The 'Bring Back Our Girls' Conundrum

THE ‘BRING BACK OUR GIRLS’ CONUNDRUM


Brethren, I could remember vividly when we were kids, we used to heartily cite most children poems both under the sun and rain. Today, I keep on imagining how it would look to people around me if I eventually repeat or come-up with those things we did very well during our childhood stage.

Nevertheless, some present occasions we encounter warrant the repetition of those things we did or said when we were mere toddlers or teenagers as the case might be.

Frankly, barely three nights ago, precisely Friday May 23 – 2014, I had a nightmare; and it was all about ‘The giant of Africa’. In the dream, someone was forcedly dragging me towards one of the border sides of the aforementioned country; and the border in question happened to be a very familiar one to my person. It was really a complicated and horrific dream; believe me, it was a vague one. Till this moment, I’m still bemused over the anomaly. Honestly I’m presently passing through a state of imbroglio as a result of the encounter.

Well, maybe the above dream wasn’t unconnected to the various untold scenes we witnessed almost on a daily basis in the Nigerian state. I’m just thinking aloud. Of course, it’s no longer news that the entire members of the ‘innocent’ nation have been sleeping with one eye open for quite some years now. And as the subsequent days unfold, it appears the situation is being aggravated. It’s really pathetic.

Since the inception of duty of the current federal administration ‘ably’ led by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Islamic sect otherwise known as ‘Boko Haram’ has been terrorizing the country, particularly the North-Eastern region. I learnt that the so-called Boko Haram is currently the world’s third most dreaded terrorist institution; it is reportedly the third to only Al-Shabaab and Al-Quaeda.

The Boko Haram group has been saluting virtually all the facets of the Nigeria’s Northern region with series of bomb blasts and all-manner of explosives. This, no doubt, has been lingering constantly and consistently for quite some time now. I was forced to ask if Nigeria was passing through a kind of spell invoked by our forefathers thereby making me to cite and as well recite most of the dirges we normally cite those days we were in Nursery School. But on the contrary, I’m strongly of the view that our forefathers wouldn’t want anything less than ‘The Best’ for this ‘great’ country. Let’s ride on!

Some weeks ago, Tuesday 15th April 2014, over 200 students in Federal Government Girls’ College, Chibok, Bornu State were allegedly abducted by same Boko Haram insurgents at about some minutes past one in the midnight, barely few hours after they bombed the famous Nyanya Motor Park in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This incident, which is first of its kind, has continued to attract mixed feelings and comments from various groups both across the country and in the diaspora. The most devastating aspect is that, I was informed lately that, the abducted girls were allegedly being raped daily by their abductors.

Reports hold that, while some have dismissed current government’s efforts to curb terrorism, others are insisting that the insurgents are receiving cooperation from high quarters. Still, amidst the various discussions, reports, mixed comments, and what have you, in respect to recuing those abducted innocent school girls, many other terrorist actions had subsequently taken place in several corners of the same Northern region. The most recent one was the one that occurred few days ago, Tuesday May 20, 2014 in Jos, Plateau State; leaving over 150 people dead, many maimed and too many others injured.

Reportedly, I learnt that after the recent Jos bombing, Nigerian government ranks or was blacklisted as worst government in the entire world. The report in question reads, ‘The Jos bombings of Tuesday May 20, 2014 which claimed more than 200 lives according to latest counts, has pushed Nigeria to formally occupy the first position in the ranking of world nations with the worst governments in history.’ I was further informed that other criteria which recently moved Nigeria up the list include, corruption, poverty, and pollution.

Notwithstanding, the most grievous experience to the hearts of the teeming Nigerians remains the abduction of the Chibok school girls. The ugly incident has attracted so many reactions and counter-reactions across the globe, including the readiness of the International Community as regards rescuing the innocent girls. Needless to say that, all hands are on deck to ensure that the ongoing mystery coupled with misery is unravel.

Many crusades and peaceful protests have been conducted by concerned individuals and numerous non-governmental organizations including the religious bodies all over the country concerning the abduction of the school girls, which the inscription on their placards reads, ‘Bring Back Our Girls’. The Bring-back-our-girls crusade has abruptly turned to a mere poem being cited by children of various ages, because nothing different seems to have been done to ensure that the scenario becomes a thing of the past after five good weeks of the relentless efforts. At this juncture, I’m forced to ask again, are we under a kind of spell?

