Opinion II Today July 18 is, Nelson Mandela Int'l Day

SUING FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE AS THE 2017 NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY IS MARKED ON TUESDAY JULY 18

         

 

      Nelson Mandela

July 18 each year, the world over celebrates the Nelson Mandela International day, or simply the ‘Mandela Day’, in honour of the late icon Dr. Nelson Madiba Mandela who happened to be the first democratically elected President of South-Africa. The day, which is being celebrated annually and internationally, is an event organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI).

         

It was endorsed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in November 2009 to mark Mandela’s birthday, thereby creating awareness on the need for everyone to support selfless service to humanity which helps to uplift peace and justice and to free mankind from all sorts of bondages. The day isn’t a public holiday, but specifically a day to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela and his values, through volunteering and community services. The remarkable event was first celebrated by the UN in 2010. However, other groups began celebrating Mandela Day on 18^th July 2009.

        

The Mandela Day is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual, regardless of status or age, possesses the power to transform the world as well as the ability to make an impact on any society he/she finds him/herself. This implies that we are expected to strive relentlessly towards bringing a positive change wherever we find ourselves.  

         

In the world over, just as everyone constantly and persistently prays to have peace, so do we pray for justice in all our endeavours. In the same vein, whosoever that is faced with any kind of bondage, either spiritual or physical, shall never have rest of mind until he/she regains freedom. This is to say that, every man is consistently striving towards actualizing unalloyed peace, justice, or freedom, as the case may be.

         

The above assertion signifies that no man wishes to encounter any form of bitterness in any field of endeavour, on a daily basis. This is the reason the global community through the effort of the United Nations (UN), came up with the ongoing International Nelson Mandela Day to ensure that everyone considers peace as a priority towards societal and human-capital development.

         

It’s not anymore news that the late Nelson Mandela, while on earth, gave sixty-seven (67) years of his life to the struggle for human rights and social justice. As a founding member of the then ruling democratic party in South Africa known as the African National Congress (ANC), Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He spent twenty-seven (27) years in prison but remained unstoppable in leading strategic revolution against apartheid government.

          

Interestingly, when Nelson Mandela was elected the President of South Africa in 1994, he did not call for vengeance or retribution against the whites; rather, he led a sensitive reconciliation movement that amazed all the African as well as International politicians. Furthermore, he campaigned for peace, unity and love among South Africans irrespective of race or tribe. Because of the astonishing character of the late icon, the UN General Assembly in 2009 proclaimed the annual International Nelson Mandela Day.

         

So, as the world over commemorates the Nelson Mandela International Day, there’s need for collective support and solidarity by all and sundry from all walks of life irrespective of race, age, background or status. In view of this, the international community is urging us today to devote at least sixty-seven (67) minutes of our time to helping others. By devoting 67 minutes of our time – one minute for every year of Nelson Mandela’s public service, people can make a small gesture of solidarity with humanity and a step toward a global moment for good, which we all anticipate.

          

Hence, take action, inspire change, and mobilize the human race to do more in order to build a peaceful, sustainable and equitable world. This is the best tribute we can pay to an extraordinary man who embodied the highest values of humanity while on earth and ensured that we saw ourselves as one indivisible body.

          

Reportedly, UN staff around the world have made a difference through a variety of activities in the past, such as supplies to school children, preparing meals for the elderly ones, helping out in an orphanage, cleaning-up parks, delivering computer literacy seminars and workshops, and what have you. Also, in New York of the United States of America (USA) for instance, UN staff volunteered their time on 17 and 18 July 2013 to help rebuild homes that were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

         

We can as well contribute our own quota to public service by individually or collectively indulging in any of the following humanitarian activities, but not limited to:

v Make a new friend; get to know someone from a different cultural background because it is only through mutual understanding we can rid our communities of intolerance and xenophobia.

v Read for someone who can’t; visit a local home for the orphans and the less-privileged.

v Help someone get a job; prepare a CV for them and help them acquire the required interview skills.

v Take a little time to have a chat with the terminally ill people and bring some sunshine into their respective lives.

v Get tested for HIV as well as other Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and encourage your partner, colleagues and friends to do so too.

v Donate blood, wheelchair, or cash to someone in need.

v Lastly, but not the least, buy a few blankets, or grab the ones you no longer use in your home and give them to someone in need.

