Electing selfless leaders will solve Biafra agitation crisis – Rep tells Igbos

December 27, 2018


By Ijendu Iheaka

Rep. Ossy Prestige (APGA-Aba North/Aba South) says the political solution to the agitation for Biafra is for Igbo people to elect leaders who will serve them selflessly.

The lawmaker made this known in Aba on Thursday during an interview with our reporter in Aba, Abia State.

Prestige noted that people were always forced to seek alternatives through agitations when their representatives are not giving them what they expected from them.

He, therefore, urged Igbo people to come out en masse and vote for credible candidates who have the mind to serve them rather than voting based on sentiments and material inducements.

“The refusal of some Igbo people to carry out their civic responsibilities will not resolve the issue of marginalisation which resulted in the revived agitation for Biafra,” he said.

He enjoined Igbo people in positions of leadership to seek the welfare of their people rather than enthroning selfish interests that rob the people of their dues through their representatives.

The lawmaker who noted that although he was facing a troubling opposition from the PDP-led state government in Abia, said he was not in competition and cannot compete with them.

He said he was in government to serve the people and not to create problems through unnecessary ego contests which levy huge losses on the people.

He, however, vowed that nothing would stop his resolve to free his constituents from their real enemies.

Reacting to criticisms from political opponents claiming he was idle in the Green Chambers, Prestige said that as a first tenure representative, he has a record of over 21 motions and nine Bills to his credit.

He also noted that he had attracted over 50 road projects to Aba, rehabilitated schools and provided water for his people which are eloquent testimonies of his service to people at the House of Representatives. 

Christmas: Aba residents bemoan hike in price of food items

December 24, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

A cross-section of residents of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia, has expressed concern over the sharp increase in the price of food stuffs ahead of the Christmas celebration.

Speaking in separate interviews with our reporter in Aba on Monday, the people said that the development had brought untold hardship to them.

Mrs Ngozi Samuel, a fruit and vegetables seller, said the price of cabbage and carrot increased by 50 per cent in December.

“Before now, a bag of cabbage sold for between N5,000 and N6,000 but now a bag goes for between N13,000 and N15,000,” Samuel said.

She said that the price of carrot and other fruits also recorded similar percentage increase in the last few weeks.

Also, Mrs Chizoba Anyanwu, a tomato seller, said that the price of tomato had also skyrocketed ahead of the Yuletide.

Anyanwu said that a bag of the commodity went up from N5,000 in November to between N14, 200 and N15,000 in December.

She said that the increase in price was as a result of the Yuletide, adding that the commodity was supposed to be abundant in the market at this time of the year.

“The increase in the price of tomato is uncalled for. Tomato is supposed to be cheap now because it is usually available in abundance this period,” she said.

She said that, on the contrary, the price of pepper went down from N15,000 in November to N6, 000.

An onions seller, Mrs Eucharia Nwachukwu, also said that the commodity recorded a sharp price increase ahead of the Christmas celebration.

Nwachukwu said that the price of a bag of onions went up from about N20,000 in November to between N40,000 and N43,000 in December.

Mr Aloysius Chikwe, a stock fish dealer, said the price of the commodity recently went up by more than 30 per cent.

“The price of the commodity had been on the increase since the year began but skyrocketed about three months ago by about 30 per cent.

“It further went up a little pas Christmas approached,” Chikwe said, pointing out that the price increase had brought about low sales.

He said, “The situation has become a problem for us because sales have been very low this season unlike other Christmas seasons.

“Stock-fish is no longer affordable to the poor,” he said.

The residents appealed to government to take urgent steps to address the unwholesome development.

They charged the government to reduce the taxes and import duty imposed on consumables in order to make them affordable to the masses.

“Government should initiate policies to ensure that middlemen do not exploit the masses during the Yuletide by inflating the price of goods,” they said.

Atiku promises business support policies if elected president

December 19, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential Candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar has promised to support policies that would promote businesses in Nigeria if elected.

Atiku said this on Wednesday during a Town Hall Meeting held in Aba with South East business Men and Women.

The former vice president also said that He would not sign any agreement that will hurt businesses in Nigeria.

He also promised to automate processes for business registrations to reduce corruption and increase productivity.

