Author: Editor
By Ike Okonta Professor Patrick Utomi graciously received Chiedu Ezeanah, the poet and journalist, and me in his hotel suite in Rockview Hotel, Abuja, on a rainy Friday evening in early July. Professor Utomi had just come in from the Channels Television’s studio where he had fielded questions from Seun Okinbaloye, anchor of the television network’s politics programme. The subject was the Labour Party and Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate. As usual Professor Utomi was passionate, lucid and brilliant, making the case that Peter Obi represented an epochal shift in Nigerian politics, a rare opportunity for the younger generation to…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Efforts for the economic recovery of the South-East geo-political zone have received a major boost following the resolve of an international group of investors, Zenith Environmental and Social Protection Network, ZESPRONET, to embark on Trans South-Eastern Gas Pipeline. The project according to the investors, will provide uninterrupted energy supply to the region replete with a lot of enterprises. President of the group of investors, Dr. Emeka Oji, who disclosed this in Abuja said the group was poised to make the South-East a major industrial hub in the West African sub-region. He noted that if the energy needs of…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Popular philanthropist and Chieftain of All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) High Chief Azubuike Ekweozor, has empowered five individuals to mark his birthday at Umuawulu community, Awka South Local Government area, Anambra State. Chief Ekweozor, a Maritime expert, who cuts a key figure in his community for his philanthropy and penchant for community development embarked on the empowerment to enrich the masses with fresh hope. The beneficiaries were empowered through Ide Global Movement, a foundation set up for his philanthropy and other think-home philosophy activities in his community. They were gifted automobiles including three shuttle buses, a Toyota corolla saloon…
By Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo Tuesday, August 9, 2022: This morning, after my praise and worship and morning prayers, I scanned through online newspapers. As usual, I read both the local and the international news headlines. Apart from the election in Kenya, the other headline that caught my attention was the New York Times’ story about how General Mark Milley, President Trump’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, almost resigned. According to the newspaper, he wrote a resignation letter that was biting. It made me have a flashback. I remembered my resignation letter, which, just like General Milley, I did…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Ikengaonline has gathered that the Catholic priest, Rev Father Chinedu Nwadike; and a seminarian who were abducted along the Umunneochi axis of the Enugu- Port Harcourt Expressway, have regained their freedom. They were abducted Friday evening on their way to Enugu after leaving the Spiritan University Umunneochi. According to reports, the victims were released Sunday evening, although the news was broken on Monday evening by one of the relations to the cleric. Their kidnappers had reportedly demanded N50 million ransom after their abduction. Ikengaonline further gathered that Abuchi Anueyiagu, a relation of the priest took to his Facebook page to break the…
Michael Onwuka, Enugu A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has expressed concern over the victimisation of a whistleblower, Richard Oghenerhoro, who exposed and publicised fraudulent employment practices in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. It, therefore, called on the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, to protect Oghenerhoro from further victimisation by some highly placed officials of the ministry. The coalition include African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG), Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The group noted that Oghenerhoro had…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Ebonyi State Government on Monday confirmed the outbreak of monkeypox disease in the state. Commissioner for Health, Daniel Umezuruike said the state recorded a total of 32 suspected cases with only one confirmed case. Mr Umezuruike said the confirmed patient was believed to have contacted the disease from Rivers State when he traveled and presented symptoms of the disease upon his return to the State. “Notification of a suspected case of Monkeypox on the 10th of August, 2022 at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki. “A 32 year old male farmer who hails from Ugwulangwu in…
Our Reporter Deputy President William Ruto has won Kenya’s presidential election, the electoral commission chairman has said. He narrowly beat his rival, Raila Odinga, taking 50.4% of the vote. The announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by members of Mr Odinga’s campaign. Four of the seven members of the electoral commission refused to endorse the announcement, saying the results were “opaque.” “We cannot take ownership of the result that is going to be announced because of the opaque nature of this last phase of the general election,” said Juliana Cherera, the vice-chairperson of Independent Electoral and Boundaries…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The alleged expulsion/suspension of an All Progressives Congress senatorial aspirant in Ebonyi State, Mrs Ann Agom-Eze has continued to generate ripples across the state with the Chairman of her ward denying that the ward took such decision. The Chairman of Mrs Agom-Eze’s Umudomi Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Ogboji John Ogbonnaya, in a statement on Monday said no such action was taken by the ward. Mr Ogboji’s statement is in contrast to the claim by the APC Leadership in the State that she was suspended/expelled by the ward before the Ebonyi South zone of the party ratified…
By Owei Lakemfa Lecturers in our public universities are so absorbed in their national strike which is in the sixth month that they have not observed the unique contributions of President Muhammadu Buhari to industrial relations practice. Ironically, it has been serving or retired generals that have made the most fundamental contributions to the practice of relations between employees and employers. As a child while learning how to read, I stared at a photograph on the front page of a newspaper. It was some people with property and children. Help came from one of the elders around who helped me to…