Author: Editor
By Azu Ishiekwene It’s been 31 years since a seismic event triggered by the June 12, 1993 election nearly brought Nigeria to its knees. The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), M.K.O Abiola, was on the cusp of a resounding victory when the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida interrupted and later annulled the election. That action sparked nationwide protests that ultimately consumed Babangida’s government and his successor, General Sani Abacha. It set the stage for a transition that, over Abiola’s dead body, produced Nigeria’s luckiest former military leader, Olusegun Obasanjo, as civilian president in 1999. Every May…
Our Reporter, Abuja Nigeria’s highly celebrated Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, says she is blessed as she received worldwide accolades, gifts and flowers on turning 70 years. Okonjo-Iweala is former Nigeria’s two-term Minister of Finance and currently, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a message had congratulated Okonjo Iweala on attaining the age of 70 and praised her for “her services to the Nation and efforts at building resilient institutions.” The President also described her as “a worthy ambassador of Nigeria exemplifying the grit, diligence and…
By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu Going to work could mean your death. It was indeed a bad time. The June 12, 1993 election won by Bashorun MKO Abiola had just been annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Nigeria was in deep crisis and journalism was under severe assault. Babangida had to perforce step aside. The Interim National Government (ING) under Chief Ernest Shonekan that was hurriedly installed by Babangida was just as hurriedly swept aside by General Sani Abacha. The goggled and unsmiling Abacha did not mince words in banning almost everything. Abacha had no stomach for…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Industrial experts and other professionals in government and private agencies will mentor and impart skills on young entrepreneurs in the South-East as part of the activities for the maiden 2024 Pivot Challenge. The programme which is being organised by The Pivot, a non-governmental organisation, is targeted at harnessing the talents, creativity and innovative spirit of the South-East people towards boosting socio-economic development of the region. The organisers said the programme would take place in Anambra and would attract young entrepreneurs in South-East region between the ages of 18 and 35. Themed, “From Ground to Up: Building a…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has carpeted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for omitting Professor Humphrey Nwosu, who mid-wifed the June 12, 1993, presidential election, on the list of democracy heroes acknowledged yesterday by the President during his nationwide Democracy Day address. Recall that President Tinubu had during his broadcast, acknowledged some dead and living Nigerians including the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential poll, Alhaji Moshood Abiola, and his wife, Kudiara, as heroes and heroines of the country’s democracy, but failed to recognise Professor Nwosu that defied a directive by the then military dictatorship to…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Gunmen have reportedly killed one, Mr. Ikechukwu Idenyi Ali, at the popular Okwor Ngbo market, in Ohaukwu Local government Area of Ebonyi State. Sources said that the victim, Ali was shot many times by the gunmen, when he was locking up his shop to go home for the day. Though the identity of the killers were unknown sources in the area noted that it may not be unrelated to a cult war going on among some cult groups in the area. Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ikechukwu Odono, who visited the scene of the incident, confirmed the killing. He…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Selected teachers across 226 post-primary schools in Anambra State, who are counselors have been trained to train other counselors in the educational zones of the state to achieve emotional stability among the students for educational prowess. Two United States based Non-profit organisations, Life Care Coalition Outreach (LCCO) and Igwe Davison Okafor and Mercy Ikeanyi (iDOMi) Foundations in collaboration with Anambra Ministry of Education have trained 66 Guidance Counselors on ecological social emotional learning. The two foundations have jointly organised a two-day international training/ Workshop with the theme “Envisioning an Ecological Classroom to Enhance Knowledge in Social- emotional Learning,” in the…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Corporal Obagi Njok, a police personnel attacked to the Abia State Police Command, has been dismissed from service by the Nigeria Police Force after finding him guilty of killing, Emmanuel Okocha, an Aba-based businessman. Okocha was sent to an early grave by the killer cop who fired at him at a checkpoint in Aba on April 20, 2024, for allegedly refusing to give him money. The deceased was later confirmed dead at the hospital following gunshot wounds. A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in charge of Abia State, Maureen Chinaka, said that the killer cop had…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army says its internal security Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Ugwu-Onyeama is not the cause of a recent Enugu-Onitsha Highway accident that claimed four lives. It would be recalled that the accident that involved seven vehicles was caused by brake failure of a kerosene-ladened trailer coming down a slope from 9th Mile axis of the Highway at about 7p.m. on June 11, 2024. Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, the acting Deputy Director 82 Division Army Public Relations, in a statement, gave the clarification on Thursday in Enugu to debunk allegations by mainstream and online…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Piqued by the failure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the lingering issue of minimum wage in his Democracy Day speech Wednesday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has insisted on its demand for N250,000 as the new minimum wage. NLC in a statement by its Acting President, Mr Adewale Adeyanju, said labour had not been given compelling reason to change its position. Labour said that the N62,000.00 being offered by the Federal Government was unacceptable. NLC, however, appreciated the President’s commitment to “those fine democratic ideals which allowed the work of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage…