Breaking News: Security Operatives Bust Kidnap Gang In Abia, Kill 3... NURTW boss Rescued Unhurt

A combined team of security agents destroyed a kidnap gang in Abia on Sunday, killing three members and freeing their victims unhurt.

The gang, according to reports, had last Thursday abducted the state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Sunny Nwakodo, and was responsible for shooting of state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Kenneth Nwosu, who later died of the gunshot wounds.

A combined team of the Army and Department of State Security Services (SSS) however apprehended the gang after raiding a bush at Umuariga village, Umudike in Ikwuano local government where the abducted NURTW chairman was held.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo while briefing newsmen in a press conference in Umuahia, the state capital said, "the gang, which didn’t give up without a fight lost three members in the ensuing shootout. The slain members of the gang were identified as Ogbuonye Daniel Ogbonna, Uchegbu Oscar Ugochukwu and Oleka Damian Chibueze, while other gang members are still on the run".

The security operatives recovered one AK 47 rifle, two magazines and 22 rounds of ammunition from the scene of the shooting.

Abia: Yesterday, today, tommorrow

Having attained the adolescent age of 22, the history making founding fathers of Abia State, will at the prevailing positive turn of events, begin to bask in a deserved sense of fulfillment, on account of the reality that the much desired steady progress they patriotically wished for the state has been ubiquitously stimulated.

Let me pre-empt and adventurously probe into our minds to disabuse same of any untoward and irrelevant assumption that may want to diminish the awe-inspiring camaraderie I have always consummated with our esteemed readers, given that this endeavor is dispassionately intended to celebrate the pathfinders of Abia State and, overtly highlight how we were conscripted into the cherished values that drove them.
On the strength of that understanding, encomiums will also be lavished on our retired but not tired General Ibrahim Babangida for heralding the birth of todays adolescent Abia.
As our effervescent General acknowledges the flight of time, he will agree as well as we do, that he appended his signature to a document that was neatly and meticulously promoted by assemblage of Abia eggheads, some legendry and some of blessed memory.

This divine stewardship, celebrates with a depth of gratitude the tripod of equity, justice and fair play, which they bequeathed the state.

It is instructive however to retrospectively reveal that the on-going new vista in Abia State has had its fair share of challenges occasioned by past pitfalls of elevating ineptitude, favoritism, apostasy and unbridled god-fatherism, which like a dark cloud, over-shadowed the state.
Our subscription to the vitality of stocktaking is what has thrown up events of yester-years, and its importance will further illuminate our understanding of todays Abia and its precarious state, before the gubernatorial change of baton.

Without mincing words, the administrative compass instituted by successive governments in Abia State, were not particularly broad and expectantly ambitious. The young Abia whose frame was weak and frail on account of that, tumbled and fumbled in the challenge of establishing a virile identity road map. Consequently, Abia was left hollow and malnourished.
But on assumption of office, this government chose not to sympathize with blame game and bulk passing, irrespective of the enormous infrastructural layback, which in quick succession starred it in the face.

But it has been tortuous in the sense that when you juxtapose the grossly inadequate resources available on offer with the countless tasks to address, your mind will always skip a bit.
The inevitable option of widening our approach to governance, earned us the merit of streamlining and prioritizing activities so we can look before we leap.

A sectorial x-ray, for which preponderance of opinion favored injecting life into the strategic and vital health care sector, motivated us to tackle its unfortunate absence in the State.
Today, we can rewind to proudly flaunt our health delivery blaze captured in a humble beginning which like the biblical mustard seed, began with an initial 65 health centers and latter grew to 250 evenly distributed health centers. Contrary to the medical gloom, which in the past cascaded over the State, Abians are now exposed to the relief of choosing from vast spectrum of medical facilities available in the State. Nothing could have been more enthralling than to celebrate the medical icing of realizing Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Center, built in synergy with Me-Cure Health Services of India. The Abia of yesterday which medically groped in the dark has today earned her self a deserving pride of place in medical tourism.

Time was, when disillusionment reigned in the air following from the brazen confiscation of values meant for public good. Abians could sadly not spot a crane in any construction site any where near the State. At best, we could only pride in the conversion of primary school halls to government offices. Typical of man, the story has changed and the laughable poser agitating the minds of the people is anchored on the illusion that this mandate will not deliver on the numerous construction works it has occupied itself with.

