WRITTEN ON MARBLE – QUOTABLE QUOTES – WORDS OF WISDOM - "NUGGETS OF WISDOM"
(ALORA COLLECTIONS)
('Nugget' –Anything of great value and significance – Re:‘Nuggets of Wisdom'!)
(Marbles or stones are symbolic of the History they have lived while on this earth. They are like little History Books holding great memories. They indicate importance, endurance, not-easy to forget or ignore.)
(1) MENTORING - THE POWER OF PASSING IT ON – WHO IS YOUR MENTOR?
1. The greatest act of leadership is Mentoring.
2. If what you learn, achieve, accumulate or accomplish dies with you then you are a generational failure.
3. Mentoring is the manifestation of the highest level of personal maturity, security and self confidence.
4. An insecure person will never Train People, they will oppress people.
5. Mature people create people greater than themselves.
6. Your assignment has a shelf life.
7. You will die one day; so train your replacement.
8. Your Greatest Gift to the world is your mentee.
9. True leaders do not seek followers; followers are attracted to true leaders.
10. The Greatest obligation of true leadership is to transfer his deposit to the next generation.
11. Leadership success is measured by the success of your successor.
12. No matter how great you may have been, if you didn't produce a successor, you are a failure.
13. You preserve what you built through mentorship.
14. Legacy is about preserving all that you've built by raising other people.
15. Success without a successor is failure.
16. Leadership that serves only its generation is destined to failure.
17. If your vision dies with you, you have failed.
18. Legacy is about living beyond your grave.
19. Leadership is not a sprint but a relay.
20. The most important part of a relay is passing it on-not running.
21. The ultimate measure of true leadership is not to maintain followers but to produce leaders.
22. True leadership measures its success by the diminishing dependency factor of its followers.
23. The ultimate measure of leadership is the ability to leave.
24. True leadership makes itself increasingly unnecessary.
25. You are a successful leader when your followers can lead others.
26. Your goal as a leader should be to destroy the dependency of the people around you.
27. You are a great leader when your people don't need you.
28. Make people greater than you and you will live forever.
29. True leaders do not seek power.
30. True leaders seek to empower.
31. True leaders make themselves increasingly unnecessary.
32. Never confuse your position with your value.
33. The ultimate goal of true leadership is not to maintain followers but to produce leaders.
34. The first act of a true leader is identifying your replacement and you begin mentoring them.
35. You become great by producing people greater than yourself.
36. When you produce someone greater than yourself, don't get jealous. Take the credit.
37. When you train your replacement, you are freed to expand your work.
38. When you mentor people, your legacy will make your tombstone unnecessary. (By Dr. Myles Munroe, from Bahamas, a small Caribbean country in the NW of West Indies )
Nota Bene
(a) “Mentee” = A person who is advised, trained, or counseled by a mentor
(b) “Mentorship” =The guidance provided by a mentor, especially an experienced person in a company, or education institution, e.g. Parents, Teachers, Managers, political, traditional and religious leaders
(c) “Mentor” = An experienced and trusted adviser or guardian (in religious circle, your spiritual ‘director’ or confessor). He/She is an adviser, coach, guide, instructor, teacher, trainer, tutor, and counselor.
(d) Who is your ‘Mentor?’ If you have NONE, take a serious note! You are lost!
(e) Everyone needs a ‘mentor’, irrespective of your status and profession. Medical doctors are rushed to the hospital when they get seriously ill.
(2) ALL IS VANITY!! DEATH – THE GRAVE – THE DEPTH - DARKNESS – ETERNITY
When I think of the depth of the grave and the pounds of sand that will be thrown at us, there is no need to harm my brother.
When I think of the darkness that will invade the grave after closing, there is no need no need to hurt my sister.
When I think of the heat repressed by the soil and the amount of water that will drown me during the rains in this tomb, I cannot make my neighbor suffer.
When I think that I will be alone abandoned by all, I prefer to enjoy communion when I am alive.
When I think that my relationships are mowed by my past, I wish to perfect my future.
If I could be reborn to resume everything from scratch, I would no longer make mistakes in my actions.
Because after a long meditation I understood that All is vanity on earth.
May God help us to cultivate humility and the love of our neighbor because vanity of vanity, everything is vanity.
(3) STRUGGLE AND RESULTS –ACCOMPLISHMENTS – DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!!!
(1) "I struggled academically throughout elementary school yet became the best Neurosurgeon in the World in 1987" – (Dr. Ben Carson!)
(2) I was raped at the age of 9 yet I am one of the most influential women in the World" – (Oprah Winfrey!)
(3) "I didn't even complete my university education but became the World's richest man" – (Bill Gates!)
(4) "I was sexually, mentally, emotionally and verbally abused by my father as far back as I can remember, until I left home at the age of eighteen, yet I am one of the most influential preachers in the World" – (Joyce Meyer)
(5) "I told my father that we would be very rich but he couldn't believe me. I made it a reality" - *Christiano Ronaldo!*
(6) "I used to serve tea at a shop to support my football training and still became one of the World's best footballers" – (Lionel Messi)
(7) "I used to sleep on the floor in my friends' rooms, returning Coke bottles for food, money, and getting weekly free meals at a local temple, I later on founded Apple Company" – (Steve Jobs)
(8) "My teachers used to call me a failure, but I became a Prime Minister" – (Former British PM, Tony Blair)
(9) "I started Living Faith Church from A Lawn Tennis Court with three members only & Preach prosperity. Many of my friends criticized me, but today we have the largest church auditorium in the World & two world-class universities"- (Bishop David Oyedepo)
(10) "I was in prison for 27 years and still became president."- (Nelson Mandela)
(11) "I drove a taxi to finance my university education but today I'm a billionaire" – (Mike Adenuga)
(12) I was on the verge of suicide when an Idea of opening a restaurant hit me after I retired as a cook in the Navy. (Harland Sanders, Founder of KFC)
(13) I worked for my uncle since I was a small boy, people looked down on me. I later on took a loan from my uncle to open a tiny shop. I worked hard to make ends meet. Now I am the World’s richest man of African. I was 23rd World's richest man on Forbes 2014 list. (Aliko Dangote)
(14) I am a son of a black immigrant from Kenya; I graduated from Harvard and later on became a Senator in Chicago. I was also the President of the Most Powerful Nation on Earth. (US President Barack Hussein Obama)
(15) I traveled to America in search of financial independency when I was 15yrs old. I became the World's Strongest Man 7 times and Mr. Universe. I then got my Economics degree, and then I became one of Hollywood's best actors before I was voted twice as governor of California (the world's 6th richest state after France and Britain). (Former Governor of California Arnold Swarzzenegger)
Nota Bene: Failures or limitations of the past have no control over the greatness in you. To him that believes, all things are possible. Don't wait for everybody to believe in your ability and dreams... Never design your life like a Garden where anyone can walk in and out...... Design it like the Sky where everyone aspires to reach! Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in installments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you PROCRASTINATE, you lose that day's benefits. THINK ABOUT IT!!
(4) IMPEACH TRUMP!
“If America wants to continue to stand for democracy, truth, honor, and justice, then they need to impeach Trump and those complicit of his criminal intent. If they don’t then they are showing the world what America really stands for”. (Margaret Whaley)
(5) “RENO OMOKRI NUGGETS” – WORDS OF WISDOM
(1) To those wandering how I come up with “RenosNuggets”, I pray to God EVERY morning asking for wisdom. As a demonstration of faith, I have writing material ready. Immediately after prayer, I start writing and the Spirit releases wisdom”. (Reno O.)
(2) “When I said the truth about the Igbos a month ago, I was attacked, but now the Ooni of Ife has reiterated EVERYTHING I said. I said the Igbos are the most enterprising ethnicity in Nigeria. The Ooni has corroborated me. I said it was the Jews that originated from the Igbos, not vice versa. The Ooni of Ife has corroborated me. Can those who insulted me now reconsider?” (Reno Omokri”).
(3) “Igbos only think they are being marginalized. If only they knew! God is using the marginalization of Igbos for His purpose. I met an Igbo mayor of a major American city. Many Igbo are mayors/MPs in Europe. An Igbo is being considered as a future British PM. An Igbo man is the current President of the ICC. An Igbo woman is currently a Deputy Governor at the World Bank and had twice been considered for the Governor of W.B (but racism scuttled the mandate). Like Jews, the more you marginalize Igbos locally, the more they leave to thrive globally. It is the destiny of the Igbo race to restore the fortunes of the Black Race worldwide. Their crucifixion is meant to prepare them for their benediction”. (Reno Omokri – “Onu na ekwuru Igbo 1”)
(4) “My tweets about the IGBO are spontaneous and provoked by recent comments and events in the country which show ignorance about the value they bring. I am not Igbo and I don’t have to be one to appreciate the obvious ingenuity God has domiciled in them. Igbos are like palm trees in the desert. If you see palm trees, you know water is there. If you see an Igbo in a town, you know progress is there. Not as if they go where progress is. They themselves are seed of progress that yield harvests of progress. To have a proper understanding of what the Igbo have achieved, consider that every Igbo man, woman and child in Nigeria was reduced to £20 after the civil war in 1970. But look at how far they have come since then. They turned adversity to prosperity. No ethnic group is ‘Nigerian’ as the Igbo. An Igbo builds his family, his house and his businesses in whatever part of Nigeria he finds himself. They don’t exploit other regions. They expand other regions. It is a disservice to treat them as unwanted. Instead of making Igbos feel unwelcome, leaders should welcome them. Anyone who thinks the Igbo really want to break away does not understand economics. In 2003, El Rufai revealed Igbos own 73% of land in Abuja. Google it. That is commitment to Nigeria. This idea that Igbo come to exploit other regions is unscientific. Igbos create value. They don’t take value already created. Example: by opening shops, Igbos create value by meeting a need. Without Igbo, the price of spare-parts in the North will be x4. It might shock you to know there are more Igbo doctors practicing in other parts of Nigeria than in the SE. Thousands of Igbos are battling Boko Haram in the NE. These are critical values. People who bring such value should be celebrated, not denigrated. And to the Igbos themselves, I give this counsel-stop returning to the SE to register to vote and be voted for. Register and contest wherever you are. That shows that your commitment is TOTAL. Contest where you are for Governor, LGA Chairman and NASS. If you as an Igbo keep returning to the SE to register to vote and be voted for, you agree with those who don’t see you as part of the regions where you live. You have a constitutionally guaranteed right to vote and be voted for where you are resident. Finally, I am NOT Igbo or married to one. Some people think I‘m Igbo because of a video Onyeka Onwenu did calling me her son. She did not mean it literally. I am proud of Onyeka. She is not my mother. She just has an appreciation of my love for Ndigbo. The Igbo is a Blessing to Nigeria”. (Reno Omokri)
(5) “Popcorn is more valuable than corn, but before it pops, it MUST be heated. Don't get upset when challenges heat you up. God intends for the heat to pop your corn and release the value inside you. The heat should not make you bitter. It is intended to make you better. Bitter people complain. Better people contribute. Contributors ultimately become leaders. If you want to be a leader, don’t look for a position. Instead, look for how you can care for people and a position will look for you”. (Reno)
(6) “If only you followed God the way you follow people on social media, monitoring them, instead of reading scripture. Commenting on their pictures and posts instead of commenting to God in prayer. If you did, there will be more success in your life than excess. Follow God genuinely and human will follow you. Only from their Creator can you learn how to lead and influence the creatures”.
