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Tension In Imo, As Okorocha’s Son-In-Law Declares For Guber
Son in-law to Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Mr. Uche Nwosu has reportedly declared to run for the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state.
Our correspondent gathered, yesterday in Owerri that Nwosu’s declaration took place at his country home, in Eziama Obire, Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo state.
This was even as a governorship aspirant, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, said that APC in the state, cannot be under the control of just one man.
While the Imo Deputy governor, Prince Eze Madumere was said to have insisted he would contest for the plum governorship position.
This is coming weeks after Okorocha said he was going to contest for Imo West Senatorial District, with the son in law contesting for governorship in 2019.
An arrangement, said did not go down well with the Deputy, as well as rejected the Senate offer. Insisting, he is in the race for the interest of Imo people.
The arrangement which did not go down well with the Deputy who rejected the Senate offer. insisting he was in the race for the interest of Imo people. It would be recalled that the drama started with an unrestricted endorsements by different groups for Nwosu as well as Madumere.
At a point, a planned endorsement for Nwosu, in Madumere’s local government area, Mbaitoli, was disrupted by scores of angry youths of the area, a scuffle which was said to have left some people injured. In another development, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, while speaking to his supporters at his Destiny Foundation office in Owerri, said that one man cannot control APC in the state.
According to Araraume, “No one man owns the party. The party belongs to all of you. And whatever will happen in Imo State, will be decided by you.
“There is no one man, no matter who the person is that owns this party. This party belongs to all of us. You must work hard to ensure that this party is strong in your area.
“There is no any other party that will win Imo State. Our President will be voted again to continue from 2019. So, no one man will decide what will happen in Imo.”
Recalling that, “When they were moving around telling people that they will change our elected executives and I told them that nobody can change our elected executives.
“That is not democracy, we are not in the period of dictatorship. We have long passed that, it is now history.”
Meanwhile, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has stated that God and 24 out of the 27 local government areas in the state support the ambition of his son-in-law to succeed him in office.
According to the governor, the opposition had seen his son-in-law as the aspirant to beat in the race to the State House, and now uses the church against the “project.”
His words: “We say this for posterity sake. Imo people, including youths, students, men and women have “thrown their unalloyed support behind” the youthful Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, for the 2019 governorship in the state.
“He has become the subject matter as long as that issue is concerned, with APC officials and leaders from 24 out of the 27 local governments in the state having already endorsed him for the 2019 Imo guber.
“Now, seeing Uche Nwosu as the guy to beat in the 2019 election, they now think that there is no other way to stop him than through unwarranted blackmail.
“That is the reason such a quintessential gentleman and an embodiment of decency should be associated with whatever that transpired at the event in question.”
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
