The Gospel According To Wealth

My short term membership and eventual chairmanship of the prestigious Christian Association of Nigeria opened my eyes to  many realities, good and evil. On a positive note, I was delighted to observe that virtually all the people in the contemporary Nigerian society believe that their lives and existence depend on a power not their own. They truly believe that there is an unseen hand that guides their every action and that whatever befalls them may have something to do with this power. Some call this power God, some call him Chukwu, some Christian call him Jehovah, some name him Allah; others prefer to see Him as a Supreme or Superior Being. Whatever name any particular…

Money: A False Security

One of the fundamental needs of man is security.  He passionately and necessarily searches for a foundation that is stable on which to establish his existence.  An action as old as man is that of the person who chooses wealth or money as the corner stone in his life. WHEN MONEY BECOMES GOD Money is all, they say.  Money is power, money is the power.  Without money nothing can be done.  Money gives man the sense of security, of the possibility to do all things.  This sets off the mechanism of accumulation: money is never too much and this becomes idolatry.  When money becomes one’s God, to have it one is disposed to everything.  The…

WHY ARE WE CRYING?

The mess started in the Primary Schools in the early ’70s when teachers introduced entertainment of Supervisors during Common Entrance and First School Leaving Certificate Examinations to enable them assist their school children in the examination hall. With this assistance, the two examinations started recording no failure. From mere entertainment to entertainment and envelop. Supervising exams became less stressful and more lucrative. As time went on, automatic promotion with or without taking promotion examination came in, in both primary and secondary schools. Teachers and heads of schools allowed that to continue. Parents gave their nod as that saved them the headache of repeating the payment of school fee for the year. The spirit of reading…

60% of drivers cannot drive – Mr Emeka Osuorji

It was once reported overseas that 30 per cent of people driving vehicles in Lagos were visually impaired and have no business behind the wheels. General Manager, Imo State Traffic Management Authority (IMSTMA), Mr. Emeka Osuorji, re-echoed that recently when he expressed concern that 60 per cent of those driving in Imo state could move a car but didn’t know how to drive. IMSTMA boss and his men are trying to clean up the roads much like the police, road safety, civil defence and orientation, all uniformed organizations trying to control traffic on perpetually crowded and crazy roads. Whether this is a duplication of service or a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth…

OGUTA STATE CONSTITUENCY RE-ELECTION: Why I am not excited

On the 29th of June 2013, there will be a re-run election for the representative of Oguta State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly. This is as a result of the nullification of the election of Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the court. The front runners in the election, the PDP and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)/yet-to-be registered All Progressive Congress (APC) have been campaigning and mobilizing in a very big way. The battle line seems to be drawn between both parties. On the side of the PDP are Senator Hope Uzodinma, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Author Nzeribe etc. while Governor Rochas is leading the other side…

Politics And Public Service: The Most Lucrative Business Enterprises In Nigeria Today (1)

Politics is a witty stratagem and artifice that are being exercised to establish a human and material platform for the institutionalization of a stable and progressive state with the full credence and tenet of the entrenchment of democracy and enactment of good governance. While Public Service could be categorized as a working contract entrusted to the care and responsibility of a chosen with a stipulated remuneration, recompense or allowance, for the strengthening of the affairs of the state and welfare of the people. Analytically, both politics and public service are for the advancement, growth and upliftment of a state in every facet of her development including direction, conduct, guidance, administration and management. If all these…

Police retirees decry neglect by pension managers

Retired personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) at the weekend in Benin, Edo State, expressed concern voer what they termed “gross isolation and neglect by their pension managers of the PENCOM Act 2004”. They said they were in the dark on what accrued from their contributed pension scheme after 35 years of service in the country.  President General of the association, Dr. Moses Ajeka, made the lamentation while inaugurating Edo State Chapter, Elders Club of Nigeria (PENCOM retired police officers) in Benin.  According to him, the club, which came into being in October 2010, was an umbrella body of the retirees aimed at correcting the challenges arising from the PENCOM Act. “We are the…

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…

A Sincere Rescue for Pensioners

“Nos morituri….We who are about to die, salute thee” Five or six top officers, cheeks glowing with evidence of good living, are seated round an impressive oval table, concluding the disbursement of funds for the month having the other day received the monthly allocation from the federation Account. They have been at it for the past two hours and are in the process of winding up. Hesitatingly, one of them, after a glance at the uncommitted balance in the working paper, asks “ em……em…., how about the pensioners?” Two others impatiently retorted in unison, “What about them?” The first speaker, with the embarrassment of someone who has said the wrong thing at the wrong time,…

BETTER TO BE EDUCATED THAN TO BE A THIEF

There was this robbery, the robber shouted to everyone: “All don’t move, money belongs to the state, life belongs to you”. Everyone in the bank laid down quietly. This is called “Mind Changing Concept — Changing the conventional way of thinking”. One lady lay on the table provocatively, the robber shouted at her “Please be civilised! This is a robbery and not a rape!” This is called “Being Professional — Focusing only on what you are trained to do!” When the robbers got back, the younger robber (MBA trained) told the older robber (who is only primary school educated), “Big bro, let’s count how much we got”, the older robber rebutted and said, “You very…

