tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60119262636379678852024-03-12T15:58:51.621-07:00Nsukka TodayJoin Our Facebook Page (Nsukka Today) and Our Facebok Group (NSUKKA UNITED FOR CHANGE) For All The Latest And Headline News Inside Out NsukkaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-21705233721229796252015-04-20T15:55:00.002-07:002015-04-20T15:55:28.984-07:00THE IGBO GIANT STRIDES AGAINST ALL ODDS<br />
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By Patrick Dele Cole</div>
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Nearly fifty years ago, it is said that people in Enugu, Nsukka, Ngwo, and Abakaliki had little clothes to cover themselves. In 1947, the District Officer prohibited nude people coming to the Ogbete Market in Enugu. Yet, in 20 short years the Igbo were the number one traders in textile. The Onitsha Market was brimming with it. People came to buy from all over Nigeria. In Broad Street, the only competitors in textile trade were those we called Syrians – who were probably Lebanese.</div>
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<a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Igbo-area.jpg" style="-webkit-transition-duration: 0.2s; -webkit-transition-property: background-color, border-top-color; -webkit-transition-timing-function: linear; border: 0px; color: #0a67b3; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: background-color, border-top-color; transition-timing-function: linear; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Igbo-area" class=" size-full wp-image-443778 alignleft" height="353" pagespeed_url_hash="946399601" src="http://cdn1.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/395x353xIgbo-area.jpg.pagespeed.ic.H6SyCUIAoS.webp" style="-webkit-transition-duration: 0.2s; -webkit-transition-property: margin, box-shadow; -webkit-transition-timing-function: linear; border: none; display: inline; float: left; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: margin, box-shadow; transition-timing-function: linear;" width="395" /></a>All ethnic groups in Nigeria had some clans who were suspected of cannibalism. I have no first hand knowledge of this. But Enugu, Ngwo, Abakaliki, some parts of Abia near Umuahia, and near Obowu in Imo State were similarly suspected. If it was so, it did not last long because the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and the District Officers (DOs) and native administration soon put a stop to it, as they did among some Ijaws, like the Okrika, who were similarly suspected.</div>
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The British Government had found that the “<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Indirect Rule</span>” system did not work in the East, as it had done in the North and the West, mainly because the later had kingship institutions. Where these institutions existed, it was easy for the British to rule through the District Officer (DO) who passed on directives to the <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Obas, Chiefs, Bales, Emirs</span>, etc. The DOs were the unseen hand that controlled the local administration. But because the Igbo did not have kingship or chieftaincy that ruled over a larger area, the British, in 1931, through the Warrant Chiefs Ordnance of that year, tried to establish territorial kingships or chieftaincies. Hence, the need to create “warrant chiefs” who were supposed to work like their counterparts in Yorubaland and Hausaland. However, it did not work.</div>
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The Igbo now claim that the acephalous nature of their people meant that they were genetically democratic. Therefore, their <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Age Grade</span> System continued, even under the kingship dispensations. Thus, they continued to have the “<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Elders</span>”, who worked with their “<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">kings</span>”; whilst the “<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Youths”</span> continued to operate as the law enforcement personnel, until the modern policing system displaced them, and the Native Authority Police took over that task from the”<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Youths</span>”. Some anthropologists and linguist have described the Igbo as autochthonous- so unique have their culture been that it must be indigenous.</div>
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The Founder of the Yoruba Dynasty was Oduduwa, who migrated from Egypt. The Hausa/Fulani claim they came from Arabian in the Middle East. The Igbo have a vague idea of being Jewish- one of the lost tribes of Israel. All stories of origins of different peoples round the world are folkloric and mythical. So, we cannot dismiss the Igbo claim of Jewishness out of hand. One thing is certain, the Igbo have a great deal of empathy for the Jews, who have been persecuted over the centuries, by Europe and Asia; the Igbo sublimate and claim that they too have been persecuted for centuries.</div>
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Just as the Jews have vanquished their oppressors, so the Igbo believe that they would triumph over all comers who persecute them. The Igbo identify with Jewish success as an inevitability regardless of what obstacles may be thrown in their way. They are God’s chosen people. This is an extremely powerful tonic for the survival and great foundation for success. No other ethnic group in Nigeria is so armed for struggle of efficient development.</div>
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Trusted employees</div>
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The slave trade affected most of West Africa. The chiefs along the coast soon became procurers or middle men in this odious trade. Many of those sold off were their own people captured from many slave raids in the interior of Nigeria. This is where the story of the Igbo and the Ijaws of Bonny and elsewhere began. Bonny was a major slave trading port; its deep water shores made it unnecessary for European slavers ships to venture into the interior. The Bonny (Igbani Ijaws) sold slaves and even had a most lucrative empire. One Bonny chief went to England and bought a steamship fully outfitted with an English captain, officers, and sailors to bring him back to Nigeria.</div>
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Such business needed trust worthy lieutenants. These the Bonny chief found among the Igbo slaves who became his trusted employees. The “Civil Servant Employees” became trustees. The Igbani chiefs, however, were not over trusting. They did not want the Igbo to learn their language for fear of being overthrown or appealing directly to their gods. The Igbani,therefore, decided to learn Igbo to better communicate with their trustees; while keeping Igbani as the royal language to be used only by the Chiefs among themselves. In a little while, the Chiefs became proficient in some kind of Igbo better described as pidgin or patois Igbo. After the slave trade the Igbo remained in Bonny, inter-married and continued to speak this bastardized Igbo, so pervasive had the Igbo influence been that the patois Igbo became the lingua franca.</div>
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Unfortunately the Chiefs and people of Bonny started losing touch with their own language. Today, Igbani is losing ground to Igbo; whilst the study of Igbani has been reintroduced in schools and it is beginning to pick up.</div>
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The Bonny, the Okrika, and the Kalabari are, to a large extent,bilingual- speaking an Ijaw dialect and Igbo just as the Abua, the Egeni, the Ikwerre of Isiokpo, and the Igbo in Oguta, Imo State,can speak Kalabari and their own language. There is even a Kalabari beach in Oguta, Imo State.</div>
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There are Igbo speaking peoples in Rivers State- the Ikwerre, the Etche, the Andoni, etc, and in Delta – the people from Asaba right through to the outskirts of Benin – through Isele-Uku, Ogwashi-Uku, Agbor, Boju Boju Owa, Obiaruku, Abraka, etc. We would have to place these people within the Igbo linguistic family. But there are distinct behavior patterns which differentiate these various groups from mainstream Igbo.</div>
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Among the Ikwerre, Ahoada, etc, the chieftaincy practices have tended to veer more towards Kalabari, Ijaw than the mainland Igbo. In Delta and Edo, the Igbo cousins have a chieftaincy profile more like Benin (Edo) than the acephalous Age Grade System of the Igbo. This superficial observation is strengthened by the Yoruba claim that the Asagba of Asaba, the Obi of Onitsha, and the Olu of Warri were grandsons of Oduduwa. (The Edo, on the other hand, counter claim that Oduduwa was a son of the Oba of Benin and therefore the Yoruba are Edo). There is a definite relationship between the Benin Kingship and the Yoruba kingships: The Benin the Itsekiri kingship, the Lagos kingship, the Badagry kingship, the Urhobo and Isoko kingdoms and even the Benin Republic kingship are all inter-related. The relationship is not necessarily one of subjugation. In fact, in many cases, there was no such subjugation. Rather, the relationship has been familial. But the Oba of Benin has a special position in Asaba, Lagos, Warri and nearly all the large kingships in Edo. Any student of history will soon discover the close and confusing relationship between the kings of France, Britain, Spain, Italy, Holland, Austria, etc. Many of the kings of Britain could not speak English even as late as less than 200 years ago! These close ties did not stop the wars for over 300 years among the kings of Europe.</div>
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Do the Igbo then have a central core of worship – which, therefore, mentioned kings and chiefs and Obas have? One belief is that, though autochthonous, they have a core of religious beliefs which were maintained through the itinerant mystics or spiritualists- the Aro – from a place known as Arochukwu.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Central feature</span></div>
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Closely allied to this is that the source of all Igbo and their spirituality is from a village called Nri. I have no idea how much of this is a general belief among the Igbo. But if people claim that they are genetically democratic, then you may not be surprised if quite a few do not accept this interpretation.</div>
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The kola nut is a central feature in Igbo land. I have never understood why this is so except to guess that if people speak the same language there must be a single symbol that unites them; and, for the Igbo, it is the kola nut. It appeals to the individual soul, to the collective soul, to the unseen spirits that capriciously rule or ruin our lives; it is a symbol of welcome, a drama stage to concentrate all thoughts. It is non-threatening – a simple nut to be divided according to divination, speech, manners and conduct. It is never rejected, except to declare war. [But the above can also be said of the Kola among the Urhobo, the Isoko, etc.]. The closest and best answer to why the kola is that central is that the eating and breaking of kola is a near eschatological experience.</div>
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I think that we tend to underestimate the extensive influence of contact for many years. Some symbols are easier to assimilate than others. The Ijaws, for example, have no kola culture, yet they have been close to the Igbo for over 500 years.</div>
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Among the Igbo there are other spiritual places in Ogbunike, etc. But, as I have said, many do not push these new tourist resorts beyond Nri which itself is problematic for an acephalous people.</div>
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The Igbo live in a family homestead surrounded by the family farm which may be large or small depending on the number of people in that family. Thereafter, another family has its plot of land and farm and so on. There are few Igbo urban centers. This small cluster will live near a stream for water and there are market days where goods and services are exchanged. There are four important market days and these market days are used as calendars for when one thing or the other is to be done. But, again, Onitsha is a large native Igbo town.</div>
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There is a village square for meetings, announcements, etc. But the nearer the Igbo are to people of other or even similar culture, the villagers become bigger (i.e. they are more urbanized than the Igbo). The Yoruba live more together in villages and go sometimes far distances to their farms.</div>
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The social structures of the Igbo are based on <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Age Grades</span>, especially in the bigger conurbation or cities, such as Onitsha,Awka, etc. The Igbo have always been clever people, and took very quickly to missionary education and other aspects of Westernization.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Onitsha Igbo</span></div>
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The Onitsha Igbo are made up of three ethnic groups- the Igala who followed the River Niger downstream from Lokoja to Onitsha, the Edo who came from Benin and the Igbo who lived in villages surrounding Onitsha. The amalgam of these three ethnic groups made up Onitsha which itself had off shoots in Obosi and environs. Because of early European contact the Onitsha Igbo went to school early and embraced Christianity- protestant and Catholics. Onitsha is still a major education hub in the east of Nigeria with many prominent schools- the most famous Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Christ the King College, Holy Rosary Girls School, Christian seminaries and teachers training colleges.</div>
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This early introduction to education and commerce stood the Onitsha Igbo head above other Igbo, producing the first Igbo doctors, lawyers, professors, etc. The colonial service employed Onitsha Igbo – leading to their dominance in the professions, the judiciary, politics, etc.</div>
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It is, therefore, no accident that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Justice Anyeagbunam, Chuba Ikpeazu, Ofodile, Prof. Chike Obi, Aje Asika, Sir Louis Mbanefo and a host of others were from Onitsha. So dominant were they that at one time, the upper echelons of the civil service, permanent secretaries, and leaders in the profession in eastern Nigeria, etc were all Onitsha people. There was a back lash when other Igbo people thought the dominance too pervasive and started asking for Onitsha Igbo to move out of positions.</div>
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It took a long time to get some in Eastern Nigeria balances. The Onitsha Igbo discriminated against other Igbo as uncouth and unpolished people and would not associate with them preferring their daughters to marry any one else except their non- Onitsha Igbo. As a child I often heard Onitsha Igbo drive away other Igbo children who came to play with their own children <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(sa, nwa onye igbo pu a eba</span> – get away you child of an Igbo man), the Yoruba of Lagos have the same feeling for the so-called Ara oke -Yoruba from the hill, the Saros of Freetown for people from the hinterland- (up – country people) the Parisians for all those outsiders not from Paris etc.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Apprentice system.</span></div>
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Today, they have perfected the apprenticeship system. A successful car dealer, motor spare parts dealer, or mechanic, or trader in electronics, drugs – medicines and other pharmaceutical goods, or transport owner, etc., would have young boys,sometimes as young as 10 years,who have been to school for a few years. The young boys are apprenticed to such car spare parts dealer, or a patent medicine shop owner, or a transporter.</div>
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The apprentice is supposed in the 10 -12 years he works for his boss to know every spare part in an automobile (3000), the name and use of every drug sold in the patent medicine store, etc. After a long time, the owner of the store or transporter would give a substantial amount of money to the apprentice to start his own business in electronic, spare parts, medicines, etc else where. This is the classic way the Igbo do business; and it has benefited them well. They are able to easily beat competitors because of superior knowledge of the product, accessibility and a burning desire to succeed quickly.</div>
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Today, there is a virtual Igbo monopoly of spare parts trade (usually Nnewi people), local “pharmacies”, and transportation.</div>
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The young man who used to be an apprentice bus attendant would soon grow to own a fleet of buses which will need spare parts, etc. The intercity luxury bus business is 70% in Igbo hands. They are also transporters for goods and small vehicle transporters. The car hire business is perhaps 60% in the hands of Igbos.</div>
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The Igbos ventured into the sale of electronic appliances many years ago, paying exorbitant rents for cramped up spaces in Broad Street, Lagos, which then was busy and noisy as one loudspeaker sought to out do the other. The then Lagos State Governor moved them to Alaba Market which today is the largest electronic market in Africa. Other ancillary and supporting businesses soon followed – apart from radios, TVs, etc, the market now sells washing machines, refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, etc. It is the centre of pirated music and video films. Given the opportunity, the Igbo has incredible drive to make a success of any venture.</div>
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The biggest property developers in Lagos and Abuja are Igbo. They seem to have a sixth sense for these things. They were first to really believe that Abuja will succeed as the capital city of Nigeria. They moved into Abuja with a vengeance. Most of the malls in Abuja are Igbo owned. They were willing to pay the price needed for land and permits; and went at it as only the Igbo can do. Other ethnic groups have estates but nothing compared to what the Igbo have. Yet other Igbo branched out into estate development for sale and establishing myriads of hotels.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Marriage among</span> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Igbo</span></div>
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All these frantic activities must take a toll on social life. Many Igbo billionaires are self educated, having come up through the apprenticeship system. It means that the girls in Igbo land stayed back to go to school, even though, at the beginning, like most Nigerians, they regarded education of women as a waste of time and money since the young girl will soon marry and leave the family. Thus, today, there is a preponderance of Igbo girls at school, who currently far out number the boys in both secondary and tertiary institutions.</div>
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Bride price in parts of Igbo land used to be expensive. Non-Igbo suspected that the girl’s family was calculating how much they spent on her education and expected the husband for recompense. In the early 40s and 50s, bride price was so high that the Eastern House of Assembly legislated on it!! The girls today fear high bride price for it scares away suitors and now have started to revolt against it. How do these girls pay for tuition? Sometimes parents help, relatives help and there is a good dose of self help.</div>
