Kinsmen Condemn Media Attacks on Sen. Orji, Extol His Virtues

 Ibeku people under the auspices of Ibeku Progressive Association have risen in defense of the immediate past Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, waving aside media attacks against him as handiwork of mischief-makers.
In a communiqué on Thursday jointly signed by the Chairman Ibeku Council of Rulers, His Royal Highness, Eze Henry Ihezekwem and all the Presidents of Ibeku Egu Asaa in Umuahia the Abia State capital, the IPA said they were aware that the media campaign of calumny against the Senator representing Abia Central were sponsored by few disgruntled Old Bende people because he stood his ground and doggedly facilitated the shift of Power to the Abia South.
According to them, this noble act infuriated certain myopic elements in Old Bende whose intention was to undermined equity consequently the recruitment of Judases - Chief Uche Akwukwaegbu (Bawas) and Eze S.I Onuoha (Eke 1 of Eke) – to cast aspersions on Sen. Orji whom they described as a great son of Ibeku.
“We need to clarify here that Abia state stands on a Tripod of Three zones - Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South - with traditional home origins of Old Bende division and Aba division (Ukwa la Ngwa axis). Power Shift was not only done in Abia State but in other states like Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Benue states to mention but a few, and till today no one has been found casting aspersions on the facilitators, except here in God's Own State.
“Abia people must of necessity put on their thinking Caps as our emphasis on zero - sum politics will not augur well for the betterment of ndi Abia. Mind you, it is only in Abia state that the gubernatorial election, won and lost in 2015 is still being challenged in the Courts of Law. If we must progress as a people, we must refrain from prevarication and hypocrisy in the pursuit of equity and justice.
“Bearing in mind that Power shift is not eternal, it is a marriage that will terminate at a given time and we should allow ndi Abia South to enjoy their stay in Umuahia -Ibeku, the state capital. The smear campaign against Chief T.A.Orji (CON) is to say the least Hateful and Envious. It smacks of a drowning adversary,” IPA said.
The IPA further described Sen. Orji as a Colossus in the Nigerian political space adding that his status as the only Abian of two terms Governorship and a sitting Senator were aspirations for others. The Association also noted that Sen. Orji must know that people are envious of his attainments and consequently should be conscious of the words of Former President Babangida that "I don't join issues with my juniors’’ 
“Sen. Orji has a Glorious history, a core old Bende son more than his traducers; a Son of Ibeku of Tom Ikoro Orji Ancestry. His Father, Tom Ikoro Orji was a Warrant Chief of 1st class status who led other Chiefs in Ibeku to sign agreement for cessation of hostilities between Ibeku and the then colonialists and then handed down Ibeku Umuahia,now capital of Abia state in 1917 to the British colonialists. 
“We, Ibeku people restate for emphasis that we are indeed proud of Senator T.A Orji – Ochendo (CON), for his numerous achievements as Administrative Secretary NECON and eventually INEC, Permanent Secretary, Chief of Staff, Executive Governor and now Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

ABIA STATE EMBARKS ON AGRICULTURE REVOLUTION,

...targets 10,000 hectares of oil Palm plantation by 2018

 Owing to the fall in crude oil price and the economic recession in Nigeria, it has become expedient for governments at all levels to ensure diversifying her economy to deal with the issues of economic downturn.

One of such efforts is reverting back to Agriculture which used to be the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy before the discovery of oil.

To this end, the Abia State government, under the leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is embarking on oil palm revolution, as the way to economic sustainability for the state going forward.

Other agricultural produces like ginger, pineapple plantation and cassava farming are not left out as the state Ministry of Agriculture under the headship of Hon. Uzo Azubuike as commissioner is also piloting in high yielding varieties.

This is part of government’s efforts at agricultural revolution and making Abia an economic dependent state.

The Abia State government says its plans at developing oil palm value chain is to make the state the number one in oil production, not just in Nigeria but Africa.

To achieve this, the state government has set a target of developing 7.5 million seedlings between 2016 and 2019, targeting 10,000 hectares of oil palm plantation across the state. This would be achieved in phases.

It will be recalled that the last time a state in Nigeria embarked on oil Palm plantation was in 1964, by the then Eastern State under the governorship of late Dr M.I. Opara.

According to Hon Uzo Azubuike, the state is targeting 2 million seedlings in the first phase of the oil palm seedling, the second will produce 3 million, while the third will deal with 2.5 million seedlings.

At Ahiaba Umueze, in Osisioma Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state, visited by newsmen, it was discovered that over 1.5 million nuts have already been planted.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Uzo Azubuike while answering questions from newsmen at the location said the Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu led administration had through the project employed over a thousand people especially youths and women in the communities and created wealth for families.
He said the seedlings were got at #350 and would replicate over 700 million naira in the next one year, thereby increasing the revenue generation of the state.
The Agric boss revealed that the state is establishing a Community Based Oil Palm Project which intends to inject the seedlings into the communities to achieve this.
The seedlings according to him would be sold to farmers at subsidized rates, which would be tested within the selected pilot communities. The essence he said, is to ensure that every farm land has two to three stands of high yielding oil palm growing in it. 
This is also geared towards tactically phasing out the low yielding varieties by the state government.
Under the arrangement, each community would have an anchor that would buy off Fresh Fruit Bunches for procession, making it possible for every community to have a mini palm processing mill, while the state builds an oil palm refinery.
The Commissioner further revealed that following the zero tolerance to land waste of the state government policy, it has also embarked on ginger and pineapple production at Ohambele, Ukwa East Local Government.
The government is procuring a ginger processing machine to enhance effectiveness and sustainability.
Also at Omuma Uzo, Ukwa West Local Government, the state government has began the multiplication of high yielding cassava varieties.
Hon. Azubuike explained that the varieties which were gotten from the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, are TME 419 and Pro Vitamin A.
He said the interest of the state government is on the stem which would be distributed to farmers because of its disease resistance, high yielding and more nutritious qualities.
According to the Commissioner for Agriculture, the state is recruiting extension agents to be sent to communities to educate the people on modern ways of farming in a bid to sustain the project.
Some residents of the host communities who spoke to newsmen commended the state government for such a giant stride and pledged total support for the project.

FULKS ROAD, OTHERS IN FOCUS

Abia is moving forward...

Today, the indefatigable and promise-keeping Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu inspected the ongoing construction of Faulks road by Setraco.

During the inspection, the Governor was shown a stunning discovery made by Setraco - Setraco has discovered the Ifeobara Basin tunnel constructed decades ago, which was the main tunnel through which water was channeled to Ife Obara.

It is worthy of note that the just discovered blocked tunnel, had been the main reason why all attempts to fix the road by previous administration proved futile.

Governor Ikpeazu also promised that, God being his helper, the road will be completed before the next raining season.

Abia is moving forward...