H.E'S OFFICIAL ADDRESS TO ABIANS ON NIGERIA'S 53RD ANNIVERSARY.

AS NIGERIA MARKS ITS 53RD INDEPENDENCE TODAY, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ABIA STATE, IN THE PERSON OF HIS EXCELLENCY, CHIEF DR THEODORE ORJI, NOT ONLY ADDRESSES ABIANS, BUT FULLY PARTICIPATED IN THE PARADE AS SEEN IN THE PICTURE BELOW.

HERE IS HIS OFFICIAL ADDRESS ON THIS OCCASSION:

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY CHIEF T. A. ORJI (OCHENDO), GOVERNOR ABIA STATE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 53RD ANNIVERSARY CLEBRATION OF NIGERIA’S INDEPENDENCE, HOLDING AT THE UMUAHIA TOWNSHIP STADIUM, ON THE 1ST DAY OF OCTOBER, 2013

PROTOCOLS DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

It is my pleasure to address you today as we celebrate the 53rd anniversary of our Nation’s Independence. This is yet another annual opportunity to remember, renew of our faith in our Nation, and appraise our nationhood.

This year’s celebration offers a unique opportunity to share and appraise our collective journey towards improving the lives of our citizens, as our Nation pursues a more robust democracy capable of providing sustainable security and progress towards a more inclusive development of our people.

Our journey towards a viable nationhood in the past 53 years of Nigeria Independence remains a story of courage, tenacity, and commitment as our leaders search appropriate ways of advancing the interests of our diverse people within a united Nation. Thank God that we have endured despite our often conflicting individual and collective aspirations, and we will continue to endure!

Over the years, it has become more evident that ‘you’ – the entire people of Nigeria and our State, have been the only sure preservation for our unity, our democracy, our liberty, our security and our development as a State and as a Nation. I commend all our citizens for keeping faith with Nigeria and for remaining tenacious with our leaders, despite all odds.

There is no way our State and this Nation can continue to go forward expect we are united as a people; and there is no way any State and our Nation can develop except by serving the urgent needs of our citizens. This is the promise the Federal Government has made to the Nation, and the commitment our Government has made to the Good people of Abia State. We will surely keep these promises and excel!

Today’s celebration of our independence anniversary reminds us and all Nigerians that we cannot stand still or slip further backwards in developing our people and our economies. We cannot stand still in preserving the peaceful environment of our State, and we cannot stand still in deepening our democracy to serve the interests of our citizens at all levels. But we can do all these and yet go forward standing as a united people under one Nation and one Federation of shared values.

As we all celebrate today let us keep faith with Nigeria and rejoice that this Nation and this State have been growing, even as the challenges of resources still fail to meet all expectations. Yet our achievements can also be measured in the sincerity, devotion, accountability and the selfless leadership we continue to bring to our democratic process.

Our leaders at all levels, especially in Abia State, are assuming greater responsibility as change agents and laying the foundation for the sustainable development of our people. We will continue to pursue this route.

We are through our legacy projects in the State, seeking to build a sustainable economic foundation for our people, especially in providing for the best affordable health care in all areas and with a world class health institutions and diagnostic centers in Umuahia and Aba that can sustain the test of time and demands.

We are upgrading our judicial infrastructures and institutions in all areas to improve the delivery equitable justice. We have created access to new employments by building new markets to serve the commercial interests and needs of our people, especially in Aba, Umuahia. We are refurbishing our Educational Institutions, improving teaching and excellence and building a knowledge-based industry and tourism in our State.
We are creating self employment for our citizens, especially the youths – through empowerment with working tools, equipments and vehicles to ply new trades, and creation of massive employments in our privatized Palm and Rubber plantations at Abam and Ukwa-East.

We are creating young entrepreneur farmers in all LGAs of our State through our Liberation Farms, and new rural wealth through our refocus on agriculture as the mainstay of our State economy; and we will continue to pursue the expansion and servicing of our urban and rural roads and other infrastructures.

