ShortStory II Unforeseen Confession (II)

UNFORESEEN CONFESSION (II)

      “Kosarachi…” Mr. Maduka called the moment he was offered a seat at Kosarachi’s parental home.

        Mr. Maduka was one of Kosarachi’s closest uncles and was also a farmer by profession. But he was a small-scale farmer compared to his late brother Amakiri.

        Mr. Maduka, whom was in his early fifties, was undoubtedly a very greedy and dangerous man that every second in his life his mindset was preoccupied with an intended evil act. Every indigene of Umuokanne was very much aware of his evil lifestyle.

        Kosarachi was equally warned by his late father while alive to be very careful with him and he heeded the candid advice seriously because he sincerely believed in every word that came from the deceased’s mouth.

        Mr. Maduka whose house was sited very close to that of Kosarachi’s late father, had walked to their sitting room where he (Kosarachi) was relaxing with his beloved mother Obiageri at about 06:45am of April 28, 1989, barely two weeks after his step-brother’s eternal exit and just three days after the burial.

      “Yes uncle.” Kosarachi responded.

        His mother was seated adjacent and closely to him while the guest sat opposite him but a bit farther.

      “This one you came by this time, Uncle,” Kosarachi added. “Hope all is well?”

        Obviously, Maduka’s countenance wasn’t friendly that even a visually impaired person could notice it.

       “Eh-eh m,” Mr. Maduka hastily cleared his throat. “I’ve come to warn you to stay clear from my land at Umuobodo.” He tendered frantically.

         Umuobodo was one of the clans situated in Umuokanne Ancient Community. The aforesaid land was where both Maduka and his late step-brother, Amakiri separately owned farmyards. The land, which was duly shared among them, was inherited from their late father Omemgbeoji.

        Ab initio when Mr. Amakiri was alive, the greedy brother had made several failed efforts to deprive him of his portion. He kept on finding fault at the boundary between the two lands. And, Kosarachi was informed of the dispute by his late father.

        It was actually on that land that Mr. Amakiri got the snakebite that led to his untimely death.

       Kosarachi and his mother were conspicuously shocked over the uncanny warning, though they were very much aware of what Mr. Maduka was capable of doing. But the early morning warning, which came exactly fourteen days after Amakiri’s departure, was the least they expected from him.

      “Uncle,” Kosarachi called, frowned. “I’m surprised at you.”

        His mother, Obiageri who was still shocked, remained calm.

      “Is this what you came to tell me at this time of the day?” the seeming fearless chap continued. “Barely three days after your brother’s burial?”

       “I’ve warned you, Kosarachi.” Mr. Maduka repeated fiercely. “That land belongs to me.” He claimed, tapping his chest with his right hand.

       “Besides,” Kosarachi interrupted. “My father never told me that the land in question is in dispute.” He lied.

       “Okay,” Mr. Maduka said. “Maybe he would tell you when you meet him in the grave.” He hinted harshly.

       “What..?” Kosarachi exclaimed in a high tone.

         His mother shook her head in shock, remained mute.

         Obiageri was indeed an easy going woman that tried every means to avoid troubles let alone when her lovely hubby was no more.

        “Obiageri,” Mr. Maduka called. “You better warn your son.” He concluded, stood up and left for his home crazily like one whose house was on fire.

        “Okay,” Kosarachi ranted. “We shall see.”

        “Kosarachi my son,” Obiageri called tenderly as soon as the august visitor left. “You have to be very, very careful.”

        “How mama?”

        “That man is evil.” she informed. “I am sure your late father told you about this.” She hurriedly added, referring to Mr. Maduka’s evil nature.

        “Mama, that man cannot do more than a dead rat.” he replied naively.   “You people are just fearing him for nothing.” He concluded.

         Two months later, Kosarachi fell critically ill. Every medical diagnosis in respect of the illness detected nothing, which prompted the intervention of their church reverend. In the long run, it was ascertained that the unending disease that had already claimed much of the family’s wealth was attributed to a spiritual manipulation. Hence, the family was placed on a two-week fasting and prayers after which a deliverance was conducted on the premises of their residence at the night of July 7, 1989.

      Something very striking but amazing transpired at that very night while the family deliverance was taking place. Surprisingly, Mr. Maduka hastily ran out of his house half-naked to Kosarachi’s compound where the deliverance was ongoing.

       He instantly fell on the ground and sought for their forgiveness having confessed to them that he was solely responsible for Kosarachi’s illness as well as his father’s death. The confession, which kept everyone dumbfounded, was never seen coming by the poor family.

