Same sex union leads to early death – Pro-Lifers warn

People of the same gender contemplating going into wedlock had better think twice, as experts have discovered that same sex marriage decreases life expectancy and by complication resulting in early death. The tolerance and promotion of same sex union also leads to the corrosion of more basic rights (consciences right, religious right), injury to children and further degradation of family. These facts were contained in a seven-point Declaration issued at the end of the Pro-Life Conference/Rally at the Obiri Odenigbo, Villa Assumpta Owerri, (June 3-4, 2013) organized by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri. The participants warned, “It is for this reason that it should never be an integral part of our social, culture or legal…

St. Mary’s Parish Ubomiri, celebrates 2013 Father’s Day

The annual celebration of Catholic Men Organization (CMO) known as “Father’s Day” took place throughout Owerri Archdiocese on Sunday, May 5, 2013. At St. Mary’s Parish Ubomiri in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, the occasion kicked off with a concelebrated Holy Mass presided over by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Innocent Maduakolam Osuagwu, assisted by Rev. Fr. Cletus Eboh of the Pontifical Mission Society (PMS). The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Osuagwu welcomed the Christian fathers and all, and wished them a happy and fruitful celebration. In his sermon, Rev. Fr. Cletus Eboh said that fathers are heads or pillars (Ide ji ulo) of their individual families and have the obligation and duty of teaching their…

10 years after, corpse of ‘missing’ woman found in son’s cupboard in Imo

The sleepy Ezuru Umuagwu village in Ejemekwuru Community, Oguta LGA, was roused on May 11, 2013 following the discovery of the embalmed corpse of a 78-year-old woman, Mrs. Lucy Osigwe who was earlier declared missing in 2003. The Ambush Squad of the Nigeria Police Force Imo State Command, discovered the body on May 11, following a tip-off. The dried body was found in the cupboard of her son, Dr. Chimezie Bede Osigwe, a 64-year-old retired school principal who has been a strong believer and member of Guru Maharaji Sect. It was revealed that the embalmed body has been in that condition for about 10 years. The Imo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Musa Katsina, told…

St. Andrew’s Parish Umuokanne celebrates Father’s Day – Decries lukewarm attitude of members

The Catholic Men Organization (CMO) of St. Andrew’s Parish Umuokanne has expressed disappointment over the lukewarm attitude of some members towards the upliftment of the parish. The President of the parish CMO, Mr. Sylvester Onyema (City), who expressed this view during the Father’s Day, May 5, 2013, regretted that some CMO members are not making any financial support for the parish and called for a complete change of heart, both morally and financially. The Parish CMO Secretary, Vincent Mary-Ihejieto Esq., echoed similar view.  He told THE LEADER that this year’s Father’s Day was rich spiritually. “Some of our parishioners’ resident “abroad” were invited to help us support and build our “parish security fence” as the…

Town Unions and Community Governing Council In Imo State

A town union is an association formed by members of a particular community for the socio-economic development of that community. Accordingly, town union collaborates with traditional administration, government at all levels and sometimes non-governmental agencies to achieve its aim. Town unions existed in communities in Nigeria even before colonialism. Interestingly, when the colonial masters came to the country, they also associated with town unions and made adequate use of them to foster their mission. With the country’s independence and the constitutional provision on Freedom of Association, town unions became stronger institutions. Also, with the promulgation of the Companies and Allied matters Act, town unions are now incorporated as legal persons. Today, many town unions are…

Mr. Chucks Obiodu: DRIVEN BY PASSION

With a passion for business and a determination to be a haulage contractor just like his father, young Chucks Obiodu went to school knowing exactly what he wanted to do for a living. When life wanted to take him down a different path, he quickly made a U –turn and returned to his dream. Although his older siblings took up jobs in mining, telecommunications, teaching and health sectors, Chucks, the last of five children, preferred to stick with his father. Even so, the young Chucks did not choose his dad so he could work for him or inherit the business after him. All he wanted was a role model which he found in his father….

