Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Gov Orji Condoles Vice-President Namadi Sambo over Brother's Death




Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has condoled Vice-President Namadi Sambo over the death of his immediate younger brother, Captain Sabo Sambo, who died recently in a ghastly car accident along Airport Road, Abuja. 

Governor Orji  who described late Sabo as a respectful and hard working gentleman, said his death was a huge loss to the aviation industry in the country. 

The governor who disclosed this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, prayed God Almighty to grant the second family and the immediate family of deceased the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. 

"I received the news of the demise of your immediate younger brother with shock and disbelief. He was a fine pilot par excellence who until his untimely death showed strong commitment to the Nigerian project. Late Sabo's sudden death came at a time when his wealth of experience and expertise were needed in the development of the country's aviation industry. 

"I pray God Almighty to grant his immediate family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Though his exit was painful but you should be comforted that he served his fatherland to the best of his ability. My heart felt sympathy
also goes to the government and people of Kaduna State. They should see their son's death as an act of God. I pray that his gentle soul rests in peace."

Friday, 25 April 2014

New eye centre in Umuahia Abia state


 Gov. T.A. Orji Ochendo built over 250 Primary healthcare Centres bringing the PHCs to 710 in Abia State , two Diagnostic centres Umuahia & Aba, 9 (100) bed General Hospitals across the 3 Senatorial Districts, a new Dialysis Centre, massive expansion work going on at the Abia State Teaching Hospital Aba, Chest Clinic at Amachara (PPP), Pediatric Clinic & Emergency Centre at Amachara and today, a brand New Eye Centre has been commissioned by H.E T.A Orji. Ochendo is excellently safeguarding the health of Abians. According to our Governor, he will also like to be remembered as a Governor that Governed healthy people. For us in Abia State, Healthcare is a priority and the ECentre is indeed a very value added project













Nigerian leaders unite against Boko Haram


Nigerian leaders unite against Boko Haram

"Both Muslims and Christians are being killed. Boko Haram doesn't discriminate against any person," Theodor Orji, governor of the southern Abia state, said

World Bulletin/News Desk
Leaders from across Nigeria appealed for a united front against Boko Haram on Thursday, saying the insurgents were waging war on Christian and Muslim Nigerians alike.
President Goodluck Jonathan held a security meeting with governors of 36 states straddling Nigeria's largely Christian south and mostly Muslim north to seek ways of ending the group's five-year-old insurgency.
"We agreed that the Boko Haram war is not a religious war and therefore it's a war against all Nigerians and should be treated as such," a statement said after the meeting.
The militants abducted 230 schoolgirls on April 14 and most are still missing. On the same day, a bomb in a bus station on the edge of the capital Abuja killed 75 people, an attack for which Boko Haram claimed responsibility.
The two attacks showed the inability of the Nigerian security forces to protect civilians against Boko Haram, seen as the biggest security threat to Africa's top oil producer.
The group, whose name means "Western education is sinful" in the northern Hausa language, has killed thousands in the past two years.
Officials have long feared that Boko Haram will harden religious divisions.
But the majority of their victims have been Muslims. They destroy churches, but also mosques.
"Both Muslims and Christians are being killed. Boko Haram doesn't discriminate against any person," Theodor Orji, governor of the southern Abia state, said after the emergency meeting.
"Boko Haram is not a religious war and people should not misrepresent it to be," Orji said.
Heightened Boko Haram attacks coincide with rising communal violence in the Middle Belt, where north and south meet, that has killed hundreds.


