DBIA Campaign: President Obama meets with Imolites in Diaspora





President Obama speaking with Mr Sylvester Okere at the DBIA forum

Fresh opportunities for social and economic empowerment for Imo State indigenes in particular and Nigerians in general have been put in place through the effort of a group of Nigerians led by an illustrious son of Imo State, Mr Sylvester Okere.

Mr Okere who participated in a business forum tagged ‘Doing Business In Africa’ (DBIA) which has in attendance, some world leaders including President Barak Obama of the United States of America drew attention to the need for sustainable Trade (partnership) not aid (relief) between Africa and America.

In a speech at the forum held at the White House on February 20,2013, Mr Sylvester Okere hailed President Barak Obama for putting Africa into perspective. Like the ancient Chinese proverb says, "if you give a man a fish he is hungry again in an hour. But if you teach him to fish you feed him for a lifetime”.

Read President Obama's Message on Putting Africa into Perspective: “Through the DBIA campaign, we are responding to the emergence of African regional economic communities, and working with our partners to deepen integration, reduce barriers to trade and investment, and support existing and new investments by American businesses. By doing so, we continue the work of creating jobs and expanding economic opportunities that will help drive our economy and support the growth of our African trading...”



Mr Sylester Okere speaking at the White House during the DBIA forum recently



It will be recalled that during the launch of DBIA campaign in Johannesburg, South Africa in November 2012, the Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary, Rebecca Blank said that the “Doing Business in Africa” campaign will promote economic growth, trade and investment in Africa. She emphasized the United States’ ongoing commitment to deepening economic ties with these nations. She also shared a message from President Obama (PDF) in support of the campaign.



Participants at the DBIA forum held at the White House in Washighton DC



The United States is pursuing four objectives in Sub-Saharan Africa: strengthening democratic institutions; spurring economic growth, trade and investment; advancing peace and security; and promoting opportunity and development. The new Doing Business in Africa campaign is a key part of this effort. It leverages the federal government’s strengths as assets in trade promotion, financing, and more. Goals of the campaign include helping U.S. businesses identify and seize opportunities in Africa, and helping them overcome any challenges they face to establishing business relationships with Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa presents enormous opportunities to the American private sector. According to the World Bank, its GDP totaled approximately $1.25 trillion in 2011, and six of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world are in Sub-Saharan Africa. U.S. total merchandise exports to Sub-Saharan Africa tripled between 2001 and 2011.

Imo State Govt to embark on demolition of buildings in Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe

Imo State government has concluded arrangements to embark on the demolition of buildings in Owerri the Imo State capital as well as other areas in the State that are threatened by flood and erosion.

Governor  Rochas Okorocha who disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Government House, Owerri recently, said the affected buildings include those erected on erosion prone areas, buildings not captured in Owerri master-plan as well as buildings erected without approval by the relevant government authorities.

He directed owners of the buildings penciled down for demolition to proceed to the ministry of Lands and Housing with relevant documents including approval secured from the government which authorized them to erect buildings in such places.
Explaining that the proposed action is not targeted at any individual, Governor Okorocha said the State government is merely taking proactive measures in line with the recommendation by the Federal Ministry of Environment and its agencies.
He explained that government is concerned about the inherent danger and difficulties likely to befall the residents in the State if stringent measures are not put in place ahead of time.

According to him, the demolition will take place in Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu with emphasis on Works Layout, Owerri, St. Joseph Mgbe and Umuopara in Orlu.  He reiterated the determination of the ‘Rescue Mission’ administration to restore sanity in Imo State and urged the occupants of the buildings to relocate accordingly to enable government deliver on the task in the overall interest of the State.

Prince Madumere sworn in as Deputy Governor of Imo State

The Chief of Staff to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was today sworn-in to office as the Deputy Governor of Imo State.

The event which was presided over by the Imo State Chief Judge and President, Customary Court of Appeal Justice Benjamin Njemanze Njamanze took place at the Government House, Owerri.

It will be recalled that the former Deputy Governor, Mr. Jude Agbaso was impeached on last Thursday by the Imo State House of Asssembly after the House uncovered evidence that he collected a bribe of 458 million naira from some contractors handling roads construction projects in the State.
Details of the Swearing-in ceremony will be released later.

