Man loses nose to plastic surgery, Files suit against Surgeon

A New York man living in Tulsa went to get a nose job with a well-established Tulsa plastic surgeon and five years later does not have a nose. Vishal Thakkar got a divorce and in 2006 he admittedly made a vain decision. “I decided to do something selfish,” said Thakkar, sitting in his attorney’s office in South Tulsa. Dr. Angelo Cuzalina is known across Green County for his plastic surgery. The Oklahoma Medical Board does not show any complaints in his history. He is listed as president of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. “I had the first surgery and suffered some breathing problems, nothing too bad, but it made it hard to exercise and…

Come, Let Us Imitate The Faith Of Mary – (2)

See the previous article on this topic Then the massacre of the Holy Innocents. Does that incident hit us? Think of it! : The first effect of the Saviour’s birth was that almost every family in the area with a male child was plunged into mourning. Every babe under two years was murdered, butchered. And as a mother, Mary knew the impact on the mothers whose children were massacred. What excruciating agony and desolate darkness her faith must have gone through! What a superhuman effort it must have taken for her to remain loyal, to continue to believe, respect and even remember the words of the Magnificat: “His mercy extends from generation to generation. He…

Mary Did Not Have Other Children (2)

See the previous part of this article Again crowning the above truth, the episode of John 19:25-27 makes us to understand that Mary had no other children.  If all these men were the sons of Mary, the natural thing Christ could do was to entrust her to other children for them to take care of their mother.  But He gave her to john the beloved, whom we know as the son of Zebedee.  John (19:26-27) captures it thus: “Jesus saw his mother and the disciple she loved standing there; so he said to his mother, “He is your son”.  Then he said to the disciple, “she is your mother”.  From that time the disciple took…

Why I take Indian hemp -Pastor arrested for kidnapping tells police

A Pastor of a Pentecostal Church arrested for alleged kidnapping shocked detectives, when he was also arrested with a bundle of Indian hemp, found in his house as part of his daily meal. General Overseer of Divine Justice Church, Owerri, Imo State, Pastor Clement Ezeigbo, who is currently cooling his heels in the police Anti Kidnap Unit of the state police command, told the police: “I don’t know anything about kidnapping but I am the owner of the Indian hemp (Igbo) but the good thing is that I don’t smoke it but I use it to prepare my food.  I enjoy eating food prepared with Indian hemp”. “I don’t think there is anything wrong when…

Man who put mum’s body in cupboard Banished …Also baby factory suspect

Imo State traditional rulers have banished Dr. Chimezie Osigwe, in whose home was found the embalmed body of his 73-year-old mum declared missing 10 years ago. Also banished is the proprietor of the Ahamefula Motherless Babies Home, “Madam One Thousand” where 26 expectant teenagers were rescued. “Madam One Thousand”, is no longer to reside in the state, the traditional rulers ruled. Dr. Osuigwe, a native of Ezuru Umuagwu village in Ejemekwuru Autonomous  Community, Oguta LGA Imo State  is a member of the Satguru Maharajji sect. Announcing the verdict, the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri, said the action of the duo desecrated the land, warning that henceforth all forms…

APGA Leaders storm Ehime-Mbano -As SOLAD urges Governor to vie for 2nd term

Chief Mrs. Chioma Ogoke, the Sole Administrator of Ehime Mbano Local Government Council, on May 10, 2013 implored the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to consolidate his achievements by running for a second tenure in the 2015 gubernatorial elections. She made this appeal through the State Working Committee of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) which visited Ehime-Mbano. According to her “the monumental achievements of the present regime and its benefits will manifest fully if Governor Okorocha serves another tenure”, she said.  She urged the Governor to shelve his presidential ambition for now. In address at the event, the State Governor represented by Chief Vitalis Anyaegbu, the State Secretary of the party postulates that…

CMO Atta Parish honours Imo NUJ Chairman

Activities marking the 2013 Father’s Day celebration at St. Michael’s Catholic Parish Atta, in Ikeduru LGA were rounded off on Sunday, May 5 with a Thanksgiving Mass, funds-raising and the conferment of “EZI-NWA” title on the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Imo State, Chief Innocent Igwe by the Catholic Men Organization (CMO) of the parish. Presenting the award on the NUJ Chairman, who was accompanied by his wife, Lady Angela Igwe, the Chairman of the Father’s Day Planning Committee, Mr. Matthew Aguguom described Chief Igwe as a worthy son of Atta Ikeduru in whom they are well pleased. They commended the way and manner Sir Igwe is consistently reforming journalism practice in Imo State…

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…

Cleric admonishes Christians against materialism – As Oguta celebrates Father’s Day

The Catholic Men Organization (CMO) of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish, Oguta in Oguta LGA of Imo State have been admonished not to allow materialism to becloud their sense of judgement. The Episcopal Vicar of Zone 9 of Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri and Parish Priest of the Church, Very Rev. Fr. Jude E. Ike gave the admonition at a Mass to celebrate the Patron Saint (St. Joseph) of the Catholic Men Organization worldwide on Sunday, May 5, 2013. In his sermon, he enjoined the Christian Fathers to always be close to their wives and children, positing that a good home begets a good society and a good society is the pride of the nation. Fr. Ike…

Breaking News: Ancient tree falls, kills over 30

Over 30 people are feared dead and a yet to be ascertained number were critically injured when a tall tree known as Osisi Ukwu Uko, collapsed on buildings, as well as those transacting their business in a market located under the tree. This sad event reportedly occurred at Umudagu Mbieri, Mbaitoli local council area of Imo State late Thursday night, following a heavy down rain that was accompanied by a ferocious windstorm and thunder. It was also gathered that most of the victims were either traders, who were selling their wares in the market, their customers, some passers-by and others who were taking shelter in the town hall and the surrounding houses. A boy, who…

Community Government: Is it viable?

Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has on several occasions enumerated what Imo people stand to gain from embracing his Fourth-Tier System of Government, otherwise called, Community Government.  The novelty of it all, being that the state power base will, as it were, relocate from Douglas House Owerri (Government House) to the various autonomous communities in the 27 local government areas of the state. According to the new structure, the duly recognized traditional ruler of each autonomous community will preside over the Community Government Council (CGC), which will include: a Government Liaison Officer (GLO), a Community Liaison Officer (CLO), a Woman leader, Youth leader and Secretary.  The concept is to bring development close to the people as…

Pope Francis Names 800 New Saints

Pope Francis’s first canonization ceremony was a record-breaking one. The new pontiff named over 800 new saints on Sunday. That’s already almost double the number of saints declared by Pope John Paul II, whose 480-odd canonizations were, at the time, more than those of all of his predecessors since 1588, combined. But the latest canonization bonanza is notable for another reason: most of the 800 new saints are 15th-century martyrs, who were approved as a group for sainthood by Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. Given Pope Francis’s previous public commitment to improving the Catholic church’s relationship with Muslim communities worldwide, Benedict XVI’s unfinished business put the new pontiff in a delicate position. The 813 “Martyrs…

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…

Archbishop Obinna visits St. Francis Chaplaincy, Dan Anyiam Staduim

-Dedicates church, confirms 125 The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna paid a pastoral visit to St. Francis of Assisi Dan Anyiam on Sunday, May 12, 2013. The Holy Mass was presided over by His Grace, Most Rev. A.J.V. Obinna, assisted by Rev. Fr. Jude Zimoha, the Chaplain, Fr. Alphonsus Oha, Fr. Longinus Chinagorom, Fr. George Nwachukwu, Fr. Kingsley Nze and Fr. George Ike. In his homily, the Archbishop said that St. Stephen was one of the seven deacons that spread the good news of Christ until his brothers, the Jews stoned him to death and even until his death he pleaded with God not to hold the sins of his…

Priest raises alarm over extortion by lecturers -As KSM Owerri Sub-Council holds 2nd Degree investiture

A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Dr. Casimir Nzeh has expressed worry over the increasing level of corruption and extortion going on in institutions of higher learning in Imo State and other parts of the Eastern Nigeria. Preaching during the Second Degree Investiture of the Knights of St. Mulumba, Owerri Sub-Council, Fr. Nzeh regretted that no serious academic work is going on in most institutions of learning in Igboland as marks are simply awarded to students who can afford them. The priest further revealed that most lecturers have become authors, churning out all sorts of junks from the internet and selling them to students in the name of “text books”. Fr. Nzeh who is the Owerri…

CMO Day at CKC Parish Umuoba Uratta, Owerri North

The Parish Priest, of CKC Umuoba, Uratta Rev. Fr. Jude Ihejieto has charged Christian father to always emulate their, Patron Saint, St. Joseph who accepted the will of God in his life. Preaching during the Father’s Day, May 5, the priest said that every Christian father is expected to be a role model by living, an exemplary life worthy of emulation by his children and neighbours. He said that the resurrection power of Jesus Christ is the manure of the Catholic Church. The resurrection has made us to experience the presence of Christ in our lives of practice the faith with confidence. Reflecting on the first reading, he said that only those who obey and…

Con Man on the Loose in Owerri Archdiocese

A con man that operates under various pseudonyms and, depending on the situation, claims to be an executive of one multinational company or the other in Nigeria, is on the prowl in Owerri Archdiocese. As the Project Manager of Chevron, he goes under the name of Engr. Martins Nwachukwu; as a builder, he operates as Arch. Robert and recently as the South East Regional Manager of Arik Air, he is known as Ifeanyi Okafor. He relies so much on his MTN phone number, and email address, , to carry out his dubious activities. Those who have succumbed to his numerous tricks were asked to pay amounts ranging from N25,000 to a few hundred thousand…

Stop this Money sharing to Imo Pupils now

In his maiden broadcast to the people of Imo State in June 2011, Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha left nobody in doubt that education was indeed his top priority.  In keeping with his campaign promises, he unfolded details of his free education package.  The free education that was initially planned for public primary and secondary schools was soon extended to state-owned tertiary institutions of learning.  Governor Okorocha at every opportunity kept emphasizing the importance of saving the future of Imo children through qualitative education.   In addition to free tuition, he made budgetary provisions for textbooks, school bags and sandals, for them.  To crown it all his Government pays allowances of N300 per pupil and N500 per…

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C 12/5/2013

OPENING PRAYER Father, help us keep in mind that Christ our Saviour lives with you in glory and promised to remain with us until the end of time.  FIRST READING A READING FROM THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7:55-60 Theme: I can see the son of man standing at the right hand of God. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven  and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.  “I can see heaven thrown open”, he said, “and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they…

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…