Author: Editor
By Ikem Okuhu The presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held in the twilight of May 28, 2022, set off fireworks of mixed feelings in different parts of the country. For veteran presidential contender, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his supporters, it has been an all-night dance of victory. His overwhelming victory at the election held in Abuja speaks strongly of his eternal political relevance and, for some people, an unrelenting strangulating influence within the PDP. On the other hand, there are expected to be long faces in the camps of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on the one…
The Federal Government’s denial of allegations of neglect by the South-East governors in critical infrastructure, especially provision of roads, prompted ARINZE CHIJIOKE to investigate both the allegation and the rebuttal. His findings, after weeks of painstaking investigation, unveiled shocking revelations about the roads in question, government’s commitment and even the contractors. Uzoeto Dickson had just finished saying a prayer with selected members of his community when this reporter called at his house on a sweltering Wednesday afternoon in early September. The prayer was a demand for the rains to go away to let the dry season set in. He is…
By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu As Nigeria’s military ruler, Olusegun Obasanjo, who retired from the army as Head of State and a four-star General on the last day of September 1979, established what he later described to the New York Times over one decade later as “a farm settlement…, which aimed at the increase of food production.” It was located in an island in the Atlantic Ocean called Ita-Oko, some 100 kilometres off the coast of Lagos. Curiously for a farm settlement, Ita-Oko, in the words of the General, “aimed at decriminalizing people – Nigerians and non-Nigerians – who refused to work, even…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The recent Daily Trust Newspapers report on the murder of a Hausa woman and her little children in Anambra State has continued to generate condemnation and criticism across the South-East. The paper reported that Hajira Jubril, her children, were gruesomely murdered by unknown gunmen at Isulo, Anambra State. Their report also stressed that other attacks were targeted at hurting people of other tribes and ethnic backgrounds resident in the state. The League of Anambra Professionals, a platform for professionals from the state, in a statement, described the report as “mischievous narrative” championed to cause tensions and reprisals…
Our Editor, Abuja Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has won the PDP presidential primary election. Atiku polled 371 votes to beat his closest rival, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike who got 237 votes. Other results showed that former president of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki came third with 70 votes; Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State, 38 votes; the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, 20 votes; Senator Pius Anyim, 14 votes; Chief Sam Ohuabunwa, 1 vote; and finally, Oliver Diana, 1vote. A total of 76 votes were cast in the primary. With 12 votes declared void…
Stephen Ukandu, News & Features Editor Few minutes before the commencement of voting at the on-going presidential election of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja, one of the leading aspirants, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, has has withdrawn from the presidential race. The former Speaker, House of Representatives, while announcing his withdrawal from the race, urged his supporters to vote for the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. “Time has come for us to make sacrifices in the interest of our party and our nation. I have come to the conclusion that I have to step down,…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has emerged the flag bearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for Abia South senatorial district. He was elected unopposed Saturday at the party primaries by a mammoth crowd of delegates. Abaribe dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday after withdrawing from the governorship race. He left the PDP because of the party’s lack of transparency in the build up to its primaries. Abaribe and six other governorship aspirants had boycotted the PDP primaries which they dismissed as a charade and endorsement of a preferred candidate. The Returning…
By Osita Chidoka For the first time in many years, I will not be attending the PDP Convention. I will watch from my house though I am a member of the Electoral Sub-Committee for the Convention. On May 10th, a National Delegate Congress Committee chaired by Prof. Kingsley Chimsorom Chilaka of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, went to Anambra to conduct the congress and did not conduct any congress in Idemili North LGA where I had bought form to contest as a National Delegate. Strangely the committee submitted a report and fake result for Idemili North LGA with the name of someone…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The President and CEO, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Prof. Mohammed Ajiya, has re-echoed call for improved financial support to women and minority traders in Nigeria. Prof. Ajiya made the call during a roundtable discussion on improving digital inclusion of women and minority groups at a high-level Fintech and Financial Inclusion event. According to him, there is need for increased infrastructure and tools for easy access to digital penetration and broadband. He noted that such access upgrades the skills of women and the minority traders who, he said, are likely players for the improvement of digital inclusion in…
Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri The former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim, on Saturday officially withdrew from the Imo North Senatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ohakim made his decision known to newsmen in Owerri. Ikengaonline gathered that Ohakim’s withdrawal was based on the zoning arrangement in the Imo North senatorial district. According to Ohakim,”It is with the highest sense of responsibility that I write to inform you of my withdrawal from the senatorial primaries for Imo North scheduled for Saturday, May 28, 2022. “The decision to withdraw from the race was arrived at after due consultations with my…