(7) “Dear men! Women have a biological clock that ticks twice as fast as yours. If you know in your heart you are not going to marry her, free her. It is CRUEL to keep a woman's hope up for years only to ditch her. And for ladies, men get generators because they lack regular power. As soon as they get regular power, their generator becomes useless. Marry a man who sees you as a priority, not an option or you may be treated like a generator when he finds his priority”. (Reno Omokri)
(8) “Nourish your mind, not just your body. It is just like your phone. If you don’t load credit into your SIM card, your phone can’t make calls. If you don’t load knowledge into your mind, your body can’t make money. Your earning power is determined by your learning power”.
(9) “At a time when the fastest growing business in Nigeria is religion, we are seeing that the fastest growing trend in society is crime and immorality. Let’s reassess our religiosity. Any religiosity focused around money cannot lead to morality and Godliness. Churches need to stop collecting tithes and start collecting morals”.
(10) “Bad parents allow their children have unrestricted access to TV. Ignorant ones allow kids have unlimited access to smart phones. Unwise parents allow little ones have infinite access to video games. Children need guidance, more than indulgence. If an alien came to earth, it would think mobile phones or TV were our life sources. Teach your kids to fall in love with books. Not academic books, but books in general. wisdom likes to hide and its favorite hiding place is in books “.
(11) “May I not spend my youth gathering honor and respect, only to waste it in my old age as a sycophant for an inept and clueless leader as Professor Itse Sagay is doing. Rather than allow hunger do that to me, I would prefer if my Maker called me home”.
(12) “Some people are like vacuum cleaners that suck the joy out of your life with negativity when you are in their presence. Improve the joy in your life by unplugging yourself from such people. Satan manipulates your mind through such people. It is IMPOSSIBLE for you to resist them without prayer and scripture reading. If you don't build your foundation on the word of God, I guarantee you that you will eventually crash and burn”.
(13) Characteristics Of a “Wife Material” (a) Gives you love, not romance (b) She has high relevance, but is not high maintenance (c) Her relationship doesn’t break when you are broke (d) She knows how to pray, play, slay and stay (e) If she has these features, make her your future. This is so important because if you marry the right person, you will ENJOY your marriage. If you marry the wrong person, you will ENDURE the nuptials. Those who RUSHED into MARRIAGE may be CRUSHED by the DAMAGE. Take your time. Make the right choice. Marriage is a UNION, not a COMPETITION”.
(14) “May I not spend my youth gathering honor and respect, only to waste it in my old age as a sycophant for an inept and clueless leaders. Rather than allow hunger do that to me, I would prefer if my Maker called me home”.
(15) “The reason many of God’s children are not successful is that they pray about things they should work for and work for things they should pray about. I give an example. We pray for success but don’t work for it. We deal with enemies instead of praying for them. Flip that and you will succeed. Stop praying for success. God’s Word already said everything you DO shall prosper. So go and do something. Stop dealing with your enemies. God’s Word said you should pray for them.”
(16) “Sadly, many people are entertained in churches but they think they are being enlightened. It breaks my heart to say it, but it seems the lives being transformed are the preachers’. Jesus fed the poor, but many of today’s poor feed their preachers. How can pastors live in opulent luxury while congregants live in excruciating poverty? Shepherds exist to care for sheep, not to be cared for by sheep. Jesus gave one instruction to Peter, His successor: “feed my sheep”. He didn’t say ‘be fed by my sheep’! Feed them physically and spiritually”.
(17) Multiple girlfriends equal multiple-drainage. Instead of multiple affairs, have multiple sources of income and one source of love-your wife. Believe it or not, getting and STAYING married is the best that can happen to your romance and finance. Womanizing is a weakness. Wicked women will see your weakness as an opportunity to exploit you. And since wickedness isn’t written on women’s foreheads, it is better to take that weakness to God in prayer. His strength is made perfect in your weakness”.
(18) Your children can inherit your property, your business and your investments. But they CAN’T inherit your job. So why are you focused on your job and less focused on your children? Your kids will carry your name, while your office will forget your name few months after you die. So switch your allegiance today. Be fully COMMITTED to your children and be fully INTERESTED in your job”. (Reno Omokri)
(19) “Maintaining your girlfriend does not mean you are kind or ‘responsible’. It means you are stupid. Very stupid! The only women God created you to maintain are your mother, your wife and your daughters. A girlfriend who requires maintenance is no better than a prostitute.” (Reno Omokri)
(20) “It is better to be alone than to have fake friends who only befriend you because they want something from you. It is just like money. It is better to be poor than to be in debt. If you have no friends, you are poor. If you have fake friends, you are in debt. It is the same with marriage. It is better not to be married than to be in a bad marriage. At least if you are single, there is still hope for you. But a bad marriage can leave you hopeless”
(21) “The fact that your husband, wife, fiancé or significant other doesn’t post about you on social media does not mean they don’t love you. Love is not expressed by social media. When you get a valuable jewel, it’s sometimes wiser to keep it to yourself as a security measure. Learn from Joseph. Joseph’s brothers tolerated him until he told them of his dreams. Then they could not stand him any longer and plotted his death. If brothers can be so jealous of a dream, how much more friends? If you value your life, be careful who you share your dream man or woman with”.
(22) “It is okay to give your children money, but if you want them to succeed, you are better off giving them knowledge, mentorship, advise, teaching them skills and offering them guidance. Without these, they will waste whatever money you give them. And if you claim to love your children and you don’t have life insurance, then you don’t really love them. Life insurance is the love that keeps on loving even after you are dead”.
(23) “Don’t be afraid of dying. Everyone is dying. Be afraid of existing instead of living. Most people on earth only exist. To live means you have a purpose that you pursue. If you don’t have a purpose and drive, you are not living. You are existing. Live life to the full”. (Reno O)
(24) “Stop believing the myth that someone has not returned your call or text because he or she is too busy. Even Donald Trump returns calls and texts. There is ONE, just ONE reason anyone has for not returning your calls or texts. You are NOT important enough to them”. (Reno O)
(25) “My mind DOES NOT command me. I command it. I don’t have MOODS. I have MODES. I wake up and order my mind to be in happy mode. When I need money, I order it to be in ideas mode. It obeys me ALWAYS because I have trained if to obey me, the way you train a dog to obey you. I am not my mind. I am a spirit. I have a body and my operating software is called a mind. My mind can’t tell me what to do. I am the boss. I tell it what to do.”
(26) “Nourish your mind, not just your body. It is just like your phone. If you don’t load credit into your SIM card, your phone can’t make calls. If you don’t load knowledge into your mind, your body can’t make money. Your earning power is determined by your learning power”. (Reno O)
(27) “Don’t just accept advice from people because they are older than you. It is not everyone who is physically older than you that is also wiser than you. Most people reach adulthood in physical development, but not everyone reaches adulthood in their emotional development. Grey hair is a sign of old age, not a sign of wisdom.” (Reno O)
(6) I AM IGBO
“I AM IGBO”: I am an Igbo. I was born an Igbo. I live the life of an Igbo. I come from Igbo. I speak Igbo. I like to be Igbo. I like to dress in Igbo. I eat Igbo food, my heritage, culture and tradition is Igbo. My parents are Igbo. I Am sorry I cannot help it if you hate my lineage. Am sorry I cannot help it if you detest Igbo. Am sorry I cannot help it if you hate me because am Igbo. Igbo is who I am. My name is Igbo and I must die an Igbo. You see Igbo as a threat? Wy? You call Igbo rapist, criminals, ritualists, prostitutes, kidnappers. You attribute all negative vices to represent Igbo? Why do you do that? You do that because you feel threatened that Igbo might outrun the rest of the tribes. Why do you hate Igbo and despise Igbo? You do that because we are creative, enlightened, hardworking, industrious, genius, intelligent, smart, rich, beautiful and amazing. But it is difficult for you to admit it because you feel jealous of my race. Igbo do not own politics. Igbo do not control the economy neither do we control the natural resources and the common wealth of the nation. You do. We don't and yet, despite the fact that you own everything, we still remain one indispensable race that has out shined the other race in all ramifications. You fear us because you want to exterminate and annihilate our race. You deny us many things and yet we are stronger, richer and mightier. You fear us because we are everywhere. You fear us because no matter how rural a place might be, when Igbo step in and turn a desert into a Paradise. We have our own resources, which lie in resourcefulness. We do not bother you and your control over the polity, but yet when we cough you and the other your tribes and people begin to shiver. I am proud being an Igbo. I am proud of my heritage and culture. Igbo means high class. Igbo means independence. Igbo means hard work and strength. Igbo means riches. Igbo means resourcefulness. Igbo means self belonging. Igbo means self esteem. Igbo means pride. Udo diri unu umunnem! The Igbos are a great race! Ahmed Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto said it in the early fifties. Hear him’: “If you make Igbo a laborer, he soon takes over the leadership. If you cage him, put him in prison, soon you see him out of bondage, smiling!” Make Sure you share this If You Are Proud To Be IGBO! Let's tell the world who we are!
