Ugwumba Uche Nwosu reveals the secret of his success as Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning.

The former Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu has revealed to the general public, the secret of his success as Commissioner for Lands, Survey and urban planning for State Ministry of Lands.

Speaking during the official flagging-off the Signing of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) ,Re-Certification of C of O and Express Land Search Ceremony which took place today at the Imo State International Convention Centre (IICC ), Owerri, he informed that the secret of his success is Team Work.

Speaking further , the former Commissioner, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu advised his successor that inculcating the spirit of Team Work among the Staff of the Ministry is the password needed to unlock the hidden performance drive among them.
This is achieved by giving everybody irrespective of cadre a sense of belonging. With this in place,  the staff will do their best.

I have being with them, work with them and I can make bold to tell you that I used the code and it worked. I ensured that there is no victimization, there is encouragement, there is appreciation for good work, there is this freedom from oppression or working in fear. In fact,  no Staff can give you the best if under fear. I made sure that even though they is respect, everybody is made to feel important. In fact, it got to a point, my stuff then found it difficult to dodge coming to work because, working was made Easy and interesting, he added.

He thanked the present Commissioner and all the Heads of Parastatals for the concept of moving from the Analogue to Digital System.

He charged them to continue in their good work of contributing to the development of the State.

The program which was organised by the Ministry of Lands, Survey, Housing and Urban Planning under the able Leadership of the Commissioner,  Hon. Lawrence Eburoh attracted other top Government Officials.

The Executive Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha performed the ceremony as he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of Imo State,  Sir Gorge Eche.

Others present were Head of Service, Commissioners,  Special Advisers, TC Chairmen, Community Leaders etc.

UWAJUMOGU MAKES HISTORY, SWORN IN AS FIRST SOUTH EAST APC SENATOR

History was made a short while ago in the faraway Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, after the former Imo Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, was officially sworn in as a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Performing the swearing in ceremony at the hallowed red chambers of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Nelson Ayero, charged the new Senator to always be guided in the discharge of his duties  in line with the rules of the Senate and in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the country.

Responding, Senator Uwajumogu, who described the event as historic, not only to the people of Okigwe zone and Imo state in particular, but to the people of the South east zone in general, added that it was a new dawn for the people of the area.

He pledged to use his new mandate as a Senator of the federal republic of Nigeria to uphold the principles and tenets of the country's constitution in doing good to all manner of persons, irrespective of their tribe and religion.

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Senator Uwajumogu, who paid glowing tributes to the good people of Okigwe senatorial zone for their painstaking effort in enthroning a new political order in the zone, assured that his representation would spark up even development at every nook and cranny of the zone.

With his formal inauguration as a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after last Thursday's postponement, Uwajumogu now becomes the only APC senator of Igbo extraction in the current dispensation.

SECURITY IN IMO STATE IS NON NEGOTIABLE...DEPUTY GOVERNOR, IMO STATE

......Security in Imo State is non negotiable

His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Imo State , Prince Eze Madumere, MFR has demostrated that the issue of security is paramount in the Owelle Rochas Okorocha led Government of Rescue Mission. The Deputy Governor who is being described by his boss, the Governor as a headache free Deputy Governor has championed operations aimed at getting  rid of criminals from the State and reducing the level of insecurity in the State to bearest minimum. He has led operations without minding the risk involved towards stamping out kidnaping a d other youth based violent crimes.

Recently, he had a strategic security meeting with the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Idris at the Force Headquarters, Abuja with the Force Secretary and other DIGs in atrendance.

It is no news that since the inception of Rescue Mission Government, our leader and Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha declared war against criminals and kidnapping. Truly with the establishment then, it sounded like mere Political rhetoric but today, we can all testify the feat in security of life and property. We can testify as well that Kidnapping is at its lowest ebb.

We can all recall when Imo people were going to bed before 6 pm for fear of the unknown but that is history

Governor Okorocha, his Deputy Madumere and Rescue Mission Government must be given some credit. This is the first charge of any government and I am sure nobody can speak in a discordant tune as to the achievement of this Government.

