Abia court dissolves 3-yr-old marriage over desertion by husband

May 31, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


An Aba-la-Ohazu Customary Court in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia has dissolved the marriage between one  Penelope Daniel and her husband, Onyebuchi,  over  the latter’s desertion.

Penelope, who was the petitioner, had told the court on Wednesday that her husband had caused her much agony and pain by deserting  her and their only child  for over one year.

She asked the court to dissolve the marriage which was contracted under the traditional customs of  Eziudo and Ukpakiri people of Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia on Dec.  16, 2014.

Penelope,  was represented by Mr Onu Odumodu while  Onyebuchi was neither present nor did he send  a  representative.

Giving his ruling, Senior Magistrate Diamond Olewengwa noted that the court ensured that the respondent was served court processes to enable him appear to defend his case.

He said the respondent, in  choosing not to appear in court, indicated  that he had  acceded to  the petition seeking dissolution of  the marriage.

Olewengwa also said  that the parties had failed to perform their conjugal rights and had been separated for more than a year now.

Keeping away from each other, he added, was a sign that the couple no longer love one another.

He said that the import of such action was that the marriage had broken down irretrievably  and could no longer be salvaged.

Olewengwa consequently declared the marriage  dissolved citing  lack of love, long abandonment, separation and irreconcilable differences.

He granted the petitioner continued custody of the only child of the marriage while ordering her to refund to Onyebuchi the bride price of  N1,000 paid on for her hand.

Olewengwa, however, authorised Penelope to  take possession of her personal effects and other properties of hers in the custody of the respondent at his residence.

He said that the parties were free from any encumbrances formerly existing and could re-marry any other person of their choice.

IPOB's sit-at-home order records total compliance in Aba

May 29, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


The sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People’s of Biafra (IPOB) across the country to honour people who died during the civil war on Tuesday recorded total compliance in Aba.

Our reporter who monitored the situation in Aba, said that all the five major markets in Aba including Ariaria International Market were shut.

According to the reporter roads in the commercial city were deserted as transporters and other road users kept away.

Some Aba residents who work in various establishments and who left their houses very early Tuesday morning hoping that the order would fail reported being stranded at their offices with no means of transportation to return home.

Joint patrol of the military, police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seen in strategic locations as Armoured Personnel Carriers were stationed in volatile areas.

The our reporter also noted that there had been aerial surveillance with police helicopters sent since Sunday from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in Abuja hovering over the city.

Some residents of the commercial hub who spoke to our reporter expressed satisfaction with compliance to the order.

A resident, Mr Azubuike Ibe said the compliance had demonstrated unity among the Igbos.

“I am happy for this total compliance because since we were children, no government has ever given us this feeling of oneness.

“But today, we are seeing this; we are happy and thank God for it. It shows that Igbos will progress from now on,” he said.

Another resident, Mr Kelechi Nkemdirim said they were marking the 50th anniversary of the defunct Biafra and also mourned the death of persons who sacrificed their lives during the Nigerian civil war.

Nkemdirim said he was happy that all Igbos have come to realise the importance of the day and given it the attention it deserved.

Meanwhile the Nigerian Police Area Command in Aba, Abia State said that the commercial city had remained calm during the sit-at-home order on Tuesday by the IPOB.

The Aba Area Commander, ACP Peter Okpara told our reporter in Aba on Tuesday that there had been no report of any harassment in the city.

“The area has been relatively calm except for few miscreants who wanted to take advantage of the sit-at-home order to mount road block and collect money from motorists at Ikot Ekpene Road.

“Another set also mounted such illegal road block along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway but when they heard our siren, they dispersed,” he said.

Okpara said that his men removed bonfires set by some of the miscreants at a few spots on the road to stop movement.

He said almost all the banks in Aba were closed because their staff could not access means of transportation to their offices.

The commander noted that it was only the UBA on Okigwe Road that opened for business.

Okpara said that they had no record of any clash with the IPOB or any other pro-Biafra group because they were at home as directed by the order.

“No arrests were made because it would have no advantage but would have created unnecessary tension as the few persons on the streets were orderly,” he said

Patriotism, key to Nigeria's development - Dogara

May 28, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


The Speaker, House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara has said that it is patriotism and not partisanship that will take Nigeria to the great heights it is aspiring.

Dogara made the disclosure  when he visited Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia state governor at the governor's lodge in Aba.

He said that Ikpeazu's support for elected officers from other political parties in his state was boosting their performance hence a sign of maturity and patriotism which many Nigerian governors lacked.

He urged Ikpeazu to continue supporting elected officers from other political parties in the state to ensure development.

The Speaker also commended the governor for proving himself a patriotic leader.

The Speaker also lauded Ikpeazu's strides in publicizing made-in-Aba products and promised the federal government will support the effort to increase recognition and patronage of the products.

