IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Federal Government has so far released the sum of 4. 7 trillion naira to finance expenditure in the 2022 budget. This is according to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed.

The minister disclosed this on Thursday at a consultative forum on the 2023-2025 Medium Term Fiscal Framework in Abuja. The 17 trillion naira 2022 budget was signed into law on December 31 last year by President Muhammadu Buhari. The breakdown of the budget include 869 billion naira for statutory allocation, 3. 8 trillion naira for debt servicing, 6.9 trillion naira and 5. 4 trillion naira for recurrent and capital expenditure respectively.

Speaking at event, the minister further explained that out of the 4.7 trillion naira spending, the government released a total of 1. 9 trillion naira for debt service while personnel costs and pensions gulped the sum of 1. 2 trillion naira. She said the balance of N773.63bn was spent by the federal government on capital projects.

On revenue performance, the minister said that between January and April, the Federal Government generated the sum of 1. 6 trillion naira with 285 billion naira being contributions from oil revenues and 632 billion from the non-oil sector.

The National Security Council on Thursday announced that it is considering a nationwide ban on motorcycles and mining activities in the country as part of its strategy to curb terrorist activities, checkmate loopholes and cut off their sources of funding. This was the outcome of the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.

Addressing state house correspondents after the meeting chaired by the President, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami stated that investigations are still ongoing especially to establish the correlation between mining and motorcycles which they suspect provide funding for the supply of arms to the terrorists.

Malami who noted that terrorists had moved from the conventional ways of funding their activities to mining and ransom taking, disclosed the government was not unaware of the economic consequences of the proposed resolutions, particularly the motorcycle ban but it has become imperative in order to guarantee the nation’s security.

Terrorist groups, in particular in Nigeria, are increasingly interested in controlling areas of production of gold.

By Sir Jude Agbaso

I would not have bothered myself reacting to Rochas Okorocha and his lap dog, Sam Onwuemedo, who has become notorious for suffering from an obvious psychiatric diarrhea of the mouth, but for the benefit of a few uninformed, who are still ignorant of the disaster that was Rochas Okorocha and the eight years of hell he put the good people of Imo State through, I have decided to put pen to paper and making some clarifications.

First and foremost, I would like to address some things I managed to pick out from the incoherent rambling Sam Onwuemedo called a press release.

In over ten years since I parted ways with Rochas Okorocha, I don't think my name can be found in any press release, neither would you find anywhere that I made any comment whatsoever about his person.

I am that kind of person who refuses to carry poisonous garbage in my heart and brooding over Okorocha would be infecting myself with a poisonous disease.

God forbid.

A few weeks ago however, a journalist during the course of an interview, asked me a pointed question about what I thought about Okorocha's regime and I gave an honest answer to that question and moved on.

Anybody you meet on the streets of Imo State would tell you that Rochas Okorocha's eight years were the worst the state has ever seen.

Where then is the hatred against Okorocha, when I simply stated what even a child would tell you?

Sam Onwuemedo ignorantly made reference to the fabricated lies cooked up by Okorocha against my person, simply because I refused to do things the way he and his cohorts wanted things to be done in the state.

Firstly Sam Onwuemedo, let me inform you that from the High court to the Supreme Court, I have been cleared of all the lies brought against me and have been reinstated to my rightful place as a former Deputy Governor of Imo State.

But let me get into the whole JPros matter a little bit further.

Sam Onwuemedo claimed that I didn't come to the 7-man "slaughter" table Okorocha had supposedly prepared for me.

First and foremost, no impeachment notice was served on my person and this is one out of the 12 steps that must by law, be taken before a deputy governor can be impeached.

I heard Okorocha and his cohorts were plotting to impeach me on the social media. No proper channel of official communication was followed to serve me any form of notice of impeachment. No notice was even published on the pages of any reliable newspaper. 

How then can any sane human being appear before a panel he was not properly served or informed of its sitting? One could dismiss it as a rumour or April fool prank, since the proper channels for such an action was not taken.

However, when I took steps and found out that such a panel existed, I send a communication through my legal counsel to the panel headed by one Justice Anonihu who Okorocha had procured for the hatchet job, informing them that no summon was served on my person to appear before them when constitutionally, they ought to have done so.

Now interestingly, without taking cognizance of my legal communication to them, the panel which like I stated above, was presided over by one Justice Anonihu, who was not even the Chief Judge of the State (note, the Chief Judge is supposed to have presided over the matter if they had followed Due Process) went on with what they had already been bought and paid to do.