ACHEBE AND THE INVENTION OF AFRICAN LITERATURE (1)

came strong on the world stage with the publication of his first novel, Things Fall Apart. It is a work widely considered to have defined African literature and brought balance to world literature. This is despite the fact that there were other pioneering efforts regarding African prose by African indigenous writers. By 1933 Omenụkọ by Pita Nwana had been published, followed by the Onitsha Market Literature through which Cyprian Ekwensi published pamphlet stories like Ikolo the Wrestler and Other Ibo Tales (1947) and When Love Whispers (1948). These were before Amos Tutuola’s The Palm-Wine Drinkard (1952), which many regard as the pioneer novel form in English language by an indigenous African. However, it is Chinua…

The morality of sharing money to Pupils in Imo (2)

Wrong Formation: St. Paul’s foremost warning to Timothy is, “The love of money is the root of all evils” (1Tim. 6: 10). The worst offense any parent could commit against his child will be to introduce him to money as a standard for either consolation or love. Using money to attract a child is like using bone to attract dogs. When the bone is not available, the dog refuses to listen to the voice of the owner and could go wild. And scripture says, “Teach a child how he should live, and he will remember it all his life” (Prov. 22: 6). Let us therefore expose the harm which this practice of sharing money to…

A jewel in his Crown

In his hay days, Pius Ukaga was a simple, easygoing, ever smiling, hardworking and amiable man. Agriculturist by profession, when he became Eze Obibi in 2003, he took those qualities with him, aided by a reliable cabinet, peaceful community, supportive children, especially a resourceful first son. But the jewel in his crown was his Emii-born witty wife, a diligent and resilient woman, the Eze’s one and only spouse and companion of 55 years. It is she, the Ugoeze, who has held his hand in good and bad times. With her by his side, there was no obstacle the crown couldn’t overcome.  Ugoeze Beatrice onyegenonu, a retired school teacher is a woman who knows her community…

Workshop on Role of Media in New Evangelization

A three-day workshop for Diocesan Communications Directors and Catholic Media Practitioners of the Old Onitsha Province has ended at Ozubulu in Nnewi Local Government Area of Anambra State, with a charge to participants, to ensure that the communication media are used as effective tools for evangelization. Rev. Fr. Dr. Ralph Madu, Secretary-General, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) Abuja, gave this charge while delivering a welcome address at the workshop which took place at St. Gabriel’s Retreat and Conference Centre Ozubulu in Nnewi. He urged them to ensure that Christian principles influence and permeate the practice of their profession, including the technical and administrative sectors. The immediate past Director of Social Communications at the CSN said…

30 couples unite in Holy Matrimony at St. Mary’s Iho

Couples have been advised to remain faithful to their marriage vows and to avoid indulging in extra-marital affairs or living polygamous life. The sermon was given to the 30 couples who were joined in matrimony at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Iho on Saturday, April 20, 2013.  The officiating priest at the wedding who is also the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Amadi encouraged the couples to always stand firm on their faith.  Fr. Amadi emphasized the importance of receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony saying that a man who keeps a woman in his house without wedding her lives in bondage of sin. The homilist, Rev. Fr. Romanus Onwuasonye thanked God for life and the chief…

QUEST FOR THE IDEOLOGY OF TERRORISTS

My grandfather Ekhaisomhi, the father of my mother, was a true and good Muslim, the best grandfather every child prays to have. My mother, Awawu Veronica, is simply the best mother any child could have. She gave me the love and peace she inherited from her Muslim parents. My grandfather, Omonokhua, the father of my father, was an African traditional priest who was known for love, peace and generosity. Another grandfather every child would pray to have. My father, Okhifo, gave me the love, peace and generous values he inherited from his parents. My grandparents and parents personified the scriptures where I practically learned the value of life with the contents of generosity, love, peace,…

Softly, softly on urbanization: more homes, less houses

Long before Abraham Maslow published his hierarchy of needs in 1943, there has always been some controversy on what truly constitutes basic human needs. The unending, amorphous list of needs (sometimes confused with ‘wants’) range from breathing (air) to self-actualization. In-between these two extremes fall in such other needs as food, safety, belongings and self-esteem. The desire to satisfy this galaxy of needs is the driving passion behind human enterprise and hard-work. It is this passion that has produced our great industrialists- the Aliko Dangotes, the Mike Adenugas, the Tim Ovias, the Paschal Dozies etc. Ironically, it is also this passion that is producing in Nigeria thousands of clever pen-robbers who are bleeding the nation…

Auto crash: Why Okorocha was not treated in Government hospital

Insecurity and protracted labour dispute between the State Government and staff of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), were reasons why Governor Rochas Okorocha was not taken to the hospital for treatments when he was involved in an auto crash recently. Okorocha’s vehicle had head-on collision with another vehicle belonging to one Osita Nnawuihe on Friday, April 19, 2013 at Umuoma, Orlu, while driving himself without the usual outriders and government house ambulance. Daily Sun learnt that the governor was rushed to St. Mary’s Children and Community Hospital, Umuowa where he received first aid, while Nnawuihe was taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri for treatment. The State Government and the teaching hospital…