NIGERIAN NOTCH

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has mourned the death of the former Presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention in the June 12, 1993 election, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, saying his contributions to Nigeria’s democracy remained indelible. In a statement signed by the commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, the governor noted the sacrifices of Tofa, who started taking up leadership responsibilities at an early age, when he was elected councillor, in his late 20s. He had remained vibrant and dynamic up till the time of his death. He said as a businessman, trader and philanthropist, Tofa touched the lives of many people, especially the down-trodden, and he expressed the belief that the legacies of the deceased will be approximated for posterity. “The legacy of his political beliefs and triumphs will be important footnotes in the literature of Nigeria’s government and politics for generations yet to come. “He was a great man, a quintessential democrat

The World Bank has said Nigeria may have one of the highest inflation rates globally in 2022, with increasing prices diminishing the welfare of Nigerian households. According to the World Bank, Nigeria is projected to have one of the highest inflation rates globally and the seventh highest among Sub-Saharan African countries in 2022 “In 2022, Nigeria is expected to have one of the highest inflation rates in the world and the seventh highest in Sub-Saharan Africa,” it said. The bank said this in the November edition of its Nigeria Development Update. According to the global financial institution, high inflation hampers the country’s attempt to achieve economic recovery and erodes the purchasing power of most vulnerable households. The document read in part, “High inflation is frustrating Nigeria’s economic recovery and eroding the purchasing power of the most vulnerable households. In the absence of measures to contain inflation, rising prices will continue to diminish the welfare of Ni

A man has been arrested after a large fire severely damaged the Houses of Parliament in the South African city of Cape Town. The suspect, who is not a parliamentary employee, will appear in court on Tuesday, facing charges of arson, housebreaking and theft, police said. Firefighters worked for hours to extinguish the blaze. President Cyril Ramaphosa called it a "terrible and devastating event", as he vowed parliament's work would continue. Footage from the scene on Sunday showed a plume of black smoke filling the sky, with huge flames coming out from the roof of the building. Officials say the fire started on the third floor offices and quickly spread to the National Assembly (the parliament's lower house) chamber, reports the BBC's Nomsa Maseko in Cape Town. The parliament is not currently in session because of the holidays, and no-one was injured. However the building is home to thousands of treasures including historic books, photographs and important works of

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the last truly global figure from an era when South Africa taught the world what courage and reconciliation could achieve. The last of an extraordinary generation of moral giants - of men and women who, in the 1980s and 1990s, steered a turbulent, traumatised country away from cruelties of racial apartheid and the cliff-edge of civil war. With Desmond Tutu gone, South Africa finds itself not quite rudderless or leaderless, but fully untethered, at last, from the years of its greatness. The contrast between those times of sacrifice and glory, and today's far shabbier political realities can certainly appear stark. The country Tutu finally leaves behind is a troubled one, gripped by deep economic malaise, by chokingly high unemployment and enduring inequality, and governed by a former liberation party, the African National Congress (ANC), which is at open war with itself. Tutu was too frail to comment on the political violence that erupted in July this yea

  As Omicron cases continue to surge across the world, health experts have raised concerns over the detection of the first case of  “Florona disease” –  a double infection of COVID-19 and influenza – in Israel. Reports say the first case of Florona was detected in an unvaccinated pregnant woman admitted to the Rabin Medical centre to give birth. However, there has been no confirmation that the woman was diagnosed with either COVID-19 or influenza. The ‘Florona disease’ it was gathered is not a new variant of COVID-19 and so far, there has been no fresh information available on the symptoms. According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, it is possible to catch both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time as the viruses share similar symptoms, and both can be fatal.   Israeli doctors said the disease is being studied as the country witnessed a spike of influenza cases believed to be fuelled by the Omicron variant in the last few weeks. Dr Nahla Abdel Wahab, a doctor at Cairo University

All is set for the Imo State Stakeholders meeting scheduled to hold today, Tuesday, 4th January 2022 at Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri as all relevant stakeholders have been invited and Imolites expectant of the outcome. In running an all inclusive governance, His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma had upon resumption of office, announced a routine Stakeholders Meeting with Ndi Imo across board. The meeting which is in series presents an opportunity for the Governor of Imo State to account to Ndi Imo the activities and direction of the Government in fast-tracking development to the State and as well, a discuss on the recent events in the State.  The Governor has kept to his pledge of running an all inclusive Government with transparency to the people. The meeting usually held periodically has greatly contributed in the policies and programs of the administration as reactions form the participants  are usually taken into account afterwards by the Gove

GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA of Imo state has advocated a renewed and collective effort by the people of Imo state to stamp out violence and other forms of criminality in the state this year. In his  new year Message to the people of the state, Uzodimma pledged that the government will work in concert with the security agencies to ensure a safer Imo state in 2022 and beyond  He also pledged that his administration will this year redouble efforts to redress the infrastructural deficit it met on assumption of office. According to him, the huge capital outlay in this year's budget of over 74% of the total budget, was a sign that there would be more developmental projects in the state. Uzodimma however noted that progress could only be made in an atmosphere of peace. He noted that some opposition elements had sought to destabilize the state and arrest its progress, but expressed gratitude to God that they have been overwhelmed. He also expressed appreciation to all the patriotic citizens who

The executive members of Okofia Development Union in Nnewi North LGA of Anambra state has passed a vote of no confidence on their President General for what they termed gross misappropriation of funds.  In a letter made available to our correspondent in Nnewi, and signed by 12 executive officers who consist 2/3 majority of Okofia Development Union which translates as well to the general Community are of the view that the gross misappropriation of funds without resolutions from the executive or ratification of the said financial transactions pending is illegal and can no longer be condoled.  The stated that the exclusion and non recognition of women in the leadership of the community is appualling and needs to be addressed, while they bemoaned the exclusion of other executives in running the affairs of the community which led to the incompetence shown by the PG in uniting the NGO Abor quarters.  They therefore asked the President General to honorably resign or justify his actions, while

Dcn  Chuka Obaego has petitioned Imo State House of Assembly, over his landed property that was demolished  by agents of OCDA after he had paid  millions and started development on the landed property on which he was given receipt for. On the  7th August 2021 Dcn  Chuka got to his land  to find that the agents of OCDA invaded BNH Estate site where constructions have started  and destroyed property's worth over 50 Million Naira  The Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly after  receiving the Petition from the Clerk  referred the matter to IMHA Committee on Housing to go through and get back to the hallowed chambers after 3 Weeks The Eastern Heartland is known as a wonderful and peaceful place where investors can actually do their business unhindered. These agents of OCDA has been very overzealous in carrying out their duties in recent times and should be working in synergy with the good policy of APC Led Shared Prosperity Government This fraudulent antics is discouraging investors fro

  On the 26th day of December, 2021; Mr. Uche Nwosu, A former Chief of staff to Imo former Governor was picked up in his local Church. His followers disturbed the reading public with different narratives and story lines as it regards to the said picking up. Some said that he was kidnapped, others said that he was arrested but in a Gestapo style while the religious ones questioned why it must be in a Church but the bottom line is that he was picked up. To the overtly emotional followers, your principal was arrested after refusing to honor many invitations extended to him by the law enforcement agents a move that warranted him being trailed to his village and finally his place of worship.  I am not holding briefs for the state nor the Federal governments but I believe that the reading public deserves some truths and the records set aright. Ugwumba as he is fondly called must have had an unfinished business with the Law enforcement agents thus his invitation and subsequent arrest but as a

■A CRIMINAL CAN BE ARRESTED ANYWHERE, ANYTIME* Global Association of concerned Imo youths (GACIY) has rejected the petulant, careless, deceitful, and seditious utterances of Sen. Ethelbert Okorocha over the arrest of his son-in-law, Mr. Uche Nwosu. Anayo Okorocha not only had the effrontery to wag his little finger at Ndi Imo just because security operatives whisked away his son in-law, he splashed sewage on the person of Governor Hope Uzodimma in the full glare of national TV cameras, having failed miserably to link the Governor to the intractable travails of his family. If only Anayo enjoyed good counsel, he would have been stopped the second such perverse foolishness began to drip from his lying lips. We know Anayo to be a circus clown but the reprehensible remarks that came from him this afternoon are beneath his stature as a former Governor and portray him as a haunted soul. Why else will Anayo confess in a press conference that his son-in-law was arrested by operatives from the F