Nigeria: History Beckons…2023 Elections: the fun and the pains….”The Boy is Good” lives on…plus South East Digest…

Nigeria:  History Beckons

The 2023 General Elections which started across Nigeria yesterday (and continues today with voting in some parts of 14 States and Abuja) is set to usher in a new epoch.  From now onwards, governance in Nigeria will never be the same again!  The teeming Nigerian youths have found their place and their voice.

Yesterday, Nigerian youths turned out in huge numbers to exercise their franchise across the nation, unlike in previous elections.  When the elections are over, indications are that analysts would also record that a good number of the older generation who turned out for the elections were influenced by the evangelism of the youths.

It is important to point out that this Nigerian youth revolution has neither religious nor ethnic coloration.

Whether the preferred candidate of the youths wins or not, Nigeria will never be the same again.

 

Quotes on the election: 

“And I always tell politicians that ‘Yes, you can win elections through unorthodox means, just like using violence to win elections or buying votes and so on. But when you do that, you are behaving like an armed robber or a con man.

 “An armed robber makes money through robbery, but everybody knows that he’s an armed robber. A con man makes money through deceiving people, but everybody knows that he’s a con man. They’re not decent members of society.”

“…My plea is, we the politicians, the security people, the INEC operatives should do the best for the country; the whole world is looking at us”

-          Former President Goodluck Jonathan

 

“This to all intents and purposes is not an election!!!!!! It is a revolution. And anybody standing in its way will pay d supreme sacrifice…”

-          Royal Father, Anambra State

 

“The resilience of Nigerian youths in this election is so beautiful to watch

Our leaders have long forgotten that democracy is power for the people, of the people and by the people.” 

-          KIM, Lagos

 

2023 Elections:  the fun and the pains

Victoria Garden City, Lekki, Lagos State, residents, will easily win the contest for the best polling stations – see pictures below:

 

The “One Woman Campaign Squad” below will go down in history as the “most hard-selling campaigner of 2023” with her hand-written leaflet:

 

The battered lady below will go down in history as “the 2023 election die-hard”:

The gentleman below made us all know that the word “accreditation” is a tongue-twister!  After several failed attempts in pronouncing that word, he asked his audience in his native language”  “have you people started counting?”:

”The Boy is Good” lives on

Dara Mbazulike Amechi was laid to rest  penultimate weekend, although the funeral ceremonies continued until mid-last week.  We bring you a moving tribute by one of his nephews:

 

Great aboriginal warrior King dares journey to Pantheon!!

Second time my father dared journey to the Pantheon!! Death; you are now in real trouble!!

Mr and Mrs Death; may I remind you: First was in 1968AD, during Biafra/Nigeria pogroms, and  second was November 01, 2022AD!

The first mentioned above was my biological father, Late Mazi Okolie Agbodike (from Umunakwa Ihembosi in Ihiala LGA), married to a Princess Warrior, late Madam Monica Nnamamu Agbodike...nee Amechi, who is direct senior sister (the same parents) to Dara Leonard Mbazulike Amechi. THE BOY IS GOOD. The known political GURU who with late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik) and others, fearlessly fought the Caucasians for present ostentatious independence of Nigeria (Nigger-Area) who later dived to take a dagger knife aimed at Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe...to save his life! Dara, bravely saved Zik and the scar of the wound can still be seen on his shoulder. Yet he survived! It was this bravely act of staking his life for Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik) that made Zik name him: *The Boy Is Good,* a name he came to be tagged with! Twice he went to colonial prisons for all of us here today!!

Yes, I called him my FATHER and he called me MY SON, even when he knew he was dying (I was not around rather told) he kept shouting on top of his voice, to those around to go and bring his son Chinedu (me).

I shall pause now to clear my tearful eyes!!

I am in deep sorrow now; I do not know who can console me! The vacuum, the emptiness and the dead-end Dara's death created is unfathomable!

