Author: Editor
By Zainab Suleiman Okino As soon as their four-convoy cars arrived the premises, residents started trickling out from their make-shift abodes called homes. In no time the excitement and jubilation that rented the air soon turned into a one-line song: “Mama oyoyo, Baba oyoyo, blow the trumpet” in reverence for their benefactor-couple (Mr Bede and Maureen Okafor) that the residents have known over the years. The “trumpet,” when blown alerts on their arrival (and invariably on food availability). On this day again, residents of the camp came out, and almost immediately conversations and throwing of banter started. An atmosphere of…
By Azu Ishiekwene I was chatting with a friend last week, who, mid-speech, redirected our conversation to the situation in the Middle East. She wanted to know what the mood in the US was. Over 6,000 miles away in Nigeria from where she was calling, she didn’t quite trust the media accounts. Since I was visiting the US, she thought I might have a better reading of the pulse. Her call coincided with the decision by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, in spite of warnings about compounding the current humanitarian disaster in Gaza where over…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti, has eulogised the heroic roles of the late former Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Dora Akunyili. Governor Otti, who said he had close family relationship with Professor Akunyili and her late husband, Dr Chike Akunyili, called for a minute silence in their honour when the incumbent NAFDAC boss Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, visited him in Umuahia. The NAFDAC DG had called on Governor Otti as part of her working visit to Abia State. The Governor commended Professor Adeyeye for the passion that she brought to bear…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State, on Thursday, paid a working visit to the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and to the ECOWAS, Ambassador Samuela Isopi, in Abuja. Governor Otti met with Ambassador Isopi and the EU’s Political Advisor, Osaro Odemwingie, to explore areas of mutual interest and collaboration towards a robust partnership between Abia State and the European Union. A statement by Otti’s Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko, said a return high level visit to Abia State is planned for the coming weeks. In the Governor’s team were the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Three school children of same parents, have again be stolen by a commercial motorcyclist paid to convey them home after school. The bizarre incident took place at Amaoba Ime Oboro Community in Ikwuano Local Government Area, according to a viral post circulating in the social media. Mr Okechukwu, a man whose contact is in the post, identified himself as a brother of the father of the missing children told Ikengaonline that the incident occured on Friday. According to him, the devil-may-care cyclist was innocently engaged by the grandmother of the children after they stopped over in her…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha has sentenced three police officers to life imprisonment for killing a suspect in the state. The deceased, Chukwunonso Uchenwoke, aged 42, said to be a family man, hailed from Mbosi in the Ihiala Local Goverent Area of the state. Uchenwoke was reportedly killed while the police officers were effecting his arrest over alleged assault and malicious damage. The officers alleged committed the offence on 14th May 2016 at No 13 Ibe Street, East Niger Layout, Okpoko, Ogbaru Council Area, in the Onitsha Judicial Division. As a consequence, the cops: Juliet…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah has flagged-off the 1st batch of the Enugu State Sustainable Economic Empowerment Program (E-SEEP) with 200 Beneficiaries participating. Mbah said to achieve a zero headcount in the state, the government would ensure that the skillset of the citizens was at the level where they are competitive and they can add value to the global market. The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, expressed the hope that at the end of four years of his administration, zero poverty would be achieved. “What is going on here is not a…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka People of Amakor Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State have refuted alleged sand mining in their community, warning peddlers of such allegations to desist forthwith. Some group of individuals in the community had accused both the Traditional Ruler and President General of the community of being behind the sand mining in the area. But speaking to newsmen on Thursday, President General, Rev Canon Ifeanyichukwu Ezeike, described the allegations as unfounded and politically motivated, urging Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the public to disregard the claims According to him, the village, with common boundary with…
…As Otti seeks partnership in agriculture, ICT Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has said that the state of Israel has so much in common with Abia State. The Envoy who stated this when he visited Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia, commended the developmental strides of the Governor and pledged support for the state. This is as Gov. Otti expressed strong desire to partner Israel in developing Abia’s economic and technological potentials, especially in human capital development, agriculture, digital economy and micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME). Speaking during the visit, Ambassador Freeman commended the leadership quality…
…Otti orders investigation, vows to punish anyone culpable Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Tragedy, Thursday morning struck at a security checkpoint at the Lokpanta axis of the Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway, when an articulated vehicle (trailer) rammed into an 18-seater vehicle, and killed some passengers and injured many others. There are conflicting accounts of the casualty figure as some say all 18 passengers were killed while some say only three persons died. According to eyewitness account, the passenger bus was flagged down at the security checkpoint and waiting to be cleared when the trailer allegedly lost control and rammed into it. The…