Soludo's Solemn Submission

 Charles Chukwuma Soludo takes Oath of Office March 17, 2022. Image via ABC

BY CHUKS ILOEGBUNAM

The Governor’s promise to Ndi Anambra came in the 14th of his 50-paragraph inaugural address of March 17, 2022: “I feel your pulse,” he intoned. “For your sake I keep awake at night, sometimes having palpitations about not letting you down. Well, since God is the Miracle Worker, I will look up to Him in prayer and faith as we all start the work ahead of us. I see and feel all the humungous challenges… But here’s my promise: I will give it my all. I will work very hard every day, with you, to make Anambra proud. Every kobo of your tax money will be deployed to provide you maximum value.”

A cynical listener, whether via the electronic/social media or physically present at the Government House concourse in Awka, would have been forgiven for responding thus: “There’s nothing new in the sight of a bow and arrow carrying Hausa man.” That’s an Igbo way of saying that Nigeria’s politics is like a raft tossed about in an ocean of flowery promises.

But I believe Governor Soludo. For a number of good reasons, Ndi Anambra have also placed their confidence in him. Foremost is trust, something he dwelt on while thanking those that aided his journey to the governorship. “Let me particularly thank my friend and outgoing governor of Anambra, HE (Sir) Willie Maduabrochukwu Obiano, for being an honourable gentleman and leader. On Sunday, 20th November 2016, I accepted your proposal for gentlemen’s understanding and partnership. I kept my part in 2017 and even after five years, you still kept yours in 2021. I always emphasize this point because it is rare these days to find people who keep their word in politics, and we will never take your support for granted. You are indeed a great leader. Thanks for believing in me. We will work hard to make you and Ndi Anambra proud.”

What had November 20, 2016, 2017 and 2021 to do with March 17, 2022? Everything! In 2016, Chief Obiano proposed Professor Soludo as his successor. They entered into a gentleman’s agreement. The unwritten pact meant that Soludo worked for Obiano’s re-election. Every Anambra observer cannot but remember that during the 2017 gubernatorial campaigns, Obiano and Soludo were like conjoined twins at every stage and every stop of the hustings. Re-elected, Obiano, the gentleman, remembered that a hen never forgets the hand that pulled its feathers during the rainy season. His unwavering support for Soludo ensured that the man won both the APGA primary ballot and the governorship poll.

A man who makes public capital out of a private question of trust is unlikely to betray the trust already reposed in him by his people. Personal experience lends credence to this proposition. Said Soludo: “For me, this issue is personal and emotional. My mother died during the civil war; our last born, Chukwuemeka died during the war; my father bore a bullet inside him for years; my elder brother – at 16, was in the ‘Boys Company’. At 8, I became the “man of the house”, with all the men at the war front. My uncles, cousins, etc., died during the war. This is 2022, and there are certainly far better ways to protest than shedding the blood of the innocent or resorting to criminality. That is why I call on all of us today to join hands with me to execute the real agenda—a liveable and prosperous homeland of opportunities and jobs for our youth while maximizing the benefits of a united Nigeria/Africa.”

Soludo’s solemn promise to faithfully serve Anambra State appears with phrasal distinctions in eight other paragraphs of the 4,700-word essay. It appears in paragraph seven as an apostrophe to his immediate family: “As I repeatedly promised, I will work hard every day never to disappoint you. My 90-year-old father is watching this live, while my beloved mother, Mgbafor, is smiling in her grave.” In paragraph 22, it takes a more generalized form: “Ndi be anyi, what we propose is that we collectively build a new social and economic order that guarantees and defends economic freedom and reward of private enterprise to secure our future such that any child born in Anambra will have little incentive to rush elsewhere in search of opportunities and anyone persecuted anywhere in the world can return to a happy and prosperous homeland.”

Governor Soludo’s cerebral disposition is taken for granted. Yet, he does not claim to know all the answers. He does not exhibit superhuman airs. He does not assume that the job of mending a fractured people, of reawakening a collective consciousness thoroughly battered and bartered by calculated and systematic injustices indexed in the impunity of the superstructure and the tyranny in the substructure, is a task accomplishable by the waving of a magic wand. Therefore, he appeals for every hand to be on deck for the salvage operation just begun.

In adorning his mandate with collective raiment, he employs personal and collective pronouns to clinch his arguments: “I have done some homework,” he says. “Our detailed Plan rests on five key pillars: law and order (homeland peace and security); economic transformation as Nigeria’s next axis of industrial-tech and leisure; competitive and progressive social agenda (education, health, youth, women and vulnerable groups); Governance, rule of law and a rebirth of our value system; and aggressively tackling our existential threat posed by the environment—towards a clean, green, planned and sustainable cities, communities, and markets. For me, this agenda is also personal: I am here to build a society where I would be proud to live in after leaving office.”

These key pillars are tied to the brainwork that produced three seminal documents that posit a social contract with Ndi Anambra: “(a) ‘Anambra Vision 2070—a 50-Year Development Plan’ which I chaired the drafting; (b) ‘The Soludo Solution: A People’s Manifesto for a Greater Anambra’; and (c) ‘The Transition Committee (Combined) Report’—which built upon the first two.” These are a schedule in the gubernatorial tenure. There are, however, problems in need of prompt for redemptive action.

Foremost among them is the deleterious impact of the Monday-Monday sit-at-home regimen trending in the Igbo country. The others include a revenue collection schema that since converted Anambra into a vast cantonment of touts. How does Governor Soludo intend to grapple with these challenges? First on IPOB, his position is perceptive: “I endorse the recent statement (March 7, 2022) by the Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Bishops/Archbishops on Peace and Conflict Resolution, requesting for a tripartite discussion between them, The Presidency, and South East governors to deal with the conflicts in the South East especially in relation to Nnamdi Kanu and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN). There is no conflict that dialogue, in good faith, cannot resolve. Our government is determined to urgently restore peace and security in Anambra, and we will seek the active cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders.”

The logic is straightforward. Once there is jaw jawing, war warring gets sentenced to the backburner. It is hoped that with both hands those called upon to staunch a haemorrhaging entity will immediately grab his challenge. A point needs to be made, nonetheless. It is impossible to discount sheer criminality as a major impetus to the violence currently tied to the sit-at-homes. Fear pervades, and most people dare not breach the “order” and get outdoors on Mondays, even after Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had unambiguously denied ever giving the go-ahead for people to barricade themselves indoors every first working day of each week. Is it rationale to assume that the disregard to Kanu’s order to halt the sit-at-homes is simply down to his followers?

Only dubiety will contradict the Governor’s anti sit-at-home argument: “No, we refuse to turn our homeland into a crime scene and all manners of criminality. No group has ever succeeded in any struggle in history by turning the sword against themselves.” Also, “A significant part of our state economy is powered by artisans, keke drivers, vulcanizers, hairdressers, cart pushers, petty traders, bricklayers, women frying akara, and all those who depend upon daily toil and sweat to feed their families. Every day, there is a “sit at home,” these poor masses lose an estimated N19.6 billion in Anambra alone. Due to the protracted breakdown of law and order, businesses are relocating outside Igboland, with growing unemployment, and traders who used to come to shop in Onitsha, Aba, etc., are going elsewhere.”

Of the many gems in the address, one of the most uplifting is the promise that every Anambra citizen, inside and outside the State, is to be issued with an ID card. It is an antidote to deviant behaviour. Once you know your numbers, you also know those among you that are acting out of script. Thus, using moral suasion or the horsewhip to get them back into the line of sanity and good citizenship becomes a fait acompli.

It is no surprise that a Governor that came to power through transparent elections is rooting for the democratic process to go down to the third tier of government. Neither in Anambra nor elsewhere in the country has any serious attention been paid to local government elections in this Fourth Republic. Happily, Governor Soludo promises that, “We will conduct local government elections… Over the next two years, we shall review/amend the relevant legislations, reform and strengthen the system for efficiency, restructure/strengthen the Anambra’s Independent Electoral Commission, and conduct local government elections.”

What else to say? Yes, there is the emphasis on digitalization. “The land registry will be digitized; we shall leverage technology to ensure a responsive and accountable public service together with our initiative for an ID Card for every Anambra person… and a code of conduct for political appointees to mainstream servant leadership by example.”

Celebration, says the Governor, is on its way. Its arrival will coincide with when security of life and property is guaranteed, public utilities are functioning optimally, healthcare delivery is generally accessible and affordable, while children of school age are receiving 21st century education for the digital age, and meaning is given to the lives of the vulnerable. In short, Anambra’s celebration will come in the mode of the feel-good factor.

It could be argued that the inaugural’s length is not its strongest point. But the Governor’s employment of the rhetorical device of reiteration is intended to appeal to the people and win their cooperation. Besides, will it not be antipathetic for someone with a pedagogical pedigree to display a lack of fondness for minutiae?

In all, it is a glorious new dawn for Anambra State, an entirely new era led by a determined and seasoned administrator and technocrat with a human face, who intends a new heart in his people, a new lease of life for a novel society of peace, plenty and justice, which is “the first condition of humanity.” I believe.

Iloegbunam is the author of The Case For An Igbo President Of Nigeria

Beloved Rabbi’s Influence Also Uplifted Black Jewish Lives

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, one of the most revered figures in the Haredi community, died in Bnei Brak, Israel, at 94 on March 18.

