RE: [asa-usa] Pictures of Ezinifite Secondary School, Aguata L.G.A
Okenwa R. Nwosu, M.D.
“They say that Nigerians have zero maintenance culture, and these pictures are true evidence of our neglect for what really matters in our life as a people. How can a people let their surroundings rot to this level? Where are the people of Ezinifite and where are the American based Ezinifite men and women? What has Peter Obi got to do with these deplorable sights in the name of a school? If checked properly, these buildings are much older than Peter Obi. The cost of replacing some of these roofs is much lower than the cost of some titles in both church and Igbo tradition. Does it not sound more like a misplaced priority than a blame rightly due to a governor of the state be him/her Peter Obi or Chris Ngige? ……………………
…………….. How can we remain at ease watching our valuables disappear? This must be our question. The question must not be how many more roads our governors construct which are likely to destroy at the end of their terms due to lack of maintenance which the school in Ezinifite suffered. God must continue to help Ndiigbo and Nigeria.” – Oliver Obi
Oliver,
Yes, God has been overcommitted to helping Ndiigbo and Nigeria to live yet another day despite the self-nihilistic conduct of our folks toward managing and conserving “what really matters in our life as a people”. In an ambience of widespread degradation and decay, all of us look very bad, from the mightiest to the lowliest in our midst. Whoever is very quick at pointing fingers at the villains in this our collective dance of shame should first look into the mirror to behold the archetypical malfeasant. But ours is an ordered society with elected or selected leaders who are enabled to act on behalf of the rest of us in deploying what we have in common for benefit of the greatest number.
As a former Chairman of Education and Sociocultural Committee of the Igboukwu Development Union (IDU) more than 20 years ago, I used to have responsibility to oversee educational facilities in the community, including secondary school buildings. In the late seventies and early eighties, many communities at ground zero tasked themselves to build secondary schools in order to accommodate the enormous increase in number of students who cannot get into the already overcrowded well established ones that reemerged in immediate aftermath of the Civil War. Almost without exception, the state government decided to take over these newly built secondary schools in all communities, staffed them and virtually owned them. The much influence that my committee had over the management and staff of the two community-built secondary schools in the town was mostly due to the carrot-and-stick policy that was pursued in interfacing with the school system. In return for financial and logistical support from the IDU, the school staff somehow acquiesced to our committee’s oversight despite the fact that the state government ministry was supposed to have the last word in all issues.
The dilapidated school buildings photographed at Ezinifite, Aguata LG, were all built through collective community effort of the town’s indigenes about thirty years ago. Many communities considered their responsibility done after handing over the completed structures to the government and simply looked the other way. The Anambra state Ministry of Education has done such a terrible job, as the photos show, in upkeep of what was handed over to it, without cost, to manage. Even if there was a radical drop in local school enrolment, as some had argued, the schools could have been merged or the available structures and space utilized for other educational programs like adult education or craft centers, for example. By taking over school buildings anywhere they existed in the state, the government did go overboard in promising more than it knows how to deliver upon. The autocratic military dictatorship of the past decades did not help matters. The grassroots population saw the military rulers and their errand boys as unapproachable and simply chose to turn their backs on the insensitive government of the day and minded their own business. This scenario held sway even after the return of civilian democratic rule as we have today.
Commonsense and experience show that educational system, especially at the primary and secondary levels, is best managed at the local level. Is the political leadership at Awka and elsewhere across ground zero cognizant of this truism? This is crux of the matter. Political leadership is supposed to be able to impart a vision of governance on the governed to the extent that everyone perceives oneself to be a vital stakeholder in planning and execution of the people’s business. Autocratic rule in a democracy, no matter how benevolent it claims to be, engenders alienation, lethargy and indifference amongst the governed. Being the governor of Anambra does not mean that one should become the sole benefactor and provider-in-chief for all existential needs of the governed. The most important requirement of political leadership is the ability to inspire and mobilize the governed to become active partakers on all matters of governance, particularly those that impact their daily existence. This can be achieved through conscious delimitation of power away from the central authority so as to bring empowerment and feeling of sense of belonging and ownership at the grassroots level. What obtains in Anambra today under the Obi administration is reminiscent of the type of absolute autocratic rule which held sway in the era of military dictatorship. The governed feel so alienated, powerless and inconsequential in scheme of things.
