Sahara Reporters Latest News Friday 10th May 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 10/05/19
Read also
target=_blank>BREAKING: Police Arrest Kajuru Journalist Stephen Kefas For Re-Posting Article On Facebook
Stephen Kefas, a Kaduna based journalist and human rights activist has been arrested by men of the Rivers State Police Command for posting re-posting an article on Facebook.
The journalist had shared a SaharaReporters exclusive story which detailed the events leading up to the death of Kajuru Monarch, Dr. Galadima Maiwada the Agom Of Adara Chiefdom in Kaduna state.
Sources reveal that Kefas who has been very critical of Governor Nasir El-Rufai is to be transfered to Kaduna in the morning based on ‘orders from above’.
“He was asked by a friend to meet at a particular place unknown to him it was a set up, they (police) picked him up from there and whisked him to the station.
“He is accused of injurious publication, incitement and false accusation” the source added.
ACTIVISM
Politics
Breaking News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>‘The Evil I Feared In The PDP Has Befallen Me Ten Times In The APC’ Says Okorocha
Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo state, has accused to leaders of the All Progressive Congress of frustrating his return to the Senate. Okorocha defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), where he contested and won the 2011 governorship election.The outgoing governor had been declared winner of the 2019 senatorial election in Imo west but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew his certificate of return.The commission based its action on the complaint of Francis Ibeawuch, the returning officer for the election who said he declared Okorocha under duress. He said: “The evil I feared in the PDP has befallen me ten times in the APC. Last week, I wrote a letter to INEC for the first time myself, informing INEC of their wrongdoings and illegal actions taken by INEC to withhold my certificate on mere allegations of duress which was never founded, neither was there any committee set up to investigate the matter,”Okorocha said.“So, INEC on their own believe the reports of their returning officer without investigating the authenticity of the investigation. So, there was no issue of fair hearing at all.“What is important here is that INEC does not have the power to withhold the certificate of return having declared the result. I believe the INEC chairman is up to a game with the chairman of the APC who is being used to frustrate my coming to the senate and this is politically motivated.“I’ve given enough time that INEC might correct itself and do the needful and issue me my certificate of return but to no avail.”“Many things have happened so far and these should be of concern to everyone.”INEC that made the submission to the tribunal have gone back requesting to withdraw it because the submission was defending the declaration by INEC.“I wonder what they want to do with the certificate, if they don’t give it to me, who will they give it to? Maybe they will give it to Festus Okoye because he is from my Senatorial zone but what they are doing is presenting INEC as a lying organisation and that is dangerous for our democracy because, as it stands right now, the image of INEC is bastardised.“What it means is that tomorrow somebody can withhold the certificate of anybody because you don’t like his face because you feel that he wants to politically challenge you in future.”
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>FirstNation, Kabo Air Others Listed Among Airlines With Expired Operator Certificates
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has listed the troubled Topbrass Aviation, FirstNation Airways and Kabo Air among the airlines with “not-active, suspended or expired” Air Operator’s Certificates (AOCs) in the country.
Also listed by the regulatory agency were Associated Aviation Limited, Chanchangi Airlines Limited, Hak Air Limited, King Airlines and Travel Limited and Skyjet Aviation Services Limited.
A document obtained from the regulatory agency indicated that 38 airlines were issued and re-issued AOCs between February 3, 2016 and January 9, 2019.
Out of the numbers, eight of them had expired, suspended and not-active AOCs, which had prevented them from operating either as scheduled or chartered flight operators.
Among the affected carriers were non-scheduled, scheduled, cargo and charter flight operators.
For Topbrass Aviation, the document revealed that the airline with the AOC certificate number: TBA/AOC/11-11/03 had, which was issued on February 3, 2016 and expired on February 2, 2018, failed to renew the certificate. Topbrass Aviation was with the status non-scheduled before the expiration of the certificate.
Recalled that the management of Topbrass Aviation had been having a running battle with NCAA over two aircraft it leased, but allegedly refused to act according to the leasing agreements.
The aircraft, Bombardier Dash-8 Q300s with the registration numbers 5N-MSN 61TBB and 5N-TBC MSN 614 are currently issues of litigation in the Federal High Court.
