History will never forget him in a hurry. Alive he made great impact. Even in death his impact isn’t receding. Each administration no matter how small has a gift well wrapped from him. Many years gone since he was gone, his “savings” keep coming through for us the living. What manner of a President he was? Like the nostradamus of our time he saw the future and went ahead to save for the rainy days. Over two decades he expired, the manna from him seems unending. Like a plant planted by the river side, his savings keep yielding, multiplying in…
Author: Jarlath Opara
Just by the corner, a stone throw, not too long a time, Imolites would go out to elect a new governor or re-elect the incumbent. For three years and some months Imo State has been a very interesting soap opera, with many episodes, speaking truth to the realities of their political journey. To Sen. Hope Uzodima, the circumstances that surrounded his emergence didn’t in anyway help matters. It was rather a case of seeing one from dirty glass, however good or bad one would always appear dirty. Is Hope really dirty? Is he evil? Is he really responsible for all…
You think we have forgotten and moved on? You think the rape in the Broad daylight in a gangsterism manner is already wiped off our mind? Is it how feeble minded you think we are ? Not too long you subjected the entire Nation into a serial rape, taking away our pride, honor and glory. You laid us down, forcefully spread our legs and made us groan in pains while we watched helplessly as fresh blood dripping from our system caked on our body. We trusted you. We believed in you. We took all our hope and place under your…
Where is Anyayo ? Silence and quietude have enveloped him. Overwhelmed and swallowed, not even the signature tune of my people! My people!! Could make his relevance evergreen. Life is transient, take it as permanent and act as if it is so, like a humpty dumpty that sits on the wall, one falls. Where is Anayo? Where has he been? No sound of him anywhere lately. Not even his “Iberibeism” slang could give him a monumental presence in the public space. Like a morning dew under the heat of a sun it disappeared. Where is Anayo? He trended years ago,…
This isn’t anything close to what I would ordinarily desire to discuss. I would rather prefer to talk about Nigeria politics, the thuggery and roguery of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’ Presidency than to talk about the sad degeneration of majority of us. Doing this remains something I wouldn’t humanly speaking explain. For two days , I have fought the nudge to talk about it. The pain and the near tears it brings to my eyes look very disheartening. Not until recently the saying if you would want to know someone in depth go on a long trip with them didn’t make…
I don’t really know what is getting hold of my mind lately. The thought of the renewal and how badly we have fared in lifestyle, expecially in the act of giving makes me sober and pained. “We no dey try at all”,myself inclusive. This “aka gum” mentality is holding us down and it is not by any stretch of imagination to our advantage. We read scriptures and quote them for ministration. We quote give and it shall be given to you,full measure, pressed down shaking together….. you can reel out remaining lines like poem, I guess the meaning of such…
Suddenly the lyrics of the song, “The steadfast love of the God never ceases, his mercy never comes to an end, they are new every morning ,great is thy faithfulness”, hit my soul. I was in a bathtub having an evening bath when this happened. What was I really thinking about? Nothing in particular! Just having an uncontrolled and uncoordinated thoughts. Who wouldn’t have such, in a country where everything has gone berserk, corruption up there, integrity fallen to a ridiculous level and impunity a trademark for all Nigerians. Suddenly the thought of the newly appointed auxiliary Bishop of Ahiara…
The fear of Asari is the beginning of wisdom. How the mighty has fallen! Terribly petrified at the mention of his case file of corruption somewhere. Nigeria is gradually becoming a nation where anybody that serves any administration would have a corruption case to answer. There is always something to show them, when they begin to talk “too much” against the impunity and charades that reign. Such happened to Dr. Reuben Abati and ever since then, he has advised himself accordingly. Nothing about Bola is bad again, he pontificates, playing on words either to support him or to dish out…
Communication in whatever form in any relationship has been identified as key. Nothing seems to work outside it. No matter how good it seems, just a matter of time, without a healthy and robust communication it will begin to cave in, collapse becomes very imminent. Is there anything at all one needs to tell ones spouse, one isn’t saying? Are there things stuffed inside , which ordinarily should have been worn on the sleeves? Sex is good in marriage, it lubricates and makes the wheel of marriage roll smoothly, the engine grinds without sounding noisy. However, without good communication, the…
Too short a time, too long also. It depends on what one wants to do with the time available. Play draft with it, engage in too much loquacious drama, criticise the opposition and focus less on the masses or selling positives, convincing them on the need for a total redemption of Imo State. Time ticks, the stable door is unlocked and the horse is long gone. Never late , it can be pursued and recovered. The urgency of being deliberately strategic to win the 11th Nov Gubernatorial election is like yesterday. Today is 10th of October. By tomorrow 11th October,…