While responding to questions asked him by the businessmen, Atiku said he would promote businesses as long as they were within the confines of law .

“But I will not sign any agreement that will hurt Nigeria because I want to see prosperity and job creation in the country,” he said.

He said he was also a businessman and would do everything to solve their challenges stressing that they must work together with him to achieve the goal by voting for him.

Atiku noting that the PDP brought the idea of dry ports while in power, promised to ensure that the dry port in the South East is made functional if elected into office.

He said that the manufacturers in the country were suffering because of high interest rates stressing that if elected, he would ensure the reduction of interest rates to five percent to increase production.

He also promised to make policies that would encourage businesses with other African countries while protecting the nation’s local industries and improving Nigeria’s business opportunities.

Atiku also said that there would be no need for his administration to create any state in any zone of the country but is committed to the restructuring of the country which would leave the choice of state creation to the zones.

Present at the meeting were, Mr Frank Jacobs, owner of Jacobs Wines, Anthony Enukeme, Aba Oil Magnate, Okechukwu Williams, President Leather Manufactures, Abia and Emmanuel Adaelu Owner of Chemlap Nigeria limited among others.

NDLEA arrests major distributor of psychotropic substances in Aba

December 18, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command, has arrested a major distributor of psychotropic substances at Ariaria market in Aba.

The NDLEA Commander, Mr Bamidele Akingbade disclosed this in a message sent to our reporter in Aba on Tuesday.

He said that the man, Chukwuemeka Donatus, was arrested inside Ariaria market after being put on surveillance by NDLEA operatives for about three months.

The Commander said the suspect was arrested while in possession of 60, 000 tablets of Tramadol, over 50 bottles of Codeine syrup, 2, 000 tablets of Diazepan and 1, 500 tablets of Rophenol.

He said that the legal department has concluded investigations on the matter and “we expect that he will be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Umuahia as soon as possible.

“We wish to use this medium to warn drug traffickers to leave the state as the Command is determined to make Abia state very hot for them.

“Our resolve is to ensure youths in the state celebrate this Christmas and New Year in peace devoid of substance abuse.” 

Police confirms the death of father and son in Aba fire

December 18, 2018


By Ijendu Iheaka

A father, his seven year-old son perished in a fire that razed a two storey building at No 1 Mgbe Street near Ariaria market Aba, Abia state on Sunday, Police has confirmed.


The state Police PRO, DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Aba on Monday.


He said that the father whose name he does not know was with his children in the flat when the fire started hence he made efforts to rescues them.


Ogbonna said that the man had sent down two elderly ones from their balcony and had gone back to the room to bring out the youngest when both were caught by the fire and died.


An eyewitness who lives in the neighbourhood said the fire started by 2 pm razed and raged until about 5 pm because the efforts by residents to contain it was subverted by oozing fluid suspected to be the cause of the fire.

The source who gave his name as Nwanna said that the fire began when a tenant on second floor whose children were involved in oil bunckering came home with their package concealed in polythene bags caught fire.

He said that when the suspected tenants on the right flank of the second floor where the fire began saw that it had engulfed the whole house, they made frantic efforts to evacuate their properties.

He said the selfishness of the occupants of the flat suspected to have originated the fire enraged Aba residents gathered to assist put out the fire who then turned to mob them but they ran away.


“That man Mr Ebere, who died in the fire was bringing down his children out of their first floor flat through the balcony because the liquid suspected to have caused the fire had set the whole staircase in the building on fire at once.


“So there was no place for anybody in the house to run out from. All those who escaped from the house jumped from the balcony as a result.


“Residents made efforts to quench the fire but if you see the huge smoke it was producing, you will know that it must have truly been set off by an inflammable liquid.


“They made efforts to reach the Fire Service people but they said they had no fuel to come and before they arrived, the man and his son had died in the fire”, the witness said.


Ogbonna said the police was still investigating the matter and had no knowledge of the cause of the fire yet.


He also said he could not confirm that the occupants of the inner first floor flat that had not been allegedly seen since the incident on Sunday ran away because they were responsible for it stressing that after the investigations, the truth would be revealed.

A female resident of the building who refused to give her name said huge sums of money, her television set, another neighbor’s TV set and generator were stolen by thieves who disguised as helpers during the fire incident which had left five families homeless.

