Tagbo: Legendary Father Of A Thousand And One Sons

Rev. Fr. Nicholas Chukwuemeka Tagbo. Image via PM News

BY UZOR MAXIM UZOATU

The rule is that a Catholic Reverend Father must not father children. Another rule says that if you don’t break the rules you cannot change the world and attain the height of legends. Very Reverend Father Nicholas Chukwuemeka Tagbo has an uncountable number of very eminent sons. I count him as my father too.

He was the longest-serving Principal of the famous Christ the King College (CKC) Onitsha, and all his former students adore him as their father.

I did not attend CKC but I knew Father Tagbo more than the students because I lived all my early years in the staff quarters of the renowned secondary school with my linguist uncle, Job Okwuoma Aginam, who taught Bible Knowledge and French in the school.

After my primary school education at Sacred Heart School, Odoakpu, Onitsha, which shared the same compound with CKC, I passed the Common Entrance Examination and was given admission without my choice in St Peter’s Secondary School, Achina.

It would have been easy meat to change from SPSS Achina to CKC but Father Tagbo and my uncle decided that I could excel anywhere!

Incidentally, most of my mates who got admitted to CKC and finished up in 1977 as me could not get results due to the widespread WAEC leakages of that year known as EXPO 77.

As you can see, Father Tagbo and my uncle could see the future! The only subject I took in WASC that was not released was History, but I was home and dry in fine fettle.

Father Tagbo had such a towering impressive height to behold in his white soutane. I remember after the Biafra War that I was carrying my little sister, Chinwe, of about three years while Father Tagbo was talking in front of the CKC staff quarters and the little tot kept stretching her hand to touch the priest while I kept drawing her hand back.
Then the little baby raised her voice in protest in Igbo thusly: “Kam metunu m ya aka”, that is, “Let me touch him with my hand!”

Then, Father Tagbo took notice and admonished me to let my sister touch him before he then lifted her into his arms!

We used to be altar boys at Christ the King Parish within the CKC compound, a church that was dedicated by the then Archbishop of Onitsha (now Cardinal) Francis Arinze, with me winning a gold medal as a torch-bearer. Father Tagbo never used to say the masses, but one certain morning the regular priests – Father (later Bishop) Simon Okafor and Father (later quit the priesthood) Emeka Okide – were not around.

Father Tagbo had to step in to do the morning mass. Some altar boys had dressed up, but Father Tagbo looked at them and then turned to me and said: “Nwa Aginam (that’s what he calls me, after my maternal uncle’s surname) dress up and follow me! I don’t want anybody to delay me on the altar!”
Before I could get into gear, he was already at the altar. The mass that used to last about an hour-and-half took only 30 fast minutes! Father Tagbo was that sharp!

My attachment with Father Tagbo continued even after I had gained admission into the university. A dear friend of mine, Aloy Umeodinka, who had taken his WASC at CKC had to seek me out while I was holidaying at the CKC staff quarters to get his results and testimonial from the priest.

A book on the life and times of Father Tagbo entitled ‘Sons of a Priest’ has just been edited and published by a distinguished alumnus of CKC, the prize-winning novelist Odili Tony Ujubuonu.

A peep into the book reveals the testimony of Father Tagbo’s classmate and football playing partner, the former CEO of Ajaokuta Steel, Dr Fidelis Ezemenari who among other things disclosed that as a youth Tagbo reproached their goalkeeper – now an acclaimed Igwe of a big town – who conceded a goal and claimed he had seen six different balls at the same time, that he ought to have caught one of the balls instead of taking time to count them!

To conclude, here is an excerpt from the coffee table book:

“He gave up his life ambitions to make us rule our worlds. Tagbo was satisfied to be just a principal and a priest while some of his classmates in Christ the King College became bishops and one would later become a cardinal. He gave Nigeria over twenty Senior Advocates of Nigeria and remained an obedient citizen. He raised men who became GCON, CON, CFR, MFR etc. but was content and very proud to be honoured with just an OON. He produced three state governors while he remained a simple priest in a local parish. He had over a hundred billionaire businessmen as his sons yet he remained faithful to his vow of poverty as a priest. He trained boys that became Chief Judges of about four states and senior judges in courts across Nigeria, yet he ended as Citizen Nicholas. His bell of humility tolled twelve when he happily lived as a poor old priest under the current Archbishop of Onitsha Diocese, who was once his obedient student in Christ the King College.”

Count Me Out Of N7.2bn Fraud Allegation – Orji Kalu

Orji Uzor Kalu

BY AKIN KUPONIYI

LAGOS, NIGERIA (PM NEWS) -- Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has denied allegations that he stole N7.2 billion while at the helm of affairs of the state between 1999 and 2007 as the state has no such funds then.

The former Governor made this known in the continuation of his testimony before a Federal High Court in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria to prove his innocence of the allegation of N7.2 billion level against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former Governor, while responding to a question from his lawyer, Prof. Awa Kalu (SAN) over the allegation, disclosed that there was no way he could steal what was not in existence.

“Abia State doesn’t have such money; even the day I was leaving the office, the state borrowed money to pay salaries. Abia State doesn’t have even a billion naira in any account at the time I was governor”, he said.

To back up his denial of the allegations, the former governor, who is currently the Chief Whip of the Senate also spoke about the difficulties he encountered in running the State with allocations from Federal government.

“The monthly allocation of Abia State when I took over in June 1999 was N168 million. It was averaging between N168 million and N172 million monthly. The first month that I came in, there was even no money to buy diesel. I spent my own money to run the state for six months.

“In the year 2000, monthly allocation was between N170 million and N189 million. In 2001, it came to about N302 million to about N380 million. I can recollect in 2002, it was almost the same and in 2003 when the revenue allocation was changed, we were having about N400 million.

“The highest money I got as Governor came from 2004 when we have about N1 billion and from that time up till May 2007 before I left, what we had was N1.6 billion.

“Throughout my stay in office, I never owed workers and pensioners. When I took over as Governor and before I left, we moved it up to N500 million. It was from this that we were able to do a lot of things”.

Kalu had earlier in his evidence told the court that he had been a successful businessman before venturing into politics.

Speaking on his line of businesses before he began his political journey, he narrated: “I was running a group of companies under Slok Nigeria Ltd and I have a big furniture factory in Maiduguri. I was also trading in cows. The cows were coming from Chad to Umuahia. I also had a veritable oil factory in Aba supplying to people in Kano and Maiduguri.

“I was also into shipping activities with major oil companies. We also have a very big corn farm in the East and Bauchi.

“We were major shareholder before another shareholder bought off First Bank. In 1994, the then Hallmark Bank had a problem and I later bought majority stake in the bank. We also had major interests in Banks in DR Congo, Gambia, Sierra-Leone, Liberia and the then Sudan before crisis sets in.”

The former governor also disclosed that he dealt in buying and selling of property.

He further disclosed that he made all his statements to the EFCC under bad treatment from some police officers.

“When I learnt they were looking for me, I called Ibrahim Lamorde that I was in the United States and that I will show up upon my return to the country.

“However, when I returned to Nigeria, they were waiting for me at the airport and whisked me away to their office, after I was beating up thoroughly by police officers, I asked them what was my offence and they told me I have been insulting President Obasanjo. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Ibrahim Lamorde later came to apologize to me.”

The presiding Judge, Idris Mohammed has adjourned till tomorrow for continuation of hearing.

Really, Igbo Have A crime Culture Problem That Needs Fixing

BY FREDRICK NWABUFO

In the heat of the lynching of Igbo citizens in Asia in 2013 over alleged criminality, I wrote an essay entitled, ‘The Igbo fallacy’. In it, I appealed to the Igbo to de-emphasise the culture of profligacy, decadent opulence and vanity which fuels the pursuit of crime by their own. I also suggested the need for value re-orientation – a task that must be actuated by all groups – the age grades, unions and traditional institutions.

Really, it is enervating for me that my kinsmen are taking the inglorious front row in ‘’money crimes’’ – drug peddling and internet fraud – abroad.

In August 2016, an Igbo drug dealer was guillotined in Indonesia. But his funeral in Anambra was a rambunctious shin-dig. He was even described as a “hero” by his people.

I have skimmed through the list of alleged online fraudsters indicted by the FBI, in what is regarded as the biggest scam bust in history, and I could see familiar names. It is heartbreaking for me. The refrain that criticising your own people for shortcomings is an act of sanctimony is obtuse. Crime has no ethnic face, but does that imply condoning or rationalising a persistent ill?

I have said it before, we have a problem. The Igbo have a problem. Out of the 21 Nigerians on death-row for drug peddling in Indonesia, 20 are Igbo – from my state – Anambra. Personally, I feel violated by this.

A few months ago, some armed robbers of Igbo origin launched an attack on a bureau de change in Dubai, but they were arrested. It is painful, instead of exporting the durable products of Aba, we are exporting crime and violence. That Nigerians are a pariah in South Africa is partly due to the activities of some Igbo drug cartel.

But what happens when these drug gangs return to the south-east? A bazaar of bloodshed. A few years ago, there was a massacre at a church in Ozubulu, Anambra. The killings were linked to a drug war between rival gangs in South Africa. The gangs took their battle out of the turf to native soil. Really, we are baiting the hurricane.

And now, out of the 77 names listed for online fraud in the US, 74 are Igbo. We have a problem. We cannot solve this problem by living in denial.

I agree, there are millions of us doing great things in our fields, but we must condemn the activities of these criminals among us. They do not represent us, but their actions are capable of making an execrable impression of all us.


