IGBO IN LAGOS SACK TRADITIONAL RULERS-VANGUARD

The executive of Igbo-speaking community in Lagos State has sacked some Ezes over a recent controversial visit to a governor, who allegedly gave them staff of offices.

A statement in Lagos by the community’s President-General, Chief Ebere Ubani, described the visit as demeaning.
It said: “With this singular action, the affected Ezes have abdicated their Ezeship and the Igbo-speaking community the authentic and legal body that installed them, hereby declares their stools vacant with immediate effect.

“The Igbo-speaking community in Lagos State shall look into issues dispassionately and will not relent in wielding the big stick where necessary; as such Ezes have lost moral authority to preside over their respective domains in Lagos State, as their allegiance has now shifted.”

Culled from Vanguard Newspapers

SHINESKYBABA: Something needs to be done about our traditional institution as regards giving them autonomy in order for them not to depend on peanuts from political office holders and influential people.The rate at which our respected Kings(Obas, Ezes and Emirs) disgrace themselves these days makes them lack the respect which they deserve from their people.

HOW BIRTH ORDER AFFECTS YOUR PERSONALITY

Joshua Chidiebere (not real names) was the only child of his parents and got maximum attention from his parents. He was enrolled in the best elementary and post elementary schools in their neighbourhood. He was brilliant, intelligent, energetic and creative because of the attention he got from his parents and family. When he is sick, all the neighbours would not have peace until he is well. Infact, the mother had to resign from her place of work in order to give full care and attention to Joshua.  He got everything he wanted unlike some children who have to share their parents attention and other things with their siblings (like me lols).

Personality is made up of the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique. It arises from within the individual and remains fairly consistent throughout life (psychology.about.com). So many factors like the environment, parental style, hereditary traits, birth order etc contribute to the personality traits in an individual.

The order of a child’s birth to some extent contributes to the personality of the child as it relates to the roles and responsibility which the child plays in the family. Psychologists world over had written on this aspect of child development but in this discuss, I am going to talk about the following birth orders:

a.       FIRST CHILD

b.      MIDDLE CHILD

c.       LAST CHILD

d.      ONLY CHILD

e.       TWINS

a.       FIRST BORN: First borns are a sort of experiment to their parents who are new in child bearing and rearing. I refer to them as the “lab rat” of the family (I fall in this category).

The parents are stringent with rules with the first born because they (parents) did not want him/her to turn out bad in order not to be a bad example to their younger ones.

First borns are made to act like mini-adults and are taught to making decisions when their parents are not around. They therefore tend to be achievers, reliable, authouritarian, cautious and controlling.

From my personal experience as a first child, I was made to do chores that adults do and my mum was always there to put me through and if I did not get it right,you know what will happen now? Enough koboko and omorogun (turning stick) to make my head do it right lols. This really helped me to know how to do many things in the house especially cooking(most of my friends like Mobutu can attest to this). I was given so many responsibility which sometimes weigh me down because I don’t have time to play with my friends.

b.      MIDDLE CHILD: The direction to which the personality of the middle child switches will depend on if the first child is an achiever or not (not in all cases). If the first child is an achiever, the middle child may behave in a way that makes him/her to be the black sheep of the family if the parents are always eulogizing the first child and the middle child can be of good behaviour if the first child is not living up to the expectation of their parents.

Middle children are mostly rebels who react to the behaviour of the first child and are always in dilemma when they have younger siblings because they do not also want to be a bad example to them. Middle children tend to be people pleasers, have large friends circle and are peace-makers.

c.       LAST CHILD:  The last child or “last born” is free-spirited and this is largely due to their parents “I don’t care attitude”. Their parents are more experienced in child rearing and believe they are experienced.

Last children are the baby of the family who gets the attention of everybody in the family and are manipulative, self-centred, and attention seekers.

They turned out to be spoilt and the older children always blame the parents for this. They also find things easy because they have people who are always ready to help or assist them when in need.

d.      ONLY CHILD: This set of children gets all the attention they need from their parents and family members. They are referred to as “super-first born”. They do not get to compete for anything unlike other children and they tend to behave like perfectionists who do not want to disappoint their parents for all the love and care showered on them.

The over pampering may negatively affect their personality as they will expect non-members of their family to also give them the kind of attention they get from their parents.

e.       TWINS: Twins do not have a pattern of behaviour as to order of birth but culture plays a prominent role in the kind of attention twins get from their parents. In Yoruba land for example, twins are seen as a semi-god who need special attention and they cook beans with red oil to appease them.

Also, the second twin (Kehinde) tends to get the parents attention because most of them do have health challenges unlike the first twin (Taiye). Because of this, Yorubas refer to the second twin as the eldest (akehinde gbegbon) in order to make him/her feel important (my thoughts).

Most twins are always seen doing things together but there are those crazy ones who do not look alike and you cannot get any similarity in behaviour and attitude.

So, which order do you fall and what was your experience like?

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OSHIMHOLE LISTS LESSONS FOR NIGERIA'S LEADERS

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has eulogised the late former President of South Africa, Mr. Nelson Mandela, saying there are lot of lessons to be learnt from his life by Nigeria’s leaders.

The governor said people like Mandela did not die, but only transited from this world to higher glory.

He said, “Mandela cannot be referred to as dead. The right word is transition. He had this real gift of leadership and that he comes from this black continent of Africa makes it even more significant.

“The lessons from Mandela are very clear, those values of leadership without bitterness; the capacity to forgive and to forge unity in a country that was detained and bogged down by ethnic, racial and colour divide.

“He played up what united the people of South Africa and demonstrated his own personal forgiveness for those who imprisoned him  for 27 years; providing the right atmosphere for prosperity for everyone, including those who deprived him of the good things of life.”

Oshiomhole said this while paying tribute  to the late freedom fighter who died on Thursday at 95 years.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the infamous "Go and Die widow"

He said, “There are lots of lessons we should learn from this. Can we not afford to be Mandela in our homes, states and at the national level. And for Nigerians where leaders are busy contesting election on the basis of ethnic divide, can we learn from Mandela that it is possible to inspire a people to downplay those primordial sentiments and rise to national challenges and build the nation, create prosperity, address the challenges of the poor and be loved by the poor?

“There won’t be another Mandela in the continent or indeed another Mandela anywhere in the world. It is a shame Nigeria cannot claim to have anybody near him even though we had the opportunity.

“There are other lessons for Nigeria. Mandela’s condition was managed in South Africa by South African doctors. I want to see how this can help us to have a deeper reflection, so that Nigeria can learn from the positive side of South Africa.

“Also this was a man who after spending twenty seven years in prison, had the opportunity to be president and he chose to preside only for four years and decided against the wish of his people to step aside for the younger ones to take over leadership. It shows that you can be relevant even out of office.”

PUNCH NEWSPAPERS

SHINESKYBABA: I hope the Governor himself has one or two lessons to learn from the life and times of the Great Nelson Mandela.One of the virtues of Mandela is his ability to control his temper and anger when some situations or events calls for an outburst.

Nelson Mandela despite having issues with his enstranged wife,Winnie, stood by her when she was standing for a murder charge.

How many of our leaders are emotionally stable to keep calm like the Great Mandela? All our leaders in Nigeria want to die in office even after spending their two-terms as enshrined in the the constitution. Some of them will even impose their stooge in office in order for them to rule by proxy.

Mandela is gone but our Nigerian leaders must take a cue from the life and times of the Great Man.

This is a time for us to reflect.

BLOODY ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IS COMING TO NORTHERN NIGERIA , SAYS CHRISTIAN ELDERS

The Northern States Elders Christian Forum (NOSCEF), led by Evangelist Matthew Owojaiye, has forecast a bloody Islamic revolution in Northern Nigeria.
It advised, however, that it is not late to contain it if the North would focus on the greatest need of its people and swiftly attend to it.

In a statement in Abuja today, the forum declared that The [Northern Muslim] Elders can see the revolution coming and are talking about it, but that for a long time, they were content to turn the attention of the youth against Christians, using religion.

It suggested that the key issue is economic, not religious, pointing out that the Northern states have so far produced nine Heads of State, only one of whom, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, was a Christian.

"What did these 8 Head of States except Sir Ahmadu Bello do for the people? How come the people are poor when their own people have been in power most of the time?

“Most of the Governors in the North are Muslims. How come their people are so poor? How come they are the ones selling water in jerry cans? How come they are the ones doing shoe shining? How come they are the ones breaking fire woods into pieces? How come they are the ones doing maiguard, night guard work? These Northern leaders have cheated the Northern masses too much.”

It also pointed out that most of the Federal Ministers from the North are Muslims. “What did their people benefit from it? Almost nothing. The Northern States have far more Local Governments. None earns less than N100 million a month from the Federal Government. What did they do with it? The Federal Government pumped billion of Naira into nomadic education. Where is the result?”

Continued the statement, “Most of those who are Ambassadors from the North are Muslims. The Governor of Central Bank is a Muslim from the North. The Minister of Education is a Muslim from the North. The Inspector General of Police is a Muslim from the North. The National Security Adviser is a Muslim from the North. The Chief Justice of the Federation is a Muslim from the North.”

It further pointed out that there are more Northern Muslims Senators; more Muslim Northern House of Representative Members; and more Northern Muslim Commissioners of Police.

“Most of those who own Petrol Stations in the North are Muslims. Most of those who have been Executive Directors from the North are Muslims. Most of the Vice Chancellors of Universities and Rectors of Polytechnics in the North are Muslims. Most of the owners of trailers in the North are Muslims. All who have ever been Vice Presidents of Nigeria from the North are all Muslims.”

With all of this in mind, the statement asked, “What have the Christians done in the North to cause poverty in the North that warrants total annihilation?” adding, “They are attacking the wrong people.”

NOSCEF stated that it is still not too late to contain the revolution if the right attitude was adopted by the North and the right action, taken.

“Find the greatest need of your people,” it advised. “Vocational jobs, training and mass scholarships. Agricultural loans made available to the poor. Build dams and boreholes everywhere. Provide medical clinics that are functioning. Find projects that can touch their lives. Do launching and fund raising.

Let all of the Big Men mentioned earlier come and give away half i.e. 50% of their wealth to help their people. They cannot finish spending the remaining 50% until they die peacefully. If they refuse to do this, the revolution will come and consume them.

It will take away all their wealth. Time is running out. No need to play to the gallery. No need to do escapism. The Boko Haram has almost finished dealing with Christians yet their problems are not solved.

They will descend on their Elders and consume them.

Why turn Muslim areas of the North into Ghost towns? Why destroy the whole place? Why present our youth for slaughter? What percentage of children of the rich is in terrorism?”

SOURCE: SAHARA REPORTERS

PROTESTING JOB SEEKERS ARRESTED IN BAYELSA

The protesters had given prior notice to the Police before their protest.

The Police in Bayelsa on Tuesday arrested 30 unemployed graduates for participating in a mass protest in Yenagoa over lack of job opportunities in the state.

Scores of youths, mostly unemployed graduates, had earlier trooped to the streets in Yenagoa, protesting what they described as the high rate of unemployment in the state.

However, policemen from the Bayelsa State Police Command used tear gas to disperse the protesters.

The protesting youth were arrested at Yenizue-Gene in Yenagoa by teams of policemen and operatives of the state-owned security outfit, ‘Operation Doo Akpo’.

Among those arrested were five leaders of the protesting youths. Those arrested were detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department and underwent interrogation for their roles in the protest.

Numbering over 150, the unemployed graduates staged a peaceful protest in the state capital over the State Government’s alleged neglect and insensitivity to their plights. They had earlier given a 30-day ultimatum to Governor Seriake Dickson to lift the embargo on employment into the civil service to absorb them.

The protesters, under the aegis of Unemployed Graduates Forum of Bayelsa, claimed they had made efforts to meet with some top government officials to resolve the crisis. They said their efforts were fruitless as the one-month ultimatum given to the government to create 20,000 jobs for jobless graduates had lapsed without a shift in position by the government.

There was stampede at the Yenizue-Gene area of Yenagoa as the police sent reenforcements to the area with about 10 vans and arrested over 30 persons while the rest fled.

The protesters, who were dressed in white T-shirts with inscriptions, “We need jobs”, “Give us jobs”, said they would not be intimidated by the arrest of their members.

The spokesperson of protesters, Anthony Joseph, a mechanical engineering graduate, said that they had notified the Bayelsa State Police Command Command of the protest three weeks earlier.

“We are fighting a just cause, most of our graduates have been unemployed for between five, seven years and 10 years. We have met the Commissioner for Science and Technology and other top government functionaries in the state on the need to create jobs for us but all efforts proved abortive. Government should come and ameliorate our plight. We are pleading with government to create jobs for us. They should release our detained members,” Mr. Joseph said.

The Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Police Command,Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the arrest of the protesters, saying they were being interrogated. Mr. Akhigbe recalled that the group had informed the Police Command of their protest but said that the permit was not granted.

SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES

SECONDARY SCHOOL DROP OUT CONSULTS FOR TEACHING HOSPITAL

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Usen Effiong, for posing as a medical doctor and consulting for the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for more than two months.

The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, said Effiong, an indigene of Ukot Usung Itam, in Itu Local Government Area was caught based on intelligence report from the UUTH.

He said, “The police arrested Effiong in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital impersonating a medical doctor.

“The Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State branch, Dr. John Udobang denied ever knowing the young man. He is not a member of the association.”

He said the police had investigated Effiong and found out that he was actually impersonating a medical doctor, adding that the law would take its course.

Udobang told PUNCH Metro that he received a call from the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, UUTH, Dr. Sunday Udo on the activities of Effiong.

He said, “Udo told me that they caught someone who has not finished secondary school parading himself as a consultant in the teaching hospital as a medical doctor.”

Udobang explained that he went to the teaching hospital where he interviewed the suspect and found him with stethoscope and sphygmomanometer (blood pressure apparatus).

He said, “We also found some prescriptions and forms that he wanted to fill to become a member of the association of resident doctors”

“Later, when they went to look for him, he was found in the doctor’s consulting room eating.

“He has confessed that he is not a doctor, and has not finished his school certificate, and has been coming there to consult in the last two months.”

Asked how it was possible for an SS II dropout to be consulting in a teaching hospital, Udobang replied that people used to see him but did not know his intention.

He said, “The Dean whose table he was sitting on used to see him and thought he was a medical student or a newly employed doctor that he has not known.

“It was after one of the younger doctors saw him and asked the Dean who he was that they started investigating him.”

 

SOURCE: PUNCH NEWSPAPER

FOUR PHONES RECOVERED FROM FRAUDSTER'S KIRIKIRI CELL

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday at a Lagos High Court alleged that four mobile phones were recovered from the cell occupied by a convicted fraudster, Ikechukwu Ogbu, at Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos.

Ogbu, who is currently serving a 15-year jail term at the prison, is standing trial for allegedly swindling a bank manager, Mr. Pat Enechukwu, of N12.3m from the prison custody in May 2009.

Enechukwu was a branch manager with one of the first generation banks in Abuja.

At the ongoing trial of the convict on Tuesday, EFCC’s investigator, Mr. Daniel Danladi, told Justice Lateefat Okunnu of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, that he visited the prison after the fraud was reported by the complainant.

Danladi said, “The prison officials conducted a search in the cell occupied by the first defendant (Ogbu) and two other inmates and four mobile phones were recovered.

“Analysis were conducted on the phones by the forensic unit of the EFCC.”

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Kayode Oni, who led the witness in evidence tendered the four mobile phones and Ogbu’s statements to the EFCC as Exhibits P8 to P13.

Ogbu, who had earlier been convicted of fraud in 2008, is standing the fresh trial alongside John Chinonso,and Chuks Ibebagwu, into whose accounts the proceeds of the alleged crime were paid.

Earlier on March 21, 2013, a witness, Emike Ukhuedobah, had narrated how Ogbu had used her to defraud, Enechukwu, who happened to be husband to one of her aunts.

Ukhuedobah claimed she knew Ogbu through an advertorial the latter placed on love links page of the Vanguard Newspapers of March 7, 2009.

Ogbu, already in prison then, had portrayed himself in the advertorial as Prince Eze, who was seeking a woman aged between 34 and 45 to marry.

Following this, 43-year-old Ukhuedobah travelled from Abuja to Lagos to meet Ogbu, who told her he was temporarily detained in Kirikiri Prison for an alleged money laundering offence.

The duo’s relationship had continued with the hope that it could end up in marriage.

Ogbu, in the process, got to know Enechukwu.

“I wanted to go out of my domain and I was looking for friendship.

She said her aunt had been supporting her in the relationship with Ogbu, only for her to realise later that the woman’s husband had paid N12.3m into Ogbu’s account.

The money was allegdely paid into the accounts of Ogbu’s co-accused, to enable him to bribe EFCC officials to let him off the hook.

Ogbu was said to have told Enechukwu that his foreign partners were going to invest in the bank manager’s branch once  he (Ogbu) was released from the prison.

The matter was adjourned till March 27 for continuation of trial.

 

SOURCE: PUNCH NEWSPAPER