Without wanting to despicably dismiss our fears, the submission in this regard will always be that the application of God’s divine initiative, which earned us the victory we are consummating, will graciously see to their completion.  We have positioned our hands on the plough to collectively drive home the sense of belonging we pledged to give Abians and the expectations of our people on the capacity of this mandate to deliver will always be revered and respected. This inspiration will constantly feature in our genuine desire to deliver the gigantic and imposing twin workers secretariat, to free us from the nightmare and unacceptable layback of operating from old and antiquated classroom blocks. On another note, it will engender the requisite motivation critical for effective work delivery in our civil service system.
One of our very critical targets is to relocate the chaotic Umuahia main Market to the vastly spacious and serene Ubani neighborhood. Having attained the construction of over 4000 shops, asphalting the major network of roads, and hooking the market to national grid, government will in a matter of very few months relocate the main market to Ubani. This inevitable measure will clinically rid the Capital City of confusion and reduce the volume of filth. The necessity of this approach is that it will synchronize with the vision behind the already relocated Umuahia Timber Market, where sanity has since returned to the neighborhood of World Bank and Low Cost Housing Estates.
The other huge eruption of eye wondering legacy is in the direction of a classical new government house. This fast sprouting edifice will be delivered to the good people of Abia State in record time. It will deservedly reward their persevering wait for a government House of such magnitude, and free Abia from the retrogressive past of operating in a rented building.
So also will the almost completed International Conference Center, JAAC and ASUBEB high rise buildings be completed and credited to our eventful mandate.

Let me observe with a note of appreciation, the amazing harmony in government-labor relations, which follows from several trade off of interest. Consequently, every payment regime from NLC’S minimum wage, CONMESS, CONHESS and USS has been fully implemented.
In the face of obvious scarce resources, and against the backdrop of inherited debt burden, government has not given a thought to borrowing, bond market or other wise. Having delivered on the necessity of prudent management, people oriented projects and elimination of irrelevancies, our shrewd and coat cutting style of governance, earned us the endorsement of Nigerian Senate as a financial healthy State.

With out meaning to say that I am saving the best for last, our security scorecard is positively reflecting in throngs of investors who desire to display their wares in the State. To conscientiously design a lasting investment framework, a bill seeking to establish a Public-Private-Partnership Agency has been sponsored in the State House of Assembly.
As we commemorate the 22nd anniversary of Abia State, let us for the umpteenth time pledge our commitment to upholding the virtues which stimulated our founding fathers to collectively work for the creation of God’s own State.

Breaking News: OUK described as a coward by supporters

Supporters of ex governor of Abia state Orji Uzor Kalu have described their mentor as a Big Coward , an empty barrel and a highly confused man who is highly disorganized.  

OUK fans as they are called told this newsonline that after boasting to them that he will be in enugu for the zonal rally of the PDP he was nowhere to be found. According to them, Kalu at a meeting in Lagos, told them that he had already discussed with Mr President who assured him that he will be allowed to declare in Enugu. Unfortunately not even Kalu's shadow was seen near the rally.

To this end OUK fans are insisting that Kalu should stop deceiving them and himself.Instead he should revive PPA. For them no party will accept him since he is a spent force. When OUK was contacted on why he failed to show up at the rally he said he is hospitalised. On what is the nature of his sickness, he replied: its political illness.

President Goodluck Jonathan in Israel - Pictures

Kidnapper Caught Smuggling Baby In Traveller’s Bag

 
Pandemonium rent the air in in the early hours of Saturday morning at Bwari Park, Abuja, when a suspected kidnapper was apprehended trying to board a commercial bus with a stolen baby.

 The incident which stunned passengers of the bus soon attracted a large gathering of people comprising mostly drivers, park traders, motorists and commuters.

 City Pulse gathered that the little boy was reportedly abducted from a remote community in Abuja this moning by his abductor who made arrangement to travel with him neatly tucked into a black traveller’s bag.

The bubble however burst when the young man vehemently refused to let go of the bag when asked by the conductor. But as the noise of their argument began to attract other passengers, he eventually agreed.
As the bus conductor struggled to arrange the bag with others, he enquired from the man what the content of the was. According to him, the bag was unusually cold. That appeared strange to him since the suspect claimed that it didn’t contain frozen food.

The commotion also pricked the conscience of fellow passengers and a soldier who insisted on knowing the content of the bag.

When the suspected abductor realised his game was up, he tried to flee the park. He was however caught and overpowered by the mob who later forced the bus open.

Lo and behold, it contained the motionless body of a baby boy.
He was later handed over to the Police for further investigation

Abia: When evidence marks the end of argument

THERE is a passage very common among the Ibeku people in the present-day Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. It is a passage used to draw home a conviction over an issue in dispute.

It is put thus: “Lekwa onye ohii, lekwa ihe ozuru’’, grammatically interpreted as: “Behold the thief as well as his loot”, while in the literary term it connotes that evidence will surely mark the end of an argument or doubt over any issue. For some inexplicable reasons, many unscrupulous characters have sprouted within the past few years and assumed commentators on a catalogue of issues comprising both the serious and mundane with Abia in focus.

There has been a contraption of intellectually bankrupt pessimists who have wished that the stagnation that was Abia remained the lot of the state. Fortunately, Governor Theodore Orji, being conscious of history, has already chosen his part, while posterity will be his judge. Then their usual mantra was the swan-song of non-performance.