BY MORDECHAI BEN AVRAM

BNEI BRAK, ISRAEL (FORWARD) - Shimon HaTzadik (the Righteous) was a high priest during the Second Temple period. He would say, “On three things the world stands: On the Torah, on prayer, and on acts of kindness.” Later commentators would add that these three principles were the basis of why God created the world.

In this light, a person can grasp why hundreds of thousands turned out for the funeral of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky in Bnei Brak, Israel on Sunday, and why millions mourn him throughout the world. It’s not just the death of a revered person, but the spiritual example as articulated by Shimon the Righteous that Kanievsky exhibited in his 94 years, and that every person should strive for in their lifetime.

As the son of Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky and nephew of the Chazon Ish, the stage was set for Rabbi Kanievsky to become one of the greatest leaders in Jewish history. While his influence is widely recognized, especially in the Haredi community, what is lesser known is the crucial role he played in the advancement of Jews of Color internationally.

One complex rabbinical challenge has been how to approach the multitudes throughout Africa who identify as Jewish but who were mostly unknown to the mainstream Jewish world until the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.

In 2016, Rabbi Kanievsky took a leadership role in answering this question and sent rabbis to places like Nigeria to research the situation. After months of research, the rabbis returned to his office in Bnei Brak with information about the communities they observed. After reviewing the data, Kanievsky instructed those rabbis to help the people in Nigeria by giving members of the Igbo tribe a specific type of conversion (giyur l’chumra) that would remove any doubt or confusion about their Jewish lineage.

Not all of those who have visited the Igbo since have completely followed his instructions. But regardless, Rabbi Kanievsky’s decree changed the landscape of how mainstream Judaism should respond to the desire of the Igbo Jews to be a full part of the world Jewish community.

Rabbi Kanievsky also assisted Jews of Color in a different, and more interpersonal, realm. In 2018, African American Jewish musician Nissim Black visited him, expressing grievances about his inability to find proper religious schooling for his children, who were experiencing discrimination.

Rabbi Kanievsky told Black, “Being ‘Black’ is your mayla (virtue), not a chesaron (lacking).”

Black described the encounter, saying “for a second it felt like the whole world stood still.” Not long afterward, his children were accepted into some of the best religious schools in Beit Shemesh.

May Rabbi Kanievsky’s role as the leader of the Haredi community and his contributions to Jews of Color internationally be remembered throughout the ages.

Imo And The Second Coming Of Omenkeahuruanya

BY PAUL OBI

Paul Obi looks at the Rebuild Imo Project and the Omenkeahuruanya Movement spearheaded by Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha to herald his anticipated second coming

Imo occupies a central place in the Igbo-oriental cultural milieu, and mostly tagged along as the state of timber and caliber – like the late sage, Chief Sam Mbakwe. In Imo, Nigeria is bestowed with the rigour of Igbo culture and vibes of human capital development comparable anywhere in the world.

Yet since 2007, when the Achike Udenwa administration handed over the baton, it has been political harakiri on a free fall. From flogging of the men in cassock to Akpòlagi, and then ushered in constitutional vandals, the state of Sam Mbakee has become a mockery in democratic governance. Still, the episodes of January, 14, 2020 where jurists in Nigeria’s capital, far removed from the polling booth arenas in Imo thump printed for a contestant who came fourth in the real polls, Imo has regrettably lost the democratic appeal that makes her great. The sixty-four (64) thousand dollar question on the lips of many now is, is Imo politics stupid?

Imo is a great state with potentials; but as experiences have shown, it must first fix its wobble politics before economic growth would take stead. Thus, the problem of Imo is yielding so much of its political and democratic space to ‘yahoo yahoo governors,’ as Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu would say. Imo and her people, must therefore learn to keep their gubernatorial poll clean; keeping at bay political undertakers from participation. Imo might not be the only Nigerian state, confronting a democratic nadir. The plaque of mis-governance cuts across; particularly with the present collegiate club of state chief executives is alarming and runs deep. In Imo, the orgy of digression and distraction have been excruciating and outrageous. The stool and crown inside Douglas House is odious; and even smacks of perfidy – an amalgam of a stolen mandate.

Among the gubernatorial club and progressives, the heir of Douglas is not recognized nor accorded gubernatorial dues, and the emergence through the Supreme Court is seen as a heist. Among Imolites and the larger Nigerian population, the distrust is huge and damning. To many Nigerians, a forceful occupier does not have a place in a democracy, and as such lacks the constitutional mandate of Imo voters. In Imo, the wait to shift away that innocuous mandate chauffeured by the Supreme Court has been appealing and gladdening, just as kids wait for candy.

It is in that wait that the construct of the second coming of Omenkeahuruanya beckons. The definitive puzzle embedded in the name, Omenkeahuruanya is strong, potent and reliable. It symbolizes a performer, doer, a pragmatic character that delivers and perform that which is evident, and seen with beaming eyes. Not propaganda, nor a court of jesters, naysayers and poet-sychophants.

Omenkeahuruanya, is not just a pet name or an axiom for Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha. Within the six months of his stay in Douglas, Ihedioha lived to the billing of the name, and Imo had a semblance of what good governance should look like. It was evidently clear and seen that Imo was being railroaded back to the jubilant and ebullient years of Mbakwe, where infrastructural development and human capital development were at the forefront. Then, Ihedioha had multi-sectoral think-tanks to harness economic potentials that bestrode the Imo landscape for common good. Before occupying Douglas, Ihedioha had a good name – not perfect. Imperfection makes us human; perfection is reserved only for the divine creator. Rather, his dexterity and political sagacity remain tall and vast.

Conversely, some accused him of detachment and distance. Ironically, some insiders opined that Ihedioha takes care of outsiders and strangers far more than his inner circle and foot soldiers. Where and how then do we balance the equation? Still, very few Nigerian politicians can keep political group intact after or without power, the way and manner Ihedioha had sustained the Rebuild Imo Project group. Only Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, James Ibori (Ogidigbodigbo of Africa) and Liyel Imoke and few others share that feat. It takes expertise, political savvy, calmness and understanding of the political culture to thrive. Hate him or like him, no one can say Ihedioha is not a good politician. At least, he cares; not loud nor bombastic. He is well measured, collected and urbane with eyes fixated on rescuing Imo people from torrents of undemocratic rein, and decay of social life. In all, the Supreme Court somersault was a bitter pill and lesson to the ideals of Omenkeahuruanya.

Further, Omenkeahuruanya has learned his lessons. Next time, more attention will be paid to whoever occupies the Office of the Attorney General of the State (OAGS) even Chief of Staff (CoS). Before their eyes then, they allowed constitutional vandals to abruptly upturn the people’s mandate that was given at the ballot box, sweeping away the Rebuild Imo Project. Therefore, no such intellectual laziness should be allowed near the Omenkeahuruanya Movement and the Rebuild Imo Project. Rather, there is an urgency to open more; to be more receptive and embracing. There should be no need for commonpence, vendetta or payback. Instead, it should be governance, governance and governance, with Imo people front and centre.

In doing so, lessons must be learned. And if there is anything Omenkeahuruanya has to learn is from the current 2023 presidential run. Looking at the pool of presidential hopefuls, it is dominated by former governors. But only those who governed their states well in time past like Peter Obi; Bukola Saraki and Aminu Tambuwal are being taken seriously. The rest who pillaged, ravaged and manacled their states, running casino economies and atrocious governance in their infectious and incestuous wonderland have been declared non-starters by Nigerians. Thus, when politicians work and govern well to elevate and better the lives of citizens, people are aware, and are always on the verge to honour such politicians with a more higher and lofty elevation. What would the second coming of Omenkeahuruanya portend for Imo people?

Politically, the Rebuild Imo Project is presently facing an in-house tussle in Ihedioha’s main enclave over who takes over the Owerri Senatorial District in a zero-sum battle between the incumbent Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi and Hon. Uche Onyeagocha. What would Ihedioha do now? Some are of the view that Sen. Onyewuchi has garnered so much experience that he should be allowed to go for a second term; others feel Onyeagocha connects well and he is likewise capable. From feelers on the field, attempts by Ihedioha to pacify the situation has not yielded positive outcomes. Onyeagocha is pressing on and he is being lend a space by supporters discontent with the status quo to wrestle Onyewuchi. How does Ihedioha intends to navigate this murky political waters?

Beyond the political uncertainty, from Ideato, Ikeduru, Mbaitoli, Ehime-Mbano, Orlu, Orsu, Isu, Nwangele, Owerri down to Mbutu; women, youths, business class and political class, the main political sing-song is for Ihedioha to return to Douglas House. It is a wait to restore real democracy and displace garrison politics of voting and electoral mandate stealing, arson and insecurity that has slowly come to define Imo. Ahead of 2023 gubernatorial poll, many Imo voters look forward to Ihedioha to hand him the tools to deliver Imo, just as Anambra citizens have done with Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Already, in a recent rally in Owerri last month to celebrate the new National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Sam Anyanwu (Sam Dede), Rivers State Governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike forewarned Imo electorates that the “greatest mistake” they would make is to allow a comeback of hijackers of democracy in 2023. A clear path to veer away from that dangerous situation is a unified house built around Omenkeahuruanya as 2023 draws near.

