Category: Southeast report

As they agonise over those who drowned, their submerged homes and washed-out farms, people displaced by floods in Anambra State are also grappling with scarcity of food, and diseases where they are sheltering at a relief camp. EMMA ELEKWA reports

For people of Anambra State, it never rains but it pours. In Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state where the flood caused the most havoc, no fewer than four people drowned in the floodwaters. One of them was a son of the late highlife icon, Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe.

But as the state mourns the dead, survivors are also brooding over their flooded homes and submerged farms and business places.

Still, there is more to worry about. Displaced persons sheltering in a relief camp complain of lack of food, poor health and lack of medicine. The displaced persons, predominantly women and children, camped at Crowder Memorial Primary School, Onitsha, the state’s commercial capital, wondered why they were brought to the camp and subjected to hunger, starvation and bad environment. They said they preferred dying in their various communities to suffering in a strange land where they were subjected to all forms of maltreatment.

They appealed for government’s intervention, warning that there might be outbreak of epidemic in the camp if urgent steps were not taken.

The Nation gathered that some of the victims trapped in the flooded areas with little or no means of moving out, were further challenged by lack of good drinking water, food and toilet facilities.

Narrating her ordeal, one of them, Mrs Nkeiru Ukeje said, “Our children are now looking pale; they need doctor’s attention, but none is coming. Why did they bring us here? No food; nothing.”

Another victim, Mr. Innocent Okoye, who sought refuge at the Community Primary School, Umueze-Anam, also said their children appeared pale and needed medical attention.

“We lost virtually everything we possess to the flood, because our house in the village was completely submerged which was why we came out to seek refuge and shelter.

“Our children need to see doctors very urgently. The sicklers among them cannot cope with the type of food being given to them in the camp,” he lamented.

Also speaking, another displaced woman, who preferred anonymity, said some of them were their not familiar with some foods being given them, which she said was capable of causing diarrhoea.

She said the nursing mothers among them were in pain with no provisions of cereal foods and custard for the two to eight months babies.

She said, “They find it difficult to see hot water to prepare the one given to them by some visitors to the IDP camps. Some of our children look pale, dull faces and sunken eyes as they have endured weeks of hunger in their various communities.

“Some of the women and children were in severe health conditions before they were evacuated and brought to the IDP Camp in Onitsha.

They appealed to spirited individuals, organisations and government to come to their rescue.

One of the local council areas in the state where the flood wreaked havoc is Ogbaru. At the last count, no fewer than four persons died in the area, including Okechukwu Osadebe, 18, son of the late highlife crooner. The younger Osadebe was reportedly swept away by the flood in Atani. His body was later discovered in the early hours of the following day.

The mother of the deceased, Mrs. Amaechi Osadebe said her son was with two persons when he was swept away by the flashflood.

“The current of the flood was too strong and turbulent that it did not give him any opportunity to swim out of danger,” she sobbed.

The father of nine children, Chief Ojike Ajanwu, from Umuokpalaoma kindred, was said to have drowned in the flood while attempting to evacuate his harvested crops.

The wife of the deceased, Mrs. Chinasa Ajanwu said they got the sad news where they were taking refuge at one of the Holding Centers located at Ogwuaniocha Community Primary School.

“We received the message that my husband had drowned in Obolo village, Ogwuaniocha

while attempting to evacuate his harvested cassava,” she said.

Chinasa, a nursing mother of a month old baby, who described the incident as shocking, appealed to government to come to their rescue.

Transition Committee Chairman, Arinzechukwu Awogu, who decried the increasing level of devastation the flood has inflicted on the lives of his people, regretted that many wealthy indigenes were yet to show any concern for the victims.

He put the number of displaced persons at over 90,000, with no fewer than 6,000 taking refuge in government holding centres and clusters.

Describing the situation as dire, he stressed that relief materials and food items are needed on a gigantic scale.

He said, “Well-to-do Ogbaru people have not shown concern about this devastating flooding; perhaps they are erroneously under a wrong impression that it is government responsibility.

“We are faced with nature’s fury, an attempt to wipe our people out from the surface of the earth.

“For three weeks now it has been hellish; those outside our environment do not understand what we are facing. The situation is not normal and certainly not the type we enjoy.

“To some of them, it’s our way of life. Can the eagle be said to enjoy a whirlwind even though it’s natural for it to glide? We have no fewer than 90,000 displaced persons. No fewer than 6,000 are taking refuge in government holding centres and clusters.