Uche Onwuchekwe
CPS to DGOV

EDO POLLS: INEC RAISES ALARM OVER REGISTRATION OF 8,000 MILLITANTS

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that it will investigate the alleged registration of 8,000 militants by the Peoples Democratic Party for the Edo State governorship election.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, had complained that the PDP registered the alleged number of militants with the aim of using them to cause mayhem during the postponed election.

Oshiomhole, a member of the All Progressives Congress, alleged that the militants were recruited from neighbouring states of Delta and Rivers.
The two states had denied the allegation.

Speaking on the allegation, the commission said that its attention had yet to be drawn to the issue, but said that it was ready to investigate it before the election.
The commission’s Deputy Director in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Nick Dazang, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday.

He said though the commission was not aware of the alleged registration, he nevertheless stated that there was no way the commission would close its ears to such an allegation which he described as grievous.

Dazang said, “The commission is not aware of the allegation that  over 8,000 militants were registered as voters for the governorship election in Edo State.  This allegation is grievous, but we have not been officially informed.
“We will not close our eyes or ears to such a serious allegation. As soon as it is officially brought to our notice, the commission will swing into action by investigating it.

“We will do everything within our powers and within the law to have a credible election in the state. So, we are waiting to be briefed on the matter.”
The PDP has warned that the alleged registration of militants should not be used to alter the voter register in the state.

It also described the allegation as wild and totally unreasonable, adding that it was a falsehood being peddled by a man who it described as losing the support of the people.

The spokesperson for the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, who stated this on Sunday, wondered how the militants could have been registered without the knowledge of the commission that carried out the exercise.

Adeyeye said, “It is good, if the commission can investigate it. At least, Governor  Oshiomhole will be able to tell Nigerians where and when the PDP registered the so-called militants.

“Were they registered by INEC?  If not, which organisation registered them? Were they registered as voters or as observers?  For  what purpose?  And when did Oshiomhole suddenly discovered the registration of the alleged militants?”

DR IFEANYI UBAH BRAGS: I’m richer than some state governors

Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah

The Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, has said his desire to govern Anambra State is not to make money.
He said he was richer by every standard than some state governors.
Ubah said his ambition to govern his state was borne out of his conviction that he could better the lots of the people.

He said, “I am blessed in every ramification. If not for the love I have for Anambra, I should not have any reason to aspire to be governor, because there is nothing a governor enjoys that I do not enjoy.

“I had the best manifesto to change the fortunes of Anambra people when I aspired in 2013 to be a governor, but I had to let go because it must not be me.”

He said he had no plans to vie for the position of the governor in the state next.
He gave conditions under which he would support the re-election of the incumbent governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, which he said would include appointing him (Ubah) Obiano’s campaign director.
Ubah spoke with journalists in an interactive session to mark his 45th birthday at his Nnewi home.

 He said, “So far, the governor is doing well, and I will support him, but we must think beyond our selfish interests. We must reject a situation where one man finishes his tenure and takes his stooge and puts him as governor.”

VIOLENCE: DEAN'S SON ABDUCTED IN UNICAL

Armed gunmen, suspected to be militants, on Thursday invaded the staff quarters of the University of Calabar, Cross River State and abducted the  a first-year student in the Department of Banking and Finance, Onyebuchi Okwueze.

Onyebuchi is the son of the Dean of Graduate School, Prof. Emeka Okwueze.
After abducting Onyebuchi, the gunmen had while escaping, inflicted injuries on a lecturer in the Department of Physics, Dr Anthony George and his wife who were driving in and got caught up in the attack.

The gunmen were said to have gained entry to the staff quarters through the porous boundary with the creeks of Calabar estuaries.

Earlier in May 2016, gunmen suspected to be militants had through the same route stormed the quarters and abducted the wife of a lecturer, Mrs. Nancy Ndifon alongside her daughter, Oyebah. The same gang also abducted a medical doctor, David Iniama, in the same premises.

Southern City News learnt on Friday that the gunmen had stormed the premises of the dean who was unavailable at the time of the attack, broke into his house and made away with his Plasma television and his 24-year-old son who was the only one at home.