(7) RENEWED APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA AFTER MANDELA - XENOPHOBIC MURDER GROUP IN SOUTH AFRICA:
XENOPHOBIA IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA AS THE CHEELEADER! MATAMELA CYRIL RAMAPHOSA is the South African politician and the fourth and current President of South Africa, who became president following the resignation of JACOB ZUMA. Formerly an anti-apartheid activist, but today the xenophobic cheerleader is the President of African National Congress (ANC). (Xenophobia, Xenophobic (from Greek word ‘xenos’ – ‘strange’, ‘foreign’ & ‘phobos’ – fear) : Having or showing dislike of, or prejudice against people from other countries. ‘Xenophobia’ include “Deep-rooted fear towards foreigners, fear of the ‘unfamiliar’. Synonyms of ‘Xenophobia’ include “Racist, Nationalist, bigoted, and parochial”. Xenophobic extremists in South Africa can be likened to: (a) Islamic Jihadists in Moslem countries (b) ISIS CRUSADERS in Iraq, Iran and Syria (c) Boko Haram and Cattle Herdsmen in Nigeria (d) Arewa Youth Organization in Islamic Northern Nigeria (d) KKK – Ku Klux Klan in the United States of America – Name formed by combining the Greek ‘Kyklos’ (circle) with ‘Clan’. Ku Klux Klan is one of a number of secret, oath-bound organizations in some 6 confederate states in post-American civil war, using violence to perpetrate evil. Their efforts had been to control the social situation by using extrajudicial means to maintain WHITE SUPREMACY. Their features include disorder, lack of control, and lawlessness. The Klan used public violence against BLACK PEOPLE and their allies as intimidation. They burned houses, attacked, killed and executed BLACK PEOPLE, leaving their bodies on roads. Many they hanged on crosses. LISTEN TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN XENOPHOBISTS: “TO ALL FOREIGNERS IN SOUTH AFRICA”. “We are giving you a month to pack all your bags and leave South Africa, whether you have working permits or not. Just wait for us to vote on the 8th of May 2019, then on Monday the 13th of May we will close the roads, stopping all the taxis. Every foreign national will be dealt with accordingly. What happened in KZN (KWA-ZULU-NATAL) -Durban, the busiest port and the third most populous city in South Africa – after Johannesburg and Cape Town), are just highlights of what we are going to do on the 13th of May. We are kind enough to give you more than a month to pack your things and go to your own countries peacefully. We will stop all cars, taxis, buses, trains. We are going to enter work places, contract sites, security sites, searching everyone. Anyone found without South African ID will be dealt with mercifully. It’s been long we sent our request to the government, but it seems our request is being ignored. Now we will deal with it in our own way. So pleased be warned and do as we say and save yourselves and your families! Do not say we didn’t warn you. Pack your belongings and get back to your countries. We don’t want any KWEREKWERES (Plural ‘AMAKWEREKWERE – South African foreign visitor) any more. We are tired. Enough is enough.
(8) MISSING THOSE “OLDEN” DAYS!!
“I miss those days when we went to school, lined up and the headmistress and teachers inspect our nails, uniform and we then match to our classrooms. You Remember? The days of Nasco Biscuit, Malted biscuits, Cabin biscuit, Crackers biscuits, Iced Coloured water mixed with sugar tied in nylon (we call ice-cream). The days of Goody-Goody, Hacks, Tom Tom. The days of Dandy & Bazooka chewing gum, Cowboy gum, the days of Tree-Top bottle drinks, Tango, Mirinda, Green Sand shandy, Meat-roll, Fish-roll, Puff-puff. The days of Good Canned Corn-beef, Ovaltine, Bornvita, St Louis Sugar, Rainbow pant with string. The days of Obi & Ada, Eze goes to school, The adventures of Souza , The Only Son, An African Night Entertainment, The Directors, The flying doctor of Lesotho, Ali Baba and the thieves, etc! The days when one naira was valued, when groundnut was 1 kobo, the days when the best shoes were bought in Bata and Lenards, when Chanrai and UTC, Kingsway were the best place to shop. When playing of messing game, who is in the garden, police and thief, the days of Mama & papa play, when we use to build houses with sand, play swell game, tinco tinco, change your style, ten ten, skipping, Okoso, Hide & seek. I miss those days when we used to fly kites on streets, those days when rubber band was stock exchange. The days of Black & white television & Sunday rendezvous by 1:30pm, Days of Disco '70s & Disco '80s, The Old Village Headmaster, Jacob & Papa-Lolo, Ichioku, Hotel de Jordan, Ukonu's Club, Masquerade featuring Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo, alias 4:30 with Ovuloria, Clarus, Giringory & Co. We also use to watch Soul train, Mirror in the sun, Cockcrow at dawn, Second Chance, Hawaii-5-0, The Famous-five, Combat (Dan Blocker, Michael Landon, Vic Moore, Pennar Roberts & Long Green) Charlie Chaplin I miss those days when fountain pen was the best. The days when we used to drink water from the tap even suck out the water if it's not coming out. The days when NTA will show rainbow color for 30 minutes then National anthem before they resume program @ 4pm. I miss the days when basket sandals, Bata sandals were the best. Days of wrestling fighting with Mighty Igor, Mill Mascaras and co, Days when we all sing Sandalili Sandalili songs, Dstv and Internet has finally come and no more old fun. I'm really proud to have experienced all these. If you are not smiling it means you were not born in my generation, which means you are the INDOMIE generation lol! I beg share make others laugh too.”
(9) RAWLINGS, FORMER GHANIAN PRESIDENT, ADVISES NIGERIANS:
JJ Rawlins: “I can't believe that despite the setback of Nigeria as a result of a failed British experiment on that country, Nigeria is still very much in Love with them. Nigeria has everything it needs to be the greatest country, not just in Africa but in the world and the British knew about it. There are two things that can salvage Nigeria: The first is Nigeria must peacefully retire these old colonial leaders who are still servants to western imperialism. The second is Nigeria must restructure their country back to the days when it was regional system of government. Let every region develop at its own pace, build its resources and people. With this that country called Nigeria will be the greatest hub for the people of color in the world.” – (Jerry . Rawlings - former Ghanaian President.
(10) WHAT IS FREEDOM:
“Freedom is the greatest gift of nature to humanity. Once you try to impede it, you start creating problems. Freedom of expression, movement and association is fundamental to human existence. Liberty or no life! Freedom is indeed the greatest gift of mankind. But remember God knows that and still gave us rules. And when you carefully study those rules, it boils down to respecting and appreciating your Neighbor’s person and space. So we should always ask ourselves “How does the action we intend to carry out impact other people”. Psychological injuries are the worst kind of action you can take against your fellow human.”
