Author: Editor
By Vitus Ozoke It is true — Jonathan’s successors, Late Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu, have turned out to be monumental disappointments in their own right. But that’s not an argument for amnesia. We cannot allow nostalgia for a failed leader simply because worse failures followed..” So, Goodluck Jonathan is said to be eyeing a return to Aso Rock — again. You almost have to admire the audacity. The man who presided over one of the most rudderless, corrupt, and visionless administrations in Nigeria’s democratic history now thinks he deserves a second bite of the apple. It’s almost comical, if…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on the Federal and state governments to fully implement existing executive orders and the Supreme Court judgment on financial autonomy for Local Government Areas (LGAs). This call was contained in a communiqué issued in Enugu after a one-day training on Economic Literacy and Budget Accountability for Local Government Stakeholders, organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in collaboration with the Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE). The communiqué stated that participants, including representatives of CSOs…
…As Otti Takes Over Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has outlined key infrastructural projects being executed by his administration in the South-East geopolitical zone, insisting that contrary to widespread misconceptions, the zone has not been neglected. The President, represented by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, stated this on Friday in Aba during the inauguration of some projects executed by Governor Alex Otti of Abia State. Tinubu confirmed that the Abia State Government has taken over the reconstruction of 35 kilometres out of the 49-kilometre Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway, following a formal request…
Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka Tension flared at the Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum for the 2026 Budget in Anambra State when the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, engaged in a verbal exchange with the traditional ruler of Umueri Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Igwe Benneth Emeka (Okebo II). Trouble began when the Commissioner remarked on the need for greater involvement of Presidents-General of communities and traditional rulers in budget discussions, emphasizing that their roles should not be merely ceremonial. “The beautiful aspect of this forum is bringing critical stakeholders together. But another question is: to what extent will their inputs be taken seriously?”…
…Seeks Tinubu’s intervention, seaport in South East Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has strongly condemned the unprovoked demolition of shops and structures belonging to Igbo people in Lagos. The Deputy Speaker called on President Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to halt the needless demolitions and give Ndigbo living in Lagos a sense of belonging. Rt. Hon. Kalu, who made the appeal when President Tinubu visited Abia to inaugurate some projects executed by Governor Alex Otti, also made a strong case for the establishment of a functional…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the ₦853 billion recently recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is transparently deployed to impact the lives of ordinary Nigerians. Obi, in a statement on Friday, commended the EFCC for the recovery but noted that the amount represented only a fraction of the public funds looted by corrupt leaders. He stressed that beyond celebrating the recovery, what matters most is how the money is utilised. “The utilisation of these funds…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday inaugurated the renovated Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia. Represented by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, the President urged Ndigbo to emulate the late Dr. Michael Okpara’s political philosophy of aligning with the centre. Tinubu commended Governor Alex Otti for what he described as a “miraculous” infrastructural transformation in Abia State, noting that Umuahia and other parts of the state were witnessing rapid development under Otti’s leadership. “As I was coming, I saw the water project at the Tower. I was part of it as a young engineer, and I…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have told Governors to stop tampering with council funds under the guise of joint allocation. They argued that the violation of Local Government budgets by State Governors amounts to financial crime. This was the position of participants at a one-day training organised by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) and Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR), with funding support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom. The training, titled “Economic Literacy and Budget Accountability for Local Government Stakeholders,” was held in Umuahia, the Abia…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Security expert, Mr. Sam Otoboeze, has identified corruption, proliferation of illegal arms, and erosion of family values as major drivers of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity. Otoboeze spoke on Friday at the 2025 Annual Convention of the Nsukka Journalists Forum (NJF) in Enugu State, where he delivered a lecture themed “Securing the Future: Enhancing Peace, Trust, and Development of Nsukka Cultural Zone.” He stressed the urgent need to restore family values and reform the nation’s educational system, which, he argued, produces graduates dependent on white-collar jobs rather than skilled entrepreneurs. “Our educational system does not encourage skills acquisition. When…
Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka Former Chief of Staff to the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Chief Primus Odili, has alleged that some lawmakers who once served in the State House of Assembly had no secondary school education before their election. Odili, who spoke at the monthly Congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, in Awka, said the situation prevailed before the emergence of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the ruling party in the state. “Before the advent of APGA, we know the situation in Anambra State. We had other political parties ruling the state.…