Imo State Deputy Governor Impeached from office

Jude Agbaso

The Imo State Deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso was on Thursday, Impeached by the Imo State House of Assembly after the House uncovered evidence that he collected a bribe of 458 million naira from some contractors handling roads construction projects in Imo State.

Owing to the abandonment of some road projects in the State, the Joint Committee on State and Local Government Projects led by Mr. Stan Dara, member of Imo State House of Assembly representing Orsu Local Government Area in their investigation discovered that Agbaso, the deputy governor who was also then the Commissioner for works had demanded and collected  gratification of 458 million naira from J-PROS International Nigeria Limited (the construction company handling some major roads projects in the State).

Acting on the report of the Project Monitoring Committee, the Imo House of Assembly had set up a Special Adhoc Committee presided over by Mr Simeon Iwunze.

According to the report by the Special Adhoc Committee, Mr. Joseph Dina of J-PROS International Nigeria Limited in his testimony confirmed having given Agbaso a total sum of N458 million on request through a text message to two accounts domiciled in both GT Bank and UBA. The report further revealed that Agbaso lied severally before owning up. First, he denied ever inviting Mr. Dina of J-PROS to his house but when Dina stood his ground and mentioned to have bought a blue designer Porsche wine from London for him and how Agbaso sent his security personnel to bring him to his MCC Road residence, Agbaso owned up.

The drama was further heightened with the denial of demanding and receiving any gratification before Dina revealed the phone number with which the deputy governor made the request and the account numbers 08033444421 and the payment as follows: Three brothers Concept Limited, Bank: GT Bank Plc with Account No: 0045630151 with sort code 058266511. Amount paid is N325,000,000 in February 2012; Another N133,000,000 was paid in the month of June to IHSAN BDC Limited, Account no 1015334698 with sort code, 033153351, UBA Plc, 27, Wharf Road, Apapa, Lagos State

The House, having failed to reach the Deputy governor owing to the latter’s absence from office and his official residence, had resolved to serve him an impeachment notice through other means; electronic and print media and pasting such at his official residence after a plenary session which was held last week.

 

 

Imo State govt to build permanent orientation camp for NYSC

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha

 

Imo State government is set to build a befitting permanent orientation camp for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Imo State.

Governor Okorocha stated this yesterday at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2013 Batch ‘A’ corps members deployed to Imo State.

During the event which was held at NYSC Orientation Camp at Umudi, Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State, Governor Okorocha said that the delay in building a befitting camp for the Corp members was as a result of the delay in getting a suitable land as well as the refusal of Umudi Community to allow the relocation of the camp out of their Community to another place.

However, said the Governor, Umudi Community has now provided a piece of land for the proposed permanent site for the camp.

He assured the Corp members that the State will soon build a befitting permanent orientation camp for them before the next batch of Corps members are deployed to the State.

Highlight of the occasion is the announcement by the Governor that henceforth, Corp members posted to government agencies and Community Councils in the State will receive a monthly allowance of Ten Thousand naira. He also approved the immediate release of N6.5 million to the Corps members as their ‘food subsidy’ allowance.

He urged the land lords in the Communities to provide free accommodation to Corp members posted to their Communities and advised the Corps members to be of good behavior, patriotic and law-abiding.

Speaking earlier, State co-ordinator for the NYSC in Imo State, Mrs. Chinwe Ojukwu said that the 3 weeks orientation course was not in vain, but very eventful, interesting and rewarding.

She said the Corp members were exposed to various forms of training and activities during the 3 weeks course including paramilitary training, inter-platoon competition in sports, cultural dance, among others.

She appealed to the people living in the Communities to be hospitable to the Corp members so as to enable them enjoy their stay in the State.

Speaking also, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Comrade Kenneth Emelu advised the Corp members to remain disciplined and assured them of adequate welfare and security in their places of primary assignment.

Also present at the occasion were the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Obi Njoku and some members of the State Executive Council.

Imo State Govt approves N28,000 minimum wage for Judiciary workers

Imo State Judicial workers are to receive twenty-eight thousand naira (N28,000) minimum wage monthly.

This disclosure was made by the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Chief Peter Ohagwa while briefing journalists on the agreement jointly worked out by the State government and the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) .

