THE South East zone can rightly be said to be under siege by soldiers and police that have mounted checkpoints almost at every two kilometers in all the major roads in the zone. From Aba to Umuahia to Owerri, Enugu to Abakaliki, Awka to Onitsha to Nnewi, the story is the same. From Aba to Enugu, a distance of 150 kilometers, there are at least 12 army checkpoints and over 16 police checkpoints, permanently mounted and a couple of stop and search police teams The situation has been a source of worry to motorists and other road users in the zone, some of whom have described it as an embarrassment and an assault of the people of the zone. Recall that during the last South East Security meeting with the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo raised alarm over the multiple police checkpoints in the zone with the attendant extortion of motorists, harassment and intimidation of even passersby. In Abia, Aba-Umuahia, both the expr

A chieftain of the party, who spoke in confidence with journalists in Awka, the state capital, said APGA decided to hand the ticket to Soludo the former CBN Governor because the party believed he is the only person who can win the election for the party. The source also said the obstacle Soludo was facing in the hands of one of most powerful persons in the state had been cleared and the person had given the nod for him to sail with the party. Though, according to the source, the party had stopped all groups from campaigning for anyone as campaigns had not begun, he said some people were working underground for Soludo to carry the APGA flag. But Obi said APGA was making sure that it followed the party’s guidelines. Ekwueme’s wife, others drum support for Soludo in Anambra The chairman said three persons had shown interest in the governorship ticket, including Soludo, adding that by January, things will become clearer. Other aspirants, according to Obi, are Sir Damian Okolo, from Nnewi

Over the weekend, House of Representatives spokesman Hon. Benjamin Kalu, member representing Bende Federal Constituency payed a visit to his Constituency.  His first point of call was at the burial ceremony of Prof. Ijomah in Uzuakoli where he went to pay his last respect to the former University of Calabar professor. After the burial ceremony, he paid a courtesy visit to the  residence of Chief Ikenna Ariwodo, a diligent business man, an astute politician, a philanthropist and one of the greatest assets of the APC in Bende L.G.A and the entire Abia state. Chief Ikenna Ariwodo prepared a banquet for the dignitaries, party supporters and entire entourage of Hon. Benjamin Kalu that payed him a courtesy visit on the day of the burial of Prof. Ijiomah on October 3rd 2020 at his country home in Uzuakoli. Hon. Benjamin Kalu made a brief stop over to inspect his Constituency office before heading to Igbere to attend a meeting with the reality organization which had In attendance t

The Nigeria Labour Congress has vowed to proceed with its planned strike and protest with effect from September 28 following the failure of the Federal Government to reverse the hike in electricity tariff and fuel price. Rising from its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said the proposed action by the organised labour would proceed from next week. He stated that the decision was unanimously taken by the chairmen of the 36 states and FCT chapters of the NLC. TUC to join NLC in nationwide strike  The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has on Tuesday disclosed that it will join the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other the Civil Society allies to execute the nationwide strike which is to commence on the 28th of September. TUC, after an exhaustive meeting held to review its mobilsation strategies to protest the fuel hike and electricity tariff, resolved that the Congress is going to work in collaboration with its sister La

A political association, Igbo for President Solidarity Group, has suggested 11 politicians from the South-Eastern states that are “qualified to be presented as presidential candidates in 2023 general elections”. The president of the association, Dr. Olukayode Oshiariyo, announced the names after the meeting of the congress in Abuja on Friday, observing that time had come for the country to produce a president from among the Igbo. “IPSC has come to the conclusion that in 2023, a man or woman of Igbo extraction will become the president of Nigeria. “IPSC will engage in consultations across the six geo-political zones, visitation to Emirs, Obas, Eze, Obi and chiefs, to discuss and examine the characters and integrity of the eleven persons suggested,’’ he said. Among persons suggested by the group are Dr Ogbonaya Onu, Peter Obi, Dr Chris Ngige, Rochas Okorocha, Dave Umahi, Orji Uzor Kalu, Ike Ekweremadu, and Enyinnaya Abaribe. Others are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ifeanyi Uba, and Kingsle

Iyienu Mission Hospital and Health Care Foundation Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital since inception has been at the fore-front of missions, preaching and healings through tending the sick, the suffering and the dying. It will be recalled that the Rev. Henry Dobinson and Rev. F.N. Eden under the Church Missionary Society's (C.M.S) medical mission initiated what is today called "Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital" when they saw the need to reach the people with medical services on their arrival at Ozalla, Onitsha in 1890.  The Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital of today started as a dispensary in a somewhat dilapidated mud building in the old C.M.S. compound which was originally built by the first Bishop of the Niger Territory - the Rt. Rev Samuel Ajai Crowther - who also lived there. Other missionaries that came later include: * Miss Taylor (a nurse) - 1893 * Miss Maxwell (a nurse) * Dr. Clayton * Miss Mary Elms * Miss Edith Warner * Dr. & Mrs. A.E. Bruit – arrived i

Heads of maritime agencies in Nigeria have agreed to work on modalities for the movement of cargo by barges from Lagos ports to Onitsha, in Anambra state so as to ease traffic in Apapa. Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, disclosed this at a recent meeting of all heads of maritime agencies in Lagos Jamoh said the meeting constituted a committee to produce a work plan for the 24-hour port system, and agreed to carry communities around the port environments along in order to ensure safe operations within the port vicinities and beyond. We also agreed to work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on how movement of cargoes from the ports can be done by rail to reduce the pressure on our roads. “Our focus is also to ensure containers are moved by barges to dry ports outside the port environments. All these would help in the efficiency and effectiveness of our ports.” Managing Director of Nigerian Ports A