From Marcel Duru, Owerri

Governor Hope Uzodimma on Thursday recorded another feat in his quest to develop Imo State, leading top government officials to seal a deal with development partners on the building of a 200 room Five Star hotel to be called Imo Marriott in Owerri.The hotel which will be ready in 24 months is a product of agreement between Imo State Government, Hassan Allam Construction, Afrexim Bank, Fidelity Bank and Punz Limited, under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Also the same day, Governor Uzodimma signed two Executive Bills into law – a Bill on Electricity and another, a Bill to amend the Imo State Polytechnic law No. 15 of 2012 to pave the way for the merger of campuses of the Imo State Polytechnic.The Governor said signing the two Bills into law became necessary to position Imo State on the path of sustainable development.He said that poor electricity generation and distribution has taken the shine off the development indices in Imo State and should not be allowed to continue.Uzodimma therefore hinted that he had approached President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow the Imo State government to take over the Egbema Power Plant, a federal government project conceived under the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and abandoned since 2006.He said the President has graciously granted his request to take over the Egbema Power Plant, rehabilitate the facilities therein and rely on the same to solve the electricity challenge of the State in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.The Governor said already, he had visited the site with some experts, technical partners and officials of government to assess the level of decay on ground which will run into millions of dollars and that the technical partners and the experts have also visited the 27 local government areas of Imo State to look at the connectivity aspect of the communities to the Plant in question.According to governor Uzodimma, I am optimistic that in 12 months, Imo State’s story with regard to effective power generation, supply and consumption will be different.On the Bill to amend the existing Imo State Polytechnic law No 15 of 2012 to pave the way for merger of campuses, Governor Uzodimma said that the State is already spending so much hosting the highest number of higher Institutions in the country.The Governor said the Imo State Polytechnic Amendment Bill has reversed the multi-campus system to a mono-campus system.will impact more positively on the students, their sponsors and the government in all ramifications, particularly in terms of the protection of lives of the students and their teachers.The Imo State Electricity Bill signed into Law, he said, will help in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity supply in Imo State.Signing the two Bills into law at the New Exco Chambers Government House Owerri, as they were presented by the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe, accompanied by other Principal Officers of the Assembly, the Governor described the occasion as “another milestone in the development of Imo State targeted at moving Imo to a higher level.”He commended the Speaker and members of the Assembly for their cooperation which he said “is in sync with the Executive Arm of the Government aimed at providing quality service to Imo people.”The Governor informed that making Imo State Polytechnic a mono-campus is to, among other things, “cut cost and reduce student’s risk of movement and ensure prompt verifications and effective supervision as well as allow for easy teaching and learning and graduation of the students at the appropriate time.”On the Imo State Electricity law the Governor said that it is “aimed at bringing rapid development in our rural areas, as lack of electricity is killing businesses, heightened unemployment and creating vices in our communities.”He recalled the late former Governor, Sam Mbakwe’s vision of 1979-1983 that helped to sustain development in both the urban and rural areas and drastically reduced rural urban migration.The Governor said the removal of electricity from the Exclusive list to Concurrent list of the Constitution is an opportunity for every sub-national government to rise to the challenge of providing power to their people.”Electricity is at the heart of any meaningful development. Electricity is like food we eat everyday.”Recalling his findings at the Egbema Power Plant where the project awarded in 2006 for transmission and distribution has been abandoned by 80% he said he had requested the President to allow Imo State and her partners to take over the project and put it to meaningful use.”Mr. President Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu has graciously approved the transfer of the Egbema Power Plant to Imo State and we have signed an MOU for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in the State with a reputable Company.”He said it was for that reason that he commissioned a Technical team that has gone round the State to find out how to get power distributed in Imo State.To further develop the State, Governor Uzodimma asked for everyone’s understanding and cooperation as it will be a thing of joy to bequeath those coming behind us a befitting legacy, noting that, “Imo will be better.”Finally, he thanked the Speaker and members of the State Assembly for their cooperation and support towards the development of Imo and affirmed that the two bills and the MOU he had signed will lead to the provision of over 25,000 direct jobs.”What we do today is for our generation to come, it is about the interest of our future children.”Presenting the Bills for signing, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe said that the two Bills went through the rigours and scrutiny of the State House of Assembly and that “the electricity distribution and transmission Bill makes provision for improved power supply as well as sure-up distribution to our communities.”On the amendment of the Imo Polytechnic Law he informed that considerations were given mainly to costs and conveniences of the lecturers and students and the need for unified information and data of the processes of the Polytechnic.He pledged continued cooperation with the Governor and the Executive arm of government for a better Imo State.Present at the signing of Bills were the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady (Dr) Chinyere Ekomaru, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. C.O.C Akaolisa and members of the State’s Expanded Exco.The Speaker was accompanied by the Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Kanayo Onyemaechi, the Clerk of the Assembly, Barr. Chinelo Emeghara who informed the Governor on the reason for the visit and other Principal Officers of the 10th Assembly.Earlier, Governor Uzodimma signed the MOU in his Conference Room for the Five Star hotel on behalf of Imo State Government, while the Managing Director of Hassan Allam, Mahmoud El Essawy signed on behalf of the other partners, Afrexim Bank, Fidelity Bank and Punz Limited.The Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie and other top government officials were on hand to witness the signing of the MOU by both partners.The Governor said that the project is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement where Imo State is contributing no dime except the provision of land that guarantees the State equity share in the project ownership.He equally said that the construction period of the Five Star hotel is 24 months and that the signing of the MOU was “to activate the processes leading to the achievement of the project.”The Governor who asserted that the MOU on the Hotel and accent to the Bills are indications that “gradually Imo is getting there,” added that Imo will be better because his administration is ready to “solve the problems bedeviling the State.”

