AfricaWorld News Weekly 10th October 2020

10th October

AFRICAWORLD NEWS

www.africaworldnewspaper.com @AfricaWorldNews

@africaworld_news

Africaworld News International

ZAMBIA’S

FUTURE IS

BLEAK UNDER

LUNGU

By Ollus Ndhomu

T

he Chancy Edgar Chagwa Lungu presidency came following the untimely demise of Michael Chilufya Sata, Zambia’s fifth president and the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) founding father. One reason among many that made the PF to elect Lungu as party president and subsequently the sixth republican president was his purported humility. In fact PF ministers and o fficials endorsed Lungu’s presidential candidature because they weighed him and found him weak enough to enforce tough laws to fight corruption, graft, regionalism and abuse of power.

This is true as evidenced by government corruption which has become ubiquitous in all public institutions. Local tabloids have often carried stories of government corruption notable of which being the mysterious 48 houses, mukula saga, fire tenders and concealing of information regarding those who gassed the country early this year. Lungu as president has on several occasions sounded warning shots against corrupt elements under his administration but no proper action has ever been taken to prove his seriousness. Last year, President Lungu’s “ubomba mwibala alya mwibala,” statement literally translated as “he that works in the farm eats from the farm’” was all over the media with political players condemning him saying he was institutionalizing corruption.

This is why the opposition says he too is corrupt. You cannot solve a problem when the very problem is your face.

Cont in P17

PG 2

MAZI NNAMDI KANU

PG 12

WHAT PARTEY WILL BRING TO ARSENAL? Substances

The truth and nothing but the truth

PG 5

and Drugs; why the abuse?

Page 2

AFRICAWORLD NEWS

UYOKANJO SHRINE

Editorial NIGERIA SARS

OPERATE LIKE ARMED Okorie ROBBERS Ukachukwu Editor-in-Chief

M

any Nigerian police officers are worse than armed robbers. Most Nigerians know that it is a fact. Although there are good people among the rank and file of the Nigeria Police Force, however, the dangerous and inhuman acts carried out by officers of NPF have damaged their reputation. Unlike many countries, in Nigeria the police is not your friend.

Irrespective of the fact that a whole lot of atrocities are carried out by the police in Nigeria daily, squads like the dreaded Special Armed Robbery Squad (SARS) are known as killing machines. In Nigeria, which is battling terrorist insurgency fuelled by Boko Haram and six other Islamic extremist groups, the police is often feared like the earlier. I have been a victim of Nigeria police brutality before I came to live in Europe and in 2010 when I visited Lagos, at Alade market junction Ikeja. Despite good intentions behind the establishment of security squads like SARS, the extra-judicial killings have gone unabated for far too long.

The SARS character is a mirror of the state of the Nigeria country, even though government spokespersons feign ignorance of the deplorable situation. Today, Boko Haram sympathizers are at the helm of security apparatuses and Fulani herdsmen kill daily in Kaduna and across the country. SARS killing are now in pen this brief thesis taking no authority from any living soul because I fear no man. In the spotlight as they follow the footsteps of above-the-law Fulani herdsmen, the course of my life, I have faced vicissitudes, but I do understand it is necessary for who kill with reckless abandon without being brought to book. greatness. It is like the journey of an apprentice in the Master’s workshop; many things are thrown at him, and all form parts of the character that would make you a Boss.

Even though the dreaded SARS, who only kill in the southern part of the country, However, the greatest greatness is when posterity reserves a great mention of you in the are in the spotlight, Nigerians must rise up and renegotiate the future of Nigeria. annals of History. I do not know if you have been reading my writings lately, but in case If Nigerians refuse to act on the future of the country, the likes of SARS will you haven’t, I have a mandate to teach a new political philosophy to his chosen. A few continue in their orgy of violence and extra-judicial murder. Accusations are rife years ago, I ran away from Dublin, the Irish capital when the AfricaWorld Newspaper o ffice against them on racketeering on harvested human organs, and in Nigeria, was broken into, equipments stolen and others vandalised. The axe wielding vandals and anything is possible. The ball is in the court of Nigerians to revolt against the assassins never got me as before that morning, my guardian angel led me away. My South status quo.

