Author: Editor
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The ruling Labour Party in Abia State, Tuesday inaugurated its new Acting Chairman following the elevation of its former Chairman, Ceeckay Igara as the Vice Chairman South-East. The new Acting Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Nweze Otti who was sworn in by Gov. Alex Otti, will hold the position until the party’s Congress scheduled for mid-next year. Speaking at the Inauguration held at the Labour Party Secretariat, Umuahia, Governor Alex Otti explained that the leadership transition followed the elevation of the Former State Chairman to the position of National Vice Chairman, South-East. Governor Otti while acknowledging the constitutional process…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Rep. Chimaobi Atu (LP), member representing Enugu North and South Federal Constituency, has flagged-off a one-kilometre access road to facilitate further development of Ugwuaji community in Enugu South Local Government Area. Flagging off the Eke Market-Umumba-Afor Market Road in Ndiagu Ugwuaji community in Enugu on Tuesday, Atu said that the access road would make evacuation of farm produce to the two major markets in the community possible and fast. He said that the road linking both major markets and having a spar-off would contribute greatly to the economic boost of the community and create wealth among farmers…
By Isidore Emeka Uzoatu The games of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games scheduled to last from the 26th of July to the 11th of August 2024, are about to start. It comes hot on the heels of the 2020 games hosted in Tokyo, Japan, that in turn, followed the London 2000 games. In a recent press conference to express their readiness, the organisers of Paris 2024 have vowed to host an unforgettable Olympiad. Nigeria will be represented by a total of 82 athletes – 25 male/63 female – competing in twelve sports, namely: athletics,18/18; badminton,1/0; basketball, 0/12; boxing, 2/1; canoeing,…
By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu These are very dangerous days in Nigeria. “These are times that try men’s souls,” as the founding father of American independence, Thomas Paine, wrote in The American Crisis. In very recent history, people did not speak out in time until the Hutu/Tutsi mayhem overwhelmed Rwanda. It is incumbent on me to now call out Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, on his recent pathetic ethnic baiting that can only end up pitching one ethnic group in Nigeria against the other in an orgy of flagitious violence. There is…
By C. Don Adinuba No patriotic Nigerian should be delighted at the grave challenges facing the 650 barrels per day Dangote Refinery in Lagos. The challenges make efficient operations very difficult. Though Nigeria is a major oil exporter, the refinery commissioned early last year is now compelled to import crude from Brazil. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority ( NMDPRA) has accused it of producing substandard automative gas oil (AGO), and, worse, of having no licence for operation. Frustrated at the turn of events, Aliko Dangote, founder and chairman of the $19 billion industrial complex in Lekki comprising…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia A female truck driver, Wednesday, blocked the ever busy Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene federal highway to protest molestation by touts. The development led to a total lockdown of the road and traffic snarl that lasted for hours. Motorists and commuters plying the route especially those to and fro the neighbouring Akwa Ibom State were subjected to serious agony. The incident happened a little after Umuahia Building Material Market, Isieke, towards Umudike. Some drivers resorted to alternate local routes to navigate the scene and connect to their destinations. Meanwhile, the driver of the truck was not at the scene but her husband had…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Amid threats against the planned hunger protest scheduled for August I, Amnesty International, Tuesday declared that Nigerians had right to protest peacefully. It, therefore, cautioned the Federal Government against any attempt to suppress the protest, saying it’s unconstitutional to use threat against peaceful protesters. This is as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has told Nigerians that it’s not useful to protest. AI in a post on its official X handle, said that threatening peaceful protesters was against international laws. Recall that Presidential Aide, Bayo Onanuga, had warned that those behind the planned protest were planning civilian coup against…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Member representing Ikwuano-Umuahia North-Umuahia South federal constituency, at the House of Representatives, Hon. Obi Aguocha, has hailed members of the 180 Reps minority caucus for unanimously endorsing the motion for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Aguocha who moved the motion during the meeting of the caucus in Abuja on Monday, commended the members of the caucus for disregarding religious, tribal and political differences to endorse the motion. The lawmaker in a statement Tuesday, said: ” I wish to appreciate my colleagues and leadership of the 180 member minority…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Hon. Sam Onuigbo, a former federal Lawmaker has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to mainstream Climate Change in their annual budgets as enshrined by the Act establishing them. Onuigbo, who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency from 2015 to 2019, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Enugu. He said that section 22 of the Act mandated MDAs to have a climate change desk officer that would ensure that climate action was mainstreamed into annual budget plans and budgeting of all MDAs in Nigeria. The climate change expert, however, regretted that…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Residents of Enugu have expressed fear of escalating violence in the city following threats by the Enugu State Security Council to deal with the enforcers of sit-at-home order in the state. The council comprising Heads of security agencies in the state rose from their meeting at the Government House, Enugu, with a stern warning to those planning to enforce any form of sit-at-home in the state to desist or meet their Waterloo. The Security Council meeting, which was presided over by the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, said sit-at-home remained an aberration in all the nooks and…