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Tag: Okorocha

  • 2015 election: Jonathan offered me money to dump APC – Okorocha

    Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has reportedly accused him of offering the governor huge sums of money to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said the former president offered him a second term ticket and an influential ministry if he could dump the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before 2015.

    Okorocha said despite these mouth-watering offers, he decided to remain in the APC. He did not mention the actual amount he was offered by Jonathan.

    The New Telegraph reports that Okorocha spoke when the people of Njaba local government area of the state paid him a visit as he celebrates his 55th birthday.

    The governor said he was very sure at that time that the APC would overwhelmingly defeat the PDP since Nigerians had become tired of the then ruling party.

    He said even though he had not enjoyed much of his struggle to ensure victory for President Buhari, he has not complained.

    “Look at Rivers state where they rigged Rotimi Amaechi out by allocating over 1.2 million votes to the PDP, yet he got lots of juicy positions like the ministry of Transport, NIMASA and all that.

    “But, in all these, have you seen me complain? No, because I know that one day, my time will come and President Buhari will remember me.

    “It may look like it would never come, but if you remain consistent; it would surely come through for you,” he said.

     

  • Market demolition: Owerri community sues Okorocha for N100b

    Market demolition: Owerri community sues Okorocha for N100b

    The Owerri community, host of the recently demolished Eke Ukwu Owere market has sued Governor Rochas Okorocha led Imo State Government.

    The plaintiffs are demanding N100 billion in damages.

    The community, through 12 representatives, is challenging the illegal removal of traders from the market despite a subsisting suit and a restraining court order.

    It is praying the state high court to order the defendants to pay it N100 billion as exemplary damages for ?the unlawful and unconstitutional acts.

    Okorocha, the House of Assembly and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice are the defendants.

    The suit was filed by Chief T.O.S Oparaugo and 11 others (for themselves and on behalf of Owerri Community).

    The community is represented by Chief Unoruka Udechukwu (SAN), who is leading a team of lawyers including two other Senior Advocates of Nigeria – K.C.O Njemanze and? N.A. Nnawuchi.

    In the originating summons, the plaintiffs want the court to declare that? their forceful removal from the market and its demolition despite the pending suit and a restraining court order, without any enabling judicial order, constituted an act of executive impunity and grave violation of the provisions of Sections 6 (1)(2)(3), 36(1), 188(11) and 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

    The community members also asked the court to declare that? by virtue of Sections 6(6)(a) & (b), 36(1), and 272 of the 1999 Constitution, the court has the constitutional power and vires to reverse the government?’s action.

    The plaintiffs say they are entitled to compensation to be determined by the court for injuries and damages caused to them by the Imo State government.

    The plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether their removal from the market and its demolition despite the subsistence of a pending suit, and a restraining order, and without any enabling judicial order, does not constitute an act of state executive impunity and grave violation of the 1999 Constitution.

    The community also wants the court to determine whether by virtue of Sections 6(6)(a) & (b), 36(1), and 272 of the 1999 Constitution , the court has the inherent and constitutional power and vires to reverse the governor’s action.

    The plaintiffs asked the court to hold that they are entitled to compensation for injuries and damages caused to them by the governor through his agents.

    The suit, filed on September 13, is yet to be fixed for hearing.

    On the morning of August 26, bulldozers accompanied by a horde of armed security operatives, acting on Okorocha’s orders, stormed Eke-Ukwu Owerri Market, and forcefully evicted the traders, demolished their shops and destroyed wares worth millions of naira.

    Military men from the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, deployed to maintain law and order during the forceful demolition of the market, shot indiscriminately into the air to prevent any resistance to the demolitions.

    In the process, operatives allegedly shot a 10-year-old boy, Somtochukwu Ibeanusi, who was reportedly trying to assist his parents to evacuate wares trapped inside their shop.

    Thousands of traders lost their livelihoods.

    Okorocha denied reports that at least one life was lost.

    In a press statement by his chief press secretary Sam Onwuemeodo, the state government denied any death.

    It described reports of death as “wicked rumours”.

    The statement read: “It has come to our knowledge, the deliberate and concerted effort being made by some elements who do not love progress to use the relocation of the Ekeukwu Owerri market, to blackmail the government of the day and perhaps cause undue tension in the state.

    “These people who have refused or failed to appreciate the good of relocating Ekeukwu market Owerri to a more acceptable area have been dishing out rumours upon rumours including rumours of people being shot dead. These are wicked rumours.