Oliver, there are enough blames to go round, from the governor to the indigenes of Ezinifite wherever they are domiciled. But the greatest burden rests with the political leadership in Awka who was elected to lead and to show the way forward, even under the most difficult circumstances. Mr. Peter Obi was not elected to be the omniscient and omnipotent superman who must play God in meeting all the existential needs of Ndi Anambra during his tenure as governor. His main task as a leader is to reach out to broaden the base of governance, inspire the governed and put together capable teams to help him in planning and implementing the agenda and programs that he envisions for Ndi Anambra. Is he doing this as we speak?
Okenwa.
From:
asa...@yahoogroups.com [mailto:asa...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ama...@comcast.net
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 5:34 PM
To: asa...@yahoogroups.com; Anambr...@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [asa-usa] Pictures of Ezinifite Secondary School, Aguata
L.G.A
"First, I would like to get email address for Mr. Tochukwu Ezeoke, I want to send him a congratulatory message. There are so much we must all learn from him."
With the pictures and a few lines of this message, the above is how I started my personal opinion on this topic, but then I said to myself that it is always a good idea to read the entire material before responding. Yes I did and I surely came out with a different view. They say that every picture tells a story and these pictures seem to tell lots of political stories. In doing so, the stories took away the flavor of decency which is the basis of any prospering society. When a people neglect their surroundings, they neglect themselves. They say that Nigerians have zero maintenance culture, and these pictures are true evidence of our neglect for what really matters in our life as a people. How can a people let their surroundings rot to this level. Where are the people of Ezinifite and where are the American based Ezinifite men and women. What has Peter Obi got to do with these deplorable sights in the name of a school. If checked properly, these buildings are much older than Peter Obi. The cost of replacing some of these roofs is much lower than the cost of some titles in both church and Igbo tradition. Does it not sound more like a misplaced priority than a blame rightly due to a governor of the state be him/her Peter Obi or Chris Ngige.
If I may borrow this posting by Chinwe Nemchukwu:
"The Green Stuff: Christmas Wreaths
They do it to receive
a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1
Corinthians 9:25, NASV
|
In 1992, the Worcester Wreath Company of Maine had a problem. The selling season was drawing to a close and Morrill Worcester had hundreds of unsold wreaths. What could he do? His mind went back to a trip to the nation's capital he'd won as a 12-year-old paper boy. Worcester had been deeply moved by his visit to Arlington National Cemetery. Now, years later, he loaded a truck with wreaths and received permission to decorate the graves at Arlington. That was over 15 years and 60,000 wreaths ago, and the idea has since spread to other military cemeteries. Every year, hundreds of volunteers lay "Wreaths Across America."
Not that I am a Mr. church goer, but I often listen to David Jeremiah and I enjoy his preaching style. Here, the message which is best directed to Ndiigbo ended up with the Corinthians. How can we remain at ease watching our valuables disappear. This must be our question. The question must not be how many more roads our governors construct which are likely to destroy at the end of their terms due to lack of maintenance which the school in Ezinifite suffered. God must continue to help Ndiigbo and Nigeria.
Oliver Obi
----- Original Message -----
From: jasma...@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 4:54 PM
Subject: [asa-usa] Pictures of Ezinifite Secondary School, Aguata L.G.A
Privately renovated by Mazi Tochukwu Ezeoke with Foreign Assistance
From Anambra State? Click here to join World Anambra Forum, a Worldwide Forum for Anambrarians home and abroad. For Best International Calling Card Rates, Malaysian Gardens at Abuja (cheap Housing Units), visit www.jasmak.com . a name you can trust. Visit us today.
___________________
The People's Servant,
Chief Jimmy E. Asiegbu
Okwuru Oha 1, Ndigbo ( Onu Na Ekwuru Ndigbo )
Executive Director
Nigeria Policy Institute, USA www.nigeriapolicyinstitute.org
Founder, ASA-USA
Also visit www.jasmak.com , www.malaysiangarden.com
Office. 213 426 8956,( 8am - 2pm, M-F),
Cell: 310 497-5007
Fax: 213 385-0245, email: jas...@nigeriapolicyinstitute.org
In a message dated 12/9/2008 8:04:48 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, cazu...@yahoo.com writes:
I have not seen any work or even plans on the Idemili LG schools unless there is no school over there.
