The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

Mystery over death of family of five

It was a very bad day for the people of Umuosu, Afugiri, in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State as 54-year-old blind Prophet, Onyenonachi Ihezukwu Agwu, his wife and children were found dead. His landlady and three chickens were also found dead in his four-room apartment.

Prophet Ihezukwu, the founder and General Overseer of Faith Healing Tabernacle Ministry at Nkwoegwu hailed from Umukabia, but lived in Umuosu Afugiri, while running his ministry at Nkwoegwu.

The development baffled residents who have kept asking how the blind prophet, his 50-year-old landlady, Mrs. Hannah Okpara, his wife Comfort Ihezukwu who was in her 30s, his 11-year-old son, Emmanuel Godwin Onyenonachi and his 13-year-old daughter, Miracle Onyenonachi Ihezukwu, all died with him.

The irony of the deaths was also the death of three of his fowls which were found dead in the bathroom area of the apartment.

A source close to the venue of the incident who spoke to our correspondent in confidence, said the five corpses were discovered in different places, while the three fowls were found dead in the bathroom area.

Our source said: “We were called up in the early hours of Sunday, April 19, this year in the morning and when we got to Umuosu Afugiri where they lived, behind the Methodist Church, we saw hundreds of sympathisers who were crying over the unfortunate incident. We also met policemen from Afugiri division.

“When we inquired from the police, they told us that they met the generating set on, on arrival. The power generating set, we were told, was bought on Thursday, which is three days before their deaths. The set was found along the passage inside the bungalow and the policemen told us that they were the ones that put the set off.”

Our source also said the police told them that they suspected that the victims died as a result of exhaust fume from the power generating set, adding that the late prophet was the only surviving child of his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Ihezukwu Agwu.

“We are his only direct relations, running around for their burial.”

The corpses were found in different locations in the apartment. The wife and daughter were found in a room, the prophet was found in the dining room, the landlady was found around the passage, close to the power generating set, the three fowls were found clustered within the bathroom area.

On what must have been another possible cause of death, beside the fume from their power generating set, our source said they cannot think of any other thing, as they are not suspecting any foul play, even as he said there must be speculations in a situation like that.

The landlady was said to have been invited by the Prophet, who informed her that her two children were sick and when she came and suggested that the children should be taken to the hospital, the Prophet turned down the suggestion, that he suspected spiritual attack which he said he was going to handle that night through prayers, adding that after the prayers, they would be okay.. The Landlady was said to be a regular visitor to the house, where she usually goes to hold night prayers with the Prophet and other people at regular intervals.

That night, they were said to have had a meal of rice prepared in the house before going to sleep. Based on information at hand, the only thing one could hold on to as the cause of their death is the fume from that power generating set.

The family source said it was only through autopsy or other scientific methods that one can guess the real cause of their death. But from what I was told by police men, when they came in that morning, they were the ones that broke the door into the apartment and they found the generating set on. So, the power generating set is the prime suspect in this matter.

On what he was doing before going into ministry, our source said: “He lived in Kaduna for a long time; since the 90s. So, he came back around 2012 and established his ministry and was living at Nkwoegwu. But sometime last year, he relocated to Afugiri.

“I don’t know if he had a call to the ministry, but about seven years ago, we heard that he had opened a ministry in Kaduna and that the ministry was flourishing and in 2012, he came back to establish the ministry at Nwkoegwu. I don’t know what profession he was into before establishing the ministry because I was still a kid when he left home.”

He was not born blind, the blindness developed after the death of his father in August, 2002, after a year or two, he developed sight problems which led to blindness.

When his father died in 2002, he did not come home during the burial, even though the mother had been dead long before then. He had married before going completely blind.

May 22, 2015
Student leaders hail poly administrators

Executive members of the National Association of Polytechnic students (NAPS) have visited the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State to assess the institution following some allegations levelled against its leadership.

The visitors, led by NAPS President Salaudeen Lukman of Kaduna Polytechnic, praised Oko Poly administrators for the manner they have led the institution.

There were charges of reckless suspension of lecturers and undue rustication of students among other allegatiuons.

The NAPS chief said it would have been suicidal if the union had acted based on information it received from various quarters against the school management.

He said that allegations of suspending lecturers with ignominy, rustication of students with reckless abandon and other anomalies, were heaped on the Rector of the school, Prof Godwin Onu.

Salaudeen, who said NAPS boasts of 21 million students in the country, said their visit had changed their perception of the happenings in Anambra and the institution.

He said during the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) their students were blackmailed, harassed, intimidated in the country especially in Lagos State, during their protest and in other states, but they moved on.

NAPS therefore commended Oko Polytechnic Rector Prof Onu for bringing innovations in the school system and introducing Computer Based Test (CBT) in the institution.

He said the introduction of CBT gave raise for petitions by some lecturers in the institution, who did not like the idea, adding that any lecturer that does not like it should resign henceforth.

Salaudeen, said that the incoming administration of president elect, Mohammadu Buhari, has zero tolerance for corruption, adding that those who had been swimming in corruption would not go unpunished.

After seeing some of the development strides in the school, NAPS president described the Rector as an agent of change, adding that the Association had selected him as the best polytechnic Rector in the country.

Furthermore, he said that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association would meet any time from now to pick a date for the award ceremony on the Oko Rector.

He said, “We are highly disappointed in some of the lecturers who had been complaining against the Rector, other Rectors in the country should emulate Prof Onu, we are indeed weakened by his achievements in this place”

“Do not have any form of U-turn in your policies, members of NAPSD will serve as your enforcement agents in this country, and from the rate things are going, we believe that federal polytechnic will be the first in this cadre to be made a university in this country”

“We are not going to accommodate any further blackmail from the academic staff of this institution, enough is enough, and NAPS will take it personal, we want to rescue our education sector” Salaudeen threatened.

The chairman of the institution’s governing council; Dr. Azubuike Odukwe, told The Nation that the coming of the (NAPS) students will now give the institution a moment of respite.

He praised the students for coming to the school, at least to verify some of the allegations leveled against the Rector, who according to him, had brought light to the school.

According to him, “some people want to pull this institution down because of selfish interest, I want to advice the students that any where they see themselves in future, they should be on the positive side and not negative, no matter what ever pressure”.

“You should not allow anybody to mislead you in any thing you do, if you build the body, it helps the brain, this institution was built in a very lousy foundation and that is why we are rebuilding it now”.

For the Deputy Rector, Academics, Dr. Mrs. Gladys Anene, people should know that only God makes kings.

She told The Nation that God would reward members of NAPS who came to verify the situation of things without relying on rumour to make mistakes from a distance.

Speaking with The Nation after the student’s visit, the Rector, Prof Onu, commended members of the institution’s board for being progress oriented and the understanding group.

He said that all the petitions against him and flagrant setting up of panels for one investigation or the other in the school amount to distraction without the petitioners knowing it.

According to him, “I have seen red in this institution but God has been alive, whether they like it or not, this institution must change for real, if God is with you, anybody fighting you will hit the rocks”.

“The level of extortion by lecturers was so alarming in this school and some of the lecturers failed to realize that some of these students are finding themselves, these are the kind of anomalies we are fighting against here and not suspension of lecturers”.

“They are extorting poor students and if you query that, they run to their association that you are fighting them, they label you enemy of progress and blackmail you, but we can’t continue like that,” Onu said.

May 22, 2015
Assemblies of God factions disrupt schools handover

Abia state Governor Theodore Orji was ready to hand over four primary schools owned by Assemblies of God Church to their owners in furtherance of the administration’s policy, but two representatives of factions of the church came forward to collect the papers.

That startled the governor who quickly saved further embarassments by asking the claimants to return to their seats while the matter was sorted out.

The development took place at the return of 100 primary schools to their original owners by the state government.

The state government had, three years ago, returned over 30 secondary schools to their original owners and now decided to extend the policy to the primary level of education. One hundred primary schools were returned.

Governor Orji was to hand over the documents of the primary schools to the church when two different groups appeared shouting and claiming to be the rightful owners of the Assemblies of God Church schools that were being returned to them by the state government.

Orji was taken aback when two men stepped onto the podium to receive the ownership certificate of the four schools handed over to Assemblies of God with both of them stretching out their hands to take the documents from the governor.

As none of the factional representatives was prepared to budge, the governor asked them to go back, saying, “We will sort it out” and continued with the ceremony.

The governor demonstrated maturity as he saved what would have been a clash between two factions of Assemblies of God who carried their disgraceful politics to the governor’s office as both factions wanted to take the documents.

Governor Orji, in his wisdom, laughed it off and refused to hand the schools or the documents over to any of the factions, even as he told them that the issue would be resolved later.

Handing over the documents of the schools to their original owners, Governor Orji said it was regrettable that, for decades, the policy of handing over the schools to their original owners has been in the limbo, expressing his joy that his administration has broken the jinx.

The governor who said the hand over programme would be in phases, also noted with happiness that the handover of secondary schools has impacted positively on the system as has manifested in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) and other results in recent period.

He said the government was emboldened to embark on the handover programme to “right the wrongs” done to the churches who are the original school owners.

Orji said: “I am proud to attest that there has been appreciable impact of this policy reversal on the secondary schools we returned to their original owners. It is my belief that these schools we returned today will experience similar transformation which was experienced in the secondary schools that were returned to their original owners.”

According to him, if the trend in of high academic and moral standard continued to be sustained in the schools that were returned, it would encourage his successor to bring the exercise to logical conclusion by returning the remaining schools to their original owners after sorting out the controversies of ownership.

The Abia State governor asserted that private proprietors and religious organisations have proved their effectiveness in running schools, hence he was emboldened in taking the decision to reverse the “wrong” policy that made government to take over schools from their original owners over four decades ago.

He said his action was based on his “pursuit of equity, fairness and righting of wrongs” done by past governments that implemented the policy of appropriating schools; leaving their owners to agonise as fortunes of education dipped drastically.

Commissioner for education, Dr Monica Phillips had earlier in her address noted that government was motivated by the need “to revive our cherished values” when it embarked on returning schools to their original owners”.

She urged the new owners to always liaise with the Ministry of Education in order to keep abreast with global trends in education and in so doing maintain international standards in Abia school system.

The breakdown showed that the Anglican Church got 26 primary schools returned to it, followed by the Catholic Church with 25, Methodist Church 16 and Qua Iboe Church 12.

Other original owners that got their primary schools back included Seventh Day Adventist Church that got back eight schools, Presbyterian Church six, Assemblies of God four while Apostolic Church had two primary schools returned to it.

May 22, 2015
Care for leprosy patients

In their secluded environment, love and care came to them. CHRIS OJI reports that a non-governmental organisation (NGO) provided free screening, among other things, for patients at Oji River Leprosy Settlement

Who loves the leper? For their ailment, they are quietly removed from the society, with no one but their families and fellow sufferers to talk to.

It was in that secluded settlement by the Oji River in Enugu State that the Bina Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) met them, treated them and gave them the feeling that their ailment did not make them any less human needing love and care.

There was also merriment at the meeting, just like a Christmas party. It was a visit with a view to providing for people with special needs. The children were treated to a special party in commemoration of the forthcoming Children’s Day celebrations.

There was a big cake for the occasion from the Bina Foundation and children danced happily to music provided by the Foundation’s musical band, most of who physically challenged.

•Children had their own dancing session

Prizes were won by those who competed and danced well in the dancing competition. Children were also entertained by Bina Foundation’s Superman, clown, prince and princess who distributed various gifts to them.

Bina Foundation visited the settlement with a dedicated team of volunteers made up of seven medical doctors, pharmacists, lab scientists, nurses and social workers. The team conducted medical screening tests for common ailments like malaria, diabetes, high blood pressure, glaucoma, among others. They also performed eye examinations and provided medications and reading glasses to patients who needed them. All these were done free of charge.

The visually challenged and the blind, who were trained at the Bina Foundation Resource and Recreational Centre for the blind were also in attendance. They were part of the medical outreach giving medical attention to those in need. It was interesting watching the blind health workers as they were checking patients’ weight, blood pressure and so on with special machines that voiced the results.

Some of the excited blind medics Emmanuel Eze and Gabriel Ejenta told our correspondent that Bina Foundation had restored their dignity by proving to them that there is ability in disability through the special trainings and programme towards independent living for the blind. “Before now, all hopes were lost, until Bina stepped into our lives, as you can see we can operate computer, these machines or gadgets in front of us with assistance. It was a dream that Bina made come true. We just can’t stop thanking Bina foundation”.

There was a mini-lab created at the venue by Bina Foundation where various diseases or ailments were tested for. Ailments such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, were investigated with an instant test that gives instant result and instant medication. All these were for free. Where a case is serious and could not be handled there, it is referred to specialist centres and subsequent follow-up exercise by Bina Foundation.

Founder and President of Bina Foundation, Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu explained that the foundation was a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to alleviating the pain and suffering of people with special needs. “We strive to improve their lives through our skills acquisition and vocational training programmes, women empowerment, poverty reduction, provision of free and quality medical services, as well as general charity works. We also provide nutritional, educational, financial, emotional and psychological support,” she told the inmates.

Atuegwu explained that the foundation was privately funded but welcomes volunteers and donors who share their vision of offering and providing selfless charity services to humanity. This, she said, includes the physically and mentally challenged, the blind, deaf and mute, orphans and vulnerable children, the aged, indigent widows, and the marginalised in our society.

The founder stressed: “In line with the aims and objectives of the Foundation we are visiting the Oji River leprosy settlement today with our total package. We have come with our dedicated team of selfless volunteers made up of medical doctors, pharmacists, lab scientists, nurses and social workers. Our team shall conduct medical screening tests for common ailments like malaria, diabetes, high blood pressure, and glaucoma, which could lead to blindness. In addition, our eye doctors will perform eye examinations, provide medications, and reading glasses, where deemed necessary.

“We are here with high quality drugs, food, drinks, snacks, toiletries, educational materials, and other gifts to be given to you all for free. We also have a special party for the children in recognition of the upcoming Children’s Day Celebration. “Our entertainment today will be provided by the very talented Bina Foundation Musical Band, majority of who are physically challenged.

“In addition, our Superman, Clown, Prince and Princess will entertain the children and distribute gifts later in the programme. By the end of the occasion, we are confident that you all will be morally and spiritually invigorated.”

She commended the efforts of the Anglican Communion for taking care of the residents of the settlement, but was quick to add, “A lot is left to be done. I humbly implore the government at all levels, high spirited individuals, philanthropists, churches, local and international NGOs to come to the aid of the residents.”

“It is obvious that the Oji River Leprosy settlement is nearly abandoned with many of the buildings dilapidated. This led to the settlers begging for alms along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway as the only means to sustain themselves and their families.

“I must acknowledge my husband and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation, Pharm. Sir Chris Atuegwu, for his financial and moral support. He has accompanied me to all of the medical and charitable outreaches the Foundation has embarked on and is here with us today. The support I have always received from my children and other family members has been overwhelming, and I thank them for their passion in helping the poor and needy in our society.”

Atuegwu further expressed gratitude to the staff and volunteers of the Foundation especially the visually challenged and the blind, who were trained at the Bina Foundation Resource & Recreational Centre for the Blind, for their contribution to the medial outreach saying that it was part of their programme towards independent living for the blind.

May 22, 2015
Questions over a young man’s death

Ten days after police in Anambra State released a man from detention, he died leaving his grieving widow and the entire community with unanswered questions, NWANOSIKE ONU reports

The death, however painful, is not in itself the major worry of residents of of Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

There are many unanswered questions.

•The late Amarachukwu

Why did Amarachukwu Agbasi die 10 days after he was released from detention by officers of the State Anti robbery Squad (SARS)?

Why did he end up in a police cell in Nnewi?

What offence did he commit or suspected of committing?

Why haven’t the police come forward with details of what happened?

On November 27 last year, Amarachukwu’s employer reportedly gave him some money with which to buy a motorcycle in Nnewi, the state’s industrial hub.

That was the last time he was seen until two days later when the police in Nnewi released him to his anxious family. At the time of his release, Amarachukwu was said to be “half-dead”.

On December 9, he died.

Amarachukwu’s family confirmed to The Nation that an autopsy was carried out on his body at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.

The autopsy report said Amarachukwu died of torture.

His widow has been agonising over her husband’s death as well as how and why he died the way he did.

They are not only ones grieving; the entire Ukpor community is also in pains.

They are looking for justice from the Nigeria Police, after the 32-year-old man died after being released from police detention by the Nnewi office of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The Agbasi family lawyer, Silas Ezenwa, has petitioned the state police commissioner, Hosea Karma to investigate the sudden death of his client.

The petition dated December 15, 2014, which was made available to The Nation, was equally copied to the Police Area Commander, Nnewi; House of Assembly lawmaker, representing the area, Hon. Rita Mmaduagwu and Mr. Obum Ohaegbu, a lawyer, of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) Abuja.

The tragic death of Amarachukwu Agbasi, allegedly tortured by men of SARS, has caused tension in Nzagha village in Ukpor community since December 9, 2014.

The member representing Nnewi South constituency in the state Assembly, Hon. Rita Mmaduagwu, said security officers should stop such impunity on innocent citizens, which according to her, has caused pains and agony in many homes in the country.

She said her constituents would stop at nothing in making sure that perpetrators of such acts were brought to book.

Mmaduagwu said: “The security operatives are trying in carrying out their duties, but the way and manner some of them are involved in issues like this has become worrisome to some of us.

“The entire community has been in agony since the death of this young man, representations had been made to the police, yet nothing has been done; imagine the kind of pains the family, widow and children will be going through without their breadwinner.”

Mrs. Ngozi Agbasi, the widow, told The Nation that it has not been easy for her and the children since the demise of her husband.

In tears, she said, “police have not been able to tell us what my husband did that warranted such torture that led to his death. My husband’s spirit will not rest until those who had a hand in his killing are brought to book; the God we worship is not sleeping. All along, it has not been easy for all of us.”

Also, father of the deceased, Basil Agbasi, lamented that the late Amarachukwu was his legs, his eyes, his mouth and everything he had.

“My life has not been the same again since they took away my joy from the family, all I need is for the police to explain to the world how a vibrant, full of energy young man was killed”.

However, the state police command is claiming ignorance of the death of Amarachukwu.

When the Nation contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Uche Ezeh, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), he said the command would investigate the matter appropriately once it came to its notice.

But he said that if such petition existed, it must have been addressed to a particular office, adding that the command would look into it.

According to the petition “It is the ordeal of our client that his son Amarachukwu Agbasi who was employed by MAC PETERS was sent by his master to go and buy a motorcycle at Nnewi on 27/11/2014 having given him some amount of money”.

“Amarachukwu Agbasi could not be seen as at ft.30am on the next day, 20/11/2.0J4. This was reported to his master, MAC PETERS who could riot give any account of Amarachukwu’s whereabouts”.

“Reports were made at the Central Police Station, Nnewi and at the Area Command Headquarters, Nnewi but Amarachukwu was not there and no useful information about his whereabouts was got. Later on the same 28/11/2014, the SARS Office at Nnewi was visited and it was discovered that Amarachukwu was detained in the cell there.”

“The Officer-in-charge told the people that came for Amarachukwu to come back on Saturday, 29/11/2014. When they came on 29/11/2014, Amarachukwu was released to them on bail, having fulfilled the required conditions”.

“When Amarachukwu was released, it was seen that he sustained serious injuries and was a half-dead person. See the attached picture of Late Amarachukwu Agbasi the day he was released on bail. From the day he was released on bail, he was being carried from one hospital to another and on 9/12/2014 he started vomiting blood and later died”.

“The death of Amarachukwu was then reported In the SARS Office and to the Area Command Headquarters, Nnewi. The body of Amarachukwu is now deposited at the Cilex Mortuary, Agbuani Ukpor”.

“As at the time of writing this petition, the new motorcycle bought by late Amarachukwu and some of his personal items were still with the men of SARS at Nnewi”

“We, therefore, on behalf of our client appeal to you to use your good office to investigate the circumstances that led to the sudden and tragic death of Amarachukwu for your necessary action in the interest of justice” they wrote.

May 15, 2015
ICT seminar for girl-students in Imo

A non-profit organisation, the Youth for Technology Foundation has taken it upon itself to encourage girl-pupils in Imo State to develop interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and even take up a career in it.

This was evident at a one-day seminar organised by the NGO in Owerri, the state capital.

The founder of the organisation and former Microsoft Executive, Mrs. Njideka Harry, said that the seminar with the theme;”Girls, Women and Innovation”, is in line with the global effort to empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the growing fields of ICT and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“The goal of this event,” she said, “is to make girls and young women aware of the vast possibilities offered by ICT and STEM to give them the confidence to pursue ICT studies and careers.

“As a result of this event Youth for Technology Foundation’s goal is to increase the number of females in ICT sector and as well as to alter the stereotype held by many young girls that ICT is a field for males. Technology is key in today’s society as over 95 percent of jobs now have a digital component”.

She further revealed that the International Telecommunications Union estimated that 200 million fewer women are online than men, warning that without further action, the number can grow to 350 million by 2018.

Harry further noted that technology is an enabler and creates prospects for social and personal change.

The guest speaker, Captain Chinyere Onyemauche Kalu the first female pilot in the country, said that the theme of the seminar was apt, adding that the young secondary school girls need to know that the field of science and technology is not the exclusive reserve of their male counter parts.

According to her, “I am here especially to mentor the young girls that through education they can become somebody from nobody. So, I am here to encourage them and to let them know that if they focus on their education that they will be successful. Today, the in thing is ICT and girls need to acquire the skills to succeed”.

Encouraging the girls further, Kalu, illustrated that “if a 10-year-old girl who is a British Nigerian can gain admission to study mathematics in a University then all of you seated here today can do better if only you can only focus on your studies”.

She however, urged both the government at both the State and Federal level to make the education of the girl child a priority by awarding scholarships to brilliant girls who are from indigent families.

Kalu also advised the government and other stakeholders to improve the standard of education by engaging qualified teachers and the necessary ICT equipments to make learning easier and enjoyable.

Speaking in similar vein, Dr Ifeyinwa Eucharia Achumba of the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, pointed out that the essence of the seminar is to catch the girls young and bring them into the science based careers.

According to Dr Achumba who is of the Department of Engineering, “most girls tend to shy away from science related courses apparently because of the fear of mathematics and such negative psyche has become a mental barrier that needs to be broken.

“We are here to mentor these young girls especially today and we want to use the occasion to ingrain in them the importance of ICT education and we are appealing to the state and Federal Government to furnish the public schools with computers as a take off point and to also train the teachers to acquire digital competences to help the students develop because these days JAMB examinations are now done online and the children need to have e- learning facilities in their various schools to put them in the right direction”.

Some of the participants who commended the organizers of the seminar, appealed to the government to encourage the study of ICT in public schools just as it is in the private schools.

Onyemauwa Godslight from Obazu Girls Secondary School confirmed that she has learnt a lot from the seminar, stressing that “now NECO, WAEC and JAMB are filled online and the students need to acquire the relevant skills to do that and we thank the foundation for bringing women who have excelled in the area of science and technology to talk to us about the importance of pursuing a career in ICT “.

Similarly, Odoemenam Precious from the Rochas Foundat-ion College said that as a result of the seminar that her phobia in the core sciences has disappeared, adding that she would now focus more in mathematics which is the foundation of all science courses.

She also admonished other girls not to be scared about choosing a career in the Engineering especially in the ICT sector.

May 15, 2015
Corps member donates library to INEC

One will think that such an important agency as the Independent National Electoral Commission will have a library where important books and other documents are kept for reference purposes and ease of access of information by staff of the commission as well as researchers and academic scholars.

Well, that was not the case with the Ebonyi State office of the electoral body until a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving at its headquarters in Abakaliki set up one.

A Batch ‘B’ member of the corps, Mr Omolekun Oluwole has handed over the mini-library equipped with research materials to the Commission in Abakaliki.

In his speech during the inauguration and handover of the library, Oluwole said that the project was part of his Community Development Service (CDS), an integral part of the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC.

He stated that after assessing the documentation and references challenges of the Commission’s workers, he was motivated to provide a solution after getting the go-ahead nod of the Commission’s leadership.

•Corps member Omolekun Oluwole who donated a library to the Ebonyi State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), explains a point when he handed over the facility to Commission in Abakiliki

Oluwole, who noted that the library would serve as a model of inquiry, learning, building knowledge and confidence in seeking and processing information among the workers, added that it would also help to promote staff’s outward thinking and positive mental reasoning and perception?

He maintained that service year was not a merriment year but a time to make sacrifices for community development.

He said: “Community development service is one of the integral part of the four cardinal programmes of the scheme of NYSC in which corps memebers work with the local community to promote self-reliance by systematically prospecting and executing development projects which will in turn impact positively on the social-economic development of the host communities through the period of national service. It is worthwhile mentioning that since its inception in1973, the NYSC has been making great contributions in the social, political and economic transformation of the nation”.

“One of the major aims and objectives is to produce the forum for corps members to experiment with ideas and translate them into concrete achievements thereby relying less on foreign technology and harnessing the enormous talents and skills of corps members into an effective machinery of change in their various communities”.

“However, I observed critically and logically the challenges faced by my immediate community on the lack of accessibility to relevant information in the commission among the staff and others. Thereafter, I discussed with the head of department, General Administration and procurement (INEC Abakaliki), Dr. S. Johnson and former administrative Secretary, Royson Obijuru on the need to equip the staff of the commission with relevant information within and outside the commission by establishing a mini-library. Immediately the idea was welcomed and approved.”

“The creation of mini-library i.e. construction of two book selves, purchase of plastic chairs, reading table and equally equipping it with relevant books, manuals, journals/magazines has served as my personal contribution to the development of the commission and entire community and with other CDS projects which includes the following”.

“(1) Sensitisation talk/seminar on career choice for three different government secondary schools in Ebonyi LGA. The career talk was centered on the topic “making the Right Career Choice” with three subtopic delivered by three resource personnel form different works of life”.

“(2) Donation of two hundred copies of forty leaves exercises books to each of the three government secondary schools respectively”.

“(3) Organising an intensive extea-mural lesson on English language for two government senior secondary schools for the period of one month in order to prepare them toward their external examination (WAEC and NECO). At the end of the lesson there will be an assessment in order to evaluate their performance and the best students in both schools will be awarded with an English textbook. The relevance and benefits of these projects to the community cannot be overemphasised”.

“The relevance and benefits of the library to the commission include the following: It will help in providing a model for inquiry, learning, building knowledge and confidence in seeking and processing information among the staff”.

“It will help in providing access to abstracts and descriptions for approximately 100 journals, magazines, newspaper and include and include general interest materials on social research, environment, science, current affairs arts and humanities”

“It will help to promote the staff outward thinking and positive mental reasoning and perceptions”

“It will help to play a key role as a place for encouraging innovation, curiosity, creativity and problem solving for all the staff”

“It will help to equip staff with lifelong learning skills, opportunities and develop the imagination, enabling them to live as more responsible citizens”

The mini library, he said has been equipped with book shelves, plastic chairs, reading tables, relevant books, manuals, journals/magazines.

Oluwole said it was his personal contribution to the development of the Commission and the entire community and charged the Commission to take further steps to expand the library.

Unveiling the library, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner,(REC),Dr. Lawrence Azubuike who thanked Oluwole for coming to their rescue.

He recalled how the Commission existed for years without a place where workers can access information.

Represented by the Head of Department, General Administration and Procurement, Dr. S. Johnson, the Commissioner described the Corps member as humble and hard-working and urged his colleagues to emulate him.

He noted that INEC and NYSC have maintained cordial synergy for years just as the Commissioner paid tribute to the Corps for the success of the just concluded general elections and described the Corps as an indispensable tool in Nigeria’s Electoral process.

The NYSC state Coordinator, Mrs E.G. Mbachi in her speech noted that the purpose of establishing NYSC has been achieved through the likes of Oluwole and urged his colleagues to emulate him.

The State Coordinator who was represented by the zonal Inspector, Abakaliki, Mr. E. J. Isau described NYCS as a wonderful initiative that has brought national integration to the country.

May 15, 2015
Four years of enhancing lives in Anambra

When in 2013 residents of a community in Anambra State suddenly discovered floating corpses on their river, it was volunteers of the Red Cross Society who helped to evacuate the bodies.

Also, when a substantial part of the country was flooded a year before, it was personnel of the Society who delivered relief materials to victims of the disaster in the state.

For the past four years, the Red Cross under the chairmanship of former Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Paul Obidigwe, has been saving and enhancing lives in the state.

Since he assumed that position, the group has made some impact in the state in terms of responding to emergencies.

During the 2012 flood disaster in the state, about 47 communities were submerged especially in Anambra East, Anambra West, Ogbaru and Ayamelum.

Before now, the vice chairman of Red Cross in the state, Prof. Peter Katchy said the agency had responded to 65 emergencies in the state.

Katchy told The Nation that Red Cross has about 14,000 volunteers in the state, noting that the volunteers of Red Cross are being used by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in such events.

On Friday, Red Cross celebrated its world day in the state with the theme “seven fundamental principles” at its headquarters in Awka.

To show the synergy existing between the state government and the group, the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, though absent, deployed the state commissioner for health, Dr. Joe Akabuike to the occasion.

The state government used the event to remember what transpired in 2013 during Ezu-River tragedy, and the input by Red Cross in making sure that things were normal.

Akabuike, while speaking with The Nation, said that Red Cross needs help in executing its numerous humanitarian services in the state.

He said that Red Cross took it upon itself to make sure that the issue of cholera was a thing of the past when it broke out in Inoma community recently, adding that the state government would find it difficult without the collaboration with Red Cross.

As a result, the state government has provided Red Cross with a well equipped ambulance for its humanitarian service.

The commissioner further said that the Obiano administration had purchased 17 flying boats and six boat Ambulances for the Riverine areas to help in the humanitarian jobs especially in rural communities.

Other things the state has done to help Red Cross, were setting up primary Health Development Agency to pilot primary health care in rural communities in Anambra.

For the erstwhile Chief Judge, Obidigwe, the objectives of the Red Cross is based on seven fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality with its motto, through Humanity to peace.

He said the seven fundamental principles are the core of all Red Cross and Red Crescent thinking, policies and action.

Already, Red Cross had made Governor Obiano and wife, Ebelechukwu Grand Patron and Mother-General of Nigeria of the group, while the investiture would take place soon, on consent and approval by the Governor.

Obidigwe, while speaking with the Nation, said Obiano has evolved virile, erudite and articulate strategies to change the fortunes of the people of Anambra State in order to achieve the much desired Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He said Red Cross is highly indebted to Governor Obiano and the people of Anambra state for their concerns during any period of disaster emergencies.

Speaking further with the Nation, Prof. Peter Katchy, said there were problems being encountered by the agency during such periods like Hilux vehicles to access the rural communities.

According to him, “we are saving lives in Anambra State, but our happiness is that the state government and individuals recognise that in this state, Red Cross does not believe in noise making because it is a voluntary assignment”.

“Our members are suffering in making sure that things are got right, we are in every emergency in this state and despite not being appreciated by some people who do not understand, we are not going to be deterred in any way, it is service to humanity,” Katchy said.

May 15, 2015
I’m not the housewife type

Rather than bemoan lack of jobs or wait on the husband, mother of two, Mrs. Blessing Ozoamalu took up selling newspapers in Ebonyi State. In this interview with SUNNY NWANKWO, she said, among other things, that there are many things women can do to support their families

How many years have you been in the business?

Three years.

What were you doing before you started selling newspapers?

I am not one of the housewives. I initially learnt hairdressing but there was no money for me to open a shop. I later joined this newspaper business. But before selling on my own, I was with one of the popular vendors at Banco Junction as a salesgirl. It was while I was with him that I acquired the experience and everything I needed to know about newspaper distributorship and selling of papers. After some time, I ventured into the business proper.

How do you cope as a female vendor?

I am doing my best because it is from here I make money to put food on the table of my family.

How much gain do you make in a day?

It depends on the nature of the market for that day. But at least I make some reasonable amounts of profit from the sales.

Should more women join you in this newspaper business?

There are so many businesses a woman can do; it must not be newspaper business. So, instead of them being in the house gossiping and doing those things that won’t please God, it is better that they start business with the little money they have. It is not everybody that will sell newspapers because the stress is too much. If you do not have the strength, you will be weighed down in the process. God has been so faithful that even when I will go about selling papers from Monday till Saturday, I have not gone to the chemist for them administer drugs. Even when I was pregnant, I used to sell newspapers until I gave birth and have not gone to the chemist or hospital to complain of one ailment or the other.

How long do you think you will continue in this business?

I don’t know yet, but like I said, if I see anything that I will do that will give me more money, I will drop it. But for now, as long as it keeps me busy and put food on my table, I will still be doing it until God says that I should drop it.

May 15, 2015
Abia civil servants pledge loyalty to incoming administration

The agony of a backlog of unpaid salaries may abide but civil servants in Abia State have extended a hand of fellowship to the incoming governor of the state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.

The workers said they would work with the Ikpeazu administration which will be sworn in on May 29.

They also expressed hope that Ikpeazu would usher in a better, efficient and effective working relationship with the state’s civil servants by paying their salaries promptly as well as ensuring that retired workers’ benefits would get to them as at when due.

The civil servants speaking in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state, noted that even though they are the engine of every government, they have not been fairly treated by both the state and federal government sighting owing of salary arrears, non-payment of gratuity, pension and other entitlement and when they would be paid, workers would be made to undergo untold hardship.

“It is no longer news that some pensioners collapsed and some in cases died while queuing for verifications and other processes before they were being paid. It is not like that in other climes. Our politicians and leaders should learn how to treat its workers well because, you don’t keep a man hungry and expect him to work optimally when you are owing him or her and when he or she has retired from service, the government of the day should not be reminded to pay the person his or her entitlements.

“The truth is that, without the civil servants putting their best at work, the government would not succeed. What the politicians and even when we have military administrators does is that they would sit in their offices, initiate and legislate on such policies while it is the responsibilities of the workers to ensure that such polices were executed promptly and as such, they (civil servants) should not be toyed with. They should be well taken care of,” a senior citizen retorted.

Mrs. Chika, a civil servant in one of the local governments in Abia South thanking God for being alive to witness this year’s celebration expressed hope that the incoming administration would bring a better welfare package for the workers.

She called on the governor-elect to ensure he build a strong relationship with the state workforce if he would enjoy the confidence of civil servants in the state.

“No worker enjoys staying at home in the name of strike. The impact of strike is always on the negative and should not be encouraged. We are all witnesses to the recent industrial action by JUSUN (Judiciary Staff Workers Union of Nigeria) which brought activities in the judiciary to a halt; many people were denied justice because the judiciary including judges and lawyers were not going to court until last week or so when it was finally suspended. So, strike is never a thing to encourage because all the parastatals and arms of government would be brought to a halt. I hope that the incoming governor will improve on what he will be left with by his predecessor, think of a better of attracting investors to the state, and improve on infrastructure and other things that would help the economy of the state to grow beyond its present status. Abia has the resources and I am sure that if the governor-elect would be able to block all the leakages, tackle corruption and embezzlement in the system, appoint credible hands and professionals, that is, putting square peg in square hole, he would function very well and leave office shoulders high at the end of his administration.”

In a related development, Barr. Donatus Ikpeogu, an Aba base lawyer and All Progressives Congress Chairman in Abia State, Hon. Donatus Nwankpa has called on the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Ayuba Wabba and Jeo Ajero to sheath their swords and come together as a family in the interest of its members.

Ikpeogu and Nwankpa in separate interview with our correspondent feared that the ongoing misunderstanding in the workers union was allowed to continue would make them prone for manipulation by any mischievous governor or government which would not be in the interest of the group.

According to Nwankpa, “we believe that the problem in NLC is that things were not properly done the way it was supposed to have been done. We expect the NLC to go back and put their house in order. If the man that claim to have won feels that he has won the election, then let them go back repeat the election and congress and let true democracy reign in NLC so that we can’t continue to play the policy of the old, that is what is happening in NLC. APC government is not ready to interfere with labour affairs we want every arm of the system to operate so that we have true democracy. That is why we have even told the people who are in the other party to remain in their party and give us a proper and objective opposition. So this idea of muddling everyone to one system is unacceptable.”

APC and the legal practitioner corroborating each other agreed that the implication of what is going on in NLC would mean that the labour union would not have a single voice on issues as it affects the union and the country, stressing that the people that were going to pay dearly for the ongoing leadership squabble would be the workers.

They suggested that the factional leaders should come to a roundtable to sort out their differences and make amends where necessary if they must continue to remain relevant and a united family which they had been before the discord.

May 15, 2015