2019: Abia APGA calls for level playing field, condemns attack on Reps member

December 18, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia has urged the state government to provide a level playing field to ensure credible leaders emerged in 2019 polls.

The Chairman of the party in the state, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere gave the charge in an interview with our reporter in Aba on Tuesday.

The chairman was reacting to alleged attacks of the member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, Mr Ossy Prestige and his entourage in Uratta, Aba on Sunday.

Some hoodlums suspected to be supporters of the PDP attacked Prestige's vehicles and broke all the windshields when they went to hand over the Uratta Road to a contractor for reconstruction.

The road which had failed for over eight years was awarded for reconstruction by the Federal Government through the Ecological Fund Office and efforts of the lawmaker.

Ehiemere condemned the attack adding that such attitude should be discouraged in the state.

“What happened is really barbaric. As APGA state chairman, our duty is to advise the government in power to give political parties level playing ground in campaigns in the state.

“As APGA member in the Federal House of Representatives, Ossy Prestige is responsible to his constituency.

“What we are talking about in a democratic dispensation is giving the people the dividend of democracy.

“He attracted the reconstruction of a bad road which had remained so for over seven years now. PDP has not done that for many years.

“In doing that, Ossy Prestige was attacked and obstructed. You should also be aware that this same man gave scholarship to 150 Abians to study in Germany, when the government in power learnt of it they went to Germany and stopped it,” he alleged.

Ehiemere expressed the hope that Abians would be ready to change the government in power come 2019.

Efforts to reach the state PDP chairman, Chief Johnson Onuigbo on the issue did not yield results as his phone was reporting unavailable.

Abia Polytechnic workers appeal to government over unpaid salaries

December 17, 2018.

By Ijendu Iheaka

Staff of the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, under the umbrella of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) have appealed to Abia Government over their unpaid salaries.

The union also urged the state government not to politicise the payment in relation to the political developments in the state.

Nwachukwu disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Aba on Monday.

The union made the call after the government announced closure of the polytechnic following alleged plans by opposition parties to use its members to cause mayhem.

“That statement is unfortunate. They should pay staff their salaries. From January to December 2018, they have not paid anybody in this school a single salary.

“They are just struggling now to pay just one month which is for January 2018. They should pay us our salaries. If they pay us our salaries, we will be okay. They should not politicise it.

“We are not politicians and cannot leave our work to go into politics. Our work is different from politicking. That is what we are telling them”, he said.

The state government in a media release signed by Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okeiyi-Kalu on Monday said the institution was being shut down because of a planned protest.

Okeiyi-Kalu said that the protest allegedly being sponsored by the opposition parties was to use “lecturers to breach public peace”.

He said that the planned activity was illegal as the management of the institution had officially closed it down for the 2018 Christmas break.

He said the government had in the last three weeks given N200 million subvention to the school.

He however noted that the amount would not be enough to pay the workers all their salary arrears.

That the staff have been on strike for about two weeks over alleged nonpayment of 11 months’ salary debts owed them by the government.

NDLEA solicits Abia govt’s support for fight against drug abuse in schools

December 12, 2018.


By Ijendu Iheaka

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called on the Abia Government to urgently support the efforts of the State Drug Control Committee to stem the spread of drug abuse.

The State Commandant of NDLEA, Mr Bamidele Akingbade, made the call on Wednesday in an interview with our reporter in Aba.

He underscored the need to organise drug awareness campaigns in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the state so as to curb the spread of the use of hard drugs in the institutions.

“Due to the high rate of abuse of psychotropic substances in primary and secondary schools across Abia, there is need for the state government to support the activities of the State Drug Control Committee.

“The committee is responsible for carrying out public awareness campaigns in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the state.

“The committee is also to advise the state government on actions that should be taken on critical issues in efforts to curtail drug abuse in the state,” he added.

Akingbade, however, bemoaned the fact that the committee, which was re-constituted in June, had not sat for once and, therefore, called on the state government to act quickly to make the committee functional for the benefit of the citizens.

The state NDLEA commandant noted that Abia had recorded a high preponderance and use of at least three types of prohibited drugs across all its 17 local government areas.