Chidi Azubike
From: (Maazi)Tochukwu E. EZEOKE <ezeto...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 8:12 AM
To: Anambr...@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AnambraForum] What About Ezinifite-Ekwulummiri-Amichi-Nnewi Road?The question by Mr. Jimmy Asiegbu is a very profound one. I feel that Mr. Val. should have mentioned other roads that will be constructed or repaired. If those roads are mentioned, it will be an evidence in “black and white”, which perhaps might not call for this email responds.
Lets us remember that when the governor commissioned the school I build for Ezinifite with my German friends on December 26th 2007, there was re-affirmed that the “Ekwulobia - Ezinifite - Ekwulummiri- Amichi –Nnewi” Road will be looked into.
Besides, other blocks of classrooms in the community secondary school Ezinifite are still in sorry state which was promised to be repaired. Schools in Uga, Unubi, Ikenga and Ekwulobia are not spared. I was promised personally that the rest of the school in Ezinifite will be done before my next return to Ezinifite which is in less than two weeks. For now, nothing has happen. Or is something going to happen within the next 10 days?
What “WE” are asking for is not for personal gratification, rather we want the roads and schools to be repaired.God bless Anambra state
Maazi Tochukwu Ezeoke(onye nje nje ka onye isiawo ihe ama)
From: "jasma...@aol.com" <jasma...@aol.com>
To: Anambr...@yahoogroups.com; asa...@yahoogroups.com; ezinifite...@yahoogroups.com; Aguata-O...@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, 8 December, 2008 16:47:56
Subject: [AnambraForum] What About Ezinifite-Ekwulummiri-Amichi-Nnewi Road?Val:
What about Ekwulobia - Ezinifite - Ekwulummiri- Amichi -Nnewi Road Axis. This road is an alternative and direct road to Nnewi from Ekwulobia. His Excellency did receive a letter requesting that this long neglected Road and direct major entrance to Ezinifite in Aguata L.G.A. be included among his list of Roads to be constructed. I was informed that this particular Road is included in the 2008 Budget.
From Anambra State? Click here to join World Anambra Forum, a Worldwide Forum for Anambrarians home and abroad. For Best International Calling Card Rates, Malaysian Gardens at Abuja (cheap Housing Units), visit www.jasmak.com . a name you can trust. Visit us today.
____________ _______
The People's Servant,
Chief Jimmy E. Asiegbu
Okwuru Oha 1, Ndigbo ( Onu Na Ekwuru Ndigbo )
Executive Director
Nigeria Policy Institute, USA www.nigeriapolicyin stitute.org
Founder, ASA-USA
Also visit www.jasmak.com , www.malaysiangarden com
Office. 213 426 8956,( 8am - 2pm, M-F),
Cell: 310 497-5007
Fax: 213 385-0245, email: jasmak@nigeriapolic yinstitute. org
In a message dated 12/8/2008 7:11:17 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, valobi2000@yahoo. co.uk writes:
ANAMBRA AWARDS MASSIVE ROAD CONTRACTS
Living up to his vow to turn Anambra State into a massive construction yard after the rains, the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi has awarded, and will, within two weeks award the contracts for the construction of some critical roads in the Stat.
Speaking to journalists in Awka yesterday, the Commissioner for Works, Arc. Calistus Ilozumba said that the designs for the roads to be awarded or had already been awarded had all be completed. He assured that the State Government has carefully and in a planned and organized manner weighed its purse before the roads were awarded or considered to be awarded and assured that none of them will be abandoned as the Government of Peter Obi is not known for abandoning contracts, since for him, it is not a matter to be played politics with.
The Commissioner named some roads that are due for award to include: Old Onitsha- Awka-Road, Oba- Nnewi Road, Oye Nimo-Abacha Road, Awkuzu-Igbariam- Adani Road, Umuezeanam-Nmieata Road, Silaswork Road (Onitsha), Premier Work Road (Onitsha), Agulu Avenue (Nkopr), Ekwulobia-Nkpologwu -Achina Road, among others.
On the choice of contractors, the Commissioner assured that the State would use the best, after carefully considering the quality of work the various contractors had done in the State in the past. When he was asked to explain, he said; “We have done so many roads in the State and have also used so many contractors. The law of selection based on quality of work will naturally be applied. We have to narrow our contractors to those that have shown the capacity for quality and timely delivery.”
The Commissioner also disclosed that work is now going on in all the awarded roads in the State as the Governor promised.
