National Council of Traditional Rulers rate Okorocha high on security

Governor Okorocha in group photo with wives of Traditional Rulers

Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been applauded by the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria for the uncommon effort in safeguarding lives and property in Imo state.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Council, HRM Emmanuel Sideso Ede posited that Governor Okorocha succeeded in the area of security by dedicating his security vote for effective security network in the state and also by empowering Traditional Rulers at the
grassroots level which they noted has gone a long way to maintain peace in the rural areas.

The Chairman who is also the Ovie of Uvie kingdom in Delta state said Governor Okorocha in his wisdom, collaborated with the Traditional Rulers and security agents in recruiting, training and remuneration of vigilante outfits which is making tremendous impact in the fight against crime in the state.

He, however, urged other state governors to emulate the strategy being deployed by Governor Okorocha to maintain adequate security in Imo state, adding that effective collaboration with the Traditional Rulers remain key in the fight against crime in Nigeria.

Okorocha swears-in 16 Perm Secs, inaugurates management board for IMSUTH

Governor Rochas  Okorocha in group picture with the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries

The Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has sworn-in 16 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries for the State civil service.

They include; Dr. John Ihebereme, Amanze Ann Ngozi, Ekeh Anyanwu
Ijeoma, Opara Nestor (Mrs), Aharanwa  C. O, Iwuagwu C C (Phd), Iheka A
E, Udogwu S N, Ezerioha B A, Okoro M I, Uwandu Uzoma B (Mrs), Nwosu G
M, Ucheoma R, Uzoma J I, Opara H O and Igwe C C.

 Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony which was held at the Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri, the governor charged them to make transparency and accountability their watchword while discharging their duties.

He urged them to remain focused and to work harmoniously with their commissioners in the interest of the state, adding that they should always seek positive ways of enhancing productivity in the public service.


Governor Okorocha noted that the period where permanent secretaries create bureaucratic bottle necks are over as government would no longer condone such act that tend to stampede development in the state.

In her vote of thanks, Mrs. Ann Ngozi, on behalf of other Permanent Secretaries said they would justify the confidence reposed in them and thanked the governor for the appointment.

In the same vein, the Governor Okorocha has also inaugurated the Imo State University Teaching Hospital Management Board.
Speaking during the inauguration, the governor charged the board to ensure vibrancy in
the activities of the institution especially in its medical services.

He urged them to shun corruption and maintain peace so as to move the institution adding that government will partner with them in making the institution the best in the country.

The members are Prof. Ohaegbulam (Chairman), Prof. E.C Ohanaka, Pharm.
Azochukwu, Mrs Osunwa, Dr. Mrs. Joy Njemanze, Dr. Meg Okpara, Mrs
Nkechi Elendu, C Mark IMSUTH representative of Senate IMSUTH and the
Vice Chancellor Imo state University, Prof. Awuzie.

Oguta re-run election: Okorocha appeals to INEC to issue APGA candidate with certificate of return

Governor Rochas Okorcha addressing journalists on the fall out of the Oguta re-run election

The Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorcha has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue certificate of return to the APGA candidate in the just concluded re-run election for Oguta constituency, Mr Walter Uzonwanne who scored a total of 9,575 votes against the PDP candidate who scored 7,584 votes.

He made this appeal while briefing journalists at the Government House, Owerri  yesterday.  According to him, the Oguta election which was declared inconclusive by the higher authorities of INEC at Abuja was certified conclusive by the INEC’s Returning Officer for the said election, Mrs Cynthia Oguike, who had signed the final results of the election and was about to pronounce the winner before a phone call came through to her line.

Speaking further at the briefing, Governor Okorocha recounted that the governorship election in Imo State in 2011 was declared inclusive in Oguta Local Government Area when the same ‘power from above ‘ intervened in a failed bid to ensure that he (Rochas Okorocha) did not win. He wondered why the chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are bent on winning every election at all costs, adding that such show of disregard for the rule of law is capable of truncating the nascent democracy in Nigeria. According to him, election in Oguta Local Government Area has been cancelled four times with two cases pending in court.