He said the governor's agricultural initiatives was commendable adding that it has the capability to transform the nation's economy and prayed that God would make his great visions for Abia state to translate into reality.

Dogara said that the federal legislators were in Aba to celebrate one of their own, the member representing Aba North and South, Mr Ossy Prestige and to commission some projects he attracted to Aba.

Responding, Ikpeazu said the people of Abia were excited to see Dogara who they take as one of their own coming to Abia state again.

He said that the speaker's integrity, maturity and strength of character had enabled him to act as a stabilizing factor in the House of Reps in the past two years.

Ikpeazu said the greatest challenge he faced in governance in Abia was not litigations but poor infrastructure.

He said Abia federal legislators were performing well pointing out that Prestige had brought FERMA to Ikot Ekpene road and ensured the reconstruction of Ohanku road in Aba.

The governor thanked the federal government for supporting the drive for made-in-Aba products and pleaded for more assistance on reconstruction of federal roads in the state.

He prayed that God would give Dogara the wisdom to do more for Nigerians.

Dogara bags "Ome Udo" title in Aba

May 27, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Saturday bagged the title Ome Udo 1 (Peace Maker) of Aba at the palace of the traditional ruler of Aba Ancient Kingdom, Eze Isaac Ikonne.

Ikonne said during the installation ceremony that he awarded Dogara the title in recognition of his integrity and leadership qualities which, he noted, had kept the House from recording any serious crisis in the past two years.

He said that the speaker’s efforts at engendering peace, unity and development in the lower chamber of the National Assembly was a commendable achievement.

The traditional ruler applauded the speaker for supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade.

He also appealed to him to ensure that the people of Aba enjoyed the dividends of democracy through the efforts and initiatives of Mr Ossy Prestige, representing Aba North and South at the House of Representatives.

While appealing to the speaker to ensure the rehabilitation of roads in the South-East Zone, Ikonne also stressed the need to assist traditional institutions across the country to serve the people better.

Responding, Dogara thanked the royal father for his kind gesture, saying that respect to traditional institutions was imperative as their blessings were needed to ensure progress in the society.

He said that traditional institutions had a lot to offer in building peace and unity among the diverse ethnic groups in the country.

The speaker said that members of the lower chamber were in Aba to celebrate with Prestige on his second year in the House, and to commission federal projects that he had attracted to the area.

Dogara described Prestige as a representative with integrity and urged the royal father and Aba people in general to support him in order to give them quality service.

EEDC warn customers against paying for electrical parts, transformers

May 26, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


The Manager Operations, Enugu Electrical Distribution Company ( EEDC), Mr Vincent Ekwekwu has warned customers of the company to desist from paying EEDC staff for supply of electrical materials.

Ekwekwu giving the warning in Aba on Friday during EEDC’s Customer Forum said that all materials used for EEDC jobs are to be obtained free from their store in Enugu and not to be sold.

The manager therefore urged Aba residents to get the photograph, name and identity card number of any staff of the company asking them to pay for parts to fix their connection challenges.

Ekwekwu was reacting to complaints of the company’s customers in Aba who said that they were made by some EEDC staff to pay for transformers, cables, poles, and other electrical parts.

He called on the residents to report to him any staff asking them to pay for any electrical parts for EEDC work adding that such demands were contrary to the company’s policy.

Dr Steven Dike, a Director in EEDC following Aba residents’ call for an apology from EEDC for having turned them into a bunch of pitiable citizens, apologized to them unreservedly.

“I apologize on behalf of our EEDC because our customers are our greatest assets and without them, there will be no EEDC. We are at fault on many fronts”, he said.

He admitted that the EEDC has some very fraudulent workers who extorts the people and called on landlords and tenants to bring them information on such staff of EEDC for appropriate actions.

He said that the company had started deploying pre-paid meters in Aba but noted that the cost of meters was hampering their easy acquisition and deployment.

Dike said that in 2017 alone, the company had spent about N10 billion to acquire prepaid meters to ensure satisfactory services to its customers adding that every customer would be metered with time.

He called on Aba people to be patient with EEDC and to pay their bills so that the company would have enough money to pay its workers and do other things like purchasing meters.

Earlier, the Member representing Aba North and South at the House of Representatives, Mr Ossy Prestige said he demanded for the forum to forestall breakdown of law and order in Aba beween residents and EEDC.

He said that Aba people had brought many complaints to him about EEDC’s abuse of their rights adding that his research showed that “Aba people were paying for power not consumed”.

He therefore urged the company to ensure they addressed all the grievances the residents came with in order to avoid running into a business crises with the people of the commercial city.

Dealers assault NAFDAC officials, Policemen

May 24, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


Dealers in fake alcoholic drinks at Eziukwu market in Aba on Wednesday assaulted staff of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and a police officer during a NAFDAC raid in the market.