        The rest is history, please.

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub (DRH)

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056

Twitter: @mediambassador

     

Opinion I Celebrating Eze Madumere @54

CELEBRATING EZE MADUMERE @54

         

The well-celebrated and quintessential Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, MFR became 54 on 4^th July 2018. This came at a time he had added more millions of respected individuals to his countless fans.

         

We aren’t unaware that virtually all political leaders take a commendable action just to be captured by paparazzi. But we know those who genuinely participate in suchlike activity. Prince Madumere belongs to the latter. He has disabused me of the notion that every Nigerian politician isn’t real.

         

I deem it fit and bold to say that I’m very much aware of the political cum public lifestyle of the celebrant in question who invariably chooses to mark his birthday amidst the downtrodden and even sufferers of leprosy.

          

Prince Madumere’s humility as a politician is unparalleled. He walks and talks uniquely, unlike an average politician in Nigeria let alone a number two citizen of a highly revered state in the country. He doesn’t seemingly believe that one can be heard only when he raises his voice, thus prefers to address any crowd in a calm manner.

         

He speaks like a man who thinks deeply before he talks. He apparently comprehends the essence of thinking before a statement is made. If you have known me ab initio, you would have noticed I often urge people to ‘think about it’ because I’m strongly of the opinion that a sound thought begets good action. Perhaps this exemplary personality has concurred with this candid theory.

         

He is simple to the core. In spite of his present position, he doesn’t hesitate in taking a phone call or responding to a text message, even from an unknown number. And whenever he missed a call, he must surely do well to return it. More interestingly, he is always with his cell phone unlike other highly placed personalities in the society that would prefer to keep it in the custody of an aide that would take the calls on their behalf. 

          

He’s a true humanitarian. Sometime ago, he was allowed to alight first from a certain airline that landed in Abuja, in which he was one of the passengers. The moment he got down the steps, he casually turned back and observed an elderly man struggling with his luggage while alighting the steps. Surprisingly, the unendingly pleasant royal prince stretched out his hand to assist the man who appeared to be a septuagenarian and personally carried his luggage into the waiting shuttle bus.

          

A close friend of mine who intimated me on the above story happened to be one of the passengers. According to the buddy, he likewise other passengers, was filled with goose pimples on that fateful day on observing what transpired. That was just one out of the many selfless acts he had graciously carried out.

          

What actually triggered my humble pen, aside the aforementioned instigation, was his unalloyed respect for the Imo Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha. Unlike most other politicians who got intoxicated as soon as they tasted power, Prince Madumere’s case is amazingly very exceptional.

        

Even at the moment that he appears to be in a political faceoff with the governor as a result of the ongoing quest cum debate on who governs the state come 2019, the easy-going number two citizen of the ancient province had chosen to tread with caution.

         

It might interest you to note that since the lingering altercation began, he had refused at all cost to insult the governor’s personality irrespective of the circumstance. Intriguingly, he keeps asking his innumerable allies to remain calm as well as sheath their sword.

         

I can’t conclude this analysis without touching governance. As the man in charge of boundary disputes concerning Imo, he had successfully settled various lingered misunderstandings between some communities within the Eastern Heartland as well as between the state and her neighbours.  

         

He seems like one whose conscience is always awake. You and I are not unaware that the conscience of most highly placed Nigerians, not just politicians, are ostensibly asleep in most occasions. But that of Prince Madumere looks not unlike one that is invariably alert regardless of the circumstance.

        

I have gathered from reliable sources how he had silently carried his teeming followers along, particularly those who had contributed towards his success story in one way or the other.

       

Though an average politician resort to creating scenes so that his/her name would go to the press especially when sensed that he had been in oblivion, Madumere apparently tries to avoid being noticed even when such attitude is highly needed. He prefers to keep to himself than to end up creating an inconsequential scene. Sometimes I got baffled if he’s really a politician.

        

At this juncture, I wholly join millions of well wishers – home and beyond – to celebrate this young, vibrant, eloquent and distinguished Imo-born politician and philanthropist because at 54, he has succeeded in shaming his numerous enemies.

         

I’m, therefore, deeply convinced that the ongoing impeachment quest by the Imo Assembly against this elegant gentleman can never change his indisputable and unequalled qualities; rather, would end up taking him to the anticipated next level. Think about it! 

FDN Nwaozor

National Coordinator, Right Thinkers Movement

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador            

 

             

TechDech II Building Collapse: Whither Nigeria's Tech?

