It pays to live a righteous life (Features)

It pays to live a righteous life

Righteousness has been defined as a holy and upright living in accordance with God’s standard. Its root word means straightness, and it is a virtue which every man needs to imbibe in order to be at peace with God. In this write-up, our guest writer, SIR (ENGR.) EMMANUEL N. KANU (JP) elucidates on the importance of living a righteous life. 

At the creation of the universe and man, God wanted man to live an upright and righteous life, and to also obey his commandments. By so doing, God will bless man and increase his number of years on earth.
     The first man, Adam, lived for 930 years, his son Seith lived for 912 years, his son Enosh lived for 905 years. Caniam, son of Enosh, lived for 910 years, Mahalaled, the son of Enosh, lived for 895 years. Jared, the son of Mahalaled, lived for 962 years. Enoch, the son of Jared, lived for 365 years, and walked in the path of righteousness.
     Methuselah, the son of Enoch, lived for 969 years – becoming the oldest man ever lived on earth. Lamech, the son of Methuselah, lived for 777 years and was the father of Noah. Noah lived for 500 years and had three children - Shem, Ham and Japhet (Genesis 5:1-32). He walked in the way of the Lord.
     Enoch was a preacher of righteousness who denounced the sins of unrighteous life style of his generation. Enoch’s life and message pleased God, to the extent that God honored him by taking him away from the earth to be in His presence forever without experiencing death (Heb 11:5). We can see from the above Scripture that life expectancy for man was very high until sin started multiplying itself on earth. This made God to become annoyed with man. Hence, God reduced the life expectancy of man to 120 years: “And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also, is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:3).
    The book of Proverbs encourages us to shun unrighteous living, “My son If sinners entice thee consent thou not” (Proverb 1:10). Early in life, young people usually face enticements of sin, and peer pressure will always induce them to join the majority and thereby enjoy sinful pleasures. In order to avoid this, young people can resist such temptations to turn from God and His ways by developing a close relationship with Him as their Lord by a willingness to stand alone. If need be, they can achieve this through their commitment to God’s righteous ways (Proverb 1:15-16) and by knowing that the way of compromise and sinful pleasure leads to heartache, distress, calamity and destruction (Proverb 1:27, Matthew 4:1-11)
Calamity
The book of Proverbs emphasizes that God has absolute standards of right and wrong, and to disregard them will bring tragic results in our lives. The greatest truth we can learn in our youth is that we will indeed reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-9). The eventual price we pay for sin is anguish, suffering and even disaster, “When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you” (Proverb 1:27).
      It is only by putting God’s word into our minds that we can learn to live wisely and righteously in our relationship with Him: “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels” (Proverbs 1:5). We can become victorious over sin with God’s commandments in our hearts (Psalms 119:11) and with Christ’s words abiding within us (John 15:17, James 1:12). The Scriptures encourage us to walk in the way of good men and path of the righteous (Proverb 2:20).
The blessings of gaining wisdom include:
i. Learning to fear the Lord and thereby being guarded from evil along life’s path (Proverbs 2:5-8)
ii. Having the ability to discern good from evil and thereby avoiding the tragedies of sin (Proverbs 2:21).
iii. Desiring to avoid evil people and associating with them but associate with good and righteous ones (Proverbs 2:12-15).
iv. Abstaining from sexual immorality (Proverbs 2:16-19) and finally gaining the promised blessing of God (Proverbs 2:21).  
Long life and peace of mind
Generally speaking, obeying God and living by his holy principles will result in better health, a longer life, happier and more prosperous life (Proverbs 3:16). However, this general principle must not to be taken as an absolute guarantee to which there are no exceptions. Sometimes, the righteous are afflicted (Job 1-2) and do not live long years (Acts 7:58-60). Conversely, it is the wicked who are healthy and prosperous (Ps 73:3-12) though their final judgment is sure destruction: “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed, with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image” (Psalm 73:17-20, Jas 5:14). 
Trust in the Lord
Trusting in the Lord with all our heart, is fundamental to our relationship with God, and it is based on His promise that He is trust worthy (Proverb3-5). As God’s children, we can be assured that our heavenly father loves us and will faithfully care for us: “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31).
In all our ways, acknowledge Him
In all our plans, decision and activities, we should acknowledge God as our Lord: “In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). In every day of our lives, we must live in a close and trusting relationship with God, always looking to him for direction: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). When we do this, God promises to direct our paths. He will lead us to His goal for our lives, remove all obstacles and enable us to make the right choices (Proverbs 11:5, Isaiah 45:13).
Honor the Lord with your substance
The Israelites brought the first portion of their harvest to the Lord to acknowledge that He was the owner of the land (Leviticus 23:10, 25:23, Num18:12-13, Proverbs 3:9).We also should give God first fruits of our income so that we may honor Him as the Lord of our lives and possessions. It is only then that God will then open the way to pour out His blessings upon us (Malachi 3:10).
Riches and honor
We will discover that most times, earthly riches and honor do not always come to us even though we are living according to God’s ways (Proverbs 3:16), but we can be sure that we will receive everlasting riches and honor from God as our future inheritance: “If therefore ye have not been  faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust, the true riches?” (Luke 16:11, Ephesians1:18, 3:8)
Walk safely in the way of life
Wisdom gives us security because it keeps us walking safely in God’s good acceptable and perfect will (Romans 12: 2). God will not allow those who trust in him to be caught or destroyed by the traps set by the enemy (Proverbs 4:25-26). From all this write-ups and biblical quotations, mostly from the Book of Wisdom (Proverb), we can see that those who fear the Lord and live righteous life have longer life spans, less travails in the race of life and are assured of eternal life.
    Let us, as Christians, rise to this challenge so that at the end of life, we will be proud to ask, like St. Paul did: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept my faith. Hence forth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the good Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing’’ (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Engr. Emma Kanu (JP) is a retired EEDC Principal Engineer. He hails from Ndikelionwu, Orumba North, and resides in Enugu. He can be contacted through his telephone number: 08037441157.

Book review

Book review

Name of book: Court Procedure & Duties of a Registrar
Author: Benson A. N Okoli (JP)
Literary Genre: Legal handbook
Number of pages: 129
Number of chapters: 15
Publishers: Bukason Techs, Ndikelionwu, Orumba North, Nigeria
Reviewer: Success Kanayo Uchime
Price: N1,000