Korean designer sent me a screaming video relaying the attack. The threat on my life led me to live the life of a hermit in am County Kildare secluded Church. While there, I was immediately given a spiritual mandate to write 100 psalms, which will be used to worship Chukwu Okike Abiama, the God of Biafra and the creator of Heaven and earth. There were many other things that happened to me while dodging like Elijah the biblical great, but one of them gives me the audacity to pen this rejoinder to many writings disparaging Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Prince of Afaraukwu Ibeku, famously known today as the ‘Peoples Warrior’ or OHAMADIKE in Igbo.

MAZI NNAMDI KANU

The truth and nothing but the tru

I

POEMS

WHEN DUBLIN WENT NAKED? Alighting from the Bus My eye balls staggered I thought my sight went blur What a seductive look!

No pant and no bra Not even make up Or the usual sexy steps The armpits were all at full glare Oh Dublin! Why let me down?

Why showing your naked bum?

Even if others go crazy What the heck are you on?

From the head, arms and bum What a bad sight for all!

Especially those that love thee.

Seductive Annabelle A Biafran Queen of the nights What an Angel at sunset Oh yeah you reign at night!

Even when spinsters fall asleep Bachelors whistle to lay thee What a sweet bossom you got!

Why do you get all attention at night?

We heared your night impressions How they came in droves

Falling for your charm Your seducing power was next to none Attracting men with a large heart Many followed the apian way Because your code was risky Annabelle, what a seducer you were?

They came from far and wide Making you the most sought after Among all the maidens in your place How luring was your contours?

That men wrestled with death Just to see thee What a seductress!

Pushing men to walk Through the corridors of death Annabelle they now gossip In the open about you Even Uli your Landlord Brags about you ad infinitum Well, thats the power of seduction You did what you could do Leaving imprints on the sands of time You beautiful Biafran Annabelle We still blush cos of thy ravishing beauty.

Like I said in the first sentence of the first paragraph: I write what I like, and take no permission from any living soul, but my father who is King over all. You would agree with me that there is a time for everything in life. There is time for rainfall and sunshine, as there is time for winter and summer. This is the time to inform you on what is right, the mandate behind my writings and the prism from which to view it. A mentally deranged Igbo man once said that, he is a very busy man with limited time, going on a very long journey, and as expected, he is going to dance at the market square. In this edition, I want to unmask the man you all know as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from my lens. Last week, I had the fourth revelation about his mission. The previous three were during and after the period of his incarceration in prison. I did not make it public, but I shared it with someone as a witness. It came to pass.

My first contact with him was during his visit to Ireland in 2014. During this period, I was still entrenching the reputation of the newspaper I had launched in 2011 in Ireland with volunteers from all walks of life. Prior to his visit, I listened to him occasionally, but his evangelism style and tactics were interesting. As a Biafran, the surge for his brand was interesting, seeing the declining spirit of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra -MASSOB-. So I hopped on to the next Dublin Bus heading to Finglas from the city centre while in close telephone contact with Mazi Isaiah Uba, the IPOB Coordinator for Ireland, whom I have maintained a close contact with for e ffective coverage of their program. At the Ardmore Hotels, opposite Premier Square, where I had lived for four and half years, I met the man behind the resurgence of Radio Biafra. At the end of that meeting, AfricaWorld Newspaper produced a three part series of the interview and broadcast, which have been accessed extensively, together with photos. I thank my father that materials like that were published to be accessed immediately as hard drives and more were stolen by vandals who came and wreaked havoc on our o ffice towards the end of that year. In stamping our authority in Ireland and around the world, the battle came in all ramifications; spiritual, physical and economic. However, I have always emphasised that the idiosyncrasy of a leader guides his society. Although my correspondence with the Director of Radio Biafra did not blossom until Facebook, in their evil onslaught against AfricaWorld Newspaper group yanked o ff my personal account, which gave birth to over twenty two different pages. Despite an armada of attacks, we are still doing what Cont in P17

