Author: Editor
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia But for providence, 11 passengers including a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, would have perished Thursday afternoon when a 14-seater passenger bus conveying them crashed in Abia State. The accident occured at Ofeme Umuahia axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway way. The Benue-bound passenger bus belonging to Benue Links marked XB 263 TKP took off from Aba and was headed towards Okigwe when the incident occurred. Confirming the incident to our Correspondent, the Abia State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Paul Ugwu, said the victims had been evacuated from the accident scene and rushed to…
Our Reporter, Abuja The interim vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Dr Doyin Okupe, has officially withdrawn from the 2023 presidential race. Okupe, the Director General of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign organization, had his name sent to INEC by Obi and the Labour Party as the vice presidential candidate of the party, pending when an appropriate person would be named. But in a Facebook post on Thursday, Okupe said he had written to INEC to officially withdraw from the position of the vice presidential candidate of Labour Party. He also hinted that his replacement would be announced shortly.…
By Aloy Ejimakor Before post-colonial Nigeria lapsed into its current unitary state, while still passing off as a federation, regional security was largely within the purview of the respective regions, not the Federal Government. And it worked pretty well. This basic arrangement was not by chance but by well-considered design. Despite their many failings, Nigeria’s indigenous founding fathers and the departing British colonists knew too well that you cannot secure a people within their region without their participation. Even the mighty British empire knew that it couldn’t secure colonial Nigeria without the participation of Nigerians in vast numbers. In a…
By Azu Ishiekwene Nigeria is awash with arms – guns, bullets, charms, drugs and local stuff. Not just Nigeria. The entire Sahelian and sub-Saharan African region is drowning in deadly small arms and light weapons – so-called because of their portability and ease of use and adaptation. The firearms may be out of the line of sight, but they are making the rounds in cars and motorcycles or as headloads and hand luggage, concealed in unimaginable places. Many are also believed to be siphoned from the armouries of security agencies, and are making their way into the hands of “unknown…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The menacing activities of kidnappers suspected to be herders around Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State and its environs, are getting out of control, as the people have raised alarm over the latest tactics of the hoodlums. According to the locals, herdsmen who initially raped only women they met in the farms now invade homes in search of women. This sudden twist is coming barely one month after youths in Umunneochi staged a peaceful protest against incessant kidnappings in the area, demanding the relocation of the Regional Cattle Market at Lokpanta, which they alleged, provides safe haven…
The BBC’s political editor Chris Mason says the embattled prime minister has finally agreed to go after another torrid morning that saw several cabinet ministers walk out. The prime minister is expected to confirm the reports when he addresses the nation within hours. It is understood he will plough on with the top job until a new party leader is chosen over summer. It marks a huge turn of events after Mr Johnson vowed to stay on yesterday, saying quitting would ‘not be responsible’ because of the huge mandate he won at the 2019 General Election. He refused to go…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Assessing the performance of Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, in over seven years of his eight-year tenure is one that will surely divide the citizens of the state. While many of his party members are blowing the vuvuzelas for the governor, his political opponents, and indeed the general public, think his scorecard is nothing to write home about. In this Special Report, Stephen Ukandu, Ikengaonline’s News/Features Editor, provides a bird’s-eye view on the matter. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu mounted the leadership saddle of Abia State in 2015 amid high expectations and promises some of which he has met,…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN), South-East chapter, has threatened to go on warning strike if the prices of bakery materials fail to come down. The Zonal Chairman of the association, Chief Dominic Nwibe made this known on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen in Awka. According to him, the Anambra State chapter is waiting for directive from the national body to withdraw its services from July 13. In March, bakers complained that the hike in diesel price and exchange rate volatility caused many of its members across the country to shut down their business…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has reeled out qualities his running mate must possess, disclosing that he prefers a younger person. Obi who made the disclosure Wednesday while featuring on Arise Television interview programme, The Morning, Show said he would not run with recycled politicians who have been part of the rot in the system. According to the former Anambra State Governor, he prefers a younger person who has something to bring to table to complement his ticket rather than recycling old hands. Clearing the air on the rumours that he had nominated a businessman and politician, Senator Yusuf…
Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri Former Governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial district, Rochas Okorocha, on Wednesday said his former Deputy Governor, Jude Agbaso, was impeached because of his alleged collection of bribe of N458 million from JPROS construction company in 2013. Okorocha disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, through his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, while reacting to a statement credited to Agbaso. According to him, the former Governor’s anger was that, “in Agbaso’s latest vituperation, he described his government as the worst. But he failed woefully to say how. With his impeachment, he could not…