    “The truth is that the market is government’s property and it is the decision of the government to relocate it to a better place and such action could not have led to such incident.

    “The security personnel around the market were there to ensure peace and they played that role professionally.

    “We are also aware that before now the hoodlums who have been using the market and environs as areas of their operations have been threatening fire and brimstone over the government’s decision to move the market.”

  • Okorocha, Bello, Dickson, 7 other govs owing workers’ salaries despite FG’s release of Paris Club refund – NLC

    …says 10 defaulting governors must give account of Paris Club refund spendings

    …kicks against increase in electricity tariff

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Tuesday made good its intention to name state governors who mismanaged the first and second tranches of the Paris Club refund released to them by the Federal Government.

    The congress also warned the government against approving another increase in electricity tariff, saying it will mobilise its affiliates, social partners and other Nigerians to resist any further increase when Nigerians were yet to get a good service foe the previous increase, which has been declared illegal by the court.

    This was revealed by the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba.

    Wabba who spoke at the National Executive Council meeting of the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in Abuja, said six of the 10 states were in a terrible situation, pointing out that the congress had directed all states chapters whose members are owed more than three months salaries to declare an industrial action.

    In his words: “Out of the 36 states, we have 10 bad case scenario and out of this 10, we have six terrible ones. We have promised to name and shame them. Those states include Imo that has been paying workers salaries in percentage and has not declared utilisation of the bail out fund and Paris Club refund. It is part of the states that ICPC has mentioned in fund diversion.

    “They paid 40 percent pension to their pensioners without their consent and provided a form for them to sign under duress. That is not allowed in law. We have Bayelsa, which has between five to 10 months arrears. Ondo is owing between four and six, Ekiti (five to eight), Benue (five to eight) and Kogi, which is the worst case scenario.

    “We have three categories of workers in Kogi. We have 40 per cent that are being paid up to date, we have 25 per cent that has not been paid between eight and 16 months and another 25 per cent that has not been paid between eight and 21 months. In all, the sectors, they have categorised the workers into three categories.

    “We also have the case of Osun which is also paying in percentage, but is up to date. Ebonyi, unilaterally, without discussion with the union tried to reduce the salaries by certain percentage and have also not made available records of utilisation of the Paris Club refund.

    “We have the case of Zamfara, which is the only state that has not implemented the minimum wage and all attempt (including agreements they have signed) to get them to make available records of utilisation of those funds have failed. The last one is, Abia which has a problem with the parastatals. On the average, other states are above board.

    The NLC chief went on: “As I speak to you, both Zamfara and Benue are on strike and I am aware that Kogi has issued a notice, which is in conformity with the decision we took at our last NEC meeting that any state with liability of more than three months should start an action and we will be there to support them.”

    Speaking on the statement credited to the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power that one of the problem in the power sector was low electricity tariff, Wabba said workers will not accept any further increase in tariff.

    He said: “A few days ago, I received a letter from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission informing us that they want to hold town hall meetings where they want consumers and other stakeholder to contribute. What immediately came to my mind is an attempt again to increase tariff when we have not been able to get out of the one they illegally increased by 45 percent.

    “The twin issue of fuel price increase and electricity tariff has made nonsense of the minimum wage. We have not been able to justify that 45 percent increase, but now, they are coming again. Let me say emphatically that NLC as an organisation and all our affiliates will resist any attempt to increase the electricity tariff again.

    “We have gone to court to challenge their action and the court made pronouncement that the process they followed to effect the last increase was illegal and, therefore, set it aside. Here we are; even to respect that court order has become a problem. We must continue to respect the rule of law. We are still on that issue because no court of law has set aside that judgement.

    “Let us warn those people again because, for them, they must continue to feast on us. If this happens, it means more industries will close and it also means more darkness because the more they increase the tariff, the more darkness we have and more burden on the Nigerian worker. Therefore, we must situate our policies within the context of how it can improve the life of ordinary Nigerian.”

    Speaking on the economic challenge facing the nation, Wabba said: “There is no doubt that our country is passing through very difficult challenges and I think those challenges are to strengthen us, give us hope and make us to think more and be able to respond to issues that affect us. Economies do bubble and burst. Therefore we must not be lamenting that we are in recession or getting out of recession.

