Author: Editor

 Ike Nnaachi, Abakaliki The Police in Ebonyi state on Tuesday raided a suspected camp of Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the state killing three members of the group. ESN is the militia wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Police spokesperson in the state, Chris Anyanwu, revealed this in a statement. He said the operation was jointly carried out with Military and Department of State Security (DSS) officers. Mr Anyanwu said the camp raided by the Police was in Isu within Onicha Local Government Area of the State. According to him the raid was sequel to an attack on…

The traditional Ruler of Nguru Nsukka autonomous community in the Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Chief Linus Obayi, and a group of people in his community have taken the Enugu State Government to court challenging its powers to constitute a Town Union for the autonomous community. In the suite, No. N37/2022, filed by Barr. JMCC Ogbuka, of Ogbuka Ogbuka & Associates at the Nsukka Judicial Division of the High Court of Enugu State, the traditional ruler and his group are seeking an order retraining those listed as respondents from parading themselves as Executives of the Town Union pending…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The crisis in Ebonyi Chapter of the People Peoples Democratic Party has taken a new twist as the National Leadership of the party has again recognized Mr Tochukwu Okorie as its authentic Chairman. The National Chairman of the Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu stated this in a letter dated 31st May 2022, and addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They explained that the party’s decision was in obedience to a judgement by the Appellate court which upturned the judgement of a Federal High Court that hitherto recognised Mr Silas…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Chinedu Ogah, has raised alarm over an alleged exclusion of the South-East region from the scholarship programme of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), in the country. Disclosing this in a statement, Ogah called on the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Dr. Bello Aliyu Gusau, to review the Corporation’s scholarship program and accommodate the South-East geopolitical zone. He explained that the exclusion of the South-East from the Scholarship Program, under the guise of security challenges within the region was not proper as other regions facing worse security…

By Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo There was a time when northern leaders were stupid. I am talking about the days before the May 1953 riots in Kano and the days after. Oh, they were so stupid that I am sure they would be ashamed of themselves when they look back. Here is a summary of what happened. This is for their children and grandchildren who were not there and were not taught the history of those terrible days. By May 1953, southern leaders were ready for Nigeria to be an independent nation. They were pushing for a three-year plan that would…

Our Reporter, Vancouver Civil society leaders have commended the conduct of the national convention of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which held on Saturday in Abuja. The convention elected a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to fly the party’s flag in the 2023 presidential election. Executive Director, YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, and a Director at the Open Society Foundations, Ayisha Osori, gave the commendation Sunday when they appeared on the online interview programme, 90MinutesAfrica, hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo and Chido Onumah. Osori said that despite the alleged role of money in influencing the choices made by the delegates,…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The abducted Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Uche, has said that N100 million ransom was paid to secure his release with those abducted along with him. Uche who made the disclosure during a press briefing in Lagos, said that the ransom was raised by the church alone without any form of intervention from either state or federal government. The Prelate  said the monies were arranged in five sacks of N20 million. He insisted that neither the Federal or State Government, nor the military or police intervened. The Methodist Prelate lamented that they…

Our Reporter, Abuja As at 7am on Monday, May 30, 2022, the South-East region is still at the basement in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ongoing across the country. According to nation’s election management body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the exercise will end on June 30, barely one month from today. But from INEC’s Update for the week starting from Monday, shared via its verified Twitter handle, the South-East is still lagging in the voter registration exercise with 550,771 voters. The South-South still occupies the top position with 1,524,415 registered voters. Others are South-West, 1,235,610; North-West, 1,223,179;…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Former Managing Director of Diamond Bank and Labour Party governorship aspirant in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has congratulated former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi on his emergence as the Labour Party presidential candidate in the party’s presidential primaries held in Asaba, Delta State. Otti, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, poured encomiums on Obi, saying that “the excitement, support and solidarity which his presidential ambition has elicited across political, ethnic and religious lines are a clear manifestation that honest Nigerians of all classes cherish excellence whenever and…

Our Reporter, Abuja The presidential ambition of the former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, may be back on track as a federal high court sitting in Abuja presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo admitted him to bail. However, his possible appearance before the APC presidential screening committee headed by Chief Odigie Oyegun on Tuesday depends on how fast he can meet his bail conditions. In granting him bail, the court ruled that he was, however, to remain in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until he perfects the conditions attached to his bail. Justice Inyang Ekwo…