Imo Carnival 2014 kicks off in grand style

Governor Okorocha flanked on the left by Miss Nkeiruka Sylvanus and on the right by Mr Paddy Obinna at the opening ceremony of Imo Carnival 2014

The rescheduled Imo 2014 Carnival began in Owerri yesterday with participants marching through Wetheral Road from Owerri City School before converging on the newly constructed Imo Freedom Square, showcasing the economic, fun and human development strength of Imo State.

The participants showcased different types of bands including the free education band (tertiary), youth must work band, friendship band, new masquerade band, corporate bands, the governor’s and Nneoma bands.

The week-long carnival is expected to attract delegates from more than 16 states and friends from different nations.

It will feature parade of Imo youth/children, Umuada (maidens) and Umuopara (sons) command performance, contemporary music, upcoming stars, musical performance, Igbo poetry/folk night, Igbo talk show, and night of laughter and comedies.

Speaking to journalists at the opening ceremony of the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Culture and Chairman 2014 Imo Carnival Committee, Mr Paddy Obinna, also said it would be a period of self-expression.

Cultural dance at the Imo Carnival

Also speaking, the Secretary of the 2014 Imo Carnival Committee, Miss Nkeiruka Sylvanus, said the committee had established a carnival village which would be open to all individuals and corporate organisations throughout the carnival for the people to subscribe to it to ensure effective publicity.

16 convicts pardoned as Imo marks Nigeria’s 54th Independence anniversary

Officers of the Imo State Civil Guard stand on parade ground while  Okorocha inspects their 'Guard of Honour'
at the Government House Owerri on Ist October 2014

In exercise of his power on prerogative of mercy the governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has granted pardon to 16 convicts serving in the prisons in Imo State.

The governor acted on the recommendations of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of mercy, which he had earlier set up with the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the State, Chief Chukwuma – Machukwu Umeh (SAN) as chairman.

Eleven of the pardoned convicts were imprisoned for non-capital offences and had almost finished serving their prison terms, and have less than 6 months to serve out their terms.  Mr. Canice Egbunanne was pardoned on the ground of age.  He is 94 years old, while Mr. Chidi Nwosu also pardoned, is almost 70 years old.

Before granting them the pardon on Wednesday 1^st October, the Governor had also asked the mammoth crowd at the event whether they would support that the 16 people recommended for pardon by the Advisory Council on Prerogative of mercy should be allowed to enjoy freedom, and the response was thunderously in the affirmative.

Preceding the pardon of the affected 16 convicts, the governor had delivered emotion-laden speech, extempore that excited the crowd.  The governor said at 54, this is the time the country should address the vexed issues of insecurity, youths unemployment, selfishness and corruption among leaders, lack of patriotism, emphasis on ethnicity, insurgence and other challenges facing Nigeria as a nation.

Said he; “as a nation, no better time to act and achieve the desired goals than now.  We must admit that things are not working out the way they should in Nigeria.  That will help us to wake up as a nation.”

He continued, “Democracy has not functioned well in Nigeria.  We have to strengthen our democracy because it is not being practiced the way it should.  When that is done, then development is guaranteed.  Nigerians should see themselves as members of one family, and shun leaders who preach tribalism, religious dichotomy and division among the political class.”

  

Governor Okorocha praised the Army, Police, SSS and all security agents in the country for their services, adding that they have continued to

sacrifice their own security and comfort to keep others secured.

Other convicts granted pardon are, Uchenna Udum, Sunday Egwu, Amos Ishaya, Anyuba Bartholomew, Benjamine Osunkwo, Okezie Obasi, Ifeanyi Nwokeji, Ogbonna  Onyinyechi, Chidi Nwosu, and seven others.

Governor Okorocha at the parade ground of the Imo State Government House on 1st October 2014

Present at the crowded event were service Chiefs in the State, the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, Chief of Staff, Government House Owerri, Sir. Jude Ejiogu, all government functionaries, Traditional rulers and religious leaders.

Okorocha extends free tertiary education to non indigenes of Imo State

Governor Okorocha commissioning the N150 million Ultra-Modern Owunna Recreation Park at the University campus Owerri on Tuesday

Determined to give every child in Nigeria access to free and qualitative education, the Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has extended free tertiary education to non indigenes of Imo State studying in Imo State university and other  tertiary institutions run by the Imo State government.