The Commissioner also dispelled speculations that the massive construction of the roads will affect other sectors saying: “The Anambra Integrated Development Strategy of the State Government believes that development is only complete when it is integral. We cannot, because we are building roads neglect other sectors. As I am speaking to you work is going on in many sectors. Not many people know, for example, that five massive buildings are being erected simultaneously at the School of Agriculture Mgbakwu and that work is going on at the Prof. Kenneth Dike Central Library and at many other projects sites.
_
aan...@aol.com
This is a template that should be used by all who mean well for our state or in any community. I am all for it and he has made a statement....This young man, Mazi Tochukwu Ezeoke, Ichie Onye nje nje of Aguata, saw a need in his community and stepped up. He had a blue print, mobilized funds and tackled it. No press, nothing. The pictures he posted are touching. He could have used his money to garner undeserved chieftaincy titles, marry another wife or keep other fleet of women and hangers on. NO, this young man had a mission. The fruit of it is what is so visible to all to see and cherish. Its there in color. There is too much chasing of the shadows that the real deal needed back home is sidetracked. This young man is worth my praise and admiration. The older ones have a lot to learn from him.
Austin
To: Anambr...@yahoogroups.com; asa...@yahoogroups.com; IGBO EVENTS <IgboEvents@yahoogroups.com>; igbo_...@yahoogroups.com; WorldIgb...@yahoogroups.com
Cc: WIEF Forum <wi...@googlegroups.com>; IDU USA Forum <idu...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 6:30 am
Subj ect: [AnambraForum] The issue about the Pictures of Ezinifite Secondary School
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Okenwa R. Nwosu, M.D.
Oliver,
My understanding of Igbo enwe eze is that Ndiigbo do not grant any particular person with right to autocratic rule on permanent basis. In other words, leadership of our folks is limited always in time and scope. There must be a cultural reason why our predecessors evolved this democratic social order and I am very comfortable with this aspect of our heritage.
In authentic Igbo social order, everyone is a potential leader and fortunately, this is also the case in the variant of democracy we practice in Nigeria. Governor Obi, just like all his predecessors and future successors, serves at the discretion of the people according to established guidelines or the constitution. Ndiigbo don’t believe in divine right to rule in perpetuity or as one chooses. Within a democracy, political discourse is never construed to be a distraction; it provides a safeguard for ensuring that the intercourse between the leaders and the led are dynamic at all times. Distraction of an elected leadership, therefore, has no place in the lexicon of democratic governance. Even long before Barack Obama gets sworn in as US President, he is already under intense scrutiny from all corners by variety of interest groups within the polity. It is certainly not going to get any easier when he enters the Oval Office in a few weeks’ time. No one regards such interaction with an elected leader as distraction in the US; it is indeed what it takes to make a true democracy to function for the collective interest of the people.
WIEF, because of the nature of its mission, cannot operate in a political vacuum. What contravenes WIEF’s interest is involvement in partisanship. The foundation’s anchor is the grassroots population at ground zero which is always a constant. Partisan political formations come and go but the WIEF’s anchor shall survive eternally.
WIEF is intent on “mobilizing college students across Igbo land to help pick trash paper in some cities of Igbo land” and much more in coming years and decades. Leadership of the foundation shall also team up with increasing number of conscientious Igbo to foster the Green Movement ideology which shall ultimately offer deliverance where it is needed most at the grassroots. You too can become part of this by working with the student population for a start.
Okenwa.
From:
IgboE...@yahoogroups.com [mailto:IgboE...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ama...@comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 10:20 AM
To: asa...@yahoogroups.com; IGBO EVENTS; igbo_...@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IgboEvents:Live] Re: [asa-usa] Pictures of Ezinifite Secondary
School, Aguata L.G.A
Dr. Nwosu,
I meant to respond to your mail much earlier than today, but due to time, I am just getting to it. You made lots of points, some I agree with and some I do not. I have known you on these forum as someone who in most times is not influenced by the popular opnion and I respect you very much for that. I remember when you where called a member of the NOTORIOUS SIX with myself and few others by Jimmy Asiegbu during his leadership of ASA-USA. I know he did that because you were against the 2003 rigged election in Anambra. We all shouted loud against election rigging at the time because we all know how behind such culture will keep us. Today, God helped us and installed Peter Obi who worn the votes of the people, we must allow Mr. Obi to lead us without distractions, what do you think? While on it, let us look at some of the points you made.