Coincidentally, tomorrow is Ihedioha’s 57th birthday anniversary; therefore, the move to rebuild and restore Imo begins in earnest. Will Ihedioha shine? Will Imo relish his rein and stay in Douglas? What does Ihedioha’s second coming portend for Imo citizens? Can we flip the page of Willam Butler Yeats in his poem, The Second Coming to say that with Ihedioha, the Imo falcons can and will hear the falconer? The answers to the above puzzles yawn for a passionate appeal in support of Ihedioha; in Omenkeahuruanya, the symbolism is to do good that can be seen – practice what you preach. In Ihedioha, Imo awaits with nostalgia!

SOURCE: THIS DAY

Enugu 2023: Problem With Zoning Is Ekweremadu’s Reason For Attacking It

Ike Ekweremadu

BY FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU

Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu has a right to aspire to be governor of Enugu State – no doubt about that. It is his inalienable democratic right to so aspire as it is, indeed, that of any other Nigerian or, for that matter, any Enugu State indigene. A legal and legislative heavyweight, the distinguished Senator knows, as we all do actually, that not even the National Assembly can legislate against any Nigerian aspiring to any political position in the land, zoning or not. So, there is ordinarily nothing wrong with his decision to throw his hat in the ring and run for governor of Enugu State come 2023.

What is wrong, in my view, is his attempt to discredit the existing leadership recruitment process in Enugu as a means of driving his own ambition. There is something inelegant about his disavowal of zoning, for instance. I think it is wrong for the distinguished senator to deploy a latter-day anti-zoning sentiment as a convenient excuse for his governorship aspiration, being that he comes from the ‘wrong part of town’ in the context of Enugu 2023.

Yes, there is zoning in Enugu State and it doesn’t matter when or how it started. That it was never formally agreed upon by Enugu stakeholders is neither here nor there. The distinguished Senator knows, perhaps better than anyone else, that not all agreements are formally written down, signed and sealed – some just exist by convention or practice. Even the British Constitution isn’t a formal document, come to think of it. The truth about Enugu in this political dispensation is that at the end of his two terms of eight years, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the first governor of the state in the Fourth Republic, handed over to Barrister Sullivan Chime who, in turn, handed over to Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who, all things being equal, will complete his two terms by next year and also hand over to a successor, who will also be chosen through the same relay fashion that has come to define Enugu’s leadership recruitment process.

That is Enugu’s truth, irrespective of what former Governor Nnamani had in mind when he chose to hand over to Enugu West instead of Enugu North. Nor do I accept, , going by Prof. Ekweremadu’s argument, that the decision to hand over to Enugu North (Nsukka) by Chime in 2015 was dictated more by the spirit of equity and fairness (compassion, if you will) than by the imperative of zoning. No, I think the handover to Enugu North was simply inevitable, not least because it was also the right thing to do at that time – for the good of Enugu. Pray, would Chime have handed power back to an Enugu-East person or to a fellow Enugu-Westerner at the end of his eight years in office in 2015? I hold the view that while the immediate past handover to Enugu-North was pragmatic, even a noble act, it was no favour; it was politics of realism at play.

Now, enough of the stereotyping already! When Senator Ekweremadu argued that what Chime did in 2007 by handing over to Ugwuanyi was not based on zoning but was an action taken in the spirit of equity and fairness (read pity for Nsukka), was he still referring to the same Enugu North zone that had produced the first executive governor of Enugu State? If Nsukka had produced, way back in 1992, the first governor of the newly created Enugu State (when Abakaliki zone was still part of Enugu State), did the zone actually need the pity of the rest of Enugu to be able to produce, again, the governor of the state in 2015? Of course not. It means, in essence, that zoning or rotation of governorship in Enugu State didn’t start in 2015 when Chime handed over to Ugwuanyi; it started in 1999 with the combustive Nnamani who set the ball rolling in his own uncanny way, and Nsukka was a beneficiary of zoning already in full bloom in the Coal-City State in 2015.



Even then, it is as if Ekweremadu isn’t exactly sure how to frame his anti-zoning narrative. In one breath, he says zoning did not start in Enugu in 1999, so there has been no zoning in the State. In another he says going by zoning, Enugu-West (his zone) has produced only one governor (Chime) while East has produced Nwobodo, Onoh and Nnamani, while Enugu North (Nsukka) has produced Nwodo and now Ugwuanyi. Therefore, the next governor come next year should (must?) come from the West and must be micro-zoned to Greater Awgu. Now, is there zoning or no zoning?

It is contradictory still that while Ekweremadu discredits zoning on the basis of senatorial districts (which are constitutional creations), he is all for zoning on the basis of cultural zones (which do not exist in the eyes of the law). That is to say that the principle is the respected senator’s own creation, conveniently engineered to justify his quest for Enugu governorship at a time and in a season such a quest is unlikely to fly, for the simple reason that he comes from the ‘wrong part of town’ in the context of Enugu 2023.

It is a different matter altogether whether rotation has served Ndi Enugu well or not. Which is not even the argument Ekweremadu is advancing to make a case for his governorship! But as Christ was to say as evidence of His presence in the midst of the people (the blind see, the lame walk, etc), isn’t the fact that Enugu is peacefully progressive and no one is feeling cheated, enough evidence that zoning has served the state well?

The pain Ekweremadu feels at his Greater Awgu not having produced the governor of the state is understandable – one can even sympathise with him. But that is an internal problem of Enugu-West to resolve; it cannot be an Enugu State problem, come to think of it. If anything, it would, in point of fact, be highly impolitic, even foolish, for Enugu to jettison zoning by senatorial district basis which has served it well over time, for that based on linguistic sub-groups just to pander to the political interest of distinguished Senator Ekweremadu. In any case, and without meaning to play the devil’s advocate, I note that while Agbaja produced the governor for only eight years, Greater Awgu has been senator for 20 years and counting! And you ask, who is actually marginalizing whom in this dispensation – between Enugu-West and Greater Awgu?

I had actually expected Ike Ekweremadu to interrogate the Enugu zoning principle in relation to its ‘re-entry’ zone after the completion of the first cycle. For me, it would have been more principled for the distinguished Senator to argue that the second round of zoning could start from any senatorial zone. He might have had more people buy into his argument. He would still not have swayed the political establishment which, as the Igbo would say, has both the knife and the head of the chewing stick in matters like this, to tow his line of argument (Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is systems, due process man who will give back as he was given). But, it would have sounded more credible and less selfish.

But to disavow zoning by senatorial districts and settle for zoning by sub-linguistic groups (cultural zones), as Ekweremadu has advocated, speaks to an unhealthy promotion of self-interest in a polity that can do a lot more with altruism.

•Abugu, a veteran journalist and publisher, lives in Lagos

SOURCE: SUN NEWS

The Real Truth On Rev. Canon Sylvester Eboh And The Bishop Of The Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo

Combo image via 36NG/Ebube News

BY EMMANUEL LALA

Mrs. Eboh Ifeoma, the wife of the embattled Rev. Was never submissive to the husband ab initio.

Rev. Sylvester Eboh has never for one day hot or beat the wife.

Rev. Eboh tendered his voluntarily retirement/ resignation on the 21/12/2021

The wife ran away with the children to an undisclosed location at 3-3 Onitsha to a house being rented for her by Bishop Owen.

The problem between Rev. Lumen Kristi Eboh and his Bishop was as result of not making the latter (Bishop) and his wife trustees in God in Action Adoration Ministry.

The allegedly impregnating of a lady by Rev. Eboh was a concorted story yet to be proven by the law enforcement agencies in a bid to character assassinate the former.

Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo has threatened to deal with Rev. Eboh in a text message dated on Wednesday 22 Dec. 2021 at exactly 08:34 PM

The press briefing in Awka on the 10th of March, 2022 and the statements from the deputy Chancellor of the Diocese and the director of communications was done by the orders of Bishop Owen Nwokolo to bring Rev. Eboh to public ridicule.

PROLOGUE:

A Latin adage says, “Veritas Omnia Vincit”….. Truth conquers all things.

According to William Faulkner, and I quote “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world, would be this, it would change the earth”.

An English proverb which dated as far back at the 18th Century says “Give a dog a bad name and hang him”, hence if a person’s reputation has been besmirched, then he will suffer difficulty and hardship. Those who usually are in these fields do that for the purpose of preventing one’s advancement. The people on the other hand are apt to think poorly of others on weak evidence which is then reinforced by confirmation bias as people give more weight to evidence that supports a preconception than evidence which contradicts it. Most especially when a higher authority is involved; and has orchestrated a level of cult like followership to smear his subordinate in a pugnacious manner.

BACKGROUNG AND GROWING UP

Rev. Eboh was born into a Catholic family. During his secondary school days as a Junior Seminarian; he had to leave as a result of being the only son of his parents. He was never expelled or had issues or altercations with anyone as was being reported by agents hired to discredit him and his reputation. His mother’s sorrowful disposition to the vow of celibacy for Catholic Priests and seeing how the family lineage will be brought to an end; as the body of Christ is one and given his call to serve as a priest of God; he applied and was enrolled as an Anglican Seminarian. He is an Anglican now and would remain so.

EARLY MINISTRY AND ORDINATION

Rev. Eboh Sylvester Lumen-Christ was ordained on the 13th of June, 2010 by the retired emeritus Bishop of the Niger; Rt. Rev Ken Sandy Okeke. After his ordination, his ministry has been orchestrated by zeal for the Lord’s house and the salvation of souls. Fr. Eboh have labored tirelessly in the vineyard of God that he became the most sought priest whenever Revs are being posted to parishes owing to his good heart, priestly anointing, gift of healing, deliverance and his development strategies. He has built parsonages with money people dash him on daily basis; paid off debts of any new parishes he was posted to; and has through his God in Action Adoration Ministry; elevated the image and prestige of his diocese.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Canon .Eboh have in the past donated 78 plots of land to his Bishop; Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, the said land was given to the former; but he chose to gave it to his Lord Bishop; this was when the going was good. Rev’d.Eboh have equally made it mandatory to be given Rt. Rev. Owen a huge amount of money ranging from N500,000.00 to N1,000,000.00; in every programme he held. This does not exclude the numerous gifts he always gives to his Bishop.

