Author: Editor
By Azu Ishiekwene If you haven’t had a good laugh, you have not been with him. And anyone who knows him knows I’m not joking. The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has the rare gift of humour. Not the run-of-the-mill kind that forces a courteous half-smile. It’s the kind that extracts the prey while putting the cat completely at ease; it just cracks your rib. It works in good times and in bad. And just as he has done in the last nearly over two decades of being clergyman and public intellectual, Kukah deployed this gift again in…
Steve Oko, Umuahia Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has descended on President Muhammadu Buhari, over the alleged plan by his administration to borrow another N11 trillion to finance the 2023 budget. The group warned that Nigeria was fast sliding into slavery as the monies already borrowed by the Buhari-led Government had not been repaid. COSEYL said that going for fresh loan would further worsen Nigeria’s economic woes and mortgage the future of the country. The Igbo youth body described the move as gross insensitivity and a confirmation that Buhari’s lacks the capacity to manage Nigeria’s challenges. COSEYL, in…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Director-General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Doyin Okupe, has dismissed as a ruse, speculations in some quarters that the presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has formed an alliance with his Peoples Democratic Party PDP, counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2023 general election. The former Presidential Assistant on Media and Publicity, said that the “imaginary alliance” rumour was part of the propaganda war unleashed against Obi by those who feel threatened by his swelling popularity and acceptance across Nigeria. Okupe who made the rebuttal in a statement Wednesday, said…
Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri The Imo State Police Command on Wednesday, paraded two male suspects, John Johnson, 24; and Ekene Nwaoji 21, both natives of Nde Achi Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, over alleged vandalism of electric cables at Ugiri in Isiala Mbano LGA of Imo State. The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Michael Abattam, disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri. He said their arrest was made last Sunday following a report from the community over the continued vandalism of their electric cables that left them in a blackout. According to him, “sequel to a report of the constant vandalism of EEDC…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia A former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, has bluntly told Gov Okezie Ikpeazu to squarely face governance in Abia instead of following the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, around the world like his personal assistant. The former Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Theodore Orji, specifically tasked Ikpeazu to tackle the infrastructural challenges in the state to give the people a sense of good governance. He expressed concern that instead of making efforts to address the issues of governance affecting the state, the Governor is more or less interested in pursuing his…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Thirty-nine police officers in Anambra State have been promoted to new ranks by the Nigeria Police Force, Ikengaonline reports. The officers were elevated from the positions of Deputy Superintendents to Superintendents of Police, respectively. Speaking during their official decoration at the Awka Police Headquarters, Wednesday, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, represented by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, said the officers were considered after the Police authority found them worthy of elevation. He commended the officers for attaining the new height and urged them not to be carried away by the elevation or be…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, has called on the Anambra State Government to intervene and improve the condition of access road leading to its command in the state. The call was made during the official decoration of Immigration officers in Anambra State, who were elevated to new ranks following the announcement by the NIS Comptroller-General, Isah Jere Idris, in Abuja, Friday. Complaining about the road, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Immigration and coordinator controlling Zone G, ACG Dominic Asogwa said the people of the state do not deserve the sufferings they experience on the road, and urged the government…
By Peter Obi My Lord and Elder Brother, Bishop Kukah, hearty and warm fraternal greetings as you mark your 70th birthday; and join the legion of the righteous. I share in your joys as we celebrate your life and many impactful years in the service of God, the Church and the Country. You have remained a consistent voice against corruption, oppression, injustice and evil, which pervade every part of our nation. Through your preaching, writings and lifestyle, you have influenced and pointed many to the right ways of life. Yours is a life of service to God and humanity. Your…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Abia youths under the aegis of Progressive Abia Youths, PAY, has urged Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, to quickly declare a state of emergency on the education sector in the state with a view to rescuing it from total collapse. The youths who made the call at a press conference after assessing the the achievements of successive administrations since the creation of Abia State 31 years ago, expressed disappointment that the state is still lagging behind in so many sectors. Expressing worry over the backlog of salary arrears owed teachers in the state, the youths advised Ikpeazu to suspend…
By Onyishi Chidiebere Charles With the 2023 general elections approaching, INEC’s integrity will again be tested to ascertain if genuine improvements have been made since the 2019 polls. Given the conditions surrounding the previous general elections, there were concerns about the malpractices that marred the conduct of the ballots. INEC must recognize that the 2023 general election will be emotionally charged for the majority of Nigerians both at home and abroad. As such, tensions are high, and all eyes are on them to conduct a hitch-free general election. For years, especially since 1999, the country has been led by two…