Many rumours and what have you, have been lingering concerning the ‘Sambisa forest’ situated in Adamawa State. Based on the Guardian Newspaper of Thursday May 8, 2014, the Adamawa state governor in the person of retired Admiral Murtala Nyako reportedly stated in an exclusive interview as follows: ‘… Sambisa is about 60 km long and 60 km wide. If you are in the forest, you can only see the next person by your side if you have a torchlight; if not, you can’t see anything. It is a thick forest with heavy trees and wild animals ….’ In the speech he said unequivocally that, unless the Federal Government takes a bold step to destroy the forest, the fight against insurgency may continue to rage in the area.

My humble question regarding this wholesome report remains; is the so-called Sambisa forest inaccessible? Well, whatever the case might be, all I want and all we care for is that, they must bring back our girls; I’m sick and tired of all these Sambisa bullshits and the rest of them. Enough of this conundrum. It’s high time we started thinking in a different direction. Think about it!



FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Opening Speech By Oru East TC-Chairman During Her Excellency's Visit

THE WELCOME ADDRESS PRESENTED BY ORU EAST TC CHAIRMAN - HON. BARR. OBINNA AMAGWULA, DURING THE COMMISSIONING OF SNARP PHASE III BY HER EXCELLENCY - NNEOMA NKECHI OKOROCHA, TODAY FRIDAY MAY 23, 2014




PROTOCOLS



Your Excellency, I’m so delighted to present this speech before your presence in this historic and epoch-making occasion. I’m indeed deeply pleased to have you in our midst today.

It is no longer news that you are in Oru East to commission the ultra-modern house you built for one of us under the aegis of the Phase-III of the She Needs A Roof Project (SNARP), which your Excellency just concluded a while ago in all the existing Local Government Areas in Imo State. We have not forgotten the one you commissioned sometime ago at Ezi-Awo I autonomous Community in Awo-Omamma.

This programme (SNARP) was solely initiated by you, due to your undiluted passion to ensure thorough eradication of shanty huts through the construction of befitting bungalows for the poorest of the poor and the downtrodden in Imo State, most importantly the indigent widows and orphans.

Without mincing words and with all-manner of sincerity, in the history of this state, this would be the very first time we would witness such capital intensive project duly oversees by a First Lady. You have really proven to us beyond any reasonable doubt that your love for the good people of Imo State and Oru East in particular remains indisputable and relentless, just like that of a mother to her beloved children in whom she is well pleased. We sincerely promise you that we shall live to remember this uncommon generosity.

Honestly Ma, we the good people of Oru East gathered here today, lack the appropriate word we could use to express our joy having counted us worthy to benefit from this remarkable and conscience-driven programme widely known as She Needs A Roof Project (SNARP). Needless to say that, we are humbled to be your host in regard to this ever-charming initiative that has granted your Excellency a well-deserved name, “Eji Ulo Eme Ogo”.

Your Excellency, we immensely pray that posterity will never cease to remember you and your entire household owing to the fact that, many have been enriched with eternal happiness as a result of the indefatigable magnanimous gesture you have been showcasing to the needy and the less-privileged in our midst; which is not unconnected to the Rescue Mission Agenda of your darling and lovely husband, His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

I want to use this avenue to appreciate all of us who found time to embrace this wonderful and memorable event, most especially the leaders of this council and the traditional rulers. We have proven to our First Lady that indeed, She is in our hearts. I also want to commend everyone who contributed in one way or the other to ensure that this ceremony becomes a success.

Once again your Excellency; Eji Ulo eme ogo, we the entire people of Oru East LGA wish you and your able entourage a safe trip back to your respective destinations.

Thank you all!