Governor Okorocha announced this during the commissioning ceremony of N150m Ultra-Modern Owunna Recreation Park at the University campus Owerri on Tuesday.

Speaking during the occasion, he stressed the need to encourage the present generation to do better than the past generation and urged the students to reciprocate the gesture by imbibing a progressive spirit.

He further called on the school authorities to stop forthwith the collection of N50,000 acceptance fee and warned lecturers against the sale of handouts, while insisting that all books must be sold through the bookshops.

The Governor however pointed out that government will not be involved in certain charges like students’ Identity Cards, medicals, text books and other departmental charges. He therefore appealed to the academic staff to be modest and adhere strictly to the directives.

While promising to elevate the image of the University, Governor Okoroccha urged the students to develop passion for education and advised them to refrain from cultism and indecent dressing especially as the nation is yearning for leaders with good conduct in both learning and character.

He commended the Pro-Chancellor, Mazi Clement Owunna and the University Governing Council for their personal sacrifices made towards the development of the institution.

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof Uba Nnabue, noted the Imo State University has witnessed remarkable level of infrastructural development within the past three years of the Rescue Mission administration.

He called on the staff and students of the University to support the government in its efforts to promote education in the State.

Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Prof Ukach Awuzie, stated that the recreation park was constructed and funded by the Pro-Chancellor, Mazi Clement Owunna through his Chief Peter Sunday Owunna Memorial Foundation (CPSOMF) and donated to the institution.

Governor Okorocha addressing staff and students of Imo State University  during the commissioning ceremony of N150m Ultra-Modern Owunna Recreation Park at the University campus Owerri on Tuesday

He described the park as the first of its kind in the country tailored to suit the needs of the staff and students alike and commended him for attracting numerous projects to the institution as the chairman of the Governing Council of Imo State University.

Handing over the project, donor and Pro-Chancellor of the Universty, Mazi Clement Owunna said the Board of Trustees of his Foundation conceptualized and developed the Recreation Park which stood to tune of N150m to create an environment that would impact positively on the students staff as well as add dynamism to the University ambience and environment.

He thanked Governor Okorocha for the support given to the University which has translated into the development of physical infrastructural at both the Owerri and Orlu campuses.

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• Dennis Anaba likes this.
• 

  Michael Ositadinma Duru Even the so called indigenes are not even seeing any free educations, all these are mere politics

  September 26, 2014 at 3:47pm · Like · 2
• 

  Ukpabia Chukwudi Theddeus This man called rochas knows how to use poor masses to play.

  September 26, 2014 at 4:26pm · Like · 1
• 

  Ifeanyi Ekechi U are a big fool, giving others free education while half of Imolites are not educated because of high skull fees, i know is northerners that he gave free education, i hate even the leg u mack on the grand IDIOT............i regret casting my vote for u

  September 26, 2014 at 4:41pm · Like
• 

  Ifeanyi Ekechi ohakim is far better than u

  September 26, 2014 at 4:43pm · Like
• 

  Ebere Inyama Ifeanyi Ekechi are YOU not a bigger fool for publicly insulting a serving governor. If you have a grievance, common sense should tell you that your approach is very wrong. There are ways and avenues for channeling grievances. You have no justification whatever to use such words on any body. I advise that you apologize to him right away.

  October 3, 2014 at 1:00pm · Like · 1

I’ll win 2015 presidential election if… - Okorocha

Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has said that  Nigeria as a nation can be properly fixed with the right leadership and that he could be the right fixer if elected the president of the country in 2015 on the ticket of All Progressives Congress, APC.  He asked the APC members to give him the party’s presidential ticket and assured that he would achieve victory for the party.

Governor Okorocha who spoke at the celebration of his 52^nd birthday in Owerri, with the national chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun in attendance, said he has every reason to be a detribalized leader if elected the president of the country, having been born by Igbo parents, educated by the North and empowered by the West.

                   

His words, “my success story would not be complete without acknowledging the North for giving me the needed education, and having been born an Igbo.  The West gave me the contact which gave me financial success.  So, there is every reason for me to be a detribalized Nigerian, when elected president.  With the help of God, I have fixed Imo state and I will also fix Nigeria to the glory of God.”

He continued, “I will also make education free at all levels in the country like I have done in Imo State.  I have been a strong advocate of a peaceful and united Nigeria.  It is time Nigerians discard ethnic sentiments for the country to achieve her goal of greatness. We must say no to the deceit of ethnic and religious barriers that have torn the country apart and embrace one another.”

