Europe is a continent of many parts. One, the centre of the world is found in Europe. Football, the world most popular sports started in 1848 in Cambridge, England. Perhaps, the choice of Zurich as the headquarters of Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) is not a compensation to Europe but putting a square peg in a square hole. Of the five permanent members of the world’s most powerful organ, the Security Council, Europe produced three. Europe again is privileged to be a senior partner in the eight most industrialized countries of the world popularly called G8 as it has more than half of the member-countries. Where is the World Bank if not in Switzerland, Europe. The world Palace of Reconciliation otherwise known as the World Court adds glamour to the beauty and pride of Europe. Most importantly, Christianity, the religion founded by Jesus Christ, has Europe as its nerve centre. What other facts can one adduce to corroborate better this claim of multiplicity of parts of Europe?
The first time I went to Europe, I asked myself whether God was not an European consequent of what I saw. In Holland / Netherlands precisely, the slogan is “God created the world but we made Holland.” Go to Germany (Allemagne) and see the diligent Germans in action. The British or German police are a beauty to watch. The inquisitive Italian immigration officials cannot allow illegal immigrants in, even with blank cheques in their hands neither will the Spanish people’s hospitality depicted in their beaming smiles, flamboyant and friendly greeting of “Olaa” to test one’s ability to speak fluently, Spanish or Catalunyan language (native language of part of Spain and France), mitigate their patriotism to their fatherland. The newspapers in Europe are more patriotic than the citizens as truth not economic reason is the interiority of their sustenance and existence.
Whether L’Osservatore Romano in Vatican City, Le Monde in France, El Periodico, El Pais, La Vangurdia, all in Spain, La Republica in Italy or London Times, their reports on a matter whether affecting the government, citizens etc are unbiased. Journalism in Europe is like the thunderstorm, which does not know the house of the rainmaker when it strikes.
Despite the fact that Europe is almost a cemetery, naturally created to produce / supply only aquatic edibles fruits and vegetables to the world while importing other things from other places, it plays second fiddle to no other continent. It is better witnessed than imagined how orderly and serene Europe is and law-abiding her citizens are. In spite of all these “goodies” about Europe, one may not believe this: Europe is endangered specie. Mildly put, Europe is under siege.
I pity for Europe from the bottom of my heart. Not because of anything other than what the future holds in stock for her. In fact Europe is heading for doom if urgent step is not taken to redeem it. Liberalization is about to cost Europe a priceless future. Terrorism is far greater a child’s play compared with what posterity will suffer with regard to the indifferent attitude of their leaders to religious tolerance or precisely godlessness currently ravaging Europe.
Christ during His lifetime was once a refugee in Africa. The religion of Christ right now is taking refuge in Africa as the Europeans who brought Christianity to Africa are now worshipping godlessness. It is my sincere prayer that Africans are not contaminated, derailed and confused by the ordination of women, gay-bishops, same-sex marriage and pro-abortion laws until Christianity is successfully re-awakened in Europe.
Civilization according to History started in Africa precisely Egypt but wisdom originated from Greece, Europe. The Bible tells us that when God asked King Solomon to request for whatever he wanted, it was this priceless gift of wisdom that he had opted for. It is also an acknowledged fact that God gave Europeans this wisdom hence many discoveries are credited to the Europeans. Though Europeans are not endowed with many mineral resources, whatever they touch, turns into gold. They are able to convert nothing into something, something into anything, anything into everything and vice versa. Consequent of this God-given wisdom. One wise saying has it that money can only buy finery and not beauty, book and not brain, Church-pew and not salvation, finally knowledge and not wisdom.
But then, could it be true that Europeans at present mortgage this wisdom on the altar of liberalism? Could it be true that Arabs, who are blessed with wealth from black gold, bait the European wisdom with their wealth? Arms for sale? Technology for sale? Nuclear knowledge for sale? The love for oil and money is undermining Europe.. Ethics and morality have been thrown into the dustbin. When will the complete “Arabilization of Europe” be over? The Turkish-Arabs have taken over Germany, the North-African Arabs are in control in Spain, France etc. Football Clubs and Stadia in London for total acquisition by Arabs. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowen Williams embraces Sharia. Waoh. Worse still, in these areas, the Arabs are now “untouchables.” If the Arabs succeed in buying wisdom with their wealth from the Europeans, the slavery will be unamendable, irreversible and catastrophic. The wickedness of European colonial masters in Africa by deliberately placing the Arab-immigrants as overlords to the people on whose land the mineral resource particularly oil was found so as to manipulate the oil business, is now producing a boomerang effect. The Head of Anglican Church, Queen Elizabeth supported Moslem-dominated Northern Nigeria against the Biafran Christians during the Nigerian / Biafran War between 1967-70. Who would blame Dr. Akanu Ibiam the President of World Council of Churches, for dropping his sword of Knighthood and English name, “Francis” in protest? Lady Diana’s death has something to do with the illicit quest for Arab wealth. What stops nations merged with these Arab-blooded over-lords from being independent countries more so as they do not want to continue to exist alongside these nations. Only this is the panacea for tranquillity in these areas otherwise oil price, hunger etc will continue to skyrocket while peace, elusive.. Peace after all is not the absence of war.
In America, wherever one goes and even in American currency, the American sobriquet is boldly written, “In God We Trust.” If the European Union charter may find it apposite not to mention the name of God all through its pages, what a way of putting God into oblivion? Though appearances are sometimes deceptive, on some Sundays I have attended Masses in Catholic Churches across Europe, I can authoritatively say that Godlessness is gradually winning the race as only few people now, majority children and old people attend churches for the worship of God. Consequent of this spate of Godlessness or laissez faire attitude to church-going supported by liberalism, if it continues, the Arabs in the shortest possible future may become Chancellor of Germany, Italian Prime Minister, Spanish Prime Minister, President of France etc. it is authoritative also that some Arab money-bags make overtures towards the purchase of these “empty” churches with the motive of converting them into mosques. Europe should go back to God and not to “sell God to Allah.” If Europe believes truly in liberalization why not introduce VISA programme for immigrants, even for zwarte werk (black work). The hypocrisy of the Europeans is why domestic animals like dogs, cats, etc are more preferred to even African-Christian immigrants despite the fact that immigrants help to create further wealth. Giving legal rights of protection to animals has often been debated in some parliaments in Europe (Austria and Spain). Could it true that a man in London willed to his dog, £7m? In fact, the infiltration and influx of the “unpredictable” Arabs besides their domination of all spheres of life in Europe no doubt would undermine Europe.
The importance of religion in the emerging world politics is becoming glaring. Some religions are known to have been hiding place for those who want violence to rule over peace. This notion has kept security personnel in the international borders in complete alert and check over adherents of those religions. In some factories, their employments are terminated for their presence alone constitute danger. This is indicative of the role religion is playing in the emerging world politics. In fact, there is no gainsaying the fact that race plays second fiddle in modern politics to religion.
Do Europeans ask themselves why a Saudi Moslem like Osama Bin Laden would attack America or American interests for flimsy excuses and more so for what concerns him not? What is his insurable interest in all his sponsored horrific terrorist attacks if not religion? He wants every body to bow and genuflect to Islam. All other religions should go to hell. But it is practically impossible even at gunpoint.
In some Islamic countries, there are areas in their cities that are prohibited to non-Moslems no matter the person’s status. But in Rome, even Vatican City or more homely St. Peters Basilica is open to every body every time.
If not for President Bush war against terrorism, by now the guess on every body’s lips would be: whose turn next? White House / Pentagon were the targets on September 11, 2001 perhaps the Vatican, Buckingham Palace, Downing Street etc when? Thank God that President Bush, Prime Minister Tony Blair and others were leaders of their respective countries at the point in time. If not their lion-hearted love for the world, who would have rescued the world?
In his 2004 post election speech , President George W. Bush said, “ there is need for world peace and war against terrorism would continue.” While the search for world peace and terrorism war continue on one hand, , The Catholic Pontiff, The British Monarch, the British Prime Minister, The German Chancellor, The French President and other European leaders should join hands together in this desperate bid to rescue Europe from the murderous grip of godlessness and “selling God to Allah” if the anticipated peace will not be an effort in futility. To say the least, Europe is gradually becoming a “Secundus Domus” to the troublesome Arabs and I have a premonition that this coupled with liberalism will cause the downfall of Europe. One Itsekiri proverb has it that the louse that is in your hair is already in your palm and it is ready for destruction. No one secures dried fish or meat in a bag hidden by rats..
Finally, Europe should not mitigate by whatever guise an inadvertent “revolt” against Christianity and divine mission to liberalism more so as the option is only to serve gods of earthly fames, stomachs and desires.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
PRAYER - HOUSES CUM MINISTRIES AND THEIR ABRACADABRA Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya
Europe is a continent of many parts. One, the centre of the world is found in Europe. Football, the world most popular sports started in 1848 in Cambridge, England. Perhaps, the choice of Zurich as the headquarters of Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) is not a compensation to Europe but putting a square peg in a square hole. Of the five permanent members of the world’s most powerful organ, the Security Council, Europe produced three. Europe again is privileged to be a senior partner in the eight most industrialized countries of the world popularly called G8 as it has more than half of the member-countries. Where is the World Bank if not in Switzerland, Europe. The world Palace of Reconciliation otherwise known as the World Court adds glamour to the beauty and pride of Europe. Most importantly, Christianity, the religion founded by Jesus Christ, has Europe as its nerve centre. What other facts can one adduce to corroborate better this claim of multiplicity of parts of Europe?
The first time I went to Europe, I asked myself whether God was not an European consequent of what I saw. In Holland / Netherlands precisely, the slogan is “God created the world but we made Holland.” Go to Germany (Allemagne) and see the diligent Germans in action. The British or German police are a beauty to watch. The inquisitive Italian immigration officials cannot allow illegal immigrants in, even with blank cheques in their hands neither will the Spanish people’s hospitality depicted in their beaming smiles, flamboyant and friendly greeting of “Olaa” to test one’s ability to speak fluently, Spanish or Catalunyan language (native language of part of Spain and France), mitigate their patriotism to their fatherland. The newspapers in Europe are more patriotic than the citizens as truth not economic reason is the interiority of their sustenance and existence.
Whether L’Osservatore Romano in Vatican City, Le Monde in France, El Periodico, El Pais, La Vangurdia, all in Spain, La Republica in Italy or London Times, their reports on a matter whether affecting the government, citizens etc are unbiased. Journalism in Europe is like the thunderstorm, which does not know the house of the rainmaker when it strikes.
Despite the fact that Europe is almost a cemetery, naturally created to produce / supply only aquatic edibles fruits and vegetables to the world while importing other things from other places, it plays second fiddle to no other continent. It is better witnessed than imagined how orderly and serene Europe is and law-abiding her citizens are. In spite of all these “goodies” about Europe, one may not believe this: Europe is endangered specie. Mildly put, Europe is under siege.
I pity for Europe from the bottom of my heart. Not because of anything other than what the future holds in stock for her. In fact Europe is heading for doom if urgent step is not taken to redeem it. Liberalization is about to cost Europe a priceless future. Terrorism is far greater a child’s play compared with what posterity will suffer with regard to the indifferent attitude of their leaders to religious tolerance or precisely godlessness currently ravaging Europe.
Christ during His lifetime was once a refugee in Africa. The religion of Christ right now is taking refuge in Africa as the Europeans who brought Christianity to Africa are now worshipping godlessness. It is my sincere prayer that Africans are not contaminated, derailed and confused by the ordination of women, gay-bishops, same-sex marriage and pro-abortion laws until Christianity is successfully re-awakened in Europe.
Civilization according to History started in Africa precisely Egypt but wisdom originated from Greece, Europe. The Bible tells us that when God asked King Solomon to request for whatever he wanted, it was this priceless gift of wisdom that he had opted for. It is also an acknowledged fact that God gave Europeans this wisdom hence many discoveries are credited to the Europeans. Though Europeans are not endowed with many mineral resources, whatever they touch, turns into gold. They are able to convert nothing into something, something into anything, anything into everything and vice versa. Consequent of this God-given wisdom. One wise saying has it that money can only buy finery and not beauty, book and not brain, Church-pew and not salvation, finally knowledge and not wisdom.
But then, could it be true that Europeans at present mortgage this wisdom on the altar of liberalism? Could it be true that Arabs, who are blessed with wealth from black gold, bait the European wisdom with their wealth? Arms for sale? Technology for sale? Nuclear knowledge for sale? The love for oil and money is undermining Europe.. Ethics and morality have been thrown into the dustbin. When will the complete “Arabilization of Europe” be over? The Turkish-Arabs have taken over Germany, the North-African Arabs are in control in Spain, France etc. Football Clubs and Stadia in London for total acquisition by Arabs. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowen Williams embraces Sharia. Waoh. Worse still, in these areas, the Arabs are now “untouchables.” If the Arabs succeed in buying wisdom with their wealth from the Europeans, the slavery will be unamendable, irreversible and catastrophic. The wickedness of European colonial masters in Africa by deliberately placing the Arab-immigrants as overlords to the people on whose land the mineral resource particularly oil was found so as to manipulate the oil business, is now producing a boomerang effect. The Head of Anglican Church, Queen Elizabeth supported Moslem-dominated Northern Nigeria against the Biafran Christians during the Nigerian / Biafran War between 1967-70. Who would blame Dr. Akanu Ibiam the President of World Council of Churches, for dropping his sword of Knighthood and English name, “Francis” in protest? Lady Diana’s death has something to do with the illicit quest for Arab wealth. What stops nations merged with these Arab-blooded over-lords from being independent countries more so as they do not want to continue to exist alongside these nations. Only this is the panacea for tranquillity in these areas otherwise oil price, hunger etc will continue to skyrocket while peace, elusive.. Peace after all is not the absence of war.
In America, wherever one goes and even in American currency, the American sobriquet is boldly written, “In God We Trust.” If the European Union charter may find it apposite not to mention the name of God all through its pages, what a way of putting God into oblivion? Though appearances are sometimes deceptive, on some Sundays I have attended Masses in Catholic Churches across Europe, I can authoritatively say that Godlessness is gradually winning the race as only few people now, majority children and old people attend churches for the worship of God. Consequent of this spate of Godlessness or laissez faire attitude to church-going supported by liberalism, if it continues, the Arabs in the shortest possible future may become Chancellor of Germany, Italian Prime Minister, Spanish Prime Minister, President of France etc. it is authoritative also that some Arab money-bags make overtures towards the purchase of these “empty” churches with the motive of converting them into mosques. Europe should go back to God and not to “sell God to Allah.” If Europe believes truly in liberalization why not introduce VISA programme for immigrants, even for zwarte werk (black work). The hypocrisy of the Europeans is why domestic animals like dogs, cats, etc are more preferred to even African-Christian immigrants despite the fact that immigrants help to create further wealth. Giving legal rights of protection to animals has often been debated in some parliaments in Europe (Austria and Spain). Could it true that a man in London willed to his dog, £7m? In fact, the infiltration and influx of the “unpredictable” Arabs besides their domination of all spheres of life in Europe no doubt would undermine Europe.
The importance of religion in the emerging world politics is becoming glaring. Some religions are known to have been hiding place for those who want violence to rule over peace. This notion has kept security personnel in the international borders in complete alert and check over adherents of those religions. In some factories, their employments are terminated for their presence alone constitute danger. This is indicative of the role religion is playing in the emerging world politics. In fact, there is no gainsaying the fact that race plays second fiddle in modern politics to religion.
Do Europeans ask themselves why a Saudi Moslem like Osama Bin Laden would attack America or American interests for flimsy excuses and more so for what concerns him not? What is his insurable interest in all his sponsored horrific terrorist attacks if not religion? He wants every body to bow and genuflect to Islam. All other religions should go to hell. But it is practically impossible even at gunpoint.
In some Islamic countries, there are areas in their cities that are prohibited to non-Moslems no matter the person’s status. But in Rome, even Vatican City or more homely St. Peters Basilica is open to every body every time.
If not for President Bush war against terrorism, by now the guess on every body’s lips would be: whose turn next? White House / Pentagon were the targets on September 11, 2001 perhaps the Vatican, Buckingham Palace, Downing Street etc when? Thank God that President Bush, Prime Minister Tony Blair and others were leaders of their respective countries at the point in time. If not their lion-hearted love for the world, who would have rescued the world?
In his 2004 post election speech , President George W. Bush said, “ there is need for world peace and war against terrorism would continue.” While the search for world peace and terrorism war continue on one hand, , The Catholic Pontiff, The British Monarch, the British Prime Minister, The German Chancellor, The French President and other European leaders should join hands together in this desperate bid to rescue Europe from the murderous grip of godlessness and “selling God to Allah” if the anticipated peace will not be an effort in futility. To say the least, Europe is gradually becoming a “Secundus Domus” to the troublesome Arabs and I have a premonition that this coupled with liberalism will cause the downfall of Europe. One Itsekiri proverb has it that the louse that is in your hair is already in your palm and it is ready for destruction. No one secures dried fish or meat in a bag hidden by rats..
Finally, Europe should not mitigate by whatever guise an inadvertent “revolt” against Christianity and divine mission to liberalism more so as the option is only to serve gods of earthly fames, stomachs and desires.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London
The first time I went to Europe, I asked myself whether God was not an European consequent of what I saw. In Holland / Netherlands precisely, the slogan is “God created the world but we made Holland.” Go to Germany (Allemagne) and see the diligent Germans in action. The British or German police are a beauty to watch. The inquisitive Italian immigration officials cannot allow illegal immigrants in, even with blank cheques in their hands neither will the Spanish people’s hospitality depicted in their beaming smiles, flamboyant and friendly greeting of “Olaa” to test one’s ability to speak fluently, Spanish or Catalunyan language (native language of part of Spain and France), mitigate their patriotism to their fatherland. The newspapers in Europe are more patriotic than the citizens as truth not economic reason is the interiority of their sustenance and existence.
Whether L’Osservatore Romano in Vatican City, Le Monde in France, El Periodico, El Pais, La Vangurdia, all in Spain, La Republica in Italy or London Times, their reports on a matter whether affecting the government, citizens etc are unbiased. Journalism in Europe is like the thunderstorm, which does not know the house of the rainmaker when it strikes.
Despite the fact that Europe is almost a cemetery, naturally created to produce / supply only aquatic edibles fruits and vegetables to the world while importing other things from other places, it plays second fiddle to no other continent. It is better witnessed than imagined how orderly and serene Europe is and law-abiding her citizens are. In spite of all these “goodies” about Europe, one may not believe this: Europe is endangered specie. Mildly put, Europe is under siege.
I pity for Europe from the bottom of my heart. Not because of anything other than what the future holds in stock for her. In fact Europe is heading for doom if urgent step is not taken to redeem it. Liberalization is about to cost Europe a priceless future. Terrorism is far greater a child’s play compared with what posterity will suffer with regard to the indifferent attitude of their leaders to religious tolerance or precisely godlessness currently ravaging Europe.
Christ during His lifetime was once a refugee in Africa. The religion of Christ right now is taking refuge in Africa as the Europeans who brought Christianity to Africa are now worshipping godlessness. It is my sincere prayer that Africans are not contaminated, derailed and confused by the ordination of women, gay-bishops, same-sex marriage and pro-abortion laws until Christianity is successfully re-awakened in Europe.
