RE: {NTH:34777} Re: [Umuebologuabusunma] EVANESCENT, STOICISM & DEMOSKOPIE

[Sylvester Ogbolu-Otutu]

Bros. Eugene,

What are you saying that they should tell me? 

An Ukwuani person will always be an Ukwuani person. However, our close relatives who are people living by the river are lowlanders. If a considerable number of people do not accept one 'inclusive' identity of 'Ukwuani' for everybody, then we must find a particular reference level where everybody agrees that what we are is truly representative of both or all parts.

As head of a Highland (Ukwuani) Patriarchate, I will always understand that I have Ndosimili brethren. We have our legends and our secrets and unique understanding of things. People of the river never accept that they are highlanders. However, for any two groups of people that are related based on a metaphysical duality, unity must be found at some level.

These things are not understood by everybody, and many will only see it from the perspective of political 'disunity', but in truth, there is more to it.

For example, if Ebedei is 'Obodo-Eke', anybody from Akarai Clan whose name is Obodoeke is an Ebedei person. Any person from Aboh who name is Nwa-Eke is an Ebedei person. This is how it works at a deeper level.

Ndokwa has many benefits and enormous advantages. Let me conclude by reporting a comment that I made in Facebook just two days ago:

''Ndokwa' is meant as the unity platform for Ukwuani and Ndosimili people. Geomantically, Ukwuani are 'highlanders', whilst Ndosimili people are 'riverine' ; but the two people are related somehow in terms of language and culture, people-to-people proximity, exchanges, etc. It is at the level of 'Ndokwa' that we can come together as one people instead of being different peoples. 'Ndokwa' has many socio-political and socio-economic advantages - including enhanced group size and combined strength, larger voice, increased political influence, peace and harmony, better understanding, etc. We should all work for Ndokwa unity - whether you are an Ukwuani person or Ndosimili person.

Therefore, we should all try to make Ndokwa work for everybody. Whether you are an Ukwuani person or an Ndosimili person, we should all work continuously for Ndokwa unity.

Thanks.

Sylvester Ogbolu-Otutu

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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Subject: {NTH:34777} Re: [Umuebologuabusunma] EVANESCENT, STOICISM & DEMOSKOPIE
From: ndokwa-t...@googlegroups.com
Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:14:48 -0500
CC: ndokwa-t...@googlegroups.com
To: Umuebolog...@yahoogroups.com; beefbeefanagb...@yahoo.com

Onye Okwu,

Tell that to Sylvester so he can understand.

He knows it all.

Ajieh!

Gene ossai

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 13, 2015, at 4:07 PM, Beef Beef beefbeefanagb...@yahoo.com [Umuebologuabusunma] <Umuebolog...@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 

EVANESCENT, STOICISM & DEMOSKOPIE

All,

I took a step back to see who makes any reply to the article therein. Before I delve into the main article in question, I must say that I am neither a nonconformist nor a sadist in all calculable ramifications. I own and direct my thoughts and have all the inalienable rights to disseminate what I consider right and appropriate to my best of understanding without being bullied of termed to be recalcitrance on my chosen part and path.

It is true that a pack of sweeping broom sticks cannot be broken because of their "troop" strength and similarly the tropical tree we call "ABUH" in our native tongue has gotten so much leaves that bear no use or advantage for any reason. Which ever way you see the references to both lies in your assuage and perceptions.

I have written severally about "NDOKWA" as a name and a collection of divisible strange bedfellows. I am today still holding sway to my itchy, collections of "anhydrous" repellent  groups that have existed only on paper to buttress the political egos of the past for ALL that initiated and reaped, and later ripped the union to unimaginable and unpardonable pieces through their political self aggrandizements forays and serendipitous political chicaneries.

The topic showed that there were lots of bickering and acrimony against some leaders that wanted to dominate the other parts of the old Aboh division ---- and that Ukwuani part of it would not submit nor succumb to being reared sheepishly ----- and hence the:-

                               

HOW I GAVE THE NAME NDOKWA IN DELTA STATE

BY PRINCE L.G.L.C. Asibelua

Culled from Vanguard of Saturday April 5th 2008

In another publication by our veritable and learned and erudite Professor States categorically that:-

     

Now hear this: The traditional rulers, chiefs, clan heads and important personalities from old Aboh Division held a meeting at the Local Authority School Utagba-Ogbe, on Saturday, 13th April, 1974, to deliberate on our collective identity, with a view to straigthening the records. The following Resolution was passed: it was unanimously agreed after a conscientious and scrupulous discussion that the entire group of this Division is “UKWUANI” and henceforth the people of this Division should be known as Ukwuani speaking people”. Read Daily Times March 20 1975 but because Ndokwa is neither a bibliophile nor biblioholism we have not be able to do that.