BUILDING COLLAPSE: WHITHER NIGERIA’S TECH?

         

Building collapse has conspicuously been a thing of tremendous worry in the contemporary Nigerian society over the last decade that only drastic attention is required towards addressing it.

        

The aberration – which has claimed hundreds of innocent souls, maimed thousands as well as rendered scores of families homeless – has caused a colossal harm to not just the engineering-technology sector but Nigeria at large. In some quarters, it has made most residents to now sleep with one eye open.

         

Statistics indicate that within the aforementioned period, countless buildings situated across Nigeria have collapsed unannounced. In March 2006, the top nine floors of a 21-storey building belonging to the Bank of Industry, located on the famous Broad Street – Lagos Island in Lagos State, caved in, killing two and injuring twenty-three others.

          

In August 2010, a 4-storey uncompleted building at Ikoli Street in Garki, Abuja brings the Federal Capital Territory’s name into the list, thus claimed not fewer than twenty-one lives and endangered nine.   
          

Survey reveals that between 2012 and 2016 alone, Nigeria recorded about fifty-four building collapse. Though the unfortunate situation is not peculiar to the country, its recent alarming rate calls for an apt and urgent attention.

         

First, we need to comprehend the rudimentary factors that constitute the societal menace. Building collapse is mainly attributed to substandard products, quackery, mediocrity, cheating, and/or soil texture cum topography, coupled with other environmental factors.

         

The dangers inherent in the use of substandard building materials cannot be overemphasized. These materials such as brick blocks, cement, sand, and rods, are not in any way meant to be used in constructing mere boys’ quarters let alone deploying their services in storey building constructions.

         

Regarding blocks, it’s either the cements used in the moulding weren’t good enough, or that the sand utilized was nothing to write home about. There are specified sands meant for moulding but most block industries don’t bother going for them, probably owing to the cost of conveying it to the moulding site.

         

Since people, especially those residing in cities are often in a hurry, they are invariably left with no option than to patronize such block firms as stipulated above, hence posing danger for the proposed structure.

         

Quackery and mediocrity cannot be left out. It’s worth noting, perhaps shocking, that most of those who claim to be structural engineers, architects, or what have you, never attended any engineering or architectural class even for a day let alone becoming professionals.   
          

They are just mere quacks parading themselves as chartered technologists. Pathetically, some of them who had the privilege to pass through a higher institution didn’t obtain the required training or expertise, thereby constituting structural defects when contracted to handle a certain building project.

         

A sound and qualified contractor is expected to thoroughly inspect the site for the proposed building, adequately advise the prospective landlord, tactically implement the project, complete it within a stipulated period, as well as know what to do while converting a mere bungalow to a storey building. When any of these professional functions is missing, it becomes a burden to the affected building.

          

Away from substandard products and quackery, soil texture or topography, as might be the case, has equally been a thing of great concern while discussing building collapse. Houses are usually built on swampy sites in reverie areas like Lagos and Port-Harcourt without carrying out the required preliminary design, thus leading to collapse in the nearest future.

           

The aforementioned type of land is not strong. They are sandy or loose, but contractors build on them using templates that are meant for better compacted lands. Sometimes the contractor would know what to do but rather than doing the needful, he would be only interested in his money or what he stands to gain as long as the contract lasts. This aspect of cheating or insincerity is currently on the rampage.

         

The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) must take a drastic and severe step toward ensuring that substandard materials are no longer smuggled into the country. The former should also properly regulate the locally made ones. 
          

On the other hand, relevant professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), ought to employ a stiff measure towards addressing the crisis. When any building is under construction, they should endeavour to ascertain the contractor handling the project to ensure his credibility.

          

And, if a building falls, they must ascertain the root causes of the collapse and not hesitate to issue the apt sanction to the affected contractor if found guilty. They should equally go beyond sanctioning; any culpable individual ought to be arraigned, so that, he will face the wrath of the law.

          

Intending landlords are also advised to consult aptly whenever they intend to erect a building. Don’t just jump to any so-called contractor you find on your way. And if you succeed in contracting any, endeavour to confirm his/her authenticity by enquiring from the relevant authorities.

           

Qualified structural contractors, on their part, ought to feel free to consult their colleagues for any professional assistance when need be. And, they should always be research-oriented towards enhancing their expertise.

         

All in all, every structural professional mustn’t be reminded that foundations and pillars remain basic factors that determine the validity or wellbeing of any building, thus should be taken very seriously. Think about it!      

FDN Nwaozor

CEO, Docfred Technologies

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056 

Twitter: @mediambassador