Why a quiet Revolution Berths in Abia State


  


Abia surges ahead! The State is navigating through a turbulence of siege mentality expropriated by the deposed taskmasters. The sorts of turbulence that normally, herald a cruising swagger, on the airspace. Expectably, the victorious march elicits excitement and anxiety alike. But the shouts of freedom reverberate louder in the air. Abia situation is akin to the transition from the biblical Egypt to the promise land – Canaan. The relocation to Canaan, though a land flowing with milk and honey, was a grueling journey – sleepless nights, hostile weather, scarcity of basic necessities of life, and the risk of carnivorous animals – yet the game worth the candle.
 Those who felt that their empire has decapitated are not sleeping. They want to pull the roof down on all of us. They are leaving no stone unturned in order to reverse the hand of the clock. But Abians have vowed not to return back to Egypt. Sadly for them, the era of royal hand-pickings after demonic oath-taking in altars of principalities are gone for good. The era of celebrating illiteracy and glorification of mediocrity has expired. The chief architect of modern Abia and the champion of the liberation struggle, Governor T.A. Orji is not also losing steam in cleaning up the Augean stables.
Governor Orji has institutionalized a sustainable peace among the stakeholders which is never witnessed since the creation of the state. If he is a dictator or averse to alternative view points, as advanced by a section of the media, he couldn’t have continued to strike healthy collaboration from Abia leaders. Not even pecuniary consideration could make virtually all of them to sacrifice their pedigree and hard-earned reputation, if not that things are working out well in Abia. No state in Nigeria today can boast of this feat.  Indeed, Governor Orji is a rare consensus-builder.
He battled the den of kidnappers and stamped out violent crimes from Abia domain. The state received accolades from far and near for squaring up with the challenge of arresting the menace. Businesses picked up once more. Investors regained confidence in Abia friendly business climate. Laying a solid foundation for the state became the flagship of Governor Orji’s administration. Monumental structures for conduct of government business are built. New office complexes for the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government which previous administrations treated with ignominy are erected in the state capital, Umuahia. Umuahia has been transformed from a glorified village to a sprawling 21st century city. Markets that used to occupy the heart of the town had been relocated to the suburbs and the hinterland. Network of new roads, that crisscross the state capital – opened up new areas for investments and property development. Many Local Government Areas have also benefited from the aggressive rehabilitation and reconstruction of rural roads infrastructure.
Governor Orji’s poverty eradication strategy has become a benchmark for other public officers. He started with a monthly stipend of N15,000 each to over 4500 indigent youths across the 17 LGAs. The package was largely for students and those in apprenticeship, and the confessions of the beneficiaries indicated that it was a veritable stop-gap measure. It indeed acted like an economic soothing balm, in a country where there is no welfare anchor or social security package, for the weak and the less-privileged. At the last count, over 700 youths are beneficiaries of Governor Orji’s free distribution of buses and taxis under the state youth empowerment programme. No strings attached! It has boosted intra and inter-city transportation and created jobs in the transport sector. Hitherto, what was presented as empowerment packages were wheel barrows, machetes, hoes, and hire-purchase tokunbo motorcycles but today there is a quantum leap to reflect the present economic realities. Youths are no longer impoverished with tools that confine them to perpetual menial jobbers. Most of the beneficiaries are working towards boosting their transport businesses with a fleet of cars and buses in the near future. That is the reward of vision and human face disposition to governance.
Of all the Governor Orji’s legacy projects, the modern dialysis centre at the newly constructed Abia State Specialist & Diagnostic Hospital marks an uncommon radical approach in health service delivery in Nigeria. It has considerably helped to curb medical tourism to medically-advanced countries. In 2012, reports from the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) indicated that over 5,000 Nigerians visit India and other countries monthly, for medical tourism with lots of risks and challenges, which include misdiagnosis, legal and ethical issues, exposure to infectious diseases, as well as other complications, particularly post-surgical complications. While commissioning the project in 2013, the Honourable Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu commended the Governor for domesticating the feat and charged Nigerians to patronise the centre with the Federal Government’s health insurance scheme, to enable them foot the bills, since dialysis is usually expensive.