Another airline on the list is FirstNation Airways, which suspended flight operations about two years ago after it could not lease an aircraft to boost its flight operations.
The airline with the AOC certificate number: FNA/AOC/10-11/02 was re-issued AOC on July 31, 2017 and was expected to remain active till July 30, 2019, but it’s with the status “not-active” on the NCAA document and was downgraded to non-scheduled operator from a scheduled status it was about three years ago.
Also listed among the airlines with not-active AOCs was Kabo Airlines, which does annual hajj operations to Saudi Arabia.
The airline with the AOC number: KAL/AOC/01-15/01, was issued with the certificate on January 30, 2017, but became “not-active” on January 29, 2019.
As at the time of filing this report, it was not clear if the airline had commenced renewal of its AOC, as preparation had reached the top gear for the 2019 annual hajj exercise to Saudi Arabia.
Besides, another carrier on the list was Hak Air, which in 2013 acquired five Boeing 737 aircraft for domestic operations, but was yet to spread its wrings six years later.
Some of the acquired aircraft are at the airside of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
According to the document, Hak Air with the AOC registration number: HAK/AOC/04-12/001, was issued thee AOC on July 24, 2017, while it would expire on July 23, 2019.
The document revealed that while the AOC was still current, it remained “not-active for the airline with the current status of non-scheduled.
Besides, Chanchangi Airlines, which suspended flight operations about seven years ago, also had a “not-active: status in its AOC with the number: AAF/006.
The document revealed that the airline’s AOC, which was renewed in February 5, 2017, expired on February 4, 2019. The carrier’s promoter, Alhaji Amadu Chanchangi, had died in April 2017chairman of Chanchangi Airlines.
Others were Associated Aviation, which crashed 31 seconds after takeoff at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in 2013.
The status of the airline stated that its AOC with the mark: A**/AOC/06-15/001 was suspended by the regulatory agency.
The last AOC issued it was on June 20, 2017 and was supposed to run till June 19, 2019. The airline was registered as a non-scheduled operator by the regulatory agency.
Also, the document revealed that NCAA had renewed and issued AOCs to two airlines in 2019. The first one was Aero Contractors with the certificate number: ACN/AOC/12-12/08.
The AOC was re-issued the carrier on January 2, 2019 and would remain valid till January 1, 2021 as a scheduled, cargo and charter flight operator.
The other airline issued AOC in 2019 was ANAP Business Jets. The airline was issued on January 9, 2019 and would remain valid till January 8, 2021. The current status is non-scheduled operator.
Other airlines like Air Peace, Arik Air, Allied Air, Azman Air, Bristow Helicopters, Caverton Helicopters, Dana Air, Executive Jet, General Global Aviation, Max Air, Med-View Airline, OAS Helicopters, Omni-Blu Aviation, Overland Airways, West Link Airways and Quroum Aviation all have valid AOCs with “active” statuses.
Business
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>‘The Situation Is Deteriorating’ Jama’atu Nasril Islam Cry Out Over Insecurity
Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has raised concern about rising insecurity and poverty levels in the country.JNI in a Ramadan statement signed by its Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu also called on leaders at all levels to deliver programmes that will reduce the public outcry against them.It asked Muslims all over the country to be fervent in prayers for restoration of security, peace, stability, progress and development of the country.Aliyu said: “Overtime, JNI has been calling on Muslims to fervently pray for the restoration of security, peace, stability, progress and development in Nigeria. We once again reiterate same call, as the situation seems to be deteriorating with armed banditry, kidnappings, theft and abject poverty in the increase.“Similarly, JNI uses this medium to remind leaders at all levels that success shall only come their respective ways when they rollout friendly policies to the citizenry. At the moment, the outcry is loud and clear! Therefore, this period should be a sober reflection time for us all and make the necessary amend, in order to seek Allah’s pleasure.“Governments at all levels as well as individuals who have the wherewithal are called upon to extend benevolent gestures – such as alms giving and supports to the indigents in severe need, as well as millions of IDPs spread across the country. This is the most appropriate time to show compassion and of course, the needy would want to see such assistance now. Moreover, it is more rewarding.“JNI as usual uses this medium to call on the Nigerian Muslims to redouble their respective efforts in being more God-conscious through punctual observance of the five daily and Taraweeh prayers congregationally, frequent recitation of the Glorious Qur’an, ardent supplications, as well as continued remembrance of Allah (SWT).
