Okorocha swears in the 10th Chief Judge of Imo State

Governor Okorocha in hand shake with Justice Paschal Obinna Nnadi

A new Chief Judge for Imo State has been sworn into office by His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

Justice Paschal Obinna Nnadi who was sworn into office today has taken over from Justice Benjamin Njemanze as the 10^th Chief Judge of Imo State.

The choice of  Justice Pascal Nnadi as the Chief Judge of Imo State came to light on Friday after the Imo State House of Assembly in a special sitting, unanimously confirmed his appointment 

Performing the ceremony at the Government House, Owerri today, 22^ndDecember 2014, Governor Rochas Okorocha called on the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary arms of government in Nigeria to redefine Separation of Powers by discharging their functions separately but with the spirit of oneness rather than the total isolation and discrimination that have ravaged the system.

He urged the Judiciary to advocate for a national conference of the three arms, discuss the challenges of the oncoming 2015 elections and work out modalities that will save the nation from doing anything unconstitutional or reaching ‘a point of no return’ while he advocated for unity and love among Nigerians.

Congratulating the new Chief Judge on his meritorious appointment, Governor Okorocha reminded him of the need to maintain his relationship with God who does not only hold the destiny of all but will also judge everyone accordingly.

He urged him to discharge his duties without fear or favour.  “To whom much is given, much is expected,” he added.

He called on women whom he described as ‘silent achievers’, not to relent in their prayers for the success of their husbands in positions of authority and for peace in the home.

Governor Okorocha appealed to politicians to shun violence and thugery while campaigning for leadership positions as he warned that ‘no leader is worth anybody’s life.’

He thanked the Judicial Service Commission for the peaceful selection of their leaders while commending the immediate past Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Benjamin Njemanze for working in tandem with the Rescue Mission government for the success achieved during his tenure in office, including the hosting of Nigeria Bar Association conference in the State, building of the Judicial Service Secretariat, renovation of Customary Courts buildings, 100%free education, infrastructural development, massive road construction, regular payment of salaries to Imo workers, among other.

In his response, Justice Paschal Obinna Nnadi described his upliftment as divine-will and thanked the Judicial Service Commission for maintaining their selection strictly on character, administrative skills and respect for constituted authorities while promising to deliver as expected.

He expressed gratitude to Governor Okorocha for good governance as he pledged more support to the Rescue Mission government.

Governor Okorocha in group picture with Justice Paschal Obinna Nnadi and wife as well as the Imo State Deputy Governor and other members of the Imo State Judicial Service Commission

The occasion was graced by the State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Benjamin Uwajimogu, other members of the State Executive Council and Hon. Members of the Imo State House of Assembly, past and present personalities in the State Judiciary, and a host of others.

2014 ‘Xmas: Imo govt workers commence 2 weeks holiday

The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has declared December 19, 2014 to January 5, 2015 as holidays for Civil Servants in the State as he wished the good people of Imo State a hitch-free Xmas and New Year celebrations.

Owelle Okorocha said this during his live broadcast to Imo people on his achievements and Xmas/New year message at the Government House Owerri.

He assured Imo people and those visiting the State this festive period that all necessary machineries have been put in place to ensure adequate security in all nooks and crannies of the State while he urged all to be of good conduct and help fish out criminals in their localities.

The Governor said ‘there is every reason to celebrate’ as he re

called that the total transformation in all facets of the State in the past 3 years and seven months could not have been possible but for the intervention of God and the insistence of Imo people in electing the leader of their choice in 2011.  

He thanked Imo people for being supportive of the Rescue Mission government as he recalled how the education sector was left to rot due to non payment of teachers salaries, high tuition and dilapidated infrastructure,  but heaved a sigh of relief that today, the story has changed with the 100% free education, in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Institutions for indigenes and non-indigenes.

Governor Okorocha pointed out that over 322 story buildings have been built in Primary and Secondary schools in the State, opened two campuses of Imo Polytechnic at Orlu and Ehime Mbano, established the Imo Young Scientist School and built ICAPS to give professional training to young graduates just as the Imo European University and the Marine University are nearing completion. “Free education will continue, upon free education I stand.  This government has fought corruption up to 80% and will not relent; if corruption is stopped, education can be free even at the federal level.” he noted.