AFRICAWORLD NEWS

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OSOGBO WAR OF 1840

A

fter the Fulanis systematically captured and made Ilorin their territory, they sacked the old Oyo Empire in 1835/1836 . They were still not satisfied with their victory; they wished to extend their rule deep into the heart of Yoruba land. Thus in 1840, they set to capture Osogbo, a Yoruba town. The Fulanis, under the command of Ali the Hausa balogun of Ilorin, laid siege on Osogbo.

When the king of Osogbo realized that the Ilorins were too strong for the Osogbo army, he summoned the Ibadans for help. Ibadan immediately sent some auxiliaries to Osogbo under the command of Obele alias Mobitan , and Alade Abimpagun. As this force could not stop the Ilorins, another contingent was sent to Osogbo under a more experienced leader. But still the Ilorins won every battle and gained more ground.

When Ibadan realized that the Ilorins were becoming more threatening to Yoruba land, they sent a large and stronger force under Balogun Oderinlo to crush the intruding forces and Jammas of Ilorin . When Oderinlo and his men arrived at the battlefield, they realized that things had gone worse than they thought.

They could not show their faces in the open field for the fear of the Ilorin horses, and for about 20 days after their arrival at Osogbo, they could not fight outside the town thickets. Oderinlo suggested that Elepo, a brave Ibadan warrior was badly needed at the war-front. Elepo had been rejected by the war-chiefs of Ibadan for his actions at the late Agbamaja expedition.

As soon as the message from Oderinlo reached Ibadan, the Bashorun wished he could send Elepo to Osogbo but could not go against the wish of other war-chiefs. The Bashorun gave Elepo a cow to worship his god, Ori , and pray for the victory of Ibadan at the war-front.

At the war-front, the Ibadan could not attack the Ilorins during the day because Osogbo was practically in a plain and the Ilorin horses might have advantage of them with disastrous results.

They decided to attack at dusk when the Ilorins would no longer be able to use their horses. About 2:pm, the well prepared Ibadan army left the gate of Osogbo for the battlefield. They were to keep a strict watch and arrest anyone suspected to be a spy.

About a mile from the Ilorin camp, they halted and arranged the order of the attack.

The Osogbo army and the earlier auxiliaries were to handle the center of the battlefield, chiefs Abitiko and Labuju were to command the right wing, Balogun Oderinlo with the rest of the Ibadan war-chiefs were to form the left wing of the army. The Ilorin camp was then attacked at midnight. The watchword was “ Elo ni owo odo? ” (How much the ferry fare?).

The reason this watchword was chosen was because the river Osun had to be crossed in entering Osogbo from the south, and anyone who could not tell this was likely to be an enemy.

Stampede engulfed the Ilorin camp as the Ibadan army set it on fire. The Ilorins could not o ffer the slightest resistance; they were smoked with the gunpowder of the Ibada guns.

This attack was a success for the Ibadan. Some Ilorin war-chiefs were captured in the attack. Prominent ones were: 1. Jimba the head slave of the Emir; 2. One of the sons of Ali the commander in chief; 3. Chief Lateju; 4. Ajikobo the Yoruba Balogun of Ilorin.

The first two were released while the latter two, being Yoruba by birth, were regarded as traitors and were executed. This was a huge victory for the whole of Yoruba land.

After the Osogbo victory, Ibokun, an Ijesa town not far from Osogbo was taken by the Ibadans for being an ally of Ilorin.

After this war, Ìbàdàn later became a force building a formidable war machinery than later prosecuted many other wars with resounding victory.