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Marriage custom of Igbos is similar to that of many other ethnic groups. For example, that marriage is not just a union between individuals, but one between families, who, in fact are, sometimes,the initiators, and actually arrange the match-making between the spouses. Today this is not so common. But the other processes remain largely unchanged. When a suitable spouse has been found, people are sent to ask questions about the spouse’s pedigree – is there disease in the family, any witches or wizards or unkind and wicked people, how fecundious have the women been, etc (Aju-ese?)</div>
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On receiving satisfactory responses to these questions, a delegation from the family of the husband-to-be is then sent to the girl’s family to ask for her hand in marriage; and her family,at some stage, would have to ask her for her consent. The bride price is then haggled over. On reaching a consensus, the proposed groom is supposed to supply drinks, etc., for four market days (Eke market days).</div>
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You may shorten the period by bringing everything in one day. After consultation, including reports on the groom’s family, his standing in society and wealth, a date is fixed for the marriage. To show the bride’s consent publicly –she would take a glass of wine (often palm wine) to the groom to drink in public during the traditional marriage ceremony.</div>
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Thereafter, the parents bless the couple and festivities begin. If the marriage is unsuccessful, the dowry is returned; but not if the couples have a male child.</div>
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The Igbo take marriage seriously, probably more so than any other ethnic group in Nigeria. Many non-Igbo girls want to marry Igbo men because of this myth that an Igbo man knows how to look after his wife and family. Many of the semi illiterate billionaires marry graduates and they insist that their children get the best education which they had missed.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Trial marriage</span></div>
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Every December, thousands of Igbo travel home, especially in areas where Christmas is robustly celebrated. During these holidays, marriages are arranged, couples introduced, etc. One variant of Igbo courtship that is rapidly gaining ground is that of trial marriage. It is really an extension of the custom of knowing the family one is marrying into. Many Igbo bachelors from the U.S flock home every Christmas to see who they can marry while resuming the family bonds which living overseas may have somewhat loosened. Where a successful introduction has been made, the young lady and prospective husband agree to go back to the U.S and live together for some months to see whether they like each other enough to stay married (usually for three to six months), at the end of the period,a decision is made to continue with the ‘’marriage” or to terminate it.</div>
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Sometimes, the girl would go to the city where the ‘’husband” is working in Nigeria – usually Abuja or Lagos again on trial basis to make sure the marriage is successful.</div>
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In the old days, the girl would have gone to stay with the parents of the prospective husband for a while for the groom’s parents to assess her. These are simply variations of the theme of arranged marriages. Where the experiment does not work, there is no shame or bitterness, whatever was paid in dowry is returned and the ‘’marriage” is dissolved.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Igbo economy</span></div>
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Nnewi, in Anambra State, is now the manufacturing capital of Nigeria. It has several manufacturing factories, several breweries, soft drinks, bottled water, etc, food processing plants, vehicles assembly plants, etc., including the making of generators, and a host of other items. Nnewi has overtaken Ikeja as the industrial hub of Nigeria.</div>
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The Onitsha market remains the largest market in Africa, selling practically everything: There are Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese traders in the market. The banks in Onitsha carry the largest amount of cash than any other city. There is an airport in Asaba, capital of Delta State. The Niger Bridge is the main transport artery between East and West, and perhaps even large parts of Middle Belt and some parts of northern Nigeria. Just south of Onitsha is Awka, the Anambra State capital. There are plans to dredge the River Niger, build a second Niger Bridge, and a cargo airport in Anambra State. Thus, within an area of a few kilometers to Onitsha, the major market, there is the industrial hub, Nnewi. Also, the administrative capital of Anambra State is 20 kilometres from Onitsha. Nnewi is 10 kilometers from Onitsha. Our planners have to be (compare the axis between</div>
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New York and New Jersey) blind not to see the potential of a conurbation axis between Asaba/Onitsha; Onitsha-Nnewi, and Nnewi–Awka. A small investment of building 10-lane highways between these three towns will give the biggest industrial and financial fillip for Nigeria; not just for Igbo land.</div>
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The Igbos, who live in these areas, have, amongst themselves, the richest individuals in Nigeria. Oraifite has over 10 billionaires; the best known of which is Sir Emeka Ofor.</div>
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Anambra State governor, the other day ,called a meeting of 50 people and 25 of them were billionaires. The rest were no slouches.</div>
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The Igbo, sometimes, are too polite for their own good. Each time a politician goes to Anambra State, he makes the promise to build a second Niger Bridge or to dredge the Niger. The Igbo feel that people say these things because they think they are fools. They ask whether the Federal Government built the ports of Lagos for Lagosians? Was the 23 kilometers Third Mainland Bridge built for Lagosians?</div>
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A bridge across the Niger is a development of infrastructure that would yield benefit for all Nigeria. Why does the Federal Government need a special loan or bond to build the bridge? That they do not openly say this in public is perhaps an element of the sublimation of their persecution complex.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Culture</span></div>
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The Igbos are proud of their culture. But are also willing to participate in other peoples cultures, and, more importantly, to adapt foreign culture to their own. For many years, the black people in the United States had been insulted by being regarded as having no culture. Many changed their names in the belief that this would identify them with Africa; they preferred to be called African-Americans, and took names like Kobe, Jamal, Hussein, etc, little realizing that these were Islamic names, not African names. No matter, the point had been made that Mr. X was African-American and his name was Jamal Juba. About 15 years ago, two cultural tends burst out on the African scene – a distinct music genre, distinct dancing genre and distinct theatre genre. The U.S. has always been open about its debt to Africa in term of music – jazz, pop culture, ghetto dancing and music, etc. The Yoruba and other Africans contributed to this, not only Igbo. But in the past few years, the young African musicians had taken on world pop culture and Africanized it, dominated it and now own it. There is no Igbo mega star like Fela- so massive was this genius.</div>
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However, young men and women <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">are hitting</span> the world stage with beats that cannot have grown from any where else than in Nigeria, and a lot of it, due to Igbo. Hand in hand with this musical explosion. African drama was re-born but, this time,using new techniques to attune old theme – the advent of Nollywood – which in 10 – 15 short years -is now the third largest movie industry in the world. Igbo influence, both in new music and in Nollywood, is substantial.</div>
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It was generic, and should remain so. But it may die if it imbibes government contagion.</div>
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Nearly everything shown in Nollywood about Igbo kingship, princesses and princes, etc., is an exercise in the producers’ imagination. The cultural basis is there; but the manifestation is poetic license of the producers, and rightly so. Nollywood is not a cultural course: it is entertainment within the imagined context of Igbo culture.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Biafra war</span></div>
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It is impossible to write about the Igbos without writing about the Biafra war. It is futile to go into the pros and cons of the war. The war affected Igbos, as it did other Nigerians. The Igbos felt that they had something precious to contribute to Nigeria; but the civil war deprived them from contributing, and Nigeria from accepting Igbo contribution. They lost a war they felt was unjust. They lost property every where, especially in Port Harcourt. But they learnt how better to handle other Nigerians. They channeled their sense of loss into more productive avenues. They now believe in Nigeria; but also believe anything can happen and hedge their bets and build large houses in their villages should any other war break out. They have a mixed feeling for – yet believe that it is now their turn to rule Nigeria.</div>
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Some Nigerians, including some Igbos, believe that the eventual break up of Nigeria is a matter of time, unless some fundamental changes are made soon in the political arrangement. The Igbo believe in meritocracy because they are supremely confident that they would prevail.</div>
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An apocryphal story goes something like this: If you do an examination with an Igbo man and he has better result and beats you, he will nod as if to say that is natural, that is as it should be. But if you beat him, he would ask you whether the examiner is your brother or who leaked questions to you.</div>
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The Igbo lost a lot of houses in Port Harcourt. Lately an old wise Rivers man seeing the Igbo contribution to Abuja and Lagos wondered whether the Rivers State Government should not invite Igbo back to Port Harcourt to do their magic on housing and the economy in Rivers State.</div>
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The practice of young men and women living together before marriage is unknown in all African cultures including Igbo. Hollywood’s portrayal of this practice is non-Igbo and due more to Western acculturation than any thing traditional as a girl may go to her husband’s house after the payment of dowry and the consent of her parents, herself.</div>
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Inheritance, even “kingship” and property legally does not go to the children but to the eldest brother of the deceased who, by custom, is now supposed to look after his brother’s wife and her siblings.</div>
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SOURCE: <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/the-igbo-giant-strides-against-all-odds/" style="line-height: 1.5em;">VANGUARD</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-26084700527755436402014-08-29T03:26:00.000-07:002014-08-29T03:27:50.885-07:00Nsukka traditional ruler sets enslaved villagers free<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.9980010986328px; list-style: square; margin: 0px 0px 1.857em 42px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How jealous king isolated victims because maiden rejected his amorous advances</b></li>
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<b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">F</b><b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">or over 200 years, the people of Amachukwu and Anioma villages in Ugbene Ajima Community, Uzo-uwani LGA, Enugu State lived in isolation and bondage, forced on them by a jealous king, whose sexual advances were rejected by a village maiden.</b><br />
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<b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></b>Trouble began for the people when a beautiful maiden from Anioma village rebuffed the sexual advances of an old traditional ruler. The jilted lover reportedly took a vengeful action, barring the maiden and her people from marrying from the community or sleeping in other people’s houses. That ancient decree remained irreversible and was subsequently transmitted to future generations, plunging everyone born in both villages in perpetual slavery.Successive rulers kept this obnoxious decree sacred. Not even the cry for justice by the younger generation of children born in these villages would bend the rule. By mere geographical accident of birthplace, those born in Anioma or Amachukwu were like damned souls cursed by the gods, as they inherited the pariah status of their parentage right from their mother’s womb.</div>
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But their agony ended on Saturday, August 9, when the new traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Bartholomew Aluma, Okwu na Oke 1 of Ugbene Ajima, led his cabinet members and elders of the town to denounce this unjust tradition and revoke the communal ban on the affected villages.</div>
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The event was a memorable day for the elders, women, youths and children of the isolated villages. Some of the elderly men among them, who had lived like lepers all their years, broke down in tears of joy. Their excited wives and daughters danced freely in the village square, singing songs of freedom for a dream come through. Even children lost in the euphoria of the historic celebration jumped about in wild celebration that had eluded them in the community for decades.</div>
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Our reporter gathered that the struggle for freedom began many years ago, but none of the efforts was successful. A renewed effort commenced in November last year with secret meetings of Pastor Anayo Odimkpa, ASP Paul Ogbonna and Pastor Anthony Onodi. Their negotiation with notable personalities in the community to revisit their case seemed like fetching water with a basket, yet they never gave up the agitation. And when the matter was brought before Igwe Aluma’s cabinet, he gave a listening ear to their cry for justice. Although the names of these key players may not ring out loud in the world like that of the famous icon, Dr Martin Luther King Jnr, generations of children in Amachukwu and Anioma villages would venerate them as true heroes that pulled down the prison gates.</div>
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Investigation by our reporter revealed that the two villages were formerly called Amaiseke, a name derived from a local python, Isieke, venerated in the community by pagans. But a Christian revolution led by Anayo Odimkpa, in collaboration with members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria, in October 1996 demolished the Isieke shrine, and subsequently led to the renaming of the two villages to Amachukwu (City of God) and Anioma (Good Land). The revolution also opened the enclosed life of the isolated villagers and watered the seed for the liberation struggle.</div>
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While declaring the two villages free, Igwe Aluma said his cabinet and leaders of thought in the community, after much consultation, unanimously decided to revisit the historical injustice suffered by the two villages. He said it took him a long time to investigate the matter. He explained that during his investigation, he wanted to find out whether any member of Ugbene community bought a slave in the olden days and left him in any of the two villages, but sadly that was not the case. Rather, he confirmed that the isolation suffered by the two villages started hundreds of years ago when a certain traditional ruler in Ugbene Ajima lusted after a beautiful maiden from Anioma and wanted to sleep with her. But the luscious lady, indentified as Nwagbogoeze Ejigioku, reportedly turned down the amoral advance, an act that was adjudged sacrilege in days when traditional rulers were revered as the mouthpiece of the gods.</div>
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The king’s wrath burned like hell, and he later spilled it on the entire village where the woman came from, with the declaration that the lady and her people would henceforth become slaves for ages to ages, never to marry anybody from the area. And when the people of Amachukwu cried foul over the unjust punishment of their relations, the traditional ruler decreed isolation on them for questioning the gods.</div>
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Even the gods wept for the injustice against the two villages but nothing could change the decision of the king. Investigation by our reporter revealed that the gulf of separation between them and other members of Ugbene community widened with years, such that subsequent generations regarded them as slaves. Although some young men in Ugbene, in their youthful adventure, secretly dated beautiful ladies of the two villages, the romance never exceeded the fun of the bedroom. Ladies from the two villages were never considered worthy of marriage. In fact, such relationships were hidden from other members of the community, lest the culprits incur the wrath of elders.</div>
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To say the least, an impenetrable wall separated the two villages with their kinsmen with whom they earlier shared common paternity before the unfortunate incident. Communal brotherhood was totally ruined by one man’s lust for the flesh, stamping a mark of rejection on many families and generations of innocent children.</div>
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Reversing the curse turned out to be historic moment in the annals of the community. In the public square of Anioma, Igwe Aluma shared kolanuts among the elders, <i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ozo</i> title holders in the Ugbene community, who made a uniform declaration that the people of Anioma and Amachukwu villages will no longer live in isolation or be regarded as slaves. Each of the elders also picked a stone from the village square to bear witness that the pronouncement was binding on all members of the community.</div>
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While overruling the earlier decree, Igwe Aluma said, “From today henceforth, you are free to marry or have an intimate relationship with any man or woman in Ugbene community. You are free to mingle and sleep anywhere in the town. Nobody should be treated or regarded as outcasts again in our community.”</div>
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The former Attorney general of Enugu State, Dr Michael Ajogwu (SAN), who witnessed the event, commended the bold step taken by the community. He explained that the proclamation by Igwe Aluma and his cabinet has restored the people of Amachukwu and Anioma to their rightful position as true sons and daughters of the community and cancelled permanently whatever that was done in the past.</div>
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The former attorney recalled that the people of <i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Efuru Idoha</i> in Nsukka suffered a similar fate many years ago, when beautiful maidens were claimed forcefully by the local deity to serve as slaves in its shrine. He said he offered legal assistance during the battle to destroy the deity, adding that the destruction of the deity liberated the people held in bondage, allowing them to relate freely with other members of Ukehe town.</div>