He said that 12 out of 17 local government areas of the state recorded the use of cocaine and heroin, while the remaining seven council areas recorded the use of cannabis, skunk cannabis, tramadol, benylin with codeine and rohypnol.

He said that the proliferation and increased use of hard drugs in Abia had caused some security, health and social challenges for the residents, which required quick interventions for prompt resolution.

Akingbade said that the trend meant that people would be increasingly getting addicted to drug use, while requiring rehabilitation, adding that any effort to prevent drug addiction was certainly better any effort to cure it.

He said that the consumption rate of prohibited drugs by people in the state was quite alarming.

He said that the development had resulted in increased drug-dependence, while reinforcing the need to put in place certain facilities for the addicts’ rehabilitation. 

Youths protest alleged maltreatment by NNPC in Aba

Youths from Okpokoroala in Uratta Autonomous Community, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia, on Monday protested what they termed “maltreatment” of their indigenes by the Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC).

Okpokoroala is the host community of the Aba Depot of the NNPC.

The youths, who flocked the road leading to the depot, barricaded the entrances and exits into and out of the depot demanding change of attitude from the company.

The protest took a different dimension when the community’s Chief Priest accompanied by some youths brought out an effigy representing the community deity and placed it on the main entrance of the depot while daring anyone to cross it.

The protesters, who sang peacefully at the gates, had placards bearing inscriptions like: NNPC recognize your host community; NNPC since 1979 you’ve not offered us office pin as your host, is it fair?

Others were “Are we not your host community, why treat us as if we don’t exist? Enough of this 42 years of neglect and no more of such”.

Prince Young Ngwaziem, President of Uratta Autonomous Community speaking on behalf of the host community, said the agreement was that 60 per cent of support staff must come to the host community.

“The big people here fixed their relatives and brothers to fill job openings meant for the host community.

“We don’t have one person in support staff of which 60 per cent is supposed to be ours. The only person we had was removed.

“They must tell us when they will site a single project here because they have not laid a single block here since they came,” he insisted.

He said that since 1979 when the company took their lands without compensation, they have not even given the host community even the smallest health centre.

“Let them give our people their rights. They can’t even grade the roads leading to the depot. We don’t give them trouble, but they are treating this peaceful community as though we are fools,” he said.

The youth president of Okpokoroala, Mr Chukwuemeka Chidi said that the presence of the NNPC had brought them no blessings.

He said that the community had written them severally for assistance but nothing came out of it.

Chidi said that since 1979 that it was established, they have been employing people without considering the community and its graduates whom they did not find fit for jobs at the depot.

“We don’t want promises anymore. We can stay here for one month. How many times shall we write to them?

“People say dialogue is better and we’ve been doing that, but it baffles us that a company filled with learned people does not value dialogue.

“We have our brothers who are registered contractors, but whenever there are jobs to be done, they don’t call them.

“They rather call outsiders to do what our people can easily do and even better. We came here without even a single stick not to talk of cutlass.

“It’s a peaceful demonstration and we will remain peaceful until our cries are heard”, he said.

Chidi said in the last fire disaster that occurred on October 13, 2018, the community lost many of its sons because of the errors of the company.

He said that the committee NNPC sent from Abuja promised to do something for the community but regretted that since then they have all gone back to Abuja without fulfilling the promises.

The Depot Manager, Mr. Joseph Chukwudi, while addressing the protesters in the presence of heavily armed policemen, pleaded with the protesters to exercise patience.

He said he had forwarded all their complaints to NNPC headquarters in Abuja through its Port Harcourt office.

Chukwudi said he met the issue on ground but had not employed anybody there since he came except for two persons recently.

“What the panel from Abuja promised you will be fulfilled. They will study it and forward to Port Harcourt.

“This depot is not of two divisions; Pipelines and Product Management Company (PPMC) and Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC).

“The depot has been balkanized. The management of the depot is now two. There is a division now and it is not as easy as you think to handle,” he said.

He said NNPC had been segmented into two divisions to make management better adding that the NNPC management was on their matter. 