         

Frankly, we all are expected to unanimously support this remarkable life-touching event globally recognized as Nelson Mandela International Day, because the life and times of the celebrity in question, Dr. Nelson Madiba Mandela were no doubt worthy of emulation. Think about it!

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Clinic - Owerri

______________________________________

Twitter: @mediambassador

http://facebook.com/theMediaAmbassador

Opinion I On Incessant Building Collapse in Imo

ON INCESSANT BUILDING COLLAPSE IN OWERRI

         

The last time I painstakingly checked, four uncompleted buildings had collapsed from their foundation levels within barely a week interval, all within the Owerri Capital Territory. The bad omens, which variously involved three 3-storey and a-storey buildings, transpired at different locations but mainly in Owerri West Local Government Area (LGA).

        

The precise affected areas were Obinze, Umuguma and Oforola, all in Owerri-West LGA as well as Ulakwo in Owerri-North LGA. It was unarguably very painful and devastating that that of Oforola brutally claimed about three human souls and equally injured many others. Till now, the shock that ensued therein still lives in the hearts of the bereaved and of course, those who were present at the scene of the incident.

         

To say that Imolites – especially those who reside under decking – now sleep with one eye open with the fear of not knowing what would happen next, is indeed to assert the least. Everyone including myself is at the moment conspicuously jittery; a feeling which no doubt is not unconnected with fear of the unknown. Notwithstanding, courtesy demands that we ought not to allow our emotions becloud our individual or collective sense of reasoning. It suffices to say that, in a situation like this, we are expected to strive towards ensuring that such unspeakable circumstance wouldn’t again see the light of the day.

         

It’s quite disheartening that building collapse, which used to be a phenomenon synonymous with Lagos State, Abuja and their environs, is now ostensibly the order of the day in the Eastern Heartland. Hence, we must not fold our arms and watch the ugly trend degenerate into a more troubling point. This implies that in our respective capacities, we are required to henceforth sit up or wake up from slumber.

         

The fact remains that we wouldn’t do the needful or what is exactly expected of us if we failed to acknowledge the rudimentary causes of the menace in question. It’s noteworthy that building collapse could be attributable to either natural or manmade factors, or both. The tragedy that recently befell Imo, Owerri precisely, could be blamed on both factors.

        

It’s not anymore news that heavy downpour is currently on the rampage, thereby resulting to uncontrollable flooding. Lately, flooding has remained an ubiquitous misfortune as far as Nigeria is concerned. A highly revered locality in the city of Lagos known as Lekki remains one of the areas that would live to tell the dangers constituted by the ongoing intense flooding witnessed across the federation.

        

We are not unaware that flooding alone has a strong effect on completed structures let alone the ones that are still under construction. However, there are criteria that can help buildings, be it completed or non, to withstand the ravaging effects of flooding; this is obviously where manmade/human factors come in. The use of standard building materials coupled with engagement of only qualified builders or engineers would go a long way in ensuring that the affected structures stand the test of time.

         

But, in recent times, the reverse has been the case. Developers now resort to engaging quacks – all in the name of engineers/builders – in various building constructions. And the so-called engineers would be left with no choice than to deploy substandard engineering materials for the awaited construction. Even if qualified builders are eventually engaged, owing to corruption, or greed to be precise, the builder would consciously opt for unwanted materials for the proposed structure. For instance, in various quarters you would observe that a bag of cement that’s meant to produce at most thirty-five 6-inch brick blocks are often used to mould up to sixty blocks.

         

It was reportedly gathered that the structure that fell at Oforola was initially a bungalow but was later converted to a-storey building. A foundation meant for a bungalow was allowed to carry decking thereafter; tell me why such structure wouldn’t fall in the long run?  In the same vein, I reportedly learnt that one of the collapsed buildings had an underground construction. Probably such provision wasn’t captured in the building plan; even if it was captured, we must take into cognizance that there are special corporate bodies that are licensed to construct underground, thus it isn’t an activity to be carried out by anybody. It’s worthy of note that constructions do not require frugality, because it is something that concerns lives and property.

        

Quackery, use of substandard materials, or greed, as the case might be, can be addressed by such relevant agencies as the Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), and the Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIB). In this case, we are mostly concerned about the Imo State branch of the aforementioned bodies. Among all, the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) wouldn’t be left out if these trending anomalies must be holistically shown the way out.