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Ajogwu, who hailed from Abbi community in Uzo-Uwani LGA, also recounted another case in his hometown, where some people were ostracised for the past 100 years. He said he mediated in the process that led to the liberation of these people, allowing them the liberty to relate freely and acquire traditional title (Onyishi Ekaya) as other families in the community.</div>
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One of the victims, Paul Ogbonna, described the feeling of alienation by other members of the community as worse than hell. According to him, he suffered rejection, humiliation and mockery in the hands of other people in the community.</div>
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“This started even before I was born. During my own time, I experienced this rejection in so many ways that left me surprised and shocked. We suffered discrimination and neglect. We were denied so many things as free born of this Ugbene Ajima community because of the stigma. Both the elders and children, women and youths suffered alike,” he said.</div>
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Ogbonna, 47, said his forefathers suffered the same cruel fate, noting that reversing the ancient curse seemed like an impossible missions in past years. He expressed joy that Igwe Aluma and respected elders of the community took the bold decision of revoking the ban on his people and accept them as free born of the community.</div>
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“We are moving into a new era, where we are now free to associate with our brothers without any barrier. To be honest with you, during those years, I do not feel proud as a member of this community when I remember the situation we have found ourselves. At a time, I asked my father what happened to us. Did Ugbene people buy our forefathers as slaves? But he told me it was because a beautiful lady rejected the traditional ruler. Most often, we were rejected at social gatherings. Even in schools, we enjoy partial acceptance because we suffer isolation from our peers. But I believe that the Igwe, the Ozo tiltle holders and the entire cabinet members are sincere in what they did here today. The God of heaven and earth is our witness that this has been achieved. We have many witnesses at the event, including the former Attorney General of Enugu State, Dr Michael Ajogwu (SAN). So, if the community decides to act otherwise, you will agree with me that they will not succeed,” he said.</div>
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Another victim, Pastor Anayo Odimkpa, said the two villages suffered indescribable humiliation, as other members of the community, cut them off in marriage, social relationships, among others.</div>
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“These two villages lost the liberty of sleeping together as brothers, passing night together or getting married. They were in the midst of their brothers, yet they lived in a lonely world for a very long time, spanning to 400 to 500 years,” he said.</div>
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Our reporter gathered that the granting freedom to the villages came with a prize. But when our reporter asked Odimkpa what it cost him and his people to be free, he said, “When I think about the value of this freedom, it erases the prize from my mind. I couldn’t remember the sacrifice it took, the prize we collectively paid as individuals or as a community to make this feat possible. The value of freedom is priceless. It comes with the pride of feeling the same like any other person, having a sense of belonging in the midst of your brothers.”</div>
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Odimkpa said the psychological effect of long years of isolation would take time to heal in the mind of the victims. He noted that it wouldn’t be quite easy to erase the memories of the ugly years soon, but noted that members of the villagers would gradually integrate themselves fully into the community.</div>
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“There is need to create participatory events in the community, which will bring members of the community together. Sleeping over in other people’s houses in the community would also instil in them the confidence that the old things have passed away. They will try their hands in marriage, which is not be force but by mutual consent of those involved. Through marriage, the sense of complete freedom would take root in people’s mind,” he explained.</div>
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Another victim, Pastor Anthony Onodi forced back tears as he bemoaned the long years of injustice suffered by his people. He said the incident took place in 1803 adding that he personally took up the struggle for the liberation of the people in 1982, and was asked to present three cows to appease the land and cook for the entire community. According to him, he fulfilled these requirements, yet to no avail.</div>
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Onodi said he felt uneasy in the midst of other members of the community, knowing that he was considered an outcast. He said the situation denied him social relationship with other members of Ugbene community, knowing that he has a pariah status stamped on him by wicked tradition.</div>
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“I chose to visit people in the community in the afternoon, knowing that they will ask me out of their house before 12.00am. None of my friends, no matter how close, would ever allow me to stay in his house beyond that time. It might seem small in people’s eyes but it was quite shameful,” he said.</div>
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Onodi said he wept silently whenever his children reported to him how other children in the community school mocked them. The isolation also deprived young men from the two villages from picking a bride from neighbouring communities, as their stigma traveled faster than the wind.</div>
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“By our liberation, something new is going to happen in this community. Nothing will hinder the progress of this community any longer. Let brotherly love continue,” he prayed.</div>
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Also speaking, the spiritual father of the community, Fr John Bosco Okechukwu, described the isolation and rejection of the two villages as a scandal to the church bearing in mind that Christ came to set the captives free.</div>
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“Remember that the love of God is expressed in the love for your neighbours. Everybody is important to God because we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. So, there is no need for this social injustice or segregation. In fact, it is a scandal to the body of Christ,” he argued.</div>
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Okechukwu said the gospel of Jesus Christ revolves around freedom and liberty, promising that the people of God would embrace the Amachukwu and Anioma people as brothers in Christ, without any discrimination whatsoever.</div>
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Also speaking, a Catholic priest from Ugbene community, Rev Fr Paulinus Ike Ogara, gave his blessings for the liberation of the enslaved brethren. He said the desire for freedom resonates in the mind of every creature of God, describing the humiliation suffered by the two villages as a historical injustice.</div>
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“Injustice in one corner of the world is injustice everywhere. What happens to one person affects everybody around him and reverberates everywhere. The victims cultivate certain habits towards other people based on the injustice they are suffering,” he said.</div>
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Ogara said some people mistook the isolation of Anioma and Amachukwu people as an irreversible norm in the community simply because the system was allowed to survive for a very long time. He described freedom as a native desire in humans, stressing that every man or woman has dignity as a subject of right.</div>
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“What we did here today is the culmination of a long battle for freedom. It is the victory of truth, justice and liberty. Although the struggle has been long and painstaking, we feel the joy of these people who have achieved their hearts’ desire,” he said.</div>
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Ogara said the liberation of the two villages would also translate to the growth of the community, as the isolated people would be free to contribute their quota intellectually and otherwise.</div>
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“They will now see the development efforts of the community as theirs. I see a new era and a new spirit of Ugbene emerging in our town. This is a new era that has permanently closed the gates of injustice suffered by these people,” he maintained.</div>
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A leader of thought in the community, Simon Oliji, explained that the liberation of the two villages goes beyond eating, drinking and feasting. He advised the affected villagers to launch themselves into the mainstream of community activities, from where they would be gradually assimilated into the life of the town.</div>
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Oliji, a retired school principal, encouraged the victims to come out of their shells and make their faces visible in marriage ceremonies, burials, church programmes and schools. He lamented that the two villages had been educationally disadvantaged by the situation they found themselves and urged them to leverage on their newly found freedom to acquire formal education for self development.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.9980010986328px;">By advising the people to invest in knowledge, Oliji re-echoed the message of famous Raggae master, Bob Marley, who said, “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!” No doubt, Igwe Aruma, a retired headmaster reputed for his discipline and scholarship, has proved to Amachukwu and Anioma people that the power of knowledge makes a man difficult to be enslaved.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.9980010986328px;">Culled: SUN News</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-87071183055229184902014-05-25T11:43:00.000-07:002014-05-25T11:43:28.877-07:002015: The battle for Enugu<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Ike-Ekweremadu1.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; border: 0px; clear: left; color: #0a67b3; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Sen. Ekweremadu" class="size-full wp-image-322008" height="250" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Ike-Ekweremadu1.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.247059) 1px 1px 1px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Who takes over from Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State when he leaves office on May 29, 2015? This is the question that has been agitating the people’s mind since Chime announced that his successor would come from the Nsukka zone without mentioning who he would support.</span></div>
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Chime made this known during a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders in Enugu in May 2013.</div>
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Sen. Ekweremadu</div>
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According to the governor, whose speech then was punctuated with thunderous applause from the audience during the meeting of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the arrangement was for the party to pick its next flag bearer from Enugu North (Nsukka).</div>
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The governor, from the PDP which has ruled the state since 1999, hails from the Enugu West Senatorial District and would be completing his eight-year tenure of four years each in May next year.</div>
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He took over from Dr Chimaroke Nnamani who also completed eight years in office from Enugu East Senatorial District, leaving Nsukka as the only zone which has not produced a governor in the state since 1999. Chime said there is an unwritten rotational arrangement in the selection of its governorship candidates within the PDP in the state.</div>
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The state caucus of the party has since endorsed Chime’s position, as emphasised by the former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, in Abuja weeks ago.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Low Level of Political Activities</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">However, despite the ovation which greeted the governors speech during the town hall meeting supporting the zoning formula, no governorship aspirant from the zone has publicly declared interest in spite of the fact that several names are being touted as aspirants.</span></div>
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Before Chime made his declaration, many aspirants were believed to have been nursing governorship ambition. Those said to be nursing such ambition are Senator Ayogu Eze, who represents the area in the Senate, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Vita Abba, Speaker of the state House of Assembly in the last eight years, Eugene Odo, a former member of the House of Representatives, Ambassador Fidel Ayogu, the proprietor of Peace Mass Transit Company, Chief Samuel Maduka Onyishi, two members of the House of Representatives, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwanyi and Dr Pat Asadu.</div>
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Others include Prince Emeka Mamah, a scion of the Ifesinacchi dynasty, and the former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, under Chimaroke Nnamani’s regime, Dr Dan Shere.</div>
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It is believed that Chime’s proclamation that his successor would come from Nsukka zone has instead of enbolding aspirants to come forward with their programmes, doused the tempo.</div>
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An aspirant who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that some of the aspirants were showing interest to ensure that they would be remembered during the sharing of positions in the party. ‘’There is nobody in the PDP that does not know the powers of a governor produced by the party in the scheme of things. We are all waiting for whoever the governor would anoint”, he said.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Everybody waiting for Chime’s endorsement</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Apart from Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy Senate President, who openly challenged Chime initially for zoning the position to Nsukka, no other politician of note has made his ambition open.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Every other political activity in Enugu is nocturnal.</span></div>
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Politicians would confront journalists at functions for not mentioning their names among those in the governorship race in their analysis but would not want to be quoted directly as saying they nurse such ambition. Political gladiators are watching with keen interest the political atmosphere and the body language of Chime who once said he would prefer somebody who had worked with the PDP political family to succeed him instead of outsiders.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Ebeano family factor</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The former governor of the state, Nnamani, introduced the former Ebeano (the place to be) political structure under which he selected those that held positions at the state and federal levels.</span></div>
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It will indeed be correct to say that most political gladiators in the state today passed through the tutelage of the Ebeano god-father and they know the rules of the game.</div>
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While Nnamani held sway, it was sacrilegious for any member of the Ebeano family to struggle or aspire to any position as members waited for the leader to allocate positions to them. It was like a military formation where the most senior officer usually ‘’thinks for the rest and nobody thinks when the oga is around.’’</div>
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Chime emerged from the Ebeano political family. Others who belonged to the strange family include Ekweremadu and Ayogu Eze as well as all the present members of the National Assembly from the state.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Cracks in Ebeano</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">However, a lot of water has passed under the Ebeano bridge in the last seven years. The cracks in the family started shortly after Chime won elections in 2007 and reached a climax when “Chimaroke snubbed the governor at the Protea Hotel, Abuja sometime in June of the same year. Chime narrated his story:</span></div>
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Chimaroke invited me and pleaded that I should join his administration. I heeded the call because I wanted to contribute to the building of the state. I worked quite closely with him. At some point when the executive council was dissolved, I was the only commissioner for about a month.</div>
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No other commissioner was appointed until later. But unfortunately when it comes to some ideas, I may not always have my way. If the head doesn’t share your view, what do you do?’’</div>
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According to Chime, the situation, however, came to a head when Chimaroke invited him to Protea Hotel, Abuja, shortly after returning home after several months outside the country.</div>
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Chime stressed that on the occasion, in June 2007, his former boss invited him to his suite at Protea Hotel, Asokoro, Abuja. He went on: “When I got there, I met him and we exchanged pleasantries. He was sitting with some other people. Before I could sit down, he got up, picked his phones and said he didn’t want to see me and that when he was ready to see me he would send for me again. I thought it was a joke. But he went inside his room. We were there still wondering what was happening. When he came out of the room he repeated it that he was not prepared to see me.</div>
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And he walked out on me, went downstairs and entered his car. He said he would tell me when I would come to see him when he was ready. So, the other three gentlemen followed me downstairs and we even attempted to see if we could catch up with him, but by the time we got downstairs, he had driven off.</div>
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I also entered my car and drove off. That was my first meeting with my predecessor. That was someone I spoke with on phone earlier that day. I didn’t just go there; he invited me over. We agreed that I was coming. So, do you want me to force myself on him? Then, I was still fresh as governor.</div>
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He had been there as governor and knows what being a governor means. You invited me as your governor and I came. And the next thing you do is to walk out on me. How do we describe such a behaviour? It is on record that I went to meet with him. That was the treatment I got from him the first time I met him. Can you imagine the treatment, as governor? I am still waiting for him to say `I want to see you!’.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Politicians queue</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">However, in the last few months, there have been indications that politicians have been lining up behind Chime and Ekweremadu, who is obviously fighting to avoid being prematurely retired from politics.</span></div>
