AN OVERVIEW OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDE IN NIGERIAN MARRIAGES

UNDERSTANDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Many marriages are falling apart in Nigeria not necessarily because the brides are not beautiful enough but more because of intolerance, impatience, incompatibility and financial constraints. In fact the greatest obstacle to marital success remains financial constraints, compounded by the over dependability of either of the spouse on the other. We are all human beings and there is a level of tolerance beyond which the marriage begins to crack and fall apart irreversibly. However, because of the social stigmatization associated with failed marriages, some women have remained attached to the marriage even where none exists anymore, hoping against hope that things would change. A lot of men have had to endure the…

THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN THE CHURCH (ADR): THE NEED FOR ECCLESIASTICAL PARADIGM SHIFT

Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Don Nnagha – The Church being a community in the human society despite her eschatological finality (theandric dimensions) is prone to dissenting views, contentious cases and even strife and oppositions; and thus needs to update herself with instruments of justice and peace and conflicts resolutions. Traditionally and canonically, contentions and claims in the Church have been principally handled either by administrative means or judicial process. This is after mediations, conciliations and arbitrations have been previously employed. The new Code of Canon Law fully enshrines the inalienable right of Christ’s faithful to pursue, vindicate and redress their rights in the Church in accordance with the law (cf. Can. 221). This right is…

Catholic Clergy: Prophetic Gadfly And Bastion Of Political Sanity In Imo Politics

It is becoming self-evident that political sanity in Imo state has almost been single-handedly sustained by a small group in our society, the Catholic clergy, who have taken upon themselves the prophetic role of a gadfly. This fact is now being acknowledged even by those who would hitherto deny it for primordial denominational antagonism. A write-up such as this is not meant to be a hagiography, nor is it meant to fawn on any person or group, least of all, to proclaim them ‘infallible’ in all aspects. [As a matter of fact, the author has, on some occasions, taken a swipe on the Catholic clergy, pointing out ways they may not have been measuring up…

LASSA HAEMORRAGHIC FEVER

Lassa fever was first discovered in Sierra Leone in the 1950s but the virus responsible for the disease was not identified until 1969 when two missionary nurses died in Nigeria and the cause of their illness was found to be Lassa virus, named after a town in Borno State (Lassa in the Yedseram River valley) where the first cases were isolated. Notable outbreaks thereafter were reported in 1974 in Zonkwa, Kaduna State and Onitsha, Anambra State; and in 1976 in Pankshin, Plateau State. In Edo State where the disease is now endemic, Lassa fever was first reported in Ihumudumu Community, Ekpoma in 1984 and the virus was said to have claimed the life of the…

Addressing The Kidnapping Problem In Nigeria (3)

Fear of reprisals: Some of the people who may know about criminal activities of our closest relations and friends are always afraid of reprisals or acts of revenge. Criminals and their friends and associates can arrange and eliminate the suspected informants and may even subject their entire household to terrible punishments and harassment.   (3)        THE BOYS WORK FOR THE GRAND MASTERS   There is no doubt that most of the armed bank-robbers we hear about, for example, are only ‘errand boys’ who serve the interests of their grand masters. The boys give accounts of their ‘mission’ and stewardship to their masters after each successful operation. There are also ‘middlemen’ who must coordinate the operations,…

Devotion To The Passion Of Christ

Prof. Michael Ogunu – The devotion to the Passion (sufferings) of Our Lord and Saviour is, of all forms of Catholic devotion, the most ancient, the most venerable, the most universal. Jesus Himself has written the remembrance of His Passion deep into the hearts of His faithful. In order to imprint most deeply in our souls the remembrance of His Sacred Passion, Christ instituted Holy Mass, the unbloody renewal of the Sacrifice of the Cross. Perhaps there is no subject for meditation more suitable for every class of persons than the most sacred Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In it many sinners find the encouragement and graces necessary for their conversion; from it many…

THE BIG DRAMA

It is a feast of contradictions today. We celebrate the triumphal entry of a king who ends up dying like a criminal. It’s Palm Sunday and also Passion Sunday! The day of “Hosanna”,and the day of “Crucify him!” A day of acclamation – “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”, and a day of denials – “I do not know him!” It’s a day of paying homage – people throwing their cloaks on the road, and also a day of mockery: “Play the prophet…who hit you then?” It is a huge drama and each one of us, depending on our spiritual disposition, can play any of the characters. First is Jesus,…

