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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…