Canon LumenChristi Eboh ,built School at St. Barnabas Oze Nkwelle Ezunaka.

He molded ten thousand blocks (10,000.00) at St. Barnabas Oze Nkwelle Ezunaka within a year for the new church building and hosted episcopal confirmation.

He brought the person that graded the Oze community pathway and also wrote to the government through the then Local Government Chairman, Hon. Uche Okafor (Wiper), who later intervened and included culverts in some pathways.

He built Parsonage (a church house provided for a member of the clergy) at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Odumodu Umunya from the foundation.

He finished the church building and dedicated it.

He hosted the “Women International Conference” at St. Paul’s Parish Umunya.

He gave pipe borne water to the Umunya community in Anambra State.

He stopped the fight and communal crises at Odumodu, Umunya and mediated for peace. Those benefitting from the crisis used it as an avenue to write petitions against him to the Bishop.

He built Christ Anglican Church Umudioka. He was the one that started the Parsonage and completed it within a year. Constructed toilets facilities.He however extended the Church building and remains till his resignation, the highest Church donor in every synod.

He stopped the people trying to grab the land of the Church at Umudioka, in their defeated state; they started writing petition against him to the Bishop.

He cleared the assessment debts from 2017 when he was posted to Christ Anglican Church, Umudioka in 2020; he equally cleared the debt/ loan borrowed by the Church from the Diocesan Bank for fencing of the Church building. All these debts were cleared by him through support from friends and well wishers; even when he was not on the pay role of the Diocese, in receiving monthly allowances, which the church treasurer can attests to with members of parochial church committee (PCC). He inherited no structure from the Church at Umudioka; no altar, no seats, no bishop throne; but through well meaning friends; those things where brought to the Church and structures fixed.

He has given 29 persons scholarships from Secondary School to University level. He has helped numerous people coming to his Adoration Ministry seeking for help; many have received instant healing and breakthrough through his ministry by the power of Almighty God.

He has built toilet facilities at Odumodu Umunya and Umudioka respectively.

During Covid-19, he shared huge amount of money to the less privileged and distributed food items to cushion the effect and hunger orchestrated by the deadly virus.

While he was at St. Paul’s Parish Umunya; he attracted a Borehole to the community through a Non- Governmental Organization to salvage the ever prevailing water scarcity facing the community.

PROBLEM WITH HIS BISHOP

The problem with the Bishop emanated when he told his Bishop that he can’t release the documents of the land owing to the revelation he received from God after prayers; when the former communicated to him via text message to submit the documents, or he will withdraw his license and suspend him as a priest of the Diocese on the Niger; if he fails to do so within seven (7) days.

The incident happened on the 2nd of December, 2021 at exactly 3:04pm. We can earlier deduce how the Bishop requested that Rev. Eboh must include him (Bishop) and his wife as trustees of God in Action Adoration Ministry Wonderland Ogidi. The Bishop further issued a threat to the Priest and I quote “You have drawn the battle line. It is a pity that you chose to bite the finger that fed you”. This led to the fracas between the Bishop and the spiritual director of God in Action Adoration Ministry; note that the refusal to concede to the pressures of the Bishop was divinely inspired in-order that the vision of the ministry won’t crumble; since it is a prayer group for both Anglicans and non-Anglicans alike; hence it is not another Church as reported by the Bishop’s spokesman, that he opened another Church, while as an Anglican Priest whereas God in Action Adoration Ministry is simply a “Prayer Fold”, hence it is the duty of every Priest called by God as his the Spirit of God leads to organize the fold of Christ for special prayers and liberation, most especially gifted ones, that God has placed on special assignment on earth; just as our faces varies, so is our talents and gifts from God.

ALLEGATIONS LEVELED AGAINST HIM AND REFUTATIONS

Rev. Canon Eboh was accused of misappropriation of Church funds. Well, the above assertion sounds like a fairly tale and a report issued just to add to other allegations in-order to malign his image; it was the same auditors of the Diocese that have held him in high esteem over the years for his financial diligence, management and track records in keeping accounts and maintaining financial discipline.

If Rev. Eboh is not stable in financial dealings, how was he able to achieve landmark projects for the Diocese?

Even when he sacrificed his salary for the good of the church and to lessen the financial burden of the Diocese.

Can such a person be termed to be misappropriating church funds?

Even when the said person has over the years cleared financial debts of parishes not due to him and maintained the financial obligations, levies etc due to him and till date is the highest donor in the Diocese with regard to clergies.

At the juncture, the public demands evidence of where and how the priest as alleged lavished and misappropriated church funds.

Rev. Canon Eboh was accused of sexual misconduct/ scandal. The representative of the Diocese went further to assert that the matter was in court whereas the matter was still at the police station; and the lady in question has schizophrenia

( a mental disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel and behave clearly), your guess is as good as mine; to me; I would rather allow the law to take its full course after investigation, since the law enforcement agencies are still on the matter; and the court to sentence the accused person when found guilty than coming to the media to propagate lies and rumours in-order to tarnish the image of the priest.

There are a lot of stories that aren’t adding up; can the public know why the Diocese hired a law firm to release a petition other than the accuser herself or member of her family? To many, this is a witch-hunt which is clearly motivated to bring the priest to his knees; but truth be told; no one can bring down someone God is helping.

No one, not even the Pope went through what Christ suffered; he was maligned and castigated even from those he regarded as friends; those he fed and those he healed of their ailments; but in all these, he chose to carry his cross on the thorny road to Calvary; We believe, just like Christ, Rev. Eboh is carrying his own cross, because without cross there is no salvation.

Jesus Christ never preached falsehood, he never segregated, he was not power intoxicated nor sought for vain glory; he opted for peace in all his dealings with men; and thus said “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called the Sons of God”.

In all things lawful and honest (Canonical Obedience), according to the Canon of the Anglican Church.

MARRIAGE ISSUES

Fr. Eboh loved his wife with his soul and body. His love for his wife, made him to seek the best for her in all things. He made sure that he graduated from the university, as he personally purchased form for her at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He saw the wife all through her first degree and masters and the PHD she is studying currently.

He has invested in her wife so much that it is visible to the blind and very audible to the deaf. For her personal development, he bought machines for the manufacturing of candles which was running smoothly. She has a supermarket which she has never for one day, related accounts to him as the head of the family or proceeds from the business; but notwithstanding, he always take care of her wife needs and that of her kids. Reports have it that people are envious of the love the Priest has for the wife. To ease her transportation stress and that of his kids; the priest bought 2 cars for the wife and till the date she absconded with his kids, has never for a day failed to service them or fuel them.

To my utmost conviction; Rev’d.Eboh loved his wife but was deeply burdened emotionally how his wife was being used to bring him down by agents very close to the Diocese. Canon Eboh have in most prayer sessions; prayed for the wife and he kept seeing evil revelations about his wife; while the spirit of God kept saying he should keep praying for her conversion and always treat her well; and to always turn the left cheek. He has given the wife much love to receive hate and acrimony in return owing to ill advisers and bad friends, who always fabricate lies against him and his ministry. At this juncture, we recall the case of Sampson and how Delilah was used to bring, the most feared man by the Philistines on his knees; what about Portiphar’s wife and how he sent innocent Joseph to jail for refusing to sleep with her and levelled allegation against a poor innocent young man, tarnished his image and brought him to public ridicule; we won’t forget that of Jezebeel who angrily swore to have Elijah killed; what about Gomer who was married to Prophet Hosea, she abandoned him in order to pursue relationships with multiple lovers. Her prodigal lifestyle eventually led to financial ruin and she was forced to sell herself into slavery to satisfy her debts. Despite her betrayal, Hosea rescued her by settling her debts and welcoming her home. A prodigal wife who learned the meaning of true love, her story served as a lived-out-parable, poignantly expressing God’s love for a people who had committed spiritual adultery by worshiping multiple gods.

What about Lot’s wife who lived in Sodom, a city of legendary wickedness. When an angel told Lot and his family: “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back…,” she ignored the warning and was turned into a pillar of salt. Lot’s wife was probably guilty of more than a fateful glance backward. Most likely she abandoned her fleeing family in order to return to the city, thus sharing in its destruction.

What about Herodias, the granddaughter of Herod the Great, she married two of her uncles, Herod Philip I and Herod Antipas. An ambitious and ruthless woman, she hated John the Baptist for thundering against her marriage to Herod Antipas, whom she had married after divorcing his half-brother Philip. John the Baptist was later beheaded.

What about Athaliah who was the daughter of Ahab and probably also of Jezebel, the Bible’s wickedest queen. Married to the King of Judah, she grew paranoid after his death, murdering her grandchildren in order to secure the throne. Thanks to a conspiracy, this ruthless queen was finally overthrown and executed just outside the temple in Jerusalem.