Introduction:
The author, Benson A. N. Okoli (JP) served Anambra State Judiciary for a long period of 41 years. He put in 35 years of active service and retired as a Principal Court Registrar and for six years was on contract as a Customary Court Judge for the State Judiciary. He is also a Justice of Peace (JP) by appointment. He studied Public Administration at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria, and hails from Ndikelionwu, Orumba North Local Government, Anambra State, Nigeria. The book is a legacy the author left behind for posterity in order to commemorate his services to the State Judiciary. It is intended to assist new entrants into the legal system, and also, it is useful to final year Law students and to anyone who intends to have additional insight into legal procedure.
Chapter one
Chapter one of the book starts with the author’s aim of writing the book. He came up with five major aims, among which are, to train the Registry staff and new entrants into the Judiciary on various aspects of Court duties and procedure. Another aim of the author is to achieve uniformity of methods in carrying out the various duties in different Registries. These, according to him, are to facilitate the speedy performance of their duties and also to promote efficiency in each Registry.
      He went on to itemize the duties of a Court Registrar, which he said are statutory, assessment and issuance of all summons, warrants, writs of execution, drawing up and registration of all court orders, keeping of court records and the custody of all accounting books in respect of fees and fines and money impounded or payable into or out of court.
Chapter two
The second chapter brought out sixty legal terms and phrases which are consistently used in judicial proceedings. It also took a look at the prerogative orders, which include mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, quo-warranto, sequestration. Others are hebeas corpus, assignment order, order nisi, order absolute and garnishee order.
Chapter three
In chapter three, the author dealt on the recovery of premises, landlord and tenant relationship, stating that in a situation where a landlord wishes to recover or gain possession of his premises from the tenant, he will be required to issue the tenant a notice to quit, and that the notice may be issued by the landlord’s agent or solicitor.
      On the length of notice to be given to the tenant, the author categorized them into three: one, in the case of a tenancy at will or weekly tenancy, a week’s notice; two, in the case of a monthly tenancy, a month’s notice; and three, in the case of a yearly tenancy, half a year’s notice will be given. He mentioned how notices should be given and the order in which such notices should take. The author went further to state how hearing and judgment should go in such instances, the duration of warrants of possession, the officers of court that are immuned from legal action, and the mode of service of statutory notices by the court.
Chapter four
Chapter four of the book examined rent tribunals, where the author revealed that rent tribunals are established to handle disputes between landlords and tenants. Throwing more light on this, he noted that the tribunal shall have jurisdiction in its area of authority to hear and determine any application by a tenant in which it is claimed that the rent claimed by the landlord in respect of an accommodation is in excess of the rent prescribed by rent edict.
    Mention is also made about the procedure of the tribunal, order of the tribunal, quorum, decision and parties involved in rent cases. He said that all parties to any proceedings of the tribunal shall appear in person or be represented by their counsels.
Chapter five
In this chapter, the author centered on the procedure of trial in various courts stating that the hierarchy of courts in Nigeria has the Supreme Court at the apex, with the Court of Appeal following, then, the High Court. Others are the Customary Court of Appeal and Sharia Court of Appeal as the case may be, followed by the Magistrate’s Court, and at the bottom of the line is the Customary Court or Area Court. The author said that the Magistrate’s Courts, Customary and Area Courts are courts of summary jurisdiction, while the High Court is a court of pleadings.
Chapter six
Here the author dwelt on the trial procedure in the Magistrate’s Court, he observed that trials in the Magistrate’s Courts of criminal cases differ from that of High Court and Customary Court in relation to criminal matters and that the filling system also differs. He also treated the procedure where the magistrate has jurisdiction to entertain the charge, especially when the charge is listed for hearing in the daily cause list for the magistrate. 
     He touched on the delivery of judgment when the magistrate is unavoidably absent.  According to him, where a magistrate, having tried a case, is prevented by illness or other unavoidable cause from delivering his judgment or sentence, such judgment and sentence, if the same has been reduced into writing, and signed by the magistrate, may be delivered and pronounced in open court in the presence of the accused person by another magistrate.
Chapter seven
The author in this chapter, took a look at the routines in the Magistrate Courts. He said that any person or group of persons desirous of instituting a civil action must submit an application by setting out the particulars of claim, which will be assessed and paid for before summons can be issued. He also made mention of service of court process, mode of service, service by special bailiff, address of service and duration of summon. Furthermore, he threw more light on when service may not be effected, substituted service, service outside jurisdiction of court issue and proof of service or affidavit of service.
Chapter eight
Chapter eight took a look at the execution or enforcement of court judgments with FIFA (Fieri Facias). He also elucidated on interpleader summons, registrar’s duties when claim is made, misconduct of judgment debtor and interim attachment. Furthermore, he dwelt on when a writ of warrant or warrant is to be executed outside the jurisdiction of the court, the enforcement of judgment outside a state of jurisdiction and attachment of immoveable property.
Chapter nine  
Here, the author ex-rayed the procedure in the Customary Court, and mentioned the issue of civil matters, appeals from ex-parte order, joinder of causes of action and parties, and hearing of causes of action and parties. On the issue of hearing procedure in court, he said that on the returnable date for summon, the clerk of court will prepare a list of the cases to come up before the court on a hearing paper. He also dealt on the issue of taking evidence by court in special cases, documentary evidence, use of affidavit in court proceedings, and in instance where either party is absent in court during the hearing of the case.
Chapter ten
Chapter ten dealt on the duties of clerks of the court or registrar of sessions and went on to mention interpretation in court, preparation of daily cause list, swearing of witnesses in court and procedure thereafter and granting accused person bail. He mentioned various consequences on failure to comply with bail procedure. He threw more light on the issue of endorsement where fine is paid or warrant to carry out sentence issued, marking of documentary and material exhibits and various kinds of warrant.
Chapter eleven
This chapter dwelt on the financial regulations on the court’s accounts, and mentioned three different monies collected in courts, which are fines of court, fees of Court and deposit. He brought out other items used in the finances of the court like court cash book and fines register. On the issue of deposit of money other than fees and fines, the author said that all monies, other than fees and fines collected by the court and not paid out within 48 hours from time of receipt to the person entitled to it, must be placed on deposit with the sub-treasury.
Chapter twelve
Chapter twelve delved into the issue of probate matters and letters of administration. It also considered the issue of granting of letters of administration which the author said may be stopped for some basic reasons. More so, the issue of procedure in granting letters of administration was thoroughly examined. Again, he touched on another relevant topic which is the filling of a will in the probate registry, method of reading a will, necessary requirement in a will and the execution of a will.
Chapter thirteen
In chapter thirteen, the author ex-rayed the powers, duties and liabilities of sheriff, deputy sheriff and court sheriff. The question of a sheriff, deputy sheriff and court bailiff was adequately answered. He also considered the issue of declaration by court, duties of a sheriff, his deputy, and the protection of a sheriff, his deputy and a bailiff.
     He elucidated on the duties of bailiffs during execution, period to elapse before sales, and also cautioned that no staff of the judiciary shall purchase any good sold at auction by the court. The neglect by bailiff to levy an execution, receipt to be given by court bailiffs and payment of money received by the sheriff or his deputy were adequately looked into
Chapter fourteen and fifteen
In these concluding chapters, the author brought out some sample revision tests and questions for the benefit of those seeking confirmation or about to take promotion examinations. He also added different judicial forms which are used to enforce judgments and orders. He observed that some of them are also used to prepare judicial proceedings either before or after.
Conclusion/recommendation
The reviewer appreciated the work of the author, especially the simplicity of the presentation. The cover page is quite inviting and the contents rich enough to enrich peoples’ knowledge on the various legal issues mentioned in the book. Mention also needs to be made on the mix-up observed in the chapterization, of which the author must pay close attention during the next reprint. The book is a contribution to the fund of knowledge; it is a sure read for anyone who desires to grow in knowledge as it relates to legal matters. It is therefore recommended to everyone who wants to be enlightened on legal issues.

Community News (2nd Edition 2015)

Akpu elects new President General
…I’ll run a comprehensive government – new PG, Okoli
By SUCCESS UCHIME

New PG, Elder Dan Okoli, outgoing PG,
Arch. Goddy Nwankwo

It was a day of great decision for all Akpu people in Orumba South Local Government Area, as they gathered at the town’s square to elect new set of executives that will run the affairs of the Akpu Progressive Union (APU) for the next three years. The “battle” for the post of the President General (PG) was between three illustrious sons of the town, Mr. Linus Okeke, Hon. Uchenna Nwankwo and Elder Dan Chibeze Okoli, who had in the past months spent time and money running extensive campaigns.
     The election was conducted under the watchful eyes of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), the Department of Town Union Matters, office of the Governnor onc Chieftaincy and Town Union Matters, led by Mr. Ginikanwa, and a host of other security operatives drawn from the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Army, State Security Service (SSS), and a team from the Orumba South Local Council, led by its Secretary, Hon. Obiora  Ewulu.
     The contest which initial started on a very good note, would have turned sour, if not for the quick intervention of the various security operatives, who did all within their powers to bring the situation to a full control. Midway into the voting, which was option A4, that requires voters to be physically counted, Mr. Linus Okeke and Hon. Uchenna Nwankwo vehemently protested on noticing some inconsistencies in the electoral guidelines. This subsequently led to their eventual declared the winner with a total vote of 302.
     In other elections, the post of the 1^st Vice President went to Mr. Mike Udensi, who pulled a total vote of 221, while his co-contestant, Charles Anagu, withdrew from protest. The position of the 2^nd Vice President went to Mr. Fidelis Nwankwo who was declared unopposed, while the position of the 3^rd Vice President went to Mr. Victor Okoliaku who was also returned unopposed.
     The post of the Secretary General went to Mr. Titus Iheukwumere Okoli, who was returned unopposed, as the other contestants, Mr. Kennedy Udensi and Billy Nwosu, failed to present themselves for the election. The post of Assistant Secretary General went to Mr. Uchenna Nwafor, who was also declared unopposed. Again, the posts of Financial Secretary and Treasurer went to Mr. Rufu Okeke and Mr. Pat Obiorji respectively, who were also returned unopposed.
     Finally, the post the Public Relation Officer 1 and 11 went to Mr. Inno Ikeibe and Mr. Paul Nwankwo respectively, who also were returned unopposed, while that of the Provost 1 and 11 went to Mr. Okwudili Anachunnam and Emma Nwafor respectively, who were returned unopposed as well.
     In his acceptance remarks, the new President General, Elder Dan Okoli promised he will run a comprehensive government that will usher in progress and a new level of development in Akpu, while appealing to his co-contestants who lost in the election to join hands with him to development their town.
    “I am ready to contribute towards the development of our town, that is the reason why I presented myself for the election as the PG. I and my team will join hands to work. I am calling on all who lost the election to sheath their swords so we can have peace in our town,” he stated.
     He continued: “My promise to all Akpu is that we will cause our town to enjoy prosperity. We said it during our electioneering campaigns that we will bring out our blueprint for development and that we will set an office in the town hall to enable us have database to empower those who are in school and out of school. We will do all that we promised.”
    In his earlier farewell speech, the outgoing President General, Arch. Goddy Nwankwo recounted that during their three years in office, they did their best to positively impact on the life of every Akpu, with the eagerness to leave the town better than they met it.
     On education, he said they discovered that education is the bedrock of any modern society and that the foundation for good education starts from the primary schools adding that on the assumption of office, they discovered that their primary school was understaffed to the extent that only one teacher taught two classes, and as such they decided to help out in employing two extra teachers, who remained on their payroll until the state government sent more teachers to the primary school.
     Nwankwo said they did their best to resolve all disputes between feuding individuals and groups, and also pacified those who were wronged. It was under this peaceful atmosphere that our town collectively buried our late Igwe, HRH Igwe P. O. Nwafor on October 25, 2013, under the able-leadership of the APU.
    On the issue of security, Nwankwo said that his administration did their best to motivate the vigilante in the town, in order to give their best to the town, “we took special interest in their welfare. We paid them completely the sum of N1.2 million made available for their 12 month’s salary by ex-governor Mr. Peter Obi. We paid them N700, 000 as arrears for seven months on a single day, and subsequently paid them N100, 000 each month for the remaining five months.”
     He noted that the vigilante were not being paid prior to their getting to office, but that from December 2013 to May 2015, the APU was paying the vigilante a monthly salary of N100, 000, bringing to a total of N1.7 million that they further paid them as salary from the revenue of APU.
    “We further gave them N145, 000 for their raincoats, torch-lights with batteries, cartridges for their security riffles, and for some other sundry items. We stopped paying them after May 2015, when I succeeded in getting them registered by the government of Chief Willy Obiano in June 2015. Akpu vigilante was not captured due to the fault of the chairman of the vigilante,” Nwankwo also stated.
     Also on health, he said that when they assumed office, there was no functional health facility in the town and that they only had a maternity with a nurse as the head adding that they considered the situation dangerous and unacceptable, “we immediately applied to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) directorate in Awka, and an NYSC medical doctor was posted to our maternity.”
    He further stated: “As the NYSC doctor came to resume duties, Hon. Ben Nwankwo came up with a superior idea that he would engage a practicing medical doctor for the place and pay him. He also said he would do his best to equip the place and upgrade it to a primary health centre. We accepted his proposal, appreciated his gesture and gave him our full support.”
    In present the scorecard of his executive committee, the ex-PG enumerated them as follows: “We furnished Akpu Town Hall with 300 plastic chairs, six plastic tables and one big capacity generator, as donated by our people. We built a 3-bedroom house for nurses at Akpu Primary Health Center, to create more rooms in the main building for private ward and operating theatre. We honored three of our illustrious indigenes with a grand civic reception during the 2014 Akpu Day Celebration on December 26, 2014.”
   He said amongst others that they took their cultural festival (otute and oriri okochi festivals) to another exalted levels of entertainment and friendship, with Hon. Ben Nwankwo playing a major role in providing surplus free drinks and music. They further argued and prevented the blockage of Upata road passing through Izuegbunam-Okoliuche axis, as planned by the Izuegbunam family Ajalli, restored their brotherly relationship with Ufuma and Nawfija, and also opened and maintained channels of constructive dialogue and engagement between their town and Ajalli.

Amesi recreational project to gulp whopping N100M
By SUCCESS UCHIME

Nze Ezekiel Chukwuneke PG Amesi

The Amesi Improvement Union (AIU) Enugu Branch is set to kick-start a recreational hall in Enugu which will cost the Union over N100M. The project when completed will serve as a rallying point for all Amesi people and also generate revenue for the Union.
    These revelations were contained in a statement by the Union’s chairman, Uche Umeozulu, during the Golden Jubilee and award giving celebration of the Union in Enugu held at the Oakland Hotel, Enugu, last October adding that the project will also help in the growth and development of Achina.
    “By the special grace of God, this project will be completed at the expected record time, through the efforts of Achina people,” he stated.
     He commended the boldness, resilience, sincerity, hard work and encouragement of the members which have brought the branch to the level where it is now stressing that efforts should also be geared towards sustaining this tempo, “any mistake in dropping from the level we found ourselves today, would certainly bring the Union to jeopardy.”
     Umeozulu noted that the event cannot be completed without appreciating all their in-laws, business companions, friends and well wishers, who contributed to the success of the event, “am grateful to all the members of A.I.U, but most importantly the women wing under the leadership of Engr. (Mrs.) Ada Umeozulu, and her executive members for their untiring efforts.”
    He acknowledged the tireless efforts of their past executives and  also appreciated the planning committee, headed by Sunday Ezeobiora for their immense hard work stating  that the branch is a spring board that gave birth to many A.I.U branches in Nigeria.
    “Our branch is blessed with human and material resources. One of the founding fathers of the branch, Chief B .O. Umeozulu, floated the foremost business enterprise here in the coal city, known as “Amesi Commercial Enterprise,” which serves the entire South East and beyond,” he revealed.
     He note that in the area of agriculture, Sunchi Integrated Farm Ltd., which is the only hatchery farm that produces day old chicks and other agro based quality products that also serves the entire South East and beyond is owned by their branch member.
     Stating further, Umeozulu said that in the areas of legal profession, their legal luminary, founder and crowned patron of the event, Chief L. M. Ezeofor, has excelled in his given profession and also brought “light” to the branch and Amesi in general.
    “Also in civil service and academics, the notable names like Ichie Osondu, Ichie Okpara, Dr. Nnadi and others should not be forgotten so easily in an occasion like this. Mention should also be made of our big mummy, the founder of the A.I.U women wing and the famous Umuada Igbo Nigeria and Diaspora, Lolo (Dr.) Kate Ezeofor, who has contributed immensely to the vanguard of women emancipation in Nigeria,” he also stated.

   

Uche Umeozulu

Umeozulu regretted the sudden and painful death of one of the honorary title awardees, late Barr. Ijeoma Gloria Abazie, whom the cold hands of death could not allow to be alive to witness to the august event calling for the observation of a minute silence to honor the dead.
     In his own goodwill message, the Chairman Publicity Committee of the event, Nnopu Gozie Philip, described the Golden Jubilee as an epoch making event and that the joy is always very exciting and quite unimaginable considering its uniqueness based on its duration adding that it calls for celebration and jubilations.
    He stated: “As the A.I.U Enugu branch is privileged to celebrate her own golden jubilee anniversary today, it is a thing of joy. For this reason, I want to say may all glory, honor, adoration and praise be ascribed to the triune Holy God who has done all things well- Amen.”
     He also expressed his profound gratitude to the founding fathers and pioneer members of the Union, who have in a very dogged manner sacrificed much while planting this “seed-”the Union, which can be compared to the little mustard seed that has grown so big today.
   “They nurtured it with kin interest and sense of assiduity. Today it has grown in leaps and bounds, and has metamorphosed to the stature of a big iroko tree. As we celebrate this our Golden Jubilee, I will advice all of us to copy from these our exemplary fathers – the spirit of patriotism, life of dedication and selfless service for the unity, progress, stability and the overall well-being of this Union in particular and Amesi community in general,” he also stated.
     Ogene notes that the Golden Jubilee celebration, also witnessed an award giving ceremony to the deserving sons and daughters of Amesi, and amongst them are, the Chairman, Interchem Feed & Food Additives Ltd., Isiadinso Chijioke Uso, late Barr. (Mrs.) Ijeoma Gloria Abazie, and the Chairman of Nevilla Hotels Ltd., Kaduna, Chief Kenneth Nnajiofor.
     In his congratulatory message to the branch, Chief Kenneth Nnajiofor heartily appreciated the efforts of the branch stating that the award given to him is a well deserved honor.

Ajalli DPO appeals for befitting police station
By OGONNA UMEH

Ajalli DPO CSP Odoemelem

 

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ajalli Divisional Police Headquarters, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Patrick Odoemelem, has appealed for a befitting and functional Police station that will enable his men perform efficiently.
      He made the appeal while welcoming the Anambra State Police Commissioner, CP H. H. Karma who was on an inspection tour of police formations in his commad adding that the police divisional headquarters still operates at the Ajalli town hall with no standard cell and with offices partitioned with plywoods.
     “I pray you use your good offices to help us build a befitting Police station for Ajalli division. The division also has no barracks accommodation for officers and men. All the personnel live in rented houses and some report to duty from distant towns. This is not only risky, but makes it difficult to mobilize men promptly in times of emergency. Kindly help us build barracks for our men,” he appealed.
     Odoemelem noted that Ajalli division is made up of sixteen large communities and that their manpower is grossly inadequate to cover the large area, requesting the Commissioner to post more men to his division.
      He stated: “We presently have only two patrol vehicles. In view of our vast area, kindly give us one more patrol vehicle for effective patrol coverage of the area. This will greatly enhance our operations and reduce our response to distress calls to five minutes. Arms, ammunitions and riot equipment are grossly inadequate and sometimes hinder our effective operations.”
      He pointed out that the local government chairman, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) members and other stakeholders in the council numerous to mention area have been of immense assistance to the division, adding that no police force anywhere in the world can succeed in the onerous task of crime detection, investigation and prosecution without the support, assistance and cooperation of members of the public.
     “Irrespective of our challenges, the morale of the officers and men of this division is high. I assure you that we will not only consolidate on our successes, but will keep our oars active to ensure everybody in our area, except criminally-minded persons, sleep with their two eyes closed especially during this “ember” months,” Odoemelem also stated.
      The DPO hinted that the Ajalli Divisional Police Headquarters was established and opened in 1992 with Ajalli town hall which was build in 1951 as its base and that till date, it still operates in the town hall as the divisional headquarters.
     According to him, the division has two police posts in Oko and Awgbu, adding that they share boundaries with Umunze, Aguata and with Enugu State via Enugwu-Abor in Ufuma, adding that the crime rate in the area is very low.
     “This is as a result of the proactive and crime fighting measures put in place. The constant and intensified patrol, show of force, stop and search, monitoring/surveillance, amongst others embarked upon by my men. This is also as a result of the robust synergy and effective inter-agency cooperation and collaboration with our sister agencies like Immigration Services, vigilant groups, State Security Service and others,” he also stated.
      Odoemelem said his division was able to effectively manage all crisis situations in the area, hence they did not escalate to major crises, adding that in such serious crisis, his men did all they could to in order to stem them and therefore promised to sustain the tempo. ###

 

Anambra Police boss assures Orumba safety
By OGONNA UMEH

L-R ACP Ibezim, CP H. H. Karma, ACP Hamza
during the CP'S visit to Orumba North 

 

The Anambra State Commissioner of Police CP H. H. Karma has assured residents of Orumba North Local Government and its environs that crime wave in the area will be drastically reduced in the nearest future.
     The Commissioner made this assurance in Ajalli Divisional Police Headquarters during his inspection tour of police formations in the area, adding that he had barely spent one year in office in Anambra State and that he assumed office at the time of electioneering campaign which did not give him adequate time to function effectively
He appreciated all security operatives in the area working in concert with the Ajalli formation, adding that his men are not there as masters, but as servants and not to lord things over on the people: “we are here for one goal - to make it crime-free and we have to do it together.”
      CP Karma warned his men of the dangers in keeping people in jail beyond the stipulated time, stressing that bail remains free in the country and that illegal duties and road blocks remain banned.
       “We are glad that the problem of cultism is highly reduced in your community. Cultists graduate to armed robbers and we must do everything possible to stem them out. Anambra people must be free to come back home this time around,” he stated.
      He revealed that the Governnor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has urged all security operatives in the state to form a united front in order to defeat the men of underworld urging the vigilante to be more careful in the discharge of their duty of helping to fight crime in the state.
       He warned: “Vigilante, the arms you carry are prohibited items and if you kill people with them, you must answer for it. You must endeavor to work with the Divisional Police Office (DPO) incharge of this unit so you do not make yourselves escape-goats. I also warn the Police men that the arms they carry are not to harass, but to protect them. There is nothing like accidental discharge hence, there is a clear process of firing a rifle.”
      The Commissioner told the vigilante that their job is a voluntary work and as such, there is need for them to engage themselves in gainful employment, warning them not to over step their bounds by going to other people’s towns other than theirs to discharge their duties, “if you go to other towns, you will be disarmed and dismissed. Do not be victims in your community as we are prepared to disown you at that point.”
       CP Karma warned the police men to be active in the discharge of their lawful duties as the Force is ready to do away with any police officer found unfaithful in his duty. “If you do not want your jobs any more, tell your DPO and then, quietly leave the job. We are asked to recruit 10, 000 men, so we are ready to replace any police officer who errs.”
       He assured that a police patrol van will be stationed on Ajalli – Ndiokpaleze road which has become a safe-haven for kidnappers and armed robbers, stressing that it is the duty of the Nigerian Police Force to make the society habitable. “That is why the Anambra command has provided a hot line, 07039194332, in our control room at our Awka office for people to easily get in touch with us.”
     The Ogene Newspaper notes that the commissioner had earlier visited the divisional police headquarters in Ekwulobia, Federal Polytechnics, Oko and the Orumba North local government chairman before arriving in Ajalli.






Let’s fight poverty, ignorance in Old Aguata –

Prof. Osisioma
By SUCCESS UCHIME

Prof. Osisioma

The Old Aguata Union (O.A.U) has been called upon to fight the problems of poverty, ignorance and disease inherent in the zone, and also to acquire the knowledge required to improve the quality of lives of its people.
     The call came from the professor of economics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Benjamin Osisioma during a lecture entitle: “Developing Entrepreneurial Skills and Investment Opportunities in Old Aguata,” as part of activities marking the Old Aguata Day 2015 celebration, hosted by the Union at the Marble Arch Hotels& Suites, Awka, Anambra State.
     According to him, the urgent task is to employ the entrepreneurial tools in the venture of creating, nurturing and prospering in wealth, and that wealth is measured by a person’s ability to survive so many days forward without working.
       He opined that the world is filled with talented poor people, who are not poor because of what they know, but because of what they do know, adding that schools are designed to produce good employees instead of good employers.
      Osisioma pointed out that most people if given more money, will only get into more debts stressing that skills in making money are not nearly as important as skills in keeping money, “the rich buy assets, the poor only pays for expenses, while the middle class incurs liabilities.
     “Long hours and hard work are good, but they do not necessarily translate to wealth and riches. The battle to get out of poverty begins with a change in mind-set. Enterprises, is the workshop that turns out riches, and enterprises skills are required to convert dreams into reality, and modern ambition into achievements,” he stated.
      He defined entrepreneurship as the combination of initiative, innovation and calculated risk-taking associated with identifying market opportunities, mobilizing resources and managing them efficiently in the operation of productive, viable and socially responsible enterprise, adding that it is also the result of a disciplined, systematic process of applying creativity and innovation to needs and opportunities in the marketplace.
      He stated: “It involves applying focused strategies to new ideas and new insights to create a product or service that customers need or solves existing problems. It is the dynamic process of translating dreams, visions and ideas into economically viable entities.
      Osisioma further observed that entrepreneurship involves casting the vision and defining the path to the future, refusing to accept the status quo and taking risks in the pursuit of over-arching goals, adding that it is not a project or mission, rather, it is first and foremost, a mind-set, a life-style and a process of creative destruction with an eye on profit, a value-adding and wealth-creating process.
    “There are various spin-offs to the entrepreneurial drive like intra-preneurship, which is corporate entrepreneurship, co-prenuership, referring to a partnership of entrepreneurship, cyber-preneurship, referring to web-based practice, serial entrepreneurship, which refers to the repeated commencement and growing of new businesses to sustainable size before striking out again to fresh fields, and agri-preneurship – the application of entrepreneurial skills in the area of agriculture,” he also stated.
      He noted that an entrepreneur creates a new business in the face of risk and uncertainty for the purpose of achieving profit and growth by identifying significant opportunities and assembling the necessary resources to capitalize on them, pointing out that, he shifts economic resources out of an area of lower, into an area of higher productivity and grater yield.
      He further stated: “He causes resources to undergo a level of manipulation to achieve set goals, that is, to invent new products and services, develop new technology, discover new knowledge, improve existing products or services, and also find different ways of providing more goods and services with fewer resources.”  

Old Aguata Union calls for infrastructural

development of the zoneBy SUCCESS UCHIME

Barr. J. C. A Nwikpo

The Old Aguata Union (O.A.U) has called on the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano to expedite action on the provision of infrastructural development of the zone, which comprises three local government areas, namely, Aguata, Orumba North and South.
    The call was made by the chairman of Awka branch of the Union, Barr. J. C. A Nwikpo during the Union’s celebration of Old Aguata Day 2015, held at Marble Arch Hotels & Suites Ltd, Awka, Anambra State on November 8, 2015, adding that more roads are needed to open up the zone for further development.
    He also appealed to the governor to develop the Awa Ogbagu Cave as a world tourist center and also establish a campus of Anambra State Polytechnic within O.A.U territorial axis, demanding for more appointments, declaration of O.A.U zone as an erosion disaster area that requires immediate attention, and the upgrading of Orumba General Hospital as a specialist center.
     Nwikpo stated: “We urge you to keep pace and our support is readily assured. We recollect with thanks your administration’s infrastructural development of O.A.U zones as of today, such as continuation of Awka-Ndiukwuenu-Ufuma road, Achina-Onne-Ogboji road and the awarding of Ezira-Umuomaku-Enugwu Umuonyi-Achina road contract. Reconstruction of Orumba general hospital and schools both primary and secondary, appointment of O.A.U indigenes in position of authority, such as commissioners, permanent secretaries, heads of government agencies and others.”
     “However, in the wake of all these efforts, some hitches, needs and challenges do come up. Unto the above, as a socio-cultural organization having interest in the affairs around her, it is with the greatest respect that we wish to congratulate our able and hard-working executive governor, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, on his giant strides in areas such as security, infrastructural development, socio-economic cum welfare of  Ndi Anambra,” Nwikpo stated.
     He continued: “Of special importance as of moment, O.A.U, Awka branch needs some support in terms of a parcel of land here in the capital city, Awka for her headquarters and a sound bus for effective operations, including office gadgets and equipment for effective development,” he also stated.
     He pointed out that the establishment of O.A.U is for the harnessing and shaping of the potentials that are abound in the zone and maintaining of the socio-cultural cum economic ties among others across the three local governments of former Aguata Local Government Area, adding that his branch has passed through successive administrations prior to this current regime, and as such contributed significantly to the advancement of the branch and the national body.
     He said that in the quest to build a harmonious society, particularly in AnambraState, the Union has recorded some milestones in fostering unity, peace, understanding and cultural interactions, not only amongst the indigenes of the zone, but beyond her boundaries.
     He appreciated the facilitator of the program, Prof. Ben Osisioma of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, for the intellectual exposition on the topic of the day, “Developing Entrepreneurial Skills and Investment Opportunities in Old Aguata,” stressing that the topic is carefully chosen to suit the mood of the nation, particularly to provide the key for purposeful engagement, employment and skill empowerment for our young youths.
      According to him, the aim is to task the private and public sectors on practical approach for meaningful engagement of our people for sustainability and good of the society, adding that by all intents and purposes, the occasion is an all inclusive and interactive one, aimed at participant’s socializing and interacting across board, whether an indigene of O.A.U or not for the good understanding of hospitality, openness, enterprising and cultural affinity abundant in the zone.
     Nwikpo opined that old Aguata zone is blessed with lots of natural endowments, human resources, privileged locations for agrarian and other economic engagements, and that the blessings abound in all fields of human endeavors, hence it is extremely difficult to recognize all worthy sons, daughters and wives in one swoop.
      He noted that the previous regimes had contributed their quota in the task of keeping the flag of O.A.U afloat, and that this present administration, that was elected on February 24, 2014, is vigorously pursuing same, hence, they need their people’s physical presence and contribution of ideas at meetings in order for the aims and objectives of the body to be attained.
     The event also witnessed the giving of awards to illustrious sons of the zone. Prominent among the recipients of the awards are, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State, CP Chris Okey Ezike,  an indigene of Ogboji, Orumba South; the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Cometstar Elektrindo Ltd., Chief (Sir) James Uzochukwu Uduji, an accomplished industrialist, who hails from Achina, Aguata; the Chief Executive Officer, Marble Arch Hotels & Suites, Awka, Chief Sam Okey Nwosu, who hails from Oko, Orumba North.
      Others are, the Ide Awa, Engr. (Sir) Paul Nwafor who hails from Awa, Aguata North; the Adadiugwu of Akpu, Chief Hon. (Mrs) Kate Ifeoma Obioji, an indigene of Akpu, Orumba South; the Group Managing Director, Dee Jones Group, Sir Richard Chukwunanu Eze of Umunze, Orumba South; the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Arch. Michael M. Okonkwo, amongst others.
       In their goodwill message, chairman,  Ekwulobia People’s Assembly, Awka branch, Uche Okeke said they are proud to associate with the aspirations of the Union and that the need of old Aguata communities to have a rallying point for resolving the common problems and felt needs cannot be overemphasized.
     “We wish to use this opportunity to congratulate everyone who has involved himself/herself in promoting the growth of O.A.U geo-political zone. We hope the landmark achievements we attained this year by this singular celebration will be sustained,” he stated.
       Also in their goodwill message, the Chairman Isi-Achina Town Union, Awka branch, Chief (Sir) J. C. Nwakpadolu, felicitated with the leadership and members of the Union, adding that they are happy that O.AU Awka branch would organize such an event that featured cultural shows, new yam celebrations, talk-shop and award ceremony.
     “We also felicitate with our brother, Chief (Sir) James Uduji (Gburugburu Aguata) for being one of those that will be honored by the Union. We salute you Gburugburu for your entrepreneurial and philanthropic leadership that have made you outstanding. We pray that God will continue to reward you abundantly in Jesus name,” he stated.
     Some cultural groups entertained during the event, amongst them are, the famous Igbodiegwu International Cultural Troupe Umunze, Orumba South, the popular Okweli masquerade, Oko, Orumba North.  

 

We delivered on our mandate – Arch.

Nwankwo

By SUCCESSUCHIME


Arch. Nwankwo

The immediate past President General (PG) of Akpu Progressive Union (APU), Akpu, Orumba South Local Government Area, Arch. Goddy Nwankwo said that his executive committee delivered on the mandate given to them by Akpu people.
     He stated this during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of APU held at the Apku town hall, on October 31, 2015, adding that when they were elected, the expectations on them to perform was very high, and the challenges were very undaunted, but that with God on their side, and with the total support of Akpu people, they were able to achieve all they did for the town.
    “On the 27^th October, 2012, a general assembly of Akpu Progressive Union, gathered in this hall, elected and inaugurated our executive committee for a 3-year tenure. I was returned unopposed with the votes of all our people present on that day, likewise some of my colleagues in this executive, while some officers defeated their opponents to get elected. We immediately swung into action, for the challenges then were enormous, occasioned by the protracted leadership tussle in our town union between 2009 and 2012,” he stated.
     Nwankwo recounted that less than four months on the saddle as the PG, the Igwe of the town, Igwe P. O. Nwafor passed on, and that since then, the full weight of leading and safeguarding Akpu has been on him and his executive committee. “I thank God for His overflowing graces that enabled me to live up to expectations, and also thank everybody that played any key role, as we navigated Akpu to safety.”
     He continued: “We reunited our people under one APU leadership, restored our people’s interest in the affairs of our town, banished fear and tension in our town, and restored friendly relationship between our town and all her neighbors.”
     He noted that prior to their taking charge of the affairs of APU, their town was factionalized, arising from a prolonged leadership tussle that polarized them along two factional lines, adding that all efforts to resolve the problem proved abortive, and as such they resolved from the outset to work hard to get everybody thinking and working for their town again.
     “We cast overboard the divide and rule order that was in place then, and in its place, we enthroned inclusive, participatory, transparent, open and consultative order. We showed leadership, and our people bought into it. We did our best to resolve all disputes between feuding individuals and groups, and also pacified those you were wronged,” Nwankwo also stated.
     On cementing relations with their neighbors, the former PG hinted that when they took over the mantle of leadership, the relationship between their town and her neighbors was at its lowest ebb, and that his executive committee was not happy with the situation, hence they could not afford to exist in isolation. This scenario, he noted made them to embark on a deliberate program to rebuild the fraternal relationship between their town and her neighbors.
    He stated: “We started with paying of courtesy visits to the new monarchs of Nawfija and Ufuma after our installation, and have continued to relate with them and their communities. Together with the leadership of Ajalli Welfare Union (AWU), we opened and maintained channels of constructive dialogue, and engaged the two towns in dialogue, thereby bringing down tension that enabled both towns to enjoy total peace during the period.”
    Nwankwo said they were able to finance the hosting of Enugwu Uno meeting twice in Akpu, thereby making the meeting to wax stronger, adding that they equally related well with the leadership of all the other communities in Orumba and beyond.
     On the empowering of Akpu people entrepreneurially, Nwankwo gave glory to God that lots of their people were empowered during their leadership, as some patriotic Akpu indigenes hearkened to their clarion call to assist in repositioning the town for a better tomorrow, adding that Hon. Ben Nwankwo awarded scholarships to 15 Akpu students in higher institutions worth N4 million for four years, and secured federal employment for 13 people.
    “On behalf of our town, I once more thank and appreciate them for their contributions in this area of Akpu life, and pray God to give them the grace to do more for our town, amen. I equally enjoin others to make their contributions as soon as opportunities present themselves,” he further stated.
     The Ogene Newspaper notes that the AGM witnessed the election of new executives that will run the affairs of the Union for the next three years. After the elections, Elder Dan Okoli emerged as the new PG for the town union, along with other executives that will work with him.

General News

Uma Ukpai storms Ndikelionwu

      By OGONNA UMEH

Dr. Uma Ukpai

Ndikelionwu believers, under the auspices of Ndikelionwu Believers Outreach (NBO), are at present intensifying efforts to host the world renowned evangelist, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, in what they called Ndikelionwu city-wide crusade.
     In a statement by the leader of the group, Rev. Anozie Uzochineke, he called on all believers in the town to attend a pre-planning round-table conference in respect of the up-coming crusade.
     According to him, the conference will be held at the Assemblies of God Church hall, Eziokwe village, Ndikelionwu, on November 28, 2015, adding that the preparations are on top gear and that the actual date for the crusade will be made known very soon.
    “With utmost respect and honor, we, the above named Christian body of our dear town Ndikelionwu, invites you to this round-table conference to discuss our intended hosting of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai in Ndikelionwu. Your eminent presence will be highly honored,” he stated.
    Ogene notes that Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai is one of the most anointed and highly outstanding ministers of our generation. He speaks across the world extensively on issues of salvation, faith, healing, breaking of curses and covenants, and spiritual leadership. In town after town, across the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond, Ukpai has mobilized God’s people into action and his crusades attract crowds that number in hundreds of thousands, and spectacular moves of the Holy Spirit in these meetings, have resulted in amazing miracles of healing and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
     We also note that be it in Europe, America, Africa or Asia, the result has been the same during Dr. Umu Ukpai’s crusades – people tumbling over under the anointing of the Holy Ghost, sick bodies healed, barren women becoming mothers, marriages healed. He is therefore, understandably much in demand in crusades, conferences, and seminars around the world.
     He is the chairman, King of Kings Medical Outreach Int’l Inc., with a full-fledged hundred-bed Specialist Hospital in Abia State. He is the initiator of the One Million Man Crusade, commissioned with the vision of breaking the curses under which the black man labors. There have been outstanding results. He is presently building Kings All Nations University in Asaga, Ohafia. When completed, the hospital will train people to assemble, fly, and maintain aircrafts. He is the founder of Greater Ohafia For Christ Crusade. Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai is an international evangelist who has conducted crusades in many parts of the world. He is a co-author with Billy Graham and other great men of God on "The Work of An Evangelist". A speaker in Amsterdam '93, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai is the first African main speaker at the World Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International (FGBMFI) World Convention '96, in Miami, USA.

Catholic Church sacks gay priest

  By KANAYO UFELE

Pope Francis

Just recently, the Vatican dismissed a Polish priest, Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa, from his job after he came out as gay and called for changes in Catholic teachings against homosexual activity on the eve of a major church meeting on the family.
   According to Reuters report, Charamsa, 43, told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper and Polish media that he is gay and has a partner, adding that the Church teaches that homosexuality is not a sin but homosexual activity is, and priests, whether heterosexual or gay, take vows of celibacy.
     The report said that Charamsa followed up his media interviews with a packed news conference with his partner and gay activists at a Rome restaurant and that they had planned a demonstration in front of the Vatican but changed the venue several hours before it was due to have started.
    It noted that Charamsa, a theologian, had worked at the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican's doctrinal arm, since 2003, and taught theology at pontifical university in Rome, which has also dismissed him.
    The Vatican said the dismissal had nothing to do with Charama's reflections on his personal life, which it said “merit respect.” “His interviews and the planned demonstration were “grave and irresponsible,” given their timing on the eve of a synod of bishops who will discuss family issues, including the Church's position on gays.”
     The Vatican said the actions of Charamsa were aimed at subjecting the synod, which Pope Francis opened recently, to “undue media pressure,” adding that he presided at prayer vigil for the synod on Saturday night before tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square.
    At the news conference, Charamsa said he wanted to make "an enormous noise for the good of the Church" and apply "good Christian pressure" on the synod not to forget homosexual believers, suggesting that a study be made of how many homosexuals work in the Vatican.
   "This decision of mine to come out was a very personal one taken in a Catholic Church that is homophobic and very difficult and harsh (towards gays). I ask the pope to be strong and to remember us, homosexuals, lesbians, transsexuals and bisexuals as children of the Church and members of humanity," Charamsa said.
    In his reaction, Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, which ministers to Catholic gays, said the Vatican's move was "sadly disappointing." "It is unfortunate that Church leaders did not see Charamsa's announcement as an opportunity for further dialogue with someone they have known and trusted."
    It is to be noted that the issue of homosexuality and the Church has dominated the aftermath of the recent visit of the pope to the United States and that the Vatican has been embarrassed by a row over the pope's meeting during his U.S. trip with Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk who went to jail in September for refusing to honor a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and issued same-sex marriage licenses.

Buhari again condemns Boko Haram attacks

*Over 800 killed since his assumption of office

* Two million people displaced

       By OGONNA UMEH

President Buhari

President Mohammadu Buhari has again vehemently condemned the series of attacks by the home-grown Islamic sect, the Boko Haram, saying that the battle is not ideological, but rather between the forces of peace and order and the evil forces of murder and destruction.
     The President stated this after the recent attack by the group on the residents of Yola and Kuje and the Nyanya motor park, a suburb of Abuja, where several lives and property were lost.
        He asked: "What quarrel do they have with the good people of Nyanya motor park?" "What issue do they have with innocent people in market places in Maiduguri, Yola and Kuje?"
      The recent attacks came at a time the government is basking in the euphoria of curtailing the menace of the group whose main attacks have been in the North East region of the country. During the attack, in Borno State, no fewer than 80 people lost their lives and about 150 injured in the multiple bomb blasts.
      The group has in the past, targeted the Internally Displaced Person’s  (IDP) camp where about three people were said to have been killed, leaving several others wounded. At least, 39 others were wounded in the attack in the Sareji neighborhood of Maiduguri, military spokesman, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman said.
     It is estimated that over 10 thousand people had died as a result of the violent Boko Haram insurgents, while over 2.1 million people have been displaced. Borno state is the birthplace of the insurgency and has been the focus of attacks by suspected members of the militant Islamist group that have killed more than 800 people since President Buhari took office on May 29.
       President Buhari's March election victory owed much to his vow to defeat the insurgents, but there was a spike in attacks across northern Nigeria in the two months following his inauguration, and Maiduguri was hit on a near weekly basis. A new offensive launched by the Nigerian army to clear Boko Haram out of more towns over the last month has led to a sharp drop in the frequency of attacks in Borno, the worst affected by the insurrection, and neighboring states.
      It is observed that Maiduguri has been free of attacks for about a month as it was last hit by a bomb at the end of July and there was a skirmish with suspected Boko Haram militants on the outskirts of the city in mid-August. 