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Chime is said to be interested in contesting the Senate seat for Enugu East which Ekweremadu, a former local government chairman, chief of staff to the governor and Secretary to the State Government, currently occupies and, with the governorship seat already zoned out of Enugu East where he hails from, there is no other higher position for him to contest, hence he is afraid of premature retirement from public glare.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Dark horse</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">A dark horse may emerge as governor of the state in 2015. Although Chime has kept his preferred candidate close to his chest, whoever he eventually anoints will likely face Ekweremau’s preferred candidate. The Deputy Senate President has been spending most of his days in Enugu State at Nsukka where he is believed to be mobilising support for his candidate.</span></div>
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This was even as the former Minister for Information, Chief Nnia Nwodo, was quoted as asking politicians from other zones to allow Nsukka people chose a governor of their choice for the state. Nwodo spoke at a party hosted for Ekweremadu at Nsukka by one of his supporters, Mr Chinedu Onuh.</div>
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However, political developments in the last few months indicate that none of the present crop of aspirants embarking on nocturnal campaigns would occupy the Lion Building as the Enugu Government House is known.</div>
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Apart from Ekweremadu, a cold war is currently raging between the governor and those the local PDP supporters refer to as Abuja- based. The governor was alleged to have incurred the wrath of the Abuja politicians when he was quoted as saying most of them who had spent two terms would not be re-elected. Chime was said to have made the declaration in view of the zoning arrangement in most of the constituencies in the state.</div>
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If the governor’s threat sails through, it would mean that almost all the members of National Assembly would lose their positions for fresh blood, hence the no-love-lost between them and their leader in the state.</div>
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SOURCE <a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/2015-battle-enugu/">VANGUARD</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-74056614508836990912014-05-20T22:44:00.000-07:002014-05-20T22:44:50.662-07:00<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMW-M1cHpu6v2rY73nmmWwpXuebuWFIlKqKBZvVyfe8XObPcaQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMW-M1cHpu6v2rY73nmmWwpXuebuWFIlKqKBZvVyfe8XObPcaQ" style="background-color: transparent;" /></a>THE gentleman agreement by some notable indigenes of Uzo-Uwani and Igbo-Etiti local councils of Enugu State over rotation of the House of Representatives seat between the two councils that make up the constituency is currently threatened.</div>
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The matter has gone beyond being a mutual disagreement over the council that should produce the next lawmaker to a cold war that requires urgent resolution. For this reason, Concerned Indigenes of Uzo-Uwani, CIU, recently convened a stakeholders’ forum in Enugu, where it was agreed that the rotation principle be followed to sustain the harmonious relations between the LGAs.</div>
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The event which attracted notable indigenes of Uzo-Uwani, provided an opportunity for the stakeholders to explain how the rotation agreement came about on February 10, 1998. On hand to tell this story, was the CIU President, Mr. Ignatius Onoduogo, who explained that the forum that gave birth to the zoning arrangement, was held at the residence of Mr. Aka Ogbogbe in Enugu.</div>
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“In recognition of the historical affinity and the need to foster peace and unity between Igbo-Etiti and Uzo-Uwani L.GAs, some wise men from both areas met on the 10th of February, 1998 and entered into an agreement that the House of Representatives seat shall rotate between the two local governments. They further agreed that Igbo-Etiti would produce the first candidate for the seat and this led to the emergence of Hon. Mathias Ozor in 1998 under the platform of UNCP,’’ he noted.</div>
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Onoduogo however regretted that the death of General Sani Abacha in June 1998, shortlived Ozor’s tenure. ‘’His tenure was short lived because of the truncation of the Abacha transition programme due to his demise,’’ he added.</div>
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Accordingly, Onoduuogo said, ‘’ again, on January 17, 1999, by a broader representation, another agreement was entered into by political leaders from the areas reiterating the need to foster a harmonious co-existence between the two areas by rotating the seat. It was further agreed that Uzo-Uwani L.G.A shall take the first shot this time around having conceded the position to Igbo-Etiti the previous year but for the truncation of the transition programme.</div>
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This agreement led to the emergence of Dr. Romanus Ezike from Uzo-Uwani whose election was upturned by the electoral tribunal . He spent only three months in the office and was replaced by Hon. Chris Nnadi from Igbo-Etiti, who now stayed from September 1999 to 2007.’’</div>
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“Perhaps, it was assumed that the tenure enjoyed by Hon. Nnadi was meant for Uzo-Uwani, hence another man from Igbo-Etiti replaced him. However, in line with the agreement, in 2007, Hon. Paul Eze from Uzo-Uwani replaced Dr. Oke and served till 2011.Still in keeping with the agreement,. Hon. Stella Ngwu from Igbo-Etiti who is currently the incumbent was elected in 2011 and she is expected to serve out her tenure by June 2015 to give room for another man from Uzo-Uwani in line with the spirit and letters of the agreement.’’</div>
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Restating that subsequent meetings took place in 1999 and 2011 respectively, to ensure that the tenets of the agreement are followed, Onoduogo said, ‘’it is instructive to point out that three meetings on the need to maintain this one term rotational arrangement’ including a ‘thank-you’ meeting held at the residence of the incumbent ,were later held over the issue where stakeholders from both areas including the incumbent promised to keep to the agreement by serving only one term.</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 15px;">SOURCE:<a href="http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/zoning-uneasy-calm-envelops-uzo-uwaniigbo-etiti-federal-constituency/"> VANGUARD</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-72397904958077418782014-05-10T13:22:00.001-07:002014-05-10T13:22:45.053-07:00ENGR OBIOHA EZEKWESIRI's RESPONSE TO "Ndigbo will suffer if Nigeria breaks up - San. Mike Ahamba 2014"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I must start by saying that senator Ahamba has not only insulted the Igbo race but has also undermined the intelligence, Education, Entrepreneurial spirit, Business Wisdom, inventiveness, innovativeness and creativity of the Igbo race in particular and Biafra in general. Most painful is to see that Senator Mike Ahamba has got no faith in the Almighty God whom he claims to serve.</div>
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How could a senator of Nigeria representing Imo State senatorial District say that "Ndigbo will suffer if Nigeria breaks up - San. Mike Ahamba 2014" and would not have tomatoes and fish?</div>
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Igbo people are able to develop Igboland and make life 300x easier for Biafrans than the hell we are going through all over the world. Has Senator Mike Ahamba forgotten that some Igbo people have lived decades in Western world and have studied, learned, practiced development for the while people who only misuse out talents? Has he forgotten that with Science and Technologies and ICT of the 21st Century, we will be able to develop Igboland within 7 years following the proposed Biafran Uniform Development Systems (BUDS), Kill Corruption strategies and measures, Unconventional trainings, True Government and People's collaboration (spirit of Umunne) and many more Biafran subsystems to trigger the fastest development ever seen in the history of the world.</div>
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Well, Sen. Ahamba has just spoken as an analogue Senator which he is. (No insult meant)</div>
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On behalf of the Biafran youths all over the world organized in groups and organizations, I dare assure Senator Mike Ahamba that we; the Igbo/Biafran Professionals in Diaspora challenge him to support the agitation for the immediate liberation of the Sovereign State of Biafra. We guarantee Senator mike Ahamba and all Igbo and Biafran people that we will develop Biafra in 7 years according to plans.</div>
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The plan is ready and we are only waiting for time as we take over the leaders of Republic of Biafra.</div>
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We also want to use this opportunity to...permit me to borrow the words of The Director of Radio Biafra London Nnamdi Okwu Kanu during his Radio Interview with Sahara Reports: He said: "if the Igbo delegates fail to secure Biafran freedom through this National Conference, they should better go on Exile from Abuja and should not even dare come back to Igboland again"</div>
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This is our position also and the position of millions of Biafrans scattered all over the world and in Igboland as well as in Nigeria.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;">Senator Mike Ahamba, eji'kwala ndu gi egwu egwu!!!!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;">No room for Nigerian Politics in Biafra</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-81542301473097714242014-05-10T13:05:00.000-07:002014-05-10T13:05:04.765-07:00Ndigbo Will Suffer If Nigeria Breaks Up. -Senator Mike Ahamba.<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 21.46666717529297px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
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" 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" style="background-color: transparent;" /></a>A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State and a delegate at the ongoing National Conference, Chief Mike Ahamba SAN, has reiterated that he would not canvass or support the breakup of Nigeria at the conference.<br />He made this known while fielding questions from Nigeria Moment recently. He said that the Igbos would suffocate in Igbo land if Nigeria breaks up because it would lead to population explosion, food and housing crisis, job problems, etc, and that he would not support any move that would lead to the division of the country.<br />He added that the Igbos are the people who actually need free movement in the country because of their spread in the country. He also said that what needed to be done was to create atmosphere that would guarantee the Igbos to realize their futures where ever they are, even as he said the Igbos need to reach out to others for the best interest of their children.<br />He said: “They have forgotten what happened to those who ran back because of the crisis in the North: that only a week after, their relations asked them out of their homes. So, what do we do? Now, you find that if a trailer blocks the road to the North today, we will starve. We won't have tomatoes, fish and others.<br />“What are you separating for?<br />All these things will now be imported and you will have to pay duties on them. Some people don't understand this: we are the people who need free movement in Nigeria; the others don't, we do. So, why splitting the country?<br />“What we can do is to make it possible for every Igbo man where ever he to realize his future. We want friendship with others; we want to unclench our fist and have a handshake with others in the interest of our children who are elsewhere.<br />Look at all the universities all around the place! You want our children to be foreign students in those places? Because that would be the implication. The population of every university in the country today is at least 40% Igbo.<br />“The population of the lecturers is the same thing, and this is what you want to destroy because somebody is fanning your embers here to come back home. We will suffocate in this place. And I don't think I will support that”<br />He said that those castigating him for his earlier statement that he won't support Nigeria's breakup and described it as self serving, were being childish as he has always held position irrespective of his appointment as a delegate to the national Conference.<br />“That is a childish opinion, because I have always held that opinion before I was appointed, and I think I will defend it anywhere very successfully. You see, people hold peripheral opinion on issues: “oh! Let us separate, let us do this.” Have you planned how you will separate? You have too many Igbo men outside Igbo land, and when you take decisions you should consider them. If all these in Alaba, in Kano, everywhere in this country lose their citizenship where ever they are, it is bound to affect them economically because they will become foreigners.”<br />He said that the Igbos would suffer most among all the groups in the country if there is a breakup of the country today as there are not enough job opportunities to absorb the mass of the people that would return.<br />He said: “And of all the groups in Nigeria, the Igbo group would be the largest sufferer of such situation. Now, those at home enjoying themselves don't know what the effect would be on others, but I know. So, in Nigeria, in every state, you would find that after the indigenes of that state, the next in population is the Igbo. So, where are you going to put these people if they come back home?<br />“Since (Michael) Opkara, has anyone built industry here? Look at Naze Industrial Area; look at Onitsha Road Industrial Area; how many governors have come here since they were set up? Do you have anything there? And when you talk about governorship nomination people are talking about somebody who has money to give to delegates and not somebody who has a programme to create job for the people.<br />“That is what we are interested in. If we work to ensure that anybody who lives anywhere in Nigeria should have full citizenship rights in those places, it would be to the advantage of the Igbos instead of losing what we already have.<br />That is the position I take, and I think that those who oppose me do so out of ignorance. They need to understand. And I know that after my formal presentation of that case and arguing it at the National Conference, I will expose myself to some of the radio stations here and we will dialogue on it, and the person will tell me what he intends to do with those who will come back (if Nigeria divides).”</div>
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Culled: Premium Times.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-11509969722286653282014-05-07T10:28:00.000-07:002014-05-07T10:28:56.683-07:00Drop 2015 Presidential Ambition, Ohanaeze Urges Igbos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has asked all politicians of Igbo extraction not to join the 2015 presidential race if President Goodluck Jonathan decides to seek reelection.</div>
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The Chairman of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Anambra State chapter, Mr. Eluemunoh said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Awka.</div>
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He said the Igbo people were satisfied with the Jonathan’s administration and would support his reelection bid, if he indicates interest to do so. Eluemunoh said Igbo people had benefited more basic infrastructure and political appointments in Jonathan’s governemnt than any other administration since Independence.</div>
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“Any government like Jonathan’s administration that shares national resources equitably needed to be encouraged to stay in office and perfect the administration programme to a logical conclusion.</div>
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“It is on this stance that I commend the president and pledge our loyalty to him. I urge any Igbo man nursing the ambition to contest as president to drop it now, for us to speak with one voice.’’</div>
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Eluemunoh said: ‘’Any Igbo man who works against the president would be fighting the Igbo race because for now the Igbos have no national political platform under which they should contest.</div>
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“How do you present a candidate when our own brother is there? Ohanaeze has said we will pull our support for Jonathan now and in 2015, so, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.</div>
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“Ohanaeze is the voice of the Igbo nation. We cannot fight anybody, we cannot bite anybody but we can embarrass you as an Igbo man if you contest.</div>
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“We resolved that we should allow our own brother to go for second tenure. Who else can do better than what Jonathan is doing for the Igbo people.”</div>
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He also commiserated with the federal government and the judiciary over the death of Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, who died on May 4.</div>
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This Day.</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-62762980009113242422014-05-02T00:03:00.000-07:002014-05-02T00:03:04.698-07:00Confab: North rejects creation of additional state for South-East <br />
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" 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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">ABUJA—Even before the proposal for the creation of one more state for the South-East geo-political zone is tabled at plenary for discussion, the North has rejected the plan, saying the zone does not have the required landmass and population to warrant the new state.</span></div>
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The opposition of the North to the creation of more states in the country and particularly for the South-East, is contained in a 46-page document, prepared by the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, for all northern delegates to the ongoing National Conference.</div>
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The document, which is entitled “Key Issues before the Northern Delegates to the 2014 National Conference”, also described Northern Nigeria as the “backbone and strength of Nigeria” and has already been distributed to the northern delegates.</div>
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The ACF said it opposed the creation of more states in Nigeria because too many states have tended to convert them into what it called “mere cost or effort centres” at the expense of socio-economic development.</div>
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“It is against this backdrop that the ACF believes that the creation of any additional state at this point in time is counter-productive and therefore, should be kept on hold until the need can be justified in future.</div>
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“The argument that creation of states should be on the basis of equality irrespective of population and landmass is inconsistent with the elementary concept of justice, since injustice is not only when equals are treated unequally but also when unequals are treated equally”.</div>