We aren’t forgetting the first mother of creation, Eve, who made the fatal-for-everyone mistake of listening to the serpent’s lie that God wasn’t telling the truth about the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. After taking a bite, she offered it to Adam and the two were ejected from paradise. These history and so many others come to mind while unravelling women as a creature. This is why we must owe it as a duty to always pray for families considering the seed of discords Satan though human elements continues to plant in families and homes. Though we have negative elements; we must also take into considerations virtuous women like Hannah, Esther, Deborah, Rachel, Elizabeth, Ruth, Mary Mother of Jesus etc, and why women who value their homes must always strive to be like them.

Readers and commentators continue to ask why the Church never intervened in Rev. Eboh’s marriage instabilities but went to the media to lay false accusations on him, on matters bothering on domestic violence; which were cheap propaganda to discredit the latter whose only crime was to love his wife and his family excessively; while the agents of the Diocese where using the loopholes to further instigate crisis on the marriage; making his wife not to be submissive to the husband, and always does things to discredit the man he once claimed that he loves and adores so much; and pledged to be with him “To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part”. Hence, the only criteria for dissolution of marriage according to the Bible are Infidelity, threat to life and Death. Fr. Eboh has always been occupied with both Church activities and ministry activities; that one begin to wonder where all the lies reported by the Spokesman of the Bishop emanated from, that his wife left him because of his sexual misconduct and infidelity, whereas during the course of investigations; the Priest has been battling with moles and paid side-trackers from his traducers and enemies of the good works he is doing in the lord’s vineyard; to use the prospects of marriage to manipulate him and drag his name in the mud.

It is on record that Fr. Eboh have always ignored his wife’s nonchalant attitude and bossy nature; investigations equally revealed how the wife of the Rev. has always had quarrels with the workers in the adoration ministry; she has chased the first, second, and third secretary of the Rev. away from working for the Priest out of malicious rumours; that the priest is having illicit sexual affairs with them; trouble emanated when the Priest told her enough in causing havoc in the ministry and allow the voluntary workers do the work of God. She started asserting that the husband is dating his current secretary. Even when the news of how she has been chasing away and instilling fear on church workers have remain object of topic and caricature; well, in life, one should never pray to have a wife that he cannot control; we equally observed the trending saga between the ex first lady of Anambra and how she called a fellow lady ashawo in public during the swearing in of Governor Charles Soludo; if not the camera; no one will believe that the wife of the former Governor can be so erratic and toxic; hence, what about the wife of the Rev., who leave the church at her whims and caprices, without the husband’s notice, makes calls inside cars and stays in the church field for hours, lest the husband hears the discussion,most times sleep outside his matrimonial home without the consent of the husband, and she will start shouting on top of her voices when the Priest tries to caution her on her ways which is not good for the image of the family.

A report has it that the wife secretly has a shop at main market where she sells babies clothes without the consent of the husband. In the year 2014, she bought a land at 3-3 Onitsha, with the name of her sister; when the incident was leaked to the knowledge of her husband, she hurriedly said, she took a loan from their meeting at Nnobi to purchase the land. One could decipher the character of the woman married to Rev. Eboh, I believe everyone has instinct and intellect to decipher situations of this magnitude. Despite all these, the priest was undeterred in loving his wife and kids and remains till date, the greatest supporter of his wife; even in all this travails, the priest sends them money on weekly basis for their feeding and upkeep. The wife has equally attacked and blocked people trying to advise her on social media on the dangerous path she is threading to destroy her family, and being used by the Diocese to bring his husband down, and close his ministry.

REPORTS FROM WORKERS AT GOD IN ACTION ADORATION MINISTRY

Mr. Chukwuemeka Omejieke, a member and a worker at the adoration ministry for more than four years said that he knew Fr. Eboh while he was still at Ozeh in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Anambra State and later became his worker owing to what God has been using him to do in the life of the people. “I have never seen any misbehaviour, immorality, fault and mismanagement is his Ministry”. “He is the type that trust people and take them like his own self”. “He is a man, I can comfortably stand with at any point in time”, he concluded.

He further narrated how the Rev. got a call from his Bishop last year, during a counselling session at the Adoration Ministry, to hand over this property, “God in Action Adoration Ministry” Wonderland, Ogidi. According to him, they discussed it for over three hours and the Rev. told his Bishop that he will pray over it and seek God’s direction on the matter; that he will revert back in a short period after his prayers. The Rev. after prayers told the Bishop that the revelations he received from God was not in line with his (Bishop) decision to submit the said property. He further said that the Bishop gave him 7 days to submit the documents of his Adoration Ministry Ground/ land to him or have him to contend with. The Bishop further threatened him on voice call that the battle line has been drawn. He further narrated the sufferings of the Priest and his zealous efforts towards the development of the Church and any where he was posted.

“To the best of my knowledge, the Rev. has never received any allowances from the Diocese and he has not withdrew any voluntarily support due to the Church in any way; he is very loyal to his Bishop but the new development, to me is traceable to those who wants to bring Rev. Eboh down owing to his spiritual gifts and what God uses him to do in the society with regard to liberating people from bondage irrespective of your Christian background”, he concluded.

Another worker in the Church, who happens to be the sales representative of the wife, narrated her experience with the wife of the Rev.

According to her; she stays in the canteen at the Church and handles the sales of Candle, Liberation Candle, olive oil etc and has never for a day, made account to her husband. She also said that the wife always zooms off whenever a particular number calls her; she will leave to a distant location in the church to answer the call and would stay 3-4 hours on the phone call; whenever she is done with the call, she will tell her to go and prepare food for her husband and wash the dishes and other chores in the house. “The wife of the Rev. find it difficult staying at the house and the shop; she only comes to collect money of items sold; and also lags behind in taking care of the kids”, she concluded. “As someone who is always at the Church; I have never seen where the Rev. has beaten or harassed his wife”, she asserted.

“It was on the 28th of December, 2022, that Rev. Eboh was chased out of the Parish at Umudioka like a common criminal; the Bishop called Police, the Diocesan security and some thugs to threw his things out of the parish and further malign his character”, she concluded.

Peace Nwuda another worker in the church narrated the ugly incident that took place at Christ Anglican Church Umudioka on the 28th day of December, 2022; she said “When arrangement of vehicle was being made for the Rev. and his family to move out from the parish, the wife told her that two bus will be okay to convey their luggages, but she was surprised when the vehicle arrived; the wife started parking her belongings and that of the kids on a separate bus”, she equally noted with dismay how the wife of the Rev. joined the attackers of the husband to be saying evil things against the husband, even when she is still trying to get where the Rev. has gone wrong. Is it from purchasing her form and saw her through Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; equally saw her through her PGD and Masters; and also the PHD she enrolled currently, yet she was busy fighting her husband and calling him names. She went further to say how the Rev.’s wife shunned everybody who advised her on the part she was threading to destroy her home; to avoid it; that those people who are backing her will eventually lead her astray.

Nnaji Ebere, a worker and friend to the wife of the Rev. When contacted; said that the wife of the Rev., does not like who tells her the truth. She has always been on the habit of accusing her husband falsely on sexual immorality yet without any iota of proof but mare speculations owing to bad eggs around her who can’t stop in their bid to destroy her home and everything her husband has laboured for; she narrated how her best friend made her an enemy for telling her to protect her home at all cost and never giver outsiders chance to come and break her family due to negative and false rumours.

SUSPENSION AND DISMISSAL BY THE DIOCESE

Rev. LumenKristi Eboh turned in his voluntarily retirement otherwise resignation as a priest of the diocese on the Niger on the 21st of December, 2021. To set the records straight, he was never suspended before he tendered his resignation, but the Bishop directed that he be issued a letter of suspension, which was backdated to 20th December, 2021 to make it look like he resigned because of the suspension; the said letter was brought to him by one Venerable Ofoegbu Josiah in the presence of the Parish committee, security men and police officers on 24th December, 2021. I wonder if any person in his or her right senses would write resignation letter after being issued a sack letter from his or her employer. Hence, need to scrutinize the whole scenario and come to a logical conclusion devoid of fallacy.

It was the same Diocese that wrote to Rev. Eboh as the Vicar of Christ Township Anglican Church, Umudioka on the 23rd of December, 2021 under the instruction of Bishop Owen Nwokolo, as the letter was signed by the Chancellor of the Diocese, directing him to hand over to Bishop Owen Nwokolo, documents of the land acquired by his prayer ministry on the basis that there was a petition against him with regard.

QUALITIES EVIDENT IN THE LIFE OF REV. EBOH

Anyone who knows Rev. Eboh would attest to his simplicity, humility and respect for people. He has always greeted anyone that calls him on phone call with, Good day sir, Good day ma, Good evening sir, Good evening ma, irrespective of social status, age and doctrine of the caller. He always returns his calls and pick his calls when called on phone, even amidst large crowds or numbers always in queue to see him during consultations; he usually stop to pray for the people who are far and couldn’t make it to the prayer ground. He is a priest, one can boldly say; that he is accessible and doesn’t discriminate irrespective of the position of the caller in the society.

Rev. Eboh has a strong personal relationship with God evidenced by prayer. He loves God and the Church. This is evident in his numerous development strides and achievements within a short period. He has great interest in serving people. He has ability to work with others. He has great respect for other people even evident on how he relates with his subordinates. He is open to different races, ethnic groups, cultures, religious doctrines and has good social skills; above all, he has the capacity and desire to learn and to serve God through the salvation of souls and liberation of mankind. Rev. Eboh is a humanitarian who have contributed so much for the human race through his vast intervention in sustainable communities, he has mediated for peace on several communal crisis. He has chosen to go hungry that his brothers and sisters might eat. His acts during the dreaded Covid-19 will remain indelible in the hearts of the populace as he shared money and food items amounting in millions of naira to salvage the hunger in the land as brought about by COVID-19 lockdown. Fr. Eboh through his priestly ministry and through the power of God have liberated so many families from the shackles of the enemy and evil spirits, so many testimonies have been attributed to his bended knees to God to intervene in the llives of Christians who always flood the adoration ground in millions.

