Author: Editor

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Jewish worshipers from seven Igbo-speaking states, on Thursday, stormed Umuahia to pray for the unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Their action comes just two days after Igbo elders staged a peaceful protest in front of the Abia Government House, also demanding Kanu’s freedom. Kanu has been in detention at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, following his extraordinary rendition from Kenya. The worshipers, who turned out in large numbers with women and children, later held a solidarity rally in Kanu’s…

In ‘Truly’ Richie’s candid new memoir, out now, the Grammy winner shares a never-before-told story of his “eccentric” friend and collaborator Michael Jackson By Janine Rubenstein The Grammy winner and American Idol judge, 76, has released his new memoir Truly, out Sept. 30, and in it, he’s sharing fascinating never-before-told stories. “To be honest with you, I don’t know how I remembered a lot of stuff,” the star told PEOPLE exclusively of his writing process. One memory that stood out was the bond he had with close friend Michael Jackson at the peak of his fame. In Truly, he describes…

Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka The League of Anambra Professionals (LAP) has announced the launch of its Future Forward Scholarship Programme, an educational support initiative aimed at assisting brilliant but financially disadvantaged students of Anambra origin to pursue higher education. According to LAP, the scheme is designed for candidates who have passed their JAMB examinations but are unable to proceed to the university due to lack of funds.  The programme, described as one of the organization’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, seeks to give hope to young Ndi Anambra and strengthen the state’s human capital through education. The organizers announced that…

Our Reporter, Abuja As the world marks the International Day of Non-Violence, the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) has called for urgent reforms in global education systems to promote peace, empathy, and social transformation. In a statement issued Thursday to commemorate the day, the Director of UNESCO MGIEP, Obijiofor Aginam, reminded world leaders of the enduring relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence and its application to modern challenges in education and human development. The International Day of Non-Violence, held annually on October 2, coincides with Gandhi’s birthday and was established by a…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia A former Minister for Education and Health respectively, Professor Ihechukwu Madubuike, has told President Ahmed Tinubu, that he “cannot run Nigeria by propaganda.” Professor Madubike who was reacting to the President’s independence day anniversary speech, said that the economic realities  in the country render the President’s independence Day speech claims empty. He said: “We cannot run a good government by propaganda. We have to face the reality and the final assessment of how well we have done resides on the people- how the people are faring. “When he says we have turned the corner, I don’t agree we have…

By Azu Ishiekwene On the eve of Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary, I reflected on Harold Smith. He’s not widely known in Nigeria. And that’s probably to be expected for a man whom the British establishment ostracised for decades for daring to be different, before his death. He was everything the British colonial authorities didn’t want him to be, and he paid for it. But for his book, The Harold Smith Story, published by Lawless Publications four years ago, Smith would have died with the knowledge of how a promising country was sabotaged by Britain, with consequences that would last for…

…Knock President for equating IPoB to Boko Haram Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Three United States of America, US-based organizations, have urged US government, to release the records of President Ahmed Tinubu to the public. This is as the groups knocked the President for allegedly equating the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, with the murderous Boko Haram terrorist organization which has been on a killing spree in parts  of Northern Nigeria. President Tinubu was said to have made the “inflammatory remark” while speaking when he visited Imo State on Tuesday. In a swift reaction to the President’s remarks, three pro-Igbo diaspora groups –…

Our Reporter, New York  Literary critic and activist Ikhide Ikheloa, popularly known as Pa Ikhide, accused the Yoruba Intellectual class in the June 12 struggle of being dishonest to their counterparts from other parts of the country. The US-based retired public administrator made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica.  The acclaimed writer explained that he began his interaction with most of the Yoruba intellectuals in the early 1990s, during the pro-democracy movement, as a key figure in Radio Kudirat.  He, however, expressed disappointment about how their nationalistic rhetoric during the pro-democracy struggle suddenly gave way…

Our Reporter, New York  US-based energy expert and consultant Dr. Olarinre Salako has stated that Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is primarily focused on increasing revenue and does not consider the impact of his policies on the livelihoods of Nigerians.  He made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica. The doctoral degree holder from Heriot-Watt University narrated how Bola Tinubu led a protest against subsidy removal and petrol tax as an opposition politician because he believed that the policies would inflict more hardship on Nigerians. Dr. Salako therefore argued that the president is not unaware of…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Major chieftains of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, including Dr. Gershon Amuta, Chief Chinagorom Nwankpa, and hundreds of their supporters, have defected to the ruling Labour Party (LP). Receiving the new members at Isieketa, Isiala Ngwa South, Governor Alex Otti said the event should not be seen as a defection, but rather as a reception of brothers and sisters who had always been aligned with him. Otti directed all Mayors to ensure proper integration of the new entrants into the party, stressing that no one should…