It is really shocking how in less than 12 hours, the so-called panel supposedly called “witnesses”, went through “documents”, finished their “investigations”, reached a “verdict”, communicated their so-called verdict to the House of Assembly which by the way, was on recess at that time but was hurriedly convened for the job they had been most likely paid to do (to impeach me). 

All these were processes that usually take days to be concluded so that every side would be heard before a verdict can be reached. Unfortunately, Anonihu, who is supposed to be an honorable justice and representative of Rule of Law, threw his name and integrity into the bush probably for the biblical plate of porridge and allowed himself to be used to disgrace the law of the country he swore to uphold.

The State Assembly then headed by Benjamin Uwajumogu, without asking any questions, within minutes, passed an impeachment verdict on me and communicated same to Okorocha. The State Assembly members working on instruction, refused to find out why I didn’t attend the so-called panel hearing neither did they acknowledge the fact that I was not served any notice. Okorocha on his part, while sending his acceptance of their so-called decision, sent along the name of a new deputy governor he had already prepared to take over from me.

The so-called probe, investigation and impeachment took place in under 12 hours. You cannot even describe what happened that day as a miscarriage of justice. There is no words for what Okorocha did that day or what he put Imo people through subsequently. This is the so-called “impeachment” Sam Onwuemedo was talking about.

Of course I went to court and at every point, Okorocha cooked up interlocutory appeals that had nothing to do with the impeachment matter at hand, just to stall the case. 

By the time we went from the High court to the Appeal and then to the Supreme Court which referred us back to the High court to commence the hearing of the impeachment matter proper, my tenure had been completely eroded.

Okorocha used Justice Ikpeama to adjourn and adjourn the matter and refused to hear the matter for two and half years. I would have petitioned Ikpeama at the NJC for allowing himself to be used to delay justice but to save his pension, I heeded to pleas.

Today the matter has been heard and I have received justice in my favour and the so-called impeachment has been vacated.

Now let’s look at the facts of the matter. The Joseph Dina Sam Onwuemedo talked about, was brought to Imo State by Okorocha, who offered Dina a contract and also inappropriately paid Dina via the office of the governor, through his Principal Secretary and not through the Ministry of Works which I was then the commissioner. What does the Principal Secretary or the office of the governor have to do with paying a road contractor? What did a state lawmaker for that matter, have to do with awarding road contracts and paying contractors? This is the job of the executive and should go through the Ministry of Works which would also supervise the quality of work being done. But it was the norm under Okorocha and my rejection of that obviously fraudulent style of “administration” was the real reason those lies were cooked up against me.

Even the payment to the contractor Joseph Dina, was made to him when I was in faraway India representing the state. So how then, did I get involved in the contract Okorocha awarded and paid for? How would I be collecting bribe for a contract I didn't award or pay for? The lies didn’t just add up.

These were amongst the facts the court saw and dismissed their kangaroo impeachment.

Okorocha and Benjamin Uwajumogu awarded road contracts to whoever they liked and that was where our problems started. That was why they decided to impeach me because I refused their style of awarding contracts without following proper procedures.

How would I collect bribe of N458million from Dina when I played no role in bringing him to Imo State or awarding him the contract? If there was a bribe given thereafter, Okorocha and his Principal Secretary who awarded the contract and disbursed the money to Dina, should give us account of it.

Today I enjoy all the rights and privileges of a former deputy of Imo State.

Sam Onwuemedo by his ignorant mudslinging, has exposed himself to a lawsuit on his person which I am still considering.

Sometimes I wonder at Sam Onwuemedo's mental health if he should tell me to cover my face in shame. Between I and Rochas Okorocha, who should cover his face in shame?

Till date, I move around my village, sit and interact with my people freely and unhindered. Can Rochas Okorocha do the same in his hometown of Ogboko?

I walk around freely in Owerri municipal most times leaving my police detail behind so that they don't harass people and people greet me warmly when they see me. Can Rochas Okorocha, who claimed he did well for Imo people do the same?

I dare Rochas Okorocha to take a walk with me around his hometown of Ogboko or around Owerri municipal or anywhere in Imo State for that matter, without a single policeman and let's see who would be stoned by the people. 

I saw a picture of former governor Ikedi Ohakim shopping alone at Shoprite Owerri without an army of policemen to protect him. Former governor Achike Udenwa moves around freely without an army of policemen to shield him from the people. If Okorocha cannot meet my challenge, then he has shown himself as the only former governor who cannot move freely among his people and this is a clear indication that he failed the people and is afraid of what they would do to him if the police isn’t protecting him.