"By taking over school buildings anywhere they existed in the state, the government did go overboard in promising more than it knows how to deliver upon. The autocratic military dictatorship of the past decades did not help matters. The grassroots population saw the military rulers and their errand boys as unapproachable and simply chose to turn their backs on the insensitive government of the day and minded their own business. This scenario held sway even after the return of civilian democratic rule as we have today."---- Dr. Nwosu
"Commonsense and experience show that educational system, especially at the primary and secondary levels, is best managed at the local level. Is the political leadership at Awka and elsewhere across ground zero cognizant of this truism? This is crux of the matter. Political leadership is supposed to be able to impart a vision of governance on the governed to the extent that everyone perceives oneself to be a vital stakeholder in planning and execution of the people’s business."--- Dr. Nwosu
"Autocratic rule in a democracy, no matter how benevolent it claims to be, engenders alienation, lethargy and indifference amongst the governed. Being the governor of Anambra does not mean that one should become the sole benefactor and provider-in-chief for all existential needs of the governed."---- Dr. Nwosu
"Being the governor of Anambra does not mean that one should become the sole benefactor and provider-in-chief for all existential needs of the governed. The most important requirement of political leadership is the ability to inspire and mobilize the governed to become active partakers on all matters of governance, particularly those that impact their daily existence."---- Dr. Nwosu
"What obtains in Anambra today under the Obi administration is reminiscent of the type of absolute autocratic rule which held sway in the era of military dictatorship. The governed feel so alienated, powerless and inconsequential in scheme of things."----- Dr. Nwosu
"Mr. Peter Obi was not elected to be the omniscient and omnipotent superman who must play God in meeting all the existential needs of Ndi Anambra during his tenure as governor. His main task as a leader is to reach out to broaden the base of governance, inspire the governed and put together capable teams to help him in planning and implementing the agenda and programs that he envisions for Ndi Anambra. Is he doing this as we speak?"----- Dr. Nwosu
My brother Okenwa, are you really beeing fare in your judgement of the Governor here. You consider the current leadership of Anambra State a dictatorship government, I ask, how long has Gov. Peter Obi been in office to earn such unfair characterization. Must the governor govern with every Anambra man in his team so that he may buy yours and my favor. I do expect people like you and I to have a better understanding of this fact than some others who are not equally disposed to understand it. Today, Obama is selecting the members of his team and that process does not mean that he must choose all Americans in the team. At one point, we Ndiigbo must know the difference between the governed and the governor, otherwise the problems of "Igbo enwe eze" will continue to chase us into the woods. We must concentrate our effort in seeking those ways that allow us to choose our leaders and after that seek way that demand good leadership from those we choose. We must not continue to distract our leaders because we are not one of the chosen few in the leadership team. For the time I have been in America, I have learnt that all Americans have such sense that they are part of their own leadership. They start this believe by first rushing to the voting boot to elect their candidates of choice and secondary giving their elected candidates all the supports they need to lead them. If you listen to C-SPAN, you may agree with me that the leadership groups most often listen to the public, especially those who are qualified in different fields of knowledge. In Igbo land, a truck pusher wishes to be the commisioner for education and if Gov. Peter Obi turns him down, he goes all out against the governor.
Dr. Nwosu, when you came up with the idea of WIEF, I thought you did well and sent you a supporting e-mail. A project like WIEF if managed properly can become a consultant for state across Igbo land, but WIEF lacked the patience it needed to remain on the right path. When I noticed that WIEF is political and no different from other thousands of Igbo organizations, I wrote you once again to take my name off your list. Organization like WIEF can concentrate its effort in mobilzing college student across Igbo land to help pick trash paper in some cities of Igbo land. Not that college students can pick all trash in one city of Igbo land, but such involvement will go a long way in changing the culture and above all tell our leaders that we care and they should equally care. Listen my brother, there are a lot to write about, but I can't just continue.
Oliver Obi
----- Original Message -----
From: Okenwa R. Nwosu, M.D.
To: ANAMBRA FORUM ; asa...@yahoogroups.com ; IGBO EVENTS ; igbo_...@yahoogroups.com ; WorldIgb...@yahoogroups.com
Cc: WIEF Forum ; IDU USA Forum
Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2008 8:26 AM
Subject: RE: [asa-usa] Pictures of Ezinifite Secondary School, Aguata L.G.A