Insurgency
Islam
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>Group Demands For Domestication Of FOI Act In Kwara
Elites Network for Sustainable Development ENetSuD, a Kwara-based Civil Society Organization, has written the Kwara State House of Assembly to lobby for the domestication of Freedom of Information (FOI) Act in Kwara State.
In a letter addressed to Rt. Hon. Ali Ahmad, Speaker of the House, ENetSuD stated that the act would help in making activities of the state transparent and make the government accountable to the people.
Dr. Alagbonsi Abdullateef, Coordinator of ENetSud and Barr. Luqman Raji, Director of Legal Services, in the letter also explained that the non-domestication of the act has given government agencies an excuse for turning down information on projects funds have been released for.
The letter stated that “its extensive tracking of the Federal Government Capital and Constituency projects in Kwara State is possible due to the availability of FOI Act, which is a Law of the Federation. ENetSuD said that it has found it very difficult to track Kwara State Government (KWSG)-funded projects due to the fact that FOI Act has not yet been domesticated in the State, as that is the usual excuse given by KWSG to deny information requested on projects.”
The project tracking group highlighted the importance of the FOI act as: “making public records and information more freely available; providing for public access to public records and information; protecting public records and information to the extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy.”
Others mentioned are: protecting serving public officers from adverse consequences of disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorization; and establishing procedures for the achievement of those purposes and for related matters.”
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>Sudans Military Moves To Make Constitution Sharia Based
Sudan People’s Liberation Army soldiersSudan People’s Liberation Army soldiers
Sudan People’s Liberation Army soldiers
Reuters
The Sudan Transitional Military Council (TMC) is making an attempt to make Islamic laws the guiding principle of the country.
The 10-member TMC, responding to a draft constitutional document presented to it by a coalition of protest groups and political parties, said the document omitted Islamic law, which they said remained the bedrock of all laws.
Addressing the media, Shams al-Din Kabashi, TMC spokesman, posited that Sharia and local norms should be the source of legislation.
He said, “Our view is that Islamic Sharia and the local norms and traditions in the Republic of Sudan should be the sources of legislation.”
Kabashi stated that the council wants the transitional period to last two years.
Discussions with the opposition is ongoing, but calling early elections within six months would be an option if they could not reach an agreement, Kabashi said.?
Since the ousting of Omar al-Bashir as President of the country and the military take-over, thousands of protesters remain outside the army complex in capital Khartoum, demanding that the military rulers step down and hand over power to a civilian administration.
ACTIVISM
International
Military
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>BREAKING: Kano Now Has Five Emirates As Ganduje Gives Assent To Bill
Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano state, has given assent to the bill passed by the Kano house of assembly which breaks up the emirate in the state.
With the development, Kano now has five emirates: Kano, Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi, while the domain of HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the emir of Kano, has been diminished.
With this decision the governor has redeemed the pledge he made earlier today that he would not waste time to give assent to the bill immediately it is transmitted to him.
More to follow…
Politics
Tradition
Breaking News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
target=_blank>We Have Hard Evidence Against Saraki Says EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said it has hard evidence to nail senate president, Bukola Saraki.Replying to Saraki’s allegations that the ongoing probe was a witch hunt, the acting EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday said Saraki was not above the law, noting that the Commission was obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space, a duty it claimed to have pursued without ill-will or malice against anyone.The EFCC asked Saraki not to worry over the investigation into his earnings as Kwara State Governor and his stewardship in the Senate, “so long as he has no skeletons in his cupboard.”The Commission also said it possessed indicting petitions and other evidence against the Senate President, noting that putting him through a legitimate forensic inquiry was the legitimate route to establish his integrity as a public servant.The EFCC refuted Saraki’s claims that the probe had to do with his appointment as the International Human Rights Commission ambassador.It stated, “It is in the interest of the public, and for Saraki’s personal good, that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times to be so.“Indeed, all the instances in which the EFCC have had cause to sleuth into his financial activities either as a former governor or President of the Senate were driven by over-arching public interest and due process of the law.“Against the background of the possession of indicting petitions and other evidence available to the EFCC, even Saraki will agree with the Commission that putting him through a legitimate forensic inquiry is the legitimate route to establish his integrity as a public servant.”Stating that it had the mandate to rid the country of corruption and corrupt elements, the Commission reiterated its unflinching resolve to achieve these, “no matter whose ox is gored.”