    “What matters is how do we put food on the table of the ordinary Nigerian; how do we drive our processes to ensure that industries are working? Once industries don’t work and we don’t produce, but continue to import, the situation will continue because there will always be crave for foreign exchange for us to import and because we don’t export anything, that issue will continue.

    “Our focus must be that our economic model is anchored around the people and around the issues of social justice. Once we don’t do that, then the problem will continue. That is why we have continuously engage the process, including options that are going to work.

    “For instance, the issue of taxation. It is only workers today that pay the correct tax while those that have more than enough, including those with stolen funds, don’t pay tax. Why should you continue to overburden the worker that is already paying the correct tax with more taxation?

    “If I am paying correct tax through pay as you earn, if means that I am paying correct tax and to introduce more tax means double jeopardy. If we are able to access the stamp duty alone, we will be able to generate over two trillion naira per annum. These are issues that we need to address. You cannot continue to rob the poor to make sure that the rich continue to live large.”

    Earlier in his address, NASU National President Comrade Chris Ani said the agitation for restructuring and fiscal federalism were attempts to divert attention from misgovernance and ineptitude the nation has been going through, adding that Nigerians should not be distracted by elements that have actively participated in the looting and mismanagement of our economy and can be found in the two major political parties.

    Ani said what workers needed at this point was time is not whether more power should be given to states, but to know how they have managed the power at their disposal.

    Congratulating the government and its officials for bringing the economy out of recession, Ani said the union will only join the celebration when workers’ “welfare improves; jobs are secured; salaries are paid in full as and when due; wage increase is de-frozen and other withheld benefits are paid”.

     

  • No reasonable Igbo man will support secession, Okorocha blasts Kanu

    No reasonable Igbo man will support secession, Okorocha blasts Kanu

    Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, yesterday urged the Federal Government and citizens to treat the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, as an individual whose views do not represent those of the generality of Igbo.

    No reasonable Igbo man, the governor said, “would support secession or division of the country.”

    Okorocha who spoke at the new Yam festival organised by the

    State Council of Traditional Rulers said that “everyone that loves Ndigbo has condemned the activities of IPOB.”

    The Ooni of Ife, His Majesty Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who attended the function said he would not condemn the IPOB elements but would rather ask that they be made to channel their energy positively.

    Okorocha said: “I can see that the unity of Nigeria is today dramatised in the land of Imo State. I say so because growing up as a child, I never knew where I came from because I found myself somewhere in Plateau State as a little boy and the only language I could speak was the Hausa language and I had no choice because that was where I was brought up.

    “So, I grew up being born an Igbo man, but was reared in the North and was made financially buoyant in the South-West. So I have declared myself that in no way should I be found as a tribalised Nigerian. I will remain detribalised as long as Igbo gave me parentage and childhood, as long as North reared and nurtured me and for as long as Southwest empowered me. My community and my identity is Nigeria.

    “The Igbo business men have more real estates and more properties and assets outside Igbo land than in Igbo land. So, I want to dissociate Igbo from this very thing that Igbo want to go for secession. A man that wants to go for secession cannot build mansions in Lagos, Kano, Plateau and the rest of the states.

    “I think we should single out this act of this young man from the rest of Nigerians. My worry again stands strongly on the fact that today, the issue of IPOB is being politicised. Today, most of them that never worked with the Buhari-led government are using this as an opportunity to fight the federal government. Call those people to order. It’s not far-fetched who these people are. Some of them are busy visiting Kanu’s house and encouraging him. Those people should make a rethink, because they are not doing this nation any good.”

  • ‘Buhari must probe Okorocha, soldiers involved in Owerri market killings’

    A group, Concerned Imo indigenes resident in Abuja have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the use of soldiers for Saturday’s demolition of Ekeukwu Market, Owerri, by the Governor Rochas Okorocha-led Imo state government.

    Recall TheNewsGuru had earlier reported that two people were feared dead in the incident, including a 10-year-old boy, Somtochukwu Igboanusi.

    Chief Sam Obaji, who spoke on behalf of the group on Tuesday in Abuja, urged Buhari to set up a judicial commission of inquiry into circumstances surrounding the use of armed personnel for the demolition.

    He said that anybody involved in the unlawful operation should be prosecuted in accordance with the law. “ We are disheartened that the government involved the military in a civil operation where there is no breakdown of law and order.

    “ There is no national security consideration in the demolition of market that police supervision will not be enough. “The government should have recognised that all over the world, including across cities in Nigeria, demolition would be greeted by protests.’’