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The northern group argued further that going by the population average per state, each of the 36 states of the federation could be assumed to have an average of 3,888,987 and a landmass of 27,327 square kilometre.</div>
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Using its baseline land mass and average population for each of the states, ACF argued that the South-East with a total population of 16,381, 729 and a landmass of 33,664 square kilometres, presents each of the five states in the zone with a population of 3, 276,345 and a landmass of 33,664 square kilometres.</div>
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ACF, therefore, argued that the population per state in the South-East is far less than the national average by 612,642 while its landmass of 33,664 square kilometres is not up to 25 per cent of the National Average.</div>
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The group maintained that the total land mass of the South-East is just a little above the National Average per state.</div>
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On the other hand, the ACF boasted that its seven states in the North-West alone, boasts of a population of 35,786,994 and a land mass of 222,120 square kilometres, with an average population of 5,112,421, which it claimed is 1,223,434 higher than the national average.</div>
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Turning to the South-West, the northern group pointed out that the six states in the zone have a small population of 27,581,994, which amounts to 4,596,999 per state, which is 1,320,654 far higher than the South-East average.</div>
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But the ACF conceded that by land mass, the South-West with a figure of 78,774 square kilometres is 13,129 square kilometres or twice the South-East average.</div>
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The group argued that for any state to be created in the South-East, the South-West must have up to nine states first, if population were to be used as the deciding factor and as many as 12 more states if land mass were to be the deciding factor.</div>
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The north argued: “This proposition, which formed the cardinal position of the South-East since the 1994 Constitutional Conference, has been crafted to whittle down any political advantage the north could exercise in Nigeria despite its huge territorial size and large population.</div>
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“Yet, the concept of geo-political zones has no place in our constitution and it should remain so,” the group maintained.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-79498030789318152592014-04-25T22:45:00.000-07:002014-04-25T22:45:52.853-07:00SOUTH-EAST TO GET NEW STATE —Confab Committee<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif, arial, Helvetica; text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://www.newsexpressngr.com/images/news/thumbnails/Ike%20Nwachuwu_510x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://www.newsexpressngr.com/images/news/thumbnails/Ike%20Nwachuwu_510x350.jpg" width="320" /></a>Agitation by the people of the South-East for creation of an additional state in the area to put them at par with other zones of the federation received huge support yesterday when the demand received the unanimous backing from members of the National Conference Committee on Political Reforms and Forms of Government.</div>
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Members of the committee who took turns to make submissions on the contentious matter unanimously agreed that there was need for creation of one more state in the region in the interest of justice and fair-play and to give the people of the South-East a sense of belonging.</div>
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The Political Reforms and Forms of Government Committee, however, submitted that every other region demanding the creation of more states would only get it on the basis of merit.</div>
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The 30-member committee further submitted that without prejudice to states constituting the federating unit, those that wish to merge may do so in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria subject to three conditions, namely:</div>
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•That a majority of the two-thirds of all members in each of the Houses of Assembly of each of the states, in which such merger is proposed, support by resolution, the merger;</div>
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•That a referendum is conducted in each of the states proposing to merge with 75 per cent of the eligible voters in each of those states approving of the merger; and</div>
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•That each House of the National Assembly, by resolution passed by a simple majority of membership of each of the Houses, approve of the merger.</div>
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Addressing journalists after the committee adjourned its sitting yesterday, the chairman, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd.), said by supporting the creation of an additional state in the South-East, delegates have shown that everyone can have a win-win situation.</div>
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He said: “I must thank my committee members for their maturity and ability to discern the needs of Nigerians to have more states based on merit, particularly the South-East, thereby bringing the zone at par with others.</div>
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“I want to indeed say to my colleagues that they have shown great understanding and they believe in a win-win option. That is the spirit we should maintain in this Conference.</div>
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“At the end of the day, we will be recommending that there should be equality of states in the various zones of the country, and then allowing the zones that have agitations across the country to decide which state should be created.</div>
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“Those who make the request for the creation of more states do so because they feel marginalised where they are.”</div>
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Before arriving at the resolution ahead of the commencement of debates, the committee had proceeded on a five-minute coffee break following a motion by Dr. Abubakar Saddique Mohammed ostensibly to allow the delegates and members of the committee to confer with each other.</div>
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At the resumption of session, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey while making a case for the South-East, pointed out that the zone which had only five states among the 36 in the country stood at a disadvantage which, according to him, was a great challenge to the people of the area.</div>
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“We don’t want to be more than other zones; we just want to be like others. I appeal to this committee to strongly take into consideration the need to bring the South-East at par with other zones in this country,” he said.</div>
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Senator Femi Okurounmu, in his argument, said there should be creation of more states to meet growing demands.</div>
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He said there should be the same number of states in every zone in the spirit of fairness. He, however, warned delegates to be mindful in order to avoid the abuse of the process.</div>
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Binta Masi Garba advocated for the creation of Amana State in the North. She also supported the creation of an additional state in the South-East in the spirit of fairness.</div>
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Chief Benjamin Elue from Delta State, while supporting the call for the creation of an additional state in the South-East, begged delegates to consider the long agitation of the Igbo-speaking people in his state who want their own state. He said Anioma State should be carved out of the present Delta State in the interest of justice.</div>
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Senator Ahmed Aruwa argued that it was outside the purview of the committee to create a state.</div>
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He said the panel could only make recommendations and create an enabling environment for those agitating for more states to have their way. He said the South-East zone deserves an additional state based on merit.</div>
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Yinka Odumakin said states have become tenants to the Federal Government. He said states must have the capacity to look inward and create its own revenue base instead of becoming slaves to the Federal Government. He said the practice where governors come to Abuja at the end of every month to collect salaries must be discouraged.</div>
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Lawrence Agubuzu, a South-East delegate, said every region should get an additional state. He, however, argued that in the new arrangement, his region should be given two states. He said the creation of additional states in the six geo-political zones will create a better balance.</div>
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Also fielding questions at the end of session, co-Chairman of the committee, Mohammed Ukara Kumalia, said in the interest of justice and fair-play, the South-East should be given an additional state.</div>
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He said every other region agitating for more states must be given based on merit. He said this is needed in order to avoid abuse of the process.</div>
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He said that genuine demands for the creation of states from all the other zones will be looked into and disclosed that decisions will be taken based on the merit of such demands looking at their viability, contiguity and a host of other factors that usually determine the creation of states.</div>
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Kumalia further disclosed that the committee will revisit the issue of local council creation next week, and specifically address other elements such as the mode of funding, among others.</div>
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Meanwhile, members of the Conference Committee on Political Matters have agreed to expunge the contentious immunity clause for the president, his vice, governors and their assistants from the constitution.</div>
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They, however, gave an exception to the rule, adding that in case of civil offences, the president, vice, governor and his deputy are protected by the law. </div>
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The delegates argued that detractors might take advantage of the removal of the immunity clause to institute unnecessary civil cases against executives.</div>
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In a related development, members of Conference Committee on Judiciary want the government to separate the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of the Minister of Justice.</div>
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If this recommendation is adopted by the general house during the adoption of committees’ reports, years of agitation by lawyers and other activists who have persistently called for the separation would have succeeded.</div>
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The judiciary committee also recommended that the government should create constitutional courts across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, similar to Wednesday’s recommendations that Supreme Courts should be created in all the 36 states of the federation.<br /><em></em></div>
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<em>•Pieced together from separate reports in The Guardian. Photo shows</em><em>Chairman of National Conference Committee on Political Reforms and Forms of Government, Ike Nwachukwu.</em></div>
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<span class="boldText" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Source</span> News Express</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-72049693652242356222014-04-25T22:08:00.001-07:002014-04-25T22:08:30.944-07:00Half of a Yellow Sun film delayed by Nigeria censors<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 1.077em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;">
<a href="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74450000/jpg/_74450751_74450750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Director of Half of a Yellow Sun Biyi Bandele (l) and author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie attend the film's premiere in Lagos on 12 April" border="0" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74450000/jpg/_74450751_74450750.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /></a>Nigeria's film board has delayed the release of Half of a Yellow Sun, a film about the Biafran war.</div>
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The film, by Nigerian-born British director Biyi Bandele, was set to open in Nigerian cinemas on Friday.</div>
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A film board spokesman told AFP there were "regulatory issues" with the film but that it wasn't "officially banned".</div>
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The film is based on a novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about the 1967-70 civil war, in which more than a million people died</div>
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Aliyu Tanko, from the BBC Hausa service, says that more than 40 years after the end of the war, the subject remains extremely sensitive in Nigeria.</div>
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Some fear the film, which is seen as sympathetic to the Biafran separatist cause, could stoke up ethnic tensions, he says.</div>
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The book was released in Nigeria but with the country's high rates of illiteracy, a film is likely to get more attention.</div>
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Mr Bandele told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that he wasn't sure why the censorship board had delayed certification.</div>
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The Nigeria film board saw the film seven months ago, Mr Bandele said.</div>
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"What's frustrating is we have not received a formal letter from the board telling us we've been banned, or that we've not been banned," he added.</div>
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He denied the film was biased and stressed that he did not see how it could incite violence.</div>
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The director also said the film raised issues which Nigeria badly needed to discuss.</div>
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"One of the reasons Nigeria is more divided today - 40 years after the end of the war - than it was before the war started, is because we have refused to talk about the elephant in the room."</div>
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The film features Twelve Years a Slave actor Chiwetel Ejiofor and Crash star Thandie Newton.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-7748781976495254602014-04-24T23:32:00.001-07:002014-04-24T23:32:33.371-07:00Enugu: Who is afraid of Ifeoma Nwobodo?<br />
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<a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/nwobodo-ifeoma-mrs-702x320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img alt="nwobodo ifeoma mrs" border="0" height="181" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/nwobodo-ifeoma-mrs-702x320.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="400" /></a></div>
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For those not conversant with the story of Medusa in the Greek mythology, there is a need for a refresh. Medusa, the Gorgon, was once a very beautiful, lily-haired priestess that worshipped Athena, the Greek supreme goddess. When she overstepped her bounds by failing in her celibate vows, Athena turned her into a terribly ugly woman, transforming her once-alluring hair strands into tiny snakes. So odious was Medusa that anybody, who cast eyes on her was instantly turned into a boulder of stone.</div>
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There is this beautiful, hard-working young woman in Enugu State, who the fretting and unprincipled politicians, through their sponsored articles in the media, have tended to paint, as the modern-day Medusa. Nothing adequately prepares for the sense of disappointment, which one experiences at encountering this woman about whom so much venom has been spilled by a voracious, but small section of the political class of Enugu State. Yes, disappointment, because after reading all the evils that Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, the Chief of Staff to the governor of Enugu State, is said to have visited on whatever she touches, one would believe that anybody who as much as sights her even from a distance, would be struck with a plague. Yet, the image of this young mother and the wife of Justice Afam Nwobodo, as painted by her traducers in Enugu State, is such that one could easily go past her on the street without imagining that this is a simple, humble, if ordinary hard working young Igbo woman.</div>
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In fact, the first day that I saw Mrs. Nwobodo at a function, she cut the image of Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, another very efficient woman some love to hate, not for any evil they have done, but rather because they are sticklers for efficiency and hard work. Before then, I had heard and read a lot of things about how wicked, ambitious, intractable and power-drunk Ifeoma Nwobodo, a former accountant at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, was, to the extent that she was accused lamely of being the real power behind the throne in Enugu State.</div>
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But from my findings on the Chief of Staff at the Enugu Lion Building (the other name for Enugu State Government House), she knew zilch in politics before the inception of the Chime administration but as the saying goes, a chick that would become a cock is known from the very day the egg hatches. As an ordinary woman, who went about her duties in the best ways she knew how, what she saw as her normal roles of keeping the books and instilling tight financial and administrative discipline helped to transform the fortunes of the ailing Nike Lake Resort to the extent that the keen eyes of people, including the man that was to become the governor noticed.She was also reputed for her resoluteness and sense of duty. So, no sooner did Chime become the governor than he was to have invited Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo to serve as his Chief of Staff, as inexperienced in politics as she was then. From what I also reliably learnt, Ifeoma did not as much as understand what a chief of staff does, not to talk about seeing herself as being qualified for the most difficult crucial position around the state’s chief executive. But as a family that takes spiritual guidance very seriously, she and her husband were said to have consulted God for guidance and got firm affirmation.</div>
