Addressing the Kidnapping Problem In Nigeria (1)

KIDNAPPING NOW A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS IN NIGERIA? Nigerians who must visit their fatherland for obvious reasons, like burial of loved ones or spend Christmas vacation in the village are always gripped with fear as mere thought of landing in the village for a few days to spend time with families and neighbors scares them.  They don’t even believe that better security can be assured in the big cities of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Kano, Kaduna, Ibadan, Benin, or Owerri. One could be kidnapped by hoodlums or young terrorists. Those who find themselves in the Northern states of the nation must be ready to face Boko Haram terrorist gangs. In public places, schools, parks and…

IGBO ISSUES AT THE NATIONAL CONFAB (2)

REPRODUCTION OF DR SAM MADUGBA’S SUBMISSION TO IGBO GOVERNORS/ELDERS FOR GUIDANCE FOR OBASANJO’S CONFAB, FEBRUARY 1, 2005   Identifiable Injustices and Crimes against the Igbos Below is a litany of crimes committed against and injustices meted out to the Igboman by Nigeria since independence. These are listed so that the Igbo delegation must be aware of the enormity of the offences against the Igbo in order to demand appropriate appeasement if they decide to hang on with the Nigeria contraption. 1.         Conspiracy against Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe which made him the only freedom fighter of the renascent African that did not head the land he emancipated. 2.         The unprovoked murder of Aguiyi-Ironsi on July 29, 1966….

Civil War: Ohanaeze Demands N2.4tn Reparation for Massacre of Ndigbo

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday demanded the payment of N2.4 trillion as reparation and restitution from the federal government for the killings, violations, atrocities and injustices against Ndigbo in Nigeria since 1966. Although the zone described as “incalculable,” the price on the death of millions of Ndigbo killed in the civil war and on other occasions, the amount is meant to cushion the sufferings the zone had passed through in the country, stressing that each of the five states of the South-east would receive a token of N400 billion from the money as compensation as well as Delta State for the benefit of Anioma area of the state. Chairman, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Reparation…

A PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE

BEING THE SUBMISSION OF CHIEF FELIX AMADI (WHEKUBI) TO THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DIALOGUE SITTING IN UMUAHIA ON 30TH OCTOBER, 2013. Protocol: President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan spoke the minds of not a few when he called for a national dialogue in his Independence Day Speech of 1st October 2013. He also expeditiously set up a dialogue committee to craft a road map appropriate for the proposed dialogue. Until the announcements, many mistook the president to be a non-risk seeking establishment man, who thrives more in avoidance than action. I join well meaning Nigerians focused on national peace and progress to commend President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the dialogue committee for the initiative and efforts…

BEFORE THE MISSION SCHOOLS DIE (2)

GO GET THEM: What is in vogue now, is to make the mission schools bleed like the Pelican. They are now the cash cow that funds the hitherto commendable free education toga of Owelle’s administration. The state government has slammed a near 1000% increase in annual renewal fees on the nearly 120 mission-run primary and secondary schools in Owerri Archdiocese alone, not mentioning Orlu, Okigwe, Ahiara dioceces. It has recently introduced an obnoxious re-inspection of schools that carry a mandatory 30, 50, 60 thousand naira levy for nursery, primary and secondary schools respectively. This poisoned chalice is carefully enshrined in a seemingly innocuous letter under the guise of checking substandard institutions. You and I know…

THE TEN ‘I’s THAT BREAK THE HOME (13)

REMEDIES TO INTIMIDATION IN MARRIAGE: It must be acknowledged that many marriages are undergoing intimidation today. It is also ironical to imagine that women suffer more intimidation than men in marriage as a result of their gender. Many married men are also undergoing psychological trauma. But because a lot of them struggle to protect their ego, they pretend that all is normal while internally bearing the brunt of a terrible marriage partner in the home. Let us postulate some panacea to overcoming the evil of intimidation in marriage.   Recognize that marriage partners are equal: In the nuptial blessing given to newly wed couples, the Church prays, “May her husband put his trust in her,…

THE MENACE OF MASQUERADES (MMANWU) IN IGBO LAND

Many people interweave or interchange culture and Tradition of the people. The truth is that Culture and Tradition are distinctively different in meaning and characterization. While culture is what a people are known for, Tradition is an evolution of what happened to a people overtime out of circumstance or happenstance. Example of tradition of the people abound. The Israelites started celebrating Passover as a result of what happened to them as they were leaving Egypt for the promised land. The  Muslims are celebrating Id- el-fitr to mark the end of the Ramadan fasting Ide-Malaud to remember birth of prophet Mohammed. Christians celebrate 25th December every year to remember the birth of Jesus, Easter to mark…

Igbo Presidency should wait till 2027 - Iwuanyanwu

Renowned politician and businessman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has said the Igbo will have their turn at the Presidency in 2027. He spoke with reporters in Calabar, Cross River State, Sept 18, after  a meeting of the governing council of the University of Calabar of which he is chairman. Iwuanyanwu said it was only fair that President Goodluck Jonathan should complete his two terms after which the North should take over for another eight years. He said the Southeast was not coordinated and organized and should put its house in order and wait for its turn. The businessman said it would not be fair to “truncate one’s tenure” in the spirit of national character because of…

Neglect of Igbo Language worse than Defeat of Biafra – Odenigbo Lecturer

Another disaster is on the verge of be falling ndigbo. The tragedy worse than the defeat of Biafra is about to happen in our generation. The impending doom is the threat of imminent death of Igbo Language. Already Igbo Language  is in a critical condition today. These were part of the lamentations of Prof. Pita Ejiofo while delivering this year’s Odenigbo lecture, at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri, Sept 7. He spoke on Oganihu Igbo: Onodu Asusu Igbo. (Igbo Progressive Welfare: Where does the Igbo Language stand?) Prof Ejiofo noted that at the moment, Igbo Language is in a serious condition, and its survival depends squarely on Igbo governors. He therefore appealed to them to…