         

It’s worth noting that architects are now parading themselves as builders or engineers, thus these professional organizations are required to collaborate towards producing the desired result. In her state-wide broadcast on the agency’s weekly radio (Orient FM) programme titled ‘OCDA Today’, the current General Manager (GM) of the OCDA and of course the first female boss of the authority, Dr. Chika Nnajiofor has stated that the body would embark on rigorous sensitization programmes including seminars, workshops, town-hall meetings and what have you, with a view to letting all the concerned stakeholders, such as land developers, prospective landlords and the general public, comprehend their various roles in ensuring that standard structures are erected across the state’s capital territory.

         

She further disclosed that her administration was damn prepared to partner with all the relevant agencies in the state in order to achieve a meaningful goal. Dr. Nnajiofor who frowned that developers do not seek for ‘stages permit’ while erecting their structures, stressed that such nonchalant attitudes would not be taken for granted henceforth.

         

For clarity’s sake, Stages Permit implies that, having issued Building Approval to any land developer, such personnel is statutorily expected to report to the OCDA as the construction progresses until the work is duly completed. In other words, at every stage attained, the OCDA is required by law to crosscheck if what was originally approved is actually what is being erected on the affected site.

          

Against this backdrop, I urge the said boss to borrow a leaf from her predecessor, Barr. Obinna Amagwula in the area of field inspection. During Barr. Amagwula’s reign as the GM of the OCDA, field inspections were taken as priority. According to the erstwhile GM, such practice would enable the authority to fish out the bad eggs amidst developers or engineers on various sites that are being developed. More so, the OCDA riot act ought to regularly be read to the authority’s taskforce leaders cum members so that they wouldn’t compromise the mandate guiding their operations.

         

The government, on its part, is equally required to adequately play its role by providing all the needed materials and vehicles toward enabling the OCDA, and its likes, perform effectively and efficiently at all times. When something like this happens, all blames – albeit ignorantly – are shifted to agencies like the OCDA without acknowledging the actual causes of the unfortunate situation. Such act or presumption is absolutely wrong.

         

Hence, as much as I deeply sympathize with the families of the deceased, I enjoin every concerned individual cum authority to henceforth jettison deceit or any form of prangs with the aim of doing only the needful. Think about it!  

        

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Clinic - Owerri

________________________________________

Twitter: @mediambassador

http://facebook.com/theMediaAmbassador

ShortStory I Jilted Angel (II)

JILTED ANGEL (II)

       “Nneoma, Nneoma.” He tenderly called as the jilted maiden walked out on him. “Please, come back.”

       She remained focused, kept walking forcefully, ignoring the pathetically-looking man who could be referred to by her person as an ‘idiot and ingrate’. Although she still felt something strong for him, culturally, and naturally too, she was not meant to disclose that at the moment, thus ought to be concealed till further notice.

        Obioha followed her. As he walked behind, he kept pleading for her little attention but all the pleas fell on deaf ears. He relentlessly doubled his steps with a view to arriving at the point where she had attained but she as well tripled hers, thereby making her walk faster and beyond his expectation. Eventually, he got to her, and attempted to hold her left arm.

        “If you dare lay your filthy hand on me,” Nneoma roared. “You will regret ever knowing me.”

          He ignored her warning, insisting in getting hold of her.

        “If you dare touch me, I will scream on top of my voice.” She notified. “I am sure you know what that means?”

          It was late in the evening, about some minutes to eight O’clock, thus the pathway was at this time lonelier than ever since they commenced the melodrama. So a scream from her could mean that a stranger was about to indulge in a rape, and that implied that Obioha could suffer from lynching in the process because the few who knew him in Umundega might not be able to recognize his face at that time of the day.

        “Please…..” he pleaded, kneeling down and instantly gushed out tears.

        She never saw it coming, thus was so embarrassed over the unannounced gesture.

        “You are a bastard!” she managed to exclaim, turned and finally walked away, leaving him behind on his knees.

         She was headed for her parental home.

        Prior to the unscheduled meeting, it appeared the lad had been spying on her, thus was aware she would be making use of the pathway by that time. So, he thought it wise to stand aloof at a point while awaiting her arrival.

        As he knelt on the wet soil, watching her depart, he felt so mesmerized and rejected not unlike a lady suffering from dysmenorrhoea. He didn’t know what next to do. He was engulfed in the painful thoughts till her image faded into thin air. He managed to be on his feet, looked around while standing on the same position but couldn’t sight anyone within or beyond. It was at this moment that the reality dawned on him, hence, he became damn ready to return to Odoihe, his ancestral home, which was about 12km away.