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Not only did she learn very fast, aided by the fact that her boss is said to be a man who places a lot of premium on delegating duties to the competent, she soon got such a firm handle on her job that the laxities that characterise public service, especially in the previous dispensation in the state, were thrown out through the window, as she inculcated the sense of urgency honed through the application of her private sector experience, which had inculcated in her the culture of striving to achieve set goals. This culture automatically affects the people and environment around which she operates.Her boss has turned out to be one of the greatest achievers in Nigeria today, having positively transformed the fortunes of his state beyond expectation, without making much noise. Today, the rest is history, as the sense of urgency, which Ifeoma Nwobodo has inculcated in the seat of power in her state, has become a whirlwind that has swept away those too lethargic to change while invigorating the state of affairs in the state. She has become a veritable partner in progress to Governor Chime, to the extent that she is widely regarded as the power behind the throne, while, indeed, she sees herself and carries on as a humble servant of a goal-getting boss.</div>
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Her competency and principles have unfortunately become her bane. She has made many enemies of unprincipled people, especially sit-tight politicians from the state. The PDP stakeholders in the state, led by Governor Chime, had agreed on a formula that would consolidate the sense of justice, political peace and amity that had characterised Chime’s era in the state. The crux of that doctrine is that the tenure of every elected political figure under the PDP banner would be limited to two terms, after which (s)he would make way for other citizens. The formula, which was enthusiastically accepted by the preponderance of the citizens, who saw it as a way of ensuring that everybody would have a sense of belonging, also prescribed that the governorship should move to the Enugu North zone that had not experienced it. The deliberate decision of the party to make Nsukka zone get the next governor was, therefore, unanimously hailed.</div>
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However, this formula was rebuffed by the camp of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who, after serving for three terms as a senator, seemed not yet satisfied and believes that he deserves another term, failing which he should be ‘rewarded’ with the governorship position, even when he does not come from the Nsukka zone. Most of the other National Assembly members, like Senator Gil Nnaji, who has served in both chambers of the National Assembly, do not also seem to be comfortable with the new PDP doctrine. All these should never have concerned Mrs. Nwobodo, yet it has become convenient for some to malign and serially accuse her of being the person, who is behind ensuring that the party’s doctrine on power sharing is executed to a logical conclusion.</div>
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She is being accused of habouring the interest to contest for the senatorial position for Enugu East, the seat currently occupied by Senator Nnaji, who, apart from a generally acknowledged lacklustre representation, should have become satisfied after serving for two terms in the House of Representatives and currently in the Senate. To compound matters for Nnaji, he is said to lack the support and favour of the local government bosses in the zone.</div>
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While Ifeoma Nwobodo is yet to make any such aspiration public, there seems to be a unanimity of opinion in the state that after an obvious insipid representation at the upper national chambers, the zone that houses the capital of Igboland deserves a senator of proven intellect, dedication to duty and the type of commitment that she has shown and which has acquitted her creditably to many and made her an enemy to those who want business as usual. The way it looks in Enugu today, the more the political desperadoes accuse her of all manners of things, the ordinary people of the state hail all that as an endorsement, knowing that the bad-mouthing translates into saying: “you are serving the state too well…” The logic, therefore, is that “this woman is the right ‘man’ for the job.”</div>
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Ordinarily, the aspiration to the Senate, the ‘crime’ that Ifeoma is being accused of, and judging from her sterling performance in her present role, is even being regarded as inadequate enough, as many have suggested that had she come from the Nsukka zone, she should have been encouraged to vie for the governorship to ensure the perpetuation of the good job of her boss. As at the time Governor Chime was inviting her to become his chief of staff, two former chiefs of staff had become governors of their states – Babatunde Fashola and Theodore Orji, who served Governors Tinubu of Lagos and Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia, respectively. It is clear that none of those had put in as much, nor earned as much acclaim, as Mrs. Nwobodo in their days.</div>
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So, why all the fuss that this Amazon, who has stricken so much terror in the incompetent and the inordinately-ambitious as well as great love and respect in people of principles, should aspire only to ‘mere’ senatorial position? The people of Enugu State should feel proud that Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo should aspire to become a senator and give them the type of robust voice they demand – and deserve</div>
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.<b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">• Nwokolo contributed this piece from Enugu</i></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-79838458157208018132014-04-24T22:36:00.000-07:002014-04-24T22:36:11.387-07:00Enugu PDP lifts ban on suspended SSG, commissioners<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3a4149; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.0769em; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State has announced the recall of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Amechi Okolo and two commissioners who were suspended from the party in January.</div>
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The recalled commissioners are Chijioke Agu, Commissioner for Sports and Dr. Jude Akubuilo, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry.</div>
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Others are two Special Advisers to the governor, Sunny Agu and O.A.U Onyeama.</div>
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Chairman of the PDP in Udi Local Government Area, Uche Ogbodo, who addressed a press conference in Enugu yesterday said it was in compliance with the decisions and directives of the National Working Committee (NWC)of the party. Ogbodo also announced the withdrawal of a law suit between Uche Ogbodo and the PDP, instituted in the wake of the crisis in the party in Udi Local Government Area.</div>
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He thanked the National Working Committee for resolving the issues in the Udi L.G.A PDP stating that he now has more confidence and is re-invigorated to lead the party to greater success in the next elections.</div>
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The suspension of the key government personalities by Ogbodo in January led to a lot of controversies as the governor’s men announced his removal as party local government chairman.</div>
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But in a letter from the National Working Committee of PDP dated April 14th and signed by National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo the NWC called for all suspensions to be lifted and for the chairman to withdraw his court suit within 14 days.</div>
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The letter which was addressed to National Vice Chairman PDP South East and copied to Udi and Enugu PDP chairmen the NWC noted that it will hold a meeting Ekweremadu and Chime to resolve all issues.</div>
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Culled: SUN</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-61467555817231384482014-04-21T04:59:00.001-07:002014-04-21T04:59:19.304-07:00Enugu Community Dares Gov, Chime, Gives Chieftaincy Title To Ekweremadu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Despite the Enugu State government’s warning to traditional rulers in the state not to give chieftaincy titles to anyone until December 31 this year, Oduma community in Aninri local government area of the state over the weekend conferred a chieftaincy title on the deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.</div>
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Speaking shortly after receiving the title during a reception that took place at Oduma Primary School, Ekweremadu thanked God that the occasion went on smoothly in spite of the fact that some people tried to scuttle it.</div>
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He assured Oduma people that the N12billion Oduma/Nenwe/Uburu road which he attracted to the community would be completed soon, and expressed happiness that work on the road has reached advanced stage.</div>
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He disclosed that the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has constructed over 200 kilometres of roads in his constituency, stating that the president deserves the support and encouragement of Nigerians.</div>
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Ekweremadu thanked the community for honouring him, and promised to bring more development projects to them.</div>
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The state government through the Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters announced the suspension of conferment of chieftaincy titles by traditional rulers in the state with effect from April 7, 2014.</div>
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The letter dated April 7, 2014 with reference number MCM/CM/98/T/203 was addressed to all recognised traditional rulers in the state.</div>
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The letter, signed by Ibe Nnamani on behalf of the commissioner, directed traditional rulers in the state not to confer chieftaincy title on any individual between April 7 and December 31, this year.</div>
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Leadership.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-62489335190016906222014-04-18T22:31:00.002-07:002014-04-18T22:31:30.695-07:00Ban on chieftaincy: Community dares Enugu govt<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3a4149; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.0769em; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ekweremadu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ekweremadu" border="0" height="199" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ekweremadu.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">T</span>he Oduma Community in Aninri local government area of Enugu State is set to dare the state government as it insists on conferring chieftaincy title on Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and others.</div>
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The State government recently placed an embargo on the conferment of chieftaincy titles on individuals in the state.</div>
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The people of Oduma in Enugu West Senatorial District had planned to honour their representative in the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu for facilitating the construction of the N12 billion Nenwe-Oduma-Uburu road before the order was announced.</div>
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The road project, which was flagged off in November 2013 has reached an advanced stage and the people of the area who had been experiencing nightmares passing through the road now heaving a sigh of relief.</div>
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The contract for the 26 kilometers road running from Nenwe through Oduma in Enugu State to Uburu in Ebonyi State was approved and awarded to SETRACO by the Federal Executive Council on November 14, 2012.</div>
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Impressed by the role played by the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu in making the long desired road project a reality, the community unanimously resolved to appreciate him with a chieftaincy title.</div>
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Also selected for conferment of chieftaincy titles at the reception slated for Saturday, April. 19, 2014 at Oduma are the Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen, Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze and Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi.</div>
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But while the community was making arrangement for the event, the state government through the Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters announced the suspension of conferment of chieftaincy titles by traditional rulers in the state with effect from April 7, 2014.</div>
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The letter dated April 7, 2014 with reference number MCM/CM/98/T/203 addressed to all recognized traditional rulers in the state and signed by Ibe Nnamani on behalf of the Commissioner, directed traditional rulers in the state not to confer chieftaincy title on any individual between April 7 and December 31, this year.</div>
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But a member of the organizing committee for the event, Chief Johnson Orji told reporters in Enugu yesterday that the community would go ahead with its plan to honour the selected personalities, who had since been notified and have mobilized their friends and well-wishers for the ceremony.</div>
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“The entire Oduma community made up of several villages has been planning this reception for Senator Ekweremadu since last year for making it possible in our lifetime what we never imagined could be possible.</div>
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Many administrations in the state from military to the present democratic regime had come with promises during campaign, but always reneged on the promises after election. This is due majorly to the very difficult topography of the Nenwe and Oduma once described by Governor Sullivan Chime as an impossible terrain, but this has been made possible by our son, Chief Ekweremadu,” Chief Orji said.</div>
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There are speculations that the event was earlier approved by the State Government when traditional rulers from Oduma sought government’s approval, but the government latter decided to suspend the conferment when the identity of the recipients were made public.</div>
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Sources said that the action of the government might not be unconnected with the current face-off between Governor Chime and members of the National Assembly from the state over their re-election bid in 2015.</div>
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Culled: The SUN</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-51284775783731451562014-04-15T22:48:00.000-07:002014-04-15T22:48:27.961-07:00UNN COMMENCES DISTANCE LEARNING SERVICES!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">University of Nigeria Distance Learning Programme (UNN-DLP) hereby announces the commencement of distance learning services. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">DLP is currently running a pilot phase with MSc courses in the Faculty of Business Administration – Departments of Accountancy,Banking and Finance, Management and Marketing.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">UNN DLP provides distance learning services through online amenities and operations covering:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">• Delivery of lectures and tutorials by lecturers;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">• Chats between lecturers and students;</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">• Exchange of information between lecturers and students</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">• Assessment and scoring of students by lecturers. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">To prepare lecturers and students for online teaching/learning, UNN Distance Learning Programme, in collaboration with Information and Communications (ICT) Unit, provides training and orientation, using the University’s online education platform.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Therefore, lecturers and departments who wish to bring some of their MSc courses into the pilot phase should contact: </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">The Programme Officer</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">08039333134, </span><a href="mailto:dlp.unn@unn.edu.ng" style="background-color: white; color: #33a333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;">dlp.unn@unn.edu.ng</a><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Distance Learning Programme</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Signed </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Prof. Eric Eboh</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Director, Distance Learning Programme</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #494949; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">University of Nigeria, Nsukka</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-76972309469608073072014-04-15T21:28:00.002-07:002014-04-15T21:28:45.108-07:00Fulani herdsmen on rampage in Enugu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 25.998001098632813px;">Rampaging Fulani herdsmen have continued to terrorise Enugu State with reports of robbery attacks which led to the death of a victim while another who was attacked in the state capital escaped with machete wounds.</span></div>
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The police in Enugu confirmed the death of one Theophilus Eneje, a businessman who was allegedly attacked by the herdsmen along the lonely Ibeagwa/Ezimo Road in Udenu Local Government Area of the state. Eneje, who was carrying empty bottles with which he intended to buy drinks at Obollo-Afor reportedly ran into ambush laid by the herdsmen.</div>
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He was allegedly dealt a machete cut on the head when he resisted attempt to rob him of the cash he was carrying. He was said to have been robbed and left to bleed to death.</div>
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Another victim of the herdsmen alleged invasion is a night-guard who works at Aninwede Street in Obiagu area of Ogui New-Layout.</div>
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The guard, whose identity could not be confirmed as at the time of this report was said to have closed from work at about 6am and was trekking home when he was accosted by the cattle rearers along the Ebeano tunnel.</div>
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The victim, according to our source, who also put up some resistance received deep machete cuts before escaping from his captors.</div>
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He has been receiving treatment at the Park Lame Hospital in Enugu.The Enugu state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), told our reporter that the command has commenced investigations into the incidence of armed robbery attack by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. He said that manhunt has been intensified to arrest the suspected Fulani robbers especially those that killed Mr. Eneje along Ibeagwa/Ezimo in Udenu Local Government Area of the state.</div>
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<span style="color: #3a4149; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; text-align: start;">From PETRUS OBI, Enugu</span></div>
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Source: THE SUN</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-49028709016292397642014-04-15T10:06:00.000-07:002014-04-15T10:06:38.081-07:00Women declare war on Ogogoro<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3a4149; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.0769em; margin-bottom: 1.857em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span style="font-size: 1.0769em;">BY SUNDAY ANI</span></div>
