Author: Editor
“As long as my Ikenga is active, I can wrestle in the land of the spirits” – Igbo proverb In precolonial Nigeria, the Igbo administrative unit was some sort of a quasi-democratic republican system of government. It was a system deeply rooted in the people and guaranteed equality among its citizens, as opposed to a feudal system where a king lorded over his subjects in an empire. The Igbo society at the time could be described as acephalous, operating a system devoid of centralization. Village by village rule fostered participatory democracy based on strong traditional values and beliefs. Every…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Nasir El-Rufai, of Kaduna State, Wednesday, blasted the Nigerian military for failing to prevent the attack by terrorists on Abuja-Kaduna bound passenger train on Monday that claimed the lives of no fewer than eight out of the 970 passengers on board while scores of others were wounded and abducted by the terrorists. El-Rufai, who said he was “frustrated and helpless”, alleged that the military knew the location of the bandits behind genocidal attacks in parts of the state but for reasons only known to it, had refused to bomb their hideouts. The aggrieved governor queried the…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia In an apparent move to douse the nationwide anger over the crashing out of the Super Eagles in this year’s World Cup competition in Qatar following their 1-1 draw with the Black Stars of Ghana, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has apologised to Nigerians as well as the Federal Government over the poor performance of the national team. NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, regretted that Super Eagles failed to qualify despite the enormous support by both the Government and Nigerians. Sanusi in a statement obtained by Ikengaonline, Wednesday, regretted that the hope of Nigerians who thronged…
Nigeria does not have a constitution, according to renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said this on Sunday on 90MinutesAfrica hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo and Chido Onumah. “What we call a constitution or what our courts refer to as a constitution is a legal document which is better called Decree 24 of 1999 signed into law by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar,” he noted. Falana, who is a principal partner at Falana and Falana Chambers, said the Nigerian constitution is not “a legitimate document, but a legal document which we had all thought was going to…
Our Editor, Abuja Popular actor and entertainment guru, Kanayo O. Kanayo has rubbished the rumour of his death that has been circulating in the media, describing it as the handiwork of jobless and devious people. In a telephone conversation with Ikengaonline Wednesday night, the actor, lawyer, and businessman, said he had earlier debunked the wicked rumour and would not want to give it more unnecessary traction by going over it again. “You know in this country some people will simply buy a phone, load it with data and begin to spread falsehood about other people, including false news about their deaths.…
Ike Mmachi, Abakaliki. A former senator in Ebonyi State, Senator Julius Ucha, has declared his intention to vie for the governorship position of the state under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2023. Ucha made the declaration when he paid a courtesy call on the State Working Committee of the party. His words: “I am here to inform the party leadership of my intention to run for the governorship of Ebonyi State come 2023. It is over a month now that the political space was thrown open by our leader and we are also aware that…
Chukwudike Ndubeze, Awka The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has rejected move by the Federal Government to name the Onitsha second Niger Bridge after President Muhammadu Buhari. The group registered their protest in a statement issued on Wednesday by the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, who stated that the bridge should be named after Chinua Achebe, late Dora Akunyiri, Joe Achuzia or other accomplished Igbo patriots, and not Buhari. Powerful made this call in response to a statement by Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, that the Second Niger Bridge has been named after the President. The statement made…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Abia State chapter, Tuesday, put on hold, a peaceful rally it had earlier planned over accumulated salary arrears to doctors at Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH; and their counterparts at the state’s Health Management Board. According to NMA, the planned rally was to protest 26 months, and 11 months salary arrears owed doctors at both institutions. NMA gave the state Government two weeks to pay at least 80% of the accumulated salary arrears of doctors at the affected institutions or the union would push ahead with the planned protest.…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia There have been sorrow, agony and lamentation across the country as the identities of some of the victims of Monday night’s attack on Abuja-Kaduna rail track are made public. Some of the victims include a Medical Doctor, Chinelo Megafu Nwando; a youth leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Amin Mahmoud; Secretary General, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Barrister Musa Lawal-Ozigi. Among the casualties according to reports was a staff of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, Abdul Kofar-Mata. Former Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala, on board the train was said to have…
Michael Onwuka, Enugu. The Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), has raised concern over the continued neglect of the International Trade Fair Complex in Enugu. The President of ECCIMA, Mr Jasper Nduagwuike disclosed this on Tuesday in Enugu during the formal opening ceremony of the 33rd Enugu International Trade Fair. Nduagwuike said it was sad that all appeals for the Federal Government to develop the trade fair complex in the last 37 years had not yielded any result. The President said that ECCIMA would have no option than resort to self-help to ensure that the complex was…