To consolidate these efforts, I call on all Abians to come on board and support our Government, so that our legacy foundations in Abia State will be made stronger, faster and intensive for the realization of our collective dreams of a better Abia State.

Also, as we celebrate this year’s independence anniversary, I call on our citizens to begin to re-evaluate your potentials and re-engage in our State and Nation building. We must move away from the anachronistic belief that Governments alone can do everything to develop the people, the State and the Nation. Our Government remains ready to partner with individuals and groups willing to devote their knowledge, resources and expertise to develop our State.

That is why we are now partnering with some reputable organized private concerns to build a new Aba International Industrial City (ABIIC) at Osisioma near Aba. When completed within 2014-15, this Mega City will relieve other Aba markets, and will be the host of cluster industries with modern equipments and machineries located within a conducive and business friendly environment that support healthy living and industrial activities.

It is our hope that through this new project, we will be able to recapture the fame of ‘Aba made goods’ and the ingenuity of the Aba entrepreneurs. Our goal is to re-make Aba as the true ‘Japan of Africa’ and the commercial hob of the South Eastern region and the entire Nation.

We are also giving support to Geometric Power Plant through assistance in road infrastructure; and to the other NIPP projects in Alaoji, so that their pursuits of a constant and reliable 24 hours supply of electricity will become a reality in Abia State, and especially in Aba, before Nigeria celebrates her next independence anniversary. This will accelerate the pace of commerce and development in Aba and entire Abia State.

I continue to see huge potentials and capacities in our people in direct engagement in the building of a growing, enduring, and a stable economy for the benefit of our citizens. Our Government will continue to support and partner with all those who dare to rise to be counted as champions of our State development.

For them and for every citizen, we will continue to invest heavily in the sustenance of our security and the protection of lives and property of citizens, so that all forms of criminal violence, especially kidnapping will be completely eliminated in Abia State, and our environment made more conducive for local and external investments.

Our Government will continue to build and maintain the cleanliness of our cities, especially Aba. We will address more consistently, our lingering infrastructural deficits, especially in Urban and rural roads; and we will work towards completing our legacy projects in the pipelines. However, I need to remind our citizens of the need to pay your taxes to enable Governments finance our many projects to serve you better.

I am ever confident that Abians will uphold their inviolable contract of fiscal commitment which binds Governments and citizens, especially in a democratic setting, and live up to their tax paying responsibilities. On our Government’s part, we pledge to remain prudent, responsible and accountable in the management of our collective resources.

Fellow citizens of Abia State, even as we celebrate our independence anniversary today, I need to re-assure you that our democracy, our State and our Nation will continue to endure in-spite of our growing teething problems, our inevitable internal conflicts and the many disagreements we sometimes face in our Party politics.

As we continue to endure and move towards the centennial anniversary of our Nation, we need to accept the fact that democracy itself – by giving voices to the voiceless, tend to create its own conflicts. But these conflicts must be addressed in the spirits and values of democracy. We must accept the caution that there is no alternative to the collective unity of our people under one Nation, just as we all continue to seek genuine resolves to addressing existing areas of imperfections in our political system, and do so with justice and fairness.

I therefore call on all Abians to continue to support our Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria under our able President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR for all the efforts everyone is making to preserve the unity of Nigeria in a prosperous environment, devoid of rancor and violence. Together, I am sure that we will reap the fruits of Mr President’s committed transformation agenda for Nigeria, even in the not too distant coming years and anniversaries.

Our Government of Abia State will remain an active player in the search for solutions to the many challenges that today face our State and the Nation, especially in the areas of deepening our democracy, advancing the development of our economies and people in all vital areas, and providing for a sustainable ‘human security’ of our citizens.

I therefore, advise our politicians and citizens to endeavor to promote peaceful conducts at all times, as we all seek to pursue our democratic rights and aspirations even under different banners.