If Okorocha fails to meet my challenge, he should hide his face in shame for being the worst thing that ever happened to Imo people.

If fact, Rochas Okorocha and everything connected to him should hide their faces in shame for the generational curse and humiliation his greed has brought upon him and everything connected to him.

When the EFCC invited me over the lies Okorocha cooked up against me, as one who has nothing to hide, I honored their invitation and was cleared by them. I was never arrested neither did I sleep in their cell like we've seen happen to some hardened fraudsters and treasury looters. I didn’t pay a kobo to anybody to lobby EFCC for me.

We all witnessed the rather embarrassing theatrics of Rochas Okorocha when the EFCC paid him a visit.

Yet this man hadn't understood that he is a disgrace to himself and nobody takes him serious anymore. 

I am a man that stands firmly for the truth and passively replied the journalist who sought my views on Okorocha's administration. However, in a few days time, I would once again put pen to paper and give Ndi Imo a slightly more in-depth reaction on what I think about the administration of Rochas Okorocha as Imo State governor.

By: Kelechi Uzomah 08064085316

Chief Mel Damieon Osuji is an  Umunumo Ehime Mbano born international businessman who God has specially prepare to use as a rallying point to lead the good people of Okigwe zone to the promised land.

It is an obvious fact that the story of Chief Mel Osuji  has remained a reference point among youths, women, children and even leaders in Okigwe zone extraction of Imo state.

This man have exhibited steering leadership qualities that has endeared him to many people who now see him as not just a role model or idol but a case in the whole of Okigwe zone.

He is humble, honest, panache and unwavering doggedness in the pursuit of the populist agenda for the common good of the good people of Okigwe zone who he hold so dear in his heart.

The quintessential leader has shown that he is a man to be reckoned with and no wonder he has dedicated his time, energy and resources for the common good of Okigwe zone.

Omereoha 1 of Mbano has proven beyond every reasonable doubt that he does not hold personal interest above common good and collective interest of the generality of the people of Okigwe zone.

Chief Mel Osuji no doubt has shown and exhibited that he is not like these greedy, selfish, callous and ambitious leaders who are currently occupying plum political positions in the zone.

All his thought and desire is to see a strong and united Okigwe zone where leaders would be accountable to the poor masses that gave them their mandate freely. He is interested in a greater prosperity of Okigwe zone where leaders would think on how best to improve our dear zone.

His commitment to a better and united Okigwe zone can not be over emphasized because he eat, drinks and breathe Okigwe zone. He is working tirelessly to see that Okigwe zone is counted among comity of zones where leaders think of the next generation and not the next election.

It's a known fact that Chief Mel Osuji is a man endowed with wisdom and knowledge to transform Okigwe zone to a modern one.

There is one striking thing about this man many has seen to be the new face of Okigwe zone, Chief Mel Osuji is not interested in any political position but rather interested in the overall development of the zone.

The Ehime Mbano born technocrat is tested and trusted with the way and manner he has changed the mentality of the youths of the zone who he helped in securing them good jobs in both federal and state. He did not just give them fish but thought them how to fish and be self reliance.

He has shown through his actions and inactions that Okigwe zone must develope and begin to be counted once again in Imo state where the two other zones like Owerri and Orlu are all developed except Okigwe zone.

Ndi Okigwe zone needs a man like Chief Mel Osuji to carry on from the likes of Dee Sam Mbake of the blessed memory whose legacies lives on after so many years of his demise.

His emergence as the true leader in the zone will definitely herald a new beginning in Okigwe zone because he understood the importance of leadership.

The new face of Okigwe zone believes that the only thing that gives him joy and the fulfilment of purpose would be the development of the zone and he has shown willingness to partner with the true progressive to move the zone forward.

Chief Mel Osuji is generally accepted in the whole Okigwe zone by the youths, women and their men folk because the man is what the good people of zone needs going forward.

As an international businessman, Chief Mel Osuji has helped many youths across the three geopolitical zone in the state by giving them money to start up their own businesses free of charge and this goes to show that the man is indeed a leader to be reckoned with.

It's a truism that Chief Mel Osuji has not held any political positions all his life but rather choose to immediate between the leaders and the people.

Okigwe people both home and in diaspora believes that it is time to separate Paul from  Barnabas. Meaning that, "it is time to tell the people the naked truth that we are tired of these old politicians and leaders that never meant well to us". We're moving from the old order to new paradigm shift which Chief Mel Osuji represents.

Chief Mel Osuji has today become the bride pride of ndi Okigwe zone because he has given both the old and young reasons to believe that truly, a new leader has emerged to better the lots of the people of the zone.