The classy International Conference Centre that is almost completed marks yet another giant stride of Governor Orji. Repositioning the state to host topflight events is an awesome idea. With an inviting façade, the Centre houses four conference halls-the main hall, the banquet hall and two other halls with VIP Lounge and gallery. The main hall has 5000 sitting capacity while other halls can accommodate about 4000 other persons. The International Conference Centre is digitalized with a full complement of latest information technology facility that is seen in all modern centres for conferences, conventions and business cocktails. It has an in-house IT and audio-visual facilities. Activities there can be streamed live on television stations and various social media platforms. Analysts are of the view that this is the first of its kind in the South East and the gains of such magnificent edifice are not only economical but also socio-political and strategic. In the education sector, which is the bedrock of every developed society, it is no longer news that Abia State came second in the overall best result of schools in Nigeria in the just released results of the May/June 2013 West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination Certificate (WASSEC). According to WAEC, “the breakdown of the results show that 12  states in Nigeria recorded percentage that were above national average   in the following order:  Anambra State (67.85 per cent), Abia State (65.17 per cent), Rivers State (58.56 per cent), Lagos State (56.03), Cross River State (53.34 per cent), Bayelsa State (51.66 per cent), Enugu State (50.22 per cent), Delta State (46.49 per cent), Imo State (46.03per cent), Abuja (43.9 per cent), Ogun (39.92 per cent), and Kaduna (39.47 per cent)”. Abia students have continued to sustain the winning streak because of Governor Orji’s robust transformation in the education sector. The State Universal Basic Education Board that is primarily charged with the rebuilding and rehabilitation of classroom blocks and maintenance of standards in primary schools was recently adjudged the best-managed board in the South East by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Abuja. Besides, the students that represented Abia State in the Grand Finale of the 10th edition of NNPC Annual National Quiz Competition held last year in Abuja came first and the winners are automatic recipients of scholarships to any tertiary institution of their choice in Nigeria. The scholarships will cover the duration of their course of study. In agriculture, the Ochendo Liberation Farms- a farm settlement scheme in the three senatorial zones of the State has rebound agriculture to the front burner for food security and job creation.  At Okeikpe, Ukwa West LGA, the State has a 4-hectare plantain plantation. Already, it provided employment opportunities to over 100 youths and young-adult rural dwellers in that domain while people have been encouraged to develop personal farms to eke a living. At Lodu, Umuahia North LGA, there is also a 4-hectare plantain plantation; and another 5 hectares of land was designated for massive production of special varieties of cassava that are biotechnologically versatile for human uses. The ‘Pro-Vitamin A’ variety is planted in 2 hectares while TMS (419) variety is planted in 3 hectares. The Isiala Amaba in Isuikwuato LGA of the State, has equally earmarked a 4-hectare land for plantain plantation. These are meant to encourage people to build careers in the sub-sector. So far, over 200 farmers in the state have benefited from the suckers freely distributed. Abia has also been allocated 10,000 suckers of exportable improved variety of banana in the 275,000 stems of banana suckers procured by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Currently, the Golden Guinea Breweries Ltd Umuahia that was moribund before Governor Orji assumed office is being revisited with aggressive rehabilitation to enable it to take off again. The news and the sight alone have rekindled hopes of new things and robust economic activities that would come alive in the state capital. And with the two new power plants almost completed in Ala Oji and Osisioma, which Governor Orji boosted with the provision of security, road network and tax waivers, the State is poised for  a fresh golden era in all facets of human life.