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nichsunny@yahoo.com</div>
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On March 28, women under the aegis of Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), St. Anthony Parish, Nguru, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, staged a protest against the sale and consumption of local gin, popularly known as Ogogoro or kaikai in their community. They alleged that the substance had rendered their men useless to the extent of abdicating their responsibility as breadwinners of their families.</div>
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The women complained that if the consumption of the substance was left unchecked, the biblical injunction: “Go and procreate and fill the earth,” would soon come under serious threat because the substance had rendered many of their men impotent. Those who had not completely become impotent, the women alleged, were knocking on the door of impotency, as many of them hardly meet up with their conjugal duties.</div>
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According to the women, their husbands no longer warm their beds at night. “After drinking kaikai, they would come home and lie down like logs of wood. They would snore till the next day. They can no longer have sex with their wives because their organs are almost dead. How do we procreate under that situation? That is why we are crying out to the world,” the women said, through their spokesperson, as they carried fresh green leaves around the community.</div>
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The women, who were dressed in Catholic Christian Mothers’ uniform, moved from hamlet to hamlet, chanting a dirge for kaikai and its sellers. When they got to any shop suspected to be selling the substance, they would drop fresh green leaves and chant before proceeding to the next shop.</div>
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They sang such songs as, “kaikai has made men to build houses and sleep in the bush; kaikai has made men to marry and not bear children. Kaikai has made men to be lazy; kaikai has made men to see women and not have appetite for them.”</div>
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They carried flags bearing such inscriptions as: “Kaikai affects the reproductive system of a man”, “CWO says no to illicit gins – top squad, KP, kaikai etc.” “We don’t want illicit gin in Nguru community, It causes more harm than good”; “Top squad, kaikai has made our youth to be weak and sick”; “It leads to premature death”; “Kaikai has made our youth to be lazy” and “Kaikai kills, say no to it,” among others.”</div>
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Most shop owners, who sell the substance, closed their shops and disappeared for fear of what the women could do. When our correspondent approached the leader of the women group, Mrs. Theodora Eze, she captured their ordeal thus: “We are protesting because kaikai has finished us in this community. In Nguru community, kaikai has snatched our men and youths from us. Early in the morning every day, the young boys, instead of looking for what to do, will sit comfortably and drink themselves to stupor at kaikai joints, which are scattered everywhere in this community. After drinking, the person will become useless throughout the day. Those who are married among them cannot even feed themselves, not to talk of their wives and children. Our women have suddenly become the breadwinners simply because of kaikai. Our suffering is overweighing us; the burden of solely catering for our families’ needs is becoming too much on us. That is why we are crying to high heavens against this scourge.”</div>
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To show that they meant business, they have also promulgated a law, which took effect from April 1. According to the law, anybody found to be selling or drinking the substance within Nguru community would be liable to a fine of N20, 000. The women were said to enjoy the support of the Nsukka Police Area Commander, the Nsukka Divisional Police Officer (DPO), the Umuada organisation, the youth association, the entire women of the community as well as the Parish Priest of St Anthony Catholic Church, Nguru</div>
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“We have proclaimed a law that anybody found selling or consuming ogogoro from April 1, will have the women to contend with. The Nsukka Police Area Commander is aware of what we are doing. The DPO is aware, the Umuada in our community, who act as lawmakers, are aware; the titled men in the community also have our support, the Nguru Youth Association is in support, the Catholic Women Organisation of St. Thomas, Nguru, as well as the parish priest, are all in support of this protest. We are strongly crying against this evil,” Mrs. Eze said.</div>
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Tracing the genesis of kaikai consumption in Nguru, Eze said: “It is laziness and joblessness. There is no job created by the government and they don’t even want to help themselves. That is what we have found as responsible. Both the educated and uneducated are involved in this mess.”</div>
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Throwing more light on the negative effect of the illicit gin on their men and why they have decided to take up the gauntlet, she said: “The height of this madness is that our men can no longer impregnate their wives. Apart from not being able to satisfy their wives sexually, they have degenerated to a level where they cannot impregnate their wives again. It has rendered many of them impotent. It will lead to serious population decrease and possible extinction of the community if a serious measure, such as the one we are embarking on, is not taken against the scourge. This protest is against the sellers and buyers as well and the punishment for its breach is N20, 000, so we can use it to develop Nguru community.”</div>
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When the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Livinus Nnaji, was approached for his comment, he described what the women were doing as historic. He corroborated what the women said about the negative effects of ogogoro.</div>
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“I think the CWO, St. Anthony Parish, Nguru is making history today. I say so because that is the first time it is happening here in Nguru. Women generally, are the correctors of evil; they come in when things are going wrong. Kaikai is actually out to destroy the entire community. Both boys and girls, young and old are involved in this mess. The women, seen as the light of the nation have seen this evil and decided to take up arms against it, crying and asking the sellers and consumers to desist from the evil. They are calling on sellers particularly, because once they stop selling; people will stop consuming because you can only consume what is available. The women are doing a nice job,” he argued.</div>
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Speaking on the possibility of legislating against the substance beyond Nguru, Fr Nnaji said: “If our government can take interest in it, it can be stopped from the source. They can also ban people from selling it and that will automatically bring to an end the consumption of the substance.” O</div>
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On whether the Catholic Church would be interested in pursuing the legislation of such law, the cleric also said: “Yes, the church is already doing that and that is why the CWO of St. Anthony, Nguru is leading the demonstration against the scourge. And it has happened in so many places. The people of Ohum Orba, in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, did it two years ago and since then, order has returned to that community. The youth of that community are beginning to regain their senses and do something meaningful with their lives. Anybody taking kaikai is like somebody attempting to commit suicide.”</div>
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Ferdinand Ezema is believed to be a big supplier of the substance. When our correspondent approached him, he said: “Yes, I sell it because people demand for it. I sell other drinks, like beer but because kaikai is people’s demand, I sell it. Now that the women are protesting against its sale and consumption in this town, I will stop selling it. In fact, I have stopped it already. It is no longer in my stock.”</div>
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But, is it true that many men have become impotent and infertile because of kaikai? He spoke for himself, claiming that his wife never complained. He said: “I wouldn’t know of those who cannot satisfy their wives sexually or impregnate them because I have not been contracted to do the job for them. But, I satisfy my own wife and also impregnate her whenever we want, even though I drink. I drink because there is no way I can be selling it without drinking it, but I do that in moderation. Maybe, because I don’t drink in excess, that’s why I cannot notice the women’s complaint. Everything we eat must be in moderation. Henceforth, I will stop selling and drinking because the community has decreed against it and I believe that the voice of many is the voice of God.”</div>
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Chief Boniface Aruma, alias Ozo Eze, is an Ogogoro drinker. He said he had been drinking it for over 50 years but still has his manhood intact and functional. He started drinking the substance as far back as 1957 to be precise, he stated. His wife, who was among the Catholic women, used to sell it until her organisation, (CWO) raised the alarm over its negative effects on their men.</div>
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According to him, “my wife used to sell it, but with this law, she has stopped. I drink it, but I am happy for what the women are doing. I only pity the poor ones who cannot afford to buy beer. It has no effect on me. I have 32 living children and I have been drinking kaikai since 1957. So, it has never prevented me from impregnating my wives or satisfying them sexually at any time. It doesn’t remove anything from me. But with this development, I have stopped it.”</div>
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On why the men start drinking early in the morning, the old man replied: “It is those who don’t do anything. For instance, I am an old man and I don’t do anything again. I only rely on my children to supply my needs. So, they send money to me and I buy whatever I need. I can afford to go there early in the morning because I don’t do anything again due to old age. I see it as food.”</div>
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He also identified poverty as one of the reasons why men resort to Kaikai. “It is poverty that forces people to consume the substance. For instance, when you buy a shot worth N30, it will be enough to make your day, but when you talk of beer, how many persons can afford N150 or more for just one bottle that won’t even get you anywhere? It won’t lay any foundation. You need to drink like four of five bottles before you are intoxicated, as much as somebody who takes a shot of kaikai, which is just N30. Four or five bottles of beer translate to N600 or N750; how many of them can afford it?” he asked.</div>
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Ukamaka Ezema is another seller, who stopped the business long before the protest. According to her, her conscience was pricking her. She also said people’s pressure and demand forced her to sell it, but she had to stop it when her late husband became a heavy drinker.</div>
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She stopped selling it as a way of curtailing her husband who also formed the habit of taking the substance from her store whenever she was away from home.</div>
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She narrated her story: “I was not selling it initially, but people kept demanding and putting pressure on me to start selling it. That was when I started selling it. There is one man who had stopped the consumption of kaikai because I was always fighting him when he was drinking. He would come and demand it but I would only give him one shot and after that, I would turn down his demand for more. He even saw me as a wicked person then, but since he stopped it, he has not stopped thanking me for contributing to his redemption. He now regards me as a person who loves him and who wanted him to live. There is another auto-mechanic, who is already useless.</div>
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“So, when I saw these women protesting, I was just saying that maybe it will help the boy to come back to life because already he is a living dead. I will be very happy if it can be stopped completely. I stopped it because it was against my conscience. I have stopped it long before this protest.”</div>
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She revealed that stopping the sale of the substance did not affect her business in any way and advised those who feel it would affect them to consider its bad effect.</div>
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She said: “I know some people will regret the ban, but they should first consider its side-effects. It destroys people in many ways. Some people have been rendered infertile. Some can’t even produce children any longer. Some men beat their wives after taking it. When my husband was alive, we always fought over it. In fact, I stopped selling it when I discovered that whenever I was not around, he would drink it. So, I decided to stop it in order to prevent him from its consumption. It was also my thinking that even if he would consume it, let it not be from me; let him go elsewhere and drink it. That was how I stopped selling it.”</div>
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Udoka Onah does not drink Ogogoro but he is concerned about those who do because of what it has turned them to. He is worried because many of his relations are affected by the scourge. He is very happy with the Catholic women for attempting to liberate the community from the shackles of kaikai.</div>
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Hear him: “As a non-drinker, you know you will be healthy. Kaikai kills the heart; it is just hot like fire. If you light the concentrated one, which has not been adulterated, it will ignite. It also wastes money. There is no gain in it. All the people that consume it are useless. They don’t progress in whatever they do. I have not been happy with the development. I love what the women are doing today. If they had told us, the youth, we would have gladly joined them in the protest. Some of my brothers consume it; the consumers in this community are plenty.”</div>
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He also mentioned some of the known selling joints in the community to include, Ejuona Nguru, which could be regarded as the headquarters of kaikai in the town because there are clusters of shops selling it there. Other joints are Port Harcourt and Ukwu Okpeye, among other places.</div>
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He also thinks that its cheapness could possibly be responsible for its high consumption rate and patronage, but warned: “Actually, it is cheaper, but I know that cheap things don’t have any benefit.”</div>
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However, Onyekachukwu Ugwu, from Ukwu Okepeye Umuezedike, in Nguru, another seller, is not very happy with the women for daring to rise against the sale and consumption of ogogoro in the community. Although, he pretends to be happy with what the women are doing, his questions gave him away as somebody who is not at ease with the development. For instance, he wants to know what the women are doing about water and electricity, which the community lacks. He is of the opinion that the women should agitate for the provision of electricity and water in the community instead of trying to deny people their means of livelihood.</div>
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“What the women are doing is good. I am not against them. It is not that kaikai is bad but the consumers don’t take it with moderation. They always drink it in excess. That’s why the women are protesting. In this community, some people no longer eat food because of it. I have stopped selling it because even before this protest, we have been hinted about the ban. So, I have already stopped selling it. But let me tell you that what the women are doing is not the right thing. There is no water and electricity in Nguru and they are not talking about that; instead, they are moving against people who are doing their business and making their daily living from the sale of kaikai.”</div>
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When reminded that the women’s grouse against the substance is that men hav ceased to be men, in terms of their sexual prowess, and that with the development, the community stands the risk of going into extinction, he got angry and accused many of the women of infidelity. He said: “How can the community go into extinction, when a good number of the women protesting out there sleep around with other men who are not their husbands? They could get pregnant by other able bodied men if their husbands are not capable because they are already into the practice; so it is not a new thing to them and it is also not a sin to them.”</div>
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But when told that it is not good for married women to sleep with other men and that was why they were demonstrating against the consumption of kaikai so that their husbands could do their jobs in order to prevent them from sleeping around, he fired again: “I don’t believe that it is kaikai that is responsible for their non-performance. If they can ban it, it is good, but it is only those who consume it in excess that are affected.”</div>
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Efforts to speak with the traditional ruler proved abortive, as he was said to be out of town. A police source, however, said that they were in support of the action of the women because the nuisance value of some of the men is usually high after soaking themselves in local gin.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-25282930977421294782014-04-14T22:28:00.001-07:002014-04-14T22:34:35.705-07:00This Disease Is Even Treatable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What a welcome relief to these kids. If not for Michelle McGowan, these kids would have remained this way for eternity. This is mind-boggling especially given the fact that this is a treatable disease. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=435343186600913">Click To Watch Video</a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-71_GS46Xy_E/U0zDG7mA0KI/AAAAAAAACFw/OH3Qeh0IVeA/s1600/10153420_431197453682153_197650177_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-71_GS46Xy_E/U0zDG7mA0KI/AAAAAAAACFw/OH3Qeh0IVeA/s1600/10153420_431197453682153_197650177_n.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-23216574570864295492014-04-14T22:13:00.003-07:002014-04-14T22:13:46.040-07:00Facts You Need To Know About Ebola Virus<a href="https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/q77/s720x720/10151251_306736142811376_7248982072276430817_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/q77/s720x720/10151251_306736142811376_7248982072276430817_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://scontent-a-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/q77/s720x720/10151251_306736142811376_7248982072276430817_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Have you heard? A viral disease called EBOLA has been rampaging some part of Africa. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"> According reports, the viral disease presently has no cure or preventive measure. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Its fast spreading all over African and in Guinea Republic it has killed over 50 people of late, while in LIBERIA 2 persons have died of the disease. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Its fats approaching the west Africa according to e</span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">xperts. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Possible means of contracting the disease are through contaminated corpses of affected persons, sexual contact with an affected person, direct contact with blood of an affected person, heat, or faeces. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;">Just be on the watch out for symptoms that resembles that of the man whose pix appears here.That's how an affected person may look after few weeks of carrying the virus. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.359999656677246px;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-76179226864615598372014-04-14T12:01:00.002-07:002014-04-14T14:22:40.596-07:00Igboland to get Islamic University (to be located in Afikpo, Ebonyi State) •Boasts the best Islamic secondary school in Nigeria<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif, arial, Helvetica; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://newsexpressngr.com/images/news/thumbnails/Sheikh%20Daud%20Nwagui_510x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://newsexpressngr.com/images/news/thumbnails/Sheikh%20Daud%20Nwagui_510x350.jpg" /></a>Unknown to most people in religiously divided Nigeria, the best Islamic secondary school in the country is not located in the Muslim-dominated North but in the largely Christian South-East, specifically in Afikpo, Ebonyi State.</div>