Civilization according to History started in Africa precisely Egypt but wisdom originated from Greece, Europe. The Bible tells us that when God asked King Solomon to request for whatever he wanted, it was this priceless gift of wisdom that he had opted for. It is also an acknowledged fact that God gave Europeans this wisdom hence many discoveries are credited to the Europeans. Though Europeans are not endowed with many mineral resources, whatever they touch, turns into gold. They are able to convert nothing into something, something into anything, anything into everything and vice versa. Consequent of this God-given wisdom. One wise saying has it that money can only buy finery and not beauty, book and not brain, Church-pew and not salvation, finally knowledge and not wisdom.
But then, could it be true that Europeans at present mortgage this wisdom on the altar of liberalism? Could it be true that Arabs, who are blessed with wealth from black gold, bait the European wisdom with their wealth? Arms for sale? Technology for sale? Nuclear knowledge for sale? The love for oil and money is undermining Europe.. Ethics and morality have been thrown into the dustbin. When will the complete “Arabilization of Europe” be over? The Turkish-Arabs have taken over Germany, the North-African Arabs are in control in Spain, France etc. Football Clubs and Stadia in London for total acquisition by Arabs. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowen Williams embraces Sharia. Waoh. Worse still, in these areas, the Arabs are now “untouchables.” If the Arabs succeed in buying wisdom with their wealth from the Europeans, the slavery will be unamendable, irreversible and catastrophic. The wickedness of European colonial masters in Africa by deliberately placing the Arab-immigrants as overlords to the people on whose land the mineral resource particularly oil was found so as to manipulate the oil business, is now producing a boomerang effect. The Head of Anglican Church, Queen Elizabeth supported Moslem-dominated Northern Nigeria against the Biafran Christians during the Nigerian / Biafran War between 1967-70. Who would blame Dr. Akanu Ibiam the President of World Council of Churches, for dropping his sword of Knighthood and English name, “Francis” in protest? Lady Diana’s death has something to do with the illicit quest for Arab wealth. What stops nations merged with these Arab-blooded over-lords from being independent countries more so as they do not want to continue to exist alongside these nations. Only this is the panacea for tranquillity in these areas otherwise oil price, hunger etc will continue to skyrocket while peace, elusive.. Peace after all is not the absence of war.
In America, wherever one goes and even in American currency, the American sobriquet is boldly written, “In God We Trust.” If the European Union charter may find it apposite not to mention the name of God all through its pages, what a way of putting God into oblivion? Though appearances are sometimes deceptive, on some Sundays I have attended Masses in Catholic Churches across Europe, I can authoritatively say that Godlessness is gradually winning the race as only few people now, majority children and old people attend churches for the worship of God. Consequent of this spate of Godlessness or laissez faire attitude to church-going supported by liberalism, if it continues, the Arabs in the shortest possible future may become Chancellor of Germany, Italian Prime Minister, Spanish Prime Minister, President of France etc. it is authoritative also that some Arab money-bags make overtures towards the purchase of these “empty” churches with the motive of converting them into mosques. Europe should go back to God and not to “sell God to Allah.” If Europe believes truly in liberalization why not introduce VISA programme for immigrants, even for zwarte werk (black work). The hypocrisy of the Europeans is why domestic animals like dogs, cats, etc are more preferred to even African-Christian immigrants despite the fact that immigrants help to create further wealth. Giving legal rights of protection to animals has often been debated in some parliaments in Europe (Austria and Spain). Could it true that a man in London willed to his dog, £7m? In fact, the infiltration and influx of the “unpredictable” Arabs besides their domination of all spheres of life in Europe no doubt would undermine Europe.
The importance of religion in the emerging world politics is becoming glaring. Some religions are known to have been hiding place for those who want violence to rule over peace. This notion has kept security personnel in the international borders in complete alert and check over adherents of those religions. In some factories, their employments are terminated for their presence alone constitute danger. This is indicative of the role religion is playing in the emerging world politics. In fact, there is no gainsaying the fact that race plays second fiddle in modern politics to religion.
Do Europeans ask themselves why a Saudi Moslem like Osama Bin Laden would attack America or American interests for flimsy excuses and more so for what concerns him not? What is his insurable interest in all his sponsored horrific terrorist attacks if not religion? He wants every body to bow and genuflect to Islam. All other religions should go to hell. But it is practically impossible even at gunpoint.
In some Islamic countries, there are areas in their cities that are prohibited to non-Moslems no matter the person’s status. But in Rome, even Vatican City or more homely St. Peters Basilica is open to every body every time.
If not for President Bush war against terrorism, by now the guess on every body’s lips would be: whose turn next? White House / Pentagon were the targets on September 11, 2001 perhaps the Vatican, Buckingham Palace, Downing Street etc when? Thank God that President Bush, Prime Minister Tony Blair and others were leaders of their respective countries at the point in time. If not their lion-hearted love for the world, who would have rescued the world?
In his 2004 post election speech , President George W. Bush said, “ there is need for world peace and war against terrorism would continue.” While the search for world peace and terrorism war continue on one hand, , The Catholic Pontiff, The British Monarch, the British Prime Minister, The German Chancellor, The French President and other European leaders should join hands together in this desperate bid to rescue Europe from the murderous grip of godlessness and “selling God to Allah” if the anticipated peace will not be an effort in futility. To say the least, Europe is gradually becoming a “Secundus Domus” to the troublesome Arabs and I have a premonition that this coupled with liberalism will cause the downfall of Europe. One Itsekiri proverb has it that the louse that is in your hair is already in your palm and it is ready for destruction. No one secures dried fish or meat in a bag hidden by rats..
Finally, Europe should not mitigate by whatever guise an inadvertent “revolt” against Christianity and divine mission to liberalism more so as the option is only to serve gods of earthly fames, stomachs and desires.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London
BARACK OBAMA: The Liberation or Freedom President By Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya
When Martin Luther King Jnr made that wonderful prophetic statement “I have a dream…” in 1968, little did he know that his prophesy would come into fruition in 2008, (forty years later). Jesse Run! Jesse Run!! Jesse Run!!! was the clamour of blacks in America at a time. While still contemplating the persuasion, a leader of blacks told him, “If you run for the presidency, you may fail, but if you don’t run, you have already failed”. Rev. Jesse Jackson nevertheless ran but failed.
The emergence of Barack Obama as the Presidential Candidate of the Democratic Party was God’s doing and the partial fulfilment of the first part of the Luther’s dream. When eventually the election came and result declared, the final fulfilment manifested. In God We Trust (In Deo Speramus) is the American motto consequently America could be seen as God’s Own Country. A lot of things mark America out as a model that cannot operate at the mediocre level or display a show of shame. As number one country in the world, America leads by example. To say the least, America is special from one thing to everything. Abolition of slavery was championed by the Americans.
Many American President have identified with history and events. Abraham Lincoln of USA was said to have never won any election from Council to Senate despite the fact that he tried for nine good times. But on his first attempt at the presidency, he won. He however declared that despondency or low ambition is a crime. William Taft was reputed to be the fattest American President. The bachelor – President of America was James Buchanan. Gerald Ford mounted the saddle of reign in America without a vote cast by the electorates. The 3 – term America Polio/Wheel Chair President was Franklin Roosevelt. Professor of Law, Woodrow Wilson suffered stroke while in office as American President. Ronald Reagan was the cowboy American President who disunited Soviet Union. He is otherwise called Perestroika President.. The Al Queda or Terrorism President was George W. Bush as it was during his reign that Pentagon suffered terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Consequently, Bush fought terrorism to a standstill. It is worthy of note that his father, George Herbert Bush, had as President of America too, fought the Gulf War in 1991 to rescue Kuwait from Iraqi annexation. So he is referred to as Gulf President. Barack Obama symbolizes the truth, transparency, liberation and freedom. In fact, with the election of Barack Obama as 44th American President, genuine and sincere liberation and freedom of the blacks everywhere particularly in America are displayed. Obama’s election finally crashed the wall of racism.
I could remember the colour-discrimination I experienced in the metro-train in Barcelona, Spain in 2002. I was travelling from Barcelona (wharf area) to Via Julia, a distance of about 10 km. Two young white ladies were already sitting when I came into the train-coach. As I sat with them, they stood up and left the entire seat for me and preferred to stand up. This is still in existence in Europe. But with the African-American Obama as the Numero Uno citizen of the most powerful nation on this planet, colour-bar has been interred. Like the defeat of segregation against the blacks in America, the African continent should benefit immensely from it. Countries in Africa where citizens, minorities etc are still being suppressed, kept in bondage, captivity, slavery should be disentangled from the chains. The prisoners of conscience in African countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan, Congo DR, Niger, Chad, Western Sahara etc should be set free. Because in Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo made “gara gara” whenever Biafra or MASSOB was mentioned, the South-East Governors have become the “Kneeling Governors of Nigeria.” But Leopold Seghor of Senegal once said, “I prefer poverty in liberty to riches in slavery”. However, Fredrick Nietche, a German Philosopher, in his wonderful admonitions said, “I would rather be a slave on my feet than a King on my knees.” Thank God, the South-South Governors are gradually emancipating from their slavery..
No one ties a dog and tortoise as a pair in an athletic competition. Definitely, the tortoise will be drawing back the dog as their paces differ. In Nigeria for instance, the Northerners are quite distinct from the Southerners. The Northerners are predominantly Moslems while Christianity dominates the South. This is why when Pentagon was attacked by terrorists in 2001, it was reported that there was jubilation in the North but the Southerners were downcast and in pensive mood. In the South, there are freedom fighters but the North has terrorists. Western Education rules in the South but Islamic Education is the much sought after by the Northerners. Many Northerners see might as right but Southerners uphold tenaciously the doctrine of might lies in right. To kill an “infidel” is a license to heaven when actually killers are hell-bound. Perhaps this is why violence is preferred by some Northerners to sense of reason even though whoever claims monopoly of violence suffers from self deceit.
Is it not provoking violence in the 21st Century for somebody to conscript, abduct or kidnap forcefully another of a different religion and coax the person to renounce one’s religion and accept the captor’s religion failure which the captive is beheaded and the worshiping place set on fire? This is not only barbaric and inhuman, it is also as un-African as it is ungodly. What progress and development do such a country expect to make where some citizens are under duress to be citizens of “their” countries? Are those forced citizens not prisoners of conscience, under bondage and slavery? If one says he does not want to be with you because of your inhumanity to man, illiteracy, senselessness, primitively, parasitism etc why not allow him to be on his own? As amalgamations exist among nations in the past, so does separation exist in modern times among discordant unions. After all, marriage partners divorce.
Eritrea separated from Ethiopia. Zambia and Zimbabwe burst out of Rhodesia. Today the problem of Zimbabwe does not affect Zambia directly. Soviet Union gave birth to many countries. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Sunday February 17, 2008. Consequent of the objection of Serbia and Russia, European Union sent over 2000 police officers to help maintain peace and order. But then, why is the forced co-existence in Africa so rampant with countries where Islam is so pronounced – Nigeria, Sudan, Morocco, Niger, Chad, etc? This does not portray Islam in good light. Why cannot Biafra, Niger Delta, Middle Belt, Arewa, Oduduwa become independent from Nigeria peacefully since they are incompatible nations? Under her own independence, Arewa can adopt Islamic Sharia / Education or way of life instead of forcing it on every citizen of Nigeria. Even, Arewa can amalgamate with Niger Republic if she still wants to be a larger country or even break into smaller nation – Eastern and Western Arewa. Perhaps to implement a jihadist agenda warranted Nigeria’s border with Niger being so porous? The Niger citizens go in and out of Nigeria whenever and wherever they want with no travelling documents. The security agents do not even intercept these suspected foreign terrorists. Truly, governance in Nigeria has failed. As a matter of fact, Nigeria is a failed state. Therefore, the plan of the United States and her Allies to send 20,000 African Command Soldiers to Nigeria is welcome no matter what they are coming for. If Biafra becomes a country, Biafraland will be US or Africom Military Base.
President Fidel Castro of Cuba had a Commander’s Commander in the person of General Ochoa. He was his best friend, classmate, playmate and indeed everything. In fact, if there was any serious and hard assignments or anything needing a person of integrity, Gen. Ochoa was usually sent across. However, because of this privileged position of trust, General Ochoa of Cuba and General Emmanuel Noriega of Panama misused this position of trust to trade on illicit drugs. On their apprehension, General Noriega was sentenced to jail in the United States of America while General Ochoa was repatriated to Cuba. Before a Military Tribunal, he was sentenced to death. But then, it was only Fidel Castro, the President, who could save his life by granting him amnesty. Faced with this dilemma, Fidel Castro cried publicly. He then said in his helplessness, “Para que le revolucion supervivera algunas veces ha der hacas dano a simismo”. This means, in order that our revolution survives, at times it has to do harm to itself.. General Ochoa was eventually executed.
In order that minorities and discordant nations in African countries are saved from slavery, captivity and bondage of their co-country men, self-rule or independence should be granted to them. Doing this will enable these captives benefit also from Barack Obama’s black liberation and freedom which America has set the pace and blossomed. Above all, if Barack Obama frees or liberates these people from their various enslavement, definitely history will truly record him as the “Liberation or Freedom President or America.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London
The emergence of Barack Obama as the Presidential Candidate of the Democratic Party was God’s doing and the partial fulfilment of the first part of the Luther’s dream. When eventually the election came and result declared, the final fulfilment manifested. In God We Trust (In Deo Speramus) is the American motto consequently America could be seen as God’s Own Country. A lot of things mark America out as a model that cannot operate at the mediocre level or display a show of shame. As number one country in the world, America leads by example. To say the least, America is special from one thing to everything. Abolition of slavery was championed by the Americans.
Many American President have identified with history and events. Abraham Lincoln of USA was said to have never won any election from Council to Senate despite the fact that he tried for nine good times. But on his first attempt at the presidency, he won. He however declared that despondency or low ambition is a crime. William Taft was reputed to be the fattest American President. The bachelor – President of America was James Buchanan. Gerald Ford mounted the saddle of reign in America without a vote cast by the electorates. The 3 – term America Polio/Wheel Chair President was Franklin Roosevelt. Professor of Law, Woodrow Wilson suffered stroke while in office as American President. Ronald Reagan was the cowboy American President who disunited Soviet Union. He is otherwise called Perestroika President.. The Al Queda or Terrorism President was George W. Bush as it was during his reign that Pentagon suffered terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Consequently, Bush fought terrorism to a standstill. It is worthy of note that his father, George Herbert Bush, had as President of America too, fought the Gulf War in 1991 to rescue Kuwait from Iraqi annexation. So he is referred to as Gulf President. Barack Obama symbolizes the truth, transparency, liberation and freedom. In fact, with the election of Barack Obama as 44th American President, genuine and sincere liberation and freedom of the blacks everywhere particularly in America are displayed. Obama’s election finally crashed the wall of racism.
I could remember the colour-discrimination I experienced in the metro-train in Barcelona, Spain in 2002. I was travelling from Barcelona (wharf area) to Via Julia, a distance of about 10 km. Two young white ladies were already sitting when I came into the train-coach. As I sat with them, they stood up and left the entire seat for me and preferred to stand up. This is still in existence in Europe. But with the African-American Obama as the Numero Uno citizen of the most powerful nation on this planet, colour-bar has been interred. Like the defeat of segregation against the blacks in America, the African continent should benefit immensely from it. Countries in Africa where citizens, minorities etc are still being suppressed, kept in bondage, captivity, slavery should be disentangled from the chains. The prisoners of conscience in African countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan, Congo DR, Niger, Chad, Western Sahara etc should be set free. Because in Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo made “gara gara” whenever Biafra or MASSOB was mentioned, the South-East Governors have become the “Kneeling Governors of Nigeria.” But Leopold Seghor of Senegal once said, “I prefer poverty in liberty to riches in slavery”. However, Fredrick Nietche, a German Philosopher, in his wonderful admonitions said, “I would rather be a slave on my feet than a King on my knees.” Thank God, the South-South Governors are gradually emancipating from their slavery..
No one ties a dog and tortoise as a pair in an athletic competition. Definitely, the tortoise will be drawing back the dog as their paces differ. In Nigeria for instance, the Northerners are quite distinct from the Southerners. The Northerners are predominantly Moslems while Christianity dominates the South. This is why when Pentagon was attacked by terrorists in 2001, it was reported that there was jubilation in the North but the Southerners were downcast and in pensive mood. In the South, there are freedom fighters but the North has terrorists. Western Education rules in the South but Islamic Education is the much sought after by the Northerners. Many Northerners see might as right but Southerners uphold tenaciously the doctrine of might lies in right. To kill an “infidel” is a license to heaven when actually killers are hell-bound. Perhaps this is why violence is preferred by some Northerners to sense of reason even though whoever claims monopoly of violence suffers from self deceit.
Is it not provoking violence in the 21st Century for somebody to conscript, abduct or kidnap forcefully another of a different religion and coax the person to renounce one’s religion and accept the captor’s religion failure which the captive is beheaded and the worshiping place set on fire? This is not only barbaric and inhuman, it is also as un-African as it is ungodly. What progress and development do such a country expect to make where some citizens are under duress to be citizens of “their” countries? Are those forced citizens not prisoners of conscience, under bondage and slavery? If one says he does not want to be with you because of your inhumanity to man, illiteracy, senselessness, primitively, parasitism etc why not allow him to be on his own? As amalgamations exist among nations in the past, so does separation exist in modern times among discordant unions. After all, marriage partners divorce.
Eritrea separated from Ethiopia. Zambia and Zimbabwe burst out of Rhodesia. Today the problem of Zimbabwe does not affect Zambia directly. Soviet Union gave birth to many countries. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Sunday February 17, 2008. Consequent of the objection of Serbia and Russia, European Union sent over 2000 police officers to help maintain peace and order. But then, why is the forced co-existence in Africa so rampant with countries where Islam is so pronounced – Nigeria, Sudan, Morocco, Niger, Chad, etc? This does not portray Islam in good light. Why cannot Biafra, Niger Delta, Middle Belt, Arewa, Oduduwa become independent from Nigeria peacefully since they are incompatible nations? Under her own independence, Arewa can adopt Islamic Sharia / Education or way of life instead of forcing it on every citizen of Nigeria. Even, Arewa can amalgamate with Niger Republic if she still wants to be a larger country or even break into smaller nation – Eastern and Western Arewa. Perhaps to implement a jihadist agenda warranted Nigeria’s border with Niger being so porous? The Niger citizens go in and out of Nigeria whenever and wherever they want with no travelling documents. The security agents do not even intercept these suspected foreign terrorists. Truly, governance in Nigeria has failed. As a matter of fact, Nigeria is a failed state. Therefore, the plan of the United States and her Allies to send 20,000 African Command Soldiers to Nigeria is welcome no matter what they are coming for. If Biafra becomes a country, Biafraland will be US or Africom Military Base.
President Fidel Castro of Cuba had a Commander’s Commander in the person of General Ochoa. He was his best friend, classmate, playmate and indeed everything. In fact, if there was any serious and hard assignments or anything needing a person of integrity, Gen. Ochoa was usually sent across. However, because of this privileged position of trust, General Ochoa of Cuba and General Emmanuel Noriega of Panama misused this position of trust to trade on illicit drugs. On their apprehension, General Noriega was sentenced to jail in the United States of America while General Ochoa was repatriated to Cuba. Before a Military Tribunal, he was sentenced to death. But then, it was only Fidel Castro, the President, who could save his life by granting him amnesty. Faced with this dilemma, Fidel Castro cried publicly. He then said in his helplessness, “Para que le revolucion supervivera algunas veces ha der hacas dano a simismo”. This means, in order that our revolution survives, at times it has to do harm to itself.. General Ochoa was eventually executed.