UNN, UNIJOS impacted my life as creative
 
 writer – Eze (Prof) Ike



     By RAY KANU



Eze (Prof.) Ike, his wife Adebimpe Ike 

Eze (Prof) Chukwuemeka Ike said that the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and the University of Jos played major roles in his life as a Creative Writer, adding that it was while he was serving as Registrar at UNN that his first and second novels “Toad for Supper “ (1965) and “The Naked Gods” (1970) were written.
         He stated this at the grand finale of his golden jubilee as a trail-blazing novelist, held at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, the capital of Anambra State on October, 2015, adding that his UNN experience helped to water the ground for his scholarly book, University Development in Africa: the Nigerian Experience (1976).
       “The story of my UNN connection must include my surprise installation in 2011 by the  UNN Alumni Association (The Lions) as the Grand Commander of the Den (GCOD): I hereby express my appreciation to UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof. B. C. Ozumba, and the Head, Department of English, Prof. Oputa for the celebration,” he stated.
      According to Ike, the Golden Jubilee moved to the 2015 Nigeria International Trade Book Fair held at the University of Lagos, where the event was hosted by the Learn Africa Plc, formerly Longman Nigeria Plc, publishers of his youngest two novels, Conspiracy of Silence (2001) and Toads for Ever (2007).
        He stated: “University Press Plc, Ibadan turned their 2015 Author’s Day into my Golden Jubilee celebration. When Fontana Books, London folded up in the early 1980s, my first six novels became orphaned, and at my request, University Press Plc, formerly Oxford University Press Nigeria, became their Nigerian foster parents. Subsequently, UP Plc published The Bottled Leopard (1985) and my only novel so far in Igbo, Anu Ebu Nwa.”
         It is to be noted that a similar event was hosted by the University of Jos,  which was held at the multi – purpose stadium with the theme:  “50 years of Eating Toads for Supper.”
Speaking at the event, Prof. Ike noted that during the two-hour lecture, he was able to x – rayed Nigeria’s first 30 years as a sovereign nation by taking the reader through the lives and experiences of five male and female characters chosen from different ethnic nationalities, adding that it was at the Open Postgraduate Lecture he delivered at UNIJOS that inspired his 1991 novel, The Search.
     Eze Ike stated: “Because my appointment was on contract for two years only, and because there were hardly any suitable creative writing books in the market to recommend to creative writing students/enthusiasts, I was propelled into writing the non – fiction book, “How To Become a Published Writer,” published by HEBN Publishers Ltd in 1991.”
     He noted that his contact with UNIJOS did not terminate with his teaching contract, adding that the department of English of the University organized and hosted a symposium on April 29, 1991 to celebrate his 60th birthday and that a festschrift entitled, “Chukwuemeka Ike: a critical reader” emerged from the symposium, edited by Dr. Kanchana Ugbabe.
     “The name, Dr. Kanchana Ugbabe, calls to mind someone who has contributed to the sustenance of my relationships with UNIJOS. She was a senior lecturer in the Department of English while I was in the department, becoming a professor after I had left. She is one of the authorities on Chukwuemeka Ike’s literary works, probably the leading authority after the death of Professor Ezenwa – Ohaeto,” he also stated.
      Eze Ike, who is the traditional king of Ndikelionwu kingdom, Orumba North, Anambra State noted that when the idea of a book to commemorate his golden jubilee as a novelist was muted, Dr. Ugbabe was the obvious choice to organize the call for papers and to edit the Jubilee book.
      He said that the vision of his role as a novelist or storyteller evolved over the years, and that in 1965 when “Toads for Supper” appeared, he saw it as his role to use his story to present to the society a mirror of itself as it actually was, including pimples and all.
      According to Eze Ike, by the time he wrote “Toads for Ever” in 2007, his role as storyteller had expanded beyond merely showing the “mirror” in assisting to transform society to achieve desired goals, adding that the characters who in previous times appeared helpless to overcome their societal problems were shown ways to triumph over those problems.
     He observed that in “Toads for Supper,” for instance, the two principal characters, Amadi and Aduke, his Yoruba classmate and girl friend, were portrayed as helpless victims of tradition and that in “Toads for Ever,” however, the author explores avenues for overcoming the problems which earlier seemed intractable, adding that the result was the transformation of the toad from a despicable supper to a sought-after delicacy.
     Eze Ike said that “The Search” proposes the new principle of rotation of political power which later gained popularity as well as revolutionary ideas for state creation and that  over the years, he also used the novel as an instrument for recording major national historical events like his war novel, “Sunset at Dawn,” and as an instrument for investigating major social problems like examination malpractice  -  Expo 77, the generation gap - “Our Children Are Coming,” the incidence of ‘fatherlessness” – “Conspiracy of Silence,”  and the leopard phenomenon - “The Bottled Leopard.”

SMEDAN empowers Polytechnics students

   By IKENNA NWOSU

Rev. Anyikwa of SMEDAN

Over 3000 final year students of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, have been trained on how to start and run their own small businesses. The 3-day training which was organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in collaboration with Technological Entrepreneurship Development Centre (TEDC) of the Polytechnics was to prepare students for economic self-reliance and to become employers of labor upon graduation. 
    Speaking on the importance of the event, the South-east zonal coordinator of SMEDAN, Rev. Levi Anyikwa, said the training came at a time when the volatility and slump of the prices of crude oil, Nigeria’s cash cow, was giving the government and people of Nigeria serious cause for concern.
        He called on all able-bodied Nigerians to join the campaign for diversification of the nation’s economy, stressing that Nigeria is yet to fully exploit her huge resource endowments for economic transformation.
        He urged the students to put into practice what they had learnt in the course of the training and expressed optimism that among them would emerge Nigeria’s richest men and women in future.
       “Through this program, SMEDAN is targeting about one million students in the institutions of higher learning in the South-East. We have commenced work with the Federal Polytechnic Oko and other institutions in the zone,” he stated.
        He also stated: “We are convinced that this program will add impetus to the efforts of SMEDAN to spread the culture of entrepreneurship to the tertiary institutions and beyond.”
        Anyikwa pointed out that the contributions of micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) to economic development cannot be over-emphasized, adding that the 2013 survey conducted by SMEDAN in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that the MSMEs’ contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in nominal terms stood at 48.47%, contributing 7.27% to export.
      “Services accounted for 45.72% of the total, while agriculture followed with 42.02% and industry recorded 12.26%. The result of that survey also indicates that MSMEs employ 59,741,211 people, representing 84.02% of the total labor force,” Anyikwa stated.
       He observed that SMEDAN believes that the future of Nigeria’s economy does not depend on crude oil trading, but on entrepreneurship development, by leveraging massive rural resource endowments across the length and breadth of the country.
          Also speaking during the training, the Rector of the Polytechnics, Dr. Mrs. Celestina Njoku, commended SMEDAN for initiating and also successfully executing the program and urging the Agency to ensure adequate follow-up of the students especially as they graduate and go for national service and subsequent commencement of career in entrepreneurship.