It's a known fact that ndi Okigwe zone has vowed to follow Chief  Mel Osuji because in him, they see a true leader and a pathfinder of great nobility.

That is why today ndi Okigwe zone are clamoring for him to be the torch bearer because he has a track record of service full of achievements and many of you will Marvel at what the man has done without blowing his trumpet for people to notice him. 

Without sounding indifference, Chief Mel Osuji is the type of leader the people of Okigwe zone need in all ramifications to better the lives of the people who are gnashing of their teeth as a result of the pains, sufferings and untold hardship the people has faced by these heartless people that parades themselves as leaders.

It is on this premises that I present to you this committed young man that has shown through his actions and inactions that he has the overall interest of Okigwe zone at heart.

Kelechi Uzomah is a journalist and a public affair analyst based in Owerri.

By Emmanuel Iheaka

There was outrage, Monday, in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State over the alleged killing of seven youths by Ebubeagu security operative.

They were said to have been killed while returning from traditional wedding in Awomama, Oru East L.G.A., with five others still missing as at the time of filing this report.

The president General of Otulu Community, in the area, Nnamdi Agbor, who spoke to our correspondent on telephone said that seven young men were shot and killed Sunday night by the Ebubeagu operatives.

His words: “Youths from our community in Otulu had Sunday accompanied one of our brothers to Awomamma for his traditional wedding rites, at the end of the event, many of the youths who came on motorcycles offered to carry their brothers and they all rode back in a convoy of motorcycles.

“On their way home, around the Ishieke area of Awomamma, without any conversation or confrontation, the Ebubeagu operatives opened fire on the convoy of motorcycles killing seven persons on the spot. While they abducted some of the wedding guests some others escaped into the bush in a desperate flight for safety.”

“The Ebubeagu operatives took deliberate steps to make certain that the young men were dead. Those who still moved where finished off with a volley of bullets. Miraculously, one of our sons was mistaken for dead, after the operatives moved to their vehicle, he fled into the nearby bush and disappeared into the night. At about 1am, some of them that fled into the Bush called me and I called some of our brave youths to go and rescue them from the forest that same night.

“By Monday morning, we mobilize a search party, accompanied by an Army patrol team and we returned to the scene of attack and received seven dead bodies of our sons with five others still missing with several others nursing bullet wounds. As I speak to you, we are yet to be told the crime committed by our sons for which they were slaughtered like animals”

Those killed whose bodies were recovered include Chigozie Obinwa, Chikere Anyadioha, Ifechi Ekesinachi, Emeka Ekesinachi, Aboy Ihegboro, and two others simply identified as Chijindu and Ozioma.

The President-General stressed that tension in the Otulu community has reached feverish pitch and they are battling to contain agitations of angry youths.

“Tempers are flying in our community and our people are angry. There is no justification whatsoever for these killings except for impunity and reckless use of firearms.

“Consequently, we have reported the incident to the security agencies. The Commissioner of Police and the Commander of the 34 Brigade Command Obinze have visited. The DPO is also assisting.

“The wedding celebrant is Chijioke Nnanna. The Ebubeagu operative also abducted his brother that same evening and one of the young men sent from our community to verify the shooting saw when they were bundling him away and made to explain to them that this was the brother of the celebrant, he was also bundled into their truck and whisked away to Oru East were they were held and only freed this afternoon.”

According to the President-General, those still in the hospital are Oluebube Agbor and ThankGod Iheukwumere.

When contacted, the Police Spokesperson, CSP Micheal Abattam, confirmed the incident and said that the Commissioner of Police has ordered investigations into the killing.

Kelechi Uzomah, Owerri. 

08064075316

The member that represents the good of Ohaji/ Egbema, Oguta & Oru West Federal constituency, Hon. Kingsley Uju has distinguished himself as one of the shining stars of the present 9th Assembly of the green chamber of the national Assembly given his superlatives and unprecedented achievements in his first tenure as a federal legislator.

Hon. Kingsley Uju no doubt, was the former deputy Chief of Staff operation to a former Governor Rochas Okorocha who through his kind and philanthropic dispositions showed Imo people what to expect from him in the national Assembly.

He was one of the few people in the Okorocha's government that helped a good number of Imolites financially to meet with their needs in life.

His singular act of kindness drew him closer to many people in the state. Infact, Hon. Kingsley Uju is one man in Okorocha's government that was loved across party line.

That was why his election in 2019 was made easy for him to defeat the incumbent member that represented Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta & Oru  West Federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Nana Opiah who is of the ruling party, APC.