Odenigbo: Obinna harps on Igbo progressive welfare – demands repeal of abortion laws

Odenigbo lecture series has not only brought joy and dignity to lovers of Igbo Language, it has helped us to “Recover Igbo- African Confidence”. The Most Rev. Anthony Obinna, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri expressed this view during a Press Conference held August 30 this year’s on Odenigbo lecture and Imo Abortion Laws. Throwing light on the choice of  this year’s topic: Oganihu Igbo: Onodu Asusu Igbo, which he translated as: “Igbo Progressive Welfare: Where does the Igbo Language stand?, the Archbishop said, “Since God in Christ is concerned with the progressive welfare of humanity and the world at large, it is only appropriate that we raise the issue of Igbo Progressive Welfare as integral to…

Abortion in any form is murder: It is anti-Christ

That Imo people have been betrayed by their own government following the signing into law of the bill which for all intent and purposes legalizes Abortion is no longer news.  Today, Imolites keep wondering what better reason is on the table of the present administration justifying its signing of the bill into law which previous administrations hadn’t the privileged of accessing. For once, one wonders whether both the sponsors of the bill on the floor of Imo State House of Assembly, the members of Imo State House of Assembly and the Governor (the apostle of rescue mission who cannot rescue helpless babies in the womb) are truly, Igbos, Africans or Christians. As an Igbo man,…

POWER POINTS AT ODENIGBO 2013 (2) As Prof Pita Ejiofor is set to lay down the facts.

(A preview) – Chikwendu PK Anyanwu Prof Ejiofor believes that what he calls ‘much’, cannot be achieved with regard to Igbo language and culture, unless the governments in Igbo land are fully and genuinely involved. The governments are his primary targets and it is thanks to him that the government of Anambra State was able to pass the bill promoting the study and use of Igbo language in Schools and civil service. This is just one among the many things Otu Suwakwa Igbo has been able to achieve. One wonders how Prof Ejiofor was able to convince an Igbo governor and the legislature to pass such a bill, considering how nonchalant these can be in…

POWER POINTS AT ODENIGBO 2013

- As Prof Pita Ejiofor is set to lay down the facts A preview by Chikwendu PK Anyanwu From 1996 to date, Odenigbo has never ceased to excite. The Friday evening preceding the Archdiocesan and lecture day is one evening a lover of Igbo culture does not pray to miss.  The cultural displays and performances have always kept Odenigbo audiences on the edge of their seats. (Most of) The Saturday lectures, which are heralded by scintillating performances, have been very inspiring and thought provoking. What seems to be waning is the recognition, even among Owerri Archdiocesan Clergy, that this is the Owerri Catholic Archdiocesan Day celebration. It is a celebration with a difference: it is…

Federal Projects: Minister wants Ndigbo to key in for maximum benefit

States in the South East geo-political zone of Nigeria have been urged to key into the National Development programme so as to derive maximum benefit from the siting of Federal Projects. Professor (Mrs.) Viola Onwuliri, Minister of  State 1 for Foreign Affairs, who made the call Tuesday (August 13, 2013) while addressing newsman at the Nigerian Union of journalists Press Centre Owerri, said they could do so by fulfilling the required conditions such as applying for and meeting up the laid down conditions for such projects. She maintained that Ndigbo will continue to miss such opportunities for development as long as their state governments place other considerations above the common interest of the masses. She…

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…

Un-Natural Nigeria Will it expire in 2014?

The North and South protectorates that make up Nigeria were amalgamated in 1914. Next year marks 100 years and questions are being asked. There are Nigerians who feel the country should click glasses and celebrate with cakes and candles, when the day official breaks. Some are saying the “marriage of convenience” should end while others are too busy, trying to make a living, to care. But the Federal Government has commenced activities to commemorate the big event. It’s also possible that some top politicians and big business people are stacking away choice wines and awarding contracts to mark the occasion. Face2Face sought the opinion  of a veteran professor of history, Prof. Ukachukwu Damian Anyanwu, of…

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…

Njiko Igbo Condemns deportation of Igbo

Njiko Igbo, a socio-political group, has described the recent alleged deportation of 67 people by the Lagos State Government to Onitsha in Anambra State, as unlawful. In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Brady Chijioke Nwosu, the group stated that it was unlawful for a government to detain citizens of the country without proper trial. Recall that 67 people were recently deported from Lagos and brought to Onitsha. Some of them who spoke to newsmen said they were arrested and detained for crimes they knew nothing about and subsequently, deported. Nwosu, in his statement said: “It is prejudicial for the Lagos State Government to make indiscriminate arrests of Ndigbo, dump them in detention…

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…

THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF ACHEBEISM

The World Almanac and Book of Facts (2013) published a list of worldwide Writers of the Present. Only three (3) Africans made the list. They are Chinua Achebe (Nigeria), John Maxwell Coetzee (South Africa), and Wole Soyinka (Nigeria). In 2014, it will publish a new list. This list will move the names of those who died in 2013 to the list of Writers of the Past. The list will include the name of Chinua Achebe. By this move from the Present to the Past, Chinua Achebe joins his departed kindred spirits like William Shakespeare, James Baldwin, William Blake, Dante Aligheri, Alexander Dumas, George Eliot, Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Agatha Christie, et al….