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ABOUT a week ago, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, caused his media office to issue a statement indicating his apologies to the 36 state governors, whom he had earlier accused of collecting N30 billion from the Federal Government to end the food crisis in the country. Akpabio, during plenary on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, spoke regarding “an unverified cumulative sum of about N30bn to the sub-national governments by the Federal Government for various interventions to ameliorate the food situation of our citizens at the sub-national governments.” But a statement by Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme…

Veteran Nollywood actor, John Okafor, better known as Mr Ibu, is dead, The Whisperer has learnt. Emeka Rollas, the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), broke the news in an Instagram post on Saturday evening. Rollas quoted Don Nwuzor, the actor’s longtime manager, as confirming that he died of cardiac arrest. “Mr Ibu suffered cardiac arrest according to his manager for 24 years Mr Don Single Nwuzor,” the post reads in part. “I announce with deep sense of grief that Mr Ibu didnt make it. May his soul rest in peace.” Mr Ibu’s condition was said to have…

The Port Harcourt to Aba rail line is billed to commence full operations by the end of March. This was made known by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, who was on an inspection visit to the facility in Port Harcourt on Saturday. Okhiria said the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) handling the project have assured the NRC that by the end of March, travellers would be able to travel to and from Aba by train. He further said there are plans to link the Onne Port to the rails for the movement of…

Mr Ibu, Nollywood veteran has died. The actor whose real name is John Okarfor was 62. According to multiple reports from sources close to him, the veteran comedian passed away at Evercare hospital. Many fans have shared condolences on X, reminiscing movies the late actor has featured.

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has explained that a number of things contributed to the delay of the 181-megawatt geometric power plant in the Aba area of the state. “This is a project that was started in 2004” during the administration of Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, Otti of the Labour Party said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday. The $800 million project including the building 27km natural gas pipeline, championed by Geometrics Power Limited, has the capacity to generate and distribute 181 megawatts of power. A new electricity distribution company, the Aba Power Limited Electric, has started…

The Labour Party (LP) caucus members in Anambra State House of Assembly, Thursday, said they were donating their six months basic salaries to cushion the suffering of masses in the state. The caucus members included Hon. Nkechi Ogbuefi, Comrade Nigeria Henry Mbachu, Hon. Jude Umennajiego, Hon. Fred Ezenwa, Hon. Kingsley Udemezue, Hon. Justice Azuka, Hon. Paul Obu and Hon. Patrick Okafor. The group, in an address presented by their spokesman, Hon. Jude Ifeanyi Umennajiego of Onitsha South 2, said the donation was part of their contribution to alleviate the suffering of the masses because they could not be aloof watching…

Labour Party governorship aspirants in Edo State have resolved to support the party’s candidate in the September 21 governorship election, Olumide Akpata, following the intervention of Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State, and the National Working Committee (NWC), of the party. Otti, the only LP Governor in the country convened a meeting of all the aggrieved aspirants with Akpata and other stakeholders, at the Emeka Omeruo Government Lodge Umuahia on Wednesday night, where they were reconciled and agreed to support the party’s flag bearer. In attendance at the crucial meeting that began around 7:00 pm and lasted till 11:30 pm,…

Kenneth Udeh from Abuja The South East Nominee for membership of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) 's Board of Directors,  Urum Kalu Eke has rejected his appointment , while the Senate confirmed appointments of four others. Rejection of appointment of membership of CBN Board of Directors by Urum Kalu Eke from Abia State , came to the fore on Thursday during confirmation of appointments of four other nominees by the Senate . The Chairman of Senate Committee on Banking , Insurance and other Financial Institutions , Senator Adetokunbo Abiru ( APC Lagos East), had in report presentation for…

  Kenneth Udeh from Abuja A bill to designate Anambra State as a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC threw the Senate into rancour on Wednesday as members of the upper Chambers shared divergent opinions on the second reading of the bill. The bill which failed to pass second reading after the Lawmakers voted against its passage was sponsored by Senator Tony Nwoye, Anambra North, sought inclusion of Anambra State through amendment of the NDDC Act N86 LFN 2004 that established the commission. Armed with documents from the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC Nwoye informed the…

Kenneth Udeh from Abuja A Bill seeking to enable candidates of political parties field polling agents alongside the ones provided by their respective parties has scaled first reading at the Senate. The bill titled Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill , 2024 (SB. 328) First Reading is sponsored by Abia-North Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu. Kalu's Bill seeks to amend section 61 of the 2022 electoral which only grants political parties powers to field polling agents on behalf of their candidates at the various registration, polling and counting centers. When amended candidates themselves will also be enabled to field polling agents alongside the…