Corruption
Politics
News
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
SaharaReporters, New York
Disable advertisements
:
E2%80%98solution-17%E2%80%99-can-solve-world%E2%80%99s-most-pressing-problems-sustainable-future-ehi-braimah target=_blank>How ‘Solution 17’ Can Solve The World’s Most Pressing Problems For A Sustainable Future By Ehi Braimah
In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly set an agenda for a more sustainable future by identifying 17 global goals otherwise known as ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs). The intention is that by 2030, the universal call to action declared by the UN would create a better world by tackling the most pressing problems framed as the following 17 goals: no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure; reducing inequality, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land; peace, justice, and strong institutions, and partnerships for goals.
Prior to the launch of the SDGs four years ago, 189 countries signed the historic millennium declaration at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals for the year 2015 with measurable targets and deadlines aimed at improving the lives of the world’s poorest people. The UN agenda for the SDGs reflect continuity and consolidation of the MDGs while making the vision more sustainable by strengthening environmental goals.
These goals are linked together to deliver impactful results for sustainable development. Enduring poverty has no boundaries – it stares everyone in the face around the world — and changing weather conditions have become a present and everyday threat to our common humanity; we have a duty to save the planet. In Nigeria, for example, we have been experiencing extreme temperatures lately and the heat wave is not just about to abate. We are also living witnesses to the depleting ozone layer, melting glacier, rising ocean levels, freezing temperatures and increased flooding around the world.
Access to basic healthcare is also a huge global challenge due to widespread poverty. Men and women of goodwill should come together and do more to solve these problems. As I noted in an earlier Facebook post, African countries are always lagging behind in such global interventions to combat the world’s problems with perhaps the exception of Ghana and Kenya – both countries, from available data, make deliberate efforts to cascade the UN initiatives by taking actions locally.
Last year, the Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Development held over three days in Bonn, Germany. It was a UN forum devoid of “fancy suits and long speeches” that brought together 1,500 participants from over 100 countries to showcase the latest innovations, tools and approaches that will make sustainable development a reality, according to a statement on UN’s website. “The world is facing tremendous challenges, and, for the first time, there is an innovative plan to solve them,” said Mitchell Toomey, the Global Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign, at the Sustainable Development Festival. One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the ‘SDG Action Awards’ in seven categories to individuals and organisations who are implementing the 17 goals.
One of the winners of the awards in the Innovation Category was Foluke Michael, a Nigerian and Project Director/CEO of the Creative Youth Community Development Initiative (CYCDI), a non-profit organisation. Foluke, a lover of creativity and innovation, is committed to sustainable development in Nigeria and she’s guiding young persons to lead a positive change into the future. Foluke has embraced the UN 17 SDGs in a meaningful way and she is very passionate about how we can make the world a better place through innovation and high impact initiatives. Foluke’s organisation has been globally acknowledged as a pipeline for achieving the SDG goals in Nigeria and other countries.
CYCDI is implementing the 17 SDG goals to meet UN’s 2030 agenda through active learning, creative development, innovation and entrepreneurship in children, youths and women. The goal of CYCDI is to pursue, promote and implement sustainable projects that will boost community development and economic growth. In order to reach this goal, CYCDI created the following platforms: the Vision of the Child (VOTC), Creative Youth Initiative Against Corruption (CYIAC), InnoCreativa Youth Hub (IC2030) and CDMA Social Enterprise. Some of the organisation’s achievements include successful implementation of social, economic and environmental projects through educational and talent development in children and youths under Vision of the Child, one of their flagship pipelines, since 2002. The project — which is under the supervision of Professor Wole Soyinka, 1986 Nobel Laureate in Literature — has produced thousands of young leaders and innovators in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
CYCDI also created CYIAC Corruption Busters (CCB) – which earned Foluke the award in Bonn, Germany – to promote SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). It was launched on December 9, 2017 to mark the United Nations International Day Against Corruption. CYIAC has received international recognition and awards in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Austria.
