Author: Editor
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Nigeria’s former Minister of Education and global advocate of transparency and accountability in governance, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, has confirmed her appointment as the Chairman, Board of Women Political Leaders (WPL). Ezekwesili who made the confirmation on her verified Tweeter handle, @obyezeks, succeeded former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. Clark, former Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, served as New Zealand Prime Minister from 1999 to 2008. The tweet read: “With joy and deep sense of responsibility I confirm today’s news of my assumption of the role of Chair, Board of @WPLeadersOrg . “I am very…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Southern Nigeria Leaders have formally adopted the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, as their consensus candidate for the February 25 presidential poll. The endorsement came at the end of the extraordinary meeting of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum on Wednesday in Abuja. Various ethnic and regional associations that make up the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum include the Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Middle-Belt Forum, and the Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF). Former Minister for Information and a former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, read the communique wherein…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has stopped the Incorporated Trustees of African Initiative Against Abuse of Public Trust, from restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, from implementing the Naira redesign policy. The Trustees had on 30th November, 2022, on behalf of over 50 million Nigerians in different rural areas without bank accounts, dragged the CBN, its Governor, Godwin Emefiele; and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF); to the Awka Division of the FHC as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Defendants respectively in the suit marked Suit No: FHC/AWK/CS/195/22. The originating summons read in part: “To restrain/ stop…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu A Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, Enugu State, has adjourned to February 15 for ruling on a suit filed by, Mr Chika Idoko seeking the disqualification of all Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the state in the February/March elections. Idoko, who is the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Enugu North Senatorial seat in the suit No: FHC/EN/CS/217/2022, had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP, and all its candidates to the court on grounds that the party’s primary election was in contravention of Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2022. He prayed the…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Youths in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, have vowed to return the Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives and Member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, to the green chamber for the fifth time. The decision according to the youths is based on “incontrovertible performance and track record of achievements,” over the years. Endorsing Onyejeocha as their consensus candidate, the youths advised other candidates for the seat not to bother wasting their resources and time as they had irrevocably made up their minds to return the Deputy Chief Whip to the House of Representatives.…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark has asked the Delta state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to resign from being the running mate of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate. Addressing journalists on Wednesday at his Asokoro residence in Abuja, the Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF); and Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), Chief Edwin Clark, had accused Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Vice presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of financing the presidential project of his principal, Atiku Abubakar, with the resources of Delta…
By Azu Ishiekwene At first, he appeared to be the most unlikely candidate for the task. After his fifth attempt at running for Kenya’s presidency, surely Raila Odinga is finished, done. The only thing left perhaps was how to update his memoirs. But who needs nuggets from a loser who couldn’t put them to use himself? These were the thoughts that weighed on our minds as we thought of inviting former Kenyan Prime Minister and freshly defeated candidate of the Orange Democratic Movement, Raila Odinga, to the 14th edition of the LEADERSHIP annual conference and awards. It’s also interesting that since…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has promised not to boycott the forthcoming general election. This is as the pro-Biafra movement, has urged Ndigbo and residents of South-East to ignore any purported sit-at-home order on election days. IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, dissociated itself from any group calling for the boycott of the polls. It also said that anyone issuing sit-at-home order on election days were criminals collaborating with the enemies to ruin the future of Ndigbo. IPOB noted that in as much as it had no confidence in Nigeria…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia As part of measures to mitigate the hardship imposed on Nigerians by the scarcity of re-designed currency notes, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Thursday, directed commercial banks to start paying their customers the new Naira notes over the counter. The apex bank, however, pegged maximum withdrawal by a customer to N20,000 per day. The directive was contained in statement by the Director, Corporate Communication, CBN, Osita Nwanisobi. CBN sternly warned against abuse of the new currency, threatening to prosecute anyone caught selling or buying the new currency notes. Nwanisiobi said that the CBN would collaborate with…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia & Ben Ezechime, Enugu Motorists and commuters in South-East Nigeria groan over the biting economic hardship as a litre of petrol now sells for N500 in Abia and Enugu. Premium motor spirit, PMS, has been very scarce in Umuahia the capital of Abia State in the last one week, and the few petrol stations which have the essential commodity dispensed at N500 per litre, and N450 in some instances. Transport fare has since doubled as Umuahia to Uturu which before this time cost about N700 now goes for N1500. Kingsley, a tricycle driver said it made no meaning being on…