In order that minorities and discordant nations in African countries are saved from slavery, captivity and bondage of their co-country men, self-rule or independence should be granted to them. Doing this will enable these captives benefit also from Barack Obama’s black liberation and freedom which America has set the pace and blossomed. Above all, if Barack Obama frees or liberates these people from their various enslavement, definitely history will truly record him as the “Liberation or Freedom President or America.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London
NDI IGBO, THINK HOME -- By Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya
This thought is not new for it is older than the writer. This writer is probably the one new to the thought. People like Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife made this thought a watchword while in office as Governor of Anambra State in 1992. Dr Ogbonnaya Onu reasoned along the line hence his initiation of the Obuaku City project when he was Governor of Abia State. Chief C.C. Onoh is not happy with the Igbo “ charity begins outside Igboland” mentality. Prof Philip Emeagwali, Dr Dozie Ikedife, Eze C.I. Ilomuanya, Igwe G.O. Ezechukwu of Umuchu and Gov Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State have advised Ndi Igbo to re-brand their attitudes for the changing world to enable them take their supposed place of pride in Nigeria. The Nostradamus of our time (the man at the age of 34 who saw in 1967, the Nigeria of today), Ezeigbo Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, does not compromise this thought. That Ndi Igbo of no mean calibre and status like the aforementioned and others could spare a thought on this issue, should have made every Igbo man and woman to listen but to no avail. However, a farmer who plants and does not see seeds germinate, will continue planting. Again, until an archer drops his weapon, one being ambushed will continue to hide.
Ndi Igbo always say that a woman impregnated from a sexual intercourse held while standing, usually gives birth to a mad man. This call sometimes arises whenever the lives of Ndi Igbo / or their properties are threatened by people of other tribes, which invariably whittles down the essence of this thought, as a situation call. The other year witnessed the wanton killing of innocent Igbo men, women and children in this or the other place. The following year, market areas developed by Ndi-Igbo were either demolished or wrested from them and another virgin land allotted to then for development. Whenever there is a scuffle between people of other tribes, the properties, goods and wares of Ndi-Igbo are looted. Everywhere, everytime and in everything, Ndi-Igbo are sacrificial lambs; an endangered species. History and facts succinctly show that in every case of these cruelties and man’s inhumanities to man, Ndi-Igbo are neither the cause of the problem nor the accused but always the victim. But God, what has the bat done that it cannot perch on the tree like others but always hangs with head upside down?
But then, in spite of all these maltreatment of Ndi-Igbo, they do not care and still regard themselves as Nigerians not knowing that they are deceiving themselves or living in a fool’s paradise. Jews among the Gentiles. If an Igboman is a Nigerian, why can’t he be the President of the country? Could it be feasible for an Igboman to be President of Nigerian by 2031 as present rotation suggests? If Ndi-Igbo are Nigerians, what has stopped Abakaliki rice farmers from receiving parallel Federal Government attention like FADAMA projects of the Northern farmers? Again, farmers in the South and North start farming activities at different times. Why must fertilizer distribution only begin when Northern farmers start their farm-work? Why must Ndi-Igbo of about 40m people have the least number of states among the zones in Nigeria? If an Igboman calls himself a Nigerian, why can’t he be an Army Chief, Secretary to the Federal Government, Agriculture and Water Resources Minister etc since 1970? Irrespective of the tactical rejection of Ndi-Igbo as Nigerians yet Ndi-Igbo are not allowed to go away from Nigeria thus making Ndi-Igbo stateless citizens in Nigeria.. Bats. And Ndi-Igbo, in the attempt to seek for identity, integration and sense of belonging, continues to build skyscrapers all over the place, wanting to be more Catholic than the Pope, more indigenous than the indigenes. Notwithstanding that they are hundreds of kilometres away from home, Ndi-Igbo build industries, market plazas and generally contribute to the development of any environment they find themselves in the fragile Nigeria.
How do people from other tribes reciprocate this gesture? If you want to know what a leopard is thinking, you will see what its tail is doing. Ndi-Igbo are envied for their diligence not minding that some Ndi-Igbo who develop these “foreign homes” possess not even a room of their own in their native towns. If the Hausa-Fulani cattle rearers at Okigwe had been Ndi-Igbo, their settlements would have changed for the better. At least, nice structures would have overtaken their present shanty settlements and ghettos. Could it be true that only seven houses in the whole of Enugu are owned by Yoruba indigenes? But a survey shows that 60% of the plots of land in Abuja are owned by Ndi-Igbo while 45% of the buildings in Lagos State belong to Ndi-Igbo. Even the desire to own houses by Ndi-Igbo within African countries is there. In camp Yabassi Area in Douala Cameroun, there is an edifice engraved in it, NNEWI HOUSE”, which is the hub of motor spare parts business in Cameroun. There are “Igbo landlords” in Tiko, Bamenda, Kumba Bafoussan, Yaounde etc. With the discovery of oil in Sao Tome and Equitorial Guinea, Ndi-Igbo have found a “New Layout”. In South Africa’s Johannesburg, Cape Town, Abidjan in Cote D’lvore and capital of Ghana, Accra etc, many Ndi-Igbo now own buildings. The thirst and hunger to be “landlord” is not limited to African countries but Europe and United States of America. But then, that a man caught a live elephant or monkey does not make the man agile or brave. Only those that killed lion are brave and agile. Whatever happen, Ndi-Igbo please think home.
On the other hand, is the non-ownership of houses or non-development of their places of residence by the Hausa-Fulani’s in Okigwe as a result of their inability economically to do it or willful refusal to assist in the emancipation of these places from the state of nature? Above all, is it to guard against incurring losses in the event of disintegration of the country as America Security Report predicted of Nigerian’s disintegration in fifteen years time or just abject disbelief in the concept of one Nigeria? I wonder if Ndi-Igbo know that all these plots of land being developed everywhere are on lease hold? Until a rotten tooth is removed, the mouth ought to chew with caution.
Do Ndi-Igbo ask themselves why the Corporate Head Offices of the many prominent Northern business moguls are permanently in the arid and desert North? By the way, if wiseman Sir Gabriel Igbinedion, Esama of Benin, had built his University, Hospital, Corporate Headquarters etc outside Okada, would the place have developed into a wonderland? That Igbo land needs more tertiary institutions cannot be over-emphasized. Perhaps, if some institutions owned by Ndi-Igbo built across the country had been concentrated in Igboland, these problems would have been half-solved. Would Ogboko town in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State not have owned a University if all the Rochas Academy are concentrated in the town? Apart from transforming the town into a semi-urban town, the employment it generates, is another matter. I am one of the species of human being who has refused to agree that patriotism lies in one marrying from every ethnic group in Nigeria or owning business in all the towns in Nigeria. My patriotism as one not in the centre-stage, is to tell the Government and the citizens honestly what to do so that our land will be like others lands our people admire and migrate to.
Despite the fact that Northerners do not sell anything on credit to the Southern traders; cows, beans, cereals, fruits, palm oil business from the Easterners is never transacted on cash and carry basis. Who would believe that Igbo traders particularly those dealing on foodstuffs sponsor agents or give short and long term refundable loans to some of the farmers in the North producing tomatoes, yams, cassava etc so as to “colorize” their farm products in the bid to maximize profit? Do Ndi-Igbo travel along Owerrinta-Owerri, Umuahia-Enugu, Okigwe-Afikpo-Abakaliki etc and see acres of uncultivated land that can benefit from such largesse? If such recoupable investment is extended to rice farmers in Abakaliki area, Arondizuogu/Umuchu /Umunze /Ezira /Umuomaku axis, Orumba area, Inyi /Achi, Mmiata Anam /Otuocha axis etc, Nigerian will automatically become a rice producing nation. The stone you leave unturned is the one covering your destiny. Ndi-Igbo, please think home.
Apart from agriculture, there is virgin and barren land begging for development in the East. This is why the interest of the Abia State Government in the development of the Obuaku city project is commendable though the exercise is in the interim, in the newspapers and radios. Housing Estates need to be established in these virgin and barren areas besides every tertiary institution to encourage development of new cities. In Europe, a city like Barcelona has about eight tertiary institutions; some located over a distance of about thirty kilometers away from the metropolis yet metro-services make movement of the students possible. Over twenty television studios and thirty radio stations make telecast and broadcast to viewers and listeners respectively yet the city of Barcelona is still serene and tranquil. Aba, Orlu, Okigwe, Nsukka, Nnewi, Onitsha, Aguata etc need radio and television stations to generate employment, business and other activities.
This think home call does not limit to the development of Igboland structurally. Ndi-Igbo in diaspora should, as a power-bloc, demand for the teaching of Igbo language in the schools where there children are learning. Where the management of the schools fails to heed to their demand, they look for an alternative school where it is taught. In London, the Igbo Catholic Priests have started celebrating Sunday Masses in Igbo language. Most importantly, some special centres are now teaching Igbo language to children of Igbo parents in London. That of USA will soon come on board. All these help the language to be sustained. The employments these activities generate are there.
It is necessary at this juncture to reiterate the need for Ndi-Igbo to emphasize on proper education of the child and being self-employed via artisan works. A situation is in the offing when there will be no carpenters, masons, block-molders, welders, motorcycle and motor vehicle mechanics etc. The get-rich quick attitude has lured some of these artisans out of the artisan-work. Worse still many of the graduates from the tertiary institutions are half-baked. It is ominous sign and ugly development for Igbo race.
The issue of Abuja or Lagos marriage prevalent among Ndi-Igbo especially those outside Igboland is no longer a thing of joy. Just cohabit with a bachelor and “hook” or “tie” him down with pregnancy and the spinster becomes a proud wife of a husband. Dowry and other traditional rites should go to hell. Most of them do not know where their husbands come from let alone knowing their relations. The young generation of Ndi-Igbo should be made to know that incest, bestiality, sodomy, lesbianism, same-sex marriage and polyandry are un-Igbo and therefore taboos in Igboland. All these are abominations. The sky is too wide for two birds to collide in the air.
Finally, that Ndi-Igbo become one, is the prayer of all Igbo men and women. At this time of the request for more states in Igboland, all hands should be on deck. Aside of Njaba or Orashi, I think that the Okigwe / Awgu axis, Aba/Ukwa, Nsukka area (Adada State) need to be states. When we were children, there was an insinuation that every town except Orlu and Okigwe has developed. While Njaba / Orashi will take care of Orlu mockery, that of Okigwe will be taken care of by new Okigwe / Awgu State. The leaders of Ndi-Igbo in diaspora are doing more harm than good to our Igboness by addressing their leaders, as “Eze Ndi-Igbo”. The proper designation is “Onye Ndu Ndi-Igbo” Hausa leaders outside their domain are addressed as “Sariki” not Emir. Whoever calls his/her mother an ugly woman inadvertently calls his/her father a foolish man. Could it be true that some undesirable elements have infiltrated into the traditional institutions in Igboland? Worse still, is it true that some Igbo Governors are “Kings on Their Knees”? The Governors, Ohaneze and World Igbo Council should dialogue with the Federal Government on the abysmal level of decay of infrastructures particularly Federal roads in our areas so as to find out the stand of the Federal Government on the long time neglect of Igboland. Where the neglect persists, the option of Kosovo, South Ossertia, Abkhazia etc should be vigorously pursued thus reducing MASSOB struggle to a child’s play. If the buffalo cannot kill Okoroafor let Okoroafor then kill the buffalo.
Let all Ndi-Igbo answer this clarion call from the spirit of the Igbo heartland. Let them complement the efforts of our forefathers and that of the white man who designed and developed some of the present day townships by developing new townships and cities. If Ndi Igbo do not wake up, their nightmare will linger till morning. A bird that is bound to fly must therefore definitely grow feathers. Posterity will never forgive this generation of Ndi-Igbo for their disservice to Igboland by abandoning it while developing other areas of their residence outside Igboland. Most importantly, the danger of putting Igbo tradition, culture and language into oblivion is staring us in the face. Ndi Igbo please think home for East, West, North or South, home is the best.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.
Ndi Igbo always say that a woman impregnated from a sexual intercourse held while standing, usually gives birth to a mad man. This call sometimes arises whenever the lives of Ndi Igbo / or their properties are threatened by people of other tribes, which invariably whittles down the essence of this thought, as a situation call. The other year witnessed the wanton killing of innocent Igbo men, women and children in this or the other place. The following year, market areas developed by Ndi-Igbo were either demolished or wrested from them and another virgin land allotted to then for development. Whenever there is a scuffle between people of other tribes, the properties, goods and wares of Ndi-Igbo are looted. Everywhere, everytime and in everything, Ndi-Igbo are sacrificial lambs; an endangered species. History and facts succinctly show that in every case of these cruelties and man’s inhumanities to man, Ndi-Igbo are neither the cause of the problem nor the accused but always the victim. But God, what has the bat done that it cannot perch on the tree like others but always hangs with head upside down?
But then, in spite of all these maltreatment of Ndi-Igbo, they do not care and still regard themselves as Nigerians not knowing that they are deceiving themselves or living in a fool’s paradise. Jews among the Gentiles. If an Igboman is a Nigerian, why can’t he be the President of the country? Could it be feasible for an Igboman to be President of Nigerian by 2031 as present rotation suggests? If Ndi-Igbo are Nigerians, what has stopped Abakaliki rice farmers from receiving parallel Federal Government attention like FADAMA projects of the Northern farmers? Again, farmers in the South and North start farming activities at different times. Why must fertilizer distribution only begin when Northern farmers start their farm-work? Why must Ndi-Igbo of about 40m people have the least number of states among the zones in Nigeria? If an Igboman calls himself a Nigerian, why can’t he be an Army Chief, Secretary to the Federal Government, Agriculture and Water Resources Minister etc since 1970? Irrespective of the tactical rejection of Ndi-Igbo as Nigerians yet Ndi-Igbo are not allowed to go away from Nigeria thus making Ndi-Igbo stateless citizens in Nigeria.. Bats. And Ndi-Igbo, in the attempt to seek for identity, integration and sense of belonging, continues to build skyscrapers all over the place, wanting to be more Catholic than the Pope, more indigenous than the indigenes. Notwithstanding that they are hundreds of kilometres away from home, Ndi-Igbo build industries, market plazas and generally contribute to the development of any environment they find themselves in the fragile Nigeria.
How do people from other tribes reciprocate this gesture? If you want to know what a leopard is thinking, you will see what its tail is doing. Ndi-Igbo are envied for their diligence not minding that some Ndi-Igbo who develop these “foreign homes” possess not even a room of their own in their native towns. If the Hausa-Fulani cattle rearers at Okigwe had been Ndi-Igbo, their settlements would have changed for the better. At least, nice structures would have overtaken their present shanty settlements and ghettos. Could it be true that only seven houses in the whole of Enugu are owned by Yoruba indigenes? But a survey shows that 60% of the plots of land in Abuja are owned by Ndi-Igbo while 45% of the buildings in Lagos State belong to Ndi-Igbo. Even the desire to own houses by Ndi-Igbo within African countries is there. In camp Yabassi Area in Douala Cameroun, there is an edifice engraved in it, NNEWI HOUSE”, which is the hub of motor spare parts business in Cameroun. There are “Igbo landlords” in Tiko, Bamenda, Kumba Bafoussan, Yaounde etc. With the discovery of oil in Sao Tome and Equitorial Guinea, Ndi-Igbo have found a “New Layout”. In South Africa’s Johannesburg, Cape Town, Abidjan in Cote D’lvore and capital of Ghana, Accra etc, many Ndi-Igbo now own buildings. The thirst and hunger to be “landlord” is not limited to African countries but Europe and United States of America. But then, that a man caught a live elephant or monkey does not make the man agile or brave. Only those that killed lion are brave and agile. Whatever happen, Ndi-Igbo please think home.
On the other hand, is the non-ownership of houses or non-development of their places of residence by the Hausa-Fulani’s in Okigwe as a result of their inability economically to do it or willful refusal to assist in the emancipation of these places from the state of nature? Above all, is it to guard against incurring losses in the event of disintegration of the country as America Security Report predicted of Nigerian’s disintegration in fifteen years time or just abject disbelief in the concept of one Nigeria? I wonder if Ndi-Igbo know that all these plots of land being developed everywhere are on lease hold? Until a rotten tooth is removed, the mouth ought to chew with caution.
Do Ndi-Igbo ask themselves why the Corporate Head Offices of the many prominent Northern business moguls are permanently in the arid and desert North? By the way, if wiseman Sir Gabriel Igbinedion, Esama of Benin, had built his University, Hospital, Corporate Headquarters etc outside Okada, would the place have developed into a wonderland? That Igbo land needs more tertiary institutions cannot be over-emphasized. Perhaps, if some institutions owned by Ndi-Igbo built across the country had been concentrated in Igboland, these problems would have been half-solved. Would Ogboko town in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State not have owned a University if all the Rochas Academy are concentrated in the town? Apart from transforming the town into a semi-urban town, the employment it generates, is another matter. I am one of the species of human being who has refused to agree that patriotism lies in one marrying from every ethnic group in Nigeria or owning business in all the towns in Nigeria. My patriotism as one not in the centre-stage, is to tell the Government and the citizens honestly what to do so that our land will be like others lands our people admire and migrate to.
Despite the fact that Northerners do not sell anything on credit to the Southern traders; cows, beans, cereals, fruits, palm oil business from the Easterners is never transacted on cash and carry basis. Who would believe that Igbo traders particularly those dealing on foodstuffs sponsor agents or give short and long term refundable loans to some of the farmers in the North producing tomatoes, yams, cassava etc so as to “colorize” their farm products in the bid to maximize profit? Do Ndi-Igbo travel along Owerrinta-Owerri, Umuahia-Enugu, Okigwe-Afikpo-Abakaliki etc and see acres of uncultivated land that can benefit from such largesse? If such recoupable investment is extended to rice farmers in Abakaliki area, Arondizuogu/Umuchu /Umunze /Ezira /Umuomaku axis, Orumba area, Inyi /Achi, Mmiata Anam /Otuocha axis etc, Nigerian will automatically become a rice producing nation. The stone you leave unturned is the one covering your destiny. Ndi-Igbo, please think home.
Apart from agriculture, there is virgin and barren land begging for development in the East. This is why the interest of the Abia State Government in the development of the Obuaku city project is commendable though the exercise is in the interim, in the newspapers and radios. Housing Estates need to be established in these virgin and barren areas besides every tertiary institution to encourage development of new cities. In Europe, a city like Barcelona has about eight tertiary institutions; some located over a distance of about thirty kilometers away from the metropolis yet metro-services make movement of the students possible. Over twenty television studios and thirty radio stations make telecast and broadcast to viewers and listeners respectively yet the city of Barcelona is still serene and tranquil. Aba, Orlu, Okigwe, Nsukka, Nnewi, Onitsha, Aguata etc need radio and television stations to generate employment, business and other activities.
This think home call does not limit to the development of Igboland structurally. Ndi-Igbo in diaspora should, as a power-bloc, demand for the teaching of Igbo language in the schools where there children are learning. Where the management of the schools fails to heed to their demand, they look for an alternative school where it is taught. In London, the Igbo Catholic Priests have started celebrating Sunday Masses in Igbo language. Most importantly, some special centres are now teaching Igbo language to children of Igbo parents in London. That of USA will soon come on board. All these help the language to be sustained. The employments these activities generate are there.