    Obaji said that as leaders, they were in support of government’s renewal project in Imo but stressed that government projects should not inflict hardship on the people.

    “ In as much as it is the priority of government to determine the direction of urban renewal, we believe that a responsive and responsible government would undertake a process that minimises hardship and disruption to economic and social lives of citizens.’’

    He said that Gov. Rochas Okorocha was behaving like an emperor, considering that a High Court, presided by Justice S.I. Okpara, restrained the government from carrying out the demolition. Obaji accused the governor of heating up the polity as the spot provided at Agbeada for the traders had no infrastructure.

    He also questioned the haste for the demolition against the background that Imo had many uncompleted projects. Former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Agency, Dr. Sam Amadi and Chairman of Dozie Owerri group, Chief Tony Anyadike were among those at the briefing.

  • 2 killed in Owerri as youths resist relocation of market

    2 killed in Owerri as youths resist relocation of market

    OWERRI, the Imo State capital, was on Saturday, thrown into confusion, as angry youths clashed with security operatives, who were enforcing the relocation of a market on the orders of Governor Rochas Okorocha.

    Two people were said to have been killed in the fracas, while scores sustained bullet wounds in the clash and rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in the city for urgent medical attention.

    Nurses at the centre could not respond to questions by our correspondent as one of them said, “My friend, as you can see, we are busy trying to save life. What else do you want to hear from us.”

    Trouble erupted when a combined team of the police, army, DSS, NSCDC and those of the Imo security network stormed the market situated on the ever-busy Douglas road with bulldozers to effect the relocation of the market to Egbeada in the Mbaitoli council area as directed by the state government.

    But, no sooner had the security agents arrived the market, than the already mobilised youths of the town called the bluff out of them.

    Armed with dangerous weapons and chanting solidarity songs with placards bearing various inscriptions which conveyed their opposition to the relocation, the youths began to hurl missiles at the security agents who did not dally to respond accordingly.

    In the crossfire that ensued, scores of individuals sustained bullet wounds just as one of them, who was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, was later confirmed dead and his body deposited in the morgue.

    Expectedly, the crisis paralysed commercial activities and vehicular movements, thereby forcing a number of individuals to trek long distances before getting to their destinations, even as security was beefed up in all strategic points within the city.

    An eye witness said that one Sabastine Oparaku of the Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM) was relaxing in his palour at No 5/7 Douglas road when a stray bullet pierced through the front door of his house and hit him.

    President General of the Owerri Community Assembly, Chief Felix Ngoka, told Sunday Tribune that blood would inevitably flow should the government enforce the much publicised relocation.

    “This is a matter that is in court and there is a subsisting injunction restraining Governor Rochas Okorocha from tampering with the market. We are therefore surprised that a governor who is supposed to be the custodian of the law is now teaching us to disobey the law,” he said.

    According to him, the market has been at its current location and for over 200 years, it is both the identity and pride of the people as bequeathed to them by their ancestors.

    “Owerri People are traditionally peace and law abiding and we are here to defend the court injunction which has restrained Okorocha from tampering with our ancestral market. We are ready to lay down our lives to ensure that the market is not relocated unless the count rules other wise.”

    Ngoka, who dismissed Okorocha’s real reasons for his decision to move the market to Egbeada, in the Mbaitoli council area of the state as baseless, said that Owerri indigenes had all along done something to eliminate street/road side trading in the town.

  • I won’t contest against Buhari in 2019 if he seeks re-election – Okorocha

    I won’t contest against Buhari in 2019 if he seeks re-election – Okorocha

    Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has said he will not run against President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 if he (Buhari) decides to seek re-election into office.

    The governor said this in Owerri, the Imo State capital when he addressed youth delegates from all the geo-political zones of the country, who paid him a courtesy visit.

    Okorocha stressed that President Buhari meant well for the nation and should be given all the support he deserved.

    He added that he will not also run at any given time unless 10 million Nigerians would endorse him.

    The governor said: “I will not run in 2019 if President Muhammadu Buhari will be running. Even at that, I will not also run at any given time unless 10 million Nigerians endorse me.

    “May I remind all of you that my joy this evening has no bounds for the singular fact that the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, northern minorities, western and eastern minorities, Muslims and Christians and others can sit down in a roundtable and speak like members of one family. If only for this, my mission for this nation is today achieved.