But more especially, as we celebrate this year’s independence anniversary, I call on all Abians to continue to uphold and promote the ideals of distinction and uniqueness which formed the bedrock on which the State of Abia was founded by our fathers, and which is now very essential for a new Nigeria to emerge.

Let us all join hands with our Government and the Federal Government to transform this State and our Nation to match those dreams. We must do so by supporting hard work, honesty, ingenuity, fairness, justice, the promotion of excellence and rule of law under democratic values.

Let us approach the next independence anniversary with hope, harmony, mutual respect to each other and commitments to peaceful existence with other citizens – which are all imperative to sustainable development of our resources and our Nation.

Let us also renew our resolve to making the required sacrifices, bearing the necessary pains if need be, and making our individual contributions in the laying of the foundation for a greater Abia State. Let us support and sustain for the future, the Legacy projects of the Government and its commitments to the new Abia State and for the future of our new generations. Let us support the peaceful transformation of Nigeria under equal and shared coexistence of our diverse people, while we continue to pray that justice reigns through-out our land.

These ways alone, we can enrich and give better meaning to future celebration of the independence anniversaries of our Nation according to our dreams and our hopes.

Thank you and God bless the Good People of Abia State!
God bless the Federal the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Happy Independence Nigeria

T.A.O

WORKING MOMS PRESS RELEASE - Nelda Chioma Okafor

Working Moms Magazine – an intellectual work piece and companion of today’s woman is out on the news stand, this time with added features you dare not miss.
This edition features exclusive interview on challenges and benefits of cross-cultural marriages as x-rayed by our cover page celebrity, Tanzanian ex-Big Brother Housemate, Elizabeth Gupta Chuwang Pam now Nigerian by marriage. Find the insightful, entertaining and educating interview on page 34.
Those still skeptical of motherhood should read our international model, Oluchi Onwuagba Orlandi’s take and experience on motherhood. As you flip through page 14, I bet you, your mindset MUST change towards motherhood.
Do you agree that time is money? Let’s see how well you’ve managed and made your money on page 18.
Do you know that truly, some men feel threatened by their wives’ success? Learn how to successfully handle and cope with this on page 28.
Join our in-house doctors on page 53 for your health needs even as Dr. Chin Akano lets us in on dangers of alcohol consumption in pregnancy.
What attitude do you tackle life’s challenges with? Hmmm……. Speechless is the word on Nelda’s page 44 true life inspirational story.
BB addiction is indeed everywhere. Page 49 features confessions of working moms members’ bb addiction experiences.
What have I just done? No way! You can’t have it all here, rush for your copy to read the amazing Relationship Corner, Fashion tips, Mom Fiction etc.
Welcome on board!

IGBO BLOOD AGAIN???..................

Press Release!!!
Oganiru Ndigbo Foundation (ONF)

THE LUST FOR MORE IGBO BLOOD; SAME OLD SONG

The Oganiru Ndigbo Foundation (ONF) an umbrella organization of progressive Igbo men and women from all walks of life both at home and in the Diaspora notes with dismay the wanton lust for Igbo blood which has become the signature of the Nigerian State in the last four decades. Most especially we have noted the frantic efforts by the Boko Haram insurgents and other organization hiding under similar claims to unleash terror on mostly innocent Igbos at every little opportunity.

We state that what took place at the New Road, Sabon Gari, Kano, the Kano State capital on Monday is to say the least unwarranted, quite disgusting, but nonetheless not surprising to us as it is in line with similar patterns in the recent past to attack Igbo interests in different parts of the federation under the guise of fighting a phony religious war.

While the Oganiru Ndigbo Foundation takes exception to this development and calls on the Federal Government to be alert to its duty of protecting the lives and property of every citizen of this country, we warn that failure to stop this orchestrated attacks on Ndigbo will most likely lead this country to a land of no return.