It is necessary at this juncture to reiterate the need for Ndi-Igbo to emphasize on proper education of the child and being self-employed via artisan works. A situation is in the offing when there will be no carpenters, masons, block-molders, welders, motorcycle and motor vehicle mechanics etc. The get-rich quick attitude has lured some of these artisans out of the artisan-work. Worse still many of the graduates from the tertiary institutions are half-baked. It is ominous sign and ugly development for Igbo race.
The issue of Abuja or Lagos marriage prevalent among Ndi-Igbo especially those outside Igboland is no longer a thing of joy. Just cohabit with a bachelor and “hook” or “tie” him down with pregnancy and the spinster becomes a proud wife of a husband. Dowry and other traditional rites should go to hell. Most of them do not know where their husbands come from let alone knowing their relations. The young generation of Ndi-Igbo should be made to know that incest, bestiality, sodomy, lesbianism, same-sex marriage and polyandry are un-Igbo and therefore taboos in Igboland. All these are abominations. The sky is too wide for two birds to collide in the air.
Finally, that Ndi-Igbo become one, is the prayer of all Igbo men and women. At this time of the request for more states in Igboland, all hands should be on deck. Aside of Njaba or Orashi, I think that the Okigwe / Awgu axis, Aba/Ukwa, Nsukka area (Adada State) need to be states. When we were children, there was an insinuation that every town except Orlu and Okigwe has developed. While Njaba / Orashi will take care of Orlu mockery, that of Okigwe will be taken care of by new Okigwe / Awgu State. The leaders of Ndi-Igbo in diaspora are doing more harm than good to our Igboness by addressing their leaders, as “Eze Ndi-Igbo”. The proper designation is “Onye Ndu Ndi-Igbo” Hausa leaders outside their domain are addressed as “Sariki” not Emir. Whoever calls his/her mother an ugly woman inadvertently calls his/her father a foolish man. Could it be true that some undesirable elements have infiltrated into the traditional institutions in Igboland? Worse still, is it true that some Igbo Governors are “Kings on Their Knees”? The Governors, Ohaneze and World Igbo Council should dialogue with the Federal Government on the abysmal level of decay of infrastructures particularly Federal roads in our areas so as to find out the stand of the Federal Government on the long time neglect of Igboland. Where the neglect persists, the option of Kosovo, South Ossertia, Abkhazia etc should be vigorously pursued thus reducing MASSOB struggle to a child’s play. If the buffalo cannot kill Okoroafor let Okoroafor then kill the buffalo.
Let all Ndi-Igbo answer this clarion call from the spirit of the Igbo heartland. Let them complement the efforts of our forefathers and that of the white man who designed and developed some of the present day townships by developing new townships and cities. If Ndi Igbo do not wake up, their nightmare will linger till morning. A bird that is bound to fly must therefore definitely grow feathers. Posterity will never forgive this generation of Ndi-Igbo for their disservice to Igboland by abandoning it while developing other areas of their residence outside Igboland. Most importantly, the danger of putting Igbo tradition, culture and language into oblivion is staring us in the face. Ndi Igbo please think home for East, West, North or South, home is the best.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.
UN, US, AU, VATICAN: The Graves of The Biafrans Are Not Yet Full. By Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya.
From the excerpt of a speech delivered by that “super Biafran Son of the Soil” “Igbo bu Igbo”, Prof Philip Emeagwali (Lion of Biafra, LB awardee), delivered at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia at the commemoration of the 40th anniversary (1968-2008) of Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, the memory of the massacre of Biafrans is rekindled, relivened and refreshed especially for some of us who were then toddlers. To Biafrans, the years 1967, 1968 and 1969 cannot be forgotten. Injuries heal but the scars are there. To freedom, 1968 is great both to the Americans and Biafrans. Incidentally to the Americans, it is now achieved but to Biafrans, no.. Worse still, the graves of the Biafrans are not yet full in the struggle for this freedom.
The road to freedom for the Biafrans in Nigeria has been tortuous. A farmer who plants does not see seeds germinate must continue planting. Biafrans were sacrificial lambs in religious riots in Jos-1943, Kano-1953 (colonial era), Nigeria/Biafra war-1967/70, Kano-1980, Maiduguri-1982 Jimeta-Yola-1984 and Gombe-1985. The cold blood of innocent and harmless Biafrans oozed along the streets of Kaduna / Kafarchan-1987, Bauchi/Katsina/Kano-1991, Zango-Kataf-1992, Funtua-1993, Kaduna-2000 and 2002, Jos-2003 and Kano 2004. The police with Obasanjo regime’s arrogant, bold and express approval killed about 2000 MASSOB members in 2004. On May 30, 2008, scores of MASSOB members were teargassed and arrested at their prayer session and worship with their Bibles by the Moslem policemen and soldiers. Can a Christian policemen or soldier abuse Moslems at their prayer-session? Pockets of violence where few Christians particularly Biafrans were killed and Churches burnt
down, were not taken into consideration. But the death of an ant is still a loss of life. Worse still, many Biafrans in top Government positions have died in mysterious circumstances suspected to be man-made. What does one who constantly pays another with a pebble ask for if not a perpetual stone in return?
In 1947, Alhaji Shehu Shagari (former President of Nigeria) then a schoolteacher, advocated for the division of Nigeria. In 1994, the Libyan leader, Col Maummar Gaddaffi, also called for the division of Nigeria along religious lines. Recently, Chief Anthony Enahoro called for the dissolution of Nigeria. If the man who moved the motion for Nigeria independence can call for her dissolution, it means that the motive behind Nigeria’s oneness, unity and independence now has question mark thus derailed. Perhaps Lord Fredrick Luggard may be saying the same thing in his graves. And when things fall apart, the centre can no longer hold (Chinua Achebe, LB awardee).
Rhodesia was divided into Zambia and Zimbabwe. Today each is progressing or retrogressing independent of the other. The wise Ethiopians allowed Eritrean’s to pull out. Quebec and Canada separated honourably. Quite recently, Kosovo pulled away from Serbia. But in Nigeria the baboons are opposing the going away of the monkeys so that it will continue to be the usual “monkey de work, baboon de chop”. The world is no longer a jungle of the dark ages era. The palpable fear of failure as a nation because of non-availability of oil is why the baboons ferociously oppose it despite their acclaimed population.. Oil is not everything. Hunger is teaching Nigerians that population is not only for revenue-allocation from oil but also for food-production despite the arrogant declaration of Shakarau of Kano State that groundnut pyramid is no longer feasible in Kano. The joy of procreation through polygamous family is the ability to feed your family otherwise it
turns a killjoy. Quality of human person produced is more important than the number produced. Capacity building of human being or human development should be the target of every Nigerian Government not the population. There is no gainsaying the fact that a well-developed human being is more money spinning than oil well. Without oil, China, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, Australia etc are super nations. Israel of about 8 million people is a super nation. In Israel electricity is supplied through the Caesarian coal-powered station. What has happened to the Oji River coal powered electricity station located in Biafraland? Because it supplied electricity to Biafrans during the Nigerian/Biafran war, it was permanently close down by the successive authorities.
Biafrans need to be independent and until Nigeria is divided; the corrupt free world will not be attainable. The genesis of many African problem, is traceable to Nigeria: money laundering, drug trafficking, corruption, coup d’etat, Kidnapping, ritualism etc. To say the least, the problem of illegal immigration to USA, Europe, Canada, China, Australia etc are unstoppable unless Nigeria is divided. Since the return of democracy in Nigeria, how many African countries have witnessed coup d’etat? As the acclaimed giant of Africa and role model, whatever happens here is copied by other midget-nations in Africa. This band-wagon attitude prompted “Demi-Goddism” in these rulers of the continent; ldi Amin, Mobutu Sese Seko, Marcus Nguema, Bashir of Sudan, Robert Mugabe, Emperor Bokassa, Samuel Doe, Sani Abacha, Olusegun Obasanjo, Mai Kibathi and Thabo Mbeki. Among the rulers alive, none is qualified to be a member of the World Elders Forum proposed by
Nelson Mandela.
The exodus to USA, European countries etc might suggest that since UN, US, EU, etc are complacent with the misrule, money laundering, injustice etc in Africa, the equal reciprocation is to emigrate to their countries and discomfort them or enjoy with them. When a hunter lays ambush for an animal in the bush, the tse-tse fly also lays ambush for the scrotum of the hunter. Since UN, EU, US etc can only give Africans weapons of war, relief materials, refugee camps, mediation panels or peace keeping soldiers when war breaks out instead of prevention of war by giving African nations peace via independence, the people of Biafra, Niger Delta, Southern Sudan, Niger Republic (NJM) Western Cameroun, Western Sahara, Somalia etc will continue to shout like Adolph Hitler “Fellow countrymen, this the beginning of the end and there will be no rest until the end of the beginning”. In fact, it is only when Biafra becomes an independent nation that the graves of the
Biafrans will be full. Biafrans have fought a war for independence before but now the desire, impatient, quest and enthusiasm for Biafran independence is unprecedented. Therefore the international communities should save lives by supporting the independence of Biafra and anything in the contrary means digging more bottomless graves for the Biafrans.
If Nigeria had divided, the imposed ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua etc could not have been in their positions. Secondly, as a tenant in her residence, the ex-Speaker could not have used the Oduduwa Republic fund of N685m to renovate her landlord’s house and still remained a free citizen. When Nigeria ceases to be one country, the hypocrisy will stop, of the Islamic Sharia states like Kano, Niger, Zamfara etc that do not allow the sales and consumption of beer yet partake in the sharing of the VAT and Excise Duty proceeds from Beer Breweries. Had Nigeria divided, the discretion of becoming a member of OIC will rest on each entity instead of the imposition against the general wish of the people of one Nigeria. The inability of one Nigeria to have a population-policy is because Islam as a religion practised mostly in the Northern Nigeria, permits polygamy. Even as rich and highly developed and
productive as China, there is population policy. With the division of Nigeria, various nations may decide on the matter. If Nigeria is not one country, would somebody like Obasanjo have become President of Oduduwa Repulic let alone spending $16b on electricity yet darkness is the outcome of this huge investment? If Nigeria is divided, as fraud will be minimized, the newspapers will not be inundated with horrible news of misappropriation of funds like N1 trillion stolen, N50B siphoned, probe panels Gulp N67B, N51B stolen every week, N350B disappear etc. By the way, except Niger Delta, which other nation can even have a national budget of N500B in the event that Nigeria divides? Only Niger Delta as a country can without stress give to each of her youths of 18years and above about N1m per year for ten years and yet survives. Espirit de corps and one Nigeria have stood, as giants to the probing of the past rulers of Nigeria namely Shagari, Buhari, IBB,
Abacha and Abdulsallami and no matter what happens Obasanjo will NEVER be probe. The rejection of the FOI bill is the beginning of the Doom’s Day for Nigeria.
If Biafra, Arewa, Oduduwa, Middle Belt etc become countries of their own, Nigeria illegal immigrants in US, EU countries, Canada, Australia, African countries etc will return. While oil price stablize Above all, unemployment, kidnapping, terrorism funding, armed robbery, child trafficking, hunger, corruption, oil-pipeline vandalization, militancy and other national malaise will automatically stop. And until a rotten tooth is removed, the ache or pain in the mouth will never cease. The graves of the Dele Giwas, Ken Saro Wiwas, Philip Effiongs, Isaac Boros, Gideon Orkas, Chuba Okadigbos, Chima Ubanis etc will not be full until Nigeria is divided. Prison and detention camps will continue to be secundus domus to the Dr Ralph Uwazuruikes (Dike Biafra, DB awardee) and his MASSOB officials, Henry Okahs and his indomitable and fearless MEND etc until Nigeria is divided. If you want to know what a leopard is thinking, you will see what its tail is doing.
In the BBC “Who Am I” competition in 2007, a competitor wrote”, In His infinite wisdom God made me a Biafran but through the amalgamation exercise of Britain in 1914, I am in Nigeria. Here, because of my straightforwardness in my dealing with people, I have continued to be a loser. Here, the end justifies the means hence criminals are welcomed, extolled, hallowed and even coronated. Politicians kill, mains, steal to get victory. To say the least, 98% of the 140m populations openly condemn Britain for her unilateral decision that gave birth to Nigeria-nation. My greatest regret is that I have not been able to become and accomplish why God created me because of my nationality.. But in order not to be a stateless citizen which is utopian I still remain in Nigeria pending when UN, US Britain, EU, Vatican, Canada, Australia, China etc will comply with the divine wish and directive by supporting the independence of Biafra.
Mr Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London
The road to freedom for the Biafrans in Nigeria has been tortuous. A farmer who plants does not see seeds germinate must continue planting. Biafrans were sacrificial lambs in religious riots in Jos-1943, Kano-1953 (colonial era), Nigeria/Biafra war-1967/70, Kano-1980, Maiduguri-1982 Jimeta-Yola-1984 and Gombe-1985. The cold blood of innocent and harmless Biafrans oozed along the streets of Kaduna / Kafarchan-1987, Bauchi/Katsina/Kano-1991, Zango-Kataf-1992, Funtua-1993, Kaduna-2000 and 2002, Jos-2003 and Kano 2004. The police with Obasanjo regime’s arrogant, bold and express approval killed about 2000 MASSOB members in 2004. On May 30, 2008, scores of MASSOB members were teargassed and arrested at their prayer session and worship with their Bibles by the Moslem policemen and soldiers. Can a Christian policemen or soldier abuse Moslems at their prayer-session? Pockets of violence where few Christians particularly Biafrans were killed and Churches burnt
down, were not taken into consideration. But the death of an ant is still a loss of life. Worse still, many Biafrans in top Government positions have died in mysterious circumstances suspected to be man-made. What does one who constantly pays another with a pebble ask for if not a perpetual stone in return?
In 1947, Alhaji Shehu Shagari (former President of Nigeria) then a schoolteacher, advocated for the division of Nigeria. In 1994, the Libyan leader, Col Maummar Gaddaffi, also called for the division of Nigeria along religious lines. Recently, Chief Anthony Enahoro called for the dissolution of Nigeria. If the man who moved the motion for Nigeria independence can call for her dissolution, it means that the motive behind Nigeria’s oneness, unity and independence now has question mark thus derailed. Perhaps Lord Fredrick Luggard may be saying the same thing in his graves. And when things fall apart, the centre can no longer hold (Chinua Achebe, LB awardee).
Rhodesia was divided into Zambia and Zimbabwe. Today each is progressing or retrogressing independent of the other. The wise Ethiopians allowed Eritrean’s to pull out. Quebec and Canada separated honourably. Quite recently, Kosovo pulled away from Serbia. But in Nigeria the baboons are opposing the going away of the monkeys so that it will continue to be the usual “monkey de work, baboon de chop”. The world is no longer a jungle of the dark ages era. The palpable fear of failure as a nation because of non-availability of oil is why the baboons ferociously oppose it despite their acclaimed population.. Oil is not everything. Hunger is teaching Nigerians that population is not only for revenue-allocation from oil but also for food-production despite the arrogant declaration of Shakarau of Kano State that groundnut pyramid is no longer feasible in Kano. The joy of procreation through polygamous family is the ability to feed your family otherwise it
turns a killjoy. Quality of human person produced is more important than the number produced. Capacity building of human being or human development should be the target of every Nigerian Government not the population. There is no gainsaying the fact that a well-developed human being is more money spinning than oil well. Without oil, China, Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, Australia etc are super nations. Israel of about 8 million people is a super nation. In Israel electricity is supplied through the Caesarian coal-powered station. What has happened to the Oji River coal powered electricity station located in Biafraland? Because it supplied electricity to Biafrans during the Nigerian/Biafran war, it was permanently close down by the successive authorities.
Biafrans need to be independent and until Nigeria is divided; the corrupt free world will not be attainable. The genesis of many African problem, is traceable to Nigeria: money laundering, drug trafficking, corruption, coup d’etat, Kidnapping, ritualism etc. To say the least, the problem of illegal immigration to USA, Europe, Canada, China, Australia etc are unstoppable unless Nigeria is divided. Since the return of democracy in Nigeria, how many African countries have witnessed coup d’etat? As the acclaimed giant of Africa and role model, whatever happens here is copied by other midget-nations in Africa. This band-wagon attitude prompted “Demi-Goddism” in these rulers of the continent; ldi Amin, Mobutu Sese Seko, Marcus Nguema, Bashir of Sudan, Robert Mugabe, Emperor Bokassa, Samuel Doe, Sani Abacha, Olusegun Obasanjo, Mai Kibathi and Thabo Mbeki. Among the rulers alive, none is qualified to be a member of the World Elders Forum proposed by
Nelson Mandela.
The exodus to USA, European countries etc might suggest that since UN, US, EU, etc are complacent with the misrule, money laundering, injustice etc in Africa, the equal reciprocation is to emigrate to their countries and discomfort them or enjoy with them. When a hunter lays ambush for an animal in the bush, the tse-tse fly also lays ambush for the scrotum of the hunter. Since UN, EU, US etc can only give Africans weapons of war, relief materials, refugee camps, mediation panels or peace keeping soldiers when war breaks out instead of prevention of war by giving African nations peace via independence, the people of Biafra, Niger Delta, Southern Sudan, Niger Republic (NJM) Western Cameroun, Western Sahara, Somalia etc will continue to shout like Adolph Hitler “Fellow countrymen, this the beginning of the end and there will be no rest until the end of the beginning”. In fact, it is only when Biafra becomes an independent nation that the graves of the
Biafrans will be full. Biafrans have fought a war for independence before but now the desire, impatient, quest and enthusiasm for Biafran independence is unprecedented. Therefore the international communities should save lives by supporting the independence of Biafra and anything in the contrary means digging more bottomless graves for the Biafrans.
If Nigeria had divided, the imposed ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua etc could not have been in their positions. Secondly, as a tenant in her residence, the ex-Speaker could not have used the Oduduwa Republic fund of N685m to renovate her landlord’s house and still remained a free citizen. When Nigeria ceases to be one country, the hypocrisy will stop, of the Islamic Sharia states like Kano, Niger, Zamfara etc that do not allow the sales and consumption of beer yet partake in the sharing of the VAT and Excise Duty proceeds from Beer Breweries. Had Nigeria divided, the discretion of becoming a member of OIC will rest on each entity instead of the imposition against the general wish of the people of one Nigeria. The inability of one Nigeria to have a population-policy is because Islam as a religion practised mostly in the Northern Nigeria, permits polygamy. Even as rich and highly developed and
productive as China, there is population policy. With the division of Nigeria, various nations may decide on the matter. If Nigeria is not one country, would somebody like Obasanjo have become President of Oduduwa Repulic let alone spending $16b on electricity yet darkness is the outcome of this huge investment? If Nigeria is divided, as fraud will be minimized, the newspapers will not be inundated with horrible news of misappropriation of funds like N1 trillion stolen, N50B siphoned, probe panels Gulp N67B, N51B stolen every week, N350B disappear etc. By the way, except Niger Delta, which other nation can even have a national budget of N500B in the event that Nigeria divides? Only Niger Delta as a country can without stress give to each of her youths of 18years and above about N1m per year for ten years and yet survives. Espirit de corps and one Nigeria have stood, as giants to the probing of the past rulers of Nigeria namely Shagari, Buhari, IBB,
Abacha and Abdulsallami and no matter what happens Obasanjo will NEVER be probe. The rejection of the FOI bill is the beginning of the Doom’s Day for Nigeria.