When one says there is nothing new under the sun, it comes to so many as a tale unfounded, crafted to achieve some selfish purposes. For Christians, they hear often, how everything happening now, politically, socially, spiritually etc could be found its semblance in the bible. How true is this? One may be tempted to query. Apart from exercising right of freedom of expression, I would have said, query no more on that because there is no single thing happening now that its semblance cannot be found in the bible. If one finds it difficult to relate with such events…
The increasing rate of insecurity in Nigeria, is for lack of better word most alarming. Nothing is safe, every point is crime hot spot and would possibly harbour miscreants that prowl looking for who to devour. No day passes without gory pictures thrown at our faces, victims of killings either through robbery or groups, fighting for freedom. Recently, I watched a video clip of the various bad and dangerous spots in Abuja and the various operational strategies of such nefarious characters looking for who to defraud and maim. Many as a result of these, have lost life, valuables or even…
Nigeria is gradually becoming a country where maintenance culture is not only a luxury but one where people live either in denial of their environment or nonchalant about the situations and circumstances that would endanger their lives. Oftentimes we feel so entitled, removing a stick that stands on our way becomes a challenge,waiting for the next person or the government to move it of our pathway. Until we begin to see life as one that would be optimally lived and enjoyed through individual cooperation, Government help and Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR) We will continue to suffer avoidable hazards and…
Everything is not about law, legality, jurisprudence, arguments, technicalities and all manner of proofs and legal jargons. Where is the place of honor, morals and dignity? Where is the place of our national pledge? Where is the place of the oath of office? What happens to the wordings of the oath taken by public office holders ? Mere empty words, recited for the fun of it without any allegiance and sense of commitment? “I pledge to Nigeria, my country, to be faithful, loyal, and honest. To serve Nigeria with all my strength, to defend her unity and uphold her honour…
Too long his terror, carrying himself with sacredness. Too dangerous to be touched. Countless number of persons saying yes, eating the shit and poison he gives. Nobody dares say no or challenge him. To their “blogos” he holds them, dragging and squeezing, once they question his power and self given invincibility. For over a vicennial he ravages and terrorises Sogal, holds it at all corners, milking it, setting rules, calling the shot , since on his table the bulk ends. He holds Sogal, a no man’ land and turned it into a family tree, bearing all the fruits the family…
Tortoise lamented Hare’s destructive and disconcerting pranks and ways. “Destruction he fed them. Destruction was his trumpcard. That is his legacy. During times of our misfortunes, for example, long dry spells and drought, what did he do? He shed gallons and gallons of precious but crocodile tears through his cynical tirades and eulogies. What a shameless pretender, he was. Never genuine and remorseful. He was ever manipulative, brutal and slippery. He was one of the meanest animals to live under his self-imposed rule. A reign of terror. He boasted that every animal, every bird, every insect missed him.” Bull–frog wedged…
Damman miracle! Damman miracle!! Damman miracle!!! People chanting with green leaves on their hands, bare-bodied, some on their motorbikes and tricycles, others walking barefooted as they drove and walked round what looked like Douglas and Wetheral roads in Owerri. It was a good sight seeing the youths of Imo State that happy and excited, acting like those liberated from prison after years of imprisonment. It looked real a scene, didn’t know I was in a dream. What could such a dream mean? What would make the youths of Imo State chant Damman miracle with excitement? Where is Damman? What kind…
Just like every other day in every other month in every other year, that day dawned. Nothing particularly was its identity. New and bright, sunny may be cloudy , moving around, up and down, up about our daily chores and hussle we all began 19th September 2023 with. As it was in Imo state, so it was in other places. As the day began to grow old, events began to shape it, news began to be created, joy and happiness, pains and horror, disappointment and appointment, death and giving birth and other life events began to unfold. This is the…
One question that sounds simple but deep. Talking about ones spouse is not less simple as to talk about life itself. Talk about life, one talks about it from a perceptive that isn’t deep enough to be exhaustive. Ones spouse is like life, weaved around with so many possiblities .They are like ocean deep enough, wide enough, plenty with water, replete with fishes of all kinds, reptiles of different species and creatures of all forms, finding habitation in it . On it Ships and boats sail through, and get capsized sometimes. They are like ocean, giving many fishes up to…
Each time one speaks english the other way, off from the normal and conventional ways, there is always an unconscious squeezing of face, jeering and show of displeasure from the audience. We have become too attached to its concord, its tenses, its gerund etc once one gets them, there is usually this impressive look that goes with it. To those who don’t know, good spoken english sounds nice but isn’t an automatic conferring of intelligence and wisdom on anybody . It may be either a sign of being learned or exposed but not being educated or intelligent. There are a…