Said he, “ I am disappointed in the manner in which the PDP has handled the election in Oguta. First, the APGA candidate, Walter Uzonwanne was bundled into the police cell for three weeks on false allegation of complicity in a kidnap case masterminded by the PDP. He was released barely  one week to the election day. As if that is not enough, my convoy was attacked recently by the PDP candidate for the just concluded election in Oguta, Mr Eugene Dibiagwu and his thugs who took away a gun and a radio transmitter from one of my security men.”

Responding to questions from journalists at the event, Governor Okorocha called on INEC to maintain the credibility they have so far been known for and to desist from allowing the issue of Oguta election to spoil the good works they have done in the past.  He said the authorities of INEC, out of pressure from the PDP, had declared that the election was inconclusive in 8 polling booths, thereby trying to create an avenue for another supplementary election in the area.

Nkechi Okorocha joins in the campaign against child and maternal abuse

Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha (Middle) 

The Imo state First Lady, Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha has called on the authorities within the Traditional institution to put a stop to the inhuman treatment often given to widows upon the demise of their husbands.

She made this appeal during the launching of a book titled, “The Cry of Widows and Orphans” which is written by an African woman billionaire and founder of Rose of Sharon Foundation, Folorunsho Alakija.

 The book which chronicles on the plight of widows and suggests recommendations for formulation of policies aimed at promoting the course of widows, got launched at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs ( NIIA) in Lagos State on 31^st May 2013.

Speaking further at the occasion, Mrs. Okorocha urged affluent Nigerian women to follow Alakija’s footsteps by joining in the war against the discrimination of widows and orphans in the society.

  It will be recalled that the Imo State first lady, Mrs Okorocha had in 2012, launched a Non Governmental Organization called SNARP (She Needs A Roof Project), which aims at alleviating poverty and building support of widows in Imo State.

Earlier in a speech, the Special Assistant to the Imo state governor on Lagos/Southwest Liaison, Honorable Lisa Asugha said that “pure religion is to alleviate the plight of widows and orphans”. According to her, true religion can be practiced through the creation and execution of programmes that could give or tender financial independence and educational opportunities to widows, their children and orphans.   

According to the woman author, Folorunso Alakija, the book was written for the purpose of advocacy, the aim being to inform and ex-ray the challenges usually faced by widows and orphans in the society with a view to pushing for the national and international legislation.

 

In her words: “The interesting thing about the book is that it does not talk about Nigerian widows alone or African widows only. It talked about widows all over the world and how to empower them.

“If we fail to do something, it comes back to the society. Widows go through a lot of trauma and pain in the name of culture and tradition. In some cases whereby a man dies suddenly without much sickness and his widow is suspected to be the culprit, her late husband’s relatives would compel her to drink water used to bathe the corpse as a way of proving her innocence. This is unfair. Drinking such alone is a curse and it is written in the Bible,” she said.

The book launch however attracted stakeholders on issues that affect widows and orphans, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations, Senators and Legislators, Women’s Organizations, Government agencies and Government ministries, Promoters/partners and friends of the Foundation and Philanthropists.

InterPol arrests Spanish contractor over 1.6m euros meant for projects in Imo State.

A Spanish national and Director in Hormipresa a construction company,  Mr. Jose Marin Lopez-Pepe is presently in police custody following a suspected move to  divert 1.6 Million Euros meant for the purchase and supply of materials for the execution of a contract awarded to the company by Imo state government.

Mr. Lopez-Pepe was arrested in Lagos by the operatives of Inter-Pol and handed over to Imo State Police Command while trying to flee the country following a petition by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Emmanuel Benjamin Emenike.

Hormipresa is one of the major companies awarded monumental projects by the government of Imo state having secured a contract worth about 3.5 Billion naira.
The state government released 30% of the contract value of over N1 Billion naira to the company as mobilization funds.

The Managing Director, Mr. Benjamin Emmanuel Emenike, it was gathered, transferred the sum N1.6 million Euros to the Spanish Bank account of Lopez-Pepe for the purchase of essential materials from Spain for the execution of the project.

