U-Report: Ohakim, Iheanacho Condole Former Imo State Dep. Gov. Over Husband’s Death

Ohakim(L) with the bereaved

Report By Emperor Iwuala

The immediate past governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, has described the death of the husband to his former deputy, Chief Engr. Chilaka Okwuonu, as a monumental loss to Imo State and the nation in general.

Videonews: Chelsea Clinton And New Baby Head Home

Article: Kwankwaso’s Abia Blast

Kwankwaso

By Abdullahi Mohammed

ON Sunday, September 28, 2014, Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Eze Chikamnayo, on Channels Television, as has become routine, struggled nervously to hoodwink viewers with Photoshop-generated pictures of alleged developmental signposts in the state. As far as he is concerned, viewers are gullible and could be taken in by such audacious and highly deceitful computer manipulations. Of course, as usual, the rabid target, principally, was the former governor of the state, Dr. Orji Kalu, whose earlier forensic and unassailable assertions on the same medium, rattled Umuahia. The incoherently garrulous and scurrilous errand boy from Abia also used the Channels opportunity to ingeniously dismiss recent remarks about the state by Prince Arthur Eze and Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, diligent and vocal governor of Kano State.

Poem: In The Confines Of Confusion

By Chidi Anthony Opara

The iron bird

With image of holiness

Etched on its wings,

With its belly bulging with currency

With the inscription;

“In God We Trust”

Flew

From this troubled land

To the homeland of Madiba

To exchange currency with war weapons.

News Release: Objection To Governor Orji’s Undeserved Decoration

We, like every other citizen – human or corporate, were anxious and understandably excited on September 18, 2014 when the news of the release of the list of some 305 recipients of 2013/2014 national honours awards took over both the airwaves and national dailies’ front pages. Unfortunately, our excitement was cut short by the presence of a name so obviously out of place on the list. More like a sore thumb that stuck out! Whilst we might not know the precise criteria that admit an individual into the list, we believe, quite strongly, that the essence of bestowing some special honours by government does not include celebrating mediocrity – in whatever guise.

Article: When Will This Tyranny Stop?

By Chijioke Nwariaku

The news emanating from God’s Own State in the past four weeks have been mind-boggling and embarrassing. Never in my entire life had I expected what I read daily from the various media covering news from Nigeria. Out of every 10 news items on the international scene six are from Abia State, Nigeria. And none of the six items is palatable. It is either one form of malfeasance or another, killing or kidnapping. In short, nothing good comes from Abia State. Curiously, all the news items have one thing or another to with the governor of the state, Chief T.A. Orji, his garrulous son or his overbearing wife. What kind of rubbish is this?

Photonews: Anointing Of The Breast

News Release: Edward Snowden's Reaction To The Right Livelihood Award 2014

Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden says in a 1:40 minute clip:
 

"Being named a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award for my work in revealing the global system of mass surveillance that is monitoring all of us in secret without the consent of the public is a vindication, I think, not just for myself but for everyone who came before me to raise awareness about these issues. Any contribution that I have made has been a result of the efforts of so many other people working in journalism, in activism, in human rights community, the civil liberties community, the technical communities, who recognized long before I did what was coming and why it was so important to stop it. Now, initially I thought I would be setting out to do this alone and that the attacks against me would isolate me, but I am surrounded by more people than I ever have been. People from countries around the world, who speak many different languages, but who recognize that the meaning of resisting the violations of our freedoms that we see today is not that we have something to hide, but that we have something to protect - our rights. Because the list of freedoms that any society enjoys is always equal to those that we are ready to defend. On behalf of so many around the world, who have risked their lives and their freedom to resist unlawful and disproportional mass surveillance, I would like to thank you.”

