Author: Editor

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has given all Igbo delegates at the just-concluded presidential primaries of the two major political parties in the country the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC; and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP – who did not vote for South-East aspirants at the conventions – to vacate the zone without delay. Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, described such delegates as traitors sabotaging the quest for Nigeria President of Igbo extraction in 2023. In a statement issued Monday in Abuja after a review of the conducts of delegates…

Our Reporter, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders Forum has asked for a credible and acceptable Vice Presidential candidate for the party. The Forum, which briefed the media on Monday said that the concern of the party should be winning election and not ethnicity or religion. The stakeholders displayed banners with captions like Winning election should be priority; Only Governor Zulum or El-Rufai can pull out Northern votes; and Credible and acceptable VP is key to winning 2023 election.” Briefing the media at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, the Chairman of the Forum, Abdullahi Aliyu Katsina, said they…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has refuted social media reports that it had extended the deadline for voters’ registration earlier fixed for June 30 to August 31. INEC said that the media report was false and never emanated from the Commission. Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said on Monday that there was no iota of truth in the said report, and urged members of the public to disregard it. He maintained that the June 30 deadline remained sacrosanct. According to him, “the deadline for the Continuous Voter…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The Anambra State Association of Persons with Albinism (ASAA) has expressed sadness over discrimination, stigmatisation, and inhuman treatment of members because of their skin colour. The group called for a total attitudinal change and perception of the public on persons with disabilities in the state. Commemorating this year International Albinism Awareness Day organised by ASAA over the weekend at Prof Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre Awka, Chairperson of ASAA, Comrade Vivian Ezeonwumelu, in her address, enumerated many ill treatments meted on her disability group as a result of the colour of their skin. According to her, “Persons…

By Owei Lakemfa The Federal Government on Thursday announced that the Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, was responsible for the June 5, 2022, massacre of 40 worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. Not unexpectedly, it gave no evidence, did not state how it came to that conclusion and  did not announce the arrest of any suspect. Just a declaration it expects Nigerians to believe. When the killings occurred, the general claim and belief in the state was that Fulani terrorists were responsible. This unverified claim was articulated by Honourable  Olayemi Adeyemi representing the good people of…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Worried by the spate of corruption in West African states, a group of civil society organisations has formed a coalition for the promotion of whistleblowing as part of anti- corruption crusade aimed at achieving transparency and good governance in ECOWAS member states. The group known as the Whistleblowing Advocacy Coalition of West Africa, WACOWA, was the outcome of a consultative meeting organized by the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, AFRICMIL, and civil society partners following exploratory talks with the ECOWAS Commission and the Network of Anti-corruption Institutions in West Africa, NACIWA, on strengthening the fight…

By Hassan Gimba Last week, they attacked an estate within Abuja. Gunmen, bandits, Boko Haram, those who “drag” sovereignty with Nigeria, attacked Genuine Estate, within the vicinity of Gwarimpa, Nigeria’s (some accounts say south of the Sahara’s) largest housing estate. They did this undisturbed and calmly, between 1 and 4am on Sunday. The police said it was a robbery attack. Residents, however, said they kidnapped some of their people. Now, we all know that robbers hardly take prisoners. It is now left for people to believe who they want to believe. But based on precedent, I will want to believe…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The lingering crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State continued at the weekend as two of the governorship aspirants traded words over the governorship candidature of the party. The duo, Senator Obinna Ọgba and Mr Ifeanyi Odii, had emerged during two different governorship primaries held by two factions in the State. While Odii won the party’s primaries of 28 and 29 of May 2022, Ọgba, who represents Ebonyi Central senatorial zone won the 4th and 5th of June 2022, primaries. Mr Ogba was given the party’s certificate of return last week same day a…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, has promised to personally lead the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, campaigns for the 2023 governorship election in Abia State. Soludo made who made the declaration over the weekend when he received in audience, the APGA governorship candidate in Abia State, Professor Greg Ibe, at the Government House Awka, vowed to stop at nothing in ensuring that APGA takes over Abia in 2023. Describing Prof Ibe as a world-class technocrat and intellectual entrepreneur of repute, Gov. Soludo said that “Abia desperately needs a man like him to transform the state.” Soludo…

Stephen Ukandu, News & Features Editor No fewer than 1 million progressive Nigerians both home and abroad, have indicated interest in donating $100,000 each in support of the 2023 presidential project of the Labour Party candidate, Mr Peter Obi, Ikengaonline can authoritatively report. Director General of Obi’s Campaign Organisation, Dr Doyin Okupe, who disclosed this in an interview, said that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, put together, would be no match to the financial war chest of Labour Party, although the party would not be involved in vote buying and other…