Governor Obi showers N100m on Mission Hospitals

… He is a  blessing to humanity –Bishop The Anglican Bishop of Amichi Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Ephraim Ikeakor has described Governor Peter Obi as a blessing not just to Anambra State, but to humanity at large. He made this comment while receiving a cheque of N10m for the continued renovation of Amichi Diocesan Hospital which was among the missionary-owned institutions Anambra State is supporting in her strategic partnership with the churches. The Bishop who prayed to God to raise more Peter Obis said that people like him were needed for the edification of society. The governor who on June 4, toured some missionary institutions and gave them cheques totaling N120m continued with the tour…

Primary School Pensioners cry out again over 10 months arrears

… Pay us now or we die Two keenly contested words in Imo State at the moment are pension-salary and pension-arrears.  While the pension authorities and the pension office argue that retired pensioners in the state are only owed pension arrears and not pension, the retirees maintain that there is no difference between pension and pension arrears. They insist that pension arrears are nothing other than accumulated unpaid pension which eventually translate into arrears. This was the position of some primary school retirees from 1992 till date who staggered into THE LEADER office on Thursday, June 11, to register their grievances over their 10 months unpaid pension running from August 2012. It should be recalled…

Should Nigerian Public Employees (Government Workers) also accept TIPS?

Whether you are cashing a cheque over the counter, going through immigration at the airports, making a complaint to a police officer, renewing your driver’s license, receiving a title from a royal father, ordering a drink in a bar, obtaining your transcripts from your college, arranging for a funeral with a clergy or even being rushed into the emergency room in Nigeria, be prepared to TIP. Technically, tip means “a sum of money given to someone as a reward for their services”.  It is not to be confused with wage or salary, which is a sum of money due to someone for their services.  Generally, tip is often optional and the amount determined by the…

Letters to the Editor: The plight of Primary School Pensioners in Imo State

The pensioners in Imo State especially the retired Primary School ‘teachers’ and their State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) counterparts are crying to the good Government of Imo State to come to “Macedonia and help them” to alleviate their sufferings, to save them from dying of hunger and sickness.  They are asking government to show appreciation for their long service honestly rendered to the State Government for 35 years by paying them their due gratuity and pensions, which are their hope of living and sustaining themselves and families.  Some of them who retired since 2010 have not received anything called money, why?  Those on the pension pay roll have not been paid for over ten…

Corruption: The 37th State of Nigeria

There is a cloned hydra-headed monster on a tiny-lined white thread seen with the third-eye only making up the 37th State of Nigeria.  It is CORRUPTION.  On May 27, 2012, the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Owerri Diocese, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna celebrated a thanksgiving Mass for the State Government to mark its one year in office at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri.  In his homily, the Archbishop called for an alternative Nigeria. The alternative Nigeria, he explained would be “Nigeria that is just and fair, a Nigeria where there is rule of law and respect for justice and fairness, a Nigeria where the leaders will shun double standard life and enthrone good governance…

Dr Sam Madugba – “I won’t compromise my integrity”

There will be no breeding place for mosquitoes in Owerri, if Dr Samuel Iheanacho Madugba has his way. He will rid the town of litter, drain the gutters and ensure adequate refuse collection. Dr Sam will create temporary dumps on Douglas road and Ekeonunwa, even if it means knocking down a few buildings. Monthly clean ups will be compulsory, continuous and regulated. People won’t wait for a week, month or even a year to have the garbage removed from streets. But that’s not all. The goodly doctor will take the cleanup campaign to schools also. He will ensure children are studying in clean classrooms and healthy environment. This will go hand-in-hand with a reintroduction of…

Senate rejects N4b First Ladies Mission House fund

The Senate Wednesday rejected the appropriation of N4bilion for the building of the First Ladies Mission House in Africa. This is contained in the summary report of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2013 budget, which was approved by the Upper Chamber. The controversial figure was part of the proposed budgetary estimates submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval. There were bitter criticisms of the money, which was seen as a waste of scarce resources. Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi noted in the report of his committee, that “ it is worthy of note that the proposed appropriation for the construction of the building for First Lady Mission in…

NIGERIAN GOVERNORS FORUM: WHICH WAY NOW?

When the Chief Executives of the 36 states of the federation formed the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) soon after the return to civil rule in 1999, Nigerians welcomed the idea as a laudable development capable of strengthening the then fledging nascent democracy. The Forum, as a coalition of the elected governors is a non-partisan association which seeks to promote unity in governance and better understanding among states to ensure a healthy and beneficial relationship between the states and other tiers of government.  It is on record that the Forum has played useful role at certain critical moments of crisis in the country by trying to wedge the country from drifting down the precipice. The Forum…

Bandits raid Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku

-As Anglican Church beefs up security following robbery attack on cathedral. As cases of kidnapping appear to be receding in Owerri Metropolis, bandits are shifting their notorious activities to homes, churches and their institutions. Last week, armed robbers raided Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku, owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, carting away cash and hospital equipment. The Administrator of the hospital, Rev. Fr. Eunan Asomugha said the hoodlums numbering about 10 struck at about 12 midnight on Saturday, May 25, overpowered the security men before breaking into offices. The priest said they broke into his office and any other office that was locked, turning everything upside-down in search of money.  However no kobo was found…

The morality of sharing money to Pupils in Imo (4)

MORAL IMPLICATIONS The practice of sharing money to children in primary and secondary schools in Imo state carries with it strong moral implications. It raises serious question as to whether that remains the best way to demonstrate the governor’s large hearted disposition towards children in the state.  It concerns us principally because the money in question belongs to the state; it is not as if the governor is sharing his personal money to the children which any other person can do without raising moral questions.In the first instance, a democratically elected government should be able to listen to parents who are the immediate cause of the existence of children. He is bound to sample their…