Just listen: As at 1961AD, while he was then first Federal minister of Aviation...no stealing or bribe collecting politics of our day rather Nationalist (Pan Africanist dream), he took my mother's first son, Boniface and his(Dara's) elder brother (Ben Amechi) first born son Edwin as his kids. They lived at No. 5, Okotiebo streets Ikoyi Lagos! 

It is of note that then surviving Children of Iwuchukwu Amechi...Ben, Nnamamu (my mother) and Mbazulike Amechi, were living in loving kindnesses. Ever sharing together, whatever they gathered.

My first father, Okolie Agbodike married 14 wives. Due to beauty of my mother... ENVY and serious persecutions started up to life threatening, so Ben , Mbazulike and Nnamamu had meetings on (SOS) save our soul. So they agreed to buy a piece of land at Umunakwa village in Ihembosi (Nden-Ngo), near a fearful shrine called Agbo Chekenta. To build then popular four bedroom and one parlor apartment in 1961AD for my mother!! This singular act saved Madam Monica Nnamamu Agbodike and her little kids!

In January 1962AD Nnamamu Agbodike, with her kids moved into this mentioned house. Dara Mbazulike Amechi went further to take me and others to his home in Amihie Ukpor and that is how he became my FATHER!! 

In 1967AD Biafra/Nigeria pogrom broke out. Dara Mbazulike Amechi had an animal husbandry factory called Niger Pork, which fed  then Biafran soldiers all through the ill-fated three years pogrom!!

“Dara Mbazulike Amechi, in his normal selfless sacrifices used his factory/ company and saw to it that millions did not die from Kwashiorkor that ravaged our motherlands!!” 

He later established Monkey Club and Industrial Clay's Nig LTD yet the three shared proceeds from these efforts. He taught us UNITED WE STAND!!

In 1968AD, my biological father died.

Let me return to 1959 to 1963 when late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa was brought to hide at No.5, Okotiebo street Ikoyi Lagos to live in Dara Mbazulike Amechi's house!

Late President Nelson Mandela was hidden by this great MAN..The Boy Is Good, until Mandela got captured at the airport, on his way to UK, then taken to then Apartheid South Africa.

When President Nelson Mandela died, Dara Mbazulike Amechi went to South Africa, for his funeral; in the company of one of his sons!

Note again: Dara Mbazulike Amechi fearlessly and boldly went to meet Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari, at Also Rock Abuja and asked him to release his son Mazi Nnamdi Kalu (IPOB Leader) to him. Dara was bold!! 

Dara brought then analog telephone services to Amihie Ukpor. He used generating plant to draw water from Ubu river to his community...in the 60's. He awarded many scholarship, built Niger Pork, Monkey Club, Industrial Clay's Nig Ltd and gave jobs and opportunities to a lot of youths!! Some of them are here today! 

What more can I say? I am one of living witness to his selfless sacrifices. I lived, had my part, ate and dined with him on the same table, in (in his home) the same house for years!

Like every great father, he was always around me! He visited and at many occasions; chairmaned my often Fine And Applied Art exhibitions,,,even with United Nations! In 1985AD, He encouraged me up to meeting then Military Head of States President Muhammad Buhari, later President Ibrahim B. Babangida, Abiola and others. He was there during my books' launchings. He saw multi talents in me and rejoiced to see me doing exploits!!

You can now know why I am crying?

In my many journeys as FOODISM War GLADIATOR, I was to achieve my missions and visions because of his tireless support and encouragements. As a father!!

Timessly timed time may overcome me if I continue to pen down why late Dara Mbazulike Amechi was and is my father and also father to many!!

He is father of our nation and father of many FATHERS today!!

I make a vow: As an Artist, I must immortalize HIM, late Nelson Mandela his friend, Ben Amechi and my mother Nnamamu Agbodike (nee Amechi).

I cannot say Rest In Peace rather Work In Peace (WIP)  with other ancestor whom you represented as Onye-Isi Nto-Ana and custodian of our heritages, our culture and traditions!!

