PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Debunking the Phantom Debts and Ecological Loan Fallacy  My attention has been drawn to trending claims by the Anambra State Government that my administration left behind inherited debts, including a ₦2 billion ecological loan, contractor liabilities, and unpaid salaries, gratuities, and pensions. This is completely false. We systematically liquidated historical gratuities and arrears dating back several years, amounting to over ₦35 billion. At the point of handover, the state owed nothing in salaries, gratuities, or pensions, nor did we owe anything to any contractor for projects duly executed and certified. The ₦2 billion ecological fund in question was released barely three months before the end of my tenure for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis. Despite pressure to spend the money, I refused, insisting that it should be left for my successor because government is a continuum and the funds were tied to a specific project. The money was therefore left 100 per cent intact in ...

INEC to Nigerians: 2027 election outcome will reflect your will The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful 2027 general election, assuring Nigerians that the outcome of the polls will reflect the sovereign will of the electorate. The assurance was given by the Acting Chairman of INEC, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, on Tuesday while receiving the African Union (AU) Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission on behalf of the Commission at its headquarters in Abuja. The AU delegation, led by former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, is in Nigeria to assess the country’s overall electoral preparedness and identify areas requiring further support and intervention. Welcoming the delegation, Gumus described the mission as an important opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and strengthening of Nigeria’s electo...

 CSO/MEDIA REVIEW: HEALTH MINISTER PATE SCORES FG HIGH  ON HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, says civil society organisations play a critical role in strengthening Nigeria’s health system by providing feedback, identifying gaps and helping government translate policies into programmes that improve lives. The CSO/Media-Led Mid-Year Review of Nigeria’s Health Sector Reforms and Policy Dialogue on Monday, Prof. Pate stressed the need for sustained engagement between government, civil society and other stakeholders to achieve better health outcomes. The Minister said the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, recognises that rebuilding the health system after years of underinvestment will take time. He highlighted key reforms under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, including stronger governance and accountability, increased health financing, the revitalisation of nearly 4,000 primary heal...

 15-year-old girl rescued after she was allegedly locked inside a toilet for months by her bosses A 15-year-old girl identified as Amarachi, has been rescued after she was allegedly locked inside a toilet for months by her bosses in their home in Abuloman, Rivers state Amarachi, who hails from Ebonyi State, was living in the couple, Eze Simeon and his wife as a maid. She is alleged to have committed an offence, and as a punishment, she was allegedly locked up in the toilet for months, subjected to severe neglect and fed only once a day with leftover food. She was rescued on Monday, September 15 after she raised an alarm when the couple had gone out. Her cry for help got to the neighbors who immediately contacted the police division in Abuloma. The police immediately arrived the scene and successfully rescued the victim. The command’s spokesperson, Agabe Blessing, said investigations into the matter are ongoing. She mentioned that the couple is in police custody while the victim’s f...

 UK court adjourns Poco Lee’s pre-trial to February 2027 The Snaresbrook Crown Court has adjourned the pre-trial hearing of Nigerian dancer and entertainer Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, to February 2027. The dancer was expected to take his plea today, September 15, but failed to do so due to the unavailability of the charge sheet.  Following this development, the court fixed February 8, 2027, for his plea hearing. Poco Lee is expected to enter his plea at the hearing, indicating whether he is guilty or not guilty of the charges filed against him. His trial has also been scheduled for March 8, 2027. Poco Lee was granted bail on September 11, following his first appearance before the court. PocoLee is facing five sexual offence charges in the UK, including attempted rape, two counts of rape, and two counts of assault by penetration. He has since denied the allegations and maintained his innocence.

 Nigeria’s  inflation eases to 15.39% in August 2026   Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased marginally to 15.39 percent in August 2026, down from 15.43 percent recorded in July.   The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced the movement in its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, noting a 0.04 percent decrease compared to the previous month.  On a month-on-month basis, headline inflation stood at 0.71 percent in August, which was 0.86 percent lower than the 1.57 percent recorded in July, indicating that the average price level increased at a slower rate. The food inflation rate stood at 19.57 percent on a year-on-year basis in August 2026, marking a significant drop from the 25.30 percent recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year. On a month-on-month basis, food inflation fell to 1.02 percent, down by 4.55 percentage points from 5.56 percent in July. The decline was driven mainly by price moderations across key food staple...

 Power Minister Seeks EFCC’s Intervention to Tackle Vandalism, Energy Theft   The Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has called for the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to tackle the growing menace of vandalism and energy theft in the power sector. Tegbe made the call in Abuja  on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when he led a delegation from the Ministry on a courtesy visit to the EFCC's  Executive Chairman, Ola  Olukoyede, at the Commission's Headquarters. The minister lamented that vandalism and energy theft were taking a heavy toll on the power sector, resulting in the loss of billions of naira annually. He said the ministry lacked the statutory powers to prosecute offenders involved in vandalism and energy theft, making collaboration with the EFCC necessary to address the problem. Tegbe, therefore, sought the Commission’s support in investigating and prosecuting individuals and entities involved in economic crimes un...