* Ikpeazu

 The controversy whether or not the Abia State Government was attempting to score cheap publicity by claiming the State is now a rice producing State simmered down Saturday as the state Commissioner for Information, Mr John Okeiyi Kalu made clarifications.

 “We do not have Abia Rice, but we have rice grown by Abia farmers”, he told members of Abia Online Publishers Association at its end of year party. He added that Abia government however empowered the farmers through grants.

 The Commissioner, appraising the growing influence of online journalism and blogging in the State admitted it has powers to influence change, but charged the practitioners to always put Abia first.

 “I am not asking journalists to support Abia Government, support Abia, not government. Let’s not de-market Abia, lets not harm ourselves, even if the government is not performing, promote Abia, promote Made in Aba products”.
Kalu further blasted what he called the opposition media as not going the extra mile in its news hunting and management, which he asserts is tainted with politics. “Remove politics from what you do, he challenged the body. Individual ly we can do good, do good for Abia, report the story, do not be seen to be in the pocket of politicians”, he charged.

 He affirmed that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has done well in certain areas like Made in Aba promotion, rehabilitation of roads and agriculture.

 Earlier, the Editor-In-Chief of Igbere Television, Mr James Eme, who is also the president of the Association maintained that the two years body has made remarkable impact in the State through its professional approach to information management and dissemination.