He said the new salary will take effect from 1st April 2012.
Chief Ohagwa further disclosed that the joint agreement also resolved to maintain the different harmonized salary structure of the Judiciary, different from that of other public servants and to uphold same advantage in future salary review.
It was also resolved that there should be no further industrial action on the issue of the new minimum wage. Similarly, no member of JUSUN shall be victimized on same account.
The State Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Richard Anyadike, expressed happiness over the peaceful resolution of the long negotiation.
Comrade Anyadike urged judicial workers to relax their minds and do their job with diligence, assuring that the State Gvernment will not dissapoint them.
He recalled that Federal government approved new minimum wage of eighteen thousand naira in 2010 while the Imo State government under Owelle Rochas Okorocha adopted twenty thousand Naira for the lowest paid civil servant in the State in 2011

Newly appointed SOLADS sworn-in for Imo LGAs

The Local Govt Sole Administrators in Imo State in a group photo with the SSG and COS

The newly appointed Sole Administrators for the Local Governments in Imo State have been sworn-in to office by State government.

Addressing the Sole Administrators at the Government House, Owerri shortly after taking the oath of office yesterday, the Secretary to the Imo State government and former Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Professor Anthony Anwuka stated that their appointment was to fill the existing vacant positions in the administration of the Local Governments in the State.

He charged them to oversee the activities of the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State and to work
towards restoring normal Council activities, pending the conduct of the LGA election in the State.

He reminded them that the assignment given to them will make or mar their future political career, as people will henceforth expect the best from them in terms of service delivery.

Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff to the Governor , Prince Eze Madumere charged them to carry out their duties as expected of them without fear or intimidation as the State will not tolerate failure from them.

Responding on behalf of his counterparts, the Sole Administrator for Orlu LGA, Barrister Hyacinth Ikechukwu Mbachu thanked the State government for the confidence reposed in them and promised not to fail in his duty.

Out of the 27 newly appointed SOLADs , 19 were sworn-in while the remaining 8 are yet to be cleared by the State House of Assembly.

The remaining 8 LGAs are Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano, Ezinihitte Mbaise,Ahiazu Mbaise, Isu, Onuimo, Owerri West, and Nwangele LGAs.

Press statement from IMHA on Agbaso's bribery allegation

Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Ben Uwajimogu

The attention of the Imo State House of Assembly has been drawn to series of publications in National and State based Newspapers insinuating that the travail of the State Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Sir jude Agbaso is not connected to failed and abandoned contracts but politically motivated.

Ordinarily, the Imo State House of Assembly would not have bordered to join issues with the said publications but in order to set the record straight so that members of the public will understand the issues at stake, we state as follows:

1.That a State and Local Government Joint Monitoring Committee was established about six months ago to monitor the construction of roads in the three Zones of the State

2.That His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso as the then Commissioner for Works and Transport worked with the Committee and even inspected project Sites together.

3.That the State and Local Government Joint Monitoring Committee led by Hon. Bro. Stan Dara submitted their Report on the Floor of the House in February 2013.

4.That the Report of the State and Local Government Joint Monitoring Committee indicted the following Construction Companies.

a.Timik Nig. Ltd
b.J-Pros International Nigeria Ltd.
c.And Others.

5.That due to the indictment of the afore-mentioned Construction Companies, another Special Adhoc Committee led by Hon. Barr. Simeon Iwunze was set-up to find out why the Construction Companies failed or abandoned their project Sites.

6.That the Special Committee invited the Companies to Room 201 (Conference Hall, Imo State House of Assembly) and questioned them on why they abandoned their Sites.

7.That in the cause of interaction and investigation, J-Pros International Nigeria Ltd (Mr. Joseph Dina, its Managing Director) confessed that they abandoned their Site because the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso demanded and collected the sum of N458 million Naira only from him.
8.That the Committee thereafter invited Sir Jude Agbaso, and from the interview, the House found enough evidence and collaboration.

It is therefore mischievous, sacrilegious and cheap blackmail for anybody or indeed group of person to try to divert attention from the real issues at stake.

For the avoidance of doubt, the travails of His Excellency, Sir Jude Agbaso has nothing to do with 2015 rivalry, ethnic and zonal politics or indeed weeping up undue sentiments.
The Imo State House of Assembly will therefore not allow external forces to influence its Constitutional duties.

Imo Must Be Better
Signed:
Hon. Dr. Acho Ihim
Chairman House Committee on Information

Imo Govt seeks partnership with America for improved agriculture

Rochas  in handshake with Mr. Jeff. Haukings JNR(AMERICAN CONSULAR GENERAL)

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has called on the American government to partner with Imo State government in the areas of agriculture, security and education.

