IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has reacted to the threat by the people of Owerri to burn Imo people and their properties if their zone is denied 2019 Governorship position.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, Governor Okorocha frowned at the dangerous political signals coming from political leaders from Owerri, especially the "Imo Equity Movement " who had threatened to bring down Imo if an Owerri Zone Man didn't occupy Government House come 2019.

The Governor, therefore warned that he will not fold his hands and allow politicians from a particular political zone in the state to kill and burn the properties of people from their zone who would support candidates from the other zones of the state for the governorship of the state in 2019.

The statement reads:

THE SERIOUS THREAT TO BURN IMO PEOPLE & THEIR PROPERTIES OVER 2019 POLLS.

"The attention of the Governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been drawn to the recent threat by a group of politicians from a particular political zone in the state to kill and burn the properties of people from their zone who would support candidates from the other zones of the state for the governorship of the state in 2019.

This uncivilized and undemocratic threat bothers on the lives and properties of Imo citizens, and no responsible government would fold its hands and watch few overzealous politicians threatening the lives and properties of the citizens for political reasons.

The governor is worried that such threat could also elicit similar threats from the other zones of the state and a situation like that could lead to undue bickering, especially when it is recalled that there is no zone that has not governed state and those concerned were elected by the people on merit and not on zonal sentiment.

It is the popular wish of Imo people that anybody who has what it takes to offer the state and her people purposeful leadership should come out when the time comes not minding which political zone of the state the person might come from. And that has been the stock in the politics of the state since 1979.

It is also important to remind these elements fanning this ember of division among Imo people out of zonal bias that Imo people have never left political contest in the state for the governorship to one particular zone for any reason.

For instance, in 1979 Chief Sam Mbakwe of NPP from Okigwe zone, Dr. Nwakanma Okoro of NPN from Umuahia zone, Dr. Nnanna Ukaegbu of GNPP from Owerri zone, Mr. Steve Evuleocha of PRP from Owerri zone, and Mr. Zacheaus Nwosu of UPN from Okigwe zone ran for the governorship of the state and at the end of the day, Imo people settled for Sam Mbakwe from Okigwe zone.

In the 1983 election, Sam Mbakwe of NPP from Okigwe zone, Chief Collins Obih of NPN from Orlu zone, Mr. Sylvanus Ekeanyawu of UPN from Owerri zone and so on, contested the election which Mbakwe also won.
In the 1991 governorship poll, Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu from Orlu zone, Prof. Fabian Osuji and Dr. Alex Obi from Owerri zone ran for the ticket of SDP, while Chief Evan Enwerem from Owerri zone and Dr. Douglas Acholonu from Orlu zone ran for the ticket of NRC in the primaries. At the end of the day, Chief Enwerem from Owerri zone won the election proper.

In the 1999 election, Chief Achike Udenwa, Rochas Okorocha, Greg Mbadiwe, Ezekiel Izuogu from Orlu zone and Humphrey Anumudo and Desmond Iwuagwu (Barnax) of AD from Owerri zone all took part in the gubernatorial election.

In 2007, Hope Uzodinma, Tony Ezenna, Festus Odimegwu, ThankGod Ezeani from Orlu zone with Kema Chikwe, Bright Nwanne, Emma Ojinere from Owerri zone and Ifeanyi Araraume from Okigwe zone slugged it out in PDP. At the end of the day, the contest was narrowed down to Ifeanyi Araraume for PDP, and Ikedi Ohakim for PPA all from Okigwe zone and Martin Agbaso of APGA and Ugo Opara of ANPP all from Owerri zone.

In 2011, it was between Ifeanyi Araraume of ACN, and Ikedi Ohakim of PDP from Okigwe zone, and Rochas Okorocha of APGA from Orlu zone and Chief Vitalis Ajumbe of ANPP from Owerri zone. At the end, Rochas Okorocha won.

