Knights of St. Mulumba, St. Paul’s Sub-Council hold 2013 Youth Holiday Programme

The 2013 Youth Holiday Programme organized by the Knights of St. Mulumba, Nigeria, St. Paul’s Sub-Council Owerri has ended at Assumpta Pastoral Centre, Wetheral Road, Owerri, August 31. In a homily at the Holy Mass preceding the event, Rev. Fr. Michael Konye called on Christians to put into work the blessings they received from God. According to him, God’s given talents must be improved upon instead of preserving them.  The homilist, who represented the Chaplain of the Sub-Council, Rev. Fr. Lawrence. Nwachukwu, noted that God in his love surrounded them with people and things to make their world better.  They should, therefore, respond to this love shown them by God by extending their love to…

When a Christian may be convicted for marrying more than one wife

We live in a country where both the rich and the poor marry more than one wife and no one raises an eyelid It is important to understand that the Christian marriage is based on monogamy. Adam had one wife, Eve, to the exclusion of any other woman. God also made for Adam, a wife, rather than wives. Thus polygamy is man made and influenced by a zealous desire to multiply and dominate the Earth in the agrarian era, when we depended on subsistence farming. A marriage celebrated under the Act is therefore monogamous. It follows therefore that a person who undergoes a marriage under the Act, and whilst it subsists, contracts another marriage commits…

August Meeting – A Message For All Dignified Christian Women In 2013 August Meeting

Who is a dignified Christian woman? A dignified Christian woman is a God-fearing woman, a woman of honour with good reputation who appreciates and upholds God’s divine plan for woman right from creation as a mother, wife and a helper to her husband. She realizes that right from creation God gave her vocation and bestowed honour on her which rest on order of love and care to humanity. The dignity of a Christian woman cannot be purchased by money rather it was established by God as if woman is “Ordained” to be a mother, a wife and helper to her husband. The dignity of a woman is a “divine project”. (Gen. 2:18). A dignified Christian…

August Meeting

As this year’s “August Meeting” draws near, a lot of anticipations and preparations are made in order to make it a fruitful one.  Women from all over the world, especially the married Igbo women flock back home for this annual meeting. It is during this meeting that decisions are made for the betterment of the Igbo women and the community at large.  This very meeting of theirs is taken very seriously, in the sense that anyone who fails to attend it pays a fine (especially those who have been mandated). The concept of the meetings evolved from the annual mass return.  The mass return were for every citizen – men, women, youth and children.  The…

THE TEN ‘I’s THAT BREAK THE HOME (2)

INFIDELITY Infidelity in marriage can also be referred to as cheating, adultery or extramarital affair. Wikipedia defines it as the subjective feeling that one’s partner has violated a set of rules or relationship norms and this violation results in feelings of sexual jealousy and rivalry. The violation can be sexual in nature, for example involving kissing, sexual fondling or sex with another individual outside of the marriage relationship. Statistics reveal that the rate of infidelity in marriage is higher in men than in women. In their book, Close Encounters: Communication in relationships, Guerrero, Anderson and Afifi maintained that men are more likely than women to have a sexual affair, regardless of whether or not they…

Prof. Viola Onwuliri commissions Ultra-Modern School Gate at Amuzi

- Harps on Education as short-cut to bigmanism One of the activities lined up for the one-year memorial of late Prof. C.O.E. Onwuliri (KSJI), the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) is the commissioning of an ultra-modern school gate of Community Secondary School Amuzi, Ahiazu LGA Mbaise, which took place Wednesday, June 19, 2013 by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs State I, Prof. Viola Onwuliri (LAUX), wife of the late former Vice-Chancellor. Before her arrival, the students and their teachers filed out from the school gate to the Eke Amuzi market to accord her a befitting welcome.  After commissioning the school ultra-modern gate, the Minister inspected the school’s laboratory science…

Holy See Mourns Death of Syrian Monk

Fr. Francois Mourad Murdered by Extremists in Predominantly Christian Village Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches mourned the murder of Fr. Francois Mourad, a monk who lived in Syria. According to Fides News Agency, Fr. Mourad was killed in the convent of the Custody of the Holy Land where he had taken refuge. While the circumstances of his death are not confirmed, local sources believe that the monastery of St. Anthony of Padua where he was residing was attacked by militants linked to an Islamic extremist group known as Jabhat al-Nusra. The monastery is located in Ghassanieh, a predominantly Christian village that is near the border with Turkey. Regarding Fr. Mourad’s…