The Rescue Mission Governor revealed that about 1,800km roads have been constructed in both urban and rural areas of the State with many inland bridges, and new roads created while contract has been awarded for the dualization of Owerri to Akokwa and Okigwe areas.  “The road revolution will be continued until all roads in Imo are tarred” he maintained.

He expressed relief that the insecurity situation which frightened Imo people in the past has ceased and security situation greatly improved following the establishment of the Imo Security Network, Imo Community Watch and the Imo Civil Guard who work in tandem with the Police, SSS and other Security Agencies to maintain peace and orderliness as well as curb criminal activities in the State. 

Owelle Okorocha pointed out that Imo is about the only State paying N20,000 minimum wage to its workers and still maintains regular payment of salaries and have not recorded any strike action by workers, adding that the dress code of the workforce is a thing of pride while the State Secretariat has been renovated, offices equipped with computers and furniture for greater output.

The Governor noted that the creation of the Community Government Council (CGC) has given every community a sense of belonging and put to rest all leadership crises as well as foster economic development.  Describing the “CGC as the government of the people, by the people, for the people and with the people,” he said people run government businesses for their communities and expressed hope that the CGC initiative will be perfected and made the centre of government activities in the near future.  He commended the Traditional Rulers and other CGC officials for making wise use of the funds given them to acquire lands for palm planting as well as carry out renovation works and other maintenance services in schools, Council Headquarters, etc.

He enumerated Infrastructural achievements of his government to include building of a standard Government House, the Douglas House, Twin House, Blue Chapel for worship and tourist centre, the Centenary towers, Akachi, and a host of others, as he added, “I invite all Imolites to come and see what God has done for us in infrastructure.

He said all land compensations have been met with and more lands acquired for developmental projects, adding that the revamped Avutu poultry has made initial sales of over 10,000 birds while more are ready for sale this season.  Also the building of the Obowo International Market, Okigwe Shopping Mall, Relief Market Shopping Mall speak volumes of rapid development in the State while Ngor Okpala and Ohaji areas now enjoy electric supply from the national grid with solar energy street lights installed in the State.

The Rescue Mission Governor pointed out that over 25,000 youths have been employed into the Youth Must Work Programme, some engaged in the Imo Young Engineers Corp (IYEC) as well as the empowerment of Ohaji/Egbema youths, among others.

While commending members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo for electing him as the Party’s flag bearer in the 2015 elections, Owelle Okorocha said APC is in full support of General Buhari as the Presidential candidate whom he said ‘has all it takes to stop insurgence in Nigeria.’

While calling for massive support from Imo people, he called on parents to guard their youths from being used as political thugs in the 2015 elections.

Governor Okorocha used the occasion to invite all Imo children to join him as he takes them round the city in celebration of the yuletide while he assured workers in the State of Christmas packages.    

My Presidential ambition is for the good of Igbos - Rochas

Governor Okorocha in group picture with members of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo during their visit to the Government House Owerri recently.

The Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has assured ndi Igbo that he contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Primaries to ensure that the Igbos are given their pride of place in Nigeria.

He gave this assurance while receiving Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Imo State Chapter, when they paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri recently.

Speaking during the occasion, Okorocha regretted the level of marginalization of the Igbos in the affairs of Nigeria. According to him, all the key positions in the country eluded Ndi Igbo including the citing of developmental projects by the Federal government in the name of marginalization. Said he; “for me time has come for Igbos to reason together, Ndi Igbo should no longer be relegated to the background, we should take our rightful position in Nigeria polity. By virtue of my presidential contest, it is clear to APC and entire Nigeria that Igbos are alive to take their position.  I will not stop the struggle till there is liberation for Ndi Igbo and until the ordinary man is liberated. What we need is a national party that will carry Ndi Igbo along, Igbos are better off in APC”.

He called on Ndi  Igbo to work with team spirit and unity of purpose so as to reposition the zone at the main stream in Nigeria polity.

Speaking further at the occasion, Governor Okorocha enumerated some of the achievements of Rescue Mission Government in the State in the areas of massive infrastructural development, free education including the up spring of four new Universities in Imo State under three(3) years and 7 months, among others.

He challenged Ohaneze Ndi Igbo to reconcile their differences and speak with one voice, as an apex “umbrella that covers the entire Igbo nation. You must speak for Ndi Igbo, raise good leaders,” he continued as he called on the group to partner with the Rescue Government.