And in 2015, it was between Ikedi Ohakim, Ifeany Araraume from Okigwe zone and Emeka Ihedioha, Chris Anyanwu from Owerri zone in PDP, vis-a-vis Owelle Rochas Okorocha of APC from Orlu zone and Captain Emma Iheanacho of APGA from Owerri zone, which Rochas Okorocha also won.

From the foregoing, it is clear that Imo governorship has never been left for any particular zone. Imo people have always elected their governor on the basis of merit. And the trend won’t change in 2019 no matter the level of threat from some self-centered politicians in the state. Imo people do not succumb to any political colouration that will deny them the freedom to elect someone who will take the state to the next level of development and growth.

 Sam Onwuemeodo

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor"

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE

Imo Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere joining the annual campaign for Safety and Health at Work has advised Workers to observe safety measures at work to avoid preventable occupational accidents and diseases, which might cause total incapacitation or loss of life.

The Deputy Governor’s advice was contained in a press release issued by his Special Assistant on media, Uche Onwuchekwa.

According to the release while Madumere hailed Nigerian workers in their tireless efforts in concert with their employers to ensuring re-stabilization of Nigeria’s economy, he cautioned them to ensure adherence to the necessary safety and health measures to avoid preventable painful injuries that could lead to loss of lives or total handicapped.

The number two citizen of Imo State decried the high scale of stress related illnesses suffered by Nigerian workers, which he attributed to economic volatility, work environment and condition of work. He also condemns self-inflicted injuries by some workers owing to lack of knowledge of the safety measures observable in the course of work or total refusal to observe them. He particularly frowned at the recklessness of some motorists and others in machinery-driven-work-environment who for undisclosed reasons refuse to adhere to safety measures.

While acknowledging occupational hazards associated with medical workers, which he said could be prevented by observing of critical safety measures in consonance with the world best practices.

Prince Madumere however hailed Governor Okorocha for his vision in providing conducive work environment for workers by constructing well-equipped offices to accommodate Imo civil servants especially some of them before his administration worked in congested offices with no chair, desks and working tools thereby eliciting distress and frustrations which are dangerous to their well-being.


He also extolled Governor Okorocha’s back to farm policy, which he said smart workers had utilized the opportunity to create other sources of income to cushion the effects of high cost of commodities. Prince Madumere further commended Governor Okorocha for free education, which he said has reduced financial burden from parents thereby saving them from worries of school fees.

Prince Madumere therefore urged employees to optimize occupational safety and health data available to plan for the safety of worker to ensure optimum productivity and reduction of occupational accidents and diseases, describing them as the real nation builders, the task he said is in tandem with the theme of 2017 World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

Uche Onwuchekwa
Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor of Imo State on Media

According to source; Earlier today Emma (thursday 6.pm precisely), I went to Itam Park long distance bus terminus where i was expecting a parcel from Lagos.

On arrival I saw an unusual crowd and I decided to get close. Only to find this woman dead and laid beside the young shall grow bus which transported her to Uyo.

I was privileged to ask a co-passenger who boarded same vehicle with her from Lagos to Uyo.

She said the woman's husband brought her to the park alive to board the vehicle. And that He knew the woman wasn't very strong while embarking on the long journey. And had made arrangement with a pastor here in Uyo to pick her and commence prayers.

The woman arrived Uyo alive, stepped out of the vehicle, asked for her luggage to be given to her which the driver obliged. Seeing she was weak, they offered her a chair to sit while waiting for pick-up.. the next thing she fell off the chair and that was the end of her life here on earth.

Minutes later, The Pastor came but was told from a distance that the lady he just spoke with on phone is dead. The man took off and disappeared.

Everyone deserted her but the good Samaritan in me came alive and I decided not to leave her there just like others did. I had to put a call across to the Nigerian Police and they responded swiftly. they came to the scene but my joy was complete when a woman came around and identified the lady as Felicia.. she wept and said Edoh Eke Wod meaning (they married her to kill her)... she has been taken to the mortuary by the Nigerian Police.


Credit: Amara Christabel Nwabueze-Eluagu