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Now there are plans to turn the school, known as Islamic Centre, Afikpo, into an Islamic University. This was disclosed by Sheikh Daud Nwagui, the Headmaster of the primary section of the school, who told the <em>Daily Trust</em>newspaper: “We hope to turn the school into a university, that is a university of Islamic studies. There is no school like this in the whole of the South-East.”</div>
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The hilly Afikpo town boasts the highest number of Igbo Muslims in the South-East, followed by the university town of Nsukka in neighbouring Enugu State. The Islamic Centre, Afikpo, was founded by Sheikh Ibrahim Okpani Nwagui, the father of the present headmaster, who brought Islam to Afikpo in 1958.</div>
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According to Sheikh Daud Nwagui, his late father embraced Islam in Senegal and promptly introduced the religion to his people when he returned to Nigeria in 1958.</div>
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“From that time a lot of people in the vicinity were turning to Islam. He was a very sincere person, and he was like this till his very last days. He was the founder of the Islamic Centre, Afikpo,” he said, adding: “This centre was set up in 1965 to propagate Islam generally. This is the best Islamic secondary school in the nation, and students come from all over the country, including Abuja.”</div>
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The Islamic Centre, Afikpo, has a primary and a secondary section. There are 450 pupils in the primary section, while the secondary section has some 500 pupils. Students write the NECO and SSCE examinations, just like other students in Nigerian secondary schools. The school has three boarding houses. A computer laboratory is under construction at the school.</div>
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Sheikh Daud Nwagui told <em>Daily Trust</em> that there is a special focus on Arabic as a language, on Islamic studies, physics, English Language, Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, Mathematics and Igbo. This, he explained, assists in producing a crop of rounded pupils.</div>
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The headmaster disclosed that graduates of the school have risen to prominent positions in the society. Many, he said, have done well in the areas of medicine, some are in the armed forces, also in engineering, and many have risen to become Chief Imams in many states of the federation.</div>
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Some graduates, Sheikh Daud Nwagui disclosed, are outside the country and doing very well in places such as Pakistan and India.</div>
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On challenges which the school has faced over the years, Sheikh Nwagui said that some form of challenge has come from those he described as ‘religious fanatics in the neighbourhood’ but quickly added: “But from the government of the state we are covered. The government gives us a lot of support.”</div>
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<em>•</em><em>Photo shows</em> <em>Sheikh Daud Nwagui, brainchild behind the proposed Islamic University to be sited in Afikpo, Ebonyi State.</em></div>
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<span class="boldText" style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Source</span> News Express</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-22878750356194106682014-04-14T08:25:00.001-07:002014-04-14T14:23:10.549-07:00Enugu mystery ‘Pool of Bethesda’ dries up (Photo)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAv5PTfBxbA/U0v90QKkA7I/AAAAAAAACEs/XzxXT22uTGc/s1600/Enugu-Pool-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAv5PTfBxbA/U0v90QKkA7I/AAAAAAAACEs/XzxXT22uTGc/s1600/Enugu-Pool-002.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: ronnia-1, ronnia-2, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The only permanent thing in the world is change. Less than four months after its inundation, the Enugu mystery pool has dried up triggering major soil excavation by new visitors who had come for healing in the pool. The town itself which became a tourist destination a few months back, has had a fair share of the change as it has become a ghostly abandoned place.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #444444; font-family: ronnia-1, ronnia-2, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">No people and vehicular movement were present; the motorcyclists have relocated to major towns while the plastic container’ sellers at the junction leading to the forest have abandoned the business.</span><br />
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When Saturday Vanguard visited the pool recently, it was found to be completely drained with trenches here and there dug by desperate visitors with a view to getting water from the soil for healing.</div>
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Saturday Vanguard had earlier visited the pool which many claimed had healing powers. Thousands of people from far and near visited the pool, dipped their bodies in the water, drank from the water, cut trees around the basin of the pool and took away sand within the precincts of the stream with the belief that it had supernatural healing powers.</div>
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Source: Vanguard</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-41769905463017247672014-04-10T10:57:00.000-07:002014-04-14T14:23:39.006-07:00SURVIVAL Dramatic Rescue of Lioness With Gaping Wound: Video<div class="blockquote" style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(235, 208, 135); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #383838; font-family: 'Crete Round'; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 25px; padding: 0px 15px;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJRht70VoLE/U0baBXpvTPI/AAAAAAAACEc/rZ4YoMXL7nQ/s1600/lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJRht70VoLE/U0baBXpvTPI/AAAAAAAACEc/rZ4YoMXL7nQ/s1600/lion.jpg" /></a></div>
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A seriously injured lioness was just saved in a dramatic rescue that took place on April 4 at Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, according to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT).</div>
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The horn of a buffalo bull had gored the 11-year-old lioness, named Siena, who recently gave birth to three cubs.</div>
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<a href="http://news.discovery.com/animals/endangered-species/dollar-values-hunted-african-animals-130827.htm" style="color: #115a7c; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Photos: Dollar Value of Hunted African Animals</a></div>
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Staff from the DSWT contacted Kenyan Wildlife Service veterinarian Dr. Njoroge from Nairobi. He and his team arrived via a small plane. An account posted on the DSWT website explains what happened next:</div>
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Treatment started at 3.50pm after the lioness was successfully darted. Moments after she was tranquilized, a sub-adult lioness promptly sauntered up to Siena, who was still standing, and effectively removed the dart as if she was trained to do so. Thankfully the drugs had already taken effect and Siena safely lay asleep for her treatment whilst the rest of the pride was kept at bay. The wound was extensive and involved the soft tissues and the skin. The vet cleaned the wound using normal saline and then sutured it closed.</div>
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The account goes on to say that an antibiotic spray and ointment were next applied. Green clay was also placed over the wound “to accelerate healing.” Long lasting antibiotics were administered via injection to prevent against infection.</div>
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The treatment lasted about 1.5 hours and, according to the account, “was a great success.” Siena soon joined the rest of her pride.</div>
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<a href="http://news.discovery.com/animals/lions-humans-behavior-120210.htm" style="color: #115a7c; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Wild Lions Live in Constant Fear</a></div>
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The entire episode was captured on video:<a href="http://%3Ciframe%20width%3D%22640%22%20height%3D%22360%22%20src%3D%22//www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?feature=player_embedded%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E">Click To Watch Video</a></div>
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Two days later, Siena was seen marching around and tending to her cubs, as usual. She had to urinate and squatted down, which would have involved movement of the wounded area, but she showed no signs of pain.</div>
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The lifespan of adult lions in the wild is about 14 years, but Siena already seems to have nine lives.</div>
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<i>(Image: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust)</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-82252898209032737852014-04-10T10:31:00.001-07:002014-04-14T14:24:11.400-07:00Cops: Child Bride Forced to Marry Kills Groom With Poison<div itemprop="articleBody">
A child bride forced into marriage in Nigeria killed a groom and three of his friends with a poisoned meal, police said Thursday.</div>
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Fourteen-year-old Wasila Umaru was married last week to 35-year-old Umaru Sani, according to assistant superintendent Musa Magaji Majia.</div>
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Over the weekend, the groom invited a dozen friends to celebrate at his Ungwar Yansoro village, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the northern city of Kano.</div>
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The teenager told police she bought rat poison at a village market and used it to prepare a dish of rice.</div>
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"The suspect confessed to committing the crime and said she did it because she was forced to marry a man she did not love," Majia told The Associated Press.</div>
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The groom and a friend died the same day, and two other victims died later in the hospital.</div>
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Umaru is cooperating with police and likely will be charged with culpable homicide, according to Majia.</div>
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Child marriage is common in Nigeria and especially in the mainly Muslim and impoverished north, where the numbers increase in times of drought because a bride price is paid and it means one less mouth to feed. Fifty percent of Nigerian girls living in rural areas are married before they turn 18, according to the U.N. children's agency. That's a lot of child brides in a country of some 170 million people of whom half are under 18.</div>
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Child brides often suffer difficult pregnancies — the leading cause of death worldwide for girls aged 15 to 19 — and are much more likely to contract AIDS and be subjected to domestic violence, according to the International Center for Research on Women.</div>
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Early and forced marriage is classified as modern-day slavery by the U.N. labor organization, and Nigeria's Child Rights Act prohibits marriage before 18. But that federal law competes with Islamic Shariah law that holds in most northern states.</div>
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No one in Nigeria has been prosecuted for marrying a child, including Sen. Sani Ahmed Yerima, infamous for divorcing a 17-year-old that he married when she was 15 so he could marry a 14-year-old Egyptian girl in 2010, when he was 49. He had to divorce one of his child brides because Islamic law allows a maximum of four wives at a time.</div>
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Many child brides are divorced, for that reason and because of incontinence and other medical problems caused by difficult pregnancies, according to local child rights advocates who say such girls are put out on the street.</div>
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KANO, Nigeria April 10, 2014 (AP)</div>
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By IBRAHIM GARBA and MICHELLE FAUL Associated Press</div>
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Faul contributed to this story from Lagos, Nigeria.</div>
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Culled Abc News</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-12460622946393112772014-04-07T13:32:00.002-07:002014-04-14T14:24:39.341-07:002015: PDP Promises Free Technical Assistance To APC<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed readiness to offer free technical assistance to the All Progressive Congress (APC) on how to organise itself in a democratic setting.</span></div>
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<a href="http://leadership.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/apc-vc-pdp-300x226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img alt="apc-vc-pdp" border="0" src="http://leadership.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/apc-vc-pdp-300x226.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Olisa Metuh, the party`s National Publicity Secretary on Monday in Abuja.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He said that such assistance would include the conduct of transparent and credible congress following APC`s last weekend postponed ward congress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“We know the history of this party and the pedigree of its leaders will hardly yield to democracy, but we are confident that our assistance is handy here”, he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Metuh recalled that the PDP had held successful congresses and national conventions where party members were allowed level play ground to pursue their ambitions irrespective of sectional, religious and ethnic affiliations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He described as a huge embarrassment to democracy, APC ward congress at the weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It added that “it is an irony that a party that daily claims it is on a mission to rescue Nigeria could not conduct its own congress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“The APC chairmen in Rivers, Plateau, Bauchi and the FCT announced the postponement of the exercise in their states.’’ the statement said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">According to him, the situation is so bad that the congress was cancelled in Adamawa and Katsina while in Kano and Sokoto, there was no voting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Metuh said it was so because both states chose their ward officials via a “strange consensus’’ option.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Metuh said it was unfortunate that APC that asked for the resignation of INEC board, over the conduct of Anambra governorship elections due to slight hitches experienced in the exercise, could not organise its congress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He said that the APC had no business in a democracy adding that it should be honourable enough to commence the process of its own disbandment, having experienced massive hitches in its congress (NAN)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6011926263637967885.post-14043787851246566802014-04-07T03:28:00.001-07:002014-04-14T14:25:38.098-07:00S/East Govs In Secret Meeting Over Jonathan’s Visit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F2FKfor-AoQ/U0J9G7NNT_I/AAAAAAAACEM/mExq-RAIpIM/s1600/south+east.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F2FKfor-AoQ/U0J9G7NNT_I/AAAAAAAACEM/mExq-RAIpIM/s1600/south+east.jpg" /></a></div>
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Governors of the South East geo-political zone yesterday met in Enugu behind closed doors apparently to put finishing touches to arrangements for the proposed visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the zone on Friday, April 11, 2014.</div>
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Anambra State governor Willy Obiano, Enugu State governor Sullivan Chime, Ebonyi State governor Martin Elechi and governor of the South East Governors’ Forum and Abia State governor Theodor Orji attended the meeting which took place at Enugu Government House Lodge.</div>
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Although the governors refused to disclose their resolutions to journalists, a competent source told LEADERSHIP that they discussed how they would give President Jonathan a befitting welcome.</div>
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LEADERSHIP gathered that president, who is expected to be in Enugu on Friday this week for the South East Zonal Rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)Rally, might use the opportunity to talk with some aggrieved members of the party in the South East that have defected to opposition parties.</div>
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Meanwhile, ahead of the 2015 general elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) has set a target to take over Enugu State Government House, popularly known as Lion Building.</div>
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Speaking with journalists in Enugu yesterday, chairman of the Congress Committee in Enugu, Hon. Uche Onyeagocha, insisted that APC was not only prepared to make an impact in Enugu State in 2015, but had set a target to take over the Lion Building from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).</div>
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He stated that it was wrong for anybody to assume that APC had no ground in Enugu State, adding that the party had seasoned politicians who had contested elections at the national, state and local government level, but lost because security agencies aided PDP to rig the elections.</div>
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“We have people like Okechukwu Ideke. We have people like General J.O.J Okoloagu. We have people like Osita Okechukwu. These are people who have contested several elections but only lost because they were rigged out and we have many more who are still coming in, who have obtained membership cards.</div>
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Culled Leadership</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16463833508378569754noreply@blogger.com0