Zahra Moloo                                                                      

Press Consultant for Africa 
Right Livelihood Award Foundation 
Box 15072 
104 65 Stockholm 
Sweden 
Mobile: +254-724-568-164 
Stockholm office: +46-8-702 03 40 

Videonews: Edward Snowden's Reaction To The Right Livelihood Award 2014

Article: Engaging With The 2014 National Conference In Nigeria

By Jaye Gaskia

[BEING TEXT PRESENTED AT THE UNITED ACTION FOR DEMOCRACY (UAD) NATIONAL COORDINATING COUNCIL (NCC), MEETING HELD @ ABA, ABIA STATE, 21ST SEPTEMBER 2014].

Article: Dogs, Leashes And Control

By Abong Egbogiro

The art of control confers the authority of governance on the controller. Dogs not being humans, are controlled by the leashes around their necks, children are kept away from danger, harm and misdemeanors by the control of their parents, teachers and guardians. Laws and law enforcement agents serve as the leash on society otherwise our cities would be constantly visited with miscellaneous mayhem. The democratic system of governance we claim to practice in Nigeria has its own in-built control mechanism; hence it has been designed to have three arms that operate independently towards the singular goal of delivering qualitative governance to the society. It is in recognition of the fallibility of man and institutions that control mechanisms are instituted. It is also common knowledge that where they are no controls abuse becomes very imminent.

News Release: Cote d’Ivoire Signs Afreximbank’s Abidjan Office Establishment Agreements

Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra (left) shakes hands with Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan of Cote d’Ivoire shortly before the signing of the Branch Agreements for the Bank’s Abidjan office.

All is now set for the take-off of an Abidjan Branch Office of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to serve Francophone West Africa with the signing of the two foundation agreements for the Branch by the Bank and the Government of Cote d’Ivoire.

U-Report: Why The Building In T.B Joshua's Church Collapsed

Report By Betty Roger

Before the collapse of the building, it was recorded that at least four times, there was a crossing of a military airplane. It appears to be a Hercules C-130, which is a military aircraft, not civil.

Article: Bring Back Ikedi Ohakim

Ikedi Ohakim

By Kenneth Uwadi

For the poor and working people in Imo State there is nothing cheerful in the plans of Governor Rochas Okorocha to re contest governorship in  2015  . Just like this his present regime, if he is allowed to win again, it will mean a  continuation of  a regime of anti people, anti poor, pro-rich ,pro-imperialist cum capitalist policies and it will legalize the looting of public resources by elements in government and their fronts. Okorocha’s speech recently of how he will retire his political opponents in 2015  was rich in bombastic self-praise, false promises and utter deception. What he  intends to consolidate is the failure or inability of his  primitive capitalist  thieving cabal to use the wealth of Imo  for the benefit of the poor working people.The major preoccupation of the Okorocha ‘s  government is looting  of  Imo oil allocation, Imo LGA funds and government properties and companies  with corruption opportunities for its extremely bloated top functionaries.

U-Report: Business Owners Around T.B Joshua’s Church Bemoan Drop In Patronage

A Shop Without Customers Around The Church

Report By Eric Dumo

Grief and palpable tension still rent the air across most parts of Ikotun, a densely populated suburb within the Lagos metropolis. Since Friday, September 12, 2014 when a six-storey building within the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations led by popular prophet, Temitope Balogun Joshua, collapsed, killing over 80 and leaving more than 100 injured, things have not remained the same for the church, its immediate neighbours and the entire Ikotun community. The church area has witnessed double the size of its normal visitors, with many coming from far and near to experience first hand, the level of devastation.

News Release: Shareholders To Inject $500 Million Into Afreximbank

Fourth Extraordinary General Meeting of Afreximbank Shareholders. (R-L) Afreximbank President Jean-Louis Ekra; Marcelin Agaya, Vice Minister for the Economy of Gabon and Chairman of the General Meeting; Gamal Mohamed Abdel-Aziz Negum, First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt; and Dr. Benedict Oramah, Afreximbank Executive Vice President for Business Development and Corporate Banking.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is to receive a $500-million capitalization following a decision by the Bank’s shareholders today to authorize a share offering to the Bank’s existing shareholders.