The NAFDAC personnel had gone to raid the notorious Zone 15 housing producers of adulterated alcoholic drinks but were midway forced to retreat by the traders who pelted them with stones.

While the government officials were struggling to take out cartons of confiscated fake drinks, the traders threw stones which landed on one of them, dislocating his left shoulder disc.

Also, a police officer who helped to clear the road which the traders blocked was stoned on the head resulting in a sizeable swelling of the spot at the centre of his head.

Our reporter said that the traders also broke the windshield of a new official Nissan van which the NAFDAC officials used for the raid.

Reacting to the development, the Chief Regulatory Officer of NAFDAC, Abia Office, Mr Olisa Okeke, told our reporter that the traders were in the habit of attacking his men whenever they raided the market.

Okeke explained that the operated was necessitated by a complaint from a company producing alcoholic drinks that its products were being massively adulterated in that market.

He said that before the traders attacked his staff, they had forced open over 15 shops and destroyed assorted bottled drinks, chemicals and empty bottles used by the offenders.

Okeke said that over 30 cartons of assorted fake drinks, a bag of powdery chemical substance and some glass cups were confiscated from the dealers.

He called on the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, and all people of goodwill to partner NAFDAC to ensure the forces of evil in the market did not triumph over the forces of good.

Okeke said that he would write a special report to the acting Director-General of NAFDAC to seek appropriate action which might include closing down the market.

He said that all the packaged products confiscated during the raid, including the ones destroyed, were worth about N15 million. 

Ikpeazu task students on character acquisition

May 18, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State on Thursday charged pioneer students of Clifford University, Ihie in Isiala Ngwa North LGA to fight hard to be found worthy in character to survive in today's world.

Ikpeazu gave the charge during the maiden matriculation ceremony of Clifford University, Ihie, Abia state.

He said that learning without character was useless hence the need for students to acquire character to be useful to the society.

"It is important that I inform these young ones here today that diplomas and degrees are awarded to people found worthy in character and learning.

"It is important to be found worthy not only in learning but also in character.

"Today what we find across Nigeria are many institutions of higher learning  but most of them are unfortunately devoid of moulding character.

"And the world is in need of people with character more that the world is in need of people with learning. Therefore if you lack character, you will find it difficult to thrive in the world of today.

"So let your greatest emphasis all the hours you will spend in Ihie let it be that you be found worthy in character and learning but moreso in character", he said.

He said that institutions like Clifford University which prides itself in character moulding had come to fill the gap other higher institutions could not fill.

Ikpeazu said that his administration knew there were lot of work to be done in the university and urged all lovers of progress to help it.

He redeemed his promise of a N5 million bursary to the university students and urged his wife to give five vehicles to the new university through her foundation.

Prof Ted Wilson,VPresident, General Conference of SDA and Visitor to the institution represented by Dr Elie Dido thanked God for the dream realised and prayed that the university will expand to become the biggest and best.

He said that Clifford university was fulfilling the teaching ministry of the SDA Church by educating the head and the heart.

Wilson urged the students to work hard to receive the best the institution has to offer and charged them not to waste the resources invested on them.

The Chancellor of Clifford University and President, Eastern Union Conference (ENUC) of the church, Dr Bassey Udoh thanked God for what he had done for them.

He charged the students to develop themselves mentally and spiritually in order to be useful to their society.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Chimezie Omeonu said students were admitted into 11 departments under the faculties of  Management and Social Sciences, Humanities and Faculty of Sciences.

He said that Clifford University was named after Pastor and Mrs Jesse Clifford from England who were the first Seventh-Day Adventist missionaries in 1905 to preach the gospel in Eastern Nigeria.

He noted that Clifford while ministering in Aba started a primary school and laid the foundation for Adventist education in Eastern Nigeria.

He said the naming of the University was to immortalise his work adding that the matriculating students were 89 in number.

Miss Deborah Solomon, speaking on behalf of the pioneer students said that they were happy that God made the day of their matriculation a reality.

She called on all and sundry to pray for and support the new university in order to build people of character for our society.

Court dissolves marriage over wife's desertion of matrimonial home

May 15, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka

An Aba-la-Ohazu Customary Court in Aba South local government area has dissolved the marriage between James Nnanna and his wife, Jane on grounds of willful desertion of the matrimonial home by the wife.

James, the petitioner told the court that his wife, Jane had been a quarrelsome and nagging wife, whose bad attitude had caused him untold hardships and great inconveniences.

He said that his wife willfully deserted their matrimonial home without justification precisely on April 19, 2013, abandoning him with their three children.

According to James, after running away, Jane went and made arrangement with thugs to beat him at his workshop at Mbubo street, off item road, Aba.

