Author: Editor

By Agbo, Ochonu & Kperogi In the face of existential challenges facing Nigeria and leading up to the 2023 presidential election, the ensuing conversation arose among three Nigerians in the Diaspora on the way forward for a nation in crisis. Osmund: In our last discussion that focused on restructuring, Farooq made the following submission: “Well, Osmund, I’m basically saying that it’s impossible to restructure Nigeria under our American-style presidential democracy. If we want to renegotiate the basis of our federation, we should first get rid of the current system. That requires creative destruction which, I must admit, is hard. “A cursory historical…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The electorate in Anambra Sate have been told to consider candidates’ track records in voting who represents them at the next House of Assembly election in the state. Member representing Onitsha South 1 at the State Assembly, Hon. Uzoma Eli, gave the advise while addressing his teeming supporters ahead of the forthcoming election in the state. Hon. Eli who is seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), urged the electorate to ignore voting based on promises and sentiments but based on verifiable track records. Campaigning at Housing Estate Bridge Head Fegge, Onitsha South LGA, he said, “I like…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB,  has expressed pains and displeasure over the failure of the Supreme Court to schedule the appeal brought before it by the Federal Government against the release of its Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. IPOB accused the apex court of deliberately obstructing justice for Kanu who has been in detention since he was renditioned from Kenya in June 2021. The pro-Biafra movement in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, expressed annoyance that over 100 days after the matter was brought  before it, it had failed to entertain the matter.…

Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and others on Thursday dissociated themselves from the proposed strike in Imo State. The leaders of the various unions who spoke to newsmen in Owerri argued that no issue could have led to any form of strike in the state. They were angry that an internal issue regarding the process of an election could not have become a reason for workers to go on strike in the state. First to speak, was the state chairman of NLC, Philip Nwansi, who said there was no need for…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governorship candidates in Abia State, Thursday, signed a peace accord to shun violence at the forthcoming polls. This is the second time candidates would be signing a peace accord in the state. Some of the candidates present at the event were  Okey Ahiwe of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; his All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart, Chief Ikechi Emenike; and Onyekwere Akym Uche (OAU), of the African Alliance, AA. Others were Bishop Onuoha of ADC; Mascot Uzor Kalu of the Action Peoples Party, APP; Enyinnaya Nwafor of the Young Peoples Party. Professor Greg Ibe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA,…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu Stakeholders in Enugu State have expressed mixed reactions over the the postponement of Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections earlier scheduled for Saturday March 11, 2023. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced the postponement of the elections to Saturday March 18, to enable it carry out reconfiguration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). This follows the order by the Federal Appeal Court on Wednesday permitting the Commission to reconfigure the machines before the elections. Stakeholders in separate interviews agreed with INEC to reconfigure the BVAS but cautioned against any attempt to tamper with…

By Sam Amadi In the context of the tragicomedy of the Nigerian election, one may be tempted to conclude, as President Olusegun Obasanjo did, that the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was compromised through financial inducement. This is a damning conclusion. But the utter lack of intelligence in the manner the election management body got itself into a rut raises concern that something may have caused a sudden failure of intelligence, something dark and corrupt. It is ironic that it was INEC that finally nailed the credibility of the election it organised. We have always had problems with managing…

By Azu Ishiekwene Trying to fit him into a mold can be sometimes problematic. I have always thought of him as a teacher and mentor. And later, only much later, as a friend. For over three decades he has been more than enough in each of these roles. My path with Dr. Yemi Osinbajo, as he then was, first crossed at the University of Lagos when he was a lecturer at the Faculty of Law and I was a student at the Department of Mass Communication at the same university. Just a busybody trying to indulge my fantasy of becoming…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has flagged-off the construction of 3.2 kilometers Okpunoeze-Nnewi Hotel Road. Also flagged-off was the 2.2 kilometer Isaho Umuezeogu-NAUTH (Teaching Hospital Permanent site) Road. Ikengaonline gathered that Benejaf International Limited is the Contractor in charge of the road projects, while Maintech Engineering Consult is the consultant. Performing the flag-offs, Governor Soludo promised to intervene in Nnewi major markets to transform them into modern markets fit for the twenty-first century. The Governor described Nnewi as the commercial capital of Anambra South and thus requires a lot of work, acknowledging the difficulties which people face…

Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri Security operatives have arrested former deputy governor of Imo State, Gerald Irona. An eyewitness who disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri said he was arrested from his Owerri residence at about 10:15 am on Wednesday. At the time of filling this report, Irona was said to have been detained at the Imo State police command. Eyewitnesses who did not want their names mentioned said: “Some security operatives from the Imo State police command have arrested the former deputy governor of Imo State, from his house in Owerri. They came to his house dressed in black attire. They…