On the celebration of his birthday, Governor Okorocha said “I am celebrating light over darkness, and victory over ignorance.  The Rochas Foundation spread in all the six geo-political zones of the country is an initiative to give back to the society what God has blessed me with, by offering hope to the hopeless and the less privileged.  My joy lies on the fact that God has blessed me to bless others.  Seventy-five percent of my wealth goes to charity.”

The birthday ceremony of the Governor had attracted thousands of young men and women who had either graduated or are still undergraduates through Rochas Foundation and most of them gave testimonies that elicited tears from those in attendance, and they prayed and commended Governor Okorocha for making it possible for them to have education.

The National Chairman of the APC, Chief Oyegun had in his speech at the event said he was amazed by the level of affinity between Governor Okorocha and the students and ex-students of the Rochas foundation and urged other leaders and politicians to follow the good example of Governor Okorocha by investing heavily in human capital.

Also present at the ceremony were Chief Segun Oni, a former Governor, and South-West National Deputy Chairman of APC, and a host of other APC leaders across the nation.  The governor’s wife, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha had thanked God for making her part of the success story in Imo state and a partner in the success story of the Rochas foundation.

Governor Okorocha’s Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere described his boss as a man of vision who has the required capacity to enthrone change in the country.

Imo Govt to name judiciary building after Oputa

Governor Okorocha in group photo with the Federal High Court judges led by Justice Ibrahim Auta when they paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Owerri recently

The judiciary building complex under construction by the Imo State government is to be named after the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

This disclosure was made by the Imo State governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha when Federal High Court Judges led by the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Owerri recently.

Speaking during the occasion, Governor Okorocha commended the Judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria for the speedy delivery of Justice especially in the cases relating to political disputes.

Describing the federal high court as the foundation of the Judiciary in Nigeria, he thanked the Federal Government for its establishment and assured the Judges of condusive environment throughout their stay in Imo State.

  

In his speech, the Chief Judge of the federal high court of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Auta, said that the Judges are in Imo state for the legal year conference which is an annual event and as well to commission the federal high court in Owerri.

Justice Auta commended the developmental strides in Imo State since the inception of the present administration led by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Imo Govt to establish training centre for farmers

Governor Okorocha addressing officials of the Imo ADP at the launching of the yellow root cassava, plantain, banana, tomato and cucumber farms 

The Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has disclosed plans by the State government to give necessary support to farmers in the State through the establishment of training centres for them as well as the provision of storage facilities needed to market the farm produce in the State.

Governor Okorocha made this known while launching the yellow root cassava, plantain, banana, tomato and cucumber farms developed by the Imo ADP recently.

Speaking at Obibi Ihiagwa Agro service Centre, Owerri during the official launch of the crops, the governor regretted that agriculture which accounted for over 75% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings in the past years was dumped ignorantly for crude oil which paved the way for poverty in the nation.

According to him, if agriculture is given the pride of place in the country, it has the ability to revamp the economy, bring about the needed development, create job opportunities and secure the future for the generation unborn.

He noted that the ‘Rescue Mission’ Administration has recorded tremendous strides in education, massive infrastructural development and roads construction adding that the provision of food for the masses and youth empowerment necessitated the revamping of the Imo Palm Plantation and the Imo Modern Poultry Avutu.

Speaking further at the occasion, Governor Okorocha maintained that with the establishment of the farm project, the State will experience a turn-around in its economy.

He encouraged the youths not to neglect agriculture but to see it as a business that yields profit and can also establish them as employers of labour.

In his address, the Executive Director, Imo State Agricultural development Programme (ADP) Chief Romanus Onye, said that the tomato demonstration project is aimed at stimulating the production of tomato and other vegetable crops such as lettuce, water melon, and cucumber among others and will promote processing, product diversification, utilization and marketing of the end products of tomato and other food crops.

Chief Romanus Onye who said that the Cherry tomato species occupied about 4.5 hectres of land revealed that the project is replicated in the three zones of the State- Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri, and is running concurrently with other projects of ADP such as Oil Palm, Crops, Livestock, Fisheries and others.

He commended the State Governor for his encouragement and support which led to the success story recorded by the Imo ADC.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture Chief Frank Ibezim said that the State is abundantly blessed with fertile land mass and urged the youths and stakeholders to take up the challenge for a better tomorrow.