True Picture Of An International Student In America

It is almost the dream of every African youth today to have a taste of the white man’s country. Be it Europe, America or anywhere, the young African merely wants to feel like she/he is overseas. The reason is not far fetched and could reside in the individual, the economic situation in Africa and the apparent fun that characterizes life outside Africa. Most African youth only succeed in securing student’s F1 visa to study abroad, and so they move. I know that some of our elders and founding fathers like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Julius Nyerere, Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkuruma, Uhuru Kenyata, etc., also studied in foreign countries but returned immediately to Africa to practice what they…

Land Use Policy And Development Control: A Look At Imo State Ministry Of Lands And Owerri Capital Development Authority

INTRODUCTION A Lot of complaints has been made by members of the public against the ministry of lands and particularly against the Owerri capital development Authority. However since the appointment of Hon Uche Nwosu, a lot of Checks and balances and or reforms has taken place and somehow public confidence has been restored gradually in the system as it tries to reform itself. For the first time however, Hon Uche Nwosu has made a professional Estate surveyor who is accessible and intellectually compliant, a Director of Lands. Also in the Department of Deeds, The government Certification and documentation of Title is in progress under an effective director. In OCDA unfortunately the rot continues but hopefully…

Addressing the Kidnapping Problem In Nigeria (2)

A kidnapped man’s wife: Chief Udeogu Ukaegbu, who narrowly escaped death at the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists in the North and settled in the village, was kidnapped immediately he settled down to restart his business in the village. A sympathizer who accosted the man’s wife questioned: “Madam, what are we hearing?” “Yes, Sir. It is true. Neither home nor abroad is safe anymore. See how we have escaped from the cobra’s burrow and entered the lion’s den. Had we known we would have remained in the North? We are confused and terrified to the marrows. From where can we get the 20 million naira the kidnappers are demanding?” A Nigerian, Mr. Uzochukwu Igwe,…

LAZARUS, SYMBOL OF HUMANITY

The liturgy of the Mass offers us the key of reading the gospel text: Jesus, true man like us, mourns His friend LAZARUS.  He, God and Lord of life, calls him back from the sepulcher.  Today, He extends to all men His mercy and with his sacraments makes us pass from death to life (Preface).  This is also the mystery we are called to celebrate in our assembly.  We are now close to Easter and the Church invites us to get to the heart of it through the understanding of the wonderful event narrated in the Gospel. This miracle becomes a sign in our celebration.  What Jesus worked in Lazarus, He incessantly accomplishes in us…

IGBO ISSUES AT THE NATIONAL CONFAB (3)

REPRODUCTION OF DR SAM MADUGBA’S SUBMISSION TO IGBO GOVERNORS/ELDERS FOR GUIDANCE FOR OBASANJO’S CONFAB, FEBRUARY 1, 2005   The Igbo Stand on General Nigeria Wrongs Igbo delegates should adopt the following stands on each of the above listed 16 wrongs against the Nigerian people by Nigeria. 1.       Type of Democracy: We should go for Parliamentary Democracy where the Prime-minister will be a member of the parliament elected by his colleagues and so controllable. He could even answer president. There should be no such position as ceremonial president or the like. The Parliamentary Democracy should start from 2015 after the Igbos must have completed their presidential turns. 2.       Regionalisation: The regions must be empowered to assume…

The Centenary Awards and Other Annoyances (2)

The 10th category, ‘International Acclaimed Artists, Literary Icons and Journalists’, presents a more ludicrous instance. In 1933, Pita Nwana, a carpenter at the Methodist College, Uzuakoli wrote and published ‘Omenuko’ the first novel ever written in the Igbo language. Wole Soyinka, Nigeria’s most celebrated playwright, poet and Nobel laureate was born the year after! Daniel Fagunwa’s Ògbójú Ọdẹ nínú Igbó Irúnmalẹ̀ the first Yoruba novel was only written in 1938. It was translated into English in 1968 by Wole Soyinka as The Forest of A Thousand Daemons. For what reason was Daniel Fagunwa bestowed with a centenary award and Pita Nwana was not? That is a curious incongruity. Before Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Osita Osadebe…