Earlier, the President Imo State Chapter of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Dr Ezechi Chukwu commended governor Okorocha for his tremendous achievements in the State based on his administrative acumen which has transformed the image of the State within and beyond the State as the envy of many.

Dr. Ezechi Chukwu described Ohanaeze as a mass movement organization which stands to support every government that is people oriented.  He stated that governor Okorocha’s inability to secure the APC Presidential ticket is an answered prayer for him not to leave Imo State at this point in time.  He expressed the group’s unalloyed support to Okorocha even in his second term bid and urged him to consolidate on his landmark achievements which are second to non in the State.

Okorocha congratulates Buhari for victory at the APC convention

From L-R, Okorocha and Buhari

The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has congratulated Gen. Muhamadu Buhari over his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s flag bearer at the Party’s Presidential primaries held in Lagos last week.

Addressing a large group of Imo people at the Sam Mbakwe Airport on his return from the APC Presidential Convention, Okorocha commended the party for the free and fair conduct of the primaries.

According to him, his participation at the just concluded APC presidential convention has distorted the fact that the President must come from any particular zone in Nigeria. Said he ; “I have been able to prove the point that party should not assume that power must come from any particular place. It is the understanding of APC that the president should come from the North ever since. I knew about that but I don’t like those facts, so I have come to distort those facts which are not the truth.”

He thanked Imo people for their support and assured that his Rescue Mission programme is still on course especially as he promised that the State will experience yet greater socio-infrastructural development in the next 4 years.

Commenting on the return of Owelle Rochas Okorocha to the governorship race come 2015, the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu said that his acceptance by Imo masses is a clear indication that they want him back. He therefore advised other contestants to the Imo State Douglas House to wait until 2019 rather than waste their time and money.

The Commissioner for Lands, survey and Urban Planning, Chief Uche Nwosu and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sir Jude Ejiogu, both maintained that governor Okorocha has made the Igbo race proud by showing that the Igbos cannot be pushed aside in national politics.

They however said that the jubilation by Imo people on governor Okorocha’s return to Imo governorship race was a sign that Imo masses are not yet ready to let him go.

Imo Govt embarks on total electrification project in Ohaji/Egbema LGA

Okorocha in a group pix with General President and members of Ohaji Egbema Elders Council during their visit to Govt House, Owerri on Monday

The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has assured that all communities Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area will be connected to the national grid as government had embarked on total electrification project in the area.

 He gave this assurance when he received the leadership and members of the Ohaji/Egbema Elders Council at the Sam Mbakwe Expanded Exco Chambers, Government House Owerri yesterday

 Speaking during the occasion, Governor Okorocha charged the Elders Council to broker peace among the conflicting communities in Ohaji/Egbema while assuring them of government’s support in improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

 According to him, the State Government will collaborate with the Ohaji/Egbema Council of Elders to restore peace and foster rapid development in all the communities of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area.

He lamented the incessant harassment meted out on contractors by youths in the area as well as community clashes and blamed leaders of Ohaji/Egbema for the woes that exist in the area.

Okorocha receives a copy of Almanac as presented by Rev dr Prince Gill Ogbonna, the General President, Ohaji Egbema Elders Council during their visit to Govt. House, Owerri on Monday.

 Earlier, the President General, Ohaji/Egbema Elders Council, Prince Gill Ogbenna said the Council is an inter-faith based association rooted for the promotion of peace and co-existence among various communities in Ohaji/Egbema.

He pointed that members of the council are drawn from all the 20 autonomous communities in the Council Area and registered in November 2013 to champion the enthronement of better welfare for the people of Ohaji/Egbema.

Prince Ogbonna commended Governor Rochas Okorocha for the monumental infrastructural projects in the area and the State at large, as well as the N500 million naira empowerment fund given to youths of the area.

The Council unanimously showed solidarity to the Imo Rescue Mission Government and assured their continued loyalty and support.

Responding, the Transition Committee Chairman of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Council, Chief Gideon Mefor and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman of the area Rev. Emma Ebomuche commended the 1,500 members of Ohaji/Egbema Council of Elders for being instruments of peace and development in the area.

They urged the group to continue to advice government as well as educate the people on the policies of the Rescue Mission government.