“Supplies of relief materials are in short supply, more than half of displaced persons sleep on bare floor; children are suffering from cold because of insufficient mats, mattresses and blankets.

“The state government has been stretched beyond its limit as all we’ve got so far has come from them. I now sound like a broken record while presenting the grim situation of my people before superior authorities. I appeal to Ndi Ogbaru to rise to this challenge.

“My team is grateful to those individuals and groups that have come forth with food items and relief materials. I therefore, urge for more assistance.”

Another community which was not spared by the flood was Anaku, in Ayamelum Local Government Area.

One of the major rice farms in the state, Coscharis Rice Farms, was completely taken over by the flood, with the road leading to the farm inaccessible.

Investigation indicated that about 1,500 hectares of the rice farm was submerged by the raging floodwaters.

The State Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, during an inspection tour to the area, described the situation as extensive, sympathising with the management over the incalculable losses.

He said, “I presume, judging from the topography of the farm that the company must have taken precautionary measures in insuring the farm against such losses and emergencies.

“I just hope that the incident will minimally affect this year’s rice production.

“Already, the governor has resolved to ensure that enough rice is produced in the state for consumption and export to other parts of the nation. But when the need arises, government will help.”

On his part, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Afam Mbanefo revealed that he had anticipated a decrease in the year’s projection as a result of the flood disaster.

He explained that the state usually based its rice projection in line with the production from core rice investors in the state including Coscharis Farms.

“But I promise more preventive measures against the reccurrence of flooding on this farmland.

“There is need for two cycles of rice planting here to enable the company to meet its annual rice target,” he said.

Farm Operation Manager, Mr Shepherd Hurudza, while appreciating the state government’s concerns over the company, said the estimated damage on the farm was yet to be determined as the flooding keeps spreading.

In Anambra West, some displaced persons lamented absence of potable water, food, shelter and toilet facilities, insisting that they need evacuation.

The Umueze-Mmiata Road is currently flooded, causing the people to seek shelter on the bridge as some of them have since mounted tents on the road side.

They said that they defecate inside the river, which also served as their source of drinking and cooking water.

The people are also exposed to dangers of being attacked by dangerous reptiles like snakes, crocodiles, hippopotamus because they are surrounded by floodwaters.

The situation is the same at the Community Primary School, Umueze Anam, where a good number of displaced persons were currently accommodated.

Some people are also trapped in the floodwaters.

One of the flood victims, Mr Innocent Okoye, who sought refuge at the Community Primary School, Umueze-Anam recounted his experiences.

“I lost virtually everything I possess to the floodwaters and my house in the village is submerged too; that is why I came here to seek refuge and shelter,” he said.

When asked why he did not relocate his family to the Holding Centres, open to the people of the local council, Okoye feigned ignorance of such arrangement.

“I am also using this medium to appeal to government to assist our people who have virtually lost everything they have to the floodwaters; and most of them live in dangerous areas like the Otupu Bridge.

“The area is exposed to dangerous reptiles with no food, water, electricity, and toilet facilities,” Okoye said.

The state government has opened centres where relief materials can be sent, following sustained inquiries from various individuals and groups in Anambra State and beyond on how they could contribute to alleviating the suffering of flood victims.

A statement by the State Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, disclosed that the centres were at the office of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Awka.

He said the rest were located at the headquarters of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Ayamelum LGA, Awka North LGA, Anambra East LGA, Anambra West LGA, Onitsha North LGA and Onitsha South LGA as well as Ihiala LGA.

“Although the disaster affected eight local government areas in the state, it was more devastating in Ogbaru, Anambra East and West LGAs, as well as Ayamelum LGA where several communities have been submerged, resulting in the sack of over 10,000 people from their homes, schools, offices, farms, markets and places of worship.

“The flood victims are “desperately in need of foodstuffs, drinking water, cooking utensils, mattresses, mats, beds, buckets, clothes, healthcare and sanitary facilities.

“Although the state government “has been preparing to grapple with the crisis since July when the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency warned that Anambra and the other flood prone states would experience unusually high water levels comparable to those of 2012 which wrought havoc in many parts of Nigeria, the current disaster is stretching the state resources”.

According to the commissioner, all types of relief materials can be sent to any of the mentioned local government headquarters except medicines which have to be left with the state Ministry of Health, Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka, to ensure professional handling and administration.

He advised those who want to give money to the victims to send it to Anambra State Flood Disaster Account Number 5030091612 Fidelity Bank.