News Release: Intersociety Commends ICC, Catholic Bishops, On Boko Haram, Calls For More Actions (Part One)

On Thursday, 18th of September, 2014, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) wrote us. The reply letter under reference was sequel to our earlier letter to it dated Sunday 14th of September, 2014 over the sponsorship of the Nigerian Insurgency Violence orchestrated majorly by the duo of Boko Haram and Fulani Islamist terror groups. The ICC’s letter to the Intersociety is second in three months. Its first letter bordering on the same ethno-religious atrocity criminality in Nigeria was dated 2nd June, 2014 in response to our forwarding letter to it dated 30th of May 2014. The forwarding letter was in reference to our (now) four-part letter to Mr. President of Nigeria, dated 29th and 31st May, 2014(Boko Haram Terror & Other Unlawful Killings In Nigeria).

Article: Time To Stop The Tragedy Of Building Collapse

By Theophilus Ilevbare

It was a tragedy of building collapse one too many on that balmy Friday, September 12, in the premises of the Synagogue Church, Ikotun, Lagos when the foundations of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) Guest House could no longer hold as it came down crashing like a pack of cards. 80 people lost their lives,131people survived albeit with varying degree of injuries, and miraculously, a 45-year-old woman walked out of the rubble alive after 4 days of the building failure. Some persons thought to be South African nationals are still declared missing. The total number of people present at the building before the structural failure was about 200, including foreign believers, local church members and canteen workers. It is a tragedy of monumental proportion when worshippers who had come to seek the face of God end up seeing the face of death. For Founder and General Overseer, Prophet T.B Joshua and his teeming church members of SCOAN across the globe, this was one tragedy that they didn’t foresee or foretell.

Article: The SCOAN Calamity, The Church In Nigeria

By Clement Udegbe

The Synagogue Church Of All Nations, SCOAN, building collapse calamity of Tuesday September 15, will serve as a real test for the Lagos State government’s support for Christians and Churches.

U-Report: Eyewitness To T.B. Joshua’s Church Building Collapse

Fortu Ngomane; Eye Witness

Report By lee Seung

Over 200 South Africans survived the building collapse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (Scoan) in Lagos, South Africa's High Commissioner in Nigeria said on Thursday.

“There are 265 South African survivors. Initially there were 96 injured South Africans, but now there are only 29 still in hospital, including a three-year-old child,” Lulu Mnguni said in a telephone interview.

The ministry recently released an official statement which was posted on T.B. Joshua’s Facebook page. The post was followed by thousands of comments from T.B. Joshua’s Facebook fans leaving their prayers and support.

One South African commenter by the name of Fortu Ngomane, who claimed to be an eyewitness, shared her experience during the tragic event. She said,

Article: Where Are The Abia State Truce-Minded Elders?

By Leonard Nzenwa

Since the publication of Unyielding Grip of a Despotic Inspired trinity in Abia, a piece that examined the state of affairs in the State in many print and digital media, an avalanche of variegated rejoinders has followed the write-up. Many consented to its content: few vilified it; lots of people commended it for raising several germane issues relating to actual happenings in the state while a few more that shared the states’ government sentiment disparaged it. 

Photonews: Imo State Governorship Aspirant, Capt. Iheanacho Visits Owerri Market

News Release: 2014 Right Livelihood Awards To be Announced On September 25th

The Right Livelihood Award Foundation will announce the recipients of the 2014 Award at a press conference in the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs' Press Room, Stockholm, on September 25 at 10 am CET.

Article: Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak In Nigeria; The Issues At Stake

Ebola Symptom

By Jaye Gaskia
 
It is perhaps such an uncanny truth that the ongoing Ebola Virus Disease [EVD] outbreak in Nigeria should be so thoroughly representative of the good, the bad and the ugly in our national life and body polity.