Rev. Eboh have equally supported the Church in a greater way and have through his numerous interventions brought so much repute to the Diocese of the Niger. This is a man, one would pray to have encounter with; and not join the media brouhaha that is orchestrated by envy, jealousy and rancour. Just like G.J Gurdjieff would say “ I ask you to believe nothing, that you cannot verify for yourself”. Hence the need to scrutinize every information we read online and discern the voice speaking, and to take into cognizance why rumours spread faster than truth.

DOXOLOGY

In the words of Radhanath Swami “Religion is meant to teach us true spiritual human character. It is meant for self-transformation. It is meant to transform anxiety into peace, arrogance into humility, envy into compassion, to awaken the pure soul in man and his love for the Source, which is God’’. The centre of religion is “Love”. Any religion that doesn’t preach love stands to be questioned. Even Christ said that we should love Him, love our neighbour as our self; but what we witness in today’s Christianity is directly the opposite; that people have left the injunctions of God and continue to emphasize on doctrines, which have rather caused disunity amongst us as a body of Christ.

I call on well meaning Nigerians, Christians and ndi Igbo in general to look keenly on this matter and never resort to the terms “Giving a dog a bad name; in order to hang it”

The Priest has tendered his resignation, the Diocese of the Niger should accept it in good faith and stop further altercation and image laundering of the former, which to many; is a clear sign of witch hunt. They should however stop troubling the priest, in whatever way and give peace a chance.

To be continued!

Comprehensive report from the Editor in Chief of Ebube News

Email: ebubenews247@gmail.com
The Real

Declining Glory Of Igbo Apprenticeship System That Bred Billionaire Bizmen

Apprentices and traders at the Ariaria Market in Aba is popular for Nigerian-made products, some of which are exported. Image: Getty

BY TITUS ELEWEKE

The Igbo apprenticeship system also known as Igba Boyi has produced many billionaires in the Southeast. But the initiative is now on the brinks...

The Igbo apprenticeship system also known as Igba Boyi has produced many billionaires in the Southeast. But the initiative is now on the brinks of extinction because the youth are no longer interested in it due to their crave for white collar jobs and get-rich-quick syndrome and other factors, Daily Trust on Sunday reports.

The system is an unpaid business apprenticeship/incubator model that offers young boys opportunities to learn business under the tutelage of a master for a certain number of years. It could be five to eight years. At the end of the apprenticeship, they are settled by their masters who empower them with reasonable amounts of money to start their own businesses.

The initiative has produced numerous Igbo multi-billionaires such as the chairman of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, the CEO of Coscharis, Cosmas Maduka, the CEO of Ibeto Group of Company, Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto, the CEO of Chikason Group, Chief Alexander Chika Okafor, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and others.

Findings by Daily Trust on Sunday indicate that Igba Boyi has been in practice for centuries. It helped the Igbo to quickly bounce back to the nation’s economic system after the Civil War.

The system was so popular and widespread that Harvard Business Review defined it as a stakeholder capitalism.

But worried by the decline, the CEO of the United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited, Dr Obiora Okonkwo, in 2020, instituted a N15 million research grant at the UNIZIK Business School (UBS) to do a research with a view to investigating the factors responsible for the decline and make recommendations for revival.

The research was titled: “Reinvigorating Igbo Entrepreneurial Behaviour through Enhanced Apprenticeship Scheme in Onitsha Markets, Anambra State.”

In 2021, UNIZIK Business School came up with some research findings and made a presentation.

While presenting the research findings, the Principal Investigator, Prof Nkemdili Nnonyelu, who decried the decline, said devaluation of family values and unbridled quest for materialism were responsible.

He recommended that the system should be reconceptualised to eliminate any form of stigma attached to the ‘Igba Boyi’ syndrome to make it attractive.

The research also found out that the name ‘Igba Boyi’ makes young boys in the trade feel humiliated.

Nnonyelu said Igba Boyi should be replaced with ‘Nkwado Ogalanya’ or ‘apprenticepreneurship.’

“We also found that the devaluation of family values and the new orientation of get-rich-quick mentality were some of the causative factors that have affected the state of Igbo apprenticeship,” he said.

Nnonyelu noted that apprenticeship had helped to inculcate values and advance entrepreneurs as co-creators of wealth and employers of labour.

He stressed the need to restore the loss of glory of the apprenticeship practice in Igboland.

During the presentation of the research findings, Okonkwo said he took the decision to offer the research grant after observing that the situation was no longer the same when he had a stint as an apprentice before jetting out to Russia for studies.

He applauded the research that it had fulfilled its purpose.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, described the apprenticeship system as the most popular indigenous business initiative in Nigeria’s economic institution and recognized as the world largest business incubator.

The vice president stated this recently in Awka, Anambra State during the National Summit on Igbo Apprenticeship on the theme: “Repositioning the Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme for Sustainable Economic Development.”

Osinbajo said the initiative would add values to the already existing economic growth of the country.

Osibanjo who joined virtually said the scheme has the full potential to achieve for the Nigeria’s economy what similar apprenticeship schemes had achieved globally, especially in Germany and India.

As a Keynote speaker at the summit, Dr Obiora Okonkwo blamed the near extinction of ‘Igba Boyi’ on moral and ethical decay in the society.

He added that erosion of some fundamental values like honesty, discipline, diligence and hard work were responsible for get-rich- quick syndrome and the lack of patience to learn requisite skills that are pervasive among today’s youths.

“The apprenticeship system in Igboland began to suffer when apprentices, even in their very first weeks, began to aspire to become bigger than their masters,” he said.

“This has also led to situations where some apprentices go to lengths to seek to ‘control’ their bosses by diabolical means with the intention to take over their wealth,” he added.

He attributed the current upsurge in drug abuse and ritual killings among the youth to their quest for quick money as well as decline in moral and cultural values so much so that they have lost interest in learning skills to better their lots.

Okonkwo expressed delight that the older generation of Igbo businessmen, most of who were products of the apprenticeship system, became wealthy because they were guided by the values and ethics they were brought up with during their apprenticeship years.

“We must reinvent the apprenticeship system to be responsive to the business and industrial needs of today, along with the skills acquisition and value chain that such new processes require,” he said.

Retired Anglican Bishop of Isiukwuato/Umuneochi, Abia State, Reverend Samuel Chukwuka, attributed the decline in the apprenticeship system to misleading preachings by some men of God.

According to him, some of the men of God who are supposed to be moral compass of the society have disappointed the young ones in their preaching of gospel of God who preach that one can get rich through praying and fasting. This, he said, discourages the youth from learning skills to make a living.

“The church is seriously contributing to the moral decay and get-rich-quick syndrome in the society. Today, we talk about church in terms of building while the church is not about building, but the body of Christ. The so-called men of God are preaching riches, enemies must die and they are making money from the people,” Reverend Chukwuma said.

“People are going to prayer houses, seeking wealth. At the prayer houses they would tell people that God would prosper them even without work. They would tell you that after fasting and praying, God would prosper you. Why would people not rush there to be rich instead of learning skills that can bring the prosperity? Many youths are now resorting to deities having discovered that the churches are no longer preaching the truth,” the cleric stressed.

A-76-year-old tailor, Elder Joel Anichebe said: “The youths of today want to be rich by all means or die in the process. It was not like that in our days. Owing to quest for quick money the younger generation does not want to learn any skill. They want to get everything without working.”

“Parents, too, are also contributing to the moral decay in the society because they encourage their children to do evil if only that would fetch them money. The value system has died in Igbo land because both parents and children are looking for money at all cost,“ he added.

It’s difficult to go back to the apprenticeship values where there was respect for hard work. The quest for quick money has destroy the system. If you get anybody by chance who wants to learn a skill, he would drop out after six months, claiming that he had learnt the trade,” Anichebe said.

“Most youths today preferred riding motorcycle to get easy money to learning any skill that would sustain them in life. I learnt tailoring for four years and six months. Nobody will be hungry in life if he learns any hand work. If you don’t have any skill, you would be tempted to go into crime to survive,” he said.

“Parents should stop glorifying their children who display wealth without reasonable sources of income. We must encourage our children to learn trade and also be patient in learning skills,” added.

Sunday Onurgbo, a spare parts dealer in Nnewi said: “I think the way government has opened the eyes of the youths to money is discouraging them from learning skills. Government officials spend money carelessly and the boys are watching them. The way they display wealth publicly can discourage them from being patient to serve their masters for six to eight years,” he said.

“Some maters are also parts of the problem. When they open a store for their apprentice, they give him a target of the amount of money he will be paying every month. If the boy can not meet the target, he would do extraordinary things to meet up. This discourages some young ones from going into apprenticeship,” Onurgbo added.

Daily Trust on Sunday’s findings also indicated that some master’s failure not to ‘settle’ their apprentices, is another factor that account for the failure of the apprenticeship system.