Addressing the Kidnapping Problem In Nigeria (1)

KIDNAPPING NOW A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS IN NIGERIA? Nigerians who must visit their fatherland for obvious reasons, like burial of loved ones or spend Christmas vacation in the village are always gripped with fear as mere thought of landing in the village for a few days to spend time with families and neighbors scares them.  They don’t even believe that better security can be assured in the big cities of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Kano, Kaduna, Ibadan, Benin, or Owerri. One could be kidnapped by hoodlums or young terrorists. Those who find themselves in the Northern states of the nation must be ready to face Boko Haram terrorist gangs. In public places, schools, parks and…

You are the Light of the world…

Lent is both catechumenal and baptismal in character because it makes us conscious of the reality and exigencies of baptism and brings us to the revision of life and conversion from wrong living.  So, this Sunday of Lent presents the grace of baptism as experience with Christ-the-Light.  Jesus dissipates the darkness of our blindness (Gosp) and makes us “children of light (2R).   JESUS THE LIGHT The opposition between light and darkness as a symbol of opposition between truth and error or between good and evil is not difficult to understand and is used also beyond theological and liturgical language.  Of lights in the world there have been many in the course of the centuries;…

Is APC promising Nigerians a born again style of governance?

Pertinent questions from discerning Nigerians should subject this Phenomenon of political “Change” to serious acid test.  A change for all intents and purposes must provide a better and acceptable alternative which Nigeria as a country in a state of entropy is in dear need of. “The leopard never changes her spots”, Nnamdi Azikiwe.  Does it ever worry us that history which neither personal wealth or power can pre-empt will pass terrible judgement on us, pronounce anathema on our names when we have accomplished our betrayal and passed on? We have lost the twentieth century; are we bent on seeing that our children also lose the twenty first?  God forbid”, Chinua Achebe. It is my contention…

Mother’s Day: Behaviours expected of Christian Mothers

Who is a Christian Mother? A Christian Mother is the woman who believes in Christian doctrine.  She cherishes the teachings of Jesus Christ and accepts Him as the only begotten son of God.  The mother in question can be biological or non-biological.  She is an adult female human being.  She bears the children of the family or raises a child by performing the role of a parent (here she is seen as a non-biological parent).  She is sensitive in fulfilling the main social role in raising a child (Ogbonna, 2011) as well as coordinating her environmental activities for the purpose of building peace.   Activities of Mothers’ Day Celebration This ceremony is a yearly recorded…

Excessive Urbanisation Of Owerri: Robbing Peter To Pay Paul

Suya is a Shish Kebab-like food consumed in West Africa, originally introduced by the Hausa people of northern Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria. It is highly popular and suya spots litter almost every major street junction in Nigeria. Since suya is made mainly with skewered beef, there is a popular saying in Nigeria which comes in the form of a rhetorical question: let us have more suya; is it nor from the flesh of the cow? In other words, more cows have to die for us to have more suya. The most abused decree in Nigeria is, most probably, the Nigerian Land Use Decree of 1978. Ironically, one of the justifications given for the Land Use…

The role of mothers

Lady Chidinma Elekwa – Mothers are regarded as the brain box or the engine of the family and the society without which the family will be demobilized. Mothers are also seen as the roof of the house, whose absence tantamounts to the exposure of the components of the entire house. Mothers have the primary role of procreation and reproduction in union with the fathers. They act as help mates and companions to their husbands Mothers are good instruments of peace and innovations in the families, societies and nations.  Typical examples were the mothers’ role in the Aba Women Riot of 1929 which resulted in the removal of tax on the sale of food.  Agricultural products…

Lent: A moment to peel our layers of sinfulness

Every Lent in the monasteries of the Orthodox Church, a seventh century book titled: “The Ladder of Divine Ascent” is read aloud to the monks.  The book was written by St. John Climacus (literally, John of the Ladder, after the name of his book), while he was abbot of the Monastery of St. Catherine, which sits at the foot of Mount Sinai.  In the Eastern Orthodox Church its popularity equals that of The Imitation of Christ in the Roman Catholic Church; with the exception of the Bible, there is no Book in Orthodox Christianity that has been studied, copied, and translated more than The Ladder of Divine Ascent. John Climacus presents holiness as a ladder…