I begin every programme with Novena – CGC Commissioner

The Commissioner for Community Government Council (CGC) and Chieftaincy Affairs, Imo State, Barr. Lady Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro has attributed the success of her ministry so far to the power of Novena. A Novena is a series of prayers that are said for nine straight days, usually as a prayer of petition. Speaking during an interactive session with the press on the ongoing chieftaincy dispute resolution in the state, Barr. Nnanna-Okoro said God is using Governor Rochas Okorocha to bring peace to several communities most of which have been in turmoil for decades following ezeship tussles. Emphasizing the efficacy of Novena prayer, Mrs. Nnanna-Okoro, a Lady of St. Mulumba, said trouble laden communities now enjoy peace, adding…

Community denies kidnap of 18 pupils

Leaders of Ngor Autonomous Community in the Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, have described as false and misleading, newspaper reports (not THE LEADER) that a commercial bus driver (name withheld) and a female teacher (name withheld) were intercepted by eagle-eyed security men as they were conveying 18 abducted pupils. According to newspaper reports, the children who are pupils of Umuohie Primary School in the Ngor-Okpala LGA, were being ferried to Rivers State before the abductors were caught. In a reaction to the news, the President General of the community, Mr. Justus Ugochukwu Okoh, who told our correspondent that he followed up the case from Umuneke Police Station to the State Criminal Investigation Department…

Community appeals to Njaba SOLAD over abandoned road projects

The Okponakuma Community in Njaba Local Government Area, Imo State, has appealed to the Sole Administrator of the local government, Rtd. Captain Chris Ibekwe to look into the deplorable state of the roads in the area and direct the contractors who abandoned the projects to return to site. In an address read during the familiarization visit to the community, they decried the abandonment of some roads by the contactors handling the projects, especially the road that passes through the secretariat leading to their neighbouring towns Umuokpo and Nkume, the road from Timber Market through their community to Umunama-Atta on which they said work was started but abandoned among others. They said the community did not…

Newly elected Eze Irete recommends Option A4 -To Ezeship-torn communities

Communities which for years have known no socio-economic progress, as a result of being enmeshed in intractable internal strife over their royal stool, can now heave a sigh of relief as an incontrovertible way out, has been found.  The solution lies in Option A4 system of voting, which has been described as most transparent, as it simply involves counting those queuing behind each candidate in an open field. This recommendation came from His Royal Highness, Eze Ethelbert Ekwelibe, the Agubiam I of Irete, who personally emerged through the Option A4 method on Wednesday, June 20, 2013, when he pulled 1110 votes to defeat his two other opponents, Anayo Okenwa and Uzoma Ibe who got 127…

St. Charles’ Umunumo Catholic Youths honour “Friends”

The Catholic Youth Organization of St. Charles Parish Umunumo, Ehime Mbano recently gave awards to some members of the community. The occasion started with Mass celebrated by Very Rev. Fr. Donatus Uwah, Parish Priest, assisted by Rev. Fr. Innocent Okoronkwo, Rev. Fr. Leonard Nwosu and a Deacon on internship. In a homily, Rev. Fr. Nwosu urged the “Ezienyi” awardees to be generous so as to facilitate the realization of the parish showroom project. He enjoined the parishioners to make sacrifices with their resources and their names will be written in the book of life. The theme of the event was taken from 1 Kings 8:13, which says: “I have built thee an exalted house, a…

FUTO VC counts blessings, challenges – After two years in office

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Chigozie C. Asiabaka (KSM) was two years in office on June 19, 2013, having assumed office on June 19, 2011. To mark the second anniversary as the 6th substantive Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Asiabaka addressed the press, June 17, during which he counted his blessings, prospects and challenges. Reflecting on the past two years, Asiabaka said: “We have indeed made remarkable and commendable progress towards re-positioning this university to world class standard”, adding that the laudable success which they have recoded so far would not have been possible without the support of the academic, administrative and other non-teaching staff of the university. He listed what he…

