensure that operatives of EBUBE AGU would be properly equipped.

    “Ebube Agu would be a security outfit both in name, purpose and action. It will be properly equipped. I want to assure you that all the states in the southeast already has various vigilante outfits.

    “In Abia, we call our own ‘the Homeland Security outfit.’ In Enugu, it is called the Forest Guards. But we want to call for a harmonised synergised system of action to be able to compare notes to be able to set up digital platforms that can respond to communication challenges,” he added.

    Speaking further, Ikpeazu said the new outfit would be rural-based, adding “it is also going to be intelligence-based.

    The governor also spoke on his administration’s strides in Abia, noting that the state since his assumption into office in 2015 “remains one of the safest states in Nigeria and we have statistics to show for that.

    On his political future in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under whose platform he was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, Ikpeazu reiterated his commitment to remain in the party.

    His remarks come shortly after governors from the South East established a security outfit called EBUBE AGU as part of plans to checkmate the rising unrest in the region, stemming from an increase in criminal activities.

    According to a communique put out by governors of the Southeast, the agency is to oversee and monitor the activities of vigilante groups in the region.

    Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, Dave Umahi who read the statement after a meeting in Imo State, noted that the headquarters of EBUBE AGU security outfit will be in Enugu state.

  • JUST IN: Ikpeazu orders shutdown of Abia school after pupils discover explosive device in classroom

    JUST IN: Ikpeazu orders shutdown of Abia school after pupils discover explosive device in classroom

    The Governor Okezie Ikpeazu led Abia State Government on Thursday ordered a temporary shut down of a primary school after the discovery of an explosive device in the classroom.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that the pupils of Union Primary School, Afaraukwu in the Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia saw the object, which they suspected to be a bomb and alerted their teacher.

    The school authorities were said to have alerted the police after evacuating the students.

    It was gathered men of the Abia State Command Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Squad confirmed it to be a bomb.

    They were said to have quickly evacuated the object, certifying the place fit for learning and other academic activities.

    Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi-Kalu, in a statement, said: “Abia State Government is currently working with relevant security agencies in the state to unravel the source and nature of the suspected explosive devices found at Union Primary School, Afaraukwu in Umuahia North LGA.

    “While initial examination of the devices shows evidence of corrosion leading to suspicion of the materials being relics of the civil war era, we are awaiting definite official reports from the EOD squad of the Nigeria Police who are currently investigating the incident.

    “Meanwhile, necessary measures have been taken to protect the pupils and staff of the school with security sweeps ongoing while the school is temporarily closed.”

  • Ikpeazu signs 2021 Appropriation Bill

    Ikpeazu signs 2021 Appropriation Bill

    Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has signed the 2021 Appropriation Bill into law.

    The Bill which was passed by Abia State House of Assembly during the Tuesday plenary of the House was presented to the Governor by the Clerk of the House, Sir John Pedro Irokansi in his Aba Lodge Tuesday night where he endorsed the N131,852,752,000.00 (One Hundred and Thirty One Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty Two Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Two Thousand Naira Only) Budget made up of N69bn for capital expenditure and N62.8bn for recurrent expenditure.

    Recall that Governor Ikpeazu presented the christened Budget of Local Contents and Sustainable Development to the state House of Assembly on the 7th of December, 2020.

    The budget, which is 21.12 per cent higher than 2020 appropriation, comprised N62,624,512,000.00 recurrent expenditure and N69,191,240,000 capital expenditure.

    Ikpeazu noted that the budget was inspired by the quest to reinvent the Abia spirit of industry and ingenuity and stimulate industrialisation through the establishment of Cottage Industries in the 17 council areas of the state.

    It would also help to rejig agencies of government to ensure they become more productive, coordinate effective delivery of services to Abia people, and interpret the vision of delivering multi-sectoral growth across the state.