Author: Editor

…Says APC using propaganda, misinformation to mask misgovernance Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia   The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has declared that democracy is not yet operational in Nigeria, lamenting that the essential ingredients of democracy are still missing in the country. This is as he accused the ruling All Progressives Congress APC-led Federal Government of using propaganda and misinformation to mask misgovernance. Obi  in his message to mark this year’s Democracy Day, regretted that “individuals who were ineligible to hold public office before, are now in charge of the country’s affairs. The former Anambra State Governor…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, Mr Peter Obi, has decried Nigeria’s nosediving economy, claiming that under the watch of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s economy had declined by 50% in the past two years alone. Obi who made the claims in a post on his X handle, accused the All Progressives Congress APC-led Federal Government of ruining Nigeria’s economy and setting the country on a reverse mode. He wrote: “On May 29th, 2023, when this government was sworn into office,  Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at $364 billion. As of  today, it has declined to…

By Azu Ishiekwene I encountered the relic of his presence long before I met Sam Amuka, known as Uncle Sam. Inside a room in the far corner of the old Kudeti PUNCH building, predominantly constructed of plywood and steel frames, there was a wooden armchair that had been a fixture in Uncle Sam’s office when he served as managing editor. When I joined PUNCH as a staff writer eight years after his departure in 1981, this piece of furniture was in my first office, sitting like a totem in a shrine, while stories about Uncle Sam floated in whispers. The…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Ahmed Tinubu, has commended the National Assembly over its patriotic roles in protecting Nigeria’s democracy against anti-democratic forces. Tinubu who made the commendation while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day, particularly hailed the Senator Ken Nnamani-led 5th National Assembly members for their courage in shooting down the obnoxious third term agenda promoted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He also acknowledged the role of the 3rd National Assembly which resisted an attempt by the military to legitimize June 12 presidential poll annulment. He said: “Mr. Chairman, the National…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Professor Humphrey Nwosu, former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC) has been posthumously awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) honour. The award conferred on Nwosu by President Bola Tinubu during the 2025 celebration of the June 12 Democracy Day, was in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey. During his address to a joint session of the National Assembly, Tinubu praised Nwosu for introducing a new era of electoral transparency in Nigeria. “Professor Nwosu stood for truth, transparency, and a new vision of electoral integrity in Nigeria. His memory is…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki  The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has condemned the flooding of Nigerian markets with substandard products by importers.  The Agency also warned local manufacturers to resist from  flooding the nation’s markets with substandard products  The Director General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, stated this at a one-day Stakeholders workshop tagged, “Growing Businesses Through Standardisation,” in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.  He said that substandard items are not good for a growing economy. Represented by Mrs Talutu Athan, Director, Cooperate Affairs Department of SON, Mr Okeke noted that sandards adherence and compliance remain a major way to attain…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  A chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, has said that the President Bola Tinubu’s government is better than the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as it pertains to the South-East region. Speaking to the Ikengaonline on June 12 and the democratic experiment in the South-East geopolitical zone, Ogbonnia said that the zone had benefited more from the present administration unlike the Buhari government. “In the South-East, we are better off in this Tinubu government, for example, the Enugu- Port Harcourt Road has received attention, the signing of South-East Development Commission, and the appointment of…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia A professor of Banking and Finance at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU, Professor Sabastine Uremadu, has posited that the only panacea to Nigeria’s economic recovery is restoration of fuel subsidy. Professor Uremadu who gave the advice while delivering the 60th inaugural lecture of the university titled: “Navigating the Trade-Off: Profitability Vs Liquidity in Nigerian Investment Environment,” attributed Nigeria’s worsening economy to Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy without necessary preparations. He, therefore, advised President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, to stop sharing money in under the guise of palliatives. The Don also urged the President to abolish…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Former Edo State Governor and SenatorrepresentingEdo North, Adams Oshiomhole, and Aviation Transport giant, Air Peace, have continued to trade words over the Wednesday flight disruption incident. Mr Oshiomhole had allegedly disrupted flight operations after missing his flight which the airline attributed to his late coming.  The airline in a statement on Wednesday accused Oshiomhole of allegedly disrupting airport operations after missing a scheduled flight. Air Peace alleged that Oshiomole had reportedly arrived late for Flight P47120, which was scheduled to depart for Abuja at 6:30 a.m. The situation has generated interest in the media with some calling…

…Says democracy in Anambra now for the rich Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The African Action Congress (AAC) has condemned the N50m billboard levy imposed on political parties and governorship candidates in Anambra State. The new billboard levy was announced by the Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSAA) on Wednesday, and mandated candidates to pay the statutory fee for any outdoor advertising. In a statement signed by Media Director, Chimezie Uzoukwu, AAC condemned the levy, describing it as a calculated attempt to suffocate democratic engagement and silence political opposition in the State The party accused the state government of imposing the…