This resolution was reached since 1974, the children born in that year are now adults, married and they have children but do you know that majority of Ndokwa people don’t know about this resolution? Prof Okecha

In another write up advanced by our War veteran and elderstatesman Lt. Col. Nzefili reads:-

”  Need we say more?  Ukwani as a tribe and as a language in Nigeria was gazetted around 1967/1968. Lt. Col. Nzefili

  Even if the nine LGAs are coaxed to join in a future Anioma State, there would be trouble in future.  Aboh Division and Asaba Division were equal in all ramifications from the beginning.  Aboh Division had three districts, Aboh district (later changed to Ndosumili district) Ukwani district and Aseh district.  Asaba Division had the same number of districts including Ika and Aniocha district.
 
Asaba Division has now got six LGAs, compliments to Chief Orewa of Ika when he caused Ika district to be elevated to an LGA which is the equivalent of a Division and to Chief Okonjo who broke Aniocha district away from the remainder of Asaba Division to make Aniocha LGA.  The remaining Oshimili district was forced to become an LGA.  So the former Asaba Division then became the equivalent of three Divisions.
 
Aboh Division on the other hand was brought under one LGA, NDOKWA from three districts, the New Ndosumili district having swallowed Aseh district.  Instead of expanding the three districts of Aboh Division into three LGAs as happened at Asaba Division, Chief Enuenweosu combined Ndosumili with Ukwani districts to form NDOKWA LGA that was Motion without Movement for the LGA is the equivalent of a Division.
 
At the time the three LGAs in Asaba were further split into two LGAs each, that was when the Ndokwa LGA was split into two LGAs, Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West.  At a further creation of LGAs, Ukwani LGA was created from Ndokwa West LGA, making three LGAs in total against six LGs from Asaba.
 
Creating Anioma State with former Aboh Division having three LGAs against former Asaba Division having six LGAs would be lopsided and would be the basis of future confusion and trouble.  Unless Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwani LGAs are sub-divided into two LGAs each to balance the six LGAs in former Asaba Division, so as to retain the equality of status which they had from the beginning.  I am afraid that any State created without the adjustment proposed would lead to future troubles.
 

It would be wise to settle the points of disagreements now before asking for the creation of Anioma State.  You do not create States on the pages of Newspapers.  Consider the future generation.  Do not over burden them with avoidable difficulties. Lt. Col. Nzefili

These things have been severally and round the clock discussed, but the same problem comes back to haunt our understanding of the status quo. From the adduced and advanced culled write ups from such eminent history keeping personalities, one could summarily say without any political evanescent that the name "NDOKWA" was not easy to coin but was destined for an equable life span judging from all available and submitted demoskopie. Our past political Demosthenes used it for their own political bank rolls and other associated hidden fiduciary gourmand parades.

We could all see that what held sway to the coining of the name is no longer there. Political balkanization had caused her to metamorphose into SOMETHING one can no longer call "NDOKWA" with certainty. WHY and WHY? Wait a minute. Read again the culled parts of the submissions so made. You or one would have noticed that the "N" which is the starting point for the word and pronunciation has STOPPED to exist and now part of Rivers State. The other part of "UKWUANI" has been equally and maliciously balkanized. It now remains the dying  (if not dead) walking reticent remnant called "DO + 1/2KWA". These remnant of the content have never and will never agree to be one despite all the meetings purported to have been held decades ago by some of our eminent so to say personalities and the current ones that preceded the actual and real birth of  "evanescent --- figment of her shadow name (NDOKWA)".

In the course of this readership, you or one must have seen how Asse was politically swallowed into oblivion and pernicious attrition. The lost of Asse was a blow to ALL who agree that Ukwuani lost politically and kept "Pig face" with "Sheep comportment".  With the incessant stony, unbending but cantankerous relationship left and still lingering between Ndosumili and the other half of Ukwuani after Ndoni left for good and the other Ukwuani half mysteriously garnered their supports from wherever and left for good too, it will be a continuous foolhardy thing to continue to water the almost blighted and maggot ridden remaining union. Things are just not going smoothly between the remaining "tumor" that needs very urgent but efficacious incision. I have said it without number and will maintain my stance ---- Ndosumili and Ukwuani cannot be one and have never been one even in their corrosive merger of political convenience. Period. Hate it, believe it or leave it. It is my take which many know  ---- but many are shy or fear being called names to say things the way they really are. I will not be part of such kowtow brigade of silence and cosy dressings of foolishness in limbo. That brings me to the late Prof. Chinua Achebe's all round the world magnifying and educative literary work ---(Things Fall Apart): He stated before the book started that:

                      Turning and turning in this widening gyre

                      The Falcon cannot hear the Falconer

                      Things Fall Apart

                      The center cannot hold

                      Mere anarchy is loosed upon thy world.