After abducting Onyebuchi, the anonymous source said that the gunmen had on their way out at about 8.15pm shot Dr. Anthony George on his right hand, while his wife sustained bullet injuries on the left knee.
It was learnt that both are however responding to treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

She said, “Though they made unsuccessful attempts to gain entrance into the stretch of houses accommodating staff within the wing of buildings, the gunmen however smashed the mirror and front tyre of a Mercedes Benz vehicle belonging to a professor in the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Chucks Ejezie.
“You will recall that in the month of May this year, kidnappers invaded the same wing of buildings and took away with them the son of a Deputy Registrar, Mr. Ekpenyong Iniama and the wife and daughter of Prof Wilfred Ndifon of the College of Medical Sciences, both were later released.”

In his reaction, the Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof Zana Akpagu, who visited the homes of the affected staff, promised to do all within the purview of his office to ensure the release of those kidnapped and also fish out the kidnappers.
He also pledged to work with the relevant security agencies to ensure continued safety of lives and property on campus.

In the bid to checkmate future occurrence of the event, the Deputy Chief Security Officer of UNICAL, Mr. Jarlath Abang, in a statement of Friday disclosed that several security measures had been put in place by the management of the institution in conjunction with the Cross River State Government to ensure safety of lives.

“The measures covered and implemented in the joint initiative include among others , demolition of all shanties at the waterfront by the Cross River State Government,  prohibition of fishing and farming at the water front, displacement of illegal occupants and constant patrol of the quarters both by security operatives on foot and vehicles,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Security Officer attributed the delay in the distress call as a major reason for the kidnappers’ tentative gain.

MILLITARY DEMOTION: From Major Gen. to Brigadier -General

A Special Court Martial has demoted Maj.-Gen. Patrick Falola, to Brigadier-General for admitting students for clinical training without permission from higher authorities

Falola, Director, 68 Military Reference Hospital, Yaba, Lagos State, was arraigned on a two-count charge before a court martial presided over by AVM James Gbum.

Faloola admitted international students from Espan Formation University, Cotonou, in Benin Republic between July and September, 2016.

Gbum, the President of the court martial, held that Falola’s conduct amount to fraudulent use of property of the armed forces.

He discharged and acquitted him on charges of conduct to prejudice the service but convicted him on fraudulent misapplication of the hospital’s property.

“This court is compelled to award a higher punishment under sections 103 and 66 of the Armed Forces Act Cap A 20 laws of the Federation 2004.

“The court has taken into consideration the service record of the convicted senior officer, the touching plea in mitigation by the defence council as well as the demeanor of the convicted officer

“But we have also taken into consideration the senior officer’s seniority, rank, experience and the regimental tradition of the armed forces.

“This court has discharged and acquitted the convicted officer on the first charge, on the second offence, the sentence is reduction in rank to Brigadier General.”

Gbum said that the filing and sentences were subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Army Council which was the confirming authority.

He, however, said that the convicted officer would maintain his rank until the council concludes the confirmation process.

The prosecuting counsel, Lt.-Col. Ukpe Ukpe, told newsmen that the convicted was arraigned for using the Nigeria army property to train students from neighboring Benin Republic without following the necessary procedure.

Ukpe said the judgment was a balanced one as the court was very liberal in metting out punishment.

“If you check Section 115 of the Alarmed Forces Act, the offence falls under Section 68, punishment that could be metted out included dismissal,imprisonment or even death but the court went down to reduction in rank which is balanced enough.”

The defence council, retired Wing Cdr. Enokela Onyilo-Uloko, said the conviction had no legal backing and was an attempt to tarnish the clean record of his client.

Onyilo-Uloko said this was because there was no law stating that senior officers must take permission from the higher authority before allowing such training.

He said his cleint only did what his predecessors also did, which was no crime, adding that his client would appeal.

“No such law was tendered in evidence but they are saying he should use his initiative when there is no law finalising an act it does not amounted to criminal offence that my cleint is being tried for.

“So, the conviction is based on nothing and cannot stand the light of day in the eye of the law.

“And when we go higher to the Court of Appeal, I assure you, this conviction will be thrown out,” he opined.