THE TEN ‘I’s THAT BREAK THE HOME (11) CAUSES OF INTIMIDATION IN MARRIAGE

Many factors give rise to intimidation in marriage:   MISCONCEIVED AUTONOMY: Saint Paul advised the Galatians thus, “After all, brothers, you were called to be free; do not use your freedom as an opening for self indulgence, but be servants to one another in love” (Gal.5: 13). There is no gain overemphasizing the negative influence of false sense of autonomy in marriage. Some husbands feel they are absolutely free to do whatever they like in their marriage, so also some wives. Autonomy here could arise from money (wealth), power, etc. According to Fulton Sheen, “We can set ourselves above others, and feel superior to them in either of two ways: by our knowledge, or by…

South Africa’s Mandela returns home after long hospital stay

Anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson Mandela returned to his home on Sunday where he will continue to receive intensive care after three months in hospital with a lung ailment. Mandela, 95, had spent 87 days in a Pretoria hospital after he was rushed there in early June suffering from a recurring infection of the lungs, a legacy of the nearly three decades he spent in jail under apartheid. “Madiba’s condition remains critical and is at times unstable. Nevertheless, his team of doctors are convinced that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton home that he received in Pretoria,” South Africa’s presidency said in a statement. It referred…

THE TEN ‘I’s THAT BREAK THE HOME (5)

REMEDIES TO INFIDELITY Avoid other bad habits: The worst way to conquer evil is by the aid of evil (Cf. Mark 3:20-30). Two wrongs cannot make a right. It is wrong for a couple to become addicted to another bad habit simply because the partner has taken to extra marital affairs. For instance, some couples indulge in alcohol and become drunk as palliative to the effects of infidelity. Some learn to keep away late also to solve such problems. Others too look for extra marital partners to fill in the vacuum created by their man or woman. Others still become gossip tools to pour out their troubled hearts. These are wrong methods to adopt. They…

Christian Home, Hospitable Home

In all ancient civilizations, especially among nomadic people, hospitality is sacred, it is a religious act.   THE GUEST: A MYSTERIOUS PRESENCE Israel on the other hand does not make a religious reading of hospitality, but a reading of faith.  The stranger is a living memorial, a reminder that they were strangers and slaves in Egypt, that they were pilgrims in the desert and are transiting on earth. In the account of Abraham (1R) the stranger is the “other” which goes back to that “Other” per excellence which is God.  The God of faith and the “Stranger”, the “Absolutely Other” and who is still near, who visits man and disturbs his life. When the gospel…

Umuaka Igbo Taa visit Nnorie Parish

As Umuaka Igbo Taa continue their work of re-orientating Igbo children, they visited St James Catholic Parish,Nnorie in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area where they were warmly recieved by the Parish Priest,Very,Rev Fr. Anslem Ekeh and the Parishioners. After the Mass, the president of the group  Chidi Opara – Ibeleche spoke to the children and youths, charging them to be proud to speak and live Igbo and when those in the cities return to display foreign culture, they should correct them in love and help them to feel at home. “As many of them now wish to return,we should recieve them and not chase them away with various forms of harassments.” The President went ahead to…

30 guests hospitalized after eating “Ugba” – At child dedication ceremony

No fewer than thirty persons were reportedly rushed to various hospitals in Owerri and its environs after taking oil bean delicacy, known as ugba at a child dedication reception. The incident which took place on Sunday, June 23, came after eight members of a family died of suspected food poison (ugba delicacy) in Ngor Okpala not long ago. The June 23 incident, which was a child dedication ceremony (name withheld), took place at Grace Land Estate, Egbeada, Owerri, the residence of the host, after the dedication in a church at a highbrow area of Owerri. The said oil bean was bought at Eke Ukwu Owerri and was prepared by the mother of the baby.  It…

Rochas Okorocha must hear this

One Dr. James Madubuonu, not real name has made very frantic efforts these years to see Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Governor Imo State, to help solve the most important problem facing the state but his aides have made it impossible for them to meet. The said citizen is a lawyer by profession specialized in security matters for 43 years in the U.S. but those who think that they matter so much feel that insecurity is not a problem in Imo State. This man, being a citizen of Nigeria feels that charity begins at home that is why he chose Imo State as the home of the program and he named it Imo Security System. It is…

Lady Ruth Duruiheoma: A woman must do her duty

If you think days are gone for the traditional woman, who cooks, cleans and looks after her husband and children, then you should have a word with Lady Ruth Duruiheoma.   A career woman, leader, wife and mother of five children, Lady Ruth is the Maria Assumpta Parish CWO President and head of her town Union, Umuma Isiaku in LGA.  She’s a busy woman with many meetings to attend, even on weekends and public holidays.  Yet the would-be grandmother joggles her responsibilities wisely to ensure they don’t clash with her primary duties as a wife.  According to her, the family comes first and must begin with ‘your husband’. “I am still a married woman, even…

How widow, six children Died after meal in Ngor-Okpala

- Please help me bury them: Only son appeals to Govt, Individuals When Mr. Masky Nwosu, 29, entered THE LEADER office in Owerri on Wednesday, there was a haunted look in his eyes.  He looked harassed, worried and extremely terrified.  He was accompanied by his brother-in-law, Mr. Eugene Emeana and his cousin, Ikechukwu Emeana. Masky lost his mother and six sisters in mysterious circumstances within two days, May 30–31, 2013.  He probably would have been a victim if he was at home.  He escaped the tragedy because he was at Onitsha, where he was looking for a job. Narrating the incident, Mr. Ikechukwu Emeana said, the tragedy started on Wednesday, May 30, 2013 in their…