Adinuba quoted Governor Willie Obiano as saying that “he is profoundly touched by the powerful sense of solidarity which Nigerians from different sections of the country and from all walks of life have been demonstrating with the people of Anambra State since the flood disaster.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo visited the flooded areas on a wooden boat with Governor Obiano and Labour and Productivity Minister Chris Ngige at Umueze, Anam, in Anambra West LGA where he commended the governor for taking proactive steps to check the effects of the flood.

Who could be responsible for the murder of a 15-year-old boy inside a church of God? Cultists or traditionalists?

These questions have been begging for answers since unknown assailants attacked a group of youths inside the Methodist Church Obodo Ogbeni village, Umuoguduakpu community in Ohaukwu local government area.

The hoodlums, The Nation  learnt, inflicted machete cut wounds on some of the youths when they were in a band practice at the church.

One of them, Augustine Ogbu, 15, was killed in the attack.

He had returned from church with his family members on that fateful day and decided to visit his namesake who is his father’s brother.

As he got there he met his namesake’s children going to church band practice and he decided to accompany them to a Methodist Church where the practice was taking place.

They got to the church and began practicing. Soon it became dark and they had to turn on the generator to continue practicing.

As the band practice progressed, the generator that provided light for the activity went off.

Unknown to them, the church premises had been surrounded by machete-wielding men who were on a mission to maim and kill them.

One of the band boys decided to go outside to know what happened to the generator and he became the murderous gangs first casualty as they attacked him.

Then all hell was let loose as the hoodlums stormed the church and began cutting anybody they could lay their hands on with their murderous weapons.

While many of the victims of the attack, which happened around 9pm were later rushed to hospital and survived, though scarred for life, Augustine Ogbu, who is the fifth child in the family of eight children, was not so lucky as his wounds were so severe. His head was almost cut off from his body, it was gathered.

Seven persons received serious machete cuts in the night attack are currently receiving treatment at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki 2 (FETHA 2) and an undisclosed hospital in Ngbo Court axis of the village.

There had been some cult killings in Ohaukwu Local Government Area with over five persons killed before the current killing.

Reuben Abah, Ogbu’s father, told The Nation that cultist members were responsible for his son’s murder.

Abah said: “The truth of the matter is that my son was killed. His name is Augustine Ogbu and he was 15 years because he was born in 2003. On September 2, being a Sunday, I came back from where I went to and when he told me that he wanted to go to my elder brother’s house who is his namesake and also lives in this village.

“I told him to go and he went about 5 in the evening.

“About 10:15pm of that day, I received message that my son was dead. He went to my elder brother’s house and together with his children they went to Methodist Church in our village for band practice.

“They told me that the church was immediately invaded that night by hoodlums and everybody scampered for safety.  Our local vigilante immediately gathered and started looking for the invaders and arrested some of them.

“When I got to the church, I saw my son’s corpse lying on the ground. When the matter was reported to the police, they came in the morning and carried his corpse to the mortuary after taking his pictures.

“I also followed the police to the mortuary where the corpse was deposited; he is now in the mortuary. He was almost beheaded, only a tiny thread was holding the head from being entirely severed.

“I would say that the killing of my son and the attack on those that sustained injuries was as a result of the thanksgiving in that church because a lot of people said they saw people wielding machetes and fighting during entertainment after the thanksgiving. In the night, they killed my son when they attacked the Methodist Church.

“Some arrests have been made by our local vigilantes through a tip-off and handed over to the police because one of the victims said he was attacked but was lucky as the machete did not cut him so much. Our local vigilante asked him whether he could identify the person that attacked him and he said yes and led the vigilante to the person who was arrested. Some others were arrested. Later more arrests were made

 

The Ikeji Arochukwu has ended with various cultural displays.

Over the years, Ikeji Arochukwu has gained prominence as an important and remarkable cultural celebration by Arochukwu descendants within and outside the country. It has become a veritable platform to showcase their rich cultural heritage spanning several centuries. Ikeji Aro, as it is popularly known today, has a long history dating back to about 912 AD when it was first celebrated by the ancient kingdom. Ever since, it has become an annual festival which is observed in Arochukwu and about 360 Aro communities scattered all over the world.

