Author: Editor

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has called for calm over the security breach that led to loss of lives and triggered tension and trepidation at Ohafia on Wednesday. The former Leader of ECOWAS Parliament who condemned the incident, said that the sacredness of human life demands that it be treated with dignity and not wasted for any reasons. He condoled with the families of the victims of the unfortunate incident and called for restoration of peace. Senator Ohuabunwa expressed worry over the disturbing security concerns in Abia North and called for caution so as not to escalate the already…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia As tension remains on the rise in Ohafia, Abia State, following Wednesday’s clash between unknown gunmen and soldiers, the new Commander 14 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Adegoke Adetuyi, has vowed to deal with the “criminals” behind  the incident. Gen. Adetuyi who made the vow when delegates of traditional rulers and elders in Ohafia, led by the Local Government Chairman, Dr Okoroafor Ukiwe, visited the Brigade headquarters, said that masterminds of the incident would be fished out and prosecuted. The new Brigade Commander who assumed duty barely 24 hours before the confrontation, said that he had “not come to…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Anambra State governor, Professor Charles Soludo, has explained the key reason he hosted Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, at the governor’s lodge, Amawbia. The Governor played host to the Labour Party candidate and the duo held a closed door private meeting which is believed to be an endorsement of the Labour Party candidate as against the candidate of the ruling party in the state, APGA, Prof. Peter Umeadi. Shortly after the meeting, Governor Soludo told newsmen that he played host to Mr. Peter Obi because he (Obi) is an Anambra indigene, reiterating that as Governor…

Michael Onwuka, Enugu Renowned political economist, Professor Pat Okedinachi Utomi, will on August 25, 2022, feature on the 2nd Ikengaonline town hall meeting. Utomi, who would be the guest speaker of the virtual town hall, will speak on ‘Handshake across the Niger: the Imperatives of Southern unity, now and beyond.’ A statement by the Editor-in-Chief, Ikengaonline, Uche Ugboajah, said that the event would be engaging and expository. Ugboajah said that the August 25 event would be the second in the series of such meetings that would hold every last Thursday of the month. He said that the town hall became necessary…

Michael Onwuka, Enugu A group of Enugu State health workers has endorsed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 gubernatorial election, Mr Peter Mba. The Coordinator of the group, Dr. Robert Nnamchi, disclosed this on Friday in Enugu while briefing newsmen after their meeting. Nnamchi said that the endorsement of the PDP candidate followed an unbiased assessment of the antecedents of the major contestants in the election. He said that the group comprised medical doctors, laboratory scientists, pharmacists and nurses. The coordinator said that as a businessman, industrialist and a former commissioner for finance in the state, Mba possessed the qualities needed to…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Member representing Aba South state constituency, Hon. Obinna Ichita, has mocked the State Government for announcing the award of new state intervention projects, saying it cannot be trusted as it has not executed so many projects earlier awarded. He threatened legal action against the  State Government over many  abandoned projects in his constituency. The lawmaker who expressed disappointment over the inability of the State Government to deliver various important projects it had earlier awarded, argued that it would be difficult to believe that the latest ones would be delivered less than 10 months to the end of…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has demanded accountability for the N10 billion loan by the Abia State Government for building of airport, as well as N1.3 billion for the construction of ‘flyover’ at Ogbo Hill area of Aba. APGA which made the demands Thursday in Umuahia, expressed worry over the increasing debt profile of the state. Ikengaonline reports that statistics from the Debt Management Office, showed that as at December 31, 2015, the debt profile of Abia State was N37.55 billion but by March 31, 2021, it rose to N70.57 billion, an increase of 110.47%. There are speculations that Abia’s…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has given reasons the union rejected what it called “Government’s award of salaries” in the re-negotiated 2009 Agreement, accusing the Federal Government of acting unilaterally. ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, in a press statement Thursday, said that the Government refused to carry the union along in the wage review as required by law, hence, its rejection of the “miserly offer.” Although ASUU did not give details of  the new pay package proposed by Government, the university-based union said Government’s excuse of paucity of funds for meager salary increase was…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Anambra State Government has mapped out fund totaling N6.088 billion for the completion of a government house abandoned for over thirty years ago, Ikengaonline reports. The structure was acquired during the military regime and housed the then Anambra State College of Education, Awka, as a temporary government administrative office. Before the advent of the College of Education, the premises was used as a works-yard (camp) of Lodijiana Road Construction Company, the company that constructed Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Express Way. In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) gave the approval, stating that…

 Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Palpable fear and tension have gripped Ohafia communities of Abia State following a clash between unknown gunmen and soldiers. Three persons including a soldier were reportedly killed during the incident which took place on Wednesday. This is coming barely 24 hours after Brigadier General Adegoke Adetuyi, took over as the 14th Commander of 14 Brigade Nigerian Army Ohafia. Senate Chief Whip and Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who was on a visit to Ohafia at the time of the incident allegedly fled the town in the ensuing confusion. There were, however, different versions of what actually transpired…