CYCDI is presently leading a global campaign to raise drug prevention awareness amongst youths and vulnerable adults through a school awareness and creative programme. The project – which is being supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office and Drugs and Crime (UNODC) – produced the sensitisation campaign movie, Trapped. In November 2018, the project outcome was adopted and printed with funding from the EU under the framework of “Response to Drugs and Related Organised Crime in Nigeria” implemented by UNODC. The books are currently being distributed to various schools in Nigeria and other countries.
“Solution to one of the global problems”, says Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary General and South Korean politician, “is a solution to all”. This may have been the spark that Foluke and her colleagues at CYCDI needed to create the innovative “Solution 17” model to tackle the 17 global problems through the application of the 17 SDGs. The model is based on youth development through education, creativity and innovation to implement the 17 global problems and creating solutions towards a healthy, liveable, prosperous and sustainable planet. Since the world’s problems are inter-related, CYCDI’s “Solution 17” model for problem solving recognises the power of synergy and it brings together 17 participants, 17 schools, 17 creative ideas/presentations, 17 solutions and 17 innovators to solve one global problem. By weaving the 17 SDGs together to solve each problem, the organisation believes the model will accelerate the achievement of the 17 global goals by 2030.
For example, Solution 17 for SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) is a new project being embarked upon by CYCDI. Branded as “InnoCreativa Youth Hub 2030” or “IC2030 for short, this model will explore the creative and innovative capabilities of young people through the development of knowledge and attitude that are relevant to employability and skills for entrepreneurship.
IC2030 targets undergraduates in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, members of the National Youth Service Corps and young graduates not older than 35 years. By February 2020, the IC2030 Innovation Lab is expected to produce 17 undergraduates and graduates; 17 SDGs based ideas to solve unemployment; 17 creative presentations for showcase and pitch to industry partners and sponsors; 17 solutions to Decent Work and Economic Growth and 17 makers, doers, innovators, creators and entrepreneurs to solve one global problem – unemployment. Already, India and Switzerland have indicated interest and sought permission from CYCDI to adopt the award winning “Solution 17” model.
In furtherance of her commitment to achieving the SDG goals by 2030, Foluke, in her current role as a United Nations SDGs ambassador, presented her SDG Impact Report in Bonn, Germany on May 3, 2019 to a global audience. She used the opportunity to unveil the partnership between CYCDI and CITC Global Consulting, a strategic management firm based in Lagos, Nigeria, aimed at deepening the impact of the 17 SDGs implementation in Nigeria and other countries. One of the goals under this partnership is establishing a Sustainable Development online television channel to tell the story of a changing world and the innovations being introduced to solve the world’s most pressing problems.
Braimah is a public relations and marketing strategist based in Lagos
Opinion
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
Ehi Braimah
Disable advertisements
:
Igbo Unpopular Opinion: Authentic Igbo Identity Is Boundless By Churchill Okonkwo
This is first in a series that I have called “Igbo Unpopular Opinion.” It is an insider’s view of the inside, albeit, from outside looking in. In this introduction, I will discuss the misguided concept of a homogenous Igbo political identity in an ever-increasing multicultural Nigeria. The question at the heart of this prologue is, what does it mean to be Igbo in the context of political disposition in contemporary Nigeria?
Politics-wise, there is no consensus on what it means to be Igbo and never has been. The fierce political rivalry in the second republic between Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu in the then Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) and National Party of Nigeria (NPN) respectively, is a good example. My take as a kid, observing the intense politicking between the two greatest icons in Igboland was that the possibility of authentic Igbo identity is boundless.
There is, therefore, no incorrect answer to the question of which party Igbos should join and support. Just like Igbos were free to join the Ikemba Front or Zik Movement the early 1980s, Ndigbo today, should be free to align with any political party without being reprimanded.
For instance, one cannot, honestly claim that an Igbo man committed a “crime” against the Igbo tribe, for supporting Buhari over Atiku. Yet, hundreds of thousands of Igbos have had the authenticity of their Igbo identity questioned by Igbo nationalists for making a choice between two non-Igbos in the 2015 and 2019 Presidential elections.