Chinedu Agbodike.

Fine And Applied Artist, Author, Proponent of Ogaru art.. ancient Aboriginal writings!!

FOODISM WAR GLADIATOR.

 

(A digest of latest reports on the Economy, Industry, Politics, Sports, and developments around the South East of Nigeria)

ABIA STATE

WTO Director-General Okonjo-Iweala returns to Nigeria, votes in crucial Election Saturday,

Amid reported glitches and delays of voting materials at various polling centres across Nigeria, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, returned home to vote. Bloomberg reported that the WTO DG tweeted that she was waiting to vote for over an hour as election officials were not present at her location. 

ANAMBRA STATE

Anambra State holds Appreciation rally for National Social Investment Programme

Anambra State through the ministry of Economic Planning and Budget has organized a thank you rally to appreciate the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration for empowering thousands of Ndi Anambra through the National Social Investment Programme.

The event held at Njikoka Local Government Area Headquarters Abagana, attracted selected beneficiaries of the National Social Investment Programme from across the state, officials of the state Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, officials of the state Cash Transfer Unit, among others.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake said that the event was to appreciate the Buhari government for the programme and enlighten Ndi Anambra on the need to get involved in such programme which is aimed at alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians.

She commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for various efforts his administration is making daily to ensure that Anambra state is not left out in any largesse coming from the federal government, and assured Ndi Anambra that their rights will not be denied under the watch of the present governor of the State.

Anambra to recruit additional 2000 Teachers

Anambra State Government says it will recruit an additional two thousand five hundred teachers in addition to the five thousand recruited in 2022.

The Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh disclosed this during the official handover of Umuji Community College, Ebenebe in Awka North Local Government Area to the Anambra state government.

The Commissioner noted that when Governor Chukwuma Soludo declared a state of emergency on Anambra roads, he also declared an emergency on the educational sector in the state, resulting in the massive hiring of teachers. 

While lauding the community for taking the initiative to secure their children’s future by constructing the college, Professor Chuma-Udeh stated that history has been made and advised other communities to emulate Ebenebe.

ENUGU STATE

Enugu, Yobe, 8 others top list of Nigerian States with cheapest Cooking Gas Prices by KG in January 2023

Despite the surging prices of commodities in Nigeria, some states in Nigeria witnessed lower prices of refilling cooking gas in January. NBS, in its latest report on LPG prices, listed Nigerian states where the cost of cooking gas refills either dropped or remained the same.

The NBS report compares gas refills by kilogrammes Lowest refill prices for 5kg Enugu – N4,119.23 Anambra – N4,183.14 Rivers – N4,210 Abia – N4,218.15 Akwa Ibom – N4,256,25 Sokoto – N4,281.67 Delta – N4,301.25 Yobe – N4,315.50 Ogun – N4,360 Osun – N4,395.  Lowest refill prices for 12.5kg Yobe – N9,550 Taraba – N9,845 Gombe – N9,850 Bauchi – N9,875 Lagos – N9,877.50 Borno – N9,888.57 Jigawa – N9,900 Zamfara – N9,957.33 Adamawa – N9,985.71 Nasarawa – N10,019.17

According to the report, the average retail price for a gas refill for a 5kg cylinder increased month-on-month from N4,565 recorded in December of 2022 to N4.588.75 in January 2023. But on a year-on-year basis, the price of cooking gas refills increased by 25.46 per cent from N3,657.57 in January last year. For a 12.5kg refill, the average retail price has increased by 0.28 per cent month-on-month from N10248.97 in December 2022 to N10,277.17 in January 2023. But on a year-on-year basis, the price for January 2023 went up by 38.63 per cent from N7, 413.25 in January 2022.

The NBS report states that 5kg refill prices were highest in Kwara at N4,962.20, Plateau at N4,945.50, and Adamawa at N4,936.67. Meanwhile, 12kg refill prices increased in Benue at N11,260.67, Cross River at N10,833.33, and Ebonyi at N10,763.57.