James, who is from Amokwe, Item in Bende local government of Abia state, said that he married the respondent according to the customs of Akoli-Eda in Afikpo South local government area of Ebonyi state.

He said they co-habited for about five years during which they had a baby girl on April 4, 2008 and a set of male twins on May 3, 2010, before formalising their marriage on January 3, 2013.

He told the court that his wife deserted them in the third year of the twins birthday.

James, therefore prayed the court to dissolve their marriage and give him continued custody of his children to enable him take good care of them.

While James had Mr J.O. Uchendu as his counsel, Jane was neither in court nor represented by anybody.

Ruling, Senior Magistrate Diamond Olewengwa, said that having followed due process in the trial, the court noted that Jane was once present during James’ evidence in chief, but did not controvert his testimony.

He said that Jane’s attitude to the trail process showed that she had accepted the man’s desire to dissolve the marriage.

He said that following Jane’s desertion for more than two years and without them enjoying their conjugal rights for such a long time, the marriage had broken down irretrievably.

He therefore declared the marriage dissolved for lack of love and desertion of matrimonial home by Jane.

Olewengwa ordered James to return the N30.00 bride price paid on Jane’s head, stressing that both parties were free to remarry any other person of their choice.

The Magistrate also granted the man continued custody of the three children.

The court further ordered Jane to revert to her maiden name or any other name of her choice and urged the parties to maintain the peace.

Aba agog for Ikpeazu's victory at Supreme Court

May 12, 2017.


By Ijendu Iheaka


Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia state on Friday went agog with jubilations and celebrations at the announcement of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s victory at the Supreme Court.

Supporters of the governor were seen firing cannon shots at Aba Town Hall, throwing bangers and making fireworks at Pound Road, Ogbor Hill and adjoining neighbourhoods.

At Ikpeazu’s home town of Umuobiakwa in Obingwa local government area, women were seen singing songs of victory and dancing while young people in large numbers thronged to his house.

Some residents who spoke to our reporter said that they were happy because all Abia’s election cases had been disposed off to enable Ikpeazu work for them.

Charity Iheanacho from UmuNwoke in Umuobiakwa said, “we are happy for the victory of Okezie Ikpeazu. We thank God for making the truth known today about the matter.

“Okezie will rule Abia for eight years; he is not a greedy man; he is a helper of the needy; he is doing us well and I pray that God will help him to succeed in this leadership position.”

Mrs Grace Ogolo who spoke to our reporter at Ogbor Hill said that the contestants are brothers and rather than squabble, they should join hands to make the state better.

“Anybody that knows God will not be making cases because God does not encourage problems.

“Now that Ikpeazu has won, my advice to him is to put his eyes down and plan things well so that both the poor and the rich will benefit from his leadership,” she said.

Mr Eze Onuoha, a resident of Aba said that the dismissal of Uche Ogah’s case by the Supreme Court after a long legal tussle was good for Abia people.

He urged Ikpeazu to understand that his failure or success in office started after the cases had ended.

Onuoha said that the governor should know that he would be held responsible for Abia state’s success or failure in his tenure and should not make any excuses as much is expected of him.

The legal battle was instituted by Dr Uche Ogah of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against Ikpeazu, claiming that the later was not qualified to have contested the 2015 Abia governorship election on the platform of PDP.

Ogah claimed that the Ikpeazu submitted false information in his form CF001 which by provision of section 31 of the Electoral Act 2010 made him ineligible to stand for election.

Ogah, who came second in the governorship primary election of the PDP of 2014, approached the Federal High Court asking it to nullify the nomination and sponsorship of Ikpeazu on the grounds of supply of false information relating to his tax papers.

Justice Okon Abang, in his judgment at the High Court on June 27 agreed with Ogah and nullified the nomination of Ikpeazu.

He replaced the governor with Ogah as the qualified PDP candidate for the 2015 governorship election in Abia and the governor appealed the judgement.

The Appeal Court however, in its judgment on August 18 disagreed with Abang and set aside his judgment for lacking in merit and upheld the nomination of Ikpeazu which led to the case being taken to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court on Friday said the the case was baseless

A five-member panel of Supreme court justices led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, upheld the August 18 decision of the Appeal Court.

According to Onnoghen, I’m a government employee and it is also common knowledge that tax is deducted at source.

“They give you a tax clearance certificate, you are not the person who produced the tax certificate.

”If they say bring your tax clearance, I have my file and my pay slip, if you ask I will say this is my pay slip.

“If they don’t send it on time I will ask for my tax clearance because I may need it.

”When they send it to me and there is anything wrong with it, why should I be held responsible?

”The long and short of it was that this case was a no case,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ikpeazu has dedicated his victory over Uche Ogah at the Supreme Court, Abuja, to the people of Abia state who he said had supported him through the period of two years his election matters lasted.