In a letter addressed to the commissioner of Lands, Survey, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Uche Nwosu, dated April 22nd, 2013 that was signed by the Managing Director, Mr. Emenike titled "On-Going Inter-Pol Action On A Case Of Stealing And Obtaining By False Pretence Against Spanish National Mr. Jose Marin Lopez To Repatriate/Refund Of Hormipresa Nig Ltd Imo Project Fund" the company said that the director is presently in police custody, a step the company said was taken to recover the fund committed into his hand.
It reads:

 " I wish to refer to the above name subject matter which we
had earlier reported that one of our directors who is supposed to supply
essential materials from Spain was yet to effect supply thereby
causing unwholesome delays in the execution of the project. I further
informed you that Inter-Pol had been contacted to assist in compelling
the said director to ensure the supplies. I wish to inform further
that the said director is now in police custody for steps to recover
the fund committed into his hand to affect the supplies".

Meanwhile, the state government through the ministry of Lands, Survey, Housing and Urban Development has written to the appropriate Spanish authorities and the banks requesting for immediate repatriation and release of the funds meant for monumental projects in the state.
The government expressed concern with the slow performance by Hormipresa Nig. ltd following the trapped fund in the Spanish bank and
requested the concerned authorities to release the fund to enable the
company continue with the project.

Governor Okorocha flags off 2013 MNCHW in Imo State

The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has flagged off the 2013 Maternal, New Born and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Imo State.

Flagging off the exercise at Nwaorieubi, in Mbaitoli Local Government Headquarters yesterday, the governor urged mothers in the state to ensure that their children participate in the immunization exercise towards sustaining Imo as a polio-free state. According to the governor, the exercise will go a long way to reduce physical disability among infants in the State.

Said he;

“The time has come for us to help our children, future of our children must be guaranteed.  I therefore appeal to mothers to take the issue of immunization very seriously.”

He called on all the stakeholders in the state to embark on massive awareness campaign for polio eradication to enable parents understand the need for proper child immunization.

In his speech, the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere advised pregnant women to attend ante-natal clinic in order to ensure safe delivery and stressed the need for parents to take advantage of the exercise.

Also speaking, the state commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Obi Njoku said that the MNCH week is a strategy designed to accelerate child survival and development with the ultimate goal of reduction in child mortality, adding that it is a regular event organized to deliver integrated package of preventive exercise known to be low cost but of high impact on maternal and child health.

The Health commissioner said that the exercise will provide the opportunity to administer vitamin “A” supplement to children between the ages of 6months - 59months of age, routine immunization vaccines to children less than one year who have not completed their routine immunization schedule and other child survival interaction such as de-worming.

In his address, the Sole Administrator (SOLAD) for Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Chief Anthony Emmanuel Ihenakwe said the Mbaitoli people are appreciative of the Donor Agencies such as World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in their continued efforts to reduce maternal, new born and child morbidity and mortality in the country.

O’Malley acknowledges contributions of 25,000 Nigerians for development of Maryland, USA

Governor Martin O’Malley in group picture with Governor Olusegun Mimiko and others at ceremony marking the signing of MOU between Maryland and Ondo State

Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland in the United States of America has acknowledged the contributions of 25,000 Nigerian-Americans in the state of Maryland which promotes international cooperation, social and economic progress.

 O’Malley made this acknowledgement during the ceremony marking the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between his State (Maryland) and Ondo State, Nigeria at the Governor’s Reception Room of the State House, Annapolis, USA on Friday June 7.

 The MOU for the said partnership which was forged by Imo State-born Sylvester Okere and five others is anchored on the Maryland Sister-State program established in 1980 to provide a forum for the promotion of international cooperation and understanding and designed to oversee an array of international exchanges promoting a balance of business, educational, and cultural interests. It is chaired by the Secretary of State, steered by a devoted and spirited Advisory Board of Directors, and staffed by an army of citizen-volunteers.

About 100 leaders from the diplomatic, business, academic, religious, development, and nonprofit communities witnessed the ceremony. This historic event which had been in the works for at least two years, was celebrated by the attendees with such excitement that Governor O’Malley remarked “I have never seen this many cameras in this room before.”

Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State who was accompanied to the occasion by his wife, Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko, expressed his gratitude to the governor and State of Maryland for the partnership and promised to work together for the mutually beneficial interests of both states and countries. Said he;

 “Certain things are common to Ondo State and Maryland; education, agriculture, and our emphasis on the development of human capital. Our partnerships will forge along these strong pillars of our societies”.

Before signing the documents, the two governors highlighted the importance of the common interests, aspirations and challenges of Marylanders and Ondo State citizens, to the partnership.