Videonews: How The Building In T.B Joshua's Church Collapsed

Article: The Problems Besetting Abia State

By Chike Nwobosi

A lot of media wars have been going on between Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State and his predecessor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. The two personalities have said different things at the same time and are still going to say more: things they did when we were not with them while they held sway in the government house, Umuahia, when Kalu served as governor; 1999-2007. 

Open Letter: Sponsorship Of Nigerian Insurgency Violence

Retd. General Ihejirika

Ref: Intersociety/04/09/014/NG/Insurgency/ICC/Int.

Ms. Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor
International Criminal Court (ICC)
Chief Prosecutor’s Office, Maanweg, 174
2516 AB The Hague, the Netherlands

Dear Chief Prosecutor,

Sponsorship Of Nigerian Insurgency Violence: Why Your Distinguished Criminal Court Must Not Be Misled & Misinformed

Article: Beyond Stephen Davies’ Revelation

Stephen Davies(without mask) with supposed members of Boko Haram

By Theophilus Ilevbare

The dust raised by the stunning exposé of Australian independent negotiator, Dr Stephen Davis, on the alleged sponsors of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, indicted former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika (retd), the usual suspect, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, former Borno State governor, and an anonymous senior official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may not settle any time soon as fingers are now being pointed at the Presidency for hobnobbing with accused sponsors of immitigable and unmitigated terror unleashed on Nigerians.

U-Report: Miraculous Rescues From Collapsed Building At T.B Joshua’s Church

 Report By Ihechukwu Njoku

“Thank You, Jesus”, a cry rang out from an onlooker, followed by a burst of relieved applause from the crowd of church helpers and rescue workers. They had been working non-stop since the giant building was reduced to rubble in a matter of seconds the previous day.

Article: Before The Emergence Of Theodore Orji As Governor Of Abia State

Governor Theodore Orji

Comrade Henry O. Nwaigwe

According to the AIT thirty minutes documentary on Monday February 21, 2011, between the hours of 9am to 9:30am which was centered on the activities or performance of Governor Theodore Orji for four years of his governance in Abia State 2007 – 2011.  It is important I draw some lessons from what captured my attention for 30 minutes. 

News Release: MEND Disowns “Commander Wilberforce”

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to dissociate itself from an imposter and self-acclaimed “Commander” of MEND, going by the name of ‘Commander Wilberforce’ who claimed to speak for MEND by issuing threats of possible attacks on Lagos Judges. This threat was circulated in some sections of the media on Friday, 12 September 2014.

Open Letter: Creation Of New Polling Units

Ref.: Intersociety/09/05/014/FGN/ABJ/NG/INEC

1. His Excellency
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Thro
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation
The SGF Office, Shehu Shagari Complex
Three Arms Zone, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

2. Senator David Mark, President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria
The Senate Chambers, National Assembly Complex
Three Arms Zones, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

3. Honourable Aminu Tambuwal
Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria
The House of Reps Chambers, National Assembly Complex
Three Arms Zone, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

4.  Professor Attahiru Jega
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission
The INEC Headquarters, Plot 436, Zambezi Crescent
Maitama District, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria

Sirs,
Creation Of New Polling Units: Why Nigeria’s Roguish Electoral Demography Must Be Reviewed & Evenly Re-Distributed

U-Report: Imo Assembly Condemns INEC Short-Change Of The South In The Creation Of Polling Units

Report By Emeka Ahaneku

In a bid to stem what it referred as  a systematic and calculated procedure aimed at eliminating the Igbo’s as one of the  three major ethnic groups in the entity called Nigeria, the lmo State House of Assembly on its resumption of plenary has rejected and condemned in its entirety the allocation of  8,000 polling units to the southern part of the country out 30,000 polling units proposed by the independent national electoral commission (INEC) .

