Kizito Duru I read the rebuttal issued by the Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate with keen interest. It was as revealing as it was instructive. One key takeaway is that a person who presents himself as the National President of an organisation to which, according to the organisation itself, he does not belong, has a serious problem of moral standing when he lectures a politician on character, responsibility and readiness for public office.  The Okigwe Zone Youths Mandate did not merely disagree with Kelechi Uzomah's publication. It categorically stated that he is not a member of the association and has never been its National President. That clarification changes the colour of the entire publication because it means that a man who was not speaking for the organisation presented himself as though he was. When a political argument begins by borrowing an identity and authority that the owners of that identity say you do not possess, it becomes difficult to take the moral lecture t...

In a world where communication is supposed to be easier than ever, misunderstandings still thrive and at the heart of many of them lies one quiet but powerful culprit: assumption . Assumptions have taken more from us than we often care to admit. They have shattered meaningful relationships, weakened friendships, disrupted beautiful unions, and even derailed dreams that once held so much promise.  Many things that were meant to last have ended, not because of truth, but because of what people thought was true. I remember one time, I had a health challenge and received help from someone. It was a moment that required support, and thankfully, help came.  However, what should have remained a simple act of kindness became something else in the eyes of onlookers. People who did not understand the situation began to interpret it through their own lenses. Their assumptions became visible, not just in whispers, but in their expressions, their tone, and even their greeting...

  Blessing Iriaka et Chimezie Ebosie during an interview session.  By Blessing Iriaka  A budget can look impressive on paper. Billions allocated to roads. Billions for power. Billions for education. Billions for health and other public services.    But the real question is not how much government plans to spend. It is what citizens will actually see at the end of the year.    That question became particularly important to me while examining Imo State's 2026 budget, estimated at more than ₦1 trillion, following concerns about the implementation of the state's 2025 budget.    During a conversation with Chimezie Ebosie, Imo State Officer of BudgIT Foundation, on my programme, Eye on Corruption, we examined what the 2025 experience could teach citizens about the year ahead.    The size of Imo's 2026 budget is significant. It is reportedly the largest budget in the state's history, with increased revenue projections partly linked to rece...

  By Blessing Iriaka When news of a U.S. visa restriction involving Nigeria began circulating, one question seemed to be everywhere: “Does this mean Nigerians can no longer travel to America?” Social media, as usual, had answers. Some people understood the announcement as a complete visa ban. Others were unsure whether they could still apply, study, visit family or join relatives in the United States. But immigration policies are rarely as simple as the headlines that circulate online. I wanted Nigerians to hear directly from someone who understood the law. So, on my Follow the Law Interview, I hosted U.S.-based immigration lawyer Sr. Uchenna Ajaero to help unpack what the restriction meant and, perhaps more importantly, what it did not mean. One of the most important clarifications from the conversation was that the restriction was partial, not a blanket ban on every Nigerian travelling to the United States. For someone planning a trip, applying for a visa or waiting on an immigra...

By Blessing Iriaka On October 29, 2025, Gift Ordu did not only lose her husband. She lost the man her six children depended on. Chukwudi Ordu, an engineer and father of six, was reportedly at his home around Toronto Junction, Owerri, when gunshots erupted during an enforcement operation linked to the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO). According to his widow and the deceased’s sister, Chukwudi had just returned home when the shooting began. He reportedly asked his wife and children to take cover and attempted to provide shelter for two men who had run towards the compound. It was during the chaos, the family alleged, that he and two other men were shot. His family rushed him to the hospital . At the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, he reportedly received blood transfusions and underwent surgery. The family says they spent almost ₦4 million trying to save him. He died two days later. Now, Gift, is left to raise six children without the man who provided for t...