Ada, Opara Imo Winners Emerge – Get Brand New Cars

The Owerri Capital City of Imo State was agog as winners of Ada-Imo and Opara-Imo emerge from youths numbering over 1000 from the 27 Local Government Areas of the state. Miss Anabel Obianugu Amadi, a 300 level student of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) from Aboh Mbaize emerged the 2013 Ada-Imo while one Kenneth Nwadike from Mbano Isiala LGA came was crowned the Opara. The winners went home each with a cash gift of 1 million Naira, a brand new car and a trip to South Africa and a brand new bus for their community. In his remarks, Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said that the competition was organized to promote and re-invigorate…

Imo CGC begins payment of pensions in rural areas -As Ada and Opara Imo competition holds tomorrow

The Imo State Community Government Council (CGC) has begun payment of pensions in the 637 communities in the state. The Commissioner for Community Government Council and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. (Lady) Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro disclosed this while interacting with the press in Owerri on Monday. She said that cheques were being distributed to the pensioners in their various kindreds. Lady Nnanna-Okoro explained that pensioners who did not see their names were those who did not fill the forms distributed to pensioners in their various areas. Barr. Okoro announced that the grand finale of Ada and Opara Imo competition will take place on Monday, May 27 at the Ahiajioku Conference Centre New Owerri. The Commissioner said the contestants…

Re-at-homing Chinua Achebe or Rectishaping our World

The Most Rev. Anthony J. V. Obinna Catholic Archbishop of Oweerri was personally at Awka  Anambra State on Wedeneday May 22 at Ekwueme Square to deliver a tribute to the world renowned novelist and 1999 Odenigbo Lecturer, late Prof. Chinualumogu Albert Achebe. Below is the full text of the tribute When in July 1997 I traveled to Barry College, Annandale, New York, to invite our revered Professor Chinua Achebe to visit Owerri in 1999 and deliver that year’s lecture in the Odenigbo series initiated by me in 1996 I could never have imagined what that invitation would mean for Chinua Achebe and his family nor even  for me. Echi d[ ime- Taa bx gboo was…

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…

CWO St. Mark’s Catholic Parish visits Akpodim Motherless Babies

In the spirit of the 2013 Mother’s Day celebration, the CWO, St. Mark’s Catholic Parish, New Oweri embarked on visitation to the less-privileged homes.  On April 29, 2013, the Akpodim Rehabilitation Centre in Ezinihitte Mbaise was visited where various food items and cash donations were made.  The mothers were pleased to meet the blind adult inmates who were taught basket making with local materials, brooms, cane chairs and practical agriculture. The Co-ordinator of the home, Rev. Augustine C.A. Njoku commended the mothers for their generous donations and appealed to the government and good spirited individuals to come to their assistance. In response, the CWO President, Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Iwu, thanked the founding fathers and staff…

Exclusive Interview: Why I converted to Catholic faith

-          Former Anglican  Knight, Sir Abel Ikenyiri   Chief Sir Abel Ezeala Ikenyiri, native of Umuemeke-Ama Ibeowere Agbaja, Ehime Mbano LGA, Imo State, born into a family of Anglican ancestry, rose to the ranks of a knight of the Anglican Church and lay pay-master narrates verbatim how he was caught up in the “whirlwind” of Catholic faith and the “mountain” moved over. Our Okigwe reporter, PeterClaver Ubochi, traced the former Anglican ‘Big Oga’ to his tranquil Umuemekeama (Agbaja) village, had a field day with the man of faith as he speaks on the circumstances of his conversion, its aftermath, an assessment of his family life then as an Anglican, and now as a Catholic.  Welcome on…

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…

Dr Joe Obi-Njoku : Rising from the Grassroots

Imagine him chopping wood with an axe.  Imagine him also shirtless, barefoot, a climbing robe “akpi” on his left shoulder and a machete in his right hand, dividing the bush and heading for the nearest palm tree to cut down the ripe fruits for sale, so he and his family could eat.   Imagine him again taking bamboos from the raffia palm and carefully weaving the traditional bamboo bed – “okpukpo,” (agada in some dialet)  also to make a living. Finally, see him riding an old bicycle from his home at Umueme, Uzagba, in Ikeduru local government, to Mbaise to go to college.   That’s the life of Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, as a young man,…

HOME OF A KNIGHT SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR OTHERS – Emeakaraoha, MGK Knights of St. Mulumba

The newly elected Owerri Metropolitan Grand Knight, MGK, Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Prince Eugene O.N. Emekaraoha has said that the home of a Catholic Knight must be a model in good character and conduct to others within his environment. In his maiden address to the plenary session of Owerri Metropolitan Council of the Order of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Prince Emekaraoha warned members that anything to the contrary will not be tolerated. He also charged knights and indeed Catholic parents to teach their children Catholic Catechism from nursery stage at home and direct them towards church activities from their primary school age. ‘‘Do this and your harvest would be bountiful’’, he assured. Drawing a correlation…