Thursday, 24 April 2014

Re: How Governor TA Orji, son plotted imposition of Ikpeazu as successor


Re: How Governor TA Orji, son plotted imposition of Ikpeazu as successor
Abia Governor Theodore Orji



























According to Georges Braque, the legendary French artist, “Truth exists; only lies are invented”. This supposition clearly and completely put a lie on the lips and even obliterates the scripting of fifth columnists that are bent on derailing or even truncating the smooth transition of power at the governorship level from the Abia Central Senatorial zone to the Ukwa-Ngwa axis of the state as the chief executive of the state, Gov TA Orji has pledged.

In as much as this season (the season preceding the 2015 general elections) calls for the analysis of the events likely to occur during the elections, innuendos, allusions and falsehood by doomsday visioners, seers, prophets and investigative reporters will only but cause more harm than good to the Abia nay Nigerian society whose citizens and leadership are brazing up and indeed formulating a peaceful and acceptable transition of power at that level of governance in 2015.

It is despicable that while the government and people of Abia state are trying to ensure an agreeable transition of the highest political seat in the state to an axis that the stakeholders will settle for, an amorphous group is doing the dirty job of dishing out false information in the social media of how Gov TA Orji purportedly singlehandedly endorsed the deputy generally manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as his successor in the office.

The write-up which recently appeared in one of the online publications called THEWILL, tried to pull the wool over the eyes of some Abians. In the story, its writer purported that Ikpeazu was chosen by Engr. Chinedu Orji and marshaled to Gov TA Orji for endorsement, adding that three days after the meeting with Engr. Orji, His Excellency, Gov Orji held a meeting with him and purportedly endorsed him. The writer further alleged that Okezie Ikpeazu was thereafter directed by His Excellency to proceed to Abuja and Lagos to consult with Abia stakeholders for an all-round acceptance.

The report also claimed that a meet-the-stakeholders team was hurriedly foisted with Chijioke Nwakodo, the economic adviser to the governor, as the leader of the team and that the delegation later ran into some brick walls when they met with Senator Ike Nwachukwu and Senator Adolph Wabara who expressed their indignation over the endorsement. The report also alleged that the “campaign team”, having run into trouble waters thereafter aborted their Abuja trip and returned to Abia state.

The writer has indeed said nothing new in his so called detailed investigation except to expose his sponsors’ hidden agenda to fly a kite that will be difficult to accept by the generality of Abians. Just two weeks ago rumour mill had it that Dr Okezie Ikpeazu had been endorsed by Gov TA Orji as the PDP flag bearer for the 2015 governorship election in Abia state. It is on record that this rumour, as strong as it was, was swiftly recanted by the state government which reiterated the position of Gov TA Orji to give Abia stakeholders and the generality of Abians the opportunity of collectively choosing his successor.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor in that regard clearly stated the governor’s position, adding that Gov Orji was concentrating on providing more dividends of democracy to the people of the state than venture into the issue of who takes over the reins of government from him; a project that will come more than a year from now.


One is at loss on why some hack writers and reporters have made Abia an issue of political decimation. Abia government, unlike some other state governments, has reconnected the state to the path of progressive development in all spheres. 

The quick economic growth of the state that has raised Abia to the status of the fastest developing state in Eastern region, the high quality of its education, a development that places it second in the last Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) should have been a delight to any online or hard copy publications’ writer or reporter. Indeed, in as much as the freedom of any group or individuals to express their opinions on issues of common concern to the state is accepted and recognized, it will however be seen as wicked if such group or individual deliberately deceive the unsuspecting public on a serious issue like the Abia governorship issue.

The writer and his sponsors may have caused the report to be published in order to heat up the polity. The publication may also aim at disparaging a particular aspirant considered to be unacceptable to them in order to force their choice to the government and people of Abia state. 

Whoever told them that the governor’s son, Engr. Orji or the wife, the Abia First Lady interferes with people’s aspirations to the extent that they congregated and chose Gov. TA Orji (Ochendo Global’s) successor, a high profile political position?

Come to think of it, is Okezie Ikpeazu not qualified to assume the office of a governor? In as much as this writer is not holding forth for Okezie Ikpeazu, it is reasonable to say that Abia should choose its best for the exalted position, and Okezie Ikpeazu is among them. We also have others like Barr Friday Nwosu, who is eminently qualified and so on. The pudding, they say, is in the eating. Therefore, like the Abia governor has consistently maintained, the best will be chosen from the lot that would come out to vie for the exalted office, pointing out that the primaries of the governorship will be free and fair devoid of government’s interference. It is therefore the right of stakeholders and the people of the state to pick the right person as the PDP candidate, a write that should be exercised within the realm of decency, reason and democracy.

The writer was just fantasizing when he alleged that a campaign team for Ikpeazu was raised to meet with Abia stakeholders in Abuja and other cities of Nigeria a forth night ago and that the team was rejected by Abia stakeholders in Abuja particularly Wabara and Ike Nwachukwu who questioned the undemocratic nature as they allegedly insisted that the so called endorsement will cause disaffection within the PDP family in the state. 

