Author: Editor

By Nnamdi Elekwachi In Nigeria, the North enjoys the game of numbers such that certain political interests and power brokers there would do everything, even the unthinkable, to ensure that the North remains ahead of other regions in that game. Reason I will always posit that the basis of the claim that the North has the largest human population in Nigeria remains unsettled and in limbo until a reliable national register or database domiciled with agencies like National Population Commission, NPC; National Identity Management Commission, NIMC; National Bureau of Statistics, NBS; Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; National Boundary Commission, NBC…

By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu “It was as if the football club wanted to regain through football what the Igbo ‘lost’ during the war.” – Segun Odegbami, MON Nearly every Nigerian who was alive then remembers where they were at the end of 1976 when Alyufusalam Rocks met Enugu Rangers International in the finals of what was then known as the Challenge (Football Association) Cup. With a history going back to the Governor’s Cup, the first finals of which took place on 7 November 1945, the Challenge Cup was the premier knock-out competition in Nigerian football. Although strictly inferior to the football…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, has accused Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, of supervising the collapse of the health sector in the state. NMA in an emotion-laden but terse statement, Saturday, expressed utter shock and bewilderment that 54 days after doctors proceeded on an indefinite strike in the state over salary arrears of 25 months, the Governor had remained adamant to the demands of the doctors. The doctors in the statement jointly signed by NMA Chairman, Dr Isaiah Abali; and Secretary, Dr Daniel Ekeleme; decried the precarious condition of their colleagues whose salaries had not been paid…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS machines,  would be the ultimate game changer in the forthcoming elections. INEC National Commissioner and Head Voter Education, Festus Okoye, who stated this Saturday in Abia while addressing newsmen after monitoring the mock accreditation exercise in select polling units in the state, expressed satisfaction over the performance of the machines. He said that the initial hitches with the machine had been rectified, assuring that they have proved effective and efficient. “We tested the BVAS and we are confident we have gotten it right. They performed…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Chief Okey Ahiwe, has emerged as the new governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State. Ahiwe who was the immediate -past Chief of Staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, emerged Saturday at a fresh governorship primary held at the Umuahia Township Stadium. The fresh primary followed the sudden death of the PDP governorship flag bearer, Professor Uche Ikonne, on January 25. Ahiwe who hails from the same Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area with the late Ikonne, polled 469 votes to emerge the new flag bearer. A total of eight aspirants contested in the…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Enugu State chapter, Mr Romanus Eze, has advised farmers in the state not to rush into planting because of perceived early rains. Eze said farmers should not be deceived into commencing farming activities by the current light showers According to him, first rains of every year will not even wet the soil for planting crops, but will only reduce the atmospheric heat and dust. “There are no assurances in planting crops with the first rains. I will not call it rain, but a drop in form of rain. “The…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to hold him responsible if his administration fails to impact positively on their lives and the economy of the nation. He disclosed this while addressing the people at PA Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki. Obi, also promised that his administration would ensure that his policies would favour the youths to end the suffering Nigerians are facing under the APC-led government in the country. He urged the people not to vote for those contesting based on religion, tribe and turn, but focus…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Director General of the Divine Mandate Campaign Council, the campaign platform of the APC in Ebonyi State for the 2023 general election, Austin Umahi, has said the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Francis Nwifuru, never threatened the Ezza clan. He was reacting to reports credited to Mr Nwifuru where he was alleged to have threatened that the Ezza clan will regret it if they don’t vote for him. But Mr Umahi noted that Nwifuru holds the people of Ezza clan in high esteem, knowing the clan’s strategic place in Ebonyi polity. Mr Umahi said the statement of Mr…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Over 200,000 Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, are yet to be collected in Abia State according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC in charge of the state, Professor Ike Uzochukwu, disclosed this Friday during a press conference at the INEC headquarters, Ogurube Layout  Umuahia. He called on owners of the uncollected PVCs to pick them at the INEC office in the Local Government Area where they registered before the deadline for PVC collection slated for Sunday, February 5. The REC who said that INEC was prepared to conduct free and fair elections in the state urged…

By Owei Lakemfa The month of January 2023 has been one of the bloodiest in the Palestine with at least 35 killed in various Israeli raids.  Uncharacteristically, some Israelis were also killed. This happened when a lone Palestinian, armed with a handgun killed seven Israelis in East Jerusalem, the traditional home of the Palestinians. Last year, 170 Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids with about 10,000 injured. The Israeli system does not discriminate between adults and minors;  Israeli forces between September 29, 2000 and December 26, 2008, killed 1,084 Palestinian children. Many of these conflicts arise out of the forced displacement…