        “I have really ruined my life.” he thought, looking at his shattered posture. “Who did this to me?” He soliloquized as he attempted to take a walk.

        That was no doubt the nature of question that invariably comes up each time one feels he is being witch-hunted or manipulated by one of his kinsmen in the village or a colleague in the office, as the case might be; hence, that of Obioha wasn’t exceptional. Such an inquiry becomes laughable when the person in question is actually the monster responsible for his misfortune.

        Obioha was arguably a dumb who deserved no pity from any human because he dumped Nneoma for Ego, five years back, simply owing to the fact that the former vowed to remain a virgin until she had successfully tied the anticipated nuptial knot with him whenever God decided. His myopic and worldly attributes made him to see the latter who was living a wayward life as the ‘woman of the moment’, thereby making him detest the sight of the former; he came across the latter, who he succeeded in sleeping with on a first date, having spent about seven good years with the former who could best be described as an ‘angel’. In view of this frivolous reason, he woke up one morning only to announce to the hearing of the apparently God-sent lady that the seven-year-old friendship was over and therein belonged to the history book. All the warnings from his parents regarding the proposed plan were never heeded.

        Each time the 34-year-old Nneoma recalled how they met twelve years back when she was barely 22, she kept referring all men to as nothing but ‘same’. After the heartbreak, she opined that the best thing that could happen to any man in a relationship was sex and nothing more. Until the abrupt estrangement, ab initio the friendship was moving smoothly to the delight of their parents who had assented to the togetherness, and to the envy of every dick and harry near and beyond. The journey was all-through enticing, to assert the least, just like the very moment she came across the 31-year-old dude for the first time in a very busy market patronized by their communities, when he was 29.

        “Hello pretty!” the young Obioha greeted as he sighted Nneoma in the ancient market.

       “Hi handsome!” she reciprocated cheerily.

       “I am Obioha.” He introduced. “You?”

       “Nneoma.”

       “It is a pleasure meeting you here.” He teased.

       “Really?”

       “Yea.” quoth Obioha. “Who wouldn’t be?”

       “How?”

       “I mean,” he said. “Who would not be pleased coming across a pretty damsel like you?”

         She smiled. “Stop that flattery joor.”

       “Nooo…” quoth the 29-year-old chap. “This is a fact, not flattery.”

       “Okay, okay, okay.” the 22-year-old Nneoma surrendered, paused. “So what brought you to the market?” She added.

         She was conspicuously pleased to meet a young man of his age graciously purchasing some commodities in a very busy market. To her, that was an indication of a responsible man as well as one who could make a good husband, thus she was therein inadvertently attracted to his person.

        “Oh,” said Obioha. “I came to buy some stuff for my mum.”

        “For your mum?” she verified.

        “Yea.” He answered, nodding.

        “I see..” quoth Nneoma. “So, you are the mummy’s personal assistant?”

        “Not really.” He said, smiling. “Just that I usually feel like helping the old woman.”

         He was the last among his seven siblings, so he seemed to be the closest, or the ‘PA’ as opined by Nneoma, to his 76-year-old mother.

       “You are the last born, I guess?” she enquired.

         He nodded. “Why did you ask?”

        “Nothing.” She replied. “I know the last child is always the closest to the mum.”

         He smiled. “And you?”

       “I am the last too.” She informed in a jiffy.

       “Oh,” said the lover-boy elatedly. “That makes us equal.”

         The discussion lasted for several minutes till they departed for their respective homes.

         Remembrance of every bit of the conversation that ensued at the starting point as well as how the odyssey proceeded afterwards kept making Nneoma feel that she was meant to be with Obioha for eternity. When she got home on that fateful day having walked out on him in the lonely road, she remained in sober mood and never bothered embracing her dinner.

        After the whole hullabaloo, Obioha was reunited with her having successfully divorced the troublesome Ego. Initially, Nneoma’s parents strongly disagreed with the agitation not until they understood that both persons were truly meant to be together.

         Thereafter, the marriage was blessed with healthy children, and they were happily married, all to the glory of God.

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Clinic - Owerri

_____________________________________

Twitter: @mediambassador

http://facebook.com/theMediaAmbassador