The argument that the Igbo are marginalised and that they are deprived because of the civil war, so very few among them are forced into crime is puerile. This is a terrible way to rationalise a problem that dents the entire group. There is no excuse for crime.

One drop of dirt is enough to make a basin of water impure. We must have serious conversations on this atypical criminality.

The argument that the Igbo are marginalised and that they are deprived because of the civil war, so very few among them are forced into crime is puerile. This is a terrible way to rationalise a problem that dents the entire group. There is no excuse for crime.

We have a culture that glorifies ‘’money’’ crime – ‘’ego mbute’’ – the culture of money grubbing and worship, as the-be-all and end-all of everything. It is a pervasive culture, not limited to the Igbo though.

We need value re-orientation, and this should be actuated by all groups – age grades and traditional institutions. We must stop celebrating people of unknown fortune. We must name and shame those with illicit wealth in our communities. We should upbraid them instead of giving them chieftaincy titles and front-row seats in church.

What exactly do we discuss at annual August meetings and town-union meetings? Enough should be enough. We cannot keep ignoring this filth.

We have a problem. A crime culture.

SOURCE: PM NEWS

Police Rescue 13 Kidnap Victims In Imo Forest

Police spokesman, DCP Frank Mba. Image via PM News

PM NEWS
Force Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DCP Frank Mba, says, police have successfully rescued 13 kidnapped victims in Lili forest in Ohaji/Egbema council area of Imo.

Mba said three of the alleged kidnap suspects were killed by police after eight hours gun battle with the police adding that four assault rifles were recovered from the suspects.

The force PPRO, who disclosed this in Owerri on Monday, also paraded 19 suspects allegedly involved in various crimes ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, murder and child-trafficking.

He said two other suspects had been arrested on the issue of alleged kidnapping after a follow up investigation.

Among the paraded suspects was Chukwuemeka Eze who, Mba said, allegedly murdered a 27-year-old female, Lillian Ngbawa, who just concluded her NYSC programme in Mgbidi, Oru West council area.

He said Eze allegedly murdered his victim after raping her and dumped her in a forest where she was recovered.

According to the PPRO, Eze took his victim’s smart phone after killing her which he said eventually implicated him.

Mba said the huge breakthrough was possible following the recent “Operation Puff Adder” recently launched by the Inspector-General of Police.

Giving breakdown of the criminals, Mba disclosed that four suspects out of the 19 paraded, were involved in armed robbery, while 12 were involved in kidnapping.

He said one suspect was being held for murder while another one was being held for unlawful procession of firearms and child-trafficking.

Ihedioha Charges Corps Members On Peace, National Development

Image via PM News

PM NEWS

 Gov. Emeka Ihedioha of Imo on Monday advised corps members to always stand for the truth and support national peace and development.

Ihedioha gave the charge at the official closing ceremony of the Orientation Course for the 2019 Batch ‘B’, Stream 1 Corps Members deployed to Imo State at the NYSC permanent Orientation Camp, Eziama Obaire, Nkwerre Local Government area.

The governor was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Governor, Mr Gerald Irona.

He said corps members could achieve this by staying clear of undesirable elements in society whose weapons were hate speech, ethnocentric utterances and bigotry geared towards drawing the nation back.

Ikedioha said that the nation was undergoing gradual transformation in all vital sectors of the economy, adding that jobs and wealth were being created to help surmount the menace of poverty.

“In Imo, we are determined to rebuild our value system, infrastructures, educational institutions, tourist centres and our administrative processes in a bid to add value and the much needed dividends to the people.

“I, therefore seek the cooperation and understanding of management of the NYSC scheme, corps members, leaders of thought, traditional rulers, employers of labour and other stakeholders to help us drive home the laudable initiative of the present administration.

“As you begin your journey to the nooks and crannies of the state, I wish to reassure you that the good people of the state will receive you with open hands.

“Feel free to mix with them without fear or hindrances. Identify their felt needs and make concerted effort in your respective host communities to solve these challenges, while at the same time respecting their culture and traditions,” he said.

Ihedioha commended the military and paramilitary agencies and the NYSC staff for making the orientation period worthwhile and pledged the commitment of his administration towards the general welfare of the corps members.

Earlier, the state NYSC Coordinator, Mr John Eloeboh, had expressed gratitude to the governor for gracing the occasion.

He said that the corps members had been richly empowered to begin their primary assignment in order to contribute their quota to the growth and development of the 27 LGAs of the state and nation at large.

Eloeboh advised corps members to be loyal, disciplined, dedicated, resourceful and law abiding.

He urged them to make painstaking efforts to identify the needs of the people in their host communities and solve them, using the Community Development Service programme as their vehicle.

The NYS boss urged the corps members to add value to the current administration’s policy initiatives such as the “Go Green and Play Green” geared toward the promotion of cleanliness, environment sanitation and vegetation in the various LGAs of the state.

SOURCE: PM NEWS