If Biafra, Arewa, Oduduwa, Middle Belt etc become countries of their own, Nigeria illegal immigrants in US, EU countries, Canada, Australia, African countries etc will return. While oil price stablize Above all, unemployment, kidnapping, terrorism funding, armed robbery, child trafficking, hunger, corruption, oil-pipeline vandalization, militancy and other national malaise will automatically stop. And until a rotten tooth is removed, the ache or pain in the mouth will never cease. The graves of the Dele Giwas, Ken Saro Wiwas, Philip Effiongs, Isaac Boros, Gideon Orkas, Chuba Okadigbos, Chima Ubanis etc will not be full until Nigeria is divided. Prison and detention camps will continue to be secundus domus to the Dr Ralph Uwazuruikes (Dike Biafra, DB awardee) and his MASSOB officials, Henry Okahs and his indomitable and fearless MEND etc until Nigeria is divided. If you want to know what a leopard is thinking, you will see what its tail is doing.
In the BBC “Who Am I” competition in 2007, a competitor wrote”, In His infinite wisdom God made me a Biafran but through the amalgamation exercise of Britain in 1914, I am in Nigeria. Here, because of my straightforwardness in my dealing with people, I have continued to be a loser. Here, the end justifies the means hence criminals are welcomed, extolled, hallowed and even coronated. Politicians kill, mains, steal to get victory. To say the least, 98% of the 140m populations openly condemn Britain for her unilateral decision that gave birth to Nigeria-nation. My greatest regret is that I have not been able to become and accomplish why God created me because of my nationality.. But in order not to be a stateless citizen which is utopian I still remain in Nigeria pending when UN, US Britain, EU, Vatican, Canada, Australia, China etc will comply with the divine wish and directive by supporting the independence of Biafra.
Mr Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London
Thursday, December 17, 2009
NYSC @ 35: Bravo Ajuwaya By Ezennaya Chibueze Sixtus
Exactly in 1973, the National Youths Service Corp (NYSC) scheme was introduced with a view to promoting national development, unity and patriotism among Nigerian Youths who had graduated from Nigerian Universities. Some remarkable changes have since taken place with regard to those qualified for the scheme.
Firstly, in about the fourth year of its inception, the NYSC programme was expanded to incorporate graduates of the Colleges of Technology, Monotechnics and Polytechnics. Later, holders of the National Certificate of Education (NCE) joined in the programme.
Although there was initially some controversy over the allowances to be paid to this new group of NYSC members, matters were soon ironed out. The products of the Universities, the educational and “technical” institutions have since been cooperating in furthering the aims and objectives of the programme. This programme has since too been extended to Nigerian graduates from abroad. The next major change was the decision to remove the age ceiling placed on those who could become NYSC members. From the apex age of thirty, the scheme was thrown open to graduates from every institutions of higher learning irrespective of age. Exemption could only depend on poor health or infirmity of the graduate.
However, a good many of the NYSC members, actual and potential, need to do more to internalize the scheme’s ideal of integration. It serves no useful purpose for potential members to keep making efforts at influencing their postings. NYSC officials themselves must vigorously discourage this tendency. The Federal, State and Local Government authorities on their parts should not worsen matters by exposing corps members to the vagaries of corruption. Situations where corpers connive with officers of their primary and secondary assignment for “job-cover up” while engaging in another thing altogether defeats the essence of the scheme. It needs to be reminded officials of the scheme and corps members particularly women that it is a great risk for pregnant mothers to engage in the rigorous exercises of the scheme hence the exclusion of pregnant women from the scheme. But sometimes, they “bulldoze” their way through.
The recent backsliding movement of the Federal Government on the scheme makes one suspect the programme as singing the Nunc Dimitis. Other wise, what could be the rationale behind the Federal Government decision to exclude NCE holders from the programme? In the year 2000 or thereabout, the programme suffered another blow when ban was placed on people over 30 years even though Nigerians and their penchant for age-declaration could be a leeway to beating the ban. Feelers from the NYSC secretariat show that from 2008, the scheme is to have three badges of corpers; Sep/Oct, Feb/March and June/July. In 2003/2004, badge “B” corps members were restricted to teaching. The notice could be to sift the chaff from the grain as many of the graduates, in Nigeria despite their certificates are hollow with academics bareness coupled with the unwillingness of many private sector firms to accept these corpers due to hard times. Much as these measures could help savage the scheme from being dragged to the mire, the scheme needs to be refocused if the real human values of it is anticipated and to be tapped.
It was Booker Taliafero Washington who postulated that, “no nation will prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling the field as in writing a poem”. Again, one Augolan proverb has it that “it is useless preaching to a hungry man”. When Nigerians are dying of hunger while our farmlands are yearning for workers, why these able-bodied youths should be denied of this gainful “one year compulsory employment” calls for a rethink on the part of the Federal Government. Apart from helping to feed the nation’s population, products of these farms could be exported. Cassava-starch, Garri and Yam highly needed in Europe are potential foreign exchange earners thereby diversifying the revenue base of Nigeria from monoeconomy. This all-embracing farm should have fish-ponds, snail-cages, poultry etc depending on the area. All these will help the corpers more, than theorizing it in endless and fruitless seminars, workshops and “talkshops” in the camp. Talking, after all, does not fill the basket in the farm according to President Benjamin Nkapa of Tanzania. Definitely, tilling the land does. For this line of thought to become a reality, at least one agricultural farm should be set up in all the senatorial zones of the country. A situation where people of productive age and trained to be so, scoop gutters in the township, sweep pathways, lanes and streets above all fill potholes on our high ways worse still discuss idly in the Local Government Secretariat every Friday in the name of Community Development Service make nonsense of the name. This has invariably called for the restructuring of the scheme so that the service periods will synchronize with our cropping or farming season.
Furthermore, this anniversary provides an opportunity for the NYSC Directorate to ensure efficiently in the co-ordination of the primary and secondary assignment through improved liaison with the various communities and employers of corps member. The supply of singlets, trousers, canvasses and other equipment to corps members has now become a problem perhaps due to economic crunch. But with this new direction, the scheme would not only be self-supporting but also a revenue earner for government besides paving way for new career opportunity for the corps members. Most importantly, the real essence of the scheme will be achieved to the utmost thus distancing and safeguarding it from frustration and failure.
“Bravo Ajuwaya” Happy Anniversary and may the years of the programme be long.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.
Firstly, in about the fourth year of its inception, the NYSC programme was expanded to incorporate graduates of the Colleges of Technology, Monotechnics and Polytechnics. Later, holders of the National Certificate of Education (NCE) joined in the programme.
Although there was initially some controversy over the allowances to be paid to this new group of NYSC members, matters were soon ironed out. The products of the Universities, the educational and “technical” institutions have since been cooperating in furthering the aims and objectives of the programme. This programme has since too been extended to Nigerian graduates from abroad. The next major change was the decision to remove the age ceiling placed on those who could become NYSC members. From the apex age of thirty, the scheme was thrown open to graduates from every institutions of higher learning irrespective of age. Exemption could only depend on poor health or infirmity of the graduate.
However, a good many of the NYSC members, actual and potential, need to do more to internalize the scheme’s ideal of integration. It serves no useful purpose for potential members to keep making efforts at influencing their postings. NYSC officials themselves must vigorously discourage this tendency. The Federal, State and Local Government authorities on their parts should not worsen matters by exposing corps members to the vagaries of corruption. Situations where corpers connive with officers of their primary and secondary assignment for “job-cover up” while engaging in another thing altogether defeats the essence of the scheme. It needs to be reminded officials of the scheme and corps members particularly women that it is a great risk for pregnant mothers to engage in the rigorous exercises of the scheme hence the exclusion of pregnant women from the scheme. But sometimes, they “bulldoze” their way through.
The recent backsliding movement of the Federal Government on the scheme makes one suspect the programme as singing the Nunc Dimitis. Other wise, what could be the rationale behind the Federal Government decision to exclude NCE holders from the programme? In the year 2000 or thereabout, the programme suffered another blow when ban was placed on people over 30 years even though Nigerians and their penchant for age-declaration could be a leeway to beating the ban. Feelers from the NYSC secretariat show that from 2008, the scheme is to have three badges of corpers; Sep/Oct, Feb/March and June/July. In 2003/2004, badge “B” corps members were restricted to teaching. The notice could be to sift the chaff from the grain as many of the graduates, in Nigeria despite their certificates are hollow with academics bareness coupled with the unwillingness of many private sector firms to accept these corpers due to hard times. Much as these measures could help savage the scheme from being dragged to the mire, the scheme needs to be refocused if the real human values of it is anticipated and to be tapped.
It was Booker Taliafero Washington who postulated that, “no nation will prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling the field as in writing a poem”. Again, one Augolan proverb has it that “it is useless preaching to a hungry man”. When Nigerians are dying of hunger while our farmlands are yearning for workers, why these able-bodied youths should be denied of this gainful “one year compulsory employment” calls for a rethink on the part of the Federal Government. Apart from helping to feed the nation’s population, products of these farms could be exported. Cassava-starch, Garri and Yam highly needed in Europe are potential foreign exchange earners thereby diversifying the revenue base of Nigeria from monoeconomy. This all-embracing farm should have fish-ponds, snail-cages, poultry etc depending on the area. All these will help the corpers more, than theorizing it in endless and fruitless seminars, workshops and “talkshops” in the camp. Talking, after all, does not fill the basket in the farm according to President Benjamin Nkapa of Tanzania. Definitely, tilling the land does. For this line of thought to become a reality, at least one agricultural farm should be set up in all the senatorial zones of the country. A situation where people of productive age and trained to be so, scoop gutters in the township, sweep pathways, lanes and streets above all fill potholes on our high ways worse still discuss idly in the Local Government Secretariat every Friday in the name of Community Development Service make nonsense of the name. This has invariably called for the restructuring of the scheme so that the service periods will synchronize with our cropping or farming season.
Furthermore, this anniversary provides an opportunity for the NYSC Directorate to ensure efficiently in the co-ordination of the primary and secondary assignment through improved liaison with the various communities and employers of corps member. The supply of singlets, trousers, canvasses and other equipment to corps members has now become a problem perhaps due to economic crunch. But with this new direction, the scheme would not only be self-supporting but also a revenue earner for government besides paving way for new career opportunity for the corps members. Most importantly, the real essence of the scheme will be achieved to the utmost thus distancing and safeguarding it from frustration and failure.
“Bravo Ajuwaya” Happy Anniversary and may the years of the programme be long.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.
Did Ernest Okonkwo Die with the League Football Commentary? By Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya
“The lanky ebony black goal-hungry Ranger is ranging alone in the goal area of the Water Corporation Football Club of Ibadan. Can the one-man riot squad make it four for Rangers. A hatrick ie one, two, three goals are already in his kitty. Ifeanyi Chukwu means nothing is insurmountable to God. Four goals are also not beyond the ability of Ifeanyi Chukwu Onyedika. It is a goal… Goal number four for the indomitable Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, all scored by Ifeanyi Chukwu Onyedika”. Guess who was running the commentary. That was the commentaries of Ernest Okonkwo while pairing with Tolu Fatoyimbo in the Radio Nigeria Ibadan commentaries on the last match of the 1981 National Division One Footbal League match at Ibadan. Incidentally, that was the match that sent Water Corporation to the lower division in fact into oblivion.
In those old days, every Saturday, Nigerians glue to their radios for league football commentaries to ease off weeklong tension. Nowadays it is no longer so. Who is responsible for this deprivation of weekend happiness? An investigation showed that the commercialization of everything in Nigeria is responsible. Could it be true that as there is no free lunch in Europe, there is no longer “free” programme in our radio stations? Is the insinuation that Igboman loves money now being copied verbatim by the Nigerian government? When I now listen to league football commentaries every Saturday from BBC, Radio Cameroun, Radio Accra, I begin to wonder if these radio stations do not know the value of money or commercialization. When a nincompoop learnt how to chew stick, even broom for sweeping the room, is not spared. Nigeria and commercialization of radio programs.
Perhaps, what is most fascinating and endearing about football commentary, is the ability of the commentators to give accurate analysis of the second to second, minute to minute account of the proceedings. Ernest Okonkwo for example, had a unique football commentary style, which enabled him to use the appropriate qualifying adjectives for his characters. He coined names like Emmanuel “Man Mountain” Okala, Aloysius “Blockbuster” Atuegbu, Christian “ Chairman” Chukwu, “Mathematical” Segun Odegbani, Kelechi “Caterpiller” Emetole, “Midfield Maestro” Mudashiru Lawal, “Justice” Adokiye Amasiemeka, Uwem “Harmattan” Ekerika, Sylvanus “Quicksilver “Okpala, “Commander” Louis Igwilo, Sylvester “Bahama” Oparanozie, Benedict “Surugede” Ugwu, Idowu “Slow Poison” Otubusin, “Shortish” John Benson, “Dimunitive” Amaechi Otti, Nnamdi “Policeman” Anyafo, Davison “Okada Air” Qwumi, Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi, “Penalty Specialist” Christian Madu, “Masters of Long Throw” Moses Otolorin and Nwabueze Nwankwo, “The Man with Bullet Shot” Emmanuel Osigwe etc. A typical snippet of Okonkwo’s commentary style ran thus “… he beats Christian Chukwu, Christian Madu and Christian Nwokocha … he beats three Christians in a row … Who is this man? He must be a moslem. Oh, he is Shefiu Mohammed sending a diagonal pass to Baba Otu Mohammed. In one occasion Ernest Okonkwo said, “After ninety minutes of play and extra time, the match has ended one goal apiece but a winner must emerge. Five players have on each side been selected to take the penalty kick. The players are praying to their God to give them this day but it is not who prays more but who plays better.
The special tribute paid to Ernest Okonkwo does not mean that he was the only commentator in Nigeria those days but to refresh our memories on the vitality of the game via football commentaries. In those days, commentaries were run almost from every radio station be it Federal or state. In Radio Nigeria Lagos, besides Ernest Okonkwo, Ishola Folaronsho, Bisi Lawrence, Sebastine Ofurum, Kevin Ejiofor, and Walter Batuyi held the ace. Radio Nigeria Enugu had the likes of Richard Asiegbu, Emeka Odikpo etc. The scintillating voices of Agwu Nwogo, Samrose Anyaugo, John Nwogu and Christopher Abiaziem thrill the listeners to the Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Owerri. The Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) Enugu was privileged to have Peter Edochie, Joe Martins Uzodike while Edo Radio Benin boasted of Emmanuel Egharevba. From time to time as the commentaries reverberated, I tuned to Radio Nigeria Ibadan to listen to Tolu Fatoyimbo and others whereas Cross River Broadcasting Service where Edem Dike was mesmerizing players of Rovers Football Club of Calabar from Eta Egbe to James Etokebe would be the next station to tune to. Those days, Radio Nigeria Kaduna, Radio Plateau Jos usually ran commentaries in English alongside Hausa language. Whenever my darling team, RANGERS, travelled to those places, I steadfastly listened to the commentaries whether or not I understood Hausa language. One thing was certain, when a goal was scored, I did know from the shouting of the commentator and the player of the ball vis-a-vis his position in the football arena. By the time I finished listening to these commentaries, my “Samedi Sour” (Saturday evening) would have been well spent.
What has gone wrong with Nigeria and football commentaries? Could the loss of interest in watching Nigeria league matches by football fans be attributable to the stoppage of running live football commentaries? For one, commentaries catalyze the action on the field of play, enthuse morale of fans, and help to curtail poor officiating, make listeners and fans know the names of players and how skilful a player is among others. I never saw Emeka “404” Onyedika play football but his description as “404” tells me he was a swift sprinter in the field of play. The description of Daniel Amokachi as a utility player by the commentator when he was still a youth-player with Ranchers Bees of Kaduna prodded me into wanting to see him play which I, of course, accomplished by watching Rangers/Ranchers Bees match at Temporary Stadium of University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC). In all, Nigeria football fans want the football commentaries back, is the bottom-line of this write up for our league matches to be lively once again. Therefore, NFA or NFF, Radio Nigeria, State Radio Stations, MTN, Globacom, Starcom, Zain, Coca Cola, Seven-Up, NIPOST and other sponsors of our football, it is the wish of all Nigerian football fans that football commentaries return to our radio stations not withstanding this commercialization policy. If it is possible to include television coverage, it will also be most welcomed. No matter how small the dance-floor may be, there is always space for the drummer
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.
In those old days, every Saturday, Nigerians glue to their radios for league football commentaries to ease off weeklong tension. Nowadays it is no longer so. Who is responsible for this deprivation of weekend happiness? An investigation showed that the commercialization of everything in Nigeria is responsible. Could it be true that as there is no free lunch in Europe, there is no longer “free” programme in our radio stations? Is the insinuation that Igboman loves money now being copied verbatim by the Nigerian government? When I now listen to league football commentaries every Saturday from BBC, Radio Cameroun, Radio Accra, I begin to wonder if these radio stations do not know the value of money or commercialization. When a nincompoop learnt how to chew stick, even broom for sweeping the room, is not spared. Nigeria and commercialization of radio programs.
Perhaps, what is most fascinating and endearing about football commentary, is the ability of the commentators to give accurate analysis of the second to second, minute to minute account of the proceedings. Ernest Okonkwo for example, had a unique football commentary style, which enabled him to use the appropriate qualifying adjectives for his characters. He coined names like Emmanuel “Man Mountain” Okala, Aloysius “Blockbuster” Atuegbu, Christian “ Chairman” Chukwu, “Mathematical” Segun Odegbani, Kelechi “Caterpiller” Emetole, “Midfield Maestro” Mudashiru Lawal, “Justice” Adokiye Amasiemeka, Uwem “Harmattan” Ekerika, Sylvanus “Quicksilver “Okpala, “Commander” Louis Igwilo, Sylvester “Bahama” Oparanozie, Benedict “Surugede” Ugwu, Idowu “Slow Poison” Otubusin, “Shortish” John Benson, “Dimunitive” Amaechi Otti, Nnamdi “Policeman” Anyafo, Davison “Okada Air” Qwumi, Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi, “Penalty Specialist” Christian Madu, “Masters of Long Throw” Moses Otolorin and Nwabueze Nwankwo, “The Man with Bullet Shot” Emmanuel Osigwe etc. A typical snippet of Okonkwo’s commentary style ran thus “… he beats Christian Chukwu, Christian Madu and Christian Nwokocha … he beats three Christians in a row … Who is this man? He must be a moslem. Oh, he is Shefiu Mohammed sending a diagonal pass to Baba Otu Mohammed. In one occasion Ernest Okonkwo said, “After ninety minutes of play and extra time, the match has ended one goal apiece but a winner must emerge. Five players have on each side been selected to take the penalty kick. The players are praying to their God to give them this day but it is not who prays more but who plays better.
