Author: Editor
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Petrol tanker drivers have blocked the ever busy Spera-in Deo junction in the heart of Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State with their trucks. The blockade started around 2pm and has remained for over an hour now with all efforts made to persuade them to rive their trucks proving abortive at the time of this report. Sources in the area said the tanker drivers are protesting what they call incessant extortion, exploitation, harassment and intimidation by various state government task forces It was gathered that members of the notorious state government task force on traffic light had thrown…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Rights activist and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Uche Onyeagocha, will on Thursday September 26, feature on Ikengaonline townhall meeting. The former Secretary to State Government, Imo State during the short-lived Emeka Ihedioha administration, will speak on the topic, “Shaping Future Leaders: The Role of Political Grooming in South-East Governance.” This is contained in a statement by the Editor in Chief of the South-East-focused accountability and good governance online Newspaper, Uche Ugboajah. The monthly meeting scheduled for 7:00 pm (WAT), will be co-anchored by US-based prolific writer and medical doctor, Osmund Agbo; and veteran Journalist and…
By Zainab Suleiman Okino If the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Ex-Governor Yahaya Bello tango were a contest, the latter would have won in a knockout blow that sent the anti-corruption agency to the canvas, hitting so badly that it may never recover, at least not soon. However, while the EFCC reels from this misadventure, the joke is on the nation and all who had invested emotionally in the agency, hoping it would stamp out or at least reduce corruption in the public sector and give Nigeria a better global image. This latest debacle has further exposed the…
Ikengaonline Editorial The South-East geopolitical zone is the zone in Nigeria with the fewest states. While the North-West boasts of seven states, and the other zones each have six, the South-East lags behind with just five. This imbalance has persisted since October 1st, 1996, when Nigeria last conducted a state creation exercise. For nearly three decades, the South-East has been systematically disadvantaged in terms of federal allocations, appointments, and representation. A nation, by its very essence, represents an endeavor to coalesce peoples of diverse histories, cultures, and convictions toward the pursuit of a collective purpose—be it the establishment of a unified…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Abia State Government, Monday, said implementation of the new minimum wage would take effect in the state from October 2024. Addressing newsmen in Umuahia on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting, Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the payment would cut across all categories of workers. The gesture, according to him, is in fulfilment of Governor Alex Otti’s promise to Abia workers. He added that the move further demonstrated the firm commitment of the current administration to the welfare of Abia workers. The Commissioner, however, did not disclose whether or not the state would…
…Carpets lecturers used to rig election Our Reporter, Abuja The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has described the just concluded Edo State gubernatorial election as undemocratic and blatant state capture. The former governor of Anambra State who stated this in a lengthy statement via his X handle on Monday said categorically that any nation with such a flawed leadership recruitment process was doomed. He also called out the government agencies, individuals and university lecturers being used to undermine the electoral process and advised them to be more circumspect in the interest of…
By Rudolf Okonkwo The Secretary-General of the United Nations, heads of states, esteemed representatives, ladies and gentlemen. Before I share the address from my principal, His Excellency Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to offer a few reflections of my own. I am not sure when I will next have the honor of addressing you in this capacity. It may be next year or in another two or six years. But I am confident that I will return. Until then, I heed what our African elders said: “When a man climbs an…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Nigerian Army has dismissed as “fake news,” the alleged resignation of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja. Recall that an online report (not Ikengaonline) had claimed that the COAS had submitted his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu. According to the report, the Army Chief’s resignation came 24 hours after escaping an assassination attempt on his life. But the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, who responded to the report on Monday, said it had no iota of truth and should be disregarded. He said: “It is fake news; please…
…Begins distribution of 8,900 bags of fertilizer Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Abia State Government has explained how it shared the 42,800 50kg bags of rice; 13,260 50kg bags of maize; and 3,196 25kg bags of maize it received from the Federal Government as palliatives to the people of the state to help them cushion the biting effects of fuel subsidy removal. The federal palliatives according to the State Government, were received in batches and shared to the 17 local government areas in the state and other deserving beneficiaries. This is as the State has said that distribution of 8,900 bags of…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commision (ENSIEC) has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates winners of last Saturday’s local government election in the state. The Chairman of ENSIEC, Prof. Christian Ngwu, who declared the results in Enugu, said the Commission did an excellent job of conducting free, fair and credible polls. Ngwu, who also doubles as the returning officer for the chairmanship positions for the polls, said that ENSIEC carefully collated and analysed the results to ensure that there were no mistakes. He, however, said that the commission was yet to get a full compilation of…