Kunle Idowu, Abeokuta

Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling on the State Government to prevail on the security agencies to clamp down on the activities of cultists across the State and the need to appoint Commissioner for Youth in the State, with a view to driving policies and programmes that would aid youth engagements so as to address the menace of cult clashes.

The passage of the resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sherif and seconded by the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye, shortly after the lawmakers debated on the escalating violence of cult clashes in the State. Opening debate on the motion leading to the passage of the resolution, the sponsor Hon. Adebisi Oyedele, noted that the House observed with serious concern the disturbing trend of incessant cult killings across the State, especially Abeokuta, which began approximately six weeks ago and that no fewer than 10 individuals had lost their lives to cult-related violence within the last 42 days.He stated further that, the rate at which lives were being lost in the State capital was indeed worrisome, saying incidents included the broad daylight shootings of five individuals at different locations within the State capital. “Worried about the sporadic shooting at Kuto Garage about five days ago creating civil unrest for dwellers which was traceable to a cult gang trying to hit another target.Also worried that, the continuous killings among young people across the State are adversely affecting businesses and tarnishing the reputation of our dear State. Worthy of note is the recent intervention of the State Government, State Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force and the traditional rulers which have resulted in a calm environment in Sagamu axis”, he submitted.Other lawmakers including Lukmon Atobatele, Adeyanju Adegoke and Adeleye Lukman noted that the activities of cult clashes in the State needed to be addressed, especially through advocacy and orientation of the youth.They remarked that there was need for the residents of the State to contribute to the security of the society through intelligence information to security operatives, adding that there was need for unhindered prosecution of criminals in the guise of cultism to serve as deterrent to others.In his response, the Speaker decried the celebration of moral decadence in the society, explaining that such had led to the spread of crimes and criminalities amongst youth. He implored the youth to persevere, imbibe nobility and be productive by engaging in lawful activities that could earn them a decent living.

 A civil society group, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), says that ignorant and misunderstanding the 2022  Electoral Act contributed to the 2023 general elections controversies.

Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director, PAACA, said this at  the Citizens Town Hall Meeting on Electoral Reform, supported by MacArthur Foundation, on Thursday  in Awka.

Nwagwu also said that in spite of its availability in public domain, many Nigerians were ignorant of electoral laws.

“Election is a law-guided activity and you cannot participate in it without understanding the laws governing its operation.

“Just as Christians have a copy of the Bible to guide them and the Muslims have the Quran to guide them, so also citizen should have a copy of the Electoral Act, study it and apply it,’’ he said.

According to him, many people including critical stakeholders and analysts, talk about elections in ignorance with lots of misinformation.

“We are holding this town hall forum in the 36 states to popularise electoral knowledge and education as well as obtain suggestions and ideas to improve our Electoral process,” Nwagwa said.

He further explained that the forum would train traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, religious leaders and the media to deepen the understanding of the Electoral Act 2022  ahead of the next elections.

Nwagwu added that the training would help the leaders to speak authoritatively about election process and educate their people.

“‘We will distribute the abridged electronic copy of the Electoral Act to empower people with the knowledge of the Electoral Act.

He said the forum would drive the change and reforms in the society especially on elections and good governance. (NAN)