Mr Martins Metuh, another spare part dealer at Nnewi New Motor Spare Parts, said:

“Owing to exposure to drugs and civilization, the youth of this generation are not ready to learn how to grow in life under the tutelage of a master. It is no longer lucrative to have ‘boyi’ again in your store because they are for destruction and not for building any more,” Metuh said.

“It is no longer safe to have apprentices. It is better to have sales girls or boys and you must open eyes to monitor them,” he added.

Metuh also attributed the failure of the apprenticeship system to parental failure.

“ One day, I went to a man and I asked him about his son who was supposed to be in the university and he said he was in Lagos doing clearing and forwarding. This is a boy he sent to university to study. But he did not spend up more than three years when he came back home with an expensive. But his father did not ask him, “my son, where did you get money to buy this car since you are still in school? How then can his mates go and learn a trade when they feel they can make money through any means?”

“You can not ask a boy to spend eight to nine years with you as an apprentice when his mates are making quick money without minding the consequences,” he added.

Metuh, however, said that being a graduate did not stop one from going for apprenticeship. He urged them, especially the unemployed, to go and learn trades and skills to earn a living.

“We must not allow buying and selling to die in Igbo land to die because it is God’s gift to us,’ he said.

Michael Nwaoba, another artisan, said that it was not easy for a graduate to go and learn a trade for years again after four or five years in the university.

He argued that all the trainings they received in the university were enough for them to do something for themselves.

He said that a typical Igboman had passed the level where he would stay for eight years under somebody as an apprentice, cleaning his house, and stores and even doing other domestic work for a man and his family after a university education.

“Government should put a measure to take care of the teaming youths who are not employed. One does not need to go for apprenticeship to be successful in life after serious training and learning in schools.

Why should a graduate go for five or eight years serving somebody and his family as an apprentice after becoming a university graduate? It is not just possible again, “he stressed.

A psychologist at Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Dr (Mrs) Amaka Okafor, said that due to preference for riches to good name, the young ones are no longer interested in doing anything that would stress them. They prefer doing anything to get money quick instead of serving somebody for four or five years.

“Anchoring on this established fact as seen in our society today, our youths’ mindset and spontaneous actions only centere around how to make quick money and become the praise of the society. Thus, our youths see it as a Herculean ordeal to engage in the long process of lgbo apprenticeship, which, by virtue of patience, helped our older generation to build empires,” Okafor said.

She added: “The result of this mindset is epitomized in the glaring societal decay as seen or demonstrated in such actions and practices like ritual killings, kidnappings, Yahoo boys syndicate, cultism and others.

We should motivate our young ones and empower them at homes, schools, churches and the society at large. They must be encouraged to learn things for a living,’ she added.

Okafor said that Igbo apprenticeship would continue to decline until it goes into extinction if nothing urgent is done about it.

Young Africans, Leave Jesus Alone

BY CHRIS ANIEDOBE

Traditional African religions. Image via Wiki Commons

Young people, I was there. If you were, you would be thanking God for Christianity and Islam. Before they came, every African carried his penis like a deity. We worshipped sacred trees, dense forests, rivers, mountains, and even animals like crocodiles. Every object or natural phenomenon that seemed mysterious was worshipped rather than interrogated. Every household had a deity, not to mention the ones planted in front of their entrances.

So when I was young, I saw Africans drowning in deities. It was a dense landscape of gods. We slept with them in our rooms and carried them as ancestral dieties on our personal trays, and even wore them on our bodies. We were suffocating ourselves with gods.

With Christianity and Islam came light and freedom from a thousand deities. The difference is that instead of a thousand deities, we now have a thousand churches of the same God.

You could argue that the African is deeply spiritual. That's part of the story. But could it be that he lacks the desire for innovation and reinventing himself? That's also part of the story of why he has stagnated.

All Jesus ever taught was love one another. Those who find fault with this teaching and blame Christianity for the woes of African society are really just being anti Christ while trying to sound philosophical.

Let's blame whatever it is that made some Africans worship animals, trees and nature. In Nigeria, cows have more rights than humans and Africans are slaughtering fellow Africans because of cows rather than innovate and ranch their cattles. Or should one say, that their cows are treated like deities.

These issues are deeply organic and I would be the first to admit that Jesus would prefer productive Africans to lazy Africans who invest far too much energy on religious matters rather than innovation. Let's leave Jesus out of African man's laziness and go to work.

The first job we might need to do is kill looters and corrupt public officers found guilty of embezzlement. Believe me, Jesus wouldn't have problem with that if we do so fervently, fairly and honestly. Jesus desires an honest African society and is not standing in the way of eliminating or jailing public officers found guilty of corruption. In fact, he assures us that they would go to hell. Africans should send these people to hell and take back their lives and their resources. That's the China way.

Jesus is not standing in the way, corruption and laziness are the twin bane of African societies. Send looters to Jesus and he will surely send them to hell. Let's start from there.

And for those guilty of electoral malfeasance, the only electoral reform we ever needed is send them to jail.

Ehirim: The Technocrat Who Wants To Be Soludo Of Imo

BY ONYEDIKACHI NKEMJIKA

Tobechukwu Justice Ehirim

He holds a doctorate degree from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; young, restless, angry and with huge grudge about how wrong things have gone in his home state, Imo. That may be an attempt at describing Tobechukwu Justice Ehirim, popularly known as TJ Ehirim, the intellectual and erudite don pressing to occupy the Imo State seat of power in the next election.

Ehirim had nurtured the desire more than three decades ago, which had to take on a new life and fresh desire due to the turn of events in the which he feels stultified development. He is disturbed by how bad the affairs of his lovely state have turned.

To him, the abstinence of men of quality has foisted on the state, poor thinkers and non-performers and he feels there is no better way to express his misgivings over the abhorrent state of things in the state than to throw his hat into the ring so as to implement the blueprint he has nursed for so long. He has therefore taken it as a major project, a mission driven by a passion that makes him swear like the Mandelas, Mbekis and Malemas of South Africa- no retreat, no surrender.

It was at the last edition of the Annual Igbo Heritage Lecture series, in Johannesburg, South Africa, that he unfolded his plan and regaled his audience in detail how he would devote all his time and resources to rid Imo State of the current bad government

“The Imo State of the Mbakwes cannot claim to be the heartland of Ndigbo and display such shameful and lacklustre performance in the choices of who governs them. My people must be emancipated, let the best of us lead the rest of us. Allowing the worst of us to lead the rest of us, is to deny ourselves modern freedoms, genuine growth and top quality development (not 419); a fatal error that requires marshal intervention and urgent remedy or we suffer the adverse consequences. The present governor of the state is not only grossly inadequate, he is insufficiently prepared for the job he got from the backyard and he must go,” he fumed.

The youthful administrator and technocrat with the above words, seemed to have served quit notice to present occupiers of the office; further vowing that he was ready as his warrior ancestors, to go the whole hug and ensure the change.

Waxing both historical and philosophical, he opined that his grandfather must have seen tomorrow when he named nwanagankpa, (the child that solves the hard tasks), which has since been upgraded to a chieftaincy title of nwanagankpa n’ Amazano, by his community of Umudim-Akuure, Umuele-Amazano, Umuaka of Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State. He therefore sees his quest as an ancestral command which would not be above his efforts to achieve.

“I have served Governor Hope (Uzodimma) a quit notice and he understands the seriousness that I attached to the notice. It is nothing personal. My state is in the state of emergency and all that is required is speed and urgency and I’m glad that the youths, the churches, the communities the civil society and the sons and daughters of the soil, home and abroad are unanimous in this new thinking that our destiny must only be resided in the hands of the best of us and not in the worst of us.

“I shall be the voice speaking for the millions who are disillusioned by the dismal performances of Uzodimma. It’s all about principle of nemo dat quod non habet, which simply means, you can’t give what you don’t have. Hope Uzodimma is an accidental leader, almost a disaster, who has shown that he is incapable of the high quality leadership that my state yearns”, he insisted.

Of grave concern to Ehirim is the wanton killings in Imo State which blame he on the doorstep of the governor, saying it was the consequence of entrusting people without leadership capacity with power, adding, “No leader worth his salt will supervise the systematic elimination of his fellow men and women, especially the youths and students, who are the critical workforce he requires to compete in the fourth industrial revolution, the way Uzodimma did. We can’t make a governor of men who have no conscience, who are affidavitely educated and whose pasts are not only tainted but riddled with the exact traits that our parents, teachers and Clergies warned us to avoid.

“Who does not know the occupation of our governor before his magical ascendancy into the red chambers and the catapult into the Douglas House? When people in power are those who went to kindergarten institutions, holding short term certificates and with little or no sources of reference are allowed entrance into the arena that is the preserve of the honorables and the celebrated, this is the result you get. It is this shame and hopelessness that I have come to erase and replace with the real hope. It is time to give the Imo situation the Anambra treatment.

“What we have is like a cancer eating deep into the state. The level of decay that I see in my state today cannot be viewed as ordinary. Hopelessness which has filled the air and the obstinacy of the man at the helm can be likened to that of pharaoh and how God used him to give His people freedom.

“Uzodimma is not an easy nut to crack, given the huge amount of wealth he has amassed to himself and the federal might. But I am the David, the only man in Imo State that can bring down the Goliath. He comes with a combination of incumbency power and the federal might but I come with the might of the people and the promise of God. I am the next Governor of Imo State. I have come to liberate my people and the political heavyweights in the state agree with that contention.

