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By Chukwuyem Othniel Omijie (PhD) A scene in the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony provoked a global outrage on Friday July 26th, 2024, with Christians, church leaders and conservative politicians, calling it a mockery of the Last Supper. According to those condemning the depiction, was it really a likeness to Leonardo da Vinci’s biblical scene in The Last Supper or a re-enactment of the Dionysia festivals organized in honour of Dionysus, the Greek god of Wine? To fully understand the issue at hand, we need to look at the nature and the origin of the Dionysia Festival. Dionysus is the…

By Jonathan Okpanachi The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, comprising four states, say governance by palliatives and intimidation is not the permanent solution to Nigerian challenges. This was contained in a communique issued at the end of their meeting, held at the Domus Pacis Pastoral Institute, Igoba, Akure, the Ondo State capital. The communique was signed by the Archbishop of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese, Gabriel Abegunrin, and Bishop John Oyejola, the chairman and secretary of the meeting respectively. The clerics wrote, "We strongly believe that if governments in Nigeria at all levels had responded more promptly and effectively to the…

By Hadiza Suleman The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr George Akume, Wednesday, urged Nigerians to shelve the planned hunger protests and embrace dialogue. Akume spoke during a second 'State of the Nation' address in Abuja. He said the Tinubu administration was focused on achieving economic prosperity for all Nigerians. Akume expressed concerns that the protests might be hijacked, saying, "Government is weary of the dangers associated with protests that are vulnerable to being hijacked by bandits. “We request that dialogue be advanced. The Tinubu administration remains committed to creating an environment where peace and stability are…

By Johnson Nwankwo The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Wednesday, warned the federal government and its security agencies against the use of force to quell the nationwide hunger protests by Nigerian youths beging August 1. CLO, in a release by its Executive Director, Comrade Ibuchukwu Ohabuenyi Ezike, appealed to the protesters to be peaceful and conduct themselves and activities in absolutely lawful manners. The group recalled that the ENDSARS national protests staged by the youth across the country few years ago turned violent and bloody arising from the untoward behaviour of overzealous security officers. According to the release, “CLO maintains that…

By Johnson Nwankwo The information commissioner, Enugu State, Mr Aka Eze Aka, says the state government is not against the planned nationwide protests against hunger in Nigeria. He however called for caution to avoid the protests being hijacked to disrupt public peace. The commissioner spoke in Enugu during a progamme. He said, “We’re not against the hunger protests. It is a fundamental human right of the people so far it doesn’t hurt the other person. Some protests are good, some are bad. President Bola Tinubu benefitted from such protests, but it should not be abused.” On the impacts of the…

JACOB OKPANACHI Facts have emerged on how the ‘Elegant Stallion’ of Nigerian music, Ms. Onyeka Onwenu died on Tuesday night.  Onwenu who was full of life and not betraying any signs of illness, attended the 80th birthday party of Mrs. Stella Okoli, a pharmacist, and founder of Emzor pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Lagos.  Midway into the party, she took the stage and entertained the high-profile people at the event. Shortly after the energetic performance, she acknowledged some of the people in attendance and returned to her seat where she slumped minutes later.  A guest had observed her unusual quietness and…

Our Reporter The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media Matters, Mr. Tunde Rahman, says the country is presently not witnessing bad governance. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he said, is doing his best at the moment and the people will soon start reaping the fruits of his good policies. He spoke Tuesday at the annual Lateef Jakande memorial lecture organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Lagos. Against the backdrop of the planned nationwide protest starting from August 1, Rahman urged Nigerians to be mindful of the people calling for the protests. He believes they may not…

By Johnson Nwankwo Nigerian youths should not engage in the planned hunger protests to avoid possible breakdown of law and order. The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, gave the advice during a one-day seminar on leadership and conflict resolution organized for traditional rulers and presidents general in the state on Tuesday. The event held at the House of Chiefs, Enugu State House of Assembly Complex, Enugu, and was organized by the state Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs. The CP said the South-East zone has been victims of such violence, losing a lot in…