Author: Editor
By Azu Ishiekwene The resolutions following the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), at the recently concluded summit of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, were truly extraordinary. Seven months after threatening to deploy force in Niger, one of the four delinquent states – the others being Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso – and three months after wide-ranging economic sanctions were imposed on all four, the regional body backed down spectacularly last week. If the Afrobeat icon, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, had rendered a welcome tune for the embattled regional leaders as they…
By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu On Sunday, 24 February 2024, the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) concluded an extraordinary summit in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, precipitated by the announcement on 28 January 2024 by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic of their joint decision to denounce the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and leave the regional bloc “without delay.” From within Nigeria, the anchor state in the region, many around government exuding hubris under the guise of patriotism claimed that “the three countries would have…
Our Reporter, Abuja The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general election, Mr Peter Obi has reacted to the news of the death of Nollywood superstar, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu. The ace comic actor died on Saturday at a Lekki hospital in Lagos of cardiac arrest after a prolonged illness. Taking to his official X account (formerly Twitter) Obi described the death of the Nollywood veteran as saddening. “His death is very saddening. He was one legendary comic actor who embodied laughter, exuded joy and spread happiness. When sadly he took ill, we all…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth has said that the current constitution Nigeria is operating cannot effectively address its economic situation and other challenges. Anyaoku stated this while speaking with Newsmen at his country home in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State over the weekend. He said that the current challenges being faced by the nation, the challenge of poverty, the challenge of insecurity, the challenge of break down of infrastructure, are all serious challenges. “I am on record for saying, that these challenges cannot be effectively addressed under the constitution…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Another Nollywood superstar, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, is dead. According to his Manager, Don Single Nwuzo, Ibu died of cardiac arrest on Saturday evening. Ikengaonline learned that the ace actor was admitted a few days ago to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Evercare Hospital in Lekki. He was rushed to the hospital last week following a relapse in his protracted ailment that had led to amputation in 2023. But his sickness which had lingered for some years, took a dangerous turn Saturday as he had cardiac arrest. He died at the age of 62
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, on Friday launched a pet project, “Custos Care Foundation (CCF),” to eradicate Mother and Child mortality in Enugu State by 2030. The foundation which was flagged off on Thursday across the three Senatorial Zones of the state would improve mother and child healthcare and welfare in the rural communities. Some of the Local Government Areas that benefitted were Oji River in Enugu West, Nkanu West in Enugu East, and Nsukka in Enugu North Senatorial Zones of Enugu State. She said that the foundation would pay a one-year health…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has signed the amended Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) bill into law. The governor also assented the New Enugu City Development Authority and the Enugu State Geographical Information System bills into law. The governor gave the assent to the bills before the Speaker Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr Uche Ugwu, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kingsley Udeh, and other Government Officials at the Government House, Enugu. Speaking at the event, Mbah extolled the collaboration between the executive and legislature in the state and the speedy…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Worried by the gradual extinction of Igbo language, Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, has appealed to South-East Governors to, as a matter of urgency, establish special schools for the teaching and promotion of Igbo language in their respective states. IWA made the advocacy during a press conference in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State. Abia State Coordinator of the pan-Igbo women’s group, Mrs Ugochi Chibueze, who spoke on behalf of the IWA National President, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, decried the craze for other languages among Ndigbo, to the detriment of their mother tongue. She regretted that Igbo language is…
…Now Africa’s best, 18th world best Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Abia State Government has honoured its Para Badminton team which represented Nigeria in the Para Badminton World Championship held in Thailand from February 19 to 25, for its impressive performance at the tournament. The team won 9 gold, 3 silver and 12 Bronze medals at the different events at the tournament. It made world history for the country and African continent as it produced the first player to reach the Quarter Finals, a feat that had hitherto eluded the country. Nnanna Chigozie Jeremiah, reached the Quarter Finals, the first African to…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka A disability group under the auspices of National Association of Persons with Physical Disability (NAPWPD), Anambra State Chapter, has passionately appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, and other good-spirited people for assistance to lift their burden of mobility in the state. In a plea echoing across the community, they expressed the profound impact of financial constraints on their mobility, shedding light on the urgent need for solutions to ensure their inclusion in daily life activities. They said the exponential rise in transportation fares in the state has become a huge burden that is derailing their active participation in…