The new yam festival of the Aro, which usually takes place in the month of September, is programmed to last for three weeks from the day of proclamation for the commencement by the highly revered Eze Aro which is currently being held by His Royal Majesty, Eze Ogbonnaya Okoro. Ikeji Aro is usually a sacred period which is devoted by Aros to give thanks to the creator for blessings, protection and bountiful harvest. It involves elaborate traditional ceremonies throughout the Arochukwu Kingdom.Each day has a unique programme attached to it which is observed religiously. It is usually a cultural extravaganza involving all the 19 villages making up Arochukwu kingdom, including kit and kin in diaspora.

One of the major characteristics of Ikeji Aro festival is the capacity to attract Aros in diaspora, who would always want to take advantage of the occasion to visit their ancestral community. Every Aro person has a unique attachment to his Aro origin and the Ikeji festival is one of such events that draw them closer home.  This explains the usual mass return by Aros in diaspora during the period.  Unlike new yam festival in other Igbo communities, Ikeji Aro has a strict tradition that has remained intact and is passed from generation to generation.

From the first day to the climax, which is called Ekekpe, there are usually cultural activities that would engage the people. Such cultural activities portray the uniqueness of the people.

However, Ekekpe remains the most significant aspect of the entire Ikeji Aro festival.  It is a day when the people gather at the community square known as Amaikpe to pay tribute to their ancestors and fallen heroes. Ekekpe symbolizes the true cultural heritage of the Aro.  It is the grandeur of the Ikeji festival with the people appearing in their colorful traditional attire, spectacular traditional dances and masquerades.  The Aros and their visitors alike have always looked forward to Ekekpe with great expectation and excitement.

Although the Ikeji festival has retained its traditional value over the years, there has been an attempt in the recent time to gradually but cautiously introduce some innovations to make it truly an international festival.  This is taking into cognizance of the fact that the Aros are global citizens who have exported their cultures to various parts of the world. In bringing such innovation the organizers of the Ikeji Aro festival are working with the mindset that it should no longer be seen as one local traditional festival, but one that should command global attention. This became clearly manifest in this year’s Ikeji Aro festival, which had as its theme: Culture for development.  The festival which held from September 5 – 27, 2018, saw the introduction, for the first time, a program for the youths.  According to the Chairman of the organizing committee for 2018 Ikeji Aro, Dr. Azubike Okoro, given the significant role of the youths as agents of development, it was considered appropriate to provide them a platform to showcase their talents and creative energies.

The event, tagged: “Arochukwu Got Talent”, which took place on the eve of Ekekpe at Amaikpe ground, turned out to be a harvest of thrilling entertainment and talent discoveries. The audience, which included the President-General, Nzuko Aro worldwide, Mazi George Ezumah and other prominence Aro indigenes, were held spellbound with fascinating display of talent and creativity by the youths.  Impressed with the array of talents paraded at the event and the enthusiasm exhibited by the youths, the organizers of Ikeji Aro 2018 and the Nzuko Aro leadership were of the opinion that ‘Arochukwu Got Talent’ should be made an integral part of Ikeji festival. This will not only help in deepening Aro culture and tradition among the youths but also provide a veritable platform to harness their rich potentials for the development of the community.

Apart from discovering and nurturing talented Aro youths through the Ikeji festival, the theme “Culture for development” is a holistic programme aimed at using culture to drive the development of Arochukwu kingdom.  This can be better appreciated considering the fact that Aro has rich cultural history dating back to several centuries.  They are proud of their ancestral heritage which is easily expressed in their mode of addressing, tradition and festivals. The Aros are among the first set of people to be exposed to western education in Nigeria and are widely travelled, which gave them strategic advantage over other communities in eastern part of Nigeria. They are also great merchants and entrepreneurs who have contributed in the development of other communities across the country and beyond.

This has informed the concept of ‘culture for development’, which is intended to harness the rich culture of the people towards accelerating the development of the area. In line with this objective, the Ikeji festival is being re-branded to enable it attract corporate sponsors and mass participation. This has started yielding the anticipated result as indicated in the recently concluded Ikeji festival which attracted big corporate sponsors like, MTN, Nigerian Breweries, Sobaz, and other organizations. Equally significant was the unprecedented large turn-out of the people throughout the festival, especially during the Ekekpe. For the first time in a long time all the 19 villages in Arochukwu were present at the Ekekpe, which marks the climax of the celebration. The Aro in diaspora were in attendance, which shows a renewed confidence in the Ikeji festival. The star prize of a trophy and N100,000.00 was won by the troupe from Asaga village while Obinkita village took the second position with a trophy and N50,000.00. The third price was won by Amangwu village and they took home a trophy and N25,000.00. Two villages, Amuvi and Ugbo, got consolation trophies for the 4th and 5th positions.

