Author: Editor

By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu When I once received a letter from Professor Chinua Achebe inviting me to the United States of America for a conference on Nigerian and African elections a Yoruba friend of mine committed the cardinal sin of saying that I was the only literary star from my part of the world! I immediately shut him up by narrating the exploits of literary pacesetters from my Umuchu hometown, Marius Nkwoh and CC Umeh, who became acclaimed before me. I told my friend of the epochal book, The History of Umuchu, written by Simon A. Nnolim which Professor Charles…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Abia State Government says it will soon unveil the State’s 25-Year Growth and Development Plan. According to the government, the plan is “a strategic, future-proof document that will articulate the state’s development trajectory for the next 25 years.” Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti. Kanu, who lamented the absence of any existing development plan in the state, reaffirmed the resolve of the Otti-led administration to lay a solid foundation for meaningful and…

By Mukaila Kareem  For years, low carb advocates have claimed that lowering insulin requires cutting carbohydrates. This sounds convincing until you look at what insulin is and how fast it disappears from the bloodstream. The half-life of natural insulin is three to six minutes. Half-life simply means the time it takes for half of the hormone to be cleared from the bloodstream. Within minutes of blood glucose falling, most of the insulin is already gone. It is one of the fastest-clearing signals in human biology. This simple fact dismantles the claim that the body needs a special diet to bring…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has inaugurated an array of hi-tech security equipment and patrol vehicles procured by the Enugu State Security Trust Fund (ESSTF) to further strengthen the security of lives and property in the state. While unveiling the items, Mbah thanked the ESSTF Board of Trustees for their commitment to improving security in the state. He noted that the new assets would complement his administration’s earlier investments, including the state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre, AI-enabled surveillance cameras, and more than 150 Distress Response Squad vehicles equipped with AI-embedded cameras. According to the governor, the…

Our Reporter, Abuja  Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from office with immediate effect, citing health reasons. His resignation was conveyed in a letter dated December 1 and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude to Abubakar for his service to the nation. The President is expected to communicate a replacement to the Senate later this week. Abubakar, 63, served as Governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023 before being…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are pushing for improved offers as the Federal Government has reportedly proposed a 40% salary increase for university lecturers. Although the proposal is yet to be officially confirmed, members of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC), who met in Abuja on Sunday night with the Federal Government delegation, declined to comment, insisting they must first consult with their various branches. ASUU leadership is expected to return to the negotiation table with the Federal Government team headed by Yayale Ahmed. The union’s position follows a consensus reached at the NEC…

By Vitus Ozoke There are many ways a nation can announce its decline. Some do it with coups, some with hyperinflation. Nigeria, ever inventive, does it with ambassadorial lists. Bola Tinubu’s latest nominations, which include former Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, both rejected at the senatorial ballot box by their own people, are not merely appointments. They are indictments. Indictments of judgment, of values, and of a political culture that has perfected the art of punishing excellence and rewarding failure. An ambassador, in any functioning state, is not a souvenir. He is not…

Our Reporter, Abuja  The Kukah Centre has issued a clarification following widespread public backlash over comments attributed to the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, His Grace, Most Revd. Matthew Hassan Kukah, on alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria. The fiery Catholic priest was recently reported to have denied the existence of any genocide against Christians in Nigeria, a position many argue was inconsistent with some of his past statements. But in a press release on Monday, the Kukah Centre accused some media outlets of “selectively quoting and distorting” the Bishop’s speeches delivered at two high-profile events — the launch of…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti has organised a state birthday celebration in honour of music icon and elder statesman, Sir Paulson Kalu, in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the music industry. Sir Paulson Kalu’s highlife music gained popularity across Nigeria shortly after the Nigeria/Biafra civil war. Speaking at the colourful ceremony held over the weekend at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, and attended by leading figures in the music industry, Governor Otti said Kalu had paid his dues in the musical arts. Describing the music legend as a man of strong values, the Governor explained that his administration’s…

…Restates commitment to governance Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has disclosed that he has issued over 10, 562 Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), since he came to power in May 2023. Otti who made the disclosure during a media parley in Umuahia, said he would continue to give attention to governance and not be distracted by attention- seeking individuals camouflaging as  opposition. He explained that the number of C of Os he issued within two and half years of superintending over the affairs of the state, had surpassed the total number released in over 10…