Notwithstanding all, Governor Orji left no one in doubt of his determination to turn around a state which administration he inherited when the state in all ramifications and rating was lying prostrate. His attempt at the inception of his government left no one in doubt that the man was in a hurry to transform his state. But little did he know that what he thought was a patriotic agenda would earn him umbrage and calculated sabotage from those who ran with the hare in the day, and at the same hunted with the hound.
However, with hindsight, the Governor had to take his political destiny into his own hands since “he that wears the shoe knows where it pinches”. Since then, Governor Orji has known no political peace as every arsenal at the disposal of his traducers have been deployed to tarnish and rubbish his efforts.
One thing though is that the Governor himself was not oblivious of the onslaught expected from these reactionary agents who would have given anything to remain as devourers of the people’s commonwealth.
It is then no surprise that for daring to leave a once prostrate state better than the comatose condition he met it, he has become the target of politically-instigated campaign of calumny. Nothing would placate the gladiators unless the treasury of the state is handed over to them. They engage the services of their Internet rats to publicly masturbate about morals and service delivery in their own understanding.

The Orji administration, within the period of its liberation from the stranglehold of now expired political buccaneers, has shown determination to turn around the fortunes of an ordinarily promising state which suffered initial still-birth owing to the incompetent political midwives. But thank God as Ochendo has been able to restore the years eaten by the locust. From education to agriculture and power. From security to health, commerce and industry, judiciary and infrastructure, the government has left its marks as depicted by the legacy projects to its credit.
Did it not take the withdrawal of the accreditation of the law programme of a neighboring state university headed by the immediate past president of ASUU for the people of Abia to appreciate that the commitment of their governor to elevate the standard of education in his state was beyond the rhetorics of a political campaign rally. If it was Abia State University that lost that accreditation,  hell would have known less fury than the government of Ochendo.

The taste of the pudding, they say, is in the eating. While others revel in dancing to the gallery, Abia operates with the Latin legal maxim: “res ipso loquitur”, meaning that the facts will always speak for themselves. And as we say in our local parlance, the self-glorifying story of “Dee John’s exploits in the war will only be believed when we see his military boots”. Apart from the tertiary institutions, there has been silent upgrade of facilities and infrastructure in the public schools in Abia courtesy of the present administration. The feats are only made known through the awards given to the state by policy makers and regulators in the sector.

Also, power has greatly improved in the entire state that residents in the state now enjoy steady electricity supply. In Abia today, people can predict the period and time of supply from energy source. The ripple effect is economically felt as small and medium scale enterprises rekindled the economy, ending crime.

Governor Orji came into office when no single industry in the state was operating. While  the privately-owned ones like International Equitable Association, Nigerian Breweries and Dubic Breweries had closed shop, government-owned industries, especially in the hospitality sector, were sold to the cronies of the then Lords of the Manor. That was how Abia Hotel Aba and Umuahia went on economic sabbatical.

That was also the case of Golden Guinea Breweries, Modern Ceramics, Ogwe Golden Chicken and Abia Rubber. Even state-owned corporations like Abia Marketing Company, Abia Newspaper Publishing Company became ghost corporations. Ochendo got some of the industries back to their tracks.

Today Dubic Breweries is back to the shelf with its products, Nigerian Breweries has returned to Abia while the reactivation of the both the Golden Chicken and Abia Rubber has long commenced.

Mr.  KINGSLEY EMEREUWA, a commentator  on national issues, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

VANGUARD

NIGERIA: 14 Years Imprisonment Approved For Same-Sex Marriage

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved 14 years imprisonment for persons who contracted same sex marriage in the country.

This was sequel to a clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill for an Act to prohibit marriage or union entered between persons of same sex, at the Committee of the Whole.

“Marriage or civil union entered between persons of same gender shall not be solemnised in any place of worship, either church or mosque or any place in Nigeria,” it said.

Introducing the bill, Rep. Albert Sam-Tsokwa ( PDP-Taraba) said that it sought to achieve a far reaching objective by outlawing same sex marriage and provide punishment for offenders.

It also set out a 10-year sentence for “any person who directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationships’’.

“Any persons or group of persons that administers, witnesses, screen and shields the solemnisation of same sex marriage in Nigeria on conviction, will be liable to 10 years imprisonment.’’

It would be recalled also that the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, had warned that his country would consider withholding aid from countries that did not recognise gay rights.

In Nov. 2011, the senate approved the bill that would make same-sex marriages punishable by up to 14 years for the couple and 10 for anyone abetting such unions.

The bill is expected to be sent to the Senate for concurrence. (NAN)http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/reps-approve-14-years-imprisonment-for-same-sex-marriage/