The special tribute paid to Ernest Okonkwo does not mean that he was the only commentator in Nigeria those days but to refresh our memories on the vitality of the game via football commentaries. In those days, commentaries were run almost from every radio station be it Federal or state. In Radio Nigeria Lagos, besides Ernest Okonkwo, Ishola Folaronsho, Bisi Lawrence, Sebastine Ofurum, Kevin Ejiofor, and Walter Batuyi held the ace. Radio Nigeria Enugu had the likes of Richard Asiegbu, Emeka Odikpo etc. The scintillating voices of Agwu Nwogo, Samrose Anyaugo, John Nwogu and Christopher Abiaziem thrill the listeners to the Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Owerri. The Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) Enugu was privileged to have Peter Edochie, Joe Martins Uzodike while Edo Radio Benin boasted of Emmanuel Egharevba. From time to time as the commentaries reverberated, I tuned to Radio Nigeria Ibadan to listen to Tolu Fatoyimbo and others whereas Cross River Broadcasting Service where Edem Dike was mesmerizing players of Rovers Football Club of Calabar from Eta Egbe to James Etokebe would be the next station to tune to. Those days, Radio Nigeria Kaduna, Radio Plateau Jos usually ran commentaries in English alongside Hausa language. Whenever my darling team, RANGERS, travelled to those places, I steadfastly listened to the commentaries whether or not I understood Hausa language. One thing was certain, when a goal was scored, I did know from the shouting of the commentator and the player of the ball vis-a-vis his position in the football arena. By the time I finished listening to these commentaries, my “Samedi Sour” (Saturday evening) would have been well spent.
What has gone wrong with Nigeria and football commentaries? Could the loss of interest in watching Nigeria league matches by football fans be attributable to the stoppage of running live football commentaries? For one, commentaries catalyze the action on the field of play, enthuse morale of fans, and help to curtail poor officiating, make listeners and fans know the names of players and how skilful a player is among others. I never saw Emeka “404” Onyedika play football but his description as “404” tells me he was a swift sprinter in the field of play. The description of Daniel Amokachi as a utility player by the commentator when he was still a youth-player with Ranchers Bees of Kaduna prodded me into wanting to see him play which I, of course, accomplished by watching Rangers/Ranchers Bees match at Temporary Stadium of University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC). In all, Nigeria football fans want the football commentaries back, is the bottom-line of this write up for our league matches to be lively once again. Therefore, NFA or NFF, Radio Nigeria, State Radio Stations, MTN, Globacom, Starcom, Zain, Coca Cola, Seven-Up, NIPOST and other sponsors of our football, it is the wish of all Nigerian football fans that football commentaries return to our radio stations not withstanding this commercialization policy. If it is possible to include television coverage, it will also be most welcomed. No matter how small the dance-floor may be, there is always space for the drummer
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE MATCHES AND LIVE COMMENTARIES By Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya
The lanky ebony black goal-hungry Ranger is ranging alone in the goal area of the Water Corporation Football Club of Ibadan. Can the one-man riot squad make it four for Rangers? A hat-trick i.e. one, two, three goals are already in his kitty. Ifeanyichukwu means nothing is insurmountable to God. Four goals are also not beyond the ability of Ifeanyi Chukwu Onyedika.
Rangers building attack from defence through Patrick Ekeji with a triangular tap to Herbert Anijekwu and Innocent Obiekwo to Commander Louis Igwilo who chest-traps and sends a banana-kick pass to Ifeanyi Chukwu Onyedika in the eighteen yard box of Water Corporation. He beats stylishly an on-rushing defender and a scissor-kick and it is a goal-o-o-o! Goal number four for the Flying Antelopes and Indomitable Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, all scored by Ifeanyichukwu Ahidjo Onyedika. Guess who was running the commentary? That was the football commentaries of Ernest Okonkwo while pairing with Tolu Fatoyimbo in the Radio Nigeria Ibadan commentaries on the last match of the 1981 National Division One Football League match at Liberty Stadium Ibadan. Incidentally, that was the match that sent Water Corporation to the lower division in fact into oblivion.
In those days, every Saturday, Nigerians glued to their radios for league football commentaries to ease off weeklong tension. Nowadays, it is no longer so. Who is responsible for this deprivation of weekend happiness? An investigation showed that the commercialization of everything in Nigeria is responsible. Could it be true that as there is no free lunch in Europe, there is no longer “free” programme in our radio stations? Is the insinuation that Igbo man loves money now being copied verbatim by the Nigerian government? When I now listen to League Football commentaries every Saturday from BBC, Radio Cameroun, Radio Accra, I begin to wonder if these radio stations do not know the value of money or commercialization. When a nincompoop learnt how to chew stick, even broom for sweeping the room, is not spared. Yooh! Nigeria and commercialization of radio programmes.
Perhaps, what is most fascinating and endearing about football commentary, is the ability of the commentators to give accurate analysis of the second to second, minute to minute account of the proceedings. Ernest Okonkwo for example, had a unique football commentary style which enabled him to use the appropriate qualifying adjectives for his characters. He coined names like Emmanuel “Man-Mountain” Okala, Aloysius “Block Buster” Atuegbu, Christian “Chairman” Chukwu, “Mathematical” Segun Odegbami, Kelechi “Caterpillar” Emetole, “Midfield Maestro” Mudashiru Lawal, Kingsley “Mature” Onye, “Chief Justice” Adokie Amasiemeka, Uwem “Harmattan” Ekarika, Sylvanus “Quicksilver” Okpala, “Commander” Louis Igwilo, Sylvester “Bahama” Oparanozie, Benedict “Surugede” Ugwu, Idowu “Slow Poison” Otubusin, “Shortish” John Benson, “Answerable” Edward Ansa, “Diminutive” Amechi Ottih, Nnamdi “Policeman” Anyafor, Nnamdi “Camel” Nwokocha, Davidson “Okada Air” Owumi, Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi, “Penalty Specialist” Christian Madu, “Masters of Long Throw” Moses Otolorin and Nwabueze “Bulldozer” Nwankwo, “The man with the bullet shot” Emmanuel Osigwe, “Dean of Defence” Yisa Shofoluwe, “Gangling” Rashidi Yekini, “Darkness” Amechi Igweobi etc. A typical snippet of Okonkwo’s commentary style ran thus, “……….. he beats Christian Chukwu, Christian Madu and Christian Nwokocha, ……………. he beats three Christians in a row. …….. who is this man? He must be a Moslem. Oh, he is Shefiu Mohammed sending a diagonal pass to Baba Otu Mohammed. In one occasion, Ernest Okonkwo said, “After ninety minutes of play and extra time, the match has ended one goal apiece but a winner must emerge. Fiver players have on each side been selected to take the penalty kick. The players are praying to their God to give them this day but it is not who prays more but who plays better. As members of the Nigerian Supporters Club are usually known for their vociferation in tournaments involving Nigerian teams, Ernest Okonkwo while commending them once said, “If you cheer when a goal is scored, you are reacting to an impulse. But if you cheer when no goal is scored, you are indeed supporting.”
The special tribute paid to Ernest Okonkwo does not mean that he was the only commentator in Nigeria those days but to refresh our memories on the vitality of the game via Football commentaries. Mr. Okonkwo would refer to an incident that gave a player his prominence. The day Mehala F. C. of Egypt saw wahala at Enugu and the Godwin Odiye back-heading that denied Nigeria World Cup slot in 1978, Ernest Okonkwo relived very vividly the memories. He would tell you what happened the day three Atuegbu brothers: Mathew, Andrew, and Aloysius Atuegbu played in one match for Nigeria. Why was Teslim Balogun called Thunder Balogun? The myth of Aliusalam, Rocks of Ilorin in 1976 which Rangers demystified, the magic hand of Maradona, Christopher Ohehen and the miracle of Daman, the 3 – 0 defeat of Rangers by Bendel Insurance in the 1978 Nigeria Challenge Cup final, the Kaduna debacle of Rangers / IICC match in the 1977 African Winners Cup, the Calabar rematch of Rangers / Spartans League match that brought Govs Jim Nwobodo and Sam Mbakwe to Calabar, Ernest Okonkwo referred to all these with relative ease. Had Ernest been alive today, he would have drawn the similarities of Jim Nwobodo and Orji Uzor Kalu, as he made reference points to the following players: Jossy Dambraye, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Okey Isima, Best Ogedengbe, Agwo Nnaji, Mutiu Adepoju, Superbrat Etim Esim, Sule Kekere, Ali Jeje, Tarila Okoronwata, Philip Osondu, etc. Above all, many superstar players of today would have been proud owners of superlatives “names.” Oh!, what a miss of super commentator Ernest Okonkwo.
In those days, commentaries were run almost from every radio station be it Federal or State. In Radio Nigeria Lagos, besides Ernest Okonkwo, Ishola Folarunsho, Bisi Lawrence, Sebastian Ofurum, Kevin Ejiofor, Walter Batuyi etc. held the ace. Radio Nigeria Enugu had the likes of Richard Asiegbu, Emeka Odikpo etc. The scintillating voices of Agwu Nwogo, Samrose Anyaugo, John Nwogu, and Christopher Abiaziem thrilled the listeners to the Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Owerri. The Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) Enugu, was privileged to have Pete Edochie, Joe Martins Uzodike and others while Edo Radio Benin boasted of Emmanuel Egharevba. From time to time as the commentaries reverberated, I tuned to Radio Nigeria Ibadan to listen to soft-spoken Tolu Fatoyimbo and others whereas Cross River Broadcasting Service where Edem Duke was mesmerising players of Rovers Football Club of Calabar from Eta Egbe to James Etokebe would be the next station to tune to. Those days, Radio Nigeria Kaduna, Radio Plateau, Jos, usually ran commentaries in English and Hausa languages. Whenever my darling team RANGERS, travelled to those places, I steadfastly like Nigerian fans of Man U, Chelsea, Barca, Arsenal etc, listened to the commentaries whether or not I understood Hausa language. One thing was certain, whenever a goal was scored, I did know from the shouting of the commentators and the players of the ball vis-à-vis his position in the football arena. By the time I finished listening to these commentaries, my “Samedi Sour” (Saturday / Weekend Evening) would have been well spent.
What has gone wrong with Nigeria and football commentaries?
Could the loss of interest in watching Nigeria League and Challenge Cup matches by football fans be attributable to the stoppage of running live football commentaries? When the youthful and bubbling talents of our present crop of commentators are being suppressed and put into disuse, while that of the foreign colleagues are advertised, nurtured and supported, what an unprecedented talent-kill. Tomorrow when the commentators go for job-hunt abroad, Government will start to deplore brain-drain. Ndubueze Chidoka, Shina Abimbola, Kelechi Onwudiwe etc, please remain undaunted.
For one, commentaries catalyze the action on the field of play, enthuse the morale of fans and help to curtail poor officiating, make listeners and fans know the names of players and how skilful a player is, among others. I never saw Emeka “404” Onyedika play football but his description as “404” tells me, he was a very swift sprinter in the field of play. The description of Daniel Amokachi as a utility player by the commentator when he was still a youth-player with Ranchers Bees of Kaduna prodded me into wanting to see him play which I of course accomplished by watching Rangers / Ranchers Bees match at Temporary Stadium of University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC). That Donald Igwebuike of Rangers International is nicknamed Stone Broker or Tony Orji (Iron Gate) is courtesy of their no nonsense, robust, stubborn and watertight defence. It was a saying by Ernest Okonkwo that Donald could even play a shot-put in the field of play.
That Nigeria football fans want the football commentaries back, is the bottom-line of this write-up for our League and Challenge Cup matches to be lively once again. Please, NFF, NFL, Radio Nigeria, State Radio Stations, MTN, Globacom, Starcom, Zain, Coca Cola, Seven-up, NIPOST, and other sponsors / lovers of our football, it is the wish of all Nigerian football fans that live football commentaries return to our radio stations notwithstanding this commercialization policy. If it is possible to include live television coverage, it will also be most welcomed. Neither commercialization policy nor hard times is good enough to obliterate live commentaries. No matter how small the dance-floor maybe, there is always space for the drummer.
Mr. Ezennaya is the ex-Chairman of Rangers Supporters Club, Aba Chapter.
Rangers building attack from defence through Patrick Ekeji with a triangular tap to Herbert Anijekwu and Innocent Obiekwo to Commander Louis Igwilo who chest-traps and sends a banana-kick pass to Ifeanyi Chukwu Onyedika in the eighteen yard box of Water Corporation. He beats stylishly an on-rushing defender and a scissor-kick and it is a goal-o-o-o! Goal number four for the Flying Antelopes and Indomitable Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, all scored by Ifeanyichukwu Ahidjo Onyedika. Guess who was running the commentary? That was the football commentaries of Ernest Okonkwo while pairing with Tolu Fatoyimbo in the Radio Nigeria Ibadan commentaries on the last match of the 1981 National Division One Football League match at Liberty Stadium Ibadan. Incidentally, that was the match that sent Water Corporation to the lower division in fact into oblivion.
In those days, every Saturday, Nigerians glued to their radios for league football commentaries to ease off weeklong tension. Nowadays, it is no longer so. Who is responsible for this deprivation of weekend happiness? An investigation showed that the commercialization of everything in Nigeria is responsible. Could it be true that as there is no free lunch in Europe, there is no longer “free” programme in our radio stations? Is the insinuation that Igbo man loves money now being copied verbatim by the Nigerian government? When I now listen to League Football commentaries every Saturday from BBC, Radio Cameroun, Radio Accra, I begin to wonder if these radio stations do not know the value of money or commercialization. When a nincompoop learnt how to chew stick, even broom for sweeping the room, is not spared. Yooh! Nigeria and commercialization of radio programmes.
Perhaps, what is most fascinating and endearing about football commentary, is the ability of the commentators to give accurate analysis of the second to second, minute to minute account of the proceedings. Ernest Okonkwo for example, had a unique football commentary style which enabled him to use the appropriate qualifying adjectives for his characters. He coined names like Emmanuel “Man-Mountain” Okala, Aloysius “Block Buster” Atuegbu, Christian “Chairman” Chukwu, “Mathematical” Segun Odegbami, Kelechi “Caterpillar” Emetole, “Midfield Maestro” Mudashiru Lawal, Kingsley “Mature” Onye, “Chief Justice” Adokie Amasiemeka, Uwem “Harmattan” Ekarika, Sylvanus “Quicksilver” Okpala, “Commander” Louis Igwilo, Sylvester “Bahama” Oparanozie, Benedict “Surugede” Ugwu, Idowu “Slow Poison” Otubusin, “Shortish” John Benson, “Answerable” Edward Ansa, “Diminutive” Amechi Ottih, Nnamdi “Policeman” Anyafor, Nnamdi “Camel” Nwokocha, Davidson “Okada Air” Owumi, Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi, “Penalty Specialist” Christian Madu, “Masters of Long Throw” Moses Otolorin and Nwabueze “Bulldozer” Nwankwo, “The man with the bullet shot” Emmanuel Osigwe, “Dean of Defence” Yisa Shofoluwe, “Gangling” Rashidi Yekini, “Darkness” Amechi Igweobi etc. A typical snippet of Okonkwo’s commentary style ran thus, “……….. he beats Christian Chukwu, Christian Madu and Christian Nwokocha, ……………. he beats three Christians in a row. …….. who is this man? He must be a Moslem. Oh, he is Shefiu Mohammed sending a diagonal pass to Baba Otu Mohammed. In one occasion, Ernest Okonkwo said, “After ninety minutes of play and extra time, the match has ended one goal apiece but a winner must emerge. Fiver players have on each side been selected to take the penalty kick. The players are praying to their God to give them this day but it is not who prays more but who plays better. As members of the Nigerian Supporters Club are usually known for their vociferation in tournaments involving Nigerian teams, Ernest Okonkwo while commending them once said, “If you cheer when a goal is scored, you are reacting to an impulse. But if you cheer when no goal is scored, you are indeed supporting.”
The special tribute paid to Ernest Okonkwo does not mean that he was the only commentator in Nigeria those days but to refresh our memories on the vitality of the game via Football commentaries. Mr. Okonkwo would refer to an incident that gave a player his prominence. The day Mehala F. C. of Egypt saw wahala at Enugu and the Godwin Odiye back-heading that denied Nigeria World Cup slot in 1978, Ernest Okonkwo relived very vividly the memories. He would tell you what happened the day three Atuegbu brothers: Mathew, Andrew, and Aloysius Atuegbu played in one match for Nigeria. Why was Teslim Balogun called Thunder Balogun? The myth of Aliusalam, Rocks of Ilorin in 1976 which Rangers demystified, the magic hand of Maradona, Christopher Ohehen and the miracle of Daman, the 3 – 0 defeat of Rangers by Bendel Insurance in the 1978 Nigeria Challenge Cup final, the Kaduna debacle of Rangers / IICC match in the 1977 African Winners Cup, the Calabar rematch of Rangers / Spartans League match that brought Govs Jim Nwobodo and Sam Mbakwe to Calabar, Ernest Okonkwo referred to all these with relative ease. Had Ernest been alive today, he would have drawn the similarities of Jim Nwobodo and Orji Uzor Kalu, as he made reference points to the following players: Jossy Dambraye, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Okey Isima, Best Ogedengbe, Agwo Nnaji, Mutiu Adepoju, Superbrat Etim Esim, Sule Kekere, Ali Jeje, Tarila Okoronwata, Philip Osondu, etc. Above all, many superstar players of today would have been proud owners of superlatives “names.” Oh!, what a miss of super commentator Ernest Okonkwo.
In those days, commentaries were run almost from every radio station be it Federal or State. In Radio Nigeria Lagos, besides Ernest Okonkwo, Ishola Folarunsho, Bisi Lawrence, Sebastian Ofurum, Kevin Ejiofor, Walter Batuyi etc. held the ace. Radio Nigeria Enugu had the likes of Richard Asiegbu, Emeka Odikpo etc. The scintillating voices of Agwu Nwogo, Samrose Anyaugo, John Nwogu, and Christopher Abiaziem thrilled the listeners to the Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Owerri. The Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) Enugu, was privileged to have Pete Edochie, Joe Martins Uzodike and others while Edo Radio Benin boasted of Emmanuel Egharevba. From time to time as the commentaries reverberated, I tuned to Radio Nigeria Ibadan to listen to soft-spoken Tolu Fatoyimbo and others whereas Cross River Broadcasting Service where Edem Duke was mesmerising players of Rovers Football Club of Calabar from Eta Egbe to James Etokebe would be the next station to tune to. Those days, Radio Nigeria Kaduna, Radio Plateau, Jos, usually ran commentaries in English and Hausa languages. Whenever my darling team RANGERS, travelled to those places, I steadfastly like Nigerian fans of Man U, Chelsea, Barca, Arsenal etc, listened to the commentaries whether or not I understood Hausa language. One thing was certain, whenever a goal was scored, I did know from the shouting of the commentators and the players of the ball vis-à-vis his position in the football arena. By the time I finished listening to these commentaries, my “Samedi Sour” (Saturday / Weekend Evening) would have been well spent.
What has gone wrong with Nigeria and football commentaries?
Could the loss of interest in watching Nigeria League and Challenge Cup matches by football fans be attributable to the stoppage of running live football commentaries? When the youthful and bubbling talents of our present crop of commentators are being suppressed and put into disuse, while that of the foreign colleagues are advertised, nurtured and supported, what an unprecedented talent-kill. Tomorrow when the commentators go for job-hunt abroad, Government will start to deplore brain-drain. Ndubueze Chidoka, Shina Abimbola, Kelechi Onwudiwe etc, please remain undaunted.
For one, commentaries catalyze the action on the field of play, enthuse the morale of fans and help to curtail poor officiating, make listeners and fans know the names of players and how skilful a player is, among others. I never saw Emeka “404” Onyedika play football but his description as “404” tells me, he was a very swift sprinter in the field of play. The description of Daniel Amokachi as a utility player by the commentator when he was still a youth-player with Ranchers Bees of Kaduna prodded me into wanting to see him play which I of course accomplished by watching Rangers / Ranchers Bees match at Temporary Stadium of University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC). That Donald Igwebuike of Rangers International is nicknamed Stone Broker or Tony Orji (Iron Gate) is courtesy of their no nonsense, robust, stubborn and watertight defence. It was a saying by Ernest Okonkwo that Donald could even play a shot-put in the field of play.