We have reached a stage the name "Ndokwa" should cease to exist. It is almost swallowing our cultural identities of language and who we are in the or among the comity of the Nigerian nation. I owe no one any apology for my continuous drumming of this relationship that has negated and seriously balkanized us interminably like cancer that has defied all chemotherapy.

No time is late to change the name and let everyone bear his part of identity.

In the bastions of our separate world, may we understand that there are states smaller than our Delta state that live as a country in peace and modeled best of modernity. I detest this suffocating and every time back stabbing relationship. We have all the reasons to go with our respective and dignifying identities. No one should be answerable to the other or walk in the other's shadow. Enough is truly enough without mincing words.

Ishiegwali

Onye Ikwuh

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

                    HOW I GAVE THE NAME NDOKWA IN DELTA STATE

BY PRINCE L.G.L.C. Asibelua

Culled from Vanguard of Saturday April 5th 2008

PRINCE L.G.C. Asibelua is as born into the royal family of Ozuem and Ebeneze, the founders of ASE in Ndokiea East Local Government Area of Delta State.

We leant you are a nonagenarian, what was your growing up years like?

Like any other child growing up in a place like this. I was, however, fortunate to have been born with a “silver spoon” in my mouth. Why? Because my father was a fairly rich man by local standard. My mother was also a very successful trader. I started school at Ase in 1925. During my school days at Ase. I had a Hopper Bicycle, a room to myself fully furnished with bed and beddings mosquito net, table, chair, bookshelf, and Aladin lamp etc. My books and school uniforms were bought and provided regularly and my school fees were paid promptly monthly as and when due. I never went to turns or had to work to pay fees. My growing up years did not start and stop at Ase. I was also exposed educationally in Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Lagos and in England. So far, I thank God for attaining the age of a nonagenarian, inspite of human frailties and vicissitudes of life.

Please tell us about your early work history?

I first started work with UAC Niger House Lagos in 1939. I served in various departments, like Transport, Lighterage, Accounts, Import and Export, Customs Whart office, Staff Registry and the G.M’s office. In 1947, I was transferred to the Labour and Staff Department in Burutu as a consequence of the labour strike that took place there. I also served in the Transport Department and was in fact responsible for the upward transshipment and delivery of goods from Europe to all UAC stations along the Rivers Niger and Benue and to Garua in Northern Cameroun in 1948. I was also in charge of the downward shipment of cotton, groundnuts and other produce from Garua and all UAC stations long the Benue River in Burutu. Vessels, barges and cash entrusted in my care were worth millions of pounds.

Sir, we are here based on disclosures at a lecture delivered in Kwale by your daughter that you gave the name Ndokwa. Is this true Sir?

I gave the name NDOKWA. The minutes of the meeting (brandishing documents) are here with me. There was a lot of bickering and acrimony within the Native Authorities regarding the continued use of the name Aboh Division. Their grouse wan that Oputa II of Obi of Aboh was highhanded and overbearing. The Ukwani Native Authority was more vocal in the denunciation and as the problem was almost getting out of control, the Resident, Delta Province, Mr. R.J.M. Curwen had to summon a meeting of all the Native Authority at Kwale in which the following among others, were present:- R.J.M. Curwen, Esq., Resident Delta Province. G. J. Davies, Esq., D.O. Aboh Division Kwale. F.H. Butcher, Esq., AFC., D.O.  Aboh Division Kwale. Chief Anoka of Oguase, President Ukwani District NA. Chief A.B. Emeni, M.H.C. of Obiaruku, Vice President, Ukwani District NA. Chief J.O. Iwegbue of Emu-Uno. Chief I.E. Emegwari of Ase, President, Ndosinsili District NA. Chief T.O. Osaekete of Afor, Vice President Ndosinili District NA. Chief W.F. Oki, M.H.A. of Ashaka. Chief R.O. Morrison Obi amid D.U. Enebeli represented Ndoni NA.

I was also at the meeting in my capacity as the (ADO) Clerk of all the NA. Councils in the division. During this meeting, the atmosphere was over-heated and over-charged and because the Resident was keenly interested in the continued existence and unity of the division due to their homogeneity, he advised members to live and work together.