As the Aros and the rest of the world continue to savour the splendid memories of the 2018 Ikeji with its rich cultural content as highlighted in the various cultural dances and masquerade displays, the organisers are upbeat that more is yet to come. It is obvious that there is inter-relationship between culture and development, and the Aros are prepared to leverage on this towards transforming their community.

Life has not been smooth for 43-year-old carpenter Uchendu Jacob and his wife Chidinma, 32, since they were involved in a kerosene explosion. Unable to take care of themselves, and with a mountain of bills to pay, they are constrained to appeal for help. The most pressing is their hospital bills.

The couple who was rushed to Madonna hospital, Umuahia, the Abia State capital, around 3am on August 4, 2018, was in severe pains and terrible shape following the explosion which led to fire engulfing them in their home.

The couple who have spent well over a month at the Christian hospital and have been staying at the male and female wards have called on public-spirited Nigerians and corporate organisations to come to their rescue as they cannot afford the hospital bills.

Speaking at his hospital bed, Jacob said on that fateful day after work that he bought a bottle of kerosene for their lantern. He said that at around 11 in the night his wife woke up to refill the lantern that was about to go off with the kerosene he bought and that the next thing he heard while sleeping in his sitting room was an explosion and the shout of fire from his wife.

The carpenter said he woke up and went straight to the room to save his three little boys, adding that in the midst of that confusion he fell inside the fire twice, which is the reason he had more burns than his wife.

He noted that his happiness was that his three children were unhurt and that only he and his wife were the only ones affected by the fire and used the occasion to appreciate Madonna Hospital for accepting them by commencing treatment on them without any deposit.

Jacob revealed that they are right now at the mercy of the hospital as they have been unable to deposit any money, adding that the hospital bill is about N700,000.

He pleaded with public-spirited Nigerians to help deposit money in the following account, for their medical care. Uchendu Jacob, Access bank 0006217619.

Speaking also, Jacob’s wife Chidinma, a petty trader, said she woke up around 11pm to discover that the light in the lantern was going off and quickly rushed to refill the lantern with the kerosene her husband brought and the next thing was the explosion.

Chidinma said, “The lantern was on the floor with little light on; the moment I took the bottle of kerosene and was opening the bottle, what I heard next was an explosion, I never knew the kerosene was adulterated.

“I have never witnessed anything like this before in my life, I am pleading with Nigerians for help, we are poor and cannot afford the hospital bills, we are leaving by the mercy of the hospital and good Samaritans even to feed is a problem”.

In his own reaction the administrator of Madonna Hospital Rev. Father Christian Anokwuru said the couple was brought to the hospital in a very bad shape, adding that they commenced treatment without the victims depositing any money, “We are happy that they are doing well and responding to treatment”.

Father Anokwuru said the hospital management and staff did their very best and called on good Nigerians to come to their help, adding that it is obvious the couple do not have the means to pay their bills.

He revealed that  the couple have been in admission since August 4 and the hospital has been bearing the expenses, adding that they do not have subvention from government except what the generate which they use to run the hospital.

The cleric pointed out that the hospital has all it takes to treat the couple while he confirmed that about seven hundred thousand naira would be needed for their recovery including surgery.

Four months after a kerosene explosion in Onitsha, Anambra State’s commercial hub, two sisters badly burnt in the incident are still in hospital. But that is just one of several horrors of the incidence, reports EMMA ELEKWA

Many have put the explosion behind them, but the family of Eze Godwin Ikechukwu cannot afford to do that. Their two daughters, Chinenye, 16, and Kamsi, 8, both badly burnt in the resulting fire, are still in hospital under medication amid mounting medical bills.

It happened in May in the couple’s home in Ogbunike, hometown of former Senate President Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Eze and his wife were said to be away from home when the incident happened, he in his native Imezi Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, while his wife who sells roasted maize, was still at her duty post.

Eze said his younger daughter, Kamsi, had gone to buy kerosene for their lantern following a power outage in the area. Upon her return, she handed the fluid to Chinenye to fill the lantern. Neglecting to first put out the lantern light, the older girl simply poured the flammable liquid into the lamp. The resulting explosion caught both sisters, leaving them with life-threatening burns.

Eze recalled, “While she was pouring the kerosene into the lantern, she did not first put out the lantern light. Suddenly the lantern exploded leaving them with life-threatening burns.

“The elder sister quickly ran out of the house and alerted the neighbours who immediately rushed to assist in rescuing both of them as well as putting out the fire.”