Widow, family members, others escape death from food poisoning in Ohaji

-As couple dies after meal in PH The Ministry of Community Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has relocated to its permanent office at No. 14 Orlu Road Owerri, after being commissioned by Governor Okorocha. Commissioning the office complex, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said that Community Government Council (CGC) is government of the people for the people and by the people. He further said that development can only be achieved if powers are decentralized to the communities for them to manage their affairs. Responding shortly after the commissioning of the office, the Commissioner for Community Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Barr. Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro reaffirmed her determination to actualize the ideals of CGC in the state. In another development,…

Umuezeala-Owerre receives Sister Aririatu

It was celebration galore at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish, Umuezeala-Owerre in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area when a daughter of the community and newly professed Sister Lilian Okwudiri Aririatu returned home to thank God for His favour. Dozens of priests from the various parishes Sister Lilian had worked during her teenage years, trooped out to celebrate with her. Also several of her colleagues from the Missionary sisters of Divine Providence, who were professed together with her at Holy Ghost Parish, Bertua Archdiocese, Cameroun on May 25, 2013 were at the church to celebrate with their colleague. In his homily, Rev. Fr. Dr. Donatus Okpokpo from Umuahia Diocese urged Rev. Sr. Aririatu to use her…

Justice Not Sympathy for Imo State Pensioners

Recently the democratically elected government of Imo State declared that with effect from April 2013 retired civil servants will be paid pension only at the Community Government Council offices of their home communities where the traditional rulers are to identify them as genuine pensioners. The general meaning of this directive is that government gazettes of appointments, promotions and retirements of these pensioners as well as the series of biometric capturing exercises held since 2006 are unreliable records until they are confirmed by traditional rulers who have no records to verify the claims of the pensioners. No wonder that in its editorial comments of May 2, 2006 “The Guardian” said that in advanced societies the respect…

Angry Youths Disrupt Okorocha’s Convoy

The convoy of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s was yesterday attacked in Oguta LGA of Imo State by angry youths purportedly hired by a candidate for the postponed Imo House of Assembly elections scheduled for next week. Report has it that the Imo State Governor Okorocha, who was in Awa community in Oguta LGA to drum up support for the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) – Chief Walter Uzonwanne for the upcoming election scheduled for next week met with opposition candidate driving into Awara on his way out of the community. An eyewitness reports that one of the motorcyclists on the campaign train of the PDP candidate was knocked down by one of the…

House of horror: Silence grips home of Ngor Okpala poison victims

The house of the victims of the food poison in Egbelu, Nguru Umuowa community in Ngor Okpala was almost scary; the silence around the house was frightening as even fowls in the compound felt the impact of the cold hands of death.  Our reporter,  who visited the deserted house said that it took the courage of a journalist to come close to the house where the meal that wiped out the family of eight stood above. Few villagers who walked across the compound took a conscious glance at the home of the Nwosus as if to say, “Woe betides this house”.  Only the bush and the flowers in front gave a sign of life as…

War in Enugu Catholic Church – Youths invade Catholic Church with masquerades, destroy altar, crucifix

Uneasy calm reigns in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ogugu in Awgu Catholic Diocese, Enugu State, following an attack on worshippers by some youths during an evening programme held as part of this year’s Easter celebration. The parishioners had been working hard to rehabilitate the Church that was recently handed back to the Catholic Church by the Governor Sullivan Chime administration before hell was let loose by the dissident youth allegedly sponsored by three prominent members of the community. The youths who allegedly refused to acknowledge the leadership of the town union, Ogugu Progressive General Assembly (OPGA), were said to have placed the town under siege for some months. “They have organized themselves to ensure there…

St. Columba’s Parish Agbaghara-Nsu confers “Ezi Nwanwa” Award

The Catholic Men Organization (CMO) of St. Columba’s Parish Agbaghara Nsu, Ehime Mbano LGA, recently conferred the “Ezi Nwanwa” award on eight illustrious nephews whose mothers originated from the community. In his homily at the Mass preceding the awards, Very Rev. Fr. Jerry Ofoegbu, Parish Priest elucidated that the feast of Pentecost goes along with the seven gifts that bring succor to humanity. Rev. Fr. Jerry Ofoegbu assisted by Very Rev. Fr. Dr. S. Okeke the resident Priest and Rev. Fr. Adolphus Ofokpara posits that the spirit of God exist in man and when the spirit exit from man, the body is rendered motionless and the man dies because the flesh is helpless.  It is…