The dedication was contained in a statement signed and distributed to newsmen in Aba by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Enyinnaya Appolos.

Ikpeazu said that his Supreme court victory was a confirmation of the Abia people’s mandate given to him to lead them adding that the mandate had twice been confirmed by the apex court.

He said that only God would take glory for the victory and commended the judiciary for standing firm on the side of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The governor called on all Abians to join hands with him to ensure accelerated growth and development of the state.

“The time of politics is long over, and I have forgiven all those who were bent on distracting me.

“Let all well meaning Abians, including my opponents come and join us to grow and develop our state without distractions as we ultimately have stakes in the growth and development of our state and people.

“Today there is work to do in Abia and history will judge us by how much of that work that we did, not by how much politics we played.

“My doors are open to all. My ears are open to hear and my eyes are strong enough to read suggestions on how we can best deliver greater dividends to those who really matter; the great people of Abia state”, he said.

Police arrest 28-year-old robbery suspect in Abia

May 11, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


The Police Command in Abia has arrested a 28-year-old armed robbery suspect wanted for car snatching in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, disclosed this to newsmen in Aba on Thursday through the command’s spokesperson, DSP Geoffery Ogbonnaya.

Oyebade said operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) attached to Obehie in Ukwa West Local Government Area, arrested the suspect, Iheariorochi Enyinnaya, a native of Ogwe in Asa, following a tip-off.

He said that at the time of the arrest, Enyinnaya had in his possession parts of a Barreta Pistol suspected to have been used for car snatching operation.

The police boss further said that a Passat Volkswagen wagon with fake registration number, AGL 687 AQ, was also recovered from him.

The CP said that the suspect, residing in Umuebulungwu village in the same Ukwa local government area, had confessed to snatching the vehicle with the original number plate as KRD 289 AW.

According to Oyebade, the suspect said he snatched the vehicle in February at Arochukwu in Abia with his robbery gang.

He said that the suspect had since his arrest been giving vital information that could lead to the arrest of other members of the gang now at large.

The commissioner, therefore, called on the public to assist the police with information that could lead to the arrest of other members of the gang, promising that a handsome reward awaited the informant.

Rhema University founder challenge Igbo people on children education

May 10, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


The founder, Rhema University, Aba, Dr Emma Okorie has challenged Igbo people to invest in the education and development of their people adding that God calls a person to save his people.

Okorie made the call during the maiden edition of the Rhema University education exhibition in Aba.

He said that the Igbo should understand the value education confers on life and humanity and so return home to help educate their people.

He noted that the greatest zone in Nigeria today is the zone with the highest number of educated people and not the zone with the highest number of traders without education.

He also called on Nigerians to educate their children in Nigeria where they would graduate with moral strength to take care of their parents at old age and not abandon them.

The Vice-Chancellor of Rhema University, Prof. Ogbonnaya Onwudike said that the institution had concluded plans to mount more programmes.

He noted that the new programmes would include courses in Anatomy, Physiology and Nursing.

He also said that the institutions had set up a Continuing Education Programme under which it was planning to run the Chartered Institute of Bankers Linkage Degree programme.

Onwudike said the institute now operates a school of basic studies enabling students to obtain advanced level certificate after one year which prepares them for admission in any Nigerian University.

He said that great learning and superior abilities are of little value unless it is accompanied with virtue, honour, truth and integrity and urged parents to send their children to schools like Rhema.

Miss Divine Uwaakolam a student of Living Word Magnet School said that this was her first education exhibition and that it had opened her mind to what she needed to study at Rhema.

"With what I have heard here, I know I have been equipped to enter any high institution in Nigeria", she said.

Mr Victor Mba, a teacher from Citizens International College, Clifford Aba said that the education exhibition had opened their students to requirements for higher education.

He called for more education exhibitions in the state to prepare secondary schools students for what awaits them as they aspire to study further.

Calabar-based Textile firm seeks collaboration with Aba shoe, garment makers

May 9, 2017.

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Golden Giants Industries limited, a Calabar-based textile firm on Tuesday called for a collaboration between it and the shoe, leather and fabric makers for improved quality products.

Mr David Ajayi, the Deputy General Manager of company made the call in Aba during an interview with our reporter at a made-in-Aba fair hosted by the Pride of Aba group of leather manufacturers.

He said that partnering his company would help the Aba shoe, leather and garment industry to access raw materials needed for shoe production from the company at a cheap rate.

“Textile is embedded in the production of shoes so we want to partner with these our friends who are making us proud as shoemakers so that from us they can source some of their raw materials.

“And we want to give them the opportunity to benefit from us so that we can also benefit from them.
“We want to make them take advantage of where we are even what we do not have we can import it for them, that is why we are here.

“They need raw materials for their production and what we produce is useful to them as raw material which they are currently sourcing from overseas,” he said.