Article: The Return Of Apostolic Faith; The T. B. Joshua Example

T.B Joshua

By Hon. Justice I.A. Umezulike (OFR)

By all cogent and credible biblical account, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, about 2000 years ago, healed all manner of infirmities or sicknesses that caught His attention; cast out demons from those possessed by evil spirits; liberated all those in satanic bondages, and gave solace to the heavy-laden. At His command, Lazarus who was dead for three days came out of the grave. That was the greatest miracle ever performed in this universe. Jesus Christ is clearly God Almighty. At His command the forces of nature had to rebuild or reconstruct the decomposing body of Lazarus including the moribund internal organs. He promised that His disciples and apostles would continue the good works or even perform greater miracles than He did.

News Release: Ecobank’s $200 Million Afreximbank-Supported Bond Issuance Concludes

With advisory services provided by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), leading Nigerian bank and member of the Ecobank Group, Ecobank Nigeria, has successfully concluded a highly-anticipated $200 million bond issuance aimed at raising needed capital for its operations.

Article: The Unrelenting War On The Nigerian Poor In The Midst Of Ruling Elite Profligacy

A Ghetto In Nigeria

By Jaye Gaskia

With the look of things across the country it does seem that Nigeria’s light fingered ruling elite have found their collective answer and solution to the ‘Poor question’, that is to the question of what to do with the poor, as a way of dealing with poverty.

Article: The True Friends Of Abia State

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State

By Mecha Udo

My state of Abia is in the news and this news is very elating, for so very long we have carried on as if there is no conscience in Abia nay Igbo land.  Recently a section of the press has risen to expose the charade that has been going on in the state in the name of governance. The people of Abia have been living in squalor for the past seven going to eight years, their rights are being trampled, and their collective patrimony being so shamelessly pilfered and frittered by a few equally shameless persons masquerading as operators of government. The rot has been evident all over the state, is it in its decrepit infrastructure; or in the denial of freedom of expression and association; or is it in the destruction of the once vibrant economy of the state; or is it in the dominance of thugs and criminals in affairs of state, Abia, and Abians are being badgered on all sides, and for so long, nobody spoke up.  Today, people are at least speaking about Abia, and it gives me joy.

Article: How Is Capt. Ihenacho Working For Rochas?

Iheanacho

By Emperor Iwuala

Recently, there is this propaganda that the Nigeria former Minister of Interior Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho is not really running for Imo State governorship race for 2015 election but was ‘planted’ by Governor Rochas Okorocha in APGA to destroy APGA.

Article: Ikimi, Ribadu And Politics Of Defection

Ribadu

By Theophilus Ilevbare

In recent weeks the All Progressive Congress(APC) has been rocked with a tidal wave of defection of a founding member in Chief Tom Ikimi and the party’s 2011 presidential candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to the party Nigerians loathe but can’t vote out of power at the centre, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). Ikimi’s grievance with the APC hierarchy stems from how he wasbarred from contesting the party’s chairmanship position.

Article: Prospects And Expectations Of Imo State House Of Assembly's Last Legislative Year

Speaker Benjamin Uwajimogu

By Emeka Ahaneku
 
Come 9th September, 2014, the Imo State Assembly would open the doors for a new legislative year. Full legislative activities are expected to kick-start at the floor of the chambers of the Imo State House of Assembly. In the past two months or so, the House has been on recess.  After what one could call a productive third legislative year, during which important bills and motions were passed. During this vacation, there is no doubt that each and every lawmaker had an intense question and answer session by friends and of course, with their constituents.

News Release: Rtd. General Ihejirika's Accuser, Stephen Davies Is A Compromised Third Party

Davies (without mask) with supposed members of Boko Haram

“The fundamental role of a third party negotiator in any violent conflict lies in the confines of neutrality and confidentiality. This includes his or her ability not to be bought over or compromised as well as having his or her efforts not politicized or hijacked and blown out of proportion by a biased interested party”-Emeka Umeagbalasi (Board Chair of Intersociety & a Criminologist).