Massive protests trail voter reg. exercise in Imo

Thousands of people from the various Local Government Areas in Imo State staged a peaceful demonstration at the Government House Owerri today demanding to know why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is dragging its feet concerning the ongoing voter registration exercise.
According to the demonstrators, most of the eligible voters are yet to be registered while those who registered in 2011 were unable to receive their voters card from INEC.

The reason for INEC's failure in the exercise has been blamed on the poor state of preparedness of the commission to handle the exercise, for instance, each polling unit in the State comprising of over 4,000 voters is being attended to by only one INEC official with one dysfunctional computer.

The demonstrators insist that INEC has failed woefully in this very important exercise and called for the extension of the exercise.

Rochas commissions new office building for NSCDC in Imo

The Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has commissioned an ultra modern administrative complex newly built by the Imo State government for the Nigerian Security and civil Defence corps [NSCDC], Imo State command, Owerri.

The newly commissioned edifice which today stands out elegant at the Imo Command Headquarters of NSCDC, came in place after an official visit of Governor Rochas Okoroch to the Corps headquarters earlier in the year when he was stormed by the shabby state of the office environment, littered with ram shackling batcher as offices for heads of departments and units.



Governor Okorocha in group pix with representatives of the Nigerian Armed Forces during the commissioning of the news office complex built for the NSCDC by the Imo State Government

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony yesterday, the governor called on individuals, organizations and governments at all levels to pay maximum attention to various paramilitary agencies across the country as the police and military cannot  solve the increasing security challenges in the country.

He lamented the wanton killings of innocent Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect as well as the increasing criminality in the country, stressed the need for the Federal Government to give more attention to security agencies in order to equip them for the growing challenges.

He emphasized that state and local governments should be given some authority to handle security issues at their different levels as the Federal government alone cannot grapple with the alarming rate of insecurity in the country.  He ended with a call on all Nigerians to join hands in the fight against insurgence and criminality in the nation.  “We must all join hands to fight this growing trend before it becomes a culture in our country” he appealed.

The governor equally announced the donation of three pickup Vans to the corps to assist the Imo Command in their operations and commended the officers and men of the command for their gallantry.  “The best a security officer can give to  the nation is patriotism,”  he added. 

Earlier the Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence corps, Dr Ade John Abolurin commended governor Okorocha for his support to the corps which he said has no doubt helped in checking crime and criminality in the state.

Dr Abolurin described governor Okorocha as a man of vision and mission and called on Nigerians to support NSCDC to ensure peace in the nation, while assuring that the Defence Corps will work to optimal capacity to reduce criminality in the country.

The commandant NSCDC Imo command, Mr Adamu Soja said, the new administrative complex as put in place by the governor has solved the accommodation problem of the command and assured the government and people of Imo State of the command’s resolve to collaborate with other security agencies to continue to rid the state of criminals and miscreants.

Present at the occasion were the heads of all security agencies in the state, the secretary to the Imo State Government, Prof Anthony Anwuka, the Chairman Imo State council of traditional Rulers and some members of the State Executive council.

I joined APC to recover what the Igbos have lost in PDP – Okorocha

Governor Okorocha addressing a huge crowd of APC supporters during a political rally in Enugu yesterday

The Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum and governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has disclosed that his reason for joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) was to liberate the Igbos from the many years of marginalization and neglect by the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party.

Owelle Okorocha stated this at the campaign rally organized by the South East elders and leaders of APC at the Igbozurumee Cultural Centre, Enugu.

He said that there was need for him to vie for the highest leadership position in the country so that the Igbos can reclaim their lost opportunities in the scheme of things in the nation. “APC is the only party that can guarantee the welfare of Ndigbo and the rest of Nigerians in 2015” he noted.

  He pointed out that APC has not zoned the presidency to any particular zone.

Governor Okorocha said his emergence as the country’s president after the 2015 presidential polls would surprise many, particularly the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), stressing that he has the resources to sustain his ambition.

He also presented two APC governorship aspirants in Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyi Asogwa and Chief Okey Ezea to the crowd at the rally.

Adressing the two governorship aspirants as Excellencies-in-waiting, the Imo ‘Rescue Mission’ governor advised them to emulate his leadership style when either of them becomes the governor of Enugu State and urged the people of Enugu State to vote the APC candidates come 2015.

Present at the rally were the former governor of Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige, the former National Vice Chairman of APC and governorship aspirant in Abia, Chief Nyerere Anyim and many other party stalwarts in the South East.