O’Malley congratulated Governor Mimiko for his transformational leadership in Ondo state and described him as “one of the most progressive governors in Nigeria”.

After the ceremony, Ondo State became the 11th State under Maryland’s Sister-State Program, and the second in Africa. The two governors exchanged official gifts after the ceremony, all of them bearing symbols of Maryland and Ondo State.

Some notable individuals who were instrumental in forging this MOU, and were present at the ceremony include the following:

* John P. McDonough – Secretary of State, Maryland
* Ambassador B.E. Archibong – Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Nigeria
* Remi Duyile – Special Assistant to Gov. Olusegun Mimiko, Diaspora Affairs
* Sylvester Okere – Chair, Maryland-Nigeria Sister State Executive Committee
* Elizabeth Hines – Director, Governor’s Commission of Community Initiatives
* Anna Yankova – Director, International Affairs, Office of the Secretary of State
* Iman Awad – Director, Administrative – Commission on Middle Eastern and African Affairs

Maryland prides herself in being one of the few U.S. states with a Governor’s Commission dedicated to African Affairs, aside other ethnic groups http://www.african.maryland.gov/ . The African Affairs Commission is a part of the Governor’s Commission of Community Initiatives.

A full list of Maryland’s other sister states is available at the Office of the Secretary of State http://www.sos.state.md.us/international/MSSP.aspx

Octogenarian urges Rochas to contest 2015 guber election in Imo

Chief Benson Ohanuogo

An Apex leader of Ideato Political movement, Chief Benson Ohanuogo has appealed to the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to contest the next gubernatorial election in Imo State so as to secure the opportunity to complete the monumental development projects which his administration has embarked upon.

Speaking to the journalists at the weekend, the 82 year old business man and a political analyst described Owelle Rochas Okorocha as a leader rather than a politician. Said he;

“Rochas is not a politician, he is a leader. He has demonstrated his leadership skills. Most politician mind their Political party, but a leader leads all. You will see light in every move he makes. He does things that make you know that he has a vision. Most of his activities today will never be understood today until years ahead when he would have left office.”

Speaking further, Chief Ohanugo who was a one-time Chairman of the Onitsha Market Traders Association said he believes that Owelle Rochas Okorocha has a lot in stock for the People of Imo State, adding that Nigeria will gain more from him in the near future.

He urged critics to assess the projects done by the Rochas administration including the building of 305 model schools, 27 general hospitals, free education from primary to tertiary levels, construction and asphalting of over 1000 kilometers of roads to mention a few.

He supported the idea of Rochas’ presidential ambition but urged him to complete govern Imo State for at least 8 years before contesting for the presidency.

How Imo State-born Sylvester Okere helped Obama to win 2nd term as President of the USA ( VIDEO)

"Should President Obama need to visit anywhere in Africa" It should be Imo state Nigeria because your son Dr. Sylvester Okere led an aggressive synergitic movement with Continental Africans that yeilded to his re election. So the President owe Imo state a visit...

This was the mood in which Mr Sylvester Okere narrated his exploits in the United States of America which facilitated the re-election of Barrack Obama as the President of the most powerful nation in the world.

Dr. Sylvester O' Okere holds the following portfolios presently;

Director: Continental African Leadership Council

Director: Continental Africans for Obama 

Chairman: Maryland Nigeria Sister State Program, and member Maryland Sister State Program Advisory Board

President: Maryland Nigeria Chamber of Commerce

It will be recalled that in March 2013, 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. The forum drew attention to the need for sustainable Trade (partnership) not aid (relief) between Africa and America.

Mr Sylvester Okere( middle-front) in a group photo with participants who worked for the re-election of Barrack Obama in the USA

In the video embedded above, Mr Sylvester Okere explained stage by stage, how his group, Continental Africans for Obama employed launched a sustained and aggressive campaign for the re-election of Obama as President of the United States of America.

Reacting to questions from  journalists in the USA recently, Mr Sylvester Okere had this to say,

"I'm unconcerned about what is done or achieved. I'm very concerned about what is not done that needs to be done. For the bottom line of leadership isn't how far we advance ourselves but how far we advance others and our community."

IMO STATE GOVERNMENT

IMO STATE GOVERNMENT, a set on Flickr.

Pics from Imo State government