Author: Editor

By Hassan Gimba Perhaps in the future, politicians, political analysts, strategists, scientists and consultants may want to look at one or two things here that make Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s campaign what it is, especially its tenacity, perseverance, astuteness and personal ties. Between 1993 and this year, that’s thirty years, Atiku Abubakar, former vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, would have contested the presidential election eight times. Twice – in 2007 and 2019 – he was a candidate on the platform of two different parties, and thrice – in 1993, 2011 and 2015 – he was stopped at the…

By Owei Lakemfa A country wracked with corruption and impunity, cannot but be confronted by examination malpractices and admission rackets even by institutions. This was the conclusion I reached at the end of the January 8, 2023 Stakeholders Meeting between the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, and media executives. Another conclusion was that no matter how degenerate things become, we must never be short of men and women determined to fight the scourge. JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Olarewaju Oloyede narrated stories of the Board’s unending battles with fraudsters who try to beat the system. For example, during registration, some…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Police Command in Enugu State says it has begun manhunt for suspected IPOB/ESN renegades who burnt the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office and killed a policeman on duty at Awkunanaw, in Enugu South Local Government Area. In this regard, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, CP Ahmed Ammani, has ordered a discreet investigation and manhunt to fish out the bandits, who in their numbers attacked and set ablaze a portion of INEC Office, at about 9.15pm Sunday. In a press statement made available to Ikengaonline through the command’s spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the CP said the hoodlums…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki There is anxiety in Ebonyi State following the delisting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the list of candidates for the governorship and National Assembly election. A check by our Correspondent on INEC’s website shows that the names of the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the party, Ifeanyi Ọdịi and Senator Igwe Nwagu were conspicuously missing in the updated list. Also the names of the three senatorial candidates of the party, Senator Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North), Lazy Ogbe (Ebonyi Central) and Senator Ama Nnachi(Ebonyi South) were also missing from the list. Five…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State has been burnt by unknown persons. A statement by the INEC National Commissioner for Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Festus Okoye, said the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, reported the incident to the Commission’s headquarters. He said the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday According to the statement, during the attack, the security gatehouse was razed. He, however, said that the hoodlums could not gain access to the main building before the arrival of…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The senatorial candidate of Labour Party, (LP) for Enugu North district, Barrister Okay Ezea has denied rumours that he is having secret meetings with Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi with a view to stepping down for him. This is contained in a statement he issued in Nsukka, Enugu State in reaction to insinuations that he is ready to collect huge money from Ugwuanyi and abandon his ambition and his supporters. Ezea said he could not compromise his senatorial ambition and that he had never held any meeting with the governor on any issue including stepping down. He said: “The…

Our Reporter, New York Nigeria-born writer, scholar, and Visiting Professor to the African Studies Center at the University of Oxford, Prof. Onyeka Nwelue, has narrated how members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) threatened to kill his parents and other family members because he invited the Governor of Imo State to Oxford to mark the 85th birthday celebration of the founder of the African Writers Series, Professor James Currey. Professor Nwelue, also an Academic Visitor to the Centre for African Studies at the University of Cambridge, stated this during an appearance penultimate Sunday on 90MinutesAfrica with Rudolf Okonkwo. He…

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today condemned the expulsion of an Arise Television cameraman from a campaign meeting by the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, with the business community in Lagos on January 13, 2023, describing the action of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) as bizarre, highhanded and a violation of the rights of the media. In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA’s Programme Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, expressed concern that “the APC-PCC’s blatant disregard for the rights of a journalist performing a constitutionally-protected function even at a time when the party is seeking to persuade…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Pro-Biafra movement, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has raised the alarm over alleged plot by bandits and terrorists from the North, to invade some communities in Anambra State. “Intelligence information at our disposal has it that the  terrorists a.k.a herdsmen chased out from Enugu State, mostly from Oji River Province, are trooping into Anambra to invade some unspecified communities there,” IPOB said in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful. Continuing, the statement said: “Terrorists (herdsmen) trooping into Nnewi and Awka, who claimed coming for business are actually terrorists coming for attacks. Engr.…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The  Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has demanded probe on the attack on the home of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Representatives candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency, and  the Spokesman of the Conference of United Political Parties, CUPP, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere. COSEYL, in a statement by its President General, Goodluck Ibem,  condemned the barbaric attack, and urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to immediately investigate the incident and prosecute the perpetrators. Akokwa country-home of Ugochinyere came under attack on Saturday evening resulting in the death of three persons including his uncle. Many vehicles…