”Ajayi stated that ”it is better for them to source from within Nigeria than overseas.”

He said that beyond sourcing their raw materials from his company, the Aba manufacturers could use the facilities of the company to import other raw materials and export their products.

He said that the manufacturers could save cost using the Export Processing Zone facility which was duty free to import or export their products especially when they produced within the Calabar EPZ.

“What I am telling them today is that we should cooperate with each other so that we can work together to raise the glory of this nation from being even Third World to a first world nation.

“The Chinese are dominating now. We want these people to reclaim what the Chinese are taking away and to move to dominate them as well,” he said.

Dr Obinna Nwaogwugwu, South East Director, Nigerian Youth Chamber of Commerce said that they were at the fair to enlighten the entrepreneurs on how to export their products and raise business funds.

According to him, would-be Nigerian entrepreneurs have problems with raising business funds because of ignorance of how to go about it.

“One of their major challenges is having a good business idea. The issue is that once you have a good business idea, there are people even within Aba here who are willing to support your business.

“But the key issue with some of these business people is that they go to people beggarly.

”They don’t present real proposals that would enable them get the funding they want from these would be sponsors,” Nwaogwugwu said.

He urged prospective entrepreneurs to register their businesses with relevant agencies and bodies to enable them access funding and help from government agencies and individuals to develop their businesses.

Nwaogwugwu said that since January 2017 until now the chamber’s entrepreneurship clinic had been going on and urged residents to use the opportunity to advance their business plans.

Mr Amaobi Nwanaago, the President, Stand Up Africa Multi-purpose cooperative Society, Aba North said they organised the fair to encourage footwear and garment makers.

He said that by coming together and showcasing their latest products, the fair has the ability to foster a healthy competition among its membership.

Aba traditional rulers task police on abductions

May 8, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


Traditional rulers in Aba North on Monday called on police authorities in Abia to intensify the fight against kidnapping to facilitate free movement in the area.

The Chairman of the Aba North Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Love Nwogu, made the call when the Commissioner of Police in Abia, Mr Leye Oyebade, visited the royal fathers.

Nwogu, who is also the Traditional Ruler of Umuola Egbelu Autonomous Community, said that kidnapping had left residents in Aba North in perpetual fear.

He said that in spite of efforts by the police to flush out criminals in the area, abductions of people had persisted.

The commissioner told the traditional rulers that his visit was to acquaint the royal fathers with new plans put in place to fight criminals.

He said that the command had received three units of police mobile force and had also taken delivery of two armoured personnel carriers to fight criminals in Aba.

Oyebade said that he had also received additional personnel and equipment to improve security in the commercial town, advising residents to give information to the police for effective policing.

He appealed to the monarchs to prevail on their subjects to assist the police in its effort to curb criminal activities.

Umahi on a three-day visit calls on Abia government to lift Ebonyi

May 6, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


The Ebonyi state Governor and Chairman, South East governors' forum, Mr Dave Umahi has called on Abia state to lift Ebonyi to enable it do greater things as Abia is doing.

Umahi said that Abia being the father of Ebonyi is indebted to the younger state and so should help it attain greater heights in development.

Ebonyi was created out of the old Abakaliki division of Enugu state and the old Afikpo division of Abia state in 1996.

Umahi who was on a three-day working visit to Abia state with his executive council members made the call after flagging the reconstruction of the failed Port Harcourt road in Aba.

He said that his team was in Abia to understudy the development efforts of the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.

"We are on a working visit with my team of over 25 members of my executive council. This morning we saw the mushroom technology and it was so amazing to us.

"We also saw a poultry with simple technology which I think is the way to go.

"Another area we are understudying is the Abia IGR. We have about 14-man committee that will understudy that through out tomorrow", he said

Umahi commended Ikpeazu for the number of roads he is constructing in Aba and Umuahia especially in Aba where he, Umahi, said he lived between1990 to 1994 and suffered from effects of flooding.

He said that with Ikpeazu's industrial programmes, he was securing the future of Abia people and noted that any governor who would secure his people's future was a governor for today and tomorrow.

The Ebonyi governor who said that he once was the flood control engineer for the famous Ndiegoro erosion site in Aba noted that he had once lost sleep over Aba's flooding problems.

He, however said that he was happy to see that Ikpeazu had dug a big trench at the Ife-Obara basin to collect the flood waters of most roads in Aba adding that the city's days of sadness from flooding were over.

Umahi thanked Ikpeazu for the plans he has hatched to revive all moribund industries in Abia state through a Public, Private Partnership scheme with the Chinese stressing that it would reposition Abia for good.

He said that it was wrong to say that PDP governors would decamp to other parties because doing so would not make them work better for their people.

"Everywhere we go today, Abians will be waving at him because they are happy with him. He is not vying for President but all we are saying is that he has a two tenures and let no man interfere with that," Umahi warned.