Abia CP explains re-arrest of drowned man's friends

December 5, 2018


By Ijendu Iheaka

Abia State Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike on Wednesday said the police re-arrested friends of a man drowned at a swimming pool in Aba to deepen investigation and rule out foul play

A 20 year old man drowned at the swimming pool of a hotel on Margret Avenue in GRA, Aba, Abia state last Thursday.

The man who is a friend of the celebrator was said to have gone to swim at the hotel’s pool during their colleague’s birthday party but drowned in it leading to the arrest of their other friends at the event.

A Police source told our reporter that the youths numbering about 16 were first arrested on Thursday evening and released on Friday.

The source said their release came after preliminary investigations involving CCTV footage previews at the Central Police Station (CPS) Aba failed to link them to their colleague’s death.

However, our findings showed that State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday re-arrested and moved the boys to the state capital in Umuahia where they had remained detained until Wednesday.

Ezike said that the police was not in for a witch hunt but wanted to rule out every possibility of foul play in the death of the young man at the hotel’s swimming pool.

“You talked about CCTV footage. The footage did not show when the boy entered the pool. It only showed his body in the pool.

“We are looking at negligent act, we are looking at willful act. Willful acts are different from negligent acts but all or part can form the ingredients of a crime.

“So it is just the process of investigation that is going on. The matter is not an Aba matter because it involved homicide.

“When somebody has died, it elevates the discourse to a different level of investigation. We are not out to witch hunt anybody but in search of the truth”, he said.

Asked if following his promise to reduce human rights abuses he would stop the process of arresting suspects before investigating them as it is done in some other countries, Ezike said there are rules to obey.

“You obey the law and you obey the Constitution. The climes where you do not do that are different from ours.

“If you talk about the United States of America, they run a system where the prosecuting agencies are attached to the police.

“So more or less they are part of the investigation. It is not ours here. Secondly, they have virtually everything you will need in criminal investigation.

“They have the CCTV, they have the intelligence electronic devices. With all that they know when to go for arrest.

“But for us here, we start from the answer to the question. I wish we will get to where start from the question to the answer”, he said.

Police warn Abia residents against extra-judicial killing

November 30, 2018


By Ijendu Iheaka


The Police Command in Abia has warned residents of the state against extra judicial killing.

DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna, the Police Public Relations Officer for the command in the state gave the warning in an interview with our reporter in Aba.

He was reacting to the killing of two suspected robbers by the mob on Wednesday in the state.

Ogbonna said although the command had zero tolerance for crime and criminal activities, it was wrong for citizens to take the laws into their hands.

He also urged members of the public to exercise restraint and any time they have such incident, they should draw the attention of the police.

“As much as we are not in support of criminal acts such as forcefully taking people’s property, we enjoin people to report or hand over suspected criminals to the police.

“We know that they may not be just two and if they had been arrested, they would have been useful in giving us information on the arrest of others, “he said.

Some residents of Aba on Wednesday caught two robbery suspects out of the three that robbed a woman and killed them.

The woman was leaving a bank premises when the suspects robbed her of N300, 000.

Sources said that confession by the suspects that they also killed a young tricycle driver and dispossessed him of his tricycle at Ogbor Hill in Aba angered the residents and elicited mob.

Some members of the public at the scene were said to have beaten two of the suspects and set them ablaze.

Man drowns during friend's birthday party in Aba

November 30, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

A 20-year-old man, simply identified as Chidiebere David, drowned on Thursday night in the swimming pool of a new but popular hotel on Margret Avenue, GRA, Aba in Abia.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Abia, Mr Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident on Friday.

“The man is about 20 years old. His name is Chidiebere David. He accompanied his friends to a birthday party in the hotel and got drowned there. That was exactly what happened,’’ he said.

Ogbonna however did not say if the police was foreclosing further investigations into the matter.

Our repoerter gathered that the deceased went with his friends who were over 16 in number to the hotel to celebrate the birthday of one of them.

Chidiebere who hailed from Imo died at the pool with no one realising that he had drowned until sometimes later.

It was further gathered that when the deceased colleagues saw his body inside the pool and made frantic efforts to save him, they discovered that he had died.

The relatives of the young man were said to have later arrived at the scene, taken his body and deposited at a morgue close to the hotel.

An anonymous source within the hotel told our reporter that the friends of the deceased were arrested and taken into custody same night by policemen from Aba Area Command.