Notable among the wars was the KIRIJI WAR where the Ibadan warlords formed a historic alliance with the Igbajos. Even though Igbajo became the war front for many years that the war lasted, it was never captured by the raging Ekiti parapò warriors. Rather it was a place where many of them met their Waterloo.

Notable among the warriors were Fabunmi Okeemesi, Ogedengbe Agbogun gboro of the Ijesas, Apasikoto pasigegele of Igbajo and Latoosa of Ibadan to mention a few.

There were many more great warriors of the time.

It's worthy to note that the KIRIJI WAR was the last war in Yoruba land. It's also recorded as the longest native war between in Africa.

Since then the Yoruba people have continued to build strong bonds among themselves and they have sustained the peace.

We must continue to tell our children the history of the Yoruba people and the bond which our father had built so that we can continue to see ourselves as one. If the Ibada people can sacrifice their lives for the people of Osogbo in other to safe other towns and villages in Yoruba land and in essence the carnage of innocent people were prevented, then, we the modern Yorubas have no reason to divide ourselves for political reasons or any reason at all.

Our leaders must continue to put their lives in the forefront to safe the land from all aggression.

And we have the responsibility to support, to advise and to pray for all our leaders.

AFRICAWORLD NEWS

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Why Igbos loveIreland & my ambition to le - OBI ODOEMENA Can you briefly tell our readers about youself?

My name is Chikere Obi Odemena, most people call me Obi. I am from Umunoha in Mbaitolu LGA, IMO State. I’ll call myself a full fledge Igbo man having been born in Imo State, raised in Anambra and blossomed in Enugu State. I have a first degree in Law from University of Nigeria Nsukka, a Masters degree in Criminology & Justice system from University College Dublin. I am an entrepreneur and presently working as a youth advocate.

As an early immigrant, what is the difference between Ireland of yesterday and today?

The Ireland of today is significantly different from the Ireland of the late nineties, which was predominantly a mono ethnic and cultural island, but it has evolved into a multicultural country. This change brings with it changes in the food, clothes and habits etc How did Covid-19 affect your immediate community in Ireland?

The COVID 19 has affected my community not so differently from other communities in Ireland. The social interaction is the area that it is mostly felt. It has also a ffected mycommunity economically as so many of us are self employed.

We heard you aspire to lead Igbos in Ireland?

Yes, it is my aspiration to be the Chief servant of my people. I want to bring my wealth of experience both as a community leader, an entrepreneur and a person who has fully integrated in our host country. I want to bring our community together with the aim of uniting them for greater height.

Most Igbos love the Irish Republic, why?

Our relationship or our love affair could be traced to the advent of Christianity in Igbo Land. They brought education, health care, and to a large extent, a good experience of relationship between races. We also do not forget the role the Irish played during the Nigerian civil war and we share the same struggles of self actualisation. We can learn a lot from them, having gone through what the Igbo Nation is going through today.

What are your plans for the Igbos in Dublin?

I will be the unifying figure for the Igbos in Dublin. I believe that the foundation for any nation to prosper is people and peace. I will use my influence and wealth of experience in both the private and public life to unify the divided factions of Igbos in Dublin. I will look at exploring the opportunities that is abound in this nation and encouraging our members to use our unique Igbo entrepreneurial mindset to add value to our host nation and invariably promote ourselves as hard working migrants.

Would you say Igbo proffessionals in Dublin are doing well?

The Igbo professionals have done very well in Ireland. We are in all sectors of the economy, from the medical profession, media, politics, academic and in business. We also have a new generation of Igbos who are excelling in sports and the entertainment industry.

Do you think the Irish government are handling Covid-19 pandemic well?

Yes they have handled it reasonably well. The statistics speak for itself, but they should not keep their eyes o ff the ball. The virus is very dangerous and it keeps evolving, but I am optimistic that the government and all stakeholders in this area will keep doing their utmost best to stem the tide of this pandemic.

AFRICAWORLD NEWS

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Shades of Daily Living

By: Muzhinga Kankinda

Substances and Drugs; why the abuse?