Governor Ikpeazu said that the historic visit of Umahi who has worked as a flood control engineer in Aba has brought much blessing on Port Harcourt road.

He said that his plan to deliver the road in 18 months had been interrupted by Umahi's insistence on using cement technology on the 5.7kilometer road.

"He told me that water has sat on that road for over 16 years and so the sub-soil is going to coarse and unstable and will compromise the asphalt put on it soonest.

"He said to me that for governors who agree the way to go is to build roads that will outlive our tenure because we don't want to return to same project within the last month of our tenure.", he said.

The governor said that God had provided for the reconstruction of Port Harcourt road saying it will be built with six lanes and a dedicated (Bus Rapid Transit) BRT lane for commuter buses.

He said that the government has entered agreement with the Setraco construction company to pay for the road in three equal tranches.

Ikpeazu promised to deliver the road in 18 months stressing that his God is bigger than the cost of the project.

ASUU asks Ikpeazu to increase ABSU's subvention

May 4, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Abia State University Chapter has called on the state governor, Dr  Okezie Ikpeazu to increase the institution’s subvention to enable them function optimally.

The Chairman of the ABSU ASUU, Mr Ochi Ejimofor made the call when the union paid Ikpeazu a visit at the government lodge in Aba.

Ejimofor said that Ikpeazu’s appointment of a new ABSU VC and a  Rector for Abia polytechnic showed he had good plans and had given education a pride of place in Abia state.

 He therefore called on the governor to assist the institution meet its financial obligation and cater for its workforce which has a wage bill of N250 million by increasing its monthly subvention.

The ASSU Chairman also asked Ikpeazu to also build an academic staff secretariat for them and to give them a research bus in place of the moribund one they owned.

They urged the governor to maintain his leadership focus although faced with much opposition adding that God would help him fulfil His purpose for choosing him.

Dr Ogbonnaya Onuoha, the immediate past ABSU ASSU chairman said that they were proud of Ikpeazu and his achievements hence the decision to visit him at this time.

He said that ASUU waited to see if the governor would do them proud before visiting him adding that the body is not one that visits governments to sing praises to it.

Onuoha said that having seen what Ikpeazu was committed to doing in Abia, the ABSU ASSU would not leave him alone but would support him.

He urged all who were fighting the governor to desist from doing so adding that Ikpeazu needed more of encouragement in Abia because he has ideas, focus and commitment as a capable leader.

In his response, Governor Ikpeazu said he felt so proud by the visit and admitted that ASSU was not a frivolous body given to visiting and singing any body’s praises.

He thanked them for holding the forth at the university stressing that the teachers’ reward - the “dependence of many souls to learn at their feet”- was more than any reward a person could seek.

He noted that the problem with Nigerians had was craving primordial things instead of things that would last or that mattered adding that life had more to offer than material acquisitions.

He said that he never knew how much the Abia State University, Uturu was worth in the eyes of non-indigenes until he took office as the governor of the state.

Ikpeazu promised to give them a research vehicle saying that if funds were available he would look into their other requests.

Abia CP relocates to Aba to fight heinous crime

May 4, 2017 

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade On Thursday said that he has relocated his office to Aba for a week to lead the fight against heinous crimes in the city.

Oyebade disclosed this on at Abayi Police station while addressing men and officers of the force in Abayi during his tour of Osisioma, Abayi and Ariaria police stations.

The CP said that recent events had shown that Abia state government has interest in making Aba a highly functional commercial hub hence the need to support its effort with adequate security.

He said that curbing heinous crimes was the reason the command brought in more men to Aba Command and established an operational Tactical Response Squad to boost the response time to distress calls.

Oyebade also said that the state command had taken delivery of two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and upgraded its stop and search points to 25 in Aba to improve security in Aba.

 He counseled the squad to always be alert to the needs for its establishment and to be available at peak periods to ensure the Aba records a comparatively “crime-free” status.

He said that the recent re-jigging of the security arrangement in Aba which created an Operational Tactical Response Squad was in line with the state government's desire for the city.

Oyebade regretted that some lawyers were kicking the fight against crime in Abia by ensuring the release of men of questionable character who police had put behind bars.

He said that he was going to compile the names of such lawyers and report them to NBA for appropriate actions.

He further said that his command was planning a two-day seminar to bring security agencies, stakeholders and ministry of justice staff together to ensure they worked with same purpose of making society crime-free.

In his response, the Chairman, Aba Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Chief Amanna Nwaogu thanked the CP for paying attention to the security needs of Aba.

He said that with the posting of more men to Aba and the establishment of 25 stop and search points in the city to check crime, the city is getting calmer.

