THE IGBO

In an effort  to avert the ugly incident of what happened recently in Onitsha, Anambra State, as a result of the fire outbreak from a fuel station, which affected some buildings, vehicles and other properties worth millions of naira, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State yesterday paid an unscheduled visit to the state’s fire service at Otigba junction, Enugu, to ascertain its level of preparedness and efficiency in the event of any inferno or similar occurrence in the state.


Gov. Ugwuanyi arrived the state headquarters of the service at about 11am and was received by the state’s Divisional Fire Officer, Mr. Ambrose Okwor who took him round the premises for assessment of the fire-fighting equipment and other facilities. The governor noted that the unscheduled visit became imperative in view of the need to ensure that the service was prepared, efficient and well equipped for any kind of intervention whenever the need arises. Ugwuanyi After a thorough inspection, Gov.

Ugwuanyi made available some funds to the service to ensure that there is sufficient water supply in all the trucks stationed at the premises, saying that “we are here to make sure that everything is perfectly in order in line with our responsibility to protect the lives and property of the citizenry”. Responding, Mr. Okwor who expressed surprise along with other staff on duty, thanked the governor for always thinking ahead for the well-being of the people of the state, which he said necessitated the prompt visit.

He also appreciated the governor for the contributions he made in support of the service and assured him that the body is ready in case of any emergency in the state. It would be recalled that a fire outbreak recently occurred at DMGS roundabout, Onitsha, Anambra State and razed a filling station, 10 vehicles, 13 buildings and other property worth millions of naira. The fire was said to have been caused by a petrol tanker loaded with fuel.

A former national president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and later the Anambra State chairman of PDP, who recently qualified as a medical doctor, Nwoye is one of those who have set their sights on the governorship ticket of the APC. He spoke to Vanguard on his quest among other issues.





SOME people are clamouring for the change of the APC executive in the state. Do you support it?

Why are we changing them? I don’t support changing anybody. Yes, we were PDP yesterday, but we have left the party and we have come into APC with all our PDP supporters. This was the party I was the state chairman, the House of Representatives candidate twice and Senatorial candidate. So I won’t criticise unduly. But the truth of the matter is that we entered APC and met the structure on ground. My position is that those officers have been there and should not be changed. Let us allow them to finish their tenure. When their tenure elapses, most of them may even return. So we should support them. I will personally resist any move to change them. If I were to be selfish I would clamour for their change so that I will put my people who came with me from PDP.


National leadership

But these are people who have been labouring to keep the party together. We should go to primaries with that executive.

There is also the fear that the influx of PDP members will create problem in APC. What is your take on this?

It will not because the PDP problem was self induced. The problem was caused by PDP national leadership. The then PDP federal government did not want PDP to win election in Anambra because they were supporting APGA to please the then governor, Peter Obi. So they used few Anambra people to create problem in PDP. This time around, I believe that the more the merrier. Let more PDP people move into APC. I believe the APC primary will be free and fair and whoever wins will enjoy the support of others. So I don’t see what happened in PDP happening in APC. APC is a disciplined and focused party and it will not allow any crisis to come in.


Your name has been mentioned as one of those to contest for the governorship. Can you confirm that?
Yes, I am running. I have not declared yet, but I will do that in due course. I have consulted widely but I need to consult more with stakeholders and youths (you know I was one time national president of NANS) and religious leaders. As long as there is life I will contest. I won’t contest based on zoning. I will contest because I want to bring change. I want to put food on the tables of the oppressed people of this state whose local government funds are being deducted with impunity by APGA -led government.


Whipping up the propaganda

 It did not start today. It started since 2005 with impunity, without caring for the welfare of the people. That is why there is so much hunger in all nooks and crannies of the state where the people don’t enjoy over 90 per cent of their local government allocation. In fairness, it did not start with Obiano. In fact that is going to form the crux of our campaign because we want to change that bad system. Our campaign will be a mass movement. The APGA people have been whipping up the propaganda that APC is not for Igbo people and when we get to the field, we will tell our people that it is about the individual. Let them stop using APGA. They have used APGA enough to rob Igbo. If APGA is truly an Igbo party, why is it that up till now, it is only in Anambra State? Why is it that in the House of Representatives there are only two APGA members and out of 109 senators, none is an APGA senator? Why is it that since the time of Ojukwu who is the symbol of APGA, they could not win one single state outside Anambra? They have been using it to hold our people down; to siphon our money and we must stop it.


Considering the fact that the incumbent governor is from your local government, how do you rate your chances?



Power belongs to God. When I ran for 2011 election, I won massively here. They did not allow me to enter. The same forces said Tony Nwoye should not be sworn in at the House of Representatives and I said no problem. In 2013, I ran for governor and won the PDP ticket, the same forces used Jonathan, the former president, to support APGA. Jonathan did not know Obiano, but he was trying to please Peter Obi. A lot of things happened. They kept me in court and used the then INEC chairman to ensure that I did not campaign because they said I did not pay my tax on time. Less than 11 days to the election, they said I should campaign and it was so late. The aim was to make my supporters to support the APGA candidate, knowing that I am from the same local government with Obiano who later became governor. God gave him power because He is the only one that gives power. Obiano is my brother and ordinarily I am not supposed to challenge him because we come from the same clan, but he has failed our people. This is a man who has not put a project of N10,000 in my town, apart from the so-called N20 million he gave to every town. And in my town, we are supposed to have benefited from projects worth N350 million because we have calculated what should be our share from the local government allocation since he was sworn in as governor.

Local government allocation

We are not even talking of allocation from the Federation Account. So how can we not challenge him? To go to the House of Representatives, they nearly killed me at the collation centre. They stopped results from my town from being added. He brought a candidate from Anambra West and out of 10 electoral wards, I won him in eight. They did everything to stop me and I went to court and the court gave me victory and that is why I am still here. Despite the fact that they added all the results they wrote in Aguleri, today I am in the House of Reps to the glory of God. If God says he will continue to be governor, he will be. But if he is doing well, why should Chinedu Idigo from the same Aguleri, his town, who was chairman of his inauguration committee, be running for governor under PDP? We have waited for him to come and execute projects in my town, but he has failed to do so. The only tarred road here is the one done by former governor Peter Obi because he signed an undertaking with us that we would support him if he did the road. But my own brother is the governor and he has not done a single project in my town.

DUE TO THE HEATWAVE AND HIGH TEMPERATURES, SNAKES, ESPECIALLY COBRAS, SEEK REFUGE IN COOLER PLACES LIKE INSIDE HOMES.

SAFETY TIPS

1. Avoid leaving windows open for too long. Cobras and Mambas can reach heights that are very high.

2. Avoid leaving your front doors open for fresh air in the evenings. These reptiles are absolutely STEALTHY (too quiet). You won't hear or see them go inside your house.

3 Before sitting under the tree that has that cooling shade, check the branches that there are no snakes lurking in the branches.

4. Check your bed and surrounding before you go to bed, cobras are notorious for hiding under the sheets.

5. Avoid the age old trend of liking to chill outside of the house, with mattresses and wrappers in the evening. Most reptiles are nocturnal (hunt at night and more effective)

6. Not only snakes might bite you, but also the age old human enemy; the centipede (Mosithaphala), which is fast and very venomous.

7. Clear bushes round your house. They attract rats and mice which are the favourite snacks of the most dangerous snake’s favorite meal.

8. Buy snake repellent powder and pour it round your yard. You will definitely decrease the chances of a snake ever visiting your home by 90%.

Beware of confronting snakes that get into your homes. Some snakes can be killed easily, others like the black mamba are very cocky. If threatened, they will chase you at an alarming speed and give multiple bites while still on the chase; and bitten victims may not live to see the next forty minutes. So, just be very careful when trying to kill those snakes.

Stay well and be safe. It's snake season. It's very hot and they are highly active and get agitated and angry very fast.

Keep sharing as you may be saving lives.


IGBO KWENU !!!

In an interview on Channels TV's 'Rubbing Minds' yesterday, Nollywood actor, Daniel K Daniel made this revelation. Daniel who won the 2016 AMVCA best actor award, played a lead homosexual role in Asurf Oluseyi's "Hell or High" which premiered last year. That role however had effects, as sexual advances were made by some men towards him. The actor however said he doesn't regret the role he played and also revealed that he's not single (sorry ladies!) or married.










IGBO KWENU !!!

The founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and leader of the Biafra Independent Movement, BIM, Ralph Uwazuruike, has disclosed that “heavy human sacrifices” have been made since the agitation for Biafra started in 1999.


Uwazuruike noted that with the heavy sacrifices made since the renewed agitation started, the South East region was not withdrawing its push for an independent state.

He stressed that making an Ndigbo President will not stop South East region from demanding for Biafra.

Recall that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, had recently advocated an Igbo presidency in 2019.

However, Uwazuruike, claimed that Igbos are tired of Nigeria, adding that the actualisation of Biafra is the ultimate and the only aim of Ndigbo, The Sun reports.

Stressing that there is no going back, the MASSOB founder, noted that the agitation for the independent state of Biafra is already before the international community and the United Nations, UN.

According to Uwazuruike, “Ndigbo wants Biafra and nothing more , that is why the agitation since 1999 in which we have made heavy sacrifices both in human and material and even if they give Ndigbo the presidency of Nigeria, it would not stop us from asking for Biafra.

He added, “our ultimate goal is to actualise the sovereign state of Biafra no matter how long it takes us to do that but surely Biafra must be a reality. Today , if you ask any Igbo man or woman they will tell you that they want Biafra and not the president of Nigeria because they are already fed up with the injustice, inequality and discrimination against them simply because they are Igbo.”

Former president-general of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife, has invited Jewish scientists to carry out Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test at his hospital to ascertain the possibility about an ancestral relationship between the Igbo people and Jews in Israel.

 The likes of Samuel Okwaraji, Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Christian Chukwu, Emeka Ezeugo, Mikel Obi, Onyekachi Apam, Uche Okechukwu, etc.

 All the above-named great footballers are Igbo men, as most of the footballers of such caliber to have ever come out of Nigeria are from this tribe.


Are they more talented?

Nigerians are interesting people when it comes to tribal issues. Truth be told, the Igbos dominated and are still dominating football in Nigeria. Kudos has to be given to them, this trend is worthy of acknowledgement.

They have collectively brought glory to our great nation Nigeria in so many ways. In recent times, the squad that won the 2013 African Cup of Nations was full of the Igbos. Even the 2013 World Cup-winning U-17 squad.

The upcoming dudes are Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali, to name but two among many others. Looking at the Nigerian leagues across the nation, it can be observed that most of the players plying their trade there are of the Igbo tribe.


NIGERIAN PLAYER OF THE IGBO TRIBE ABROAD

The statistics of the players in different leagues moving out of the country show that there are players of the Igbo tribe or descent in the Scandinavian countries, the Middle Belt, even in Yemen. I feel they should be happy and proud of their input and contribution to local and global football while they rightfully enrich their pockets in return.

Many of them have adopted other countries due to the lack of chance to feature for their nation. They are of great determination. These folks represent us well with their sportsmanship.

I remember a Super Eagles player, Sunday Mba, who scored the winning goal at 2013 AFCON, Mikel Obi, young Kenneth Omeruo was also superb with the strong input from the now retired Emmanuel Emenike.

Statistically, about 70% overall national participation goes to the Igbo guys, while the remaining 30% is shared amongst other tribes. People from other tribes tend to "fade away" so soon, while the Igbo guys stand the test of time and are more devoted to the game and have lengthy footballing careers. I wonder how they do it. What is their secret recipe?


THE REASON BEHIND THEIR LOVE FOR FOOTBALL

 I realized that this set of people like the game of football more than the rest of the tribes in the country, and also get more encouragement in doing so.

It can be attributed to a number of reasons: physical prowess, as they’re genetically sturdier than the other tribes; they are encouraged by the number of successful Igbo players; their enterprising nature affords them the ability to foresee the riches that may lie ahead despite the short-termism of the career; football is better embraced as it is seen as a way out of poverty within the community; Igbos simply better football than the other tribes; there's a better scouting network within the tribe.

Meanwhile, you can hardly see a Hausa girl play football. Only few Yoruba girls come out to play the round leather ball game. Can we safely blame this on their religion and culture? Of course, yes!

Some scouts will rather an Igbo footballer, because it is widely believed that they take football more seriously. Another thing that came to my mind is that the Igbos are business-oriented, and one fast way to big money is through football.

I am really grateful for their efforts and I hope they keep contributing their skills to bringing glory to the nation through football

IGBO KWENU !!!

Eminent businessman and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged Nigerians to embrace acts of almsgiving, togetherness and peaceful co-existence regardless of ethnic, religious and political differences.

Abacha Ncha

African salad is a delicious Nigerian meal that is native to the ndi Igbo (people of Igbo)

This meal is very popular in the eastern part of Nigeria; it is one of the most Popular Igbo Recipe.

Abacha Ncha– as THE IGBOS love to call it – is one of the most popular evening desserts in the eastern villages, it serves best as kola to visitors.

There are villages in the eastern part of Nigeria that only offer ugba or abacha to visitors and even visitors have come to love and desire the delicious delicacy Salad.

It is made with dried shredded cassava (Abacha) and fermented oil bean seeds (Ugba or Ukpaka).

Here's how to prepare it:

Ingredients


 Abacha Ncha (African Salad)

• 300g Abacha (dried shredded cassava)
• 100g Ugba (Ukpaka), sliced
• 200ml Palm Oil
• 2 tablespoonful ground Crayfish
• Grounded Ehuru(calabash nutmeg)(optional)
• Grounded Iru /Ogiri (fermented locust bean seeds) (optional)
• 1 level teaspoon ground Potash (akaun)
• 1 Stock cube/ powder (seasoning cube) 
• 2 small Onion bulbs
• Chili Pepper/ any hot pepper (to taste)
• Salt to taste
• Garnishes
• Large dry prawns
• 4 big Garden eggs
• Chopped Garden Egg leaves (You can use thinly sliced utazi leaves or spinach leaves as an alternative)
• Boiled Dried fish or Stockfish
• Kpomo or Kanda (cow skin)
• Fried Fish (preferably Mackerel/Titus Fish)
• Onion slices

DIRECTIONS

• Soak the dry prawns in hot water to soften them a bit and strain.
• Cut the fresh fish and fry. 
• Also shred the boiled dried fish / stock fish.
• Then set all aside for later use.
• Dissolve the ground akaun (potash) in about 3-4 tablespoonful of water and pass through a sieve to remove particles. Set the liquid aside for later use.
• Rinse the Ugba in lukewarm water, strain and set aside.
• Place the dry abacha in a bowl and soak in cold water for about 8 minutes until it goes from pure white color to kind of translucent 
• Another method is to pour hot boiling water over the dry abacha, stir well and leave to soak for 1-2 minutes. 
• Then pour the abacha into a sieve and let the water strain .
• Slice one onion bulb into rings, and dice or pound the other onion bulb.

Now for the preparation 

1. Pour the palm oil into a clean dry pot, add the potash liquid and mix until the color begins to change from orange to yellow and the mixture becomes a thick paste.
2. Add the crayfish, pepper, diced/pounded onions, the ground ehuru (calabash nutmeg), ogiri and stock cube, mix thoroughly until well combined.
3. Now, place the pot on low heat, add the strained abacha and taste salt if neccessary. Mix well and put off the heat as soon as the abacha is warmed up.

NOTE: Don't leave the abacha for too long on heat. (You can choose to serve the meal as it is, but if you choose to go further and mix it all in one pot)

• Add the ugba (ukpaka), chopped garden eggs, the cooked dried/stock fish, softened large prawns, and the kpomo. Mix well until all the ingredients are well blended .
•  Finally, add the sliced leaves, stir well and transfer to a serving plate.
•  Garnish the prepared Abacha ncha (African salad), with the onion rings and fried fish.

 

Ready to eat

Abacha Ncha (African salad) is usually served with Palm wine, but you can also enjoy it with any chilled drink of your choice.

ENJOY THE TASTE OF ABACHA NCHA THIS SEASON.....


IGBO KWENU !!!

Eze omeni-oha 1, Eze Mbu Alikor of Elele

The celebration of the coronation of Chief Eze Ikechukwu Kenneth as Eze omeni-oha 1, Eze Mbu Alikor of Elele, took place at the palace of his royal Majesty Eze J. O. G Amadi Nyeweali Elele, Elele Alimini, Akpabu and ilu on Sunday 18th December 2016 with politicians, journalists and well wishers present during the celebration.

Commissioners

Voyage TV Africa on red carpet

Eze omeni-oha 1, Eze Mbu Alikor of Elele being interviewed by the press men

Voyage TV Africa Press

His highness and his people

Mabel Charles The multi-talented TV presenter and movie practioner was present to witness a successful celebration     On behalf of  'THE IGBOS' team, we wish Eze Omeni-Oha 1, Eze Mbu of Alikor of elele a long lasting life, and may his reign bring good tidings to his people.  May you live long your highness ... IGBO KWENU !!!

Following the controversy that followed the visit of former Governor of Abia state to Nnamdi Kanu at Kuje Prison, the family of Mr Kanu has come out to support the visit describing it as “The right step in the right direction”

Speaking on the visit, the younger brother to Nnamdi Kanu, Emmanuel Kanu said Kalu took a positive step by visiting his elder brother in the prison.

He went ahead to say; “If he went to see Kanu, as his younger brother, as we heard in the news, it’s a welcome development and we commend him for that.

“For the fact that Kalu is the very first Igbo leader to have visited Kanu in prison, I appreciate him for that, for going to see him as a son of the soil. It is heartwarming to note that Kalu realised that Kanu is his younger brother.

I’m also asking other Igbo leaders to emulate what Kalu had done because the fight is not Kanu’s fight, but for Ndigbo.”

Keep Hope Alive.....

IGBO KWENU !!!

Seriously, how old is too old where relationships are concerned?

I'm just going to share the pros and cons of being involved with an older igbo man.

PROS;

HE'S MORE EXPERIENCED IN LIFE : Having been in this world for a couple of decades before you made your debut, Whether it's in his career, knowledge acquired overtime, relationships or even in the bedroom, this man knows what he's doing and knows what he wants. He's confident and can teach you a thing or two with his advice.


HE'S VERY SUPPORTIVE: Your older partner will always be your number one cheerleader. He will back your big plans and provide moral and even finacial support, because he wants you to grow and be the best you can be.
He may be older, but he's learned a lesson or two about making money, saving money and balancing his checkbook. He cares about his future.

HE'S BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: The older men are the calmest human beings. This is great for me, since I am a whirlwind during the week and it balances me out. He's been through multiple ups and downs in relationships, and his feelings are in check. Plus, he's a great listener.

HE LOVES ROMANCE: He knows some cool tricks in bed: Believe it or not, older guys do know how to get down and dirty behind closed doors. Don't forget this guy has been in the game way before you showed up. Older men are not selfish lovers, they do actually get off seeing you having a great time. If you ask me, this one's a plus. endless kisses, hugs and soft lit candles, he goes the distance to make sure you are happy and satisfied.

YOU LOOK GOOD TOGETHER: Besides feeling good together in public, you look great together, too.. As shallow as this might sound, it's actually very cool to be the pretty and sexy one. No competing with Mr Young and Fabulous for the spotlight. Being the younger person in a relationship does have its perks afterall. Right

HE IS NOT A LIFE OF A PARTY: If your man is unattached (as in not married, of course, and has grown children who don't need him around to cater to them), he's always going to come to you straight after work or business, depending on what he does. No hanging out with the guys for a quick beer or going to the club for a Friday night groove. He's all yours to have and to hold.

CON;

HE FEELS HE HAS “POWER ” IN THE RELATIONSHIP: Personally and professionally, he has one up on you and may think only he has a right to call the shots in the relationship. It's nice once in a while to let the man take the lead, but it shouldn't be a power struggle. You both have something equally to give one another.

HE'S AFRAID OF COMMITMENT: When you come across an older man and learn he's single, There's a reason he's alone and still single. There's always a reason, but the best thing is not to push. If it's meant to be, it will be. For now, have fun and see where it might lead.

HE SOMETIMES GETS COMPARED TO A FATHER FIGURE: This comment might make him and even you feel insecure. The important thing is how you two feel about one another and the good times you share. And don't call him an “old man,” even if you're joking; it will only make matters worse!

IGBO KWENU !!!

When an Igbo man wants to marry you, he meets with you, makes a decision within six months, makes his intentions known to you and starts to make concrete plans.

He doesn’t expects you to foot his bills, pay his house rent or, ask you to borrow money on his behalf to foot his private expenses.

He makes it clear to you that he has had marriage on his mind, and has been planning for it. He is mature and has come to understood what marriage is about, and knows it is to his gain, if he walks down the aisle with you some day.

Rarely will he think he’s doing you a favour by marrying you. Rather, he sees your commitment to him as a mutual blessing both of you will share.

Ladies, when you meet an Igbo man and date him for 4 years without marriage, you’re on a long thing; for five years, you’re on a longer thing; for six years, What? Really? Seriously? …

This can be a guid for ladies to think right and know when an Igbo man wants to marry you and he is serious about it.

IGBO KWENU !!!

    Often times, men as old as 40 remain unmarrie

Orji Uzor Kalu addressing the newsmen

The indomitable nationalist and mmiri riri enyi of Igbo land,
Dr orji Uzor kalu visited the IPOB general and front line Biafria struggle evangelist, mazi Nnamdi Kanu at kuje prison. After securing the release of earlier detained IPOB members, the popular 'Action Governor' Kalu wants Kanu released immediately.

He said: "I visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Kuje Prison and we engaged in a very long discussion. Kanu is my brother and a son of the soil. He shouldn't be where he is because Kuje Prison is not his home. It is therefore my utmost concern to see him regain his freedom like every other Nigerian".

Having been the arrowhead of the Indigenous people of Biafra IPOB, Kanu was detained on a 6 count charges, including 'Treasonable Felony' by the Nigerian Federal Government. Mazi Kanu has been in detention since last year, October 2015 despite several court orders to release him on bail


Nnamdi Kanu, who hails from the South Eastern part of Nigeria, the region that is agitating for a separate nation called Biafra. He has been arraigned several times without bail.

Meanwhile, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu had recently told some bloggers from the southeast who paid him a courtesy visit at his Igbere home town, Abia State that he has been making a way to plead to President Muahammadu Buhari to enable his release Nnamdi Kanu.We believe the visit will yield a good result, as Orji Kalu has been the only one apart from Nnamdi Kanu that has been fighting for the Igbo cause.

 Orji Uzor Kalu visited Nnamdi Kanu out of his sympathy and personal concern, but as a member of the APC, it's understandable to accrue it as part of the benefits of having a recognized figure like him in the APC.

       

She is one of THE IGBOS, she is vibrant and ambitious and indeed making hay while the sun shines. She is Oge Udensi, a
young movie actress that has a big dream of being a top notch in the movie industry and indeed Nigerian’s number one movie actress. She is not just stopping at dreaming; she is taking steps and putting herself out there to make sure that she breaks into the industry big time.

YOU ARE?
      I am Oge Udensi. Hail from Umuchukwu Ihiteowerri in Orlu Local Government area of Imo State. The daughter of late Mr. Udensi who died when I was still but a child leaving me and my 6 siblings to the care of my mother. My mother gave birth to seven (7) children, five (5) girls and 2 boys with me as the third child and the second

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD
       Well, I can say my growing up was cool but it was filled with a lot of ups and downs. After the death of my father in 1999, it seemed like the world had come to an end. My mother was left with seven (7) children to cater for. Finding three square meal to eat a day was a mirage that could only be imagined. I could see that it was confusing and tedious process for her. She however started hustling and doing all kinds of business like frying Akara on the road, going to the market to buy banga, make it into red oil and take it to the market to sell, doing some buying and selling just to make sure that myself and my siblings have food on the table to eat as well as go to school.

My elder sister and I used to accompany
her to the market to sell to lessen the work for her. Once I come back from school, I bath, eat, fetch water for the house and then proceed to the market to pick up the Akara that my mother would have fried down for sale. The experience was a combination of fun and stress. Sometimes, after all the stress, we still could not afford three square meal but in the end, we pulled through. Although we are not rich today, we are far better than the way we were.

Igbos generally have four market days namely; eke,orie,a for and nkwo. The market days according to the Igbo calendar follow each other sequentially as shown below:

Eke
Orie
Afor
Nkwo
In most Igbo land,traditional marriages are not done on Eke days. As you travel in various Igbo lands you will notice that each communities have a market named after the four market days afore-mentioned.For instance: Eke market,Afor market,Orie market or Nkwo market.Market days in Igbo land are very significant so much so that the four market days I mentioned above are uniformly observed within every community in Igbo land. It was during the reign of Eze Nrijiofor I (1300-1390AD), the fifth Eze Nri in the line of succession that the Igbo tradition of four market days was instituted.

ORIGIN
     According to Igbo historical records, one day during the reign of Eze Nrijiofor I, four wise strangers came to visit him at his palace. When they arrived, these four men pretended to be deaf and dumb. They did not say their names or their mission to Nri kingdom.Each of them carried nkata which literally means basket. They were taken to the visitors’ chamber by Adamma the king’s servant. Later in the evening, Eze Nrijiofor I went to see them, but they did not respond warmly to the Eze and did not acknowledge his greetings. Oji – kolanut was presented to them but they did not say anything in acceptance or rejection of the oji.

 Later at night, the four wise strangers were shown where to sleep. But in the middle of the night, Eze Nrijiofor’s soothsayers sent a rat to disturb their sleep. When the rat went to the first basket that belonged to Eke and started to nibble at it, Oye woke up and said: “Eke, wake up! A rat is trying to get to your basket.” Eke woke up and the rat ran away. After a while, the rat repeated the same trick on the remaining baskets, and in the same manner, all of them revealed each other’s names.

 

 
In the morning, the Eze Nrijiofor I went to the strangers’ room to greet them and to perform the oji ututu (morning kola nut rituals.) As Adamma broke the kola nuts and the king called each of the visitors by their names-‘Eke’ ‘Oye’ ‘Afo’ and ‘Nkwo.’ The visitors who were hitherto referred to as ‘Ndi bialu ije ekwu okwu’(visitors that do not talk) were astonished when they heard their names being mentioned by Eze Nrijiofor I. They asked for water to wash their hands and faces; and took the oji that were presented to them.

After chewing the oji, they gave the King ite ano (four earthen pots) and directed him to keep the pots in front of the Nri Menri shrine outside the obu (palace) with each pots facing the sun. Eke, who was the spokesman of the visiting wise strangers, told Eze Nrijiofor I that the first pot was owned by him, Eke, the second one by Oye, the third by Afor and the last by Nkwo. He told the Eze that the four pots were sent down from Chukwu (God Almighty.) He instructed Eze Nrijiofor I that he and his people whom he ruled should be observing those names daily as market days, during which they should be buying and selling. These market days are used in Igboland to count Izu (Igbo native week). Therefore, Eke, Oye, Afor and Nkwo (four market days) make one Izu (week) in Igbo calendar.

Eke also instructed Eze Nrijiofor I that the first name that should be given to their male and female children should contain either Eke, Oye, Afor or, Nkwo. That is why we have igbo names as Okeke or Nweke, Okoye or Nwoye, Okafor or Nwafor, and Okonkwo or Nwankwo. In the same order, female children should be given “Mgbeke’, ‘Mgboye’, ‘Mgbafor’ and ‘Mgbankwo’.

The message was preached throughout Igbo land by spiritual priests of Nri and rudimentary open market squares were set up in Igbo land. The four strangers later told Eze Nrijiofor I that they were messengers from God. Some foods were prepared for them but they did not eat them.

In the noon of that day, these wise men of Igbo tribe disappeared from the Eze Nrijiofor’s palace like angels. Their news subsequently spread throughout Igbo land and observed till date.

IGBO KWENU !!!  

National Council for women societies (NCWS) Nigeria, today conferred a certificate of Merit Award Of Excellence on Service to Humanity to Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah OON.
kudos to the prince of Heart.
             

Your good work speaks volume.. God is with you.
Congratulations!

IGBO KWENU !!!

When I consider the pettiness, lack of vision and the orchestrated and malicious plots to malign my person and our administration by former Governor Theodore Orji’s administration I am always shell-shocked and flabbergasted.
 

I have continued to wonder why I would be so vilified by somebody I personally chose to succeed me with the intention of giving our people the best.

This is a man who knew every sacrifice we made as a government to make Abia State a leading economy in Nigeria.

Does he want to tell me he has forgotten too soon our achievements in the areas of job and wealth creation, poverty eradication and recovered oil wells? What was the situation before we assumed office in 1999?

Let me take them one after another. Recovered oil wells: the story of the effort we made to recover 43 oil wells, which had hitherto been ceded to Rivers State, will be told in a more elaborate form someday. But. let me emphasize, however, that our resolve to fight for what belonged to our state was motivated by the need to do the needful to ensure social justice and equity.

We had felt it was wrong to allow ignorance and timidity to continue to rule the lives of our people. The inability to recover the oil wells before the time we did was because past leaders lacked the fighting spirits and the subtle diplomacy needed to make things happen.I wish to make this open confession: fighting for and recovering the 43 oil wells was one of the motivating factors that moved me to contest for governor. I knew quite clearly there was no way I could have facilitated the recovery of the oil wells without making it to the Government House. I knew also the enormous personal sacrifices involved. But I was undaunted.

So, as soon as I was sworn in as governor, we swung into action, using the information and facts available to us to launch an unrelenting diplomatic offensive to get back the oil wells, which were erroneously ceded to Rivers State by the Justice Nasir Mamman Boundary Adjustment Commission. This tragic administrative flaw caused Abia State untold hardship and huge revenue losses from the federation account.

Those not close to the seat of power would never know what efforts went into the recovery. Nevertheless, the favourable disposition of the Federal Government, coupled with the positive attitude of our government, made the recovery possible.

I would not want to mention the difficulties we encountered and the deliberate designs by some powerful forces to thwart our efforts. The most accurate word to describe what we went through is ‘hellish’. Thank God that at the end of all the sleepless nights and diplomatic shuttles we were able to recover the lost oil wells.

Our joy knew no bounds. We thanked and glorified God for the propitious favours he bestowed on our state. I am glad that today Abia State gets what is due it from the federation account. One of the immediate fallout of the recovered oil wells was the shift in our monthly collectible revenue from the federation account.

Our monthly allocation which used to be in the neighbourhood of N400 and N600 million leapt up to the one billion mark for the first time in 2006. In the same way, the revenue Abia State Government received under T.A. Orji swung between N5 billion and N7 billion monthly. Sometimes, when there was windfall, it shot up to over N10 billion. This excluded the internally-generated revenue and money from sundry sources, excluding money from SURE-P.

Special appreciation should go to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua who, in his usual graciousness and candour, approved the return of the 43 oil wells to Abia State. I recall with nostalgia his fraternal disposition towards me on my release from Kuje Prison, Abuja. He had invited me to Aso Rock and asked what I would want done for me.

He offered me a ministerial appointment, which I rejected and asked him to give it to Chuka Odom. All I asked of him was to approve the return of the 43 oil wells to Abia, which file was already on his table. He called his Chief of Staff to immediately write for his approval for the release of the oil wells, which was done without delay. I pray God to continue to rest his soul for he was a good man.

The question is: now that Theodore Orji government was the ultimate beneficiary of the long hours of toiling and strategizing that went into the recovery of the oil wells, why did he then underperform? At various times during his regime almost every category of workers in the Abia State Civil Service was owed over 6 months’ salary.

Some were even owed about 8 months. The lecturers of the Abia State University, Uturu, suspended exams at one point to compel the state government to pay them their salary arrears. Worst hit were workers in the local government councils owed for over 8 months at some time.

         

One wonders with bafflement why the former governor showed apathy and insensitivity to the sufferings of the people of our state in spite of the huge allocations he collected from Abuja. Why did he show so much disdain for our people?

All he was interested in was how to smuggle himself into the Senate and manipulate elections in Abia State to install his stooges in strategic elective positions. He was never interested one hoot in the peace, progress and development of Abia State. This is why he has continued to falter at the Senate.

It is unfortunate that the former governor sat atop Abia State resources, intimidating and harassing everybody, particularly those with contrary political views to his. He was hell-bent on expropriating everything Abia State owned into his personal estates, because his appetite for usurpation is very large.

I pitied the workers in our state during his reign. I pitied the pensioners, especially the senile ones among them, who had nobody else to help them. Why couldn’t he show them some mercy and release their pensions? 

Our administration elevated the civil service to the point of dignity and honour. We paid civil servants every 25th day of the month throughout the life of our administration. We organized seminars, workshops and training for their advancement and development. 

The results they produced showed marked departure from the era of waste and redundancy of Chief T. A. Orji. Gradually, the old days crept back like the thief in the night.In terms of job creation, we carried out a survey in 1999 that showed a yawning gap in employment. Many of our able-bodied youth roamed the streets and engaged in crimes. We drafted them into the numerous skills acquisition centres we created across the state and enrolled some into the mass literacy classes. Gladly, many of them have made it in their various vocations. 

The local government councils were a beneficiary of our job creation efforts. In fact, in 2007 alone, we, working in concert with the elective chairmen of these local government councils, created 13,000 jobs to fill the yawning gap in employment. This singular exercise took away from the streets many of our youths. 

Why did the administration of Orji fail abysmally to create genuine employments for our people? What the former governor put in place was rather an ad hoc arrangement called, Ochendo Youth Empowerment Scheme – a self-serving scheme aimed at massaging his ego and currying favour from a massively disenchanted people. What jobs did the scheme create other than giving out ‘Tokunbo’ cars to favoured politicians and thugs to influence them to do his bidding? 

If I may ask: why did the former governor fail to conduct local government elections in Abia State less than 6 months to the end of his tenure? He continued to use caretaker committee chairmen for reasons best known to him. The truth is this: he did not want to organize local government council elections because he was benefitting from the lacuna and was afraid to lose in a free and fair election.

I have written in this column about the need to fight corruption. I have also discussed the effort our administration made in fighting corruption. Because of lack of space I could not exhaust all the pertinent issues bordering on the war we wedged against corruption. 

It is unfortunate that some of the people former Governor Orji surrounded himself with are the same people we axed for financial mismanagement and other criminal acts during our tenure. For instance, two of his serving commissioners were indicted by a panel of inquiry and sacked. 

Why did the former governor find pleasure in assembling the same questionable characters out of thousands of other qualified Abians to do his dirty jobs?

As I wrote two weeks ago in this column, no government before us worked for our people as much as we did. We gave governance the best shots we could, entrenching openness and transparency in the process. What we did in Abia State in eight years was unprecedented in the history of our state. 

We touched lives, raised the leadership bar and gave governance a human face. We felt the pulse and heartbeat of our people in everything we did. We did not allow the euphoria of the office get into our heads.

Yes, every government should collect taxes and levies to aid development. But should this be done recklessly and riotously? That was what obtained in Abia state during T.A. Orji’s reign. Indiscriminate taxes and levies everywhere! I heard the hues and cries of our people who groaned daily under the crushing weight of over-taxation. 

The liberation of Abia State from the clutches of oppression and suppression planted by T.A. Orji is a task we have set out to accomplish. But we cannot do it alone. We need the cooperation of the people, who are the custodians of the power to choose who leads them, to achieve this.

It makes no sense for somebody to complain of oppression and suppression but is unwilling to join the struggle to achieve it. 

I never minced words whenever I said the government of Abia State under T.A. Orji was anti-people. It was anti-people in its policy formulation and execution. The 8 years under him was a period of chastisement for the people. There was nothing on ground to make them feel there was a government over them. 

There is no way the future generations of Abians will forgive him for the incalculable harm and pain he inflicted on their psyche.

I have said it time without number that former Governor Orji is a desperado and a political misfit. His presence in Abia State has brought untold pains and penury to our people. Why was Abia State always in the news for the wrong reasons throughout the tenure of his administration? The situation was worse when visitors came to our state. 

Arthur Eze was there in August 2014 and the same thing happened. He saw the way Abia was and openly lamented that the state was stinking. The story was almost twisted out of context by the same shameless operators in the Abia State Government then. It was the same situation when a PDP team came to Abia State some time in 2014 in the name of conducting a non-existent congress. Many were witnesses to the show of shame that characterized the exercise. 

PDP is too big for one person to control despite its ongoing dwindling fortunes occasioned by internal crises. That was what the former governor attempted to achieve during his regime but failed abysmally. 

How easy did he think it was going to be for him? The mass opposition against his highhandedness should serve as an eye-opener to him that the people do not want him any longer. He may try as much as he likes to delude himself that all is well, it will not be long before the hand of destiny comes down on him. 

I am glad Abia distinguished Senators tasted the political vinegar the governor had been serving his political adversaries. They were provoked to openly come out to fight. What they saw during the congress in 2014 was what I saw several years ago when I challenged the former governor to work for Abia people. 

His angst against me was simply that I advised him to stop borrowing money from the banks if he did not have anything concrete to do with it or serve the interest of our people. If there is any other reason let him tell the whole world. 

It is a pity that the Senators waited that long before doing something to stop the excesses of the power-drunk former governor. But nothing has spoiled yet. 

Let the world judge this: why should a governor that had collected over N800 billion naira, excluding internally-generated revenue, and who had nothing concrete to show for it seek election into the Senate and his son a seat in the State House of Assembly as Majority Leader? That was what the former governor waged all the wars at his time to achieve. 

The people of Abia state have demonstrated their dissatisfaction with former Governor T.A. Orji’s dismal performance in various ways. Recently, the people of Ibeku – his ancestral lineage – have openly protested his reckless management of the resources of the state and the shabby way he treated them. They accuse him of doing nothing for them for the eight years he was in office as governor. 

Every segment of Abia State people has a sour tale to tell about their humiliation and denigration by the former governor. They have called for his resignation from the Senate to face arrest by EFCC.

The best way to assuage the pain of the people of Abia State that suffered wanton suffering under him is for him to submit himself to the EFCC for prosecution. Otherwise the consequence of the judgement of God upon his head would be worse.

Keep Hope Alive...

IGBO KWENU !!!