Imo Govt Awards Scholarships To 2 Imolites who emerged Best Students In WASSCE

Imo State Government has awarded scholarships to Ugboajah Stephnie and Alozie Chukwuemeka, the two best performing students in the 2019 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), both of whom hail from the state. The state governor, Emeka Ihedioha, made this known when he received them at the government house in Owerri, on Wednesday. 

         He said the scholarships were at least to first degree level. The governor said the gesture was not only aimed at rewarding hard work, effort and excellence, but also to encourage other Imo citizens to make the state proud in all they do. Both Stephanie and her male counterpart bagged nine As to come out tops.

Ihedioha appoints 29-yr-old Akwarandu as SA New Media

Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo state has appointed Akwarandu Izuchukwu as his special assistant on new media. Akwarandu, 29, was the pioneer director-general of Imo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) new media directorate. He graduated from Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU) in 2013, with Bachelor of Arts in English and Literary Studies. He served as national president of National Association of English and Literary Studies between 2012 and 2013. He was also a member of the PDP 2019 campaign council and transition technical committee of the Imo state government also in 2019

According to a statement issued by the chief press secretary to the governor, Chibuike Onyeukwu, the appointment takes immediate effect. The new governor aide will oversee Ihedioha’s communication on social media and related platforms. Meanwhile, Governor Ihedioha on Tuesday, May 28, said he would step on toes in his style of governance.

Autobiography of Biafra’s 'Last Field Commander’ reviewed by London based media

‘A Guided Life’

The autobiography of Col. Lambert Ogbonna Ihenacho mni

‘The Last Biafran Field Commander’

REVIEWED BY Ralph Igbo and Ebere Inyama

Published by Strive Books Nig. Ltd. no. 1 Strive Street Ext., Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria. Phone +2348033323514, +2348034004306, +2348034276894

Prologue

The book, ‘A Guided Life’ is the autobiography of Colonel Lambert Ogbonna Ihenacho. In this 339 pages of documented history, one of Nigeria’s brilliant and fearless army officer, Colonel Lambert Ogbonna Ihenacho, who hails from Imo state, Nigera, narrates the story of his life beginning from the period he joined the Nigerian Army in 1957 till he retired from active service in 1990.

Like Ademola Ademoyega’s ‘Why We Struck’, ‘A Guided Life’ captures the scenarios that played out in the Nigerian Army shortly before, during and after the failed coup of January 1966; the book went further to discuss the Nigeria – Biafra war in detail, the events that followed after the war and the travails of the Nigerian polity.  And like Chinua Achebe’s ‘There Was a Country’, the author made good use of his amazing descriptive power to put events in their proper perspectives.

Lambert Ogbonna Ihenacho was a Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army before the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War. He was serving at the 5^th Infantry Battalion Nigerian Army, Kano. Back in Eastern Nigeria, he joined hands with Governor Odumegwu Ojukwu and other Igbo elites to fight for Biafra Independence.

During that war, Ihenacho employed all the training he received to command Company, Battalion and Brigade effectively in various sectors. He gave details of the various battles he fought in the war.  He recaptured large territories occupied by the enemy which helped Biafra to remain afloat for such a long time. He ended as a Lt. Colonel.

After the war, Ihenacho was reabsorbed into the Nigerian Army where he served in various capacities before he was compulsorily retired in 1990 as a Colonel.

Colonel Ihenacho had a close shave with the coup of 1985. When the dust settled, his friend, Lt. Colonel Bitiyon was found guilty and was executed alongside Gen. Mamman Vatsa and others. Again, he narrowly escaped execution after he was wrongly arrested for the coup plot of April 1990 alongside Major Gideon Okar and others.

In this book, the author narrates his exploits when he commanded Nigerian troops in Lebanon between 1980 and 1981. Towards the tail end of the book, Ihenacho who was nominated as a Deputy Governorship candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo state in 2007, narrates his experiences as a politician. He also talks about his spiritual life with greater emphasis on his contact with the Grail Message.

Lambert Ogbonna Ihenacho is a blend of the military and the intellectual, a man with the sword in one hand and a pen in the other. He is a fearless warrior who dared to challenge any misdeed or atrocity committed by anybody including his superiors in the army, many of whom are still alive today.

Read the 45 pages review here 

https://globalnewsalerts.blogspot.com/2019/06/autobiography-of-biafras-last-field_0.html

Governor Emeka Ihedioha appoints Osuji, Onyeukwu as media aides

Imo State governor, Rt. Hon Emeka Emeka Ihedioha, has appointed Steve Osuji and Chibuike Onyeukwu as his Special Adviser (Media) and Chief Press Secretary (CPS) respectively.

Onyeukwu, who made this known in a press release yesterday, stated that the appointments were with immediate effect.

While Osuji, a senior journalist who served former Governor Ikedi Ohakim on similar capacity, is presently a member of Editorial Board of The Nation newspapers, Onyeukwu has been a long-time media aide to the new governor.

The statement reads: “Apparently living up to his promise at the inauguration ground earlier in the day to hit the ground running, Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, has appointed two media aides, Steve Osuji as the Special Adviser (Media) while Mr. Chibuike Onyeukwu is the CPS.”

Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha sworn in as governor of Imo state

 

Former member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has been sworn in as the sixth executive governor of Imo State.

He was sworn in before a huge crowd at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, by the Chief Judge of the state, Paschal Nnadi.

Ihedioha was sworn in at 11:01am, four minutes after his Deputy, Gerald Irona, took his oath of office and allegiance

Governor Okorocha's last words as he bows out of office after eight years in power

"Her Excellency, my wife, in whom I am well pleased. The journey I started with you 8 years ago is coming to an end today. You are still with me and will continue to be with me".

    "My commissioners, my expanded excos, I salute you. Today, nature has permitted that we must shut down".

    "I want to announce to you that the masses have bowed out. The elites have taken over the governance of Imo State".

    "Let me announce to my political enemies to stop. This is because they have no justifiable reason to fight me. Let no one fight me, and I will not fight anybody".

   "As I bow out today, am leaving the total sum of 42.5 Billion naira for the incoming government. 8.1 Billion Naira plus another 7.6 Billion naira totaling 15.7 Billion naira is in Zenith bank. 5.2 Billion naira is in Access Bank for payment of pensioners. Another

21.6 Billion naira is in First bank meant for rural roads. Just yesterday, we received a tax refund of 5.6 Billion Naira and it's with Zenith. This therefore bring the total money left for the Government to 48.1 Billion naira".

Governor Okorocha presents brand new houses, SUV Cars to former Governors of Imo state.

 The out-going governor of Imo state, Governor Rochas Okorocha has presented brand new houses and SUV cars to all the past governors of Imo state in a bid to reward them for their services to the state.  Okorocha made this presentation last week at the state capital, Owerri.

Evan Enwerem, Dr. Sam Mbakwe,  Chief Achike Udenwa and Chief Ikedi Ohakim are beneficiaries.

Governor-elect, Ihedioha, seeks Commonwealth Cooperation with Imo

Imo State Governor-elect, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, has solicited the support and cooperation of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council in the United Kingdom, (CEIC).

Rt. Hon. Ihedioha who was at the Council office in the United Kingdom last month, on a high level strategic business meeting, said he was there to, “discuss areas of cooperation and assistance to Imo State by the member states, when he assumes office.

He described the meeting as, “fruitful and forward-looking, with expected strategic cooperation in key areas of wealth creation, agriculture, investment and other critical areas geared towards enhancing and developing our potentials for the economic development of the state”.

The Council is an investment arm of the Commonwealth Nations.

The Council's Chief Executive, Allan Gemmell OBE, congratulated the Governor-elect on his victory at the polls and committed to supporting the state in the areas of: SMEs, Investment promotion, Agricultural potentials, encouraging commonwealth investors to the state, and making Imo an Investment hub among others.

CIEC officials at the meeting were; Chief Executive, Allan Gemmell OBE, Director of Operations Sean Leno and Director of Business Development AQ Hamza.

The Governor-elect had in his team, Hon. Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Imo East Senator-elect and member representing Owerri Federal Constituency, Hon Bede Eke, Member representing Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, Amb Uche Ogbuagu, member-elect, Imo State House of Assembly, Barr. Chima Nwanna (Transition Technical Committee Secretariat) and Barr Anselm Okorie Secretary, TTC Diaspora Initiative Sub-committee.

INEC declares PDP’s candidate, Ihedioha, winner of Imo governorship election

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] governorship candidate in Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, as the winner of the governorship election held in the state penultimate Saturday.

Ihedioha polled 273,404 votes to defeat his closest rival, Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance, AA, who polled 190,364 votes, while Senator Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, came third with 96,458 votes.

Ihedioha was declared winner by INEC’s Returning Officer for the election, Professor Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta at 11:57 pm on Monday night.

Bioprocessing plant commissioned in Imo

A multi million naira bioprocessing plant has been built in Umuna, Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State by Professor Maurice Iwu.

Speaking during the commissioning of the plant today, Governor Rochas Okorocha who was represented by his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, commended Professor Iwu for the noble achievement and described his effort as a right step in the right direction.

He said the Government of Imo State has been supportive and will continue give its support to ensure that the set goal of establishing the research and processing plant is met.

He averred that its support will continue to ensure that Imo and Igbo nation at large have a productive base that will provide employment for teeming population, adding that such investment has become the slogan of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo in their rotational Igbo Unity Forum. 

Speaking further at the occasion, Governor Okorocha called for a partnership between Imo farmers and the Bio-Processing Center so as to boost the chances of the farmers to o increase output.

Earlier in his remark, Professor Iwu thanked Governor Okorocha for putting-in appearance and for the support given to them towards achieving the establishment of the center.

He also enumerated their products especially organic products like tea and other twenty three products that are already in the market. He therefore sought the support of the government to ensure that the reason for the establishment of the center is achieved.

The event witnessed the presence of the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Bishop of Okigwe Catholic Diocese, Bishop Solomon Amatu, Imo State Commissioner for Community Government Council and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Innocent Eke, The T.C Chairman of Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, Chief Agonsi  amogst others.