IBB, Zimbabwe PM, others celebrate Rochas' 50th birthday in Owerri

All roads in Imo State led to the Heroes square in Owerri, Imo State today, 8^th October 2012, as over fifty thousand people convened there to celebrate the 50^th birthday anniversary of His Excellency, the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

In a speech at the occasion, the former Military President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, General Ibrahim Babangida described Owelle Rochas Okorocha as a man of many parts who has excelled in all parts of life.

He said that that by erasing differences in ethnicity and religion, Rochas Foundation has succeeded where politics have failed in Nigeria, adding that Foundation has not only sustained capital and human development, but has graduated over 500 students from the University.

The ex-military Head of State commended the Imo State governor for the massive infrastructural development witnessed in Imo State in the last 17 months and urged him to close ranks and continue in the good works.

Adding his voice, the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Rt Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai commended Owelle Rochas Okorocha for investing in young people through his free education programmes, adding that it is a great responsibility to take care of over six thousand children.

Morgan Tsvangirai expressed joy at the wonderful reception given him on his first visit to Imo State which has exposed him to the Nigerian community more than ever before.

Responding, the celebrant, Owelle Rochas Okorocha thanked General Babangida, Rt Hon Tsvangirai,and all persons present at the occasion for attending his 50^th birthday celebration. He disclosed that very soon, he will resign as the President of Rochas Foundation and his wife Nneoma Nkechi-Rochas Okorocha will resign as the Vice-President so as to allow the Foundation to run on its own.

Speaking further, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said he has extended scholarships in to Rochas Foundation to a total of twenty indigent students, from Zimbabwe.

The high point of the occasion is the match pass by some students and graduates of Rochas Foundation College, Kano State, Plateau State, Oyo State and Imo State.

 To add more colour to the occasion, the celebrant, Owelle Rochas Okorocha formerly presented a brand new car to Miss Chituru Nwaozuzu to congratulate her for winning a gold medal for Nigeria at the just concluded London 2012 Paralympic games.

Also present at the occasion are the governors of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Rivers State, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi, Katsina State, Dr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema, Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi, Bauchi State Mallam Isa Yuguda, Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola as well as some Senators of the Federal republic of Nigeria and representatives of some governors who were unable to attend in person.

Anambra floods: Obi offers Govt House to displaced persons

Anambra floods remained on the front burner yesterday as Governor Peter Obi offered accommodation to the displaced persons inside the Government Lodge in Onitsha.
Senator Andy Uba was moved to tears when he visited the site of the floods and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to declare emergency in the area.
Dr. Uba, representing Anambra South, visited the affected coastal areas in Anambra East, Anambra West and Ogbaru local government areas.
“The situation in these Anambra communities is worse than those in Kogi, Benue and other states since this flood began its dangerous incursion into Nigeria.”
He urged federal government to address this “strange and evil development in Anambra State, where the River Niger is now discharging water into residential areas, instead of the other way round. The discharge channels are now making upward discharge of water, instead of downward discharge, wreaking unprecedented havoc in its trail. Churches and farmlands have been destroyed”, he said. He promised to facilitate the inclusion of relief for the communities in the next budgetary allocation. Although the affected communities are not within his senatorial constituency, Senator Uba gave financial assistance to them.
Governor Obi yesterday directed the Secretary to the Anambra State Government , Mr Oseloka Obaze, to immediately consider sending some people evacuated from the flooded communities to the Governor’s Lodge in Onitsha should there be shortage of accommodation.
Obi spoke while touring some of the public buildings sheltering the people at Omunwa Egboka primary school, behind the Basillica of the Most Holy Trinity.
The Governor, who cancelled a trip to Mexico and his participation in the Independence anniversary ceremonies because of the emergency, said the State Government would continue to feed and provide for them since they are suffering from natural disaster that was not their own making. “A few weeks ago, governors of the Southeast sent money to Haiti to help them rebuild after the Earthquake of 2010. If we could do it to them, we must do more for our people, that elected us to serve them”, Obi said.
The Governor visited other camps, Otuocha Local Governement Headquarters, Umueri General Hospital, Father Joseph Secondary School, among others.
Culled from THE NATION

GOVERNOR OKOROCHA HONOURS IMO STATE CONTINGENT TO THE LONDON 2012 PARALYMPICS

The Imo State governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has directed the Imo State Commissioner for Lands to provide two plots of land to the 2 disabled ladies, Miss Loveline Obiji and Miss Chituru Nwaozuzu that represented Nigeria in the just concluded Paralympics games held in London. 

In addition, the governor promised to give Miss Loveline Obiji a brand new car on Monday 8^th October 2012 to congratulate her for winning a gold medal for Nigeria.

This was made known to the press during a reception organized for the contingent by the Imo State Government at the Sam Mbakwe Expanded Exco Chambers today.

Speaking during the occasion, the Governor called on the Federal Government to discard the idea of ‘Federal Character’ in the management of sports, adding that if the system of meritocracy is applied in sports in Nigeria, the nation, especially participants from Imo State will win many gold medals for the country.

He recalled that Nigeria went for the 2012 Olympics and came back without a medal not because the country does not have qualified sports men and women, but because the authorities preferred to use of the ‘Federal Character’ system whereby every State is represented irrespective of their competence in sports.

He congratulated the members of the contingent for making Imo State and Nigeria proud and promised to continue to support them to rise to greater heights.

Earlier in a remark, the gold medalist, Miss Obiji expressed joy at her victory and dedicated her trophy(the gold medal) to Governor Rochas Okorocha whose outstanding leadership skills, according to her, motivated her to victory.

Over 50 members of the disabled club were there to witness the reception.

Also present at the occasion is the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Chinedu Offor among other Government Officials. 

Flood sacks 200 Communities in Anambra

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State (fourth right) with others at the flooded area of Osamalla, Anambra State ... on Monday.

More than 76,000 victims of the devastating floods that hit about 200 communities in five local government areas of Anambra State are being evacuated from their homes to relief camps in Onitsha and Nteje.

The evacuation came as reports said  two persons, a woman and a boy, died at Ogbaru following the flooding that submerged their homes on Sunday night.

Governor Peter Obi led the evacuation exercise on Monday as he abandoned the Independence anniversary parade review in Awka and headed for Ogbaru Local Government Area whose communities are the hardest hit in the flooding.

Personnel of the Navy, Army, Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, the Red Cross Society of Nigeria, the Peace Corps and other voluntary agencies were involved  in the exercise.

According to a worker of the state Emergency Management Agency, no community in Ogbaru local government, which lies along the River Niger, is spared in the disaster.

He said the flooding  paralysed communication and economic activities in the communities.

Meanwhile, many of the victims are being evacuated to the 302 Artillery Regimernt, Onitsha, where the army and other emergency agencies are on hand to resettle them.

Other   victims   particularly from Ayamelum, Anambra East and Anambra West local government areas are being moved to Nteje, headquarters of Oyi Local Government Area.

But according to the Executive Director of SEMA, Dr. Austin Ijezie, more camps were being opened at the Onitsha South Stadium and other areas to accommodate more victims.

He said, “Twelve buses and trucks have just brought in people to Onitsha and many more loads of them are coming. The situation is getting beyond what the state government alone and SEMA can handle. It is an evolving catastrophe.”

Ijezie, however, said many of the victims were reluctant to move from their ancestral homes.

He said, “Such people are so attached to their homes that they do not want to move.”

Senator Andy Uba, representing Anambra South in the National Assembly, visited the victims at their Onitsha and Ogbaru camps.

Culled from PUNCH