 Governor Okorocha made this call while receiving the American Consular General for Southern Nigeria, Mr. Jeff. Haukings Jnr. Who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri recently.

According to Governor Okorocha, Imo State has a lot of agricultural potentials that are yet untapped adding that the American government could partner with the State to harness those potentials.

 He appealed to the Consular General to encourage American business men to invest in Imo State particularly now that the rate of crime in the State has been reduced.

Governor Okorocha urged the Consular General to feel free to interact with Imolites and discover the uniqueness in our culture and the newly introduced 4th tier government that is aimed at speeding up rural development as well as unlocking the hidden resources in the Communities.

 Speaking earlier the Consular General, Mr. Jeff Haukings Jnr. Said he was on a tour of the State to interact with the people, adding that it is a 7-day tour of the 17 States of Southern Nigeria.

 

He thanked the Governor and the Imolites for the warm reception given to him and his team.

Present at the occasion where the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu, the Chairman Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH, Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri and some members of the State Executive Council.

 

APC Governors dare Boko Haram, walk freely along streets in Maduguri

Nine governors and one deputy (Zamfara’s Abubakar Aliyu) walked freely in a market in Maduguri the Borno State capital yesterday waving at crowds who hailed them – apparently for their bravery and solidiarity.
Borno State is the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The governors of the parties in the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) were in the city for their third meeting.
The meeting climaxed with visits to the Monday Market, which is the biggest in the State capital, and the Government College , Maiduguri .
The meeting was attended by governors of Borno, Lagos , Ekiti, Nassarawa, Imo,Ogun, Osun, Edo and the deputy governor of Yobe State.
Although Zamfara State Governor missed the plenary, he was part of the visits to the market and the college.
They unfolded plans to begin a national campaign for the APC to mobilise Nigerians for change. Besides, they donated N200million to the victims of the Boko Haram crisis.
The governors said they chose Maiduguri to prove a point that “there should not be a no-go area for any Nigerian leader”.
President Goodluck Jonathan has not visited Borno State since the insurgency, which has claimed several lives, began in 2009. Vice President Namadi Sambo was there recently.
Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who read a communiqué after the meeting, said the meeting had demonstrated the position of APC that “there shouldn’t be a no-go-area for any leader that means well for his people.”
As the governors’ meeting was going on, there were reports of explosions in Customs and Bolori-Baga road in the city.
The communiqué read by Aregbesola said: “Rising from our meeting held in Maiduguri on 28 February 2013 and attended by the governors of Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, and Yobe and apologies from governors of Zamfara and Oyo States.
“The Forum reiterated our irrevocable commitment to the emergence of the new party, All Progressive Congress (APC). In solidarity with the Government and people of Borno and Yobe States, we are pleased to witness an upsurge of tranquility and happy that the situation has calmed down considerably in Maiduguri .
“Contrary to the image of rampant violence that has been painted to the whole world, we have discovered the people going about their businesses without let or hindrance. We wish to commend the efforts of our brother-Governors in the two (2) states (including Yobe) and the security agencies for the restoration of peace and stability.
“We also sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives and properties and wish to donate a sum of N200m to the two States Government for emergency relief and support.
“We wish to commend the Central Merger Committee of the APC on the progress so far made in the establishment of the new party, particularly the recent inauguration of three major committees on Constitutions, Manifesto and Legal/INEC Compliance.
“Finally, we wish to inform Nigerians that we shall soon embark on a National outreach and sensitisation activities and we call on all Nigerians to support our effort to rescue our country from a visionless leadership.
The governors sang solidarity songs to reaffirm their political struggles.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State explained that they were making individual contributions to help Borno and Yobe states to share in their pains and support their governments that are bearing so much burden, dealing with the crisis.
Aregbesola explained why the governors chose Maiduguri for the meeting.
He said they wanted to share in the pains of the people and prove that leadership is about courage and decisiveness.
He said: “There shouldn’t be a no-go-area for any leader that means well for his people.” Aregbesola said Maiduguri was “painted as a no-go-area, but they (the governors) have confirmed that things are different from what they are meant to look like.
Governor Rochas Okorocha praised Governor Shettima’s transformation efforts in Borno State.
Culled from THE NATION