We also express our disappointment at the lame response from the Office of the President that ‘’the Federal Government will not be stampeded, for any reason whatsoever, into abandoning its unrelenting war against terrorists in the country’’. We want to see visible evidence of that unrelenting war. More so, we want the government to move beyond mere rhetoric in its unusual assurance that the ‘Nigerian Government will continue to do all that is required to ensure the safety of lives and property, including continued collaboration with local and international partners and stakeholders to check the menace of terrorism’’.

But most shocking is the muteness of Igbo leaders from those at the National Assembly to the State Governors who waited until others have condemned the act before making comments. This level of political correctness which has been the lot of Igbo leaders is quite condemnable in the face of this recurrent desire by elements of Islamic fundamentalism to continue maiming and wasting Igbo lives. So shocking is the fact that members of the South East Caucus of the House of Representatives were quiet while Hon. Ibrahim Olaifa (Accord Party/Oyo) was the one who sponsored a motion on the need to end the activities of terrorist groups in Nigeria was adopted for a resolution.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s belated call on security agencies to fish out culprits of the crime and that those behind these wicked acts should come to repentance, embrace dialogue, patriotism and respect for human life as prescribed by our laws, cultures and religious faith is to say the least a repetition we are tired of hearing.

We warn that this disregard for lives and most especially the attacks on Igbos across the northern part of this country should be stopped henceforth. We are making every effort to restrain our youths from retaliatory acts as we know such will have a negative impact on an already bad situation. However, our restraining powers will not be there forever, as we too are human. Government should act, and act decisively by employing whatever means necessary to bring these criminals to book and take steps to make this country safe again.

LONG LIVE NDIGBO!!!
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF OGANIRU NDIGBO FOUNDATION

Architect LUCAS UCHE ONUH
President General

Dr.GAIUS ONUH NDUKWE
Secretary General

Barrister EMEKA MADUEWESI
Leader

TOUCH NOT IHEJIRIKA - IGBOS WARN GEJ, OTHERS

It has come to our notice that there is a campaign by some unscrupulous and unpatriotic elements whose intentions appear to be bent on destabilizing the Nigerian military and nation at large. This campaign is being propagated in the form of a spurious article being circulated that alleges that the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika is on some sort of sinister and clandestine operation to “Igbonise” the Nigerian Army. The COAS has been accused of selectively promoting only Igbos at the expense of others. Well, nothing can be further from the truth, and this will be demonstrated in a very clear and dispassionate analysis in rebuttal to the openly biased and ethnically tinged attempt by some disgruntled elements.
What this hatchet job of an article has done is to selectively focus on the promotion of four officers, and then proceed to make bold claims that these promotions were ethnically motivated because the said officers were of Igbo origin, and then conjure up a justification of why their promotions were ethnically motivated by employing a lot of hyperbole and incredulous reach in drawing conclusions from far-fetched inferences. The elements behind this very dishonest article have done this while ignoring the holistic picture of all promotions within the different cadres of the army. They focused on the promotions of Brigadiers Ugwu of the Ordinance Corps, Nwaogbo of the armored corps, Agha Okoro of the Supply and Transport Corps, and Chioba of the Corp of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers only. How can this be a complete picture when 43 Brigadiers where promoted Major Generals in 2011 and 22 promoted in 2012?
Now let’s examine the promotion exercise of 2011 based on available information:
On November 10 2011 the Vanguard published the following story on Army promotions:

The Nigerian Army Council has approved the promotion of 25 major- generals and 43 brigadier-generals, the largest number ever promoted at a go.
Following the recommendation of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika, those elevated from Brigadier Generals (one star) to Major-Generals (two stars) are Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General R.I.D Isa; Director of Military Intelligence, Brigadier-General A.T. Jibrin; Director of Operations at Army HQ, Brigadier General G.A. Wahab and Defence Adviser, New York, Brigadier General G. Audu.
Others promoted Major Generals are Brig-Gen. K.C. Osuji, Brig-Gen. F.S. Owonibi, Brig-Gen. Agha-Okoro, Brig-Gen. D.D. Kitchner, Brig-Gen. B.T. Oginni, Brig-Gen. E.R. Chioba, Brig-Gen. J.M. Ogidi, Brig-Gen. S.U. Labaran, Brig-Gen. A.A. Martins, Brig-Gen. A. Chukwu, Brig-Gen. M. Idris, Brig-Gen. L.N.K. Banjiran, Brig-Gen. S.U. Audu and Brig-Gen. E.F. Abejirin.
Also promoted two star-generals are Brig-Gen. T.O. Umar, Brig-Gen. H.G. Aminu, Brig-Gen. I. Sani, Brig-Gen. A.G. Ewanshia-Oloni and Brig-Gen. P.K. Ikumonein.
A statement confirming the promotions was signed by the Chief of Staff, Army Public Relations Department, Col. Usman Abdul.
Among the Colonels promoted to the rank of Brigadier-Generals are Colonel Leo Erabor, PSO to the Chief of Army Staff, Col. O.O. Adeleke, Col. J. Alexander, Col. T.K. Golau, Col. M.M. Dan-Ali, Col. L.O. Adeosun, Col. E.A. Ransome-Kuti, Col. J.T. Abubakar and Col. S.E.U. Ekanem.

WIDOWS PARTY

It was all tears of joy as widows from all Local Governments in Abia State gathered in Chief Dr. Cosmos Ndukwe's Amokwe Item native home to celebrate what has become an annual ritual termed "THE WIDOWS PARTY".

Abia Post in its facebook page published the advert requesting anyone with access to any widow in any part of Abia State to bring forth such a person to participate in the fun-filled affair. Surprisingly to Abia Post, this happened to be the 11th year of the "widows party.

It was an emotion filled event as widows numbering five hundred plus (500+) within the age bracket of 65-80+ prayed fervently for the goodwill of Chief Dr. Cosmos Ndukwe whose humility and large heart turned their lives around for the better. The event started at exactly 7:00am, December 30, 2012. The widows left happily after receiving their token which included but not limited to bags of rice, tin tomatoes, wrappa, Indomie, Cabin biscuits, upkeep money etc.

Some of the widows interviewed said Dr. Cosmos Ndukwe and his amiable and kind hearted wife, Mrs. Ndidi Cosmos Ndukwe assisted not only them, but equally empowered some of the youths in Abia while those excelling academically are under one form of scholarship or another.

A particular widow amidst tears narrated how Dr. Cosmos has impacted in the life of her family positively. She recalled how her physically challenged son was equipped with wheel chair to ease his mobility challenges. She prayed God to keep him and provide him with every resources he will ever need in life.

Abia Post couldn't help but share this good news with the public and call on all well meaning Abia and Nigerians at large to imbibe this selfless and humane act to improving humanity in general.

Just like the widows instructed us, "CHIEF DR. & MRS COSMOS NDUKWE, MAY YOUR GOODWILL & HUMILITY OPEN DOORS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU AND MAY YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY AND GENERATION BE REMEMBERED FOR GOOD, AMEN"

"DUTY FRANCO" JOURNEYS HOME IN PEACE

Abia Post commiserates with our illustrious Abia daughter, President/Founder of Working Moms Africa and SURE-P Communications Advisor, Mrs. Mary Ikoku and the entire Okereke family as they lay their beloved father, brother, uncle, grandfather and mentor, Late Mazi Francis Okereke, aka, "DUTY FRANCO" to rest in his home town, Asaga, Arochukwu in Abia State.

"Bobo" as he was fondly called by his children, owing to his youthful and smart appearance was aged 65 years. He got married at age 25 and blessed with five (5) children, three (3) daughters and two (2) sons. Until his death, "Duty Franco" was resilient, hardworking, free-spirited and a devout christian.