That Nigeria football fans want the football commentaries back, is the bottom-line of this write-up for our League and Challenge Cup matches to be lively once again. Please, NFF, NFL, Radio Nigeria, State Radio Stations, MTN, Globacom, Starcom, Zain, Coca Cola, Seven-up, NIPOST, and other sponsors / lovers of our football, it is the wish of all Nigerian football fans that live football commentaries return to our radio stations notwithstanding this commercialization policy. If it is possible to include live television coverage, it will also be most welcomed. Neither commercialization policy nor hard times is good enough to obliterate live commentaries. No matter how small the dance-floor maybe, there is always space for the drummer.
Mr. Ezennaya is the ex-Chairman of Rangers Supporters Club, Aba Chapter.
UN, EU, G8, G20: Kettle Calling Pot Black By Sixtus Ezennaya
Looting of the treasury by the military and politicians and government officials, has become the greatest factors that has put Nigerians indeed Africans into the state of great need, lack, hunger and jeopardy. It is as inhuman as it is ungodly for one man or a clique of people by virtue of their privileged positions to steal huge sums of money from the collective purse of many thereby putting the citizens in dilemma. Worse still, the developed countries are accomplices in this crime as banks operating in their area, condone and conceal these ill-gotten wealth in the name of business secret thus inadvertently encouraging Africa’s ever lasting plunder, poverty and underdevelopment. By this connivance, the land becomes depleted of everything no meaningful development, unemployment, poverty, disease, kidnapping, sea piracy, terrorism, death etc. hence the state of helplessness prodding Africans into running away from African.
Until European countries, America and indeed the Security Council religiously, conscientiously and sincerely discourage and expose stolen wealth and above all help to return the loots, the mad rush legally or illegally for greener pastures outside African particularly European and USA would be unstoppable.
In the tight corner that some of these Africans found themselves, have prompted the exodus. Worse still, the misplaced and displaced aggression with which some of these aggrieved and hungry African immigrants struggle and hustle to “retrieve” the loot in the name of acquisition of wealth is why the high crime rate. This rightly corroborates the postulation of Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, that poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.
The exodus to USA, European countries etc might suggest that since UN, G8, EU, etc are complacent with the misrule, money laundering, injustice et al in Africa, the equal reciprocation is to emigrate to their countries and discomfort them or enjoy these loots with them. When a hunter lays ambush for an animal in the bush, the tsetse fly also lays ambush for the scrotum of the hunter. The acquiescence or connivance of the developed nations is certainly dirty politics, wickedness, sycophancy and hypocrisy of the highest order as UN, EU, US etc can only give Africans guns, weapons of war, relief materials, debt relief, mediation panels, or peace keeping soldiers when war breaks out instead of prevention of war by giving these Africans nations peace and justice via independence for those in need of it, discouragement of embezzlement of public funds, corruption etc. Until the archer drops his weapon, one being ambushed will continue to hide. The brain drain in Africa will continue until UN, USA, EU, etc respond to the cry of Africans for justice.
The worst aspect of the stolen wealth stashed away in foreign banks, is that they are used wrongly; in the sponsorship of coup d’etat, violence, wars, religious riots, terrorism etc. The circle of doom, poverty, exploitation, continues “when the deposited loot” is again loaned to African or third world countries via the IMF, World Bank or other international financial institutions. If America and European countries should have the effrontery, conscience and audacity to accept, welcome, condone, hide and conserve stolen or looted money, what justification have they to repatriate to Africa, illegal immigrants who want to run away from their plight caused by the senseless, selfish and ungodly action cum man’s inhumanity to man of these developed countries? By the way, when the Europeans invaded Africa for slave trade and plunder of agricultural and mineral resources besides colonization, who issued them with immigrant Visas to various African countries? If the Security Council cannot help countries looted of their treasuries to retrieve the loots by passing a resolution to that effect or freezing of the accounts of the depositors, what morality has the organization to fight terrorism or send troops to war-torn third world countries to maintain peace if it the same money looted from these countries treasuries which are stashed away in the banks operating in the member-states Countries that are used to buy arms for terrorism and war besides weapons of mass destruction. The irony and hypocrisy of it all rest on the fact that the donations, Aids, grants, etc to the pauperised African countries by the developed nations are interests accruing to loans to the third world countries by the Financial Institutions owned by the same developed nations where the never-do-well and big-for-nothing African rulers laundered these stolen money to. Criticising, condemning and castigating African military and civilian governments by the developed nations for money laundering while simultaneously accepting to hide or keep the loot safely for the “thieves”, tantamount to double standard and kettle calling pot black. Six and half a dozen are the same. If a mad man slaps you and you slap back, then both of your are mad.
The war against terrorism will therefore be meaningless and incomplete if the war against money laundering is left to thrive. As the body is the servant of the mind, so has the criminal act of money laundering parented the under listed societal problems like illegal immigration, kidnapping, hijacking, sea piracy, corruption, injustice, man’s inhumanity to man, hunger, suppression of the small nations or ethnic groups, unemployment, underdevelopment, arms trafficking etc. Do not believe those who tell you they love you but believe only those who show you they love you.
(An excerpt culled from the book, “The Catholic Church and Others” written by Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya).
Until European countries, America and indeed the Security Council religiously, conscientiously and sincerely discourage and expose stolen wealth and above all help to return the loots, the mad rush legally or illegally for greener pastures outside African particularly European and USA would be unstoppable.
In the tight corner that some of these Africans found themselves, have prompted the exodus. Worse still, the misplaced and displaced aggression with which some of these aggrieved and hungry African immigrants struggle and hustle to “retrieve” the loot in the name of acquisition of wealth is why the high crime rate. This rightly corroborates the postulation of Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, that poverty is the parent of revolution and crime.
The exodus to USA, European countries etc might suggest that since UN, G8, EU, etc are complacent with the misrule, money laundering, injustice et al in Africa, the equal reciprocation is to emigrate to their countries and discomfort them or enjoy these loots with them. When a hunter lays ambush for an animal in the bush, the tsetse fly also lays ambush for the scrotum of the hunter. The acquiescence or connivance of the developed nations is certainly dirty politics, wickedness, sycophancy and hypocrisy of the highest order as UN, EU, US etc can only give Africans guns, weapons of war, relief materials, debt relief, mediation panels, or peace keeping soldiers when war breaks out instead of prevention of war by giving these Africans nations peace and justice via independence for those in need of it, discouragement of embezzlement of public funds, corruption etc. Until the archer drops his weapon, one being ambushed will continue to hide. The brain drain in Africa will continue until UN, USA, EU, etc respond to the cry of Africans for justice.
The worst aspect of the stolen wealth stashed away in foreign banks, is that they are used wrongly; in the sponsorship of coup d’etat, violence, wars, religious riots, terrorism etc. The circle of doom, poverty, exploitation, continues “when the deposited loot” is again loaned to African or third world countries via the IMF, World Bank or other international financial institutions. If America and European countries should have the effrontery, conscience and audacity to accept, welcome, condone, hide and conserve stolen or looted money, what justification have they to repatriate to Africa, illegal immigrants who want to run away from their plight caused by the senseless, selfish and ungodly action cum man’s inhumanity to man of these developed countries? By the way, when the Europeans invaded Africa for slave trade and plunder of agricultural and mineral resources besides colonization, who issued them with immigrant Visas to various African countries? If the Security Council cannot help countries looted of their treasuries to retrieve the loots by passing a resolution to that effect or freezing of the accounts of the depositors, what morality has the organization to fight terrorism or send troops to war-torn third world countries to maintain peace if it the same money looted from these countries treasuries which are stashed away in the banks operating in the member-states Countries that are used to buy arms for terrorism and war besides weapons of mass destruction. The irony and hypocrisy of it all rest on the fact that the donations, Aids, grants, etc to the pauperised African countries by the developed nations are interests accruing to loans to the third world countries by the Financial Institutions owned by the same developed nations where the never-do-well and big-for-nothing African rulers laundered these stolen money to. Criticising, condemning and castigating African military and civilian governments by the developed nations for money laundering while simultaneously accepting to hide or keep the loot safely for the “thieves”, tantamount to double standard and kettle calling pot black. Six and half a dozen are the same. If a mad man slaps you and you slap back, then both of your are mad.
The war against terrorism will therefore be meaningless and incomplete if the war against money laundering is left to thrive. As the body is the servant of the mind, so has the criminal act of money laundering parented the under listed societal problems like illegal immigration, kidnapping, hijacking, sea piracy, corruption, injustice, man’s inhumanity to man, hunger, suppression of the small nations or ethnic groups, unemployment, underdevelopment, arms trafficking etc. Do not believe those who tell you they love you but believe only those who show you they love you.
(An excerpt culled from the book, “The Catholic Church and Others” written by Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya).
CHIEF TONY EZENNA (KSS) & ORANGE UNIVERSITY, AKOKWA By Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya
Chief Tony Ezenna, Ikenga of Akokwa, the Chairman Orange Drugs Limited is a man with a very large heart. He is not new to philanthropy neither is he a green horn as such in Nigerian Politics. He was not only a big sponsor and supporter, he has also been voted for though in the Governorship primaries. Where his name and versatility rings bell in a unique way, are in the importation, marketing and distribution of drugs and cosmetics. From his totality of appearance down to every of his actions, he is God’s special gift to any community, local government Area and State, he is privileged to have been “implanted into” by God.
This is one man who has placed Akokwa on the world map of traditional and cultural festivals. THE ORANGE DAY, 30th Day of December every year, is to every Akokwa indigene and neighbouring communities, a reunion or covenant day. Nigerian Breweries Plc among others benefit from this occasion due to sales turn over. Masquerades, cultural dances, lectures, merriments etc characterize this day at St Peter Field. In this carnival, it is not winner takes all or survival of the fittest competition otherwise it will turn into an arena for “juju superiority competition.” Rather, prizes are lavishly distributed to every participant with none as victor and vanquished. In fact, Ikenga Akokwa, a libro abierto, is a rare specie which is seldom found in our Nigerian communities.
In the thinking of John F. Kennedy of USA on January 20, 1960, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Chief Ezenna always thinks of what he can do to improve his community and immediate environment. Giving legitimacy and credence to the thought of this epitome of humility is a quotation from no less a personality than the Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. V. V. Ezeonyia C.S.Sp that “Life is all about usefulness; usefulness to yourself and your fellow human being.” Towards the end of December 2006, a Catholic Monastery built by this philanthropist of the first class order was handed over to the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gregory Ochiagha. To support this edifice, Chief Ezenna doled out a huge amount of money for the upkeep of God’s serene premises. When an old man clears his throat, the spirits listen. In the same way, when the world’s numero uno spiritual leader speaks, definitely God will turn and listen. The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI never lost sight of the gesture hence awarding Chief Tony Ezenna, a papal knighthood of St. Sylvester (KSS) in December 2008. What an honour par excellence.
Akokwa, by this singular project is now not only a spiritual pilgrimage centre in the class of Awhum in Enugu State, Ewu-Esan in Edo State etc but also a big centre in the pipeline. God please bless abundantly the icon, Chief Ezenna, so as to be more useful to humanity.
Another thing that is needed in Akokwa to help it attain the status of “Onusa Nta” (small Onitsha in Akokwa dialect), is a tertiary institution, which is the in-thing now for those in the calibre of Chief Tony Ezenna. Educational Institution is the biggest instrument of immortalization. Higher institution is the highest agent of development and employment.
Business empires may crumble, factories go into liquidation but higher institutions never go into moribund but continues ad infinitum. Think of the Songhai Academy in Timbuktu, Mali which has seen over five hundred centuries. It is even a great honour of special status that one is the President of a University. As a matter of fact, tertiary institution whether University, Polytechnic, College of Agriculture or Education, School of Health Technology, School of Nursing etc as a monument is a centre of excellence. Apart from Federal and State Governments, individuals, Churches or even consortium do establish tertiary institutions. Harvard University was established in 1634 to train Presbyterian Priests but today it is a conventional institution with over 27,000 students. Bigard Memorial Seminary started in 1924 by Bishop Joseph Shanaham. Igbinedion University is founded by Gabriel Igbinedion, Esama of Benin. Rev. Fr. Prof. Emmanuel Edeh C.S.Sp is the founder of Madonna and Caritas Universities besides OSISATECH, Tansian University Oba is a private institution founded by a consortium led by a Catholic Priest, Rev. Msgr John Bosco Akam,; Babcock, Renaissance and Veritas Universities are also privately owned.
The Federal Polytechnic Oko which started in 1978 as School of Arts and Science was built by Chief Alex Ifeancyichukwu Ekwueme and his community. Later Jim Nwobodo’s administration converted it into Anambra State Polytechnic before its take over by the Federal Government. Quite recently, it was reported that the renowned architect – Chief Ekwueme – applied for licence for a University. We pray that it is granted so that Oko becomes the first rural town east of the Niger to own a functional Polytechnic and University. The city of Barcelona, Spain has about eight Universities.
If all the Rochas Foundation Academies had been built at one place for instance in Ogboko (Rochas hometown), it would have become the first private university or polytechnic in Imo State. I think it is better to master one mountain than one thousand foothills. I believe also that it is better to be the widow of a hero than the wife of a coward. However, all hope is not yet lost. Can Orange University or Polytechnic Akokwa be one of the private tertiary institutions in the States, east of the Niger? Where the heart is willing, it will have a thousand ways but where it is unwilling, it will have thousand excuses.
As one needs not be a chorister to go to heaven where praises / singing, we are told, is the only language and service, one does not need to hear from Chief Tony Ezenna in order to know that it is a capital intensive venture. But, then, Chief Ezenna, “Orange” as he is fondly called, it is believed, has the financial muscles, tentacles of connections and wherewithal to realize this dream. If spider webs unite, they can tie an elephant is an Ethiopian proverb. True that times are hard but what is hard to bear will be sweet to remember.
Being a powerful civilian and statesman who thinks of the next generation and not merely a politician who thinks of the next election, it will be to the best of intentions if Chief Ezenna considers this positive suggestion and investment. It is appalling that United States of America has over 200,000 universities, India and Indonesia, 150,000; Gabon with a population of about 10 million has about 200 universities; while Nigeria of about 140 million has only 92 universities.
For admission into these 92 universities, about 10 million applications were received in 2009 / 2010, but about 1 million is given admission. Gabon uses her oil revenue for human development and empowerment, Nigeria uses hers for marrying more wives and procreation.
In the 2006 / 2007 academic year, over 20,000 applications sought for admission into the Federal University of Technology Owerri, out of which only 2000 was offered admission. The following year and this year received slightly upward difference. At Imo State University Owerri, the story was not different. With the elevation of College of Agriculture Umuagwo into Imo State Polytechnic, another milestone achievement is made. Since the number of school leavers continues to increase in geometric proportions yearly, for how long will Imo State abundantly blessed with wealthy sons and daughters afford to waste or delay its talented youths? Chief Tony Ezenna, Imo State school leavers and Nigerian Jambites need ORANGE UNIVERSITY AKOKWA from your benevolent spirit.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London
This is one man who has placed Akokwa on the world map of traditional and cultural festivals. THE ORANGE DAY, 30th Day of December every year, is to every Akokwa indigene and neighbouring communities, a reunion or covenant day. Nigerian Breweries Plc among others benefit from this occasion due to sales turn over. Masquerades, cultural dances, lectures, merriments etc characterize this day at St Peter Field. In this carnival, it is not winner takes all or survival of the fittest competition otherwise it will turn into an arena for “juju superiority competition.” Rather, prizes are lavishly distributed to every participant with none as victor and vanquished. In fact, Ikenga Akokwa, a libro abierto, is a rare specie which is seldom found in our Nigerian communities.
In the thinking of John F. Kennedy of USA on January 20, 1960, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Chief Ezenna always thinks of what he can do to improve his community and immediate environment. Giving legitimacy and credence to the thought of this epitome of humility is a quotation from no less a personality than the Catholic Bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. V. V. Ezeonyia C.S.Sp that “Life is all about usefulness; usefulness to yourself and your fellow human being.” Towards the end of December 2006, a Catholic Monastery built by this philanthropist of the first class order was handed over to the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gregory Ochiagha. To support this edifice, Chief Ezenna doled out a huge amount of money for the upkeep of God’s serene premises. When an old man clears his throat, the spirits listen. In the same way, when the world’s numero uno spiritual leader speaks, definitely God will turn and listen. The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI never lost sight of the gesture hence awarding Chief Tony Ezenna, a papal knighthood of St. Sylvester (KSS) in December 2008. What an honour par excellence.
Akokwa, by this singular project is now not only a spiritual pilgrimage centre in the class of Awhum in Enugu State, Ewu-Esan in Edo State etc but also a big centre in the pipeline. God please bless abundantly the icon, Chief Ezenna, so as to be more useful to humanity.
Another thing that is needed in Akokwa to help it attain the status of “Onusa Nta” (small Onitsha in Akokwa dialect), is a tertiary institution, which is the in-thing now for those in the calibre of Chief Tony Ezenna. Educational Institution is the biggest instrument of immortalization. Higher institution is the highest agent of development and employment.
Business empires may crumble, factories go into liquidation but higher institutions never go into moribund but continues ad infinitum. Think of the Songhai Academy in Timbuktu, Mali which has seen over five hundred centuries. It is even a great honour of special status that one is the President of a University. As a matter of fact, tertiary institution whether University, Polytechnic, College of Agriculture or Education, School of Health Technology, School of Nursing etc as a monument is a centre of excellence. Apart from Federal and State Governments, individuals, Churches or even consortium do establish tertiary institutions. Harvard University was established in 1634 to train Presbyterian Priests but today it is a conventional institution with over 27,000 students. Bigard Memorial Seminary started in 1924 by Bishop Joseph Shanaham. Igbinedion University is founded by Gabriel Igbinedion, Esama of Benin. Rev. Fr. Prof. Emmanuel Edeh C.S.Sp is the founder of Madonna and Caritas Universities besides OSISATECH, Tansian University Oba is a private institution founded by a consortium led by a Catholic Priest, Rev. Msgr John Bosco Akam,; Babcock, Renaissance and Veritas Universities are also privately owned.
The Federal Polytechnic Oko which started in 1978 as School of Arts and Science was built by Chief Alex Ifeancyichukwu Ekwueme and his community. Later Jim Nwobodo’s administration converted it into Anambra State Polytechnic before its take over by the Federal Government. Quite recently, it was reported that the renowned architect – Chief Ekwueme – applied for licence for a University. We pray that it is granted so that Oko becomes the first rural town east of the Niger to own a functional Polytechnic and University. The city of Barcelona, Spain has about eight Universities.
If all the Rochas Foundation Academies had been built at one place for instance in Ogboko (Rochas hometown), it would have become the first private university or polytechnic in Imo State. I think it is better to master one mountain than one thousand foothills. I believe also that it is better to be the widow of a hero than the wife of a coward. However, all hope is not yet lost. Can Orange University or Polytechnic Akokwa be one of the private tertiary institutions in the States, east of the Niger? Where the heart is willing, it will have a thousand ways but where it is unwilling, it will have thousand excuses.
