Author: Editor

By Owei Lakemfa Lagos, the most cosmopolitan and politically progressive state in Nigeria on March 18, 2023 engaged in the degenerative politics of exclusion. The debilitating disease of campaigning that a non-full-blooded native cannot be governor, is an incapacitating one. Ten days later, a different philosophy of politics evolved in Scotland where the parliament elected 38-year-old Humza Haroon Yousaf, son of first generation migrants from Punjab, Pakistan, as the country’s first minister, or de facto leader. The Scots were not interested in who Yousaf’s father is, where his wife comes from or the nationality of those he hangs out with; they…

Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri The Imo State Police Command arrested and detained the traditional ruler of Umucheke in Umuobom in the Ideato South Local Government Area of the State, Eze Ekene Obinali, Wednesday over the alleged sharing of a damaging report on the WhatsApp platform linking the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma. The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Henry Okoye, who confirmed the arrest to newsmen in Owerri, said shortly that “the story of the arrest of the monarch is true but the police have commenced an investigation.” A source from the command said the reason for the arrest of the monarch was…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia There have been tension and outrage in Aba, the commercial capital of Abia State as security operatives allegedly killed four protesters demanding the release of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Ikengaonline gathered that the incident which occurred Friday afternoon forced traders to close shops  and hurry back to their homes. It led to a pandemonium as motorists abandoned their vehicles on the road and fled while passengers and other road users scampered for safety. Parents and guardians reportedly raced to schools to collect their children and wards to avoid being cut in the…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Journalists in Anambra were, Friday, denied access to cover presentation of certificate of return of House of Assembly members elected during the March 18 election. Journalists, who trooped to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka, were turned back on the order of the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) Anambra State, Mrs Queen Agwu. When contacted on his telephone line, the acting Public Relations Officer of INEC, Kingsley Agu,  hinted that the REC would not entertain journalists on the day of certificate presentation. According to him, the REC had instructed him not to allow journalists into the…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, and stakeholders in Abia North, have insisted that the February 25 national assembly poll in the zone was inconclusive. The CSOs which addressed a press conference Friday in Abuja, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to quickly withdraw the certificate of return it erroneously issued to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and organise a re-run poll in the zone. Spokesman of the CSOs and stakeholders, Chika Orieji, who stated this at the press conference, explained election did not hold in over 100 polling units…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Former Minister for Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, has expressed disappointment over the outcome of the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections, saying that the exercise was fraught with manipulations and violence. The elder statesman who spoke while featuring on Ikengaonline monthly town-hall meeting said that even those who were declared winners of the polls would not be very proud of the process that produced them. “Even those declared winners are not proud of what INEC did,” he regretted. He expressed surprise that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, who, he said commanded tremendous…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Elder statesman and former Minister of Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, has expressed deep worry over the absence of “a strong voice” to speak for Ndigbo. The former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, who made the lamentation  while delivering the keynote speech at the Ikengaonline monthly town-hall meeting, said the ugly development was responsible for the relegation of Ndigbo to the background as though they were second citizens which they are not. “Ndigbo have the worst set of leadership. We need a formidable leadership instead of complaining all the time. If we develop and stand on our…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has urged self employed Nigerians including artisans, traders, and others to enroll in the Micro Pension Plan of the Commission to guarantee a functional retirement plan. The Head, Corporate Communications of PenCom, Abdulqadir Dahiru, made the call in Enugu at a sensitisation workshop organised by the commission. Dahuru further stressed the importance of Micro Pension Plan to Nigerians in the informal sector and those working in organisations with less than three employees. He noted that about 90 per cent of workers in Nigeria were in the informal sector, adding that these categories…

By Olumide Akpata On Saturday 18 March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted the gubernatorial and State Assembly elections to mark the second and concluding round of the 2023 elections. On that day, INEC, the law enforcement agencies and the Nigerian populace were presented with a golden opportunity to demonstrate to the rest of the world that, the below par showing on 25 February 2023 notwithstanding, Nigeria’s democracy had come of age. At the end of the day, not only did we fail spectacularly in this regard, but more dangerously, the fragile unity of the Nigerian State suffered…

Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri Former Federal Minister of Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, has said that Nigeria’s problem is not funding but a lack of true governance. He made this known during the monthly Ikengaonline Town-Hall meeting held on Thursday, with the topic, “Nigeria’s incoming government: prospects and challenges.” The former Minister argued that if only credible leaders mount the position of leadership that the burdens of Nigerians would be reduced. He pointed out that “Nigeria is a large country with enormous resources.” “We have a lot of resources to leverage on. But we have had low savings because of poor administration. Funding should…