There is no reason why Africa wouldn’t rise and shine. With the kind of natural deposits it is endowed with, success and progress should be a norm not an exception. This revelation was made by Bro.Ralph Uzochukwu during his ministration on Making Jesus the Lord of the Economies of our countries, in the on going 5th Pan African Congress in Chida centres Abuja. According to Uzochukwu we are called to prosper in every aspect of life. This will only happen when we bring Jesus into our business, family and carrier. He enjoined members of the renewal to stop thinking that…
The Catholic bishop of Bauchi Diocese Dr. Hilary Nanman Dachelem CFM has challenged Catholics on the need to imbibe the four signs of a Dynamic Catholic in living their Christian life. He made this call during the on going 5th Pan African Congress of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Africa holding in Abuja at Chida Event Centre Utako with the theme “Arise and Shine for your light has come”.The Mass which was concelebrated with Bishop Phalana of South Africa, Bishop Chinekezie Eusebius of Garbon and other priests from different African countries served also as a thanksgiving Mass for his 6th…
Members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Africa for the past few days are in Abuja for their 5th Pan African Congress themed Arise and Shine for your light has come. Ministering deliverance to all the African countries at Chida Event Centre, Bishop Victor Phalana of South Africa stated that many African countries are passing through trauma caused by colonialization. He decried the level of inequality, electoral fraud and manipulation, injustice, racism etc that have caused alot of set backs on Africans. For him Africa is richly blessed with both mineral and human resources, praying against forces that are manipulating…
It was an emotional recounting of the challenges and ordeal of Catholics in the Diocese of Maiduguri during the time Boko Haram raged in Maiduguri and its environs. Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme addressing thousands of Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Africa during their 5th Pan African Congress in Abuja with the theme Arise and Shine for your light has come said not less than 100 thousand Catholics were killed during the Boko Haram insurgency which lasted close to 14 years. Recall it was in Chibok in maiduguri Diocese that over 260 students were adopted from the school which many of them…
It was indeed an amazing experience for all the African countries at Chida Event during the opening Mass of the 5th Pan African Congress. Dressed in their cultural attires with their flags, each country delegates walked through the aisles of the Congress Auditorium in a manner so resplendent, expressing not only their culture but the hunger and zeal to arise from the shallow of their spiritual life to a height that will make them shine, illuminating with such a light of Christ that all the dark aspects of their lives will be made bright enough to change the face of…
Today 15th of August is a very important day in Mbaise. Apart from it being a day Catholics all over the world celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed virgin Mary in heaven, it is a day Mbaise people come together to celebrate their new yam festival. It is one celebration that is very sacred and so dear to them. No full fledged Mbaise man is to eat the new yam before this day. On this day of the iri ji festival every family is expected to either cook yam with chicken prepared as watering suace, well spiced or roast it…
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese His Grace Most Rev.Dr. Ignatius Kaigama has called for Social integration of members of the church in their various activities. He made this call recently in his office when delegates of members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Africa paid him a courtesy call. The delegation which was led by the Cordinator of the Renewal in Nigeria Bro Uche Manu KSJI who also is the Chairman of the planning Committee of the 5th Pan African Congress taking place from 14th to 20th of August at Chida Event Centre Utako Abuja intimated the Archbishop on…
Well seated in his decently furnished living room, members of the 5th Pan African Congress holding in Abuja were entertained by his Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan with this song ” Our Father who is heaven we glorify your name we bow down and worship” to those delegates it was a normal old song , but to His Eminence it was one song that constantly reminds him of his experience with inmates of Ilorin prison who were on death list. He recounted how he visited those condemned criminals and met them in a very stinking and unhabitable environment, parked like sardines…
Who remembers this book “This Is Our Chance”by James Ene Henshaw? Quite and interesting book of cultural conflicts. Tradition and a new wave of orientation. Though weaved around love , I find the revolution and need to change to a new order which principally was the storyline very relevant in our present political conflict. Just yesterday, social media was inundated with images of well designed and beautifully worded bag, “All Eyes On The Judiciary”. It is trending and many were seen brandishing the bags. To those who came up with such apt and ingenious idea, I hug you with a…
Peter Obi And The Lost But Found Phones! When things happen, instead of looking at its surface depth, a bit of beyond the physical understanding of it might be helpful. Yesterday the video of Peter Obi, looking paled, surprised and worried made rounds on social media platforms. Seen complaining about his phones which were moved from where they were to an unknown place by an unknown person. Of course it wasn’t a case of misplacement, more of deliberate act with an intention that couldn’t be fathomed immediately. It was a pitiable sight for me, one that elicited sympathy and empathy…