Abia PDP stakeholders are always working in tandem with Gov Orji. They have not disagreed nor have cause to disagree with him because the Abia chief executive has consistently kept his doors open for advice and genuine contributions to the affairs of the state. He has carried everybody, particularly stakeholders along in the running of the state. Therefore, there is no basis for disagreement with Ochendo Global on that issue because his decision on it is known and accepted by all. 

Therefore, the writer and his sponsors must not impose their thoughts and fantasies on the people of the state, because the governor or members of his household has not endorsed anybody as the PDP candidate for 2015 governorship election for Abia state. Both the son and the Abia first Lady are occupied with their daily routines of offering succor to the less privileged, the youth and the women. Therefore, no sponsored write-up would undermine this God given role. At this juncture, it is pertinent to warn the public against gulping some of these frivolous reports and articles in the media particularly the online publications hook, line and sinker.


Female Students and Their Dirty Runs In Popular Club Exposed


Once you touch down, you will feel the vibe of Owerri, the capital of Imo State. The city is warm, with things to keep visitors engaged. Known for its robust hospitality industry, Owerri is the destination of fun seekers of all sorts. Visitors to the city will always have fond memories as well as the longing to return. They will remember the nightlife; most of the fine restaurants, hotels and fun spots are places to be in the night.
They know that Owerri has its fair share of nightclubs. While some of the clubs operate on their own, others are built inside hotels. Those who lodge in the hotels that operate nightclubs are admitted free, upon showing their room keys. Others pay gate fee. Expectedly, going by the active nightlife in the city, Owerri is brimming with all categories of prostitutés.
One of the commercial séx workers told The Sun, at the Rappour Hotel nightclub, that she comes around to earn money and take care of herself and siblings. Ijeoma, as she called herself, said: “I come to the club about three times a week to catch some fun, but nothing goes for nothing.”
Most of these séx workers are students of institutions in the state and neighbouring states. In the day, the girls appear somewhat respectable on campus, but at night they wear a different cap. By their dressing you will know them. They appear in low waist trousers, short gowns/micro mini skirts, midriff and oranges revealing tops and patrol premises of hotels with nightclubs.

To Mr Livinus Manukwem, an Owerri businessman, the situation could not have been otherwise, every factor considered. “The sheer number of tertiary institutions in and around Owerri naturally creates the environment for people to indulge. I think there are more higher institutions in Owerri than in any other town in the country. Those setting up such facilities in Owerri are smart business people, taking advantage of the environment or situation. It is just like locating an industry where the raw materials for production abound.”
Open séx club. One of the nightclubs offering “special services” is located unobtrusively off All Seasons Road, New Owerri. The club begins business from about 8pm. However, activities reach fever pitch from 10pm and continue till the wee hours.
This hangout is a white bungalow that hardly gives itself away. It looks like the regular club inside but without heavy décor and neon lights at the entrance. The regular dance hall is always almost empty, making one wonder how they manage to stay afloat. But if you wait long enough, you will notice young and middle aged men strolling into a passage on the left side of the dance hall. And that is where the real action is.
To go past barrel-chested bouncers manning an inner door, you must pay a gate fee of N1,000. There is an adjoining room also and both have something in common: Wild séxual obscenity.
The rooms are not well illuminated but bright enough for you to see what is being offered. Once you step in, the sight that greets you is that of a number of nakéd girls or at various stages of nu'dity. The girls in bra and pants soon shed every piece of clothing, as the show gathers momentum.
The nightclub parades these girls in appreciable number. Unlike some other strip bars where only a handful of girls entertain, this nightclub has them many. And they come in various sizes and shapes: slim, flat, tall, short, fair, dark. Again, unlike most clubs, where go-go girls exhibit their stuff on a platform, in this fun spot the girls offer more or less personal service. They move from one patron to another, showing the stuff they are made off. Wonderful!
The Sun reporter was at the nightclub recently. As soon as the reporter and two of his friends sauntered in, the girls began to hover around them. About 12 of them were inside the room. Some were smoking and drinking beer, which is sold for N500 each.
Others were rocking to the pulsating music blasting from the speakers, making explicit remarks and gestures to the men, even as some playfully squeezed one another’s buttocks and oranges.
After the reporter walked in, Flavour’s monster hit, Ashawo, began to play. The tempo of the music seemed to energize the dancers and they did exotic dance steps and got wilder.
In corners, some of the girls were engaged in lap dance with men, who grabbed the opportunity with both hands, caressing the lower region of the girls. The mischievous guys were inserting naira notes in between the thighs of the girls. In this nightclub, to be “appreciated” is euphemism for “I need some money.”
The inner room is a shade darker and sleazier. There, the patrons and the girls get more intimate, engaging in all manner of acts. Some of the dancers were sitting astride men even as others were caressing themselves.
One of the girls, who gave her name as Marbel, said that for N2,000 she would engage in "oral" with a man in the dark hall. It was gathered that a patron could also take any of the girls out for the night, for an agreed sum. The price depends on the time, desperation of the girl and bargaining power of the patron, but it could be anything between N5,000 and N10,000.
Private parties:
It was also learnt that the strip dancers equally entertain at private or house parties. According to one of the girls, who identified herself as Maureen, “If guys want to be entertained in a private apartment or hotel room, the girls would be willing. The price tag is N5,000 per girl for an outing of between four and five hours.”