    “I am an Igbo man with Igbo parentage. I was born and raised in the north. The north gave me education, guaranteed my childhood, even when I was not worthy to be called anybody in this world.

    “I did all my schooling— primary, secondary and tertiary— in the northern part of this country. I finished and needed to be successful and wealthy. My encounter with someone from the South-West gave me the financial empowerment.

    “So you can see that in my person, I have no choice whatsoever but to be a detribalized Nigerian, having been born of Igbo parentage, raised up by the North and empowered by the West. Nigeria remains my constituency.

    “Most of you may not know that I am not in politics for self-aggrandizement or as a means to seek livelihood. I am in this job for the glory of the job, not for the profit and for the honour of this job, not for the wealth in it.

    “I believe that one day it will become a manifest truth that somebody somewhere really cared for this nation.

    “In my quiet time have I gone through lamentations, thinking about our nation and particularly. So is the youth of Nigeria, believe me, if our youths are not alright, our nation can never be alright.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Buhari traveled for medical check-up in London on Sunday, May 7, more than a month he came back into the country from a previous medical vacation.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Okorocha, who was part of the delegation of APC governors, ministers and leaders who met with the president on Sunday said he (Buhari) is recuperating fast and unperturbed by series of ‘lies’ told about his health condition.

    The governor also hinted that going by the president’s disposition after the meeting, he might return back to the country in the next two weeks.

  • Buhari’s ill-health: ‘Fani-Kayode‎ is a spoilt child, hardly talks like human being’ – Okorocha

    Buhari’s ill-health: ‘Fani-Kayode‎ is a spoilt child, hardly talks like human being’ – Okorocha

    The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has reacted to statement credited to former aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode concerning the images showing All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftains in Abuja House, London with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Fani-Kayode had described the images as fake and added that Okorocha, who conveyed the message, was a liar.

    In his reaction to the former minister’s claim, Okorocha described him as a spoilt child.

    The governor responded through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, saying, “The guy (Fani-Kayode) is a spoilt child, one of those whose parents over pampered they hardly talk like human beings. Apart from somebody who went into government, he is not known for doing business.

    “I wonder if he has ever worked and all of a sudden he had political appointment.

    “He has nothing else to brandish apart from the father’s name. Remove his father’s name; I don’t think he is a human being.
    “Rochas grew from the scratch. By the grace of God and hard work, he is where he is today. But that one apart from coming to politics what else does he have to brandish?”

  • Medical vacation: Buhari to return in two weeks – Okorocha

    Medical vacation: Buhari to return in two weeks – Okorocha

    Governor Rochas Okorocha has said President Muhammadu Buhari may return to the country in two weeks going by his improved health when he (Okorocha) led a delegation of some Governors, Ministers, and leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to visit the president on Sunday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Buhari traveled for medical check-up in London on Sunday, May 7, more than a month he came back into the country from a previous medical vacation.

    According to the BBC, Okorocha, who was part of the delegation, said he expects President Buhari to return home from the UK within the next two weeks.

    Governor Okorocha said President Buhari was completely unperturbed by the cocktail of lies. He, instead, sent his best wishes to Nigerians.

    According to the governor, Nigerians don’t have to worry at all, adding that President Buhari will be back as soon as the doctors give him the green light.

    “By our visit to London today, the merchants of lies have been put out of business and Nigerians will not buy the garbage they have been selling.

    “All those who look up to fake news can find better use for their time,” Governor Okorocha said.

    Governors Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa; Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna; Yahaya Bello of Kogi; and APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, were also in the delegation.

  • 2019: PDP not a threat to APC – Okorocha

    Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on Thursday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not in any way stand as a threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “PDP is a non issue; we don’t even care about that. We defeated them when they were in power, so what is different when we are now in power?”

    Okorocha, who is also APC Governors Forum Chairman, spoke after he led his colleagues to a meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical vacation is not stopping the ruling party from holding its convention.

    According to him, the party was still trying to put its house in order before the convention can take place.

    He said: “We came to discuss issues relating to our party and our government and how to move our party forward.

    “We discussed a lot of issues on how to move the party forward, how to strengthen the party and how to make sure our party remains victorious in all elections. Very soon we will have a convention. That is part of the things we are discussing.

    “The convention not taking place has nothing to do with the absence of the President or the Acting President. We are just putting our house in order and making sure things are in the right form before we kick off.