Ezeh further said that they were taken to First Foundation Hospital and Maternity, Umunnachi, where they have been receiving treatment since then.

The middle-aged man, who said he was recently laid off by his former employer, described their plight as tragic, adding that it had been challenging taking care of both children.

“Since my daughters were admitted, we’ve been spending through our nose. We’ve spent over N200,000. We’ve bought about five pints of blood, including the one I donated.

“We’ve been buying drugs and we still have not less than N450,000 bills to offset. Where the money will come from is what I don’t know.

“The elder sister is supposed to be sitting for her NECO exams now, but nobody is talking about that. Our major concern now is how their lives will be saved,” he said.

Expressing appreciation to God for saving them from untimely death, he called on both Anambra and Enugu state governments and members of the public to come to their aid to pay the hospital bills.

He said, “These children are girls; I won’t want them to be disfigured by this accident. I need help to give them proper and adequate treatment.”

Kerosene explosions are a national tragedy, not an exclusive disaster for Eze Ikechukwu and his family. In several other parts of the country, kerosene-powered light sources have been exploding and causing various degrees of injuries, including death.

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has mounted campaigns warning people about the dangers of mishandling kerosene. The DPR has also highlighted the dangers of adulterated kerosene, which is the major cause of the explosions.

That lays bare the crime of mixing kerosene with other substances which makes otherwise safe kerosene a deadly liquid in the home. To apprehend and punish the unscrupulous dealers will help curtail the disaster.

So will improving electricity supply across the country. That will bring down patronage of lantern and the horrors of adulterated kerosene.

Ikeji Arochukwu 2018 will climax on September 23. The yearly event which attracts tourists from all over the world has become a traditional pilgrimage to the Aro people of Abia State.

The spiritual and traditional ruler of Arochukwu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro, CFR, the traditional rulers of the 19 villages, the President-General, Nzuko Arochukwu Worldwide, Mazi George Okoronkwo Ezumah, and his executive commitee and several prominent sons and daughters of the ancient kingdom, including kit and kin from Arochukwu diaspora, shall lead the entire community in a solemn procession into Amaikpe, the ancestral square where Aros gather for major events, to celebrate ekekpe, the highest activity of its three-week long new yam festival.

Ikeji festival is celebrated annually to mark the end of the year. It started about 912 AD in Arochukwu, the ancestral abode of Arochukwu people. It is observed in over 350 Arochukwu outpost communities, including those residing overseas, culminating in the grand finale in the ancestral home, Arochukwu, Abia State, Nigeria.

The Aro monarch releases the calendar following the indigenous lunar calendar that often coincides with the month of September, but at times spills over to October.

This year’s festival started on Wednesday September 5 to end on Thursday September 27. Ekekpe is the climax of the festival and it shall see all the villages, Aro diaspora, Aro allies displaying masquerades and dances.

It is a season dedicated to showcasing Aro’s rich cultural heritage, renewing of ancient covenant that unite Arochukwu kingdom and thanksgiving to God for a successful year.

Prominent personalities from all walks of life, including local and foreign tourists, shall participate in this year’s festival. The current leadership of Nzuko Arochukwu that came into office two years ago rebranded the Ikeji festival to a very enviable status, including attracting MTN Nigeria and Nigerian Breweries, amongst many other corporate and individual sponsors to brand it. This third edition shall build on the successes achieved in the last two years, and especially serve as a home-coming event amongst umuaro in various places.

The annual cultural festival presents a unique opportunity to celebrate Arochukwu tradition and culture in its pure and original form. It is also a platform for infinite entertainment, commerce and tourism as it features huge home coming, rare masquerades, traditional dances, cultural displays and so much more.

Arochukwu indigenes who may not make it home, especially those overseas, watch the events online.

According to the Chairman , 2018 Ikeji Organising Committee, Dr Azubike Okoro, the activities shall start at 10.00am prompt and diverse cultural troupes who shall compete for honors are expected.

“The ekpe Arochukwu would , as usual, grace the occasion and usher in the royalty to the arena. Consistent with the resolve to use culture to cement good neighborliness, we expect appearances by troupes from some of our immediate communities at the arena. Amaikpe square shall be closed to vehicular traffic from 8am to 7pm, so we implore all citizens, including VIPs, to use the alternate routes created for the purpose. Tourists shall have opportunity to see historic sites and ancient artifacts that will give them idea about the roles played by the town in commerce, trade and leadership across the entire eastern and middle belt regions of Nigeria,” Okoro explained.