Maureen, who claims to be a graduate from University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and speaks good English, also said that during such private outings, séx can take place but it depends on the agreement between both.
She said: “You can have séx with a girl at the house party, but it is a personal thing. Of course, if you make a good offer a girl will not refuse it. It is a matter of cash.” She further said that if given at least two days notice, she can arrange for up to 30 girls for such special party. She further said that payment must be made before the girls begin to drop their pants.
Defending her action, the beautiful Maureen said:
"What is the big deal? Everybody is doing it. Female bankers do it, actresses do it; lawmakers and ministers too are doing it. In fact, some pretenders have séx with more men in a week than strip dancers.”

Africa's biggest wind farm starts generating power


                                                                           












Africa's largest wind farm, at Tarfaya in southwestern Morocco, has started generating electricity and will be capable of meeting the electricity needs of several hundred thousand people, officials say.

Installed on 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) along the wind-blown southern Atlantic coast, the 80-metre (260 feet) high turbines, 131 in all, will be fully operational in October and produce up to 300 megawatts of electricity.
The North African kingdom has no hydrocarbon reserves of its own and hopes to cover 42 percent of its energy needs with renewable sources by 2020. It has launched a plan to produce 4,000 MW from wind and solar power.
Last year, Morocco officially launched the construction of a 160-megawatt solar power plant near the desert city of Ouarzazate, which is slated for completion next year.
Work started in Tarfaya at the beginning of 2013, and 88 of the 131 turbines have now been erected, according to Mohammed Sebti. Moroccan firm Nareva Holding is carrying out the project in partnership with France's GDF Suez.
Forty-four turbines have been connected to the grid, with the first kilowatts delivered earlier this month, Sebti told an AFP journalist at the site.
Production will continue to rise, with its "full commissioning to be completed in October as planned," he added.
Costing around 500 million euros ($690 million), the wind farm will be the continent's biggest, surpassing Ethiopia's Ashegoda project, with its 84 turbines and 120-megawatt capacity.
It will save 900,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, according to GDF.
Around 50 employees, of the 700 people involved in the construction phase, will continue working at the site once it is fully operational.
The southwest is the focus of Morocco's wind plans, with the smaller Akhfennir plant, around 100 kilometres to the east of Tarfaya, already producing 100 MW from 60 turbines.
The Tarfaya region lies on the edge of Western Sahara, a disputed territory larger than the United Kingdom, most of which is under Moroccan control, but with the Algeria-based Polisario Front campaigning for independence since 1973.
A 50 MW wind farm already exists at Foum el Oued, near Western Sahara's main city of Laayoune, and other projects are planned, according to Morocco's Economic, Social and Environmental Council.
But attracting foreign firms to participate in the kingdom's wind plans for the territory will be harder than in Morocco itself.

AFP
- See more at: http://africvilla.com/index.php/all-news/13-science-technology/2021-africa-s-biggest-wind-farm-starts-generating-power#sthash.N16oMrng.dpuf