Nwaogu however called on the CP to give Osisoma police station more men adding that it had much to do being the largest division in Aba and being placed at a strategic point

Government will protect your business interests, Ikpeazu assures Aba shoemakers

May 3, 2017 

By Ijendu Iheaka

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has assured Aba Shoe Manufacturers also known as Omenka Shoemakers that government will not allow the entrance of the Chinese disrupt their business interests.

This was contained in a media release made available to newsmen in Aba on Wednesday and signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Enyinnaya Appolos.

According to Appolos, the meeting held at the Governor's lodge in Aba was convened to brief Aba shoemakers on the gains of having Chinese investors in the Aba shoe industry.

The governor also challenged the representatives of the 14 clusters to leverage on the coming of the Chinese to improve on their skills and learn new ways of doing business.

Ikpeazu further warned that the government will do everything to counter attempts to frustrate its efforts to attract foreign investment to the state.

The governor said he invited them to brief them on his recent trip to China with the made-in-Aba campaign and commended them for retaining their place in the Nigerian leather and garment industry. 

“I promised when I was campaigning to be governor in 2015 that I will promote made-in-Aba goods. I have been doing that and I am ready to take it a notch higher to “make in Aba”.

"When I went to china, I met with a major investor in the shoe industry who indicated interest in investing $1.5b in our economy,

“And the investor- Mr. Zhang Huarong of Huajian Shoe Factory Guangdong, China, visited Abia State last Sunday and I took him to some industrial locations within Aba, where we think he can site his industry.

"As those in the business, I must brief you and also assure you that his coming will not in any way affect your business negatively. 

“As your brother and your governor, it is my duty to protect your interest and that I must do. But let me also challenge you to take advantage of his coming to improve and upgrade your processes and systems in the industry.

"This government will do everything to protect your business interest and also do everything to thwart any plan to frustrate foreign investment into the state”, Ikpeazu warned.

The governor told them that 100 shoemakers from Aba will be going to China any moment for further training in modern shoemaking that will impact positively on their output and quality.

Responding, Chairman of the Omenka Shoemakers, Aba, Mr. Okechukwu Williams, thanked the governor for finding time to brief them, and also for dousing their fears over the Chinese investors.

He said that they had thought that the entrance of the Chinese will take away their businesses from them.

He thanked the governor on behalf of their members for promoting their products vigorously in an unprecedented way never seen in any regime since they started producing shoes .

Williams also promised to take advantage of the coming of the Chinese investors to improve on their business processes and systems with a view to competing favorably.

They pleaded with the Governor to ensure that only members of the Omenka shoemakers in Aba will make the list of 100 persons that will go to China for further training. 

Chinese shoe production in Aba will boost competition - Ikpeazu

May 1, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has said that the entry of the Chinese into Aba shoe and garment production process will engender healthy competition among producers.

Ikpeazu disclosed this on Sunday evening while showing the Chairman of Huajian shoe factory, China, Mr Zhang Huarong some locations for sitting of their factory around Aba metropolis.

"The coming of Zhang Huarong and his team will boast the Aba leather and garment industry. We welcome them with our hearts to come and invest in Aba.
"We also encourage our people to see their coming as a healthy competition. I have no doubt that our people in Aba will take advantage of their coming and competition it will provide to improve on what we are already doing.

"Our target is to conquer the African leather and garment market. I am happy that the Chinese investors are responding to our request for them to come and invest in our state and make their products in Aba," he said.

The governor also showed the team a Chinese-owned Steel factory, Inner Galaxy, already operating in Ukwa West local government area of Abia state to encourage the new investor, Huarong.

He said he chose the venue to show the Chinese team that some of their brother investors were already in Abia and applauded the level of infrastructure in Inner Galaxy and its employment of many Abians.

The Chairman of Haujian shoe company, Zhang Huarong said they were in the state to ascertain the level of preparedness of Abia state to host the $1.5 billion investment.

Huarong, said the essence of the visit was to seal the deal which started during the Governor's visit to his Shoe factory in China in the third week of April.

He expressed the readiness of his company to partner Abia State to deliver the project quickly.

He described Abia as a beautiful and calm environment where business could thrive adding that China had enjoyed a robust relationship with Nigeria.

"China has enjoyed a robust relationship with Nigeria and having a factory in Abia would build on the relationship as well as help accelerate the industrialization drive of the Governor", he said.

Huarong expressed his desire to be part of the technological development of Abia State and Nigeria and also showed interest in sharing in its mining industry and commerce.

He described Nigeria as an open market, and said that the planned investment will project Abia state to the world.

He noted that Nigeria would be a major trade centre in the next 20 years as he had seen a good future for the proposed shoe company in Abia State.

It would be noted that Ikpeazu had brokered  a  $1.5 billion deal with the Huajian shoe factory in China for the establishment of a Shoe factory in Aba while on a visit to the company in Dongguan, Guangzhou, China in April.