Year: 2025

Photo: Valentine Obienyem and Kenneth Okonkwo By Valentine Obienyem I listened attentively to Kenneth Okonkwo’s recent interview, particularly the segment where he made unkind and unprovoked remarks about Mr. Peter Obi. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Coming from someone who once enjoyed public goodwill as a vocal figure within the Labour Party, Kenneth’s comments were not only unnecessary, they were deeply unbecoming. What is most telling is that his outburst was not triggered by a direct attack. Those who carefully followed Mr. Obi’s own interview would…

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By: Mandy Park The Senate has expressed strong reservations over the appointment of Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey, a Cross River State indigene, as Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). Senators cited concerns about the potential marginalization of host communities in sensitive political appointments. The nomination is part of a list submitted by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), the administrator of Rivers State, who took office following a political crisis and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the State Assembly . The suspension was…

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By: Mandy Park The Labour Party Acting National Chairman, Dr. Mrs. Nenadi Usman, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for gloating over the party’s internal challenges while his own APC is embroiled in conflict in the North-East chapter. In a statement, Usman accused Tinubu of undermining democratic principles by celebrating the opposition’s weaknesses, saying that a president who does so is essentially celebrating the erosion of democracy . In the statement Usman recalled that President Tinubu “recently mocked the opposition, gleefully declaring his joy at what he described as our moment…

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By: Mandy Park The Action Collective has raised serious concerns over what it described as the growing desperation of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in his alleged bid to undermine Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. In a strongly worded statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mr. Teddy Onyejuwe, the group questioned Akpabio’s motives, describing recent legal moves against the Kogi Central senator as shameful and politically motivated. According to the group, the desperation of the federal government’s legal team, acting on behalf of Senator Akpabio, has left many Nigerians…

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By: Mandy Park The Director of Agribusiness Incubation Centre (ABIC) at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Dr. Philips Nto, has praised the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for its support of commercial agriculture in Nigerian universities. The initiative aims to promote food security and create employment opportunities for youths He said the gesture apart from actualizing the federal government’s renewed hope agenda in agriculture and food security will also create employment for the youths. Dr Nto spoke at Umudike as ABIC commenced the maiden harvest of fruits from its…

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By: Mandy Park The media team for Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called on President Bola Tinubu to protect his democratic legacy by ensuring the federal government does not further pursue the case against the Kogi Central Senator, which they claim is spearheaded by Sandra Duru’s testimony. The Media Team, in a statement on Sunday said the president’s legacy could be jeopardized if he allows persons with ulterior motives use state’s institutions in pressing the charges against the senator with an alleged fugitive, Sandra Duru as a witness. According to the…

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By: Mandy Park Former Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, believes Nigerians will determine the next president in 2027. In a recent interview, Dalung expressed concerns over the current state of governance, citing President Bola Tinubu’s administration as being “far below expectations” . Dalung also weighed in on the recent defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that these moves may not necessarily translate to votes for Tinubu in 2027. He noted that the APC’s endorsements of Tinubu are more like a “political caricature”. On the coalition…

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By: Mandy Park The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Halima Buba, CEO of SunTrust Bank, and Innocent Mbagwu, the bank’s Executive Director, over alleged $12 million money laundering. They face a six-count charge bordering on money laundering, allegedly violating Nigeria’s Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Buba was arraigned on Friday before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja alongside Innocent Mbagwu, the bank’s Executive Director and Chief Compliance Officer. The two top executives are facing a six-count charge bordering on money laundering,…

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By: Mandy Park Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s posthumous pardon and conferment of national honours on Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists but noted that for this long overdue gesture to transcend ceremonial pageantry, it must catalyse full reparations and tangible justice for Ogoni Land and its people. In a statement made available by its Media and Communications’ Officer, Robert Egbe, after the President’s June 12, 2025, Democracy Day address, CAPPA described the pardons as a historical reckoning that coincides with the…

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