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HON. BARR. OBINNA AMAGWULA

TC-CHAIRMAN, ORU EAST LGA

Forthcoming VIsit of the Imo First Lady (Aired Newstalk)

THE FORTHCOMING VISIT OF THE IMO FIRST LADY TO ORU EAST LGA FOR THE COMMISSIONING OF THE PHASE-III OF THE SHE NEEDS A ROOF PROJECT, TOMORROW FRIDAY MAY 23, 2014




As the Imo State First Lady visits Oru East Local Government Area tomorrow for the commissioning of the Phase-III of the She Needs A Roof Project (SNARP) that recently took place in the area, the entire people of Oru East are strongly of the view that, it is indeed a long-awaited event due to the uniqueness of the project in question.

Due to her extreme love for humanitarianism and as a mother par excellence, as soon as she assumed office as the Imo First Lady, Her Excellency Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha through a divine inspiration assured the good people of Imo State that she would stride relentlessly to ensure that poverty is drastically alleviated among Imo indigenes in line with the Rescue Mission Agenda of her darling husband – Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

In view of this, Her Excellency went ahead to institute a remarkable programme known as She Needs A Roof Project (SNARP) under the aegis of a Non Governmental Organization – the Women Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI), solely founded by her. The inauguration of the aforementioned project attracted dignitaries and well-spirited individuals from all walks of life across the federation.

This programme instituted by the Imo First Lady, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha is driven by her intense passion to ensure thorough eradication of shanty huts through the construction of befitting bungalows for the poorest of the poor and the downtrodden in Imo State, most especially the indigent widows and orphans.

With all sincerity, in the history of Imo State and beyond, this would be the first time we would witness such capital-intensive project being spearheaded by a First Lady. In the past, we only saw the First Ladies share bags of food stuffs and other valuable items among the indigent women. But the present First Lady, Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha has proven to us that one can still thrive beyond his/her strength if he/she is truly willing and determined, having introduced and as well implemented the ongoing life touching programme (SNARP).

The astonishing and most amazing aspect of SNARP is that, it is being carried out simultaneously in all the existing twenty-seven (27) Local Government Areas in the state. Most importantly, the consistency and the ebullience constantly showcased by the Imo First Lady while carrying-out the projects, is not in doubt. This was why the entire Imo women unanimously crowned her with an impeccable and memorable title “Eji Ulo eme ogo”.

At the moment, the Phases I, II and III of the She Needs A Roof Project (SNARP) have respectively taken place in all the LGAs in Imo State, and the commissioning of the Phase III which was recently rounded-off by Her Excellency is ongoing in all the LGAs. And, that of Oru East is expected to take place tomorrow Friday 23rd May, 2014.

Another impressive part of SNARP is that, during the commissioning of the furnished ultra modern two-bedroom apartments built for the indigent women or orphans, the beneficiaries would be provided with other fascinating living facilities; and among these, a certain trade would be established for each of them afterwards. Above all, all the affected orphans stands a chance of being adopted by Her Excellency for the rest of their lives.

Suffice to say; the benevolent Imo First Lady otherwise known as the hope of the hopeless, is not just beautifying our indigent women and orphans with enticing houses, but also extracting them from the zone of poverty for eternity.

Tomorrow May 23 - 2014, by the special grace of God, the indefatigable Imo First Lady would be in Oru East to commission the befitting bungalow she built for some of the indigent widows in the area in line with the Phase III of the SNAR Project. And, the proposed ceremony is expected to take place at the premises of the beneficiaries.

As the Transition Committee (TC) Chairman, Hon. Barr. Obinna Amagwula, his amiable wife (the Oru-East First Lady) – Nneoma Ugonna Amagwula, the entire Transition Committee members, and all the leaders, women, youths and children of Oru East LGA look forward to receive Her Excellency - Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, tomorrow being Friday 23rd May – 2014, we pray that the good Lord we guide and guard the lovely and loving Imo First Lady and her entourage to and fro of their tour.

In the same vein, on behalf of the TC-Chairman, Barr. Obinna Augustus Amagwula, and the overall TC-members, I urge all the good people of Oru East, which include the elders, public servants, senior citizens, the traditional rulers and members of their cabinet, the youth, children, and most importantly the women, to turnout en masse and welcome the God-sent Imo First Lady and her able entourage.

Your Excellency; Eji Ulo eme ogo, Ndi Oru East na asi gi, Ijeoma oo!!



COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

Special Adviser on Media & Publicity to the TC-Chairman

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