As one needs not be a chorister to go to heaven where praises / singing, we are told, is the only language and service, one does not need to hear from Chief Tony Ezenna in order to know that it is a capital intensive venture. But, then, Chief Ezenna, “Orange” as he is fondly called, it is believed, has the financial muscles, tentacles of connections and wherewithal to realize this dream. If spider webs unite, they can tie an elephant is an Ethiopian proverb. True that times are hard but what is hard to bear will be sweet to remember.
Being a powerful civilian and statesman who thinks of the next generation and not merely a politician who thinks of the next election, it will be to the best of intentions if Chief Ezenna considers this positive suggestion and investment. It is appalling that United States of America has over 200,000 universities, India and Indonesia, 150,000; Gabon with a population of about 10 million has about 200 universities; while Nigeria of about 140 million has only 92 universities.
For admission into these 92 universities, about 10 million applications were received in 2009 / 2010, but about 1 million is given admission. Gabon uses her oil revenue for human development and empowerment, Nigeria uses hers for marrying more wives and procreation.
In the 2006 / 2007 academic year, over 20,000 applications sought for admission into the Federal University of Technology Owerri, out of which only 2000 was offered admission. The following year and this year received slightly upward difference. At Imo State University Owerri, the story was not different. With the elevation of College of Agriculture Umuagwo into Imo State Polytechnic, another milestone achievement is made. Since the number of school leavers continues to increase in geometric proportions yearly, for how long will Imo State abundantly blessed with wealthy sons and daughters afford to waste or delay its talented youths? Chief Tony Ezenna, Imo State school leavers and Nigerian Jambites need ORANGE UNIVERSITY AKOKWA from your benevolent spirit.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London
Are Autonomous Communities and HRH in Abia and Imo States for Sale? Sixtus Ezennaya
The creation of Autonomous Communities in Abia and Imo States is backed by the State Edicts on that. By virtue of these Edicts, many Autonomous Communities have come into existence. Economics as a social science has always taught that human wants are insatiable. This maxim has a corroboration in this Igbo adage that the fowl went to sleep not that the stomach is filled but because night has come. Could it be true that more “Wards” are clamouring for this “separatist” State? The reasons for their “insurrection” against their former allies are always adduced rightly or wrongly. But, then, if there is anything that kills interest, monotony is the one. Proliferation on the other hand enthrones inefficiency, self-centredness, mediocrity, loss of quality and concentration among others. But often times, in spite of these obvious deficiencies clannishness and concomitant distractions, proliferation still enjoys big patronage from charlatans.
What is happening in Abia and Imo States in the name of creation of Autonomous Communities is becoming a triviality. Again, must everybody in Abia State be a title holder – low Chief, Chief, High Chief, VIP etc? The job of creation is a special assignment which God bestows the power only on special people. Everything is not for everybody. That is why the abuse called the creation of Autonomous Communities by Abia and Imo States Governments must stop.
Under normal circumstances, before the request for creation of Autonomous Community is made, it ought to be a unanimous agreement and consent of the people making the request. But here, few over ambitious people would coerce people into endorsing the request. In fact, it is only in Abia and Imo States that politics are the yard sticks for the proliferation of Autonomous Communities and His Royal Highness, Majesty etc. Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ndi Igbo in Delta and Rivers States respect these traditional institutions. Why is the flagrant disrespect and contempt on these age long and revered institutions by the Governments of Abia and Imo States? Every family, kindred, ward, clan, village wants to be an Autonomous Community in Abia and Imo States of course championed and sponsored by people hungry of power and status. Formerly, it was purchase of status symbols like Doctorate Degrees, Justice of the Peace (JP), Chieftaincy titles, traditional Nze and Ozo titles, and even Knighthood but today the emphasis has shifted to the purchase of His Royal Highness, Majesty etc. Could this be why some occupants of the Ezeship stool are people of questionable character? Worse still, why have some of these traditional rulers so neck-deep in selfish and parochial affairs rather than common matters that are beneficial to their supposed communities?
And the huge and unquantifiable “human wastage” which usually characterize the “cold war” for the Ezeship stool is better imagined than experienced. The pollution and proliferation of His Royal Highness and Autonomous Communities is now the vogue and that is the only thing that do appease and pacify the adventurers thus anything doable is acceptable to these Machiavellians who so much believe in the dictum “the end justifies the means.” Perhaps, to avoid wastage of human life may account for why the late Eze Sylvester Achuko, Eze Ozuzuoha II of Mbieri out of his violition suggested to his community of dividing his Kingdom into six Autonomous Communities thus becoming the first Eze in Imo State to divide his Kingdom into Autonomous Communities.
Could anyone believe that Anambra State still remains sacrosanct with her 177 Communities as they were bequeathed to it from the creation of the State in August 27, 1991? That a man merely smiled does not mean he has got rotten teeth. There is some clamour for Autonomous Status by some sections in some Communities in Anambra State but the request is usually treated with caution. But then, even at this status quo, is Anambra State the least developed when compared with the States where this multiplicity is the order of the day? If cocoyam is better than yam, why is even the bush fowl not eating it? If replication of wards in the name of Autonomous Communities is good, why do towns in other states in Nigeria turn their backs on the idea? That Onitsha, Nnewi, Abakiliki, Asaba, Obigbo, Kano, Jos, Ibadan, Ife, Benin, Calabar etc have not subdivided their chiefdoms and kingdoms show its unacceptablitiy by the older and experienced empires. Then, is he more intelligent or wiser than his father, a bachelor who rejected a spinster resembling his mother, founded for him as wife by his father?
The Ngwa-born Vatican official, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. John Egbulefu one said, “Nigerians do not know that salvation comes from the above. They fix their eyes on the ground and at most horizontal.” It needs to be told these people clamouring for further splitting of their wards as Autonomous Communities that development does not come from multiplicity of wards as Autonomous Communities but in the industrialization, meaningful and quality-life, human development, urbanization, job-creation etc in the existing Communities. Okada wonderland is a rural town made popular by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Esama of Benin. Mind you, he is not even the traditional ruler of Okada Town.
Ex President Olusegun Obasanjo has transformed Ota to a pilgrimage Centre. Ex-Gov Donald Duke made Obudu, visitors delight and destination. Obehie is now in the internet courtesy of the Veritas University located there by the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria. All these are to an extent projects that have not only become beneficial to these communities and their indigenes but Autonomous Communities benefit few persons; the sponsors of the projects alone. The irony and hypocrisy of it all is that while Abia and Imo States proliferate Autonomous Communities, Nigerian Government frowns at the idea of self determination or having other sovereign nations from Nigeria. One policy with two opposing laws. Many love the honey but few are prepared to deal with the bee. As ballot is better than the bullet, so is quality incontestably better than quantity. After all, the quantity of hairs on the pubic region of a woman’s private part does not determine the utility and productivity of the reproductive organs.
Creation of unnecessary and unviable Autonomous Communities is the creation of Aggressive Communities, creation of problem and sectarianism, Autonomous crisis more so when many of the new Autonomous Communities still remain even underdeveloped in the long run. In a wonderful message of George Carlin, “The paradox of our time in history is that we have more degrees but less sense, more titles but less respect, more knowledge but less judgement, more experts yet more problems, more medicine but less wellness.” I want to add that as we create more Autonomous Communities, the more attractive it is to even demand for and subdivide the smallest Community. The demand remains endless.
Could the plum salaries of the traditional rulers be the motivating factor for this fictionalization? Could it be to find something doing after retirement as many of those allegedly sponsoring these conflicting requests for Autonomous Communities are retirees and money bags? The actions of these sponsors or aspirants to the throne become most annoying when records show that they never at anytime in their lives partook in their Communities meaningful projects. Their recourse to these exalted positions is not on the will of their people but on their “connection” in government. When human beings desert or vacate the market place, the vultures usually take over proceedings or activities. The actions of these people clamouring for Autonomous Communities from those of the newest Autonomous Communities would be likened to the ones of the vultures.
On Thursday June 25, 2006 at CKC Aba, it was a concourse, display and competition of Ezeship regalia as the Requiem Mass of Eze Sir A. E. N. Izuwah KSJ, KSG, Eze Udo I of Amaitolu Ovungwu Autonomous Community in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State provided the forum. It is my observation that the size and wealth of every Autonomous Community is inadvertently reflected in the “Eze’s majesty.” The funniest thing was that some Ezes were relegated to second-class status because or their poor regalia or “over-simplicity” inter alia. One Eze after seeing how gorgeously, resplendently and flamboyantly dressed one of the Ezes or Igwes from Anambra State was, used his eyes to weigh, measure and compare the attire with his own, started adjusting his own trousers, caftan (Abiriba dress) and Odili hat as if that was the cause of his poor semblance. Our people call that, “O no na mmonwu ele mmonwu” (a masquerade admiring another masquerade). Even some of the Ezes came to the palace of the deceased Eze after the Mass on bike (Okada) while some were begging for “lift” from some car owners. What type of Eze or Autonomous Community is that – for hundred people and scanty buildings? I thank the Aba South Local Government Area / Abia State Government for the gift of vehicles to the traditional rulers quite recently. But then, let it not be a stimulant to request for more Autonomous Communities. Although a traditional ruler needs to be mobile, he needs not be a beggar, an illiterate or a hungry man as the vehicles may even be a problem to maintain. Thank God the traditional ruler of my town, HRH Igwe G. O. Ezechukwu JP, KSP, MACC, Okwuluoha I of Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State is a square peg in a square hole. The densely populated 20 – village, Umuchu town, among the largest in Anambra State, shares state boundaries with Arondizuogu, Ibinta, Umualaoma, and Akokwa all in Imo State. Our neighbours in Anambra State include Uga, Amesi, Achina, Enugwu-Umuonyia, Umuomaku, Ezira and Umunze. In fact driving within Umuchu alone along the Umunze – Umuchu – Amesi – Uga – Ezinifite – Igboukwu highway is a fifteen kilometre (15km) journey, yet the development least expected of Umuchu is balkanization. We need University Campus, Games Village, Government Housing Estates, Semi-Urban status, Magistrate Courts, more tarred road, Modern Nkwo Umuchu market, with flourishing industrial business etc. Not only in politics but also in every facet of human endeavour, there is great power, strength and victory in number. I know if Anambra State starts to proliferate Autonomous Communities like Abia and Imo States, a time will come when there will be traditional rulers and towns akin to these “Hundred People” Eze or Autonomous Communities.
Finally, the Abia and Imo State Governments should be apolitical and unsentimental on the issue of creation of Autonomous Communities. At least an autonomous community should be able to stand on its feet. It should have structures like a primary school, a health centre, a market, a parish church and perhaps its own traditional festival. Having only a traditional ruler should not be the paramount prerequisite. If pupils from an autonomous community trek to school in another autonomous community, the autonomy is incomplete, consequently, fake and self-deceit. These states’ Government agents should gird their loins properly to cover their derisive nakedness. If a banana plantation landlord does not protect his farm properly, it will not be astonishment to him, to constantly have monkeys as guests.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.
What is happening in Abia and Imo States in the name of creation of Autonomous Communities is becoming a triviality. Again, must everybody in Abia State be a title holder – low Chief, Chief, High Chief, VIP etc? The job of creation is a special assignment which God bestows the power only on special people. Everything is not for everybody. That is why the abuse called the creation of Autonomous Communities by Abia and Imo States Governments must stop.
Under normal circumstances, before the request for creation of Autonomous Community is made, it ought to be a unanimous agreement and consent of the people making the request. But here, few over ambitious people would coerce people into endorsing the request. In fact, it is only in Abia and Imo States that politics are the yard sticks for the proliferation of Autonomous Communities and His Royal Highness, Majesty etc. Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ndi Igbo in Delta and Rivers States respect these traditional institutions. Why is the flagrant disrespect and contempt on these age long and revered institutions by the Governments of Abia and Imo States? Every family, kindred, ward, clan, village wants to be an Autonomous Community in Abia and Imo States of course championed and sponsored by people hungry of power and status. Formerly, it was purchase of status symbols like Doctorate Degrees, Justice of the Peace (JP), Chieftaincy titles, traditional Nze and Ozo titles, and even Knighthood but today the emphasis has shifted to the purchase of His Royal Highness, Majesty etc. Could this be why some occupants of the Ezeship stool are people of questionable character? Worse still, why have some of these traditional rulers so neck-deep in selfish and parochial affairs rather than common matters that are beneficial to their supposed communities?
And the huge and unquantifiable “human wastage” which usually characterize the “cold war” for the Ezeship stool is better imagined than experienced. The pollution and proliferation of His Royal Highness and Autonomous Communities is now the vogue and that is the only thing that do appease and pacify the adventurers thus anything doable is acceptable to these Machiavellians who so much believe in the dictum “the end justifies the means.” Perhaps, to avoid wastage of human life may account for why the late Eze Sylvester Achuko, Eze Ozuzuoha II of Mbieri out of his violition suggested to his community of dividing his Kingdom into six Autonomous Communities thus becoming the first Eze in Imo State to divide his Kingdom into Autonomous Communities.
Could anyone believe that Anambra State still remains sacrosanct with her 177 Communities as they were bequeathed to it from the creation of the State in August 27, 1991? That a man merely smiled does not mean he has got rotten teeth. There is some clamour for Autonomous Status by some sections in some Communities in Anambra State but the request is usually treated with caution. But then, even at this status quo, is Anambra State the least developed when compared with the States where this multiplicity is the order of the day? If cocoyam is better than yam, why is even the bush fowl not eating it? If replication of wards in the name of Autonomous Communities is good, why do towns in other states in Nigeria turn their backs on the idea? That Onitsha, Nnewi, Abakiliki, Asaba, Obigbo, Kano, Jos, Ibadan, Ife, Benin, Calabar etc have not subdivided their chiefdoms and kingdoms show its unacceptablitiy by the older and experienced empires. Then, is he more intelligent or wiser than his father, a bachelor who rejected a spinster resembling his mother, founded for him as wife by his father?
The Ngwa-born Vatican official, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. John Egbulefu one said, “Nigerians do not know that salvation comes from the above. They fix their eyes on the ground and at most horizontal.” It needs to be told these people clamouring for further splitting of their wards as Autonomous Communities that development does not come from multiplicity of wards as Autonomous Communities but in the industrialization, meaningful and quality-life, human development, urbanization, job-creation etc in the existing Communities. Okada wonderland is a rural town made popular by Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Esama of Benin. Mind you, he is not even the traditional ruler of Okada Town.
Ex President Olusegun Obasanjo has transformed Ota to a pilgrimage Centre. Ex-Gov Donald Duke made Obudu, visitors delight and destination. Obehie is now in the internet courtesy of the Veritas University located there by the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria. All these are to an extent projects that have not only become beneficial to these communities and their indigenes but Autonomous Communities benefit few persons; the sponsors of the projects alone. The irony and hypocrisy of it all is that while Abia and Imo States proliferate Autonomous Communities, Nigerian Government frowns at the idea of self determination or having other sovereign nations from Nigeria. One policy with two opposing laws. Many love the honey but few are prepared to deal with the bee. As ballot is better than the bullet, so is quality incontestably better than quantity. After all, the quantity of hairs on the pubic region of a woman’s private part does not determine the utility and productivity of the reproductive organs.
Creation of unnecessary and unviable Autonomous Communities is the creation of Aggressive Communities, creation of problem and sectarianism, Autonomous crisis more so when many of the new Autonomous Communities still remain even underdeveloped in the long run. In a wonderful message of George Carlin, “The paradox of our time in history is that we have more degrees but less sense, more titles but less respect, more knowledge but less judgement, more experts yet more problems, more medicine but less wellness.” I want to add that as we create more Autonomous Communities, the more attractive it is to even demand for and subdivide the smallest Community. The demand remains endless.
Could the plum salaries of the traditional rulers be the motivating factor for this fictionalization? Could it be to find something doing after retirement as many of those allegedly sponsoring these conflicting requests for Autonomous Communities are retirees and money bags? The actions of these sponsors or aspirants to the throne become most annoying when records show that they never at anytime in their lives partook in their Communities meaningful projects. Their recourse to these exalted positions is not on the will of their people but on their “connection” in government. When human beings desert or vacate the market place, the vultures usually take over proceedings or activities. The actions of these people clamouring for Autonomous Communities from those of the newest Autonomous Communities would be likened to the ones of the vultures.
On Thursday June 25, 2006 at CKC Aba, it was a concourse, display and competition of Ezeship regalia as the Requiem Mass of Eze Sir A. E. N. Izuwah KSJ, KSG, Eze Udo I of Amaitolu Ovungwu Autonomous Community in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State provided the forum. It is my observation that the size and wealth of every Autonomous Community is inadvertently reflected in the “Eze’s majesty.” The funniest thing was that some Ezes were relegated to second-class status because or their poor regalia or “over-simplicity” inter alia. One Eze after seeing how gorgeously, resplendently and flamboyantly dressed one of the Ezes or Igwes from Anambra State was, used his eyes to weigh, measure and compare the attire with his own, started adjusting his own trousers, caftan (Abiriba dress) and Odili hat as if that was the cause of his poor semblance. Our people call that, “O no na mmonwu ele mmonwu” (a masquerade admiring another masquerade). Even some of the Ezes came to the palace of the deceased Eze after the Mass on bike (Okada) while some were begging for “lift” from some car owners. What type of Eze or Autonomous Community is that – for hundred people and scanty buildings? I thank the Aba South Local Government Area / Abia State Government for the gift of vehicles to the traditional rulers quite recently. But then, let it not be a stimulant to request for more Autonomous Communities. Although a traditional ruler needs to be mobile, he needs not be a beggar, an illiterate or a hungry man as the vehicles may even be a problem to maintain. Thank God the traditional ruler of my town, HRH Igwe G. O. Ezechukwu JP, KSP, MACC, Okwuluoha I of Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State is a square peg in a square hole. The densely populated 20 – village, Umuchu town, among the largest in Anambra State, shares state boundaries with Arondizuogu, Ibinta, Umualaoma, and Akokwa all in Imo State. Our neighbours in Anambra State include Uga, Amesi, Achina, Enugwu-Umuonyia, Umuomaku, Ezira and Umunze. In fact driving within Umuchu alone along the Umunze – Umuchu – Amesi – Uga – Ezinifite – Igboukwu highway is a fifteen kilometre (15km) journey, yet the development least expected of Umuchu is balkanization. We need University Campus, Games Village, Government Housing Estates, Semi-Urban status, Magistrate Courts, more tarred road, Modern Nkwo Umuchu market, with flourishing industrial business etc. Not only in politics but also in every facet of human endeavour, there is great power, strength and victory in number. I know if Anambra State starts to proliferate Autonomous Communities like Abia and Imo States, a time will come when there will be traditional rulers and towns akin to these “Hundred People” Eze or Autonomous Communities.
Finally, the Abia and Imo State Governments should be apolitical and unsentimental on the issue of creation of Autonomous Communities. At least an autonomous community should be able to stand on its feet. It should have structures like a primary school, a health centre, a market, a parish church and perhaps its own traditional festival. Having only a traditional ruler should not be the paramount prerequisite. If pupils from an autonomous community trek to school in another autonomous community, the autonomy is incomplete, consequently, fake and self-deceit. These states’ Government agents should gird their loins properly to cover their derisive nakedness. If a banana plantation landlord does not protect his farm properly, it will not be astonishment to him, to constantly have monkeys as guests.
Mr. Ezennaya writes for the World Igbo Times Magazine, London.
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