(11) ON THE IGBOS AND THE PORT HARCOURT SEA PORT:
"Cry not my beloved brethren! Our problem regarding the discarding of Eastern Seaports emanated from myopic view of some leaders from the Riverine areas of Eastern Nigeria. They sabotaged the efforts of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu and lost the gripe of control of the Nigerian Economy in their bid to acquire the property left by the Igbos during the Biafra/Nigeria civil war. They indeed succeeded in reaping from where they did not sow. It is ridiculous to hear that some of them later paid for the heinous crimes with the supreme prize of their blood which was perpetrated by the beneficiaries of their sabotage. This is just the beginning of the beginnings! We are paying the price of losing the war. One Nigeria is deceit; if you like consult an Oracle." (Emma Ugorji)
(12) ON IGBO SEA PORT:
“Obasanjo and the Yoruba Igbophobists decided to punish the defeated Igbos by shutting down the PH/IGWEOCHA/Mbamiri Sea Port. PH is a big part of IGBOLAND. RE-OPENING of PH SEA PORT was the most significant/important "DEMAND/REQUEST/CONDITION Nnamdi Kanu made for any serious negotiation with "Biafra". Was Nnamdi Kanu a selfish Igbo? It is unlikely the younger generation of Igbo Race would ever (unlike the present Igbo-Hausa-Fulani political slaves) give up the demand for the FULL REACTIVATION of PH Sea Port because of its strategic importance in the development and survival of the Old Eastern Region or if you prefer BIAFRA. "Political Strategy" is out of place in this discussion. Any serious contributor to the discussion should talk about "ECONOMIC STRATEGY". Nothing less! Punishment, Marginalization, humiliation, hate and IGBOPHOBIA must be resisted by all means; not 'negotiable!' (N. I. Ndiokwere)
(13) NNAMDI KANU COULD NOT BE SETTLED
NNAMDI KANU: “PRESIDENCY CONTACTED ME TWICE AND ASKED ME TO NAME ANY PRICE TO FORFEIT BIAFRA; THESE WERE MY REQUESTS. I told them I didn’t want any monetary reward or office but…(i) Total devolution to the 1963 constitution as agreed in Aburi (ii) To open the Igweocha (Port Harcourt), the Calabar and all Seaport in Biafra-land (iii) To upgrade the Enugu International , Port Harcourt and Imo Air Ports so that all manners of flight can land there. (iv) To dredge River Niger so that light ships can bert there (v) To dismantle all the revenue collection points across Biafra-land, what they call ‘Check-points’. (vi) To allow 100% resource control (vii) Respect Rule of Law (viii) To release Sambo Dasuki and El Zakzaky. I put all in writing. They collected the document, left and I didn’t hear from them again. (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu)
(14) POPE FRANCIS AND ARCHBISHOP MARIO VIGANO PALAVER
Former Papal ambassador to the US, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano(78), has reiterated cover-up allegations against Pope Francis. At the same time he expresses his unwillingness to clarify the abuse scandal surrounding ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick (88). For example, the Vatican's investigation into the affair surrounding the former Archbishop of Washington is "an empty promise," as the publication of the relevant documents, if any, would be "disastrous" for the Pope, quotes the Washington Post ) from a correspondence with Vigano . The Pope's recent remarks in a Mexican interview that he had not known McCarrick's mistakes for years and could not remember talking to Vigano about this are what he calls "obvious lies." Vigano , who served as nuncio to Washington from 2011 to 2016, repeated that he had already informed Francis of McCarrick's abuses in June 2013. In an eleven-page letter Vigano had reported in August 2018, Pope Benedict XVI. At the time, he imposed severe sanctions on McCarrick and imposed a life of prayer and penance on him. However, Pope Francis revoked this in 2013 and made McCarrick one of his advisers, even though he had been informed by Vigano of McCarrick's offenses. The archbishop called in his letter at that time Pope Francis and several cardinals to resign from office. "Gay mafia" up to the top of the church
McCarrick, the archbishop of Washington from 2000 to 2006, is accused of abusing minors and engaging in sexual assaults on seminarians. In July 2018, the Pope had excluded him after public announcement of credible allegations from the College of Cardinals and dismissed in February 2019 even from the clerical class. However, he would have had to do so five years earlier, according to Vigano , who renews his call to the pope, if he does not regret, to the "Washington Post".NAs the main reason for the abuse scandals in the church Viganorefers again to the widespread homosexuality in the clergy. So there is a "gay mafia" among bishops up to the top of the church, the abuse has covered up and covered each other. Francis did "almost nothing" against the system of cover-up by homosexual networks. The Italian press accuses the Italians of sparing the Pope in order not to jeopardize his liberal agenda in the church.
(15) MASSIVE ELECTION RIGGING AND THE FALL OF THE FIRST REPUBLIC:
“There cannot be peace my brother. And it’s not that I’m wishing the country ill. People forget that massive rigging was the initiator for the collapse of both the first and second republics. The 1965 elections in the Western Region were severely marred by malpractice and led to total breakdown of law and order in the West (Remember Operation Wet’ie). Months later, Nzeogwu and his boys struck and the rest is history. Shagari and his crowd manipulated for the NPN in ‘83, and 3 months later, Buhari and his gangsters struck. The rigging of these past 2 weeks no go born better pikin for us.” (Chinedu Chukwu)
(16) LORD LUGARD, HAUSA-FULANI, YORUBA & IGBO:
What Lord Frederick Lugard had to say about Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo! During the handover notes Lord Lugard wrote to his colleague, Walter H. Lang, on the 25th of September 1918. The quote reads inter alia: (A) HAUSA: The Hausa-Fulani has no ideals, no ambitions save such as sensual in character. He is a fatalist, spendthrift and a gambler. He is gravely immoral and is seriously diseased that he is a menace to any community to which he seeks to attach himself. (B) YORUBA: Lagos has for 20 years opposed every Governor and has fomented strife and bloodshed in the hinterland…, I have spent the best part of my life in Africa; my aim has been the betterment of the natives for whom I have been ready to give my life. But after some 29 years, and after nearly 12 years as Governor here, I am free to say that the people of Lagos and indeed the westerners are the lowest, the most seditious and disloyal, the most purely prompted by self-seeking money motives of any people I have met. (C) IGBO: These people of predominantly Eastern Nigeria are fiercely rebellious with no regard for authority. Though industrious and religious, in deference to the objectives of her majesty and the crown, they are highly dangerous to be trusted with power. (The Republican News)
(17) BODY PARTS FOR SALE:
“The body-parts-black-market-business is booming! One kidney now costs $262,000, a heart costs $119,000, and a liver costs $152,000. Beware of fake foreign agencies and middlemen that promise employment abroad. They process your papers; pay for your tickets and then take you abroad. Indeed, when you get there, they kill you and harvest all valuable parts of your body. The devil is at work, and we need to let our children and grandchildren about what awaits them abroad!” (A young African alerts fellow youths and the UNO)
(18) FRIEDRICH WILHELM NIETZSCHE:
“To live is to suffer; to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering. He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby becomes a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. He who has a ‘why’ to live can bear almost any ‘how’. Without music, life would be a mistake. That which does not kill us makes us stronger. One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star. Woman was God's second mistake. Blessed are the forgetful: for they get the better even of their blunders. There are no facts, only interpretations. We have art in order not to die of the truth”. (Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche)
(19) IF NOT FOR THE KILLINGS IN ZAMFARA...:
“I tell you this, if not for the killings in Zamfara, nobody would have told us in the South that Nigeria has about 21.40 tons of gold deposits buried in her soil. If not for the killings in Zamfara, nobody would have told us in the South that Over 80% of this solid mineral is deposited in the North. If not for the killings in Zamfara, nobody would have told us in the South that the North have been secretly mining their gold and enjoying the proceeds alone without bringing a dime to the table of national unity. A report published on This Day Media, has it that Nigeria loses about $9 billion (Nine billion dollars) to the illegal miners every year...Did you think that Buhari, Mr. Integrity is not aware? You would have thought that OIL is the only thing that gives them pot bellies... Now you know. Keep shouting ONE NIGERIA!” “So they are mining GOLD in Rimi Sumalia Local government area in Kano State, pocketing the proceeds quietly. They don’t pay into the Federal account for us all to share. Yet proceeds from oil in the Niger Delta are shared by all, including Kano State. Nigeria must be restricted. Parasitism is a curse”. (Isyaku Musa Khalid)
(20) AN OPEN LETTER TO DEAR “MAMA MONICA” AND IGBO MOTHERS (Solemnity of Saints Monica and Augustine) (By Nathaniel I NDIOKWERE )
“Like Mark Anthony, “I have come to bury Caesar and not to praise him” (Shakespeare Julius Caesar). As we celebrate the ‘twin’ feasts of St Monica and St Augustine, I thought I should have a word with IGBO MOTHERS in particular, at home and in the Diaspora. We were told by the Holy Mother the church that St Monica and her ‘repented’ or ‘converted’ son were canonized Saints as a result of their ‘Saintly’ and enviable lives. As we also learned from church history the now great revered Doctor of the church and theologian St Augustine was a terrible ‘sinner’ and ‘atheist’ before his conversion. It was in fact through the constant prayers of Mother Monica that Augustine’s life changed! Like PAUL who persecuted first Christians but got converted later and became the ‘greatest Apostle’, so do so many who for centuries professed faith in Christianity (see St Augustine!) (i) ST MONICA, A GREAT MOTHER TO EMULATE: While preaching a short homily at mass on the feast of “St Monica”, I openly blamed some of our present mothers, all over the world, White, Black and Brown, but in particular IGBO MOTHER; namely the younger ones for not taking extra pains in raising their kids these days; hence a lot of youth problems. However, I did not sing Mother Monica’s praises loudly. I believed she should share some blames! Had mother Monica taken care of her son Augustine, when he was young, perhaps she would have spared herself a lot of pains and griefs as we were made to understand she grieved over her lost son’s agony for long. Monica might not have done the mother’s work well. My thoughts, however went immediately to IGBO mothers, in IGBOLAND, in Nigeria and all over the world. “Dear Igbo mothers”, I lamented and questioned; how are you raising your children, especially your children of this generation?” I was provoked to ask this question having had a lot of shocks talking to many Igbo sons and daughters, face-to-face and on cellphone conversations. If I were CHRIST, in fact I would have pronounced many “WOES” on our present generation mothers! (ii) MY SOURCES OF WORRIES AND ANXIETY: Many Igbo sons and daughters living with parents at Aba, PH, Lagos, Abuja, Owerri and other capital cities of Nigeria neither speak nor understand Igbo language! (2) Igbo sons and daughters born and raised in UK and America, not only don’t understand or speak IGBO; many don’t know the names or locations of their villages or towns back home in AFRICA! (3) Is it possible that Igbo sons and daughters born and raised in the big cities of Nigeria as well as overseas do claim that they are familiar only with LAGOS AND ABUJA in Nigeria? (4) Is it possible to imagine that Igbo sons and daughters born and raised in America and Europe would need interpreters when they ever visit Africa, Nigeria and IGBOLAND again and attend village and UMUNNA gatherings or meetings? (5) What of the “First Son’s” (DIOKPARAS) who would inherit or take over the Igbo family dynasty and hand over to their children and grand children and the subsequent generations till the world comes to end! (6) If this First Son fails will it not be the greatest CURSE on the family. According to the sacred Igbo tradition what would be the consequence! AMA HA WERE CHIE!! Please don’t say it again! CHEI!! ‘ALULA HA LAA’! THEY ARE FINISHED (PERISHED), as the original father of the family drops dead, perhaps in Lagos, Abuja, America or London. (iii) CONCLUSION: Fellow Igbo brothers and sisters I am in deep distress. Can you imagine that there may really be an estimated number of THREE MILLION (3,000,000) IGBO SONS AND DAUGHTERS, who many Igbo researchers and writers describe as “LOST SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF IGBO NATION!” This is alarming! What are you saying? What are Igbos at home and in the Diaspora doing? Dear “Mother Monicas” I was thinking that your particular attention should be called to this terrible catastrophe. Many claim you mothers should be held responsible for this calamity that has befallen IGBO RACE. Many Igbo Mothers in villages of IGBOLAND are said to insist that their kids, even the suckling and toddlers MUST know ‘EN-GR-ISH- LANGUAGE’ first! IGBO MOTHERS; WHY? Remember ‘Thieris God ooo!” Think about it our Dear mothers! The sons and daughters of ALL ethnic groups all over the world understand and speak their languages except the IGBO. What is happening? SAINTS MONICA AND AUGUSTINE, PRAY FOR US! AMEN!
(21) “IGBOS GO HOME!!!” THEY MUST BE DEAF, DUMB OR MAD - THE TRAGEDY OF A VANISHING RACE (By Nathaniel I. NDIOKWERE)
THE ‘CHORUS’ AND ‘THE ANTIPHON”
IGBOS GO HOME! (AREWA). IGBOS GO HOME! (YORUBA). IGBOS GO HOME! (MBA MMIRI). IGBOS GO HOME! (GHANA). IGBOS GO HOME! (TOGO). IGBOS GO HOME (MALI). IGBOS GO HOME (SOUTH AFRICA). IGBOS GO HOME (MALAYSIA). IGBOS GO HOME! (CHINA). IGBOS GO HOME (UAE). IGBOS GO HOME (TURKEY)! IGBOS GO HOME (INDONESIA) ……!!! WHY? WHAT IS GOING ON?
PREAMBLE
In the Biblical Tradition, a call, message, warning repeated three (3) times is a sign of emphasis, seriousness, and of course a ‘divine intervention’. Remember ‘Samuel, Samuel. Samuel!’ Remember ‘Peter, Peter, Peter!’. There is no doubt that hate, phobia, jealousy are involved in the order “IGBOS GO HOME”. Surely IGBOS - ancient and modern - have POSITIVELY been known and revered by good-natured peoples and nations for their hard work and ingenuity. In religious domain, IGBO TRADITIONAL RELIGION should be among a few World Religions that placed the Almighty God at the center of human existence. “Sacrifice In Igbo Tradition” by Cardinal Francis ARINZE told the world who the Igbos are in that his best-selling Book/Doctoral thesis. But whatever the case may be, no one can deny that they (IGBOS) have been hated as a result of too many NEGATIVE ‘attributes’ (vices). The British were the first to identify IGBO ‘vices’ and vowed to oppress them and never to allow the IGBO handle any sensitive political post or power in Nigeria. The British made sure BIAFRA was defeated in the civil war, and of course called on the other powerful nations to join in the crusade to vanquish the IGBO.
“WHY SHOULD THE IGBO BE “EXPELLED?”
The JEWS were hated in the olden times for various reasons. Their cities were destroyed and survivors were taken captives and sent on exile. In the modern times Hitler tried to exterminate them. Today, surrounded by vicious Islamist enemies the Jews have not known peace. They must sleep with both eyes open! Any sincere Igbo adult who refuses to enumerate the IGBO nauseating vices must be deceiving himself. So, we know and there is no need to waste pages and time here dealing with them. But I can only try in a summary to deal with “IGBO MADNESS” here, just for the younger generation to reflect, if they care or are worried as I am.
(1) More than six million IGBOS, ‘permanent visitors’, ‘residents’, or ‘naturalized citizens’ live in the Diaspora. About three million live within Nigeria, but far away from IGBOLAND, in SEARCH OF GREENER PASTURES in ABUNDANCE. Their quest for wealth is insatiable. They build mansions, industries, companies, educational institutions, name them, all over the world, except in their homeland. They develop every inch of land they purchase, except in IGBOLAND!
(2) Less than 02% of Igbos in the Diaspora – Europe, North and South America, Asia, including their children will EVER return and settle in IGBOLAND again. Most IGBO WIVES in the diaspora have divorced their husbands, chased them out of their homes and taken over the households. They have thrown most revered Igbo cultures and traditions into the trash bin and embraced wholeheartedly all that is ‘foreign’ and ‘absurd’ to the IGBO! Most Igbo mothers and their children in America, for example, never think of a “Second Home” in IGBOLAND. IGBO MEN married to WHITE women know of course that they are childless, homeless, as they have also lost contact with kinsmen back home. “AMA HA ECHIGO!" Not kidding you!
(3) Most of the IGBO young girls have joined the PROSTITUTION TRADE mostly in ITALY and RUSSIA. They are also found in some strange poor countries like MALI, EQUATORIAL GUINEA and ECUADOR. They combine the booming trade with funny jobs like “BABYSITTING”. They call the ‘babies’ ‘STUDENTS!’ Surely these are mostly handicapped kids in foster homes. According to well researched information these prostitutes must serve at least TEN (10) customers a day. Often unprotected, their women-potholes become cancerous and many die from HIV/AIDS. Those who fail to satisfy their customers are often murdered. No one cares; even parents and siblings who expect heavy sums of money from their loved ones abroad!
(4) According to very reliable statistics, over 50% of IGBO LADIES who claim to be “engaged” confirm that their future “life-partners” are presently living “ABROAD”, surely in search of quick wealth. When are the men coming back for ‘Igba Nkwu’ and possibly ‘Church Wedding, too? The ladies don’t know that some of the presumed future partners are serving jail sentences ‘abroad!’
IGBO SKILLED MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN!
What a nightmare! What is going on? While skilled Igbo men and young women remain perpetually lost abroad, YORUBA TAILORS-FASHON-DESIGNERS, TOGOLESE & GHANIAN HOUSE-BUILDERS, HAUSA (ABOKI) PRIVATE SECURITY BOYS, SHOE-SHINERS and NAIL-CUTTERS, to mention but a few “make it” in IGBOLAND! They are well paid by their masters and live comfortably at home! Young Nigerian men and women who claim there are no “worthy and decent” JOBS in Nigeria, find ‘nice’ jobs ABROAD – Babysitting, House and Office Cleaning, Gatemen, Receptionists, Snow-shoving and thrash-bin removers, in cold unfriendly weather conditions! They don’t work in BANKS, OIL SECTORS, AS PROFESSORS IN UNIVERSITIES!!
VAINGLORIOUS LIFESTYLE – PART OF THE “MADNESS”
Can worried kinsmen help to provide answers to the following questions!
(1) Why should a young Igbo man returning home for a short vacation ‘hire’ and pay police or army security guards for protection as he visits his family in Igbo village?
(2) Why do such IGBOS tell their people they have become very rich important fellows, now in need of police protection and adoration?
(3) Now, over to you the “Home-based” Church and State IGBO-MONEY- MONGERS; why do you join in promoting the vices identified with IGBOS and their likes elsewhere? Why ‘embrace’ them, give them unmerited titles and front seats in Churches? Have you ever stopped to question their SOURCES OF INCOME?
CONCLUSION
There is no doubt that ours is a vanishing race. We, too contribute immensely to the tragedy. By encouraging our kinsmen, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or children to flee IGBOLAND and search for huge unmerited treasures, is part of the IGBO TRAGEDY. What we sow, we reap! There is need to think, since truly not all Igbos are deaf, dumb or mad. Igbos – in the village or diaspora – must begin to pay heed to the ‘orders’, ‘ultimatums’ being issued by their haters “Igbos go home!” Time in deed is running out! UKPALA OKPOKO BURU, NTI CHIRI YA! Who is to blame? Are you depressed or angry at the end of this ‘reflection?’ Have you anything to add or subtract?
(22) WIVES HELP TO SAVE YOUR HUSBANDS FROM UNTIMELY DEATH
Why do husbands in Africa die most times before wives? A husband in Africa in most cases is under intense tension because he is responsible for:
Children’s school fees (2) House rents (3) Electricity bills (4) Medical bills (5) Generator fuel & repairs (6) Car fuel and repairs (7) Feeding of family (8) Clothes for children (9) Sallah or Christmas and New Year bills (10) Furniture & House maintenance (11) In-laws Walhalla/Demands (12) His own aged parents (13) His siblings most times (14) His wife's demands (15) Vigilante bills (16) Erecting Buildings (17) Religious demands (18) Family social bills (19) Electronics bills (20) Recharge cards (21) Extended family bills (22) Community demands (On top of the above, he also faces) : (23) Wife stress/insults (24) Boss stress at work (25) Police stress on the way (26) Area boys stress (27) Kidnappers’ phobia (28) Friends stress (29) Economy stress (30) Fear of job loss (31) Unemployment pains (32) Armed Robbery stress (33) Children’s misbehavior (34) Neighbors’ stress (35) Bank loan payment st (36) Enemies’ stress (37) Demonic attack stress (38) Sex stress …….and so on! OMG!!
Are these reasons not enough for all African wives to understand and give their husbands peace at home? Are men not trying? How can an African man with these kinds of loads be romantic like an American man? Women, please give your husbands peace at home. Encourage your husbands. Stop being sarcastic. Stop the yelling! Except if you like to join the widows’ club early! Note: That club is not funny. Ask members. Help your husband. Contribute to the family. Be a helper. Be submissive. Stop nagging. Build your home and marriage. It is not greener outside there. Don't be deceived!! Help your husband to live longer like you. FORWARD THIS TO ALL MEN & WOMEN. LET US PROLONG THE LIVES OF OUR MEN!!
(Compiled by an IGBO MAN living In USA. He was beaten up by his demonic wife, sent out of their home by the wife after 15 years of a companionship referred to as ‘marriage’. The man is now ‘homeless! The wife is a nurse and made more money. She has no respect for the gentleman who brought her to America. Their four children (2 boys, 2 girls) could not understand what their mom had turned to! They love their Dad but have remained sad, confused and stunned! Can this be true? )
(23) SOROM CHIA NDI ENYIM!!
An angry furious young Igbo guy addresses Igbophobics and haters: "Let enemies of NDIGBO go and hug electric poles! Ndi ara! Ndi Anya Ufu!" Egbe elu gbagbuchasia unu nile!! One observer informs his angry friend: "My Broda! But not the poles in Nigeria! Nigerian electric poles do not shock! There is no light there!" (Lol!)
(24) CIVIL WAYS TO COMMUNICATE (Pragmatics) SOME USEFUL UNWRITTEN RULES
(SAVE, LEARN AND ENDEAVOR TO PUT INTO PRACTICE)
1. Instead of saying you are lying say THIS IS NOT TRUE
2. Instead of saying this post is fake say ARE YOU SURE OF THIS?
3. Instead of saying you are wrong say THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE
4. Instead of saying you will be punished say THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO THIS
5. Instead of saying I am talking and you are not paying attention say I WILL LIKE TO GET YOUR ATTENTION
6. Instead of saying I don't have your time say I WILL LIKE TO END THE CONVERSATION NOW
7. Instead of saying what you are saying does not make sense say IS THERE ANY OTHER OPTION THAN THIS?
8. Instead of saying what you are doing is bad say THIS BEHAVIOR IS INAPPROPRIATE
9. Instead of saying this child is a slow learner say THIS CHILD IS AN UPCOMING LEARNER
10. Instead of saying " get out from here" say PLEASE IT WILL BE APPRECIATED YOU LEAVE THIS PLACE.
(25) SOME SOCIAL RULES THAT MAY HELP YOU:
1. Don’t call someone more than twice continuously. If they don’t pick up your call, presume they have something important to attend to;
2. Return money that you have borrowed even before the other person remembers lending it to you. It shows your integrity and character. Same goes with umbrellas, pens and lunch boxes;
3. Never order the expensive dish on the menu when someone is giving you a lunch/dinner. If possible ask them to order their choice of food for yo
4. Don’t ask awkward questions like ‘Oh so you aren’t married yet?’ Or ‘Don’t you have kids’ or ‘Why didn’t you buy a house?’ Or why don't you buy a car? For God’s sake it isn’t your problem;
5. Always open the door for the person coming behind you. It doesn’t matter if it is a guy or a girl, senior or junior. You don’t grow small by treating someone well in public;
6. If you take a taxi with a friend and he/she pays now, try paying next time;
7. Respect different shades of opinions. Remember what's 6 to you will appear 9 to someone facing you. Besides, second opinion is good for an alternative;
8. Never interrupt people talking. Allow them to pour it out. As they say, hear them all and filter them all;
9. If you tease someone, and they don’t seem to enjoy it, stop it and never do it again. It encourages one to do more and it shows how appreciative you're;
10. Say “thank you” when someone is helping you.
11. Praise publicly. Criticize privately;
12. There’s almost never a reason to comment on someone’s weight. Just say, “You look fantastic.” If they want to talk about losing weight, they will;
13. When someone shows you a photo on their phone, don’t swipe left or right. You never know what’s next;
14. If a colleague tells you they have a doctors' appointment, don’t ask what it’s for, just say "I hope you’re okay". Don’t put them in the uncomfortable position of having to tell you their personal illness. If they want you to know, they'll do so without your inquisitiveness;
15. Treat the cleaner with the same respect as the CEO. Nobody is impressed at how rude you can treat someone below you but people will notice if you treat them with respect;
16. If a person is speaking directly to you, staring at your phone is rude;
17. Never give advice until you’re asked;
18. When meeting someone after a long time, unless they want to talk about it, don’t ask them their age and salary;
19. Mind your business unless anything involves you directly - just stay out of it;
20. Remove your sunglasses if you are talking to anyone in the street. It is a sign of respect. More so eye contact is as important as your speech; and
21. Never talk about your riches in the midst of the poor. Similarly, don't talk about your children in the midst of the barren.
I HOPE IT HELPS..." A man dies the day he stops learning"....
(26) SOME IMPORTANT “UNWRITTEN RULES” (First posted on May 6, 2018)
By Nathaniel Ikechukwu Ndiokwere, aka “ALORA-DUNQUE”
Dear Facebook friends, Alora past students, and ‘sons and daughters’, FACEBOOK has just reminded us it was exactly a year ago we took a short look at what I referred to as “UNWRITTEN RULES”. Surely the social media and the cellphone revolution have become important parts of our daily activities. We find good things to learn from and through the social media and as well must try to ignore the bad sides of the addictive and fast-growing modern invention. I believe most of you will find it useful to re-visit or rehearse some of the “RULES” that still serve our needs in communication in the modern world! I have only added PART C in this 2019 review.
(PART A)
(1) Make your bed IMMEDIATELY you wake up from sleep in the morning (even before going into the bathroom for anything , urinating, poo poo or brushing teeth).
(2) In the family, hostel, dormitory etc, “LEAVE THE TOILET (USA: ‘RESTROOM) BETTER THAN YOU SAW IT!”
(3) Do not look at your wrist watch as a sign of disgust. Perhaps, the speaker ‘is wasting your time or you are in a hurry’. If you want to look at your watch or check time, it must be done with utmost care. No one around you should see you checking your watch at that critical moment. It is a sign of disrespect, lack of proper education and never a civilized conduct.
(4) Always say “Please” at the beginning of a request; and “THANKS” at the end.
(5) In public, DO NOT sigh (audible breath, as sign of weariness, relief etc.) or yawn (involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom.)
(6) In public, If you have to cough loudly, especially protracted and intoxicating type, simply leave the room, find a comfortable location and regain your mood.
(7) Saying “I AM SORRY”, even if you have ‘offended’ someone, just only in a little case, resolves problems.
(8) No matter your status in life, if you are first in the line, open the door or gate, hold it and allow those following behind to get through. Be the LAST to enter the place. Great!
(9) DO NOT SHOW ANY SIGN OF DISGUST (especially facial) or even let anyone notice your discomfort, if you sense any bad odor. Simply and quietly change location if you really feel bad.
(10) At table DO NOT show or express in word or action that you are very hungry.
(PART B)
(1) DO NOT, in action or words tell the whole world that you have become addicted to your cellphone (like addiction to alcohol or drugs). It is lack of education and manners to browse while listening to someone or conversing with someone. You tell your partner in oral conversation “to go on speaking and that you are getting it” while fiddling with your MOST IMPORTANT TREASURE IN LIFE! Keep that device aside for a few moments! Your behavior in uncalled for if don’t care! DO NOT exaggerate!
(2) You don’t need to be reminded to “switch off your phone” while in Church or public gathering . BETTER! LEAVE YOUR PHONE AT HOME OR INSIDE YOUR CAR. You don’t need to carry your phone to all places you go. You don’t lose anything. Train yourself to be a ‘man’.
(3) The worst you can do is to answer a phone call in a public gathering, or even to rush out to settle with the caller. Many who insist on putting their phone on ‘silent mode’ have often been embarrassed!
(4) You MUST “call back” immediately you notice a “missed call”. Do not fabricate lies to exonerate yourself if you purposely failed to call back. Honesty is the best policy.
(5) In church pews, DO NOT block anybody. If you are the first to arrive, move to the center of the pew. It is common sense and civility.
(6) In public gatherings and lectures and retreats, focus on the speaker; pay attention and if necessary take down some important points in your little ‘note book’. DO NOT sleep or show signs of “it seems this speaker is talking nonsense”. Be a good and cheerful listener always.
(7) Show appreciation for favors received even though you are not completely satisfied with a ‘gift’. If possible put it down in writing. Remember the old Igbo proverb emphasizing the wisdom of showing gratitude! “EMEZIE NWANYI AKIDI OGWOTA OZO”.
(8) Try to remain always connected with as many friends and benefactors as possible. Don’t remember parents and friends ONLY when you are in need.
(9) TRY NOT TO RETALIATE insults, humiliations, and embarrassments meted to you: Remember the motto: “EMBARRASS YOUR ENEMY WITH LOVE”.
(10) If you don’t agree with a writer’s opinion, DO NOT attack the writer. Write a rejoinder or keep quiet.
PART C
1. DO NOT dominate in public discussions. DO NOT argue to win, but try if you can to provide a more acceptable view. There is no ‘referee’ in free friendly exchange of ideas. Every participant is both ‘teacher’ and ‘student’. If you have to throw further intelligent light, try to be a ‘humble lecturer’.
2. Endeavor to read over your text or script as many times as possible before pressing ‘post’. DO NOT try to correct your ‘mistakes’ or ‘errors’ if you discover some at last. Most educated people all over the world can differentiate between “Typographical Error” and “Poor English”.
3. The worst sign of poor education, irresponsibility and poverty of good manners one can demonstrate in public texting discussions (in English language) on the social media is to write abbreviated words, spellings or express oneself in pidgin English. Participants, contributors in the modern social media ‘debates’ must endeavor to ‘dot’ the ‘i’ and ‘cross’ the ‘t’ always before pressing the ‘send button’. Take careful note of the so-called “AUTO CORRECT MAGIC”. Do not lean hard on the type of ‘help’ they claim to provide. Mind you; you wanted to write ‘to make’ NOT ‘to made!’