After the meeting, the Resident told me that this was a test for me and one of the main reasons why I was employed, being a son of the soil. He said I should find a solution to the problem. I at once put on my thinking cap and the name camp out of the blues. The N stands for Ndoni, DO for Ndosimili and KWA for Ukwuani, that to NDOKWA and NDOKWA means peace.

I recommend the name NDOKWA through the Senior District Officers AN. Cohen and F.H. Butcher to the Resident, Delta Province. Thereafter I was asked to take it to the then Minister for Local Government, Chief Obafemi in Ibadan. In-between, the civil war broke out. After the war however, when the military were creating states, and local governments, the name Ndokwa. Local Government surfaced encompassing the three former, Native Authorities I was very happy that day. Now, however, Ndoni is under Rivers State.

You were one-time ADO (Clerk of Councils), Councilor and later chairman all in Ndokwa? What were some of the key roles you played both on infrastructural and human development in the area?

Apart from the nomenclature, I was largely instrumental in the transition process from Native Authority system of government to Local Government Administration. As a matter of fact, four different areas including Aboh division, Edo, Oyo, Ago Awori were to be used as experiment for the workability of local government administration in Western Region. Amid as it was required under the Western Regional Local Government Law 1952, I had to make extensive consultations to determine their wishes. I traveled by river utilizing a marine boat sw JACK DORE normally sent from Forcados to take me round the Ndosimili areas and of course I used my car and driver to tour the Ukwuani areas. The reports are still there in Ibadan.

In the areas of there are so many of our people whose names mention here. I empowered so many by way of employment. Those still alive appreciate my magnanimity. For roads, a number of earth roads in Ndokwa especially the Ukwuani areas were opened up like junction through Ugili-Amai to Utagbu-Uno, Amai to Obiaruku. Kwale/Ogume/Amai and so many others within a period of three months. In Ndosimili area for example, we bulldozed, graded and opened up the following earth roads; Ashaka/Ushie/Aradhe, Ashaka/Igbuku/Iberede, Kwale/Afor/Iselegu/Ossissa, Edherie/Ase. It is on record that I opened up the road from Okpai junction to Aboh town; bulldozed and graded it. And all these were done with our personal funds voluntarily donated by me and my colleagues at the council. There was no kobo in the council’s treasury then hence we had to tax ourselves. It is an indisputable fact that nay car was the first to drive from Okpai junction to Aboh in 1983. The Obi of Aboh and Chief Onwusa are living witnesses.

What do you think about the past and present system of government?

In the past, only honest and reliable people were nominated and selected, unlike nowadays where leadership is for the highest bidder. When Chief Awolowo was minister for local government in the Western Region, he introduced a system embodied in the local government law 1952 where provision was made for local councils, District councils and Divisional councils. These councils were supposed to be run by the local people with proven good records and were supposed to be remunerated by either sitting and/or travel allowances, because those so elected alternative means of livelihood. But nowadays all they do is loot public treasury. The present democracy in Nigeria, in my opinion, is alien to our tradition and culture. Nigerians are suffering from paralysis of analysis. We are copycats. We want to copy the Americans without practicing exactly what the Americans are doing. If we must adopt, then we must adapt to suit our circumstances in all ramifications. In order to have lasting peace and progress in this country, we must, practice TRUE FEDERALISM where states and local governments control 75 per cent of their resources and 25 per cent to the Federal Government. Unless this is done sooner than later, our unity in diversity is a buffoonery. I read the other day in a National Daily about millions of naira spent on maintaining a FERMA road supposed to run from Kwale-Aboh through Onya with a bride across Ase river to Ase. As I am speaking with you, there is no such road from Aboh/Umuolu to Onya/Ase. Instead it is a thick forest, yet some people are alleged collecting millions of naira for maintenance of the road! I challenge FERMA to clarify and call on EFCC to investigate.

What are your hobbies sir?

Swimming, tennis, traveling and reading. Old age has however taken its toll and reduced these activities to only reading and sometimes traveling. I occasionally travel in and outside Nigeria to see and play with my children, grand and great grand children who have helped tremendously to make” life worth living”. And finally, I cannot conclude this interview without mentioning my wife now 87, as the pillar on which the whole family structure rests. She has been and continues to play the role of housewife, adviser, helper,, lover, friend, sinter, mother, and an inspiration to all of inc. May God protect, guide, and less her and nay children. Long live Ase kingdom. Long live Ndokwa nation. Long live Delta State, Long live Nigeria.

My people of Ndokwa Nation we are planing to pay this great man of Ndokwa visit soon.

Posted by Emeka A Enebeli

NNU Chairman Warri Branch

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Posted by: Beef Beef <beefbeefanagb...@yahoo.com>

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