It was as a result of his good deeds that made the good people of Ohaji/ Egbema, Oguta & Oru West federal constituency to have given him their full support to win the election 2019. 

As the 2023 general election draw closer, it is importance to state here that the good people of  Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta & Oru West Federal Constituency will have no reason whatsoever to think of replacing a man who has offered them the best of representations at the green chamber of the national Assembly.

Methink that given the numerous impacts and projects Hon. Kingsley Uju has executed in his federal constituency, it is very important to point out here that his good performance deserves consolidation which will help him to achieve more for his beloved people of his Constituency in 2023.

Hon. Kingsley Uju has shown that the well-being of his beloved people remains topmost in his agenda as he has continuously championed programmes and activities aimed at bettering and improving the lives of people of his Constituency

There is every need to let the people of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta & Oru West Federal Constituency to know that Hon. Kingsley Uju's return to the green chamber of the national Assembly in 2023 apart from making him a ranking member, will give him the impetus to consolidate on his first term achievements which every Tom, Dick and Harry can attest to. 

The lawmaker has been consulting wildly with the people and strengthening relationship, as well as building bridges for new ones after winning his party ticket.

It is on record that Rt. Hon. Ugonna Ozuruigbo, Hon. Kingsley Uju, Hon. Chike Okafor and Hon. Dr. Pascal Obi to an extent has has represented Imo state very well at the green chamber of the national Assembly and other Constituencies envy them. There achievements speaks louder for them but the point I am making here is that "one good turn deserves another".

Hon. Kingsley Uju has not fallen short in attracting developmental projects and empowerment schemes and most importantly, the bills and motions he sponsored that are people oriented.

It is also important to bring to your notice that the first tenure of every legislator is seen as a period of legislative education in which the first timer isn't allowed to perform certain duties or occupy sensitive positions but his case is different as he has within the short period endeared himself to his colleagues at the national Assembly.

Hon. Uju has performed his duties both as a new federal Lawmaker, mastering the art of legislation which he didn't disappoint his people by not allowing his being a first timer to influence his performance.

With what this intelligent and exceptional lawmaker has done within his first four years in office, it is very important to ask him to continue beyond 2023 so that the people of his constituency will enjoy more benefits and dividends of democracy.

Hon Kingsley Uju has used the past four years at th national Assembly, to gather legislative experience which will be very useful to him and his constituents in 2023.

There is every tendencies that if Hon. Kingsley Uju is elected for a second term, he has the chances of emerging a ranking member of the green chamber of the national Assembly which will make him and increase his electoral fortune and the benefits associated with that are enormous.

It is important to mention here that the 

reelection of Hon. Kingsley Uju's is a collective responsibility of all men of good conscience who mean well for the people of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta & Oru West Federal Constituency in order to secure the exalted position for the people in 2023.

The gains and benefits will be massive  employment opportunities for the entire people of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta & Oru West Federal Constituency, Imo people and southeast in particular.

Hon Kingsley Uju is also one man who has shown that he has the capacity to move Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta & Oru West Federal Constituency to the next level and this is one of the major reasons I supported him to seek for reelection in 2023.

The good people of Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta & Oru West Federal Constituency should support Hon Kingsley Uju to go back to national Assembly in 2023 so as to complete the good works he started in 2019, for it will be suicidal if a political neophyte or green horn is allowed to go into the green chamber of the national Assembly in 2023. God forbid !!!

The member that represents Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta & Oru West Federal Constituency remains the answer for the long wait for the people to produce a ranking member of the national Assembly.

It, therefore become imperative to think about what we stand the people of Ohaji/ Egbema, Oguta & Oru West Federal Constituency will gain if Hon. Kingsley Uju succeeds in his bid to return in 2023.

It is on record that Hon. Kingsley Uju has discharged his Honorable duties effectively since he assumed office in 2019 and has been described by many people as a proactive Lawmaker and not  bench warmers in the present 9th Assembly.

The people of Ohaji/Egbema Oguta & Oru West Federal Constituency should not make the mistake of sending a first timer to go and begin to learn the rope when Kingsley Uju has already mastered the terrain and had made good use of his being a member of the national Assembly to better the lives of his beloved constituents.

The people should therefore queue behind him to not only bring the goodies but ensure that his voice keeps sounding loud in the green chamber of the national Assembly beyond the expiration of his first term mandate in 2023.

Kelechi Uzomah is a practicing journalist and a public affair analyst based in Owerri, Imo State Capital.