4. Students of Latin may not forget the CONJUGATIONS AND DECLENSIONS! (1) I am (2) You are (3) He, She, It is (4) You are (Plural) (5) We are (6) They are. “YOU IS” or “THEY WAS” is a mortal sin!
5. Students of Latin may not forget it’s importance (1) Nominative case (2) Vocative case (3) Accusative case (4) Genitive case (5) Dative case (6) Ablative case. “TO WHO” is a mortal sin! Re- “TO WHOM!” “He is older than 1 (am)!
(God bless you! Have a nice day! I like to thank most of you who always read between the lines before ‘commenting’). DO NOT FORGET TO REGULARLY VISIT OUR WEBSITE – “ALORADUNQUE.ORG”
(27) LITERATURE IN ENGLISH - LITERARY APPRECIATION
1. Figurative Speech – Figure of speech: Use of images or mental pictures, collectively referred to as imagery in writing – in prose or poetry. E.g. Simile, Metaphor.
2. Proverbs: Popular sayings and words of wisdom, with words of advice or warning. E.g. It takes two to make a quarrel. A stitch in time saves nine.
3. Idioms: Words, phrases or expressions peculiar to a people or country. The meaning is not obvious through the knowledge of individual words. E.g. He went into coma but came round after a while. The old man ultimately kicked the bucket.
4. Literary Style: Special features employed by the author to enrich his work. It includes narrative technique, poetic and non-poetic language, imagery and diction.
5. Subject Matter/Theme: What the story, prose or poetry is all about. Possible themes that can be explored in a novel, play or any piece of writing include: Poverty, Injustice, discrimination, slavery, prostitution, racism, persecution, politics, childlessness, immorality, bribery and corruption, witchcraft.
6. TYPES OF POEMS – CATEGORIES OF POEMS:
(i) An Ode: Poem written in celebration of some special event or thing, expressing noble sentiments and feelings. E.g. “Ode to the Nightingale” (a migratory bird that sings sweetly by night as well as by day).
(ii) A Lyric: Poetry, which expresses intense personal emotions of love, joy, sorrow and death.
(iii) A ballad: A simple song or poem that tells an old story. E.g. “The Rhyme of the Ancient Marina”. (Marina = Harbour designed for pleasure boats often with hotels).
(iv) An Elegy: A poem or song of sorrow especially for the dead. The prevailing mood in elegy is normally that of gloom, sadness and depression.
(v) Dirge: When an elegy is clearly a song, it is called “dirge”.
(vi) A Sonnet: Is a poem, usually of 14 lines written to a regular rhyme scheme.
(vii) Blank verse: Is a poem without a regular rhyme scheme.
(viii) Traditional poem: This is a poem, which belongs to the oral tradition of poetry in Africa.
7. Assonance: There is assonance (in poetry) when the same vowel sound is repeated in close succession. E.g. Sharper / Garter.
8. Tragedy: In drama where serious issues often end in death or grave misfortune, creating feelings of sorrow in the reader or audience.
9. Comedy: In drama in which light issues are dealt with, creating feelings of joy and relief.
10. Melodrama: A serious play with exaggerated action and incredible turn of events aimed at shocking the reader or audience.
11. Farce: A comic play with exaggerated action and absurd incidents aimed solely at creating fun and laughter. The sole objective is to create intense amusement in the reader, or loud laughter in the audience.
ELEMENTS OF DRAMA AND THEATRE
12. Prologue: An introductory scene to a play or an address spoken before the commencement of a dramatic performance.
13. Epilogue: A short closing scene or final address spoken at the close of a dramatic performance.
14. Interlude: A short piece of entertainment between Acts of a play. 15. Conflict: Clashes of forces in a play between individuals and groups. It moves a play forward.
16. Dramatist Personae: Full list of characters in a play.
17. Cast: Set of actors and actresses playing the different roles in a play. On stage, the actor or actress becomes a character.
18. Denouement: Moment of resolution of a conflict.
19. Tragic – Comedy: A serious drama which has elements of the comic in greater proportion.
20. Villain: The principal antagonist in a play is known as villain.
21. Suspense: The device by which an author retains the interest and excitement of his or her reader or listener.
22. Climax: The moment of peak tension in a play.
23. Aside: The practice of an actor or actress speaking confidentially to the audience when not alone on a stage.
24. Allegory: A story in which the characters and events are used as symbolic.
25. Parody: A work of art which attempts an imitation of the style of another author in a funny and exaggerated manner.
26. Diction: The effective choice and use of words, style or manner of speaking and writing.
27. Narrative text: A passage which recounts a story.
28. Epistolary art: A literary work written in the form of a letter.
29. Theme: The dominant idea in a piece of literary work. (Injustice, freedom, etc.)
30. An Octave: A verse of 8 lines.
31. Hyperbole: The effective use of exaggeration in a literary work. E.g. “The great Neptune’s ocean cannot wash out this filthy hand”, “His tears filled a bucket”, “and a spittle could do for a bathe”.
32. Litotes: An understatement employed for the purpose of enhancing the effect of the ideas expressed, for the sake of emphasis and also to create humorous effect. This is the opposite of hyperbole, e.g. “His illiterate uncle speaks English better than the lecturer”.
33. Apostrophe: This is a devise by which an actor turns from the audience or a writer from readers to address a person, who usually is either absent or deceased, or an inanimate object, or an abstract idea. Oh! Death!
34. Simile: This is a specific comparison by means of words such as “like” or “as”. E.g. As big as an Elephant. As agile as a monkey.
35. Metaphor: This is direct comparison of two things made more or less in a non-formed way. E.g. John was a lion in the battle field. (Cf. Simile: John fought like a lion in the battle field.)
36. Onomatopoeia: This is the imitation of natural sounds by words. E.g. “humming of bees”, “the cackling of hens”, “the whizzing arrows”.
37. Euphemism: The use of delicate or inoffensive expression in place of coarse, sordid or otherwise unpleasant association. “She has been put in a family way by her boy friend” (pregnant). “He has passed away” (died). “I want to ease myself” (go to toilet, urinate, piss, poo poo), etc.
38. Irony: Speech conveying a meaning contrary to the literal sense. (A dryly humorous or lightly sarcastic mode of speech) The expression of one’s meaning by saying something which is the direct opposite of one’s thoughts, in order to make one’s remarks forceful. Cf. Irony of life, Irony of fate, in situation which is desirable, but unfortunately turns to evil. E.g. If a poor man inherits a large fortune and died a month later, one might call it one of the ironies of life. – Ironical – opposite, sarcastic, contradiction to real sense.
39. Paradox: This is a statement or sentiment that appears contradictory common sense yet is true to fact. Something seemingly absurd, or foolish, yet in reality is true. E.g. (i) The first shall be the last. (ii)The boy is the father of the man.
40. Oxymoron: combination of two contradictory or incongruous words. E.g. (i) Cruel kindness (ii) Living deaths (iii) Dear wounds (iv) Fair storms (v) Freezing fires.
41. Personification: The representation of inanimate objects or abstract ideas as living things. (i) The sky wears a smile (gloomy look, mournful look) (ii) Necessity is the mother of invention.
42. Rhetorical question: Asking a question not to gain information but to attest more emphatically the obvious answer. (i) Did you help me when I needed help? (ii) Did you do anything to lessen my load?
43. Synecdoche: Figurative locution whereby the part is made to stand for the whole, the whole for a part, etc. (i) 50 heads of cattle = heads = cattle (ii) The best brains = brains = intellectually brilliant persons. (iii) Employ more hands (persons, workers)
44. Metonymy: Use of a word or phrase for another to which it bears an important relation – as the effect for the cause, the abstract for the concrete. (i) An avid reader of Shakespeare (His plays). (ii) The hostess kept a good table (food implied).
45. Fable: Stories of animals, nor based or fact, but conveying some universal moral truths. Animals are given attributes of human beings. 46. Myth: Story, especially concepts of religious beliefs and gods, handed down from olden times, about the early history of race, explanations of events, such as seasons.
47. Legend: Old story handed down from the past, especially of doubtful truth. E.g. The legends of King Arthur. Story coming down from the past, especially one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable.
48. Parable: Short fictitious narrative, designed to illuminate a spiritual truth or moral lesson. – Good Samaritan – The Sower – Ten Virgins N.B. Fables and parables are forms of allegory.
49. Epigram: A short poem or saying expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way. Witty paradoxical saying (i) To look is less easy than to see. (ii) To be clever is good. To be brave is best.
50. Conceit: An elaborate, often extravagant metaphor or simile making an analogy between totally dissimilar things. Cf. No 44. E.g. (iii) “Death has no respect for the scepter or the crown. (Crown = King).
51. Metre: Verse rhythm, fixed arrangement of accented and unaccented syllables.
52. Rhyme: Sameness of sound of the ending or two or more words of lines of verse. E.g. day – play; measure – pleasure – puff-rough.
53. Rhythm: Regular succession of week and strong stresses, accents, sounds or movements in speech, music and dancing.
54. Epic: Poetic accounts of the deeds of great heroes, or of nation’s past history. E.g. Homer’s illiad.
55. Didactic: To teach. A poem which teaches, especially morals.
56. Burlesque: Poem, which imitates speech, behavior of somebody for purpose of fun. (See Parody).
57. Anecdote: short, usually amusing story about some real person or event (e.g. at celebrations by Masters of Ceremonies).
58. Anagram: Word made by changing the order of the letters in another word. E.g. Plum – Lump. Let’s play anagram. Poem – Mope.
59. Limeric: Humorous or nonsense poem of five lines.
60. Bathos: (In rhetorics) sudden charge in writing and speech from what is deeply moving or sublime to what is foolish or unimportant.