Drug trade and substance abuse are vices that have continued to prevail over health lifestyle for thousands of years and their devastating e ffects on people and the environment at large can be seen all around the world; in real life, in movies, newspapers and even on the prime time news. But, if people can see the negative impact of using drugs and substances, why on earth do people sell and abuse them? Why is it that these substances are so attractive to people, especially the young and vibrate folk? Why do people turn a deaf ear to awful reports about drug abuse and still bow to the devastating e ffects of substance abuse?

Well, it is evident that no culture in the world has been able to repel the problem of drug and substance trade and abuse. This is because drugs and substances are addictive, having an inherent enticing nature that lures people into taking them. They are also referred to as psychoactive drugs and substances because of their ability to alter consciousness and mood.

However, we cannot solely put the blame on the drugs and substances, I mean they don’t make themselves available to people, people make these available to themselves.

Why do I say so? Man’s nature is engrossed in pressure, adventure and happiness but, those elements are highly impossible to attain in this god forsaken world. That’s right; sin subdued the perfect world leaving it in shambles; full of su ffering, insecurities and inner conflicts. With that, there are always people who seek substances and drugs to make them feel different, good or better by altering their moods, feelings and thoughts.

For instance, some people seek refuge from their problems by drinking alcohol while others simply take alcohol to find a stimulating or exciting experience.

Therefore, people mostly use and abuse drugs and substances in order to avoid their problems and escape reality by getting drunk and feeling di fferent. They are used to alleviate anxiety, enhance relaxation, provide relief, alleviate pain, increase strength and provide a temporal distortion from reality. For instance, a relative once told me that a glass of wine helps her sleep when she has problems.

But, question is what makes people want to use these drugs any. Today we are going to take a glimpse into reasons why people go on and on using and taking certain drugs and substances even though there are law enforcement and health regulations against the vices.

Alcohol Now whether we like it or not, alcohol is ranked the second frequently used psycho-active substance in the world-second to ca ffeine. Its usage dates back to thousands years ago when Mead the first alcoholic beverage was being brewed using honey.

When taken in low doses, alcohol causes the person taking it to experience a euphoric- like sensation whereas an individual starts to feel good; in fact everything around them feel good as the mood is suddenly happier if even if they were not happy before drinking. Furthermore, alcohol makes you to start liking yourself more and the notso-good people around suddenly become the best people ever. As a result, alcohol is mostly used by people who are depressed in view of forgetting their worries and making themselves happy.

However, I will not cease from mentioning that alcohol will have negative impacts on you after proving to be your savior. Alcohol has an e ffect on our brains, stopping the release of a chemical called Acetylcholine, a necessary component for the movement of nerve impulses from one nerve to another and without this chemical; the brain becomes depressed in its activities. Alcohol also causes other health complication like Liver and kidney damage.

There was this movie I watched when I was a teenager; I do not remember what it was all about but I remember the words of one character in it, he said to his friend “Alco makes men brave and women loose”. I thought that was offensive to an extent but, I later realized he was simply explaining the e ffects of alcohol on men and women. It h been biologically proven that biological factors in a man make it more capable of tolerating larger amounts of alcohol than women.

Hence, women who drink with men are disadvantaged in many ways, one being that they will unable to exhibit judgment and sobriety, in the drunken state, leading to othe social and healthy implication like unprotected sex, rape, unwanted and intended pregnancies, transmission of STIs, single parenting especially when you the man you had intercourse with is a stranger or when the man responsible refuses to take responsibility for his actions- trust me such men exist and they come in plenty.

Cocaine Cocaine is a drug that is found in the leaves of the Erythroxylom coca plant. It causes an interesting sensation in the body and record shows that cocaine users are typically between the ages 12 and 39.

This was confirmed by Sigmund Freud when he used it to relieve his depression. He described cocaine as a drug that caused exhilaration and lasting euphoria, further calling its