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  Opinion   “I will continue to support good ones, just as I have applauded the Governor today for saving $20k from Private jet while using only 250k as business class ticket” - Obinna Oriaku | #NwokeukwuMascot File Image This morning, I said that gradually this platform is taking shape as repository of egg heads where you must be able to defend what you post with superior propositions.  @⁨BenUdechukwu whatsap⁩ Dalu. Kaaa. ⁨Ferdinand Ekeoma Is on this platform and he shared the above in over 10 platforms but deliberately avoided the kitchen where we cook the food before sending out to other shops. He knows  Oriaku is here and will respond with entire missiles. Am happy he has lunched the first salvo and I don't take prisoners on matters like this . It is clear it took him about two days to piece this together, but he still decided to lunch it even after seeing the  embarassing pictures ( videos )of Abia lodge before and after the demolition last week.  This has also caused huge em

  News   File Image  Some elders and stakeholders in Northern Nigeria have announced their full support for the planned nationwide hunger protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria scheduled to hold from August 1 to 10. The elders and the stakeholders who made their position know in a statement signed by Prof. Usman Yusuf; ⁠Hajia Najatu Muhammad; ⁠⁠Mallam Salihu Lukman; and ⁠Dr. Umar Ardo, also made seven demands to the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government. In the statement obtained by news on Wednesday, the Northern elders and stakeholders said that Nigeria had long been facing unprecedented challenges of insecurity, excruciating poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, diseases, high cost of living, all on account of bad governance and corruption in public offices.    They said, “We acknowledge that the primary purpose of any government is to secure life and property, and enhance the welfare of its citizens.    “Any regime that cannot guarantee these basic rights loses all legal an

  News   File Image There is pandemonium in Owerri, the Imo State capital as sporadic shooting is going on across the city. A security Eons Intelligence in post shared on X attributed the shooting to unknown gunmen. It wrote: "At 1130 am today 31st July, 2024, Owerri Prison under attack by Unknown gunmen as prison armed Squad in gun duel.  "Reinforcement from military and other security formation ongoing." Click photo tweet to watch video It further tweeted, "Report of sporadic shooting across Owerri Municipal by UGM. Suspected Hoodlums also attacked the UBA bank at Wetheral Road.  "Avoid the area until normalcy is restored." While some witnesses attributed the gunshots to unknown gunmen, sources from Imo State capital, who witnessed the incident told SaharaReporters that the shooting could not be from unknown gunmen. According to one of the sources, the shooting is simultaneously going on at the Okigwe road, World Bank, Control, in front of Government Hou

  News   Governor Otti Appoints New Auditor General from Outside the Civil Service: A Deepening Nepotism Controversy | #NwokeukwuMascot Alex Chioma Otti Governor Alex Chioma Otti’s administration continues to face criticism for its perceived favoritism and disregard for civil service norms. In a move reminiscent of his previous controversial appointments, Otti has appointed Eke Ngozi Ogbonnaya-Ugwo from Arochukwu to the position of Auditor General of the State, bypassing the established norms of the Civil Service Commission. Ogbonnaya-Ugwo, who began her role over a month ago, is the latest in a series of appointments that have raised eyebrows among the staff at the state’s Audit office. This office is traditionally independent of the Executive, and the appointment of someone from outside its ranks has sparked considerable concern among employees. The Governor’s pattern of appointing individuals from his own ethnic group, the Aro, is seen by many as an overt display of nepotism. The li

  Opinion   Protest: Let the Past Guide Us by John Okiyi Kalu | #NwokeukwuMascot File Image Abia State is yet to fully recover from the EndSARS protest of 2020. If you must protest, please, do not destroy state infrastructure or engage in violent acts. There is something called peaceful protest, and that’s the only thing the law guarantees to all. We should not cut our noses to spite of our faces again.  It is also important to admonish security agents to resist the temptation of using live bullets or employ strong arm tactics to break up protests across the nation. The objective in managing any protest on the 1st of August should be ZERO loss of life and properties. If that is achieved, it means our democracy has matured and is much more resilient.  Federal and state governments should stop running palliative-based interventions to issues of hunger. It has never worked in this country. Instead, there are grounds that can be conceded to the agitators, including a reduction in the pric

  Opinion   Otti's Lavish Lifestyle: A Burden on Abia State by  Mascot Nnamdi  | #NwokeukwuMascot File Image Anywhere Premium whisky is present, you'll find Governor Alex Otti. If it were Okezie Ikpeazu attending every event even with the current security challenge in Aba ,many of these same people would be criticizing him for neglecting governance in favor of social gatherings. The cost of attending these personal events is substantial for the state, as a private jet is now dedicated to the Governor’s movements at Owerri airport. This is a stark contrast to the criticism faced by Okezie Ikpeazu for using a private jet. After the 2019 electoral loss with attendant financial havoc, the first private jet Otti used personally was actually hired by Uche Ogah to transport him back from Abuja after the election results were declared. Before then, Otti flew economy class—a fact those who frequently travelled from Owerri to Lagos can attest to. Claims that he could afford such a luxuri

  News    File Image  Major General MA Abdullahi (N/10208), the Commandant of the depot of the Nigerian Army in Zaria, Kaduna State has told personnel serving in the facility to warn their families against joining the planned nationwide protest, multiple sources told Newsmen. The depot is used by the army for the training of recruits.  Since its establishment in 1924, Nigerian soldiers have been trained at the facility. A nationwide anti-inflation protest in Nigeria themed “EndBadGovernanceInNigeria” has been planned for August 1.   It was reported how some soldiers declared their support for Nigerians to take to the streets to protest the prevailing hardship, hunger, and bad governance.   They had claimed military personnel were also affected by bad governance.   The soldiers said the current government of Bola Tinubu and previous ones had impoverished those of them in the lower cadre.   They noted that to meet their basic financial needs, they had to sell their cars, televisions, hou

  News   File Image The management of telecommunications giant, MTN, has announced the closure of all its shops across Nigeria amid protest over massive disconnection of SIM cards due to non-linkage with National Identification Number (NIN). This was contained in a short notice issued via the company’s official social media handles, stating that the offices would be closed today, Tuesday 30th July, 2024. The notice reads: “Y'ello Customer, Please be informed that our shops nationwide will be closed today, 30th July.   "We are available 24/7 to support you via our digital channels.”    It has been reported on Monday that scores of Nigerian stormed the offices of MTN in major cities in the country to protest the disconnection of their SIM cards.    Recall that thousands of Nigeria, on Sunday, woke up to their SIM cards being barred by the MTN management.   The disconnection comes as Nigerian regulators pressure telcos to implement the NIN-linkage policy introduced in December 20

  News   File Image At least four police officers were killed on Monday evening when gunmen attacked their patrol vehicle in Imo state. The incident happened along the popular Ontisha road in Owerri, the state capital. Eyewitness reports said the fleeing gunmen also shot death a point of sale (POS) operator. The attack occurred at the Blossom Hotel police checkpoint, near SaveMore Market Place in Irete, where the gunmen opened fire on the officers, an eyewitness told Newsmen. According to eyewitness, “They also shot dead a female Point Of Sale operator and some pedestrians who were taken unawares. All the people around ran away for fear of being hit by stray bullets.”   Another eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, attributed the attack to individuals enforcing the Monday sit-at-home order.    Meanwhile, Henry Okoye, the spokesperson for the Imo State police, when contacted, stated that the command had not yet received a briefing on the incident but would provide an update once t