Earlier, the spokesman of Obibi and Ihiagwa communities Mr. Okere Kelechukwu commended the Governor for his landmark achievements in the State while he called on the government to fulfill its social responsibilities to the Communities.

The occasion witnessed the decoration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the Grand Patron of Young Farmers Club and Commander of Agriculture, as well as the demonstrations of indirect youths empowerment by the governor who gave 5 youths and 5 women tomatoes seeds capable of yielding baskets of tomatoes with additional N20,000 each for facilitation.

Okorocha commissions liaison office abandoned for 17 yrs in Abuja

The newly built Abuja liaison office for the Imo State government

After seventeen years of operating from a rented office, the Imo State government led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha has finally completed a befitting office complex to serve as its liaison office in Abuja.

Commissioning the office complex yesterday, Governor Okorocha said that nearly seventeen years after the Military Government of Col. Tanko Zubairo acquired a piece of land for the building of a liaison office for Imo State in Abuja, the ‘Rescue Mission’ government in the State has succeeded in building a befitting office complex for use by the Imo State government representatives in the Federal Capital Territory.

The building which is named after the Late Governor Sam Mbakwe of the old Imo State has a guest house at the back which has over 40 rooms and has been leased out for N75 million. The basement and the first floor have also been rented by a bank for another N75 million totaling N150 million.

Speaking further at the occasion, Governor Okorocha said that the State government will re-start work on some damaged Federal Government-owned roads in the State which the federal authorities failed to rehabilitate adding that the Federal Government has refused to address some of the critical issues relating to Imo State.

He said that Nigeria deserve change in leadership to address its problems adding that the people of Nigeria have been divided by religion and ethnicity.

He also attributed the numerous challenges in the country to corruption.

Governor Okorocha stands for the National Anthem as he prepares to commission the newly built Abuja Liaison office on Wednesday september 10 , 2014

In an address, the Imo State Liaison Officer in Abuja, Ms Rosemary Okeke, said the piece of land on which the new liaison office is built was acquired in 1997 by then Military Administrator of the State, retired Col. Tanko Zubairu, who also laid the foundation stone.

In a goodwill address, the National Chairman of APC, Dr John Oyegun, commended the spirit of service of Governor Okorocha.

Also present at the event were the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Benjamin Uwajimogu, and President of Imo Community Association, Chief Ike Obasi.

Others at the ceremony were a former Governor of Bayelsa, Chief Timipreye Sylva, and Sen Osita Izunaso.

Okorocha calls for improved health care system in Nigeria

Governor Okorocha (second from left), flanked by APC Chieftains during the 3^rd Progressive Governance Lectures Series held in Owerri

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has decried the state of the nation’s health sector despite some noteworthy efforts being made to improve the sector in some States.

He made his observation known yesterday during the 3^rd Progressive Governance Lectures Series held in Owerri, Imo State capital, with the theme: “Dealing with the Challenge of Building a Physically Healthy Nation through Preventive, Protective and Innovative Medicare,”

Speaking during the occasion, Governor Okorocha who is also the Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum, noted that the nation’s health sector was in a shambles, insisting that the Millennium Development Goals of reductions in, infant mortality, maternal mortality and the occurrence of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis had not been met.

Earlier, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who chaired the event, said the country was operating a dysfunctional system and called for devolution of more powers to the states to enable them drive development and check corruption. Said he; “The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency hand over some of the functions to the state governments and provide them with funds to effectively develop the sectors. The Federal Government had no business in agriculture, education, health as well as infrastructure development.”

Adding his voice, National Chairman of the All Progressives Party (APC), Chief John Oyegun stated that the political mission of the APC was to replace what he termed the inept and visionless administration of the PDP.  The PDP, he said, has brought untold hardship on the people, adding that the nation could not survive another four years of the party’s leadership.

“The present PDP administration at the centre must come to an end in 2015, that is the mission before us. Our mission is simple and we must do everything within our powers that is legitimate to bring the 15 years of PDP’s inept administration to an end. The problems of Nigeria are as a result of a totally visionless and clueless leadership. Today, Nigeria ranks among the lowest in the world in all facets of modern society,” he said.

Speaking further at the occasion, Oyegun alleged that endemic corruption had undermined all sectors of the society, adding that “corruption has become the sole business of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration”. 

Also present at the lecture were Governors of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, River State, Rotimi Amaechi, Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso. Others were Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Magnus Abe among other APC chieftains.