“I will be mobilising the greatest civil movement in history and raise a tsunami against the evil enterprise in Imo State. Because of me, the oppressed, the downtrodden and through the power of the Almighty, the courts, the riggers and even the presidency will yield to the will of the people.”

Ehirim who likens himself to former US President, Barack Obama and Chukwuma Charles Soludo, insists that the best in the society, rather than the dregs must occupy the political space and give sound leadership, adding that collaboration between him and Soludo would produce Igbo emancipation in values and development.

“It was on the crest of the same philosophy of the best must step forward and lead, wherever they are that the son of the poor Kenyan father emerged from obscurity to become the leader of the free world. It was with the same thinking that ndi-Anambra were able to dismantle the mafia network to produce the governor they deserve. We will be replicating the same in my state. Obama rose to become a doctor of law, it was not his money that made him the President, it was his quality. Soludo rose to the height of his profession.

It was not his money that made him the Governor-elect in the presence of a very fierce opposition, it was his quality. It was through the same thinking that Thabo Mbeki emerged from exile to become the wonder-working president of South Africa. I have also reached the pinnacle of my chosen career in Health and Public Service. There are lots of similarities between myself and those men. It is only fair that I be given an opportunity to serve my people,” he submitted.

On his pedigree, he said, “Everywhere I go and everything I’ve touched has turned gold. I graduated the best pupil in Umuele primary school in Umuele-Amazano and repeated the feat at St Augustine Grammar school, Nkwerre, a special model school set aside then, for the gifted children, before proceeding to University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to study pharmacy, where I also graduated with distinction. I served at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Owerri, where I left as the best graduating intern and later, State Specialist Hospital, Ekiti, where I also came out tops.

“I’m not the only one. Excellence actually runs in my family. My father, Chief Livinus Uzoma Ehirim, was a pioneer staff of the Nigerian Customs, who later fought the Nigeria Civil war on the Biafra side. My mother, lolo Adaeze Ehirim, knew that her son would one day become the leader of people. At birth, my grandfather saw the uniqueness in me and named me nwanagamkpa (the child that is destined to solve problems and resolve challenges. This is the background that influenced my past and is pushing my future. It is a tradition that hates slavery and detests the sight of people in anguish.

“In fact, I can say that my ambition to become the Governor started 32 years ago, when the Ozoigbondu, Chief Arthur Eze visited my school and the honour to decorate him with garlands fell on my little self as the brightest. Chief Arthur Eze, who lowered his frame almost to a breaking point, to facilitate the performance of the job my school gave me, told us how the future was ours to take and that the sacrifices they were making then was to prepare us to become future Governors and Presidents. I retired that day with the conviction that I was going to become a governor. Another prophesy came from a classmate back in 1991, George Ashiegbu, who later became a pastor, that I was going to become a Governor some day. Ashiegbu now leads Dunamis church in Ghana.

Indeed, spiced with a lot of philanthropic activities, his pedigree of excellence, diligence and ability to break new grounds, couple with his grip with the grassroots, may have been responsible for the huge fellowship he seems to be commanding presently, particularly amongst the youths.

“I arrived South Africa in 2003, at a time that going to school was not fashionable for our people. I was told that there is no place for people like me here, which I quickly rejected. I instantly chose the road less travelled and I assured them that I was going to break the glass ceiling. After initial difficulties, I was able to pay and write the qualifying exams that opened the doors and windows for the journey that later ensued. The South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) was swift in confirming my South African Bachelor of Pharmacy, followed by the admission into the prestigious South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC). In 2008, I topped it with a Supply Management Qualifications from the South African Development Institute and later an MBA from the world class institution, the Millark Business School in Johannesburg before crowning it with a Doctor of Philosophy.”

Narrating further, he said he later found himself in another huge medical facility, the Helen Joseph Hospital, where he held various top management positions, including the Pharmacy Manager; Coordinator, Mid-Term Strategic Plan Committee. It was here also, that he was again noticed by the Provincial Government, where he became a member, Department Special Task Force on Quality Pharmacycare and Reduction in Waiting Time for Patients at Gauteng Public Health Facility.

Other positions he held were, Operations and Warehouse Manager/Chief Pharmacist, Gauteng Medical Supplies Depot; Director, Procurement Authority, Gauteng Provincial Medical Supplies; Member, USAID/SCMS Re-engineering; Manager, Pharmaceutical Services, Gauteng Department of Health and many others.

“What is important in all these positions is the fact the South Africans didn’t have a problem handing the keys to their life into the hands of a foreigner. It didn’t matter to them that I am a Nigerian. All that mattered was my quality.”

He added: “In my first one week in office, I will declare a state of emergency on Imo State to atone for the lives of our people that were wasted, to satisfy the desperation and the ambition of one man and offer prayers for the repose of their souls. My Government will also seek compensation to the families of those who died the deaths they shouldn’t die.

“I will also declare state of emergency in health, education, hunger and basic infrastructures, like roads. These are what every responsible government should give to the governed as a matter of human right and without expecting a thank you. No human being should be allowed to suffer the pains and the indignity of the lack of basic necessities of life and that I will pursue.

“In addition, I promise to replicate what I did in the health sector in South Africa in Imo State. I will revolutionise the health sector and bring Primary Health Care to the doorsteps of every person living in Imo State at no cost to them.

“The message of the campaign, let the best of us lead the rest of us is now fast spreading across the Imo and beyond like a wild fire and the people, especially the youths are prepared to take their state back. I am the next governor. I’m the only person that has sufficient capacity to dare this lion and snatch the baton off him. I am the only person he is afraid of because he sees Ihedioha and Okorocha as people he can beat even in a sleep. Another Soludo is coming to Imo.”

EFCC: Obiano Didn’t Build Projects With Sands, He Did Well As Governor, Says Sen Umeh

BY CHINEDU ADONU

Gov. Willie Obiano in farewell speech. Image: Youtube

Following the arrest of the former governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano by Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, the former Senator of Anambra State, Sen. Victor Umeh has said that the commission would leave him after listening to him.

Sen. who made this known while speaking during the 80th birthday of Prof Uzodimma Nwala in Enugu said that Chief Obiano did well as a governor.

“Arrest of Obiano is not new in Nigeria. Most governors, when they leave office, EFCC will swarm on them. He must be given the right to be heard. We don’t know why they arrested him. But I’m sure when they listen to him, he will be able to defend himself.

“One thing I keep telling people is that former governor, Obiano did wonderfully well with Anambra money. He used our money well to the displeasure of those in the opposition. They don’t want to accept it.

“A governor who built an international airport, got it commissioned and working. Planes are coming in there and going and you are still looking for your money. He also built an international conference centre. All these projects he didn’t build with sand.

“Apart from meeting the other obligations of running the government, meeting the needs of the people, paying workers salaries, he did so much for Anambra State. That is why we have to be calm to allow the EFCC to finish their job. But I’m confident that Obiano will defend himself.

He, however, commended Prof. Uzodimma Nwala for choosing a lifestyle that had helped Ndigbo, stressing that he has used the Alaigbo Development Foundation to present a lot of thought-provoking suggestions on how to foster Igbo unity and how the Igbo people will engage the rest of Nigerians in the political arena.

Hear him, “Prof Uzodimma Nwala is a great Igbo son. He is somebody who has used his time to think about the well-being of the Igbo people.

“He is somebody who, despite his accomplishment, has refused to be compromised by anybody. With his academic attainments, he is in a position to look for any kind of appointment in Nigeria. That’s what life is about – convictions. Some people are living aimlessly and have no purpose in life.

“It’s not easy for you to choose a particular lifestyle that will shun material acquisition. Maybe it’s because he’s a Philosopher. He understands life more than anything else. He is somebody who believes in his Igbonness. He also thinks about the well-being of the people.

“He also has historical knowledge of the journey of the Igbo people in Nigeria. That understanding has kept him focused in how to make Alaigbo big. He doesn’t hide his Igbonness. He challenges people who write or talk negative things about the Igbo. He has countered them in a number of papers.

“Uzodimma Nwala has a vision and purpose in life. He just turned 80. His teacher who was here is 96 years. I want him to live longer than his teacher and he can because he is still living very strong and healthy.

Umeh who is also the former National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, commended, the governor of Anambra State, Prof, Charles Soludo for choosing dialogue as means of solving conflict as was presented during his inaugural address.

“Soludo has loaded manifesto. As a professor of Economics that has worked around the globe before coming to Nigeria, he knows what to do. So, we leave the work for him to do it. We’re not going to set agenda for him. He has his own agenda set for himself. We can only trust his abilities to do the things he has promised to do.

“At this time we have to talk about security as the area of primary concern. Without security, he will be able to do a little on Anambra State. He understands that. We expect that he will address the issue of security very strategically.

“In his inaugural address, he has seen dialogue as a means of resolving conflicts and containing any spate of violence that is occasioned by agitations for one thing or the other. So, he is calling everybody to a round table. When you talk, you achieve peace.

“Severally, I have told the government of Nigeria to dialogue with groups like IPOB and others agitating for anything in Nigeria.

“Across the country, if you don’t have the mechanism to resolve conflicts, what you harvest is disorder and insecurity. You cannot ignore people who are not happy. That’s what I have been saying for a long time. The government of Nigeria must deploy a conflict resolution mechanism that is hinged on dialogue. You must meet people. You cannot continue to ignore people who are angry. They will continue to do things until they get attention. So, it is cheaper to dialogue than to play ostrich to the problem facing the country,” he said.

SOURCE: VANGUARD