61. Pathos: Quality in speech or writing, which arouses a feeling of pity, sympathy or tenderness.
62. Pun: A plan on sound of words that sound alike but different in meaning. E.g. had, heard.
63. Mime – Pantomime: A play acted without words – only gestures. A dumb show not necessarily by the dumb.
64. Dramatic Irony: A situation in which the audience shares with the author the knowledge which a character is ignorant of.
65. Crisis: The turning point in an action or development in an incident or story which is critical.
66. Catharsis: A time the audience is purged of emotions in a tragedy. 67. Catastrophe: A point of failure or disappointment for an actor.
68. Comic relief: A situation in a tragic play where humorous characters are brought in to relieve tension or to bring laughter (see, clown, jester, humorist).
69. Soliloquy: A situation in which a character – alone or on a stage utters his thoughts aloud (Solo = alone; loquor – speak).
70. Hallucination: State of mind in which one sees something not present or real. Something imagined. Drunken people or sick people are sometimes subject to hallucinations.
71. Audience: The spectators or the observers of a play.
72. Epithet: Adjective or descriptive phrase used to indicate the character of somebody or something, as in (i) “Pope Gregory the great.” (ii) Peter the Lion heart. (iii) Rev. Fr. Ogwuaja.
73. Malatropism: Misuse of a word, especially in mistake for one that resembles it, causing amusement. E.g. (i) Come, I will exhort you (escort). (ii) We eat lice everyday (rice) (iii) Illusion / allusion.
74. Cliché: Idea or expression that has been too much used and is now out-dated.
75. Allusion: Indirect reference to something. Joana is an adopted child but she does not like people to make any allusion to it.
76. Refrain: Lines of a song which are repeated, especially at the end of each verse.
77. Epitaph: Words commemorating a dead person. E.g. as cut on a tombstone. “He took my place and died for me.” (Christopher c.f. Biafra war story).
78. Anticlimax: Refers to sequence of events that abruptly diminish in dignity or importance. E.g. Among the great achievements of the Eze Ekwueme were the reunification of his warring communities; the establishment of a Town Union, and the revival of New Yam Festival. 79. Antithesis: This is the matching or comparison (juxtaposition) of two words, phrases, or sentences, opposed in meaning, to give emphasis to contrasting ideas. E.g. “To err is human, to forgive is divine” [By Alexander Pope, English Poet]. “United we stand, divided we fall.”
80. Climax: refers to arrangements of words or sentences the order of their importance, the least in importance coming first. E.g. “In their school system, it is outrage to be late to school; it is sinful to miss a class, and a crime to be absent from school See also! “GATEWAY TO SUCCESS IN ENGLISH” – Chapter Four – Page 129 –
81. ON THE MARBLE: "The northern political elite must ensure that the South West does not align with the South East and the South South or else Nigeria as a nation will be history" (Shenu Sani)
Someone advised: “You had better believe it!”
I add: “An old story. The Yoruba messed Nigeria up – AWOLOWO, ABIOLA, OBASANJO, TINIBU……name only a few. But when Nigeria finally disintegrates, with or without any physical force, BIAFRA will naturally emerge. Hence the hypocritical fears of Shehu Sani will come to fruition: “Nigeria as a nation will be part of the Amalgamation history of 1914”. It doesn’t need to be today. But will surely happen. (Nathaniel Ndiokwere)
Igbo Scare: Southern Cameroon Hate For The Igbo Led To Secession From Nigeria In 1961 |RN
THE so-called Igbo “scare” in the
British Cameroons between 1945 and 1961 allegedly led the southern part of the British mandate to opt to leave the federation of Nigeria on the 11th of February 1961. The fear of Igbo domination in all the sectors of social and political life in the former German and British territory was given as a major factor. Kumba, Mamfe, Bamenda, Tiko and Victoria had a large number of NdiIgbo who dominated the economy. This led to local resentments, which politicians like Dr E.M.L.Endeley, Chief Manga Williams and J.N.Foncha exploited for selfish interests.
Stereotyping the Igbo did not change the natural disposition of the latter to hard work, aggressiveness, showiness and ethnic pride—all of which may be interpreted as the Igbo hubris, which in literary parlance is a tragic flaw. Yet local resentment did not stop Igbo migration to Cameroons. The Igbo helped to build the Nigerian-Cameroonian Highway. They became petty and full time traders, engaged in farming, sometimes dispossessing original land owners of their lands through legitimate purchases, and held sway in the plantations.
Because of their education, NdiIgbo became dominant in government services and commerce, especially with the departure of the Germans in 1939. Menial jobs were the reserve of the less educated Cameroonians. There were monopolies like the United African Company and John Holt, all owned by the British. Yet the Igbo, not the British, were accused of marginalizing the Cameroonians.
The Igbo, they cried out, controlled the local administration and made it impossible for locals to occupy high government posts. They had a point but the Igbo did not ask them to be laid back and not to go to school. A British Resident administrative officer in Cameroon also accused the Igbo of injustice and, in his own words, as behaving as” if they were a law unto themselves and not wont to recognize ‘local authority”(See Resident, Cameroon Province, Buea, to Secretary, Eastern Provinces, Enugu, 29 June, 1948).
Such reports did not reduce tension; rather the emerging Cameroonian business and political elite fuelled it to advance their political agitations and encouraged many other unproven allegations against the Igbo. Unsubstantiated Igbo misdemeanor, too numerous to bother the reader with here, occupied the social and political space in the late 1940 Southern Cameroons. The Buea Native Authority demanded the expulsion of the Igbo in 1948 accusing them of dominating the plantations, especially. Earlier, the Bakweri Native Authority had specifically issued the following orders:
1. Nobody is allowed to sell his or her house to an Ibo; neither must anybody give his or her house for rentage to an Ibo.
2. No farmland must be sold to an Ibo or rented to an Ibo
3. Nobody must allow an Ibo to enter any native farm or forest for purpose of finding sticks for building or for any other purpose.
4. House or farm already sold to any Ibo man shall be purchased by native Authority who will afterwards resell same to some suitable person.
5. Nobody shall trade with Ibos for anything of value or not.
6. All landlords must ask their Igbo tenants to quit before 15 March 1948.
7. No Cameroon woman is allowed to communicate with the Igbos in any form
8. Anybody disobeying those rules shall be liable to a fine of £5 or five months imprisonment.
9. Any Ibo native disobeying Rule (3) above will be liable to prosecuting in the Native Court.
10. All Ibo Government officials are exempted from Rule (5) above.
(Cf: Bakweri, N.A. Buea to Senior D.O, Victoria, 21 Feb.1948.).
It is believed that Chief Manga Williams and Dr Endeley, two parliamentarians in the Eastern House of Assembly, were behind these anti Igbo laws.
We have seen similar sentiments directed against the Igbo in Nigeria, in colonial and postcolonial times, since NdiIgbo began their endless adventure outside Igbo hearth and heartland. It is also to say that quit notices against Ndibanyi did not start today. Hate speech and hate literature did not start with Nigerians. As we write English speaking Southern Cameroon is directing its angst against Yaoundé and the minders of power in their capital city. The same Cameroonians are also terrorizing Bakasians. They were in hearty collaboration with Nigerians during the civil war and were rewarded with a good chunk of Biafra land and its mineral deposits.
The aggravations Ndibanyi receive from our neighbours and hosts require a different and more robust approach than what is available now. It requires a vision with a homeland ideology, to show we have a home that is prosperous and could be second to none in the world. Is history a farce? Is the Cameroonian narrative a matter of marrying two husbands and knowing which is better? After demonizing the Igbo and seceding from Nigeria to join their supposed kit and kin in French ruled Cameroons, in 1960, the battle cry has changed. South Cameroons is clamouring for another secession. A case of the other perceived as the evil? The Devil now is not the Igbo, but Biya and his fellow Fulani.
Of course there are many possible readings of this story plot.
Contextually, it is all about the quest for self-apprehension. I am however, interested as a social historian, in what our people can learn from our sublime with history whose outcome need not be quixotic or Sisyphean. A laundry list of anti Igbo prescriptions such as the above should provoke deep reflection on our part, especially in the context of our recent experiences from our country men in the northern and western parts of the country which reveal a deep rooted resentment against Ndibanyi.
Certainly, there is an Igbo complex just as there is the Igbo Question in Nigeria. Both need resolution. Said the Hon Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1949 while addressing NdiIgbo in Aba:
It would appear that God has specifically created the Igbo people to suffer persecution and bear victimization because of their resolve to live. Since suffering is the label of our tribe we can afford to be sacrificed for the ultimate redemption of the children of Africa”.
Is Zik’s position anachronistic or is it messianic? Can we deny our Igboness? Does being cosmopolitan mean abandoning our homeland? There is a man in the Igbo, which must be saved for the sake of humanism.
Causal factors have been important in determining Igbo journey in the pluriverse and that journey has been dramatic. Can we, NdiIgbo, control the natural instincts and impulses, which drive our relationship with our environments and social political spaces? Should there be a change in our foundational approaches and rethink strategies in our efforts at self and group fulfillment, a rethink of our approaches to constitutive freedoms? I am calling for a consequential reasoning and re-examination or even prioritization of our freedom rights, especially when our libertarian rights seem and are violated?
I am also calling on Attorney Chris Aniedobe and Dr Okenwa Nwosu to do a distillation of all the currents of ideas through our contributions on this forum and publish it timeously—a humongous task indeed— but not an impossible one. It would be a worthy and ageless contribution to Igbo phenomenology and scholarship, subjects of our direct experiences—one from which future generations will gain a lot—a tribute to all who believe in the relevance of communal enquiry, valent episteme and solid good ideas. I am just thinking aloud.
*PROF. IHECHUKWU MADUBUIKE*
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