He said, “This year’s event, aside from expanding the commercial frontiers which presents bigger opportunities for businesses will also feature other significant innovations. For example, there is a new theme, “Ikeji Arochukwu: Culture for Development”, which shall provide focus for all activities thereby direct the community’s thoughts and energies towards what shall propel or trigger collective survival and growth.

“Moreover, given the significant role of the youths as agents of development, we shall work in concert with the umbrella youth body, NASS, to ensure the attainment of the goals of active participation of their members by providing a platform to showcase their talents and creative energies aimed at the advancement and growth of the kingdom. Tagged “Arochukwu Got Talent”, it shall take place on ikeji eve to herald the grand finale the next day.

“Finally, the 2018 Ikeji Organizing Committee recognizes the fact that politics is in the air this season, and that political gladiators may wish to seize the opportunity of the mammoth crowd at the arena to fraternize with their supporters. We therefore, wish to emphasize that the ikeji brochure is available for such political communication while the ekepke, being purely a traditional and cultural event, be spared of politics in any form. In this wise, political party outfits and groups are banned from the arena and politicians are requested to ensure that their supporters be in compliance. Let’s celebrate 2018 Ikeji Arochukwu and jointly renew the friendliness and brotherhood of the ancient kingdom! Ako bu Ije.”

Should he pick the ticket and win next year’s governorship election in Abia State, former deputy governor of the state, and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Comrade Chris Akomas has promised to hand over power to any candidate of the party from Abia North, after a single term in office.

Akomas was speaking to journalists at his country home, Nenu in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.

He said he was an apostle of a five-year single term in office for elective offices, especially those of governor and president, in order to give room for others in the spirit seamless rotation of power and good governance.

The former deputy governor who is also a BoT member of the APC used the opportunity to reecho his commitment to a single term in office if elected to govern the state in 2019, stressing that he would use his four years in office to accomplish all that he wanted to achieve.

He said he had already mapped out plans of turning Aba and Umuahia into mega cities through infrastructural and developmental plans for the two cities and others in the state.

Akomas, who maintained that he has the leadership and administrative experience to lead the state in 2019 after serving in various governmental positions in the state, said that the incumbent has done his best, but is not good enough. He said he would do better if given the opportunity.

The aspirant, who also contested for the state’s exalted seat against his then boss and incumbent senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District in the Red Chambers, also refuted the insinuations making the rounds that he is being paid by the Okezie Ikpeazu administration, and that he plans to clear the way for the smooth return of the incumbent governor.

Akomas said he considers such rumours insulting and baseless.

He assured the party faithful and his people of Obingwa that he is contesting for governor to win and change Abia and not to pave way for anybody.

He added that the people peddling the rumours only continued from where they stopped in 2010-2011, vowing that this time around, their propaganda will fail.

“I have heard a lot of things since I declared to run. Some persons have said that I am on Abia government payroll. They said that government is paying me to contest and I see it as very insulting. Have these propagandists forgotten that I was a former Deputy Governor and as a result of that, I am entitled to some payment due to me.

“Today, I am in court with the state government because they are not even paying me my entitlement as former Deputy Governor, yet people are making fake stories.

“I am not running for Okezie Ikpeazu or anybody. I am not looking for name now because I already have that. I am contesting to win and to be sworn in on the 29th of May 2019. This happened in 2010-2011, people spread rumours that because I was close to Orji Uzor Kalu that if I become governor that I will be a stooge to Orji Uzor Kalu.

“People forgot that T.A Orji and those who were saying that was also a Chief of Staff to Orji Uzor Kalu for eight years. The rest is history that I don’t want to dwell on. Our people have short memories. I want to sound it clear; I am not on anybody’s payroll. I am running as Chris Akomas. I am running to win and this time around, I am going to win.”

The former Deputy Governor continued and said, “They did such propaganda then, but it will never work for them this time around. They are also saying that an Abia South man cannot handover after getting four years from APC, but that’s not true. Abia Charter of equity must be respected and I stand by it. As our primaries come, be it Direct or Indirect; tell those who want a better Abia to vote Akomas.

“Yes, Ikpeazu is my brother. Eziuche and Erondu Junior are my brothers. They are all my brothers. I can’t cast my brothers away because of politics. But I remain committed to my party APC and that is where my loyalty lies. I don’t play politics of bickering and enmity. I don’t want enmity and nobody should bring it to my doorstep.

“From the beginning, God used our leader, Orji Uzor Kalu to give most of us the opportunities to serve this state. I have served this state in various capacities. I came to serve Abia from International background because I was working on World Bank Projects.  I am into this contest because I have a lot to offer and I know what to do to change Abia for good that even if I tell others to do, they may not be able to deliver it properly.

“I want to be governor so that I can help prioritise things well and have the opportunity of using executive powers to open channels of revenues that are abound here that we have ignored over the years. To make Aba the commercial city it ought to be in Africa. I have done the needed research about Aba.

“I want to grow our economy properly. Experience and knowledge come to play when issues like this come up. My desire and purpose for contesting is to deliver all I can for public good. I want to be remembered for good so that people will talk about me after several years just as they do for Michael Okpara.

Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba has said that the institution has gained abundantly from the introduction of the inaugural lecture series since 1976.

He stated that since its inception, the lecture had not only stimulated research and academic excellence among the academic staff, but has led to the discovery of a new breed of scholars with the burning desire to change the face of the earth through modern science.

Speaking at the 141st inaugural lecture of the University titled “Surrogate father, prospects in a constrained scientific environment” presented by Prof. Bond Anyaehie, at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, the deputy vice chancellor, Academic, Prof. James Ogbonna, who represented the Vice Chancellor, re-affirmed the commitment of the present administration of the university to continue to invest in training, reseach and other programmes that would improve the quality of teaching and learning.

Describing Prof. Bond Anyaehie as a great teacher and motivator, the DVC said the lecture was rich in content and was well delivered, adding that he would have loved to be in his class if he was still a student.

The lecture, attracted the cream of the academia and captains of industry from within and outside the country, including Africa’s longest serving Provost of College of Medicine, Prof. Frank Akpuaka, Provost College of Medicine, UNN, Prof. Uchenna Nwagha, former Provost College of Medicine, UNN, Prof. Ernest Onwasigwe and wife, Prof. Chika Onwasigwe and wife of late Provost College of Medicine, Prof. Margaret Aghaji.

Arch Bishop of Enugu Anglican Diocese, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Medical Director, National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu, Dr. Cajetan Nwadinigwe, Air Commodore Dr. Abdullahi Kassimu of the Nigerian Air Force, Emene Enugu, Prof. Nnamdi Obi, younger brother of the UNN VC, Prof. Uchenna Ozumba, the mother of the lecturer, Pretty Lady Grace Anyaehie, former Vice Chairman, Nigerian Football Association, NFA, Barr. Nwabufo Obienu and former Provost College of Medicine, Enugu state University of Science and Technology, (ESUT), Prof. Nene Obianyo were among dignitaries who graced the occasion.

In the lecture titled “Surrogate father, prospects in a constrained scientific environment”, Prof. Anyaehie, recommended constant update of Medical Education in the country in line with the global trend.

Anyaehie noted that the ultimate goal of medical education was to enable the graduate to transfer sets of what has been learnt to solving health problems, stressing that basic medical sciences support sound clinical reasoning and are indispensable for both understanding of pathological mechanisms and planning the management of disease conditions.

According to the scholar, students should be able to associate the concepts learned to previous knowledge or experiences on which the teacher can build upon, it should be clear that training physicians is different from training undergraduate students to be researchers, so teaching and learning at the basic sciences level poses significant challenges of correlation, imagination and transfer of learned experiences.

He said, “As teachers, we seem to do the things we do because this is the way we have been raised ourselves and that is the way it has been done for many years. We hardly read the literature on education, because as teachers we are highly convinced that what we do is appropriate without remembering the absence of peer-review, quality control and follow-up training which promote meaningful learning for our students.

Anyaehie, who is the deputy Provost College of Medicine, UNN, however, explained that society expects a minimum degree of proficiency on medical graduates and basic medical sciences provide the foundation for such, adding that many people agree that it is incumbent that policy makers and educators move beyond rhetoric and prepare future teachers with the skills for teaching diverse and young classes.

Continuing, the 141st inaugural lecturer said, “however, I feel that the challenge to us as teachers is to explore possibilities and develop ways to cultivate students’ curiosity and interest in learning, this was the challenge I took up early in my career to explore ways to make learning fun and meaningful.” ý

Expatiating on the topic, “Who is a surrogate father?” Prof. Anyaehie, submitted that it is neither the biological nor adoptive father and went ahead to declare that physiology is the surrogate father of medical sciences.