These merchants of ethnic nationalism that are attempting to redefine Igbo authenticity have failed to, again and again, grapple with the way that geopolitics and multiculturalism have changed and is continuing to change in Nigeria. The mere thought that an Igbo man that supports Buhari over Atiku is an out-of-date kind of Igbo is retrogressive. It is exactly this kind of intellectual hypocrisy that will be attacked in “Igbo Unpopular Opinion.”
Ndigbo cannot excel in Nigeria by clinging to a warped mindset and political views anchored on prior Igboness, that is, an Igboness that is given and remains steady despite the ebb and flow of multiculturalism. We must give ourselves permission to divide into political groups organized around what we like and dislike and none of us should be less or more Igbo for doing so.
In “Igbo Unpopular Opinion”, my most salient target, will be the political, moral and ethical failures in the Igbo community. If you are overly agitated or worried about the increasing number of Igbos contributing to the infrastructural development of their domains in Lagos, or Abuja, then, Igbo Unpopular Opinion is for you. If it has crossed your mind that any Igbo man that objects to the reckless agitation for an independent State of Biafra as currently being pursued by IPOB is not authentic, then, you will constantly be the object of this column’s scorn.
Every piece in this series, therefore, will raise some uncomfortable questions for Ndigbo. Every piece, though provocative, is not meant to be condescending. I say this because I have realized that, majority of Igbos see my unpopular opinions as designed to communicate a sense of their ignorance.
Of course, this is clearly not my intention. Nonetheless, I will still be blunt, where necessary.
Responsibility demands that someone should offer Ndigbo, a way to engage in a deeper political debate on who we are and how we can navigate the Nigerian political jungle. Igbos need someone to constantly whisper into our ears, “Authentic Igbo Identity Is Boundless.”
Due to the seriousness of the existential issues involved, profound discomfort is, therefore, necessary. So, every now and then, I will say things that will make you squirm as you read my unpopular opinion. But, at the same time, every piece in this series will fill you with hope.
My hope is that as we discuss the issues raised in “Igbo Unpopular Opinion”, such as multiculturalism, inter and intra ethnic relationships, religion, development of Igbo states, Biafra, wealth acquisition and the place of Ndigbo in Nigeria, we will agree, at least, that for us to be stronger together, authentic Igbo political identity should be boundless.
Unfortunately, Igbos that express “Unpopular Opinion” in the public and social media platforms have faced ad hominem attacks and frequently called self-hating Igbos. This is misguided because the reality is that they love the Igbo in themselves so much that they are willing to absorb the abuse for the sake of the greater good of all Igbos.
I want to remind every Igbo person that has a minority opinion that what is important to them as Igbos must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood. For me, I am motivated and undaunted because the views in “Igbo Unpopular Opinion” are inspired and directed by the Spirit of God and our forefathers.
As with inspirations that emanate from the Spirit World which makes mortals uncomfortable, my audience will find my opinions intentionally provocative. Views expressed in “Igbo Unpopular Opinion” will, as the name implies, be unhinged. The clear intent is to frequently offend my readers to an informed debate on critical issues within the Igbo community.
Finally, in a bowl of isi ewu, you put in different things. You want every part of the goat’s head blended with utazi leaves, akanwu, onions, some spicy peppers, and red oil – to maintain a broad, yet, unique taste. Similarly, authentic Igbo identity should not be monotonous.
We don’t need a predictable Igbo political identity, folks. The only requirement in Igbo authenticity is the exhibition of characteristics that don’t veer from our key identity – outgoing, resourcefulness, and fearlessness (and I MUST add, with traits of integrity).
We are all Igbos, together, we will all win. So, I urge every Igbo person (with popular or unpopular opinion) to read every piece in this series. It will challenge us to embrace a radically different, but more mature way to see and relate with ourselves, and ultimately liberate ourselves. Igbo identity is boundless. Together, we can remain rooted in but not constrained by our Igboness.
Together, we can.
You can email Churchill at Churchill.okonkwo@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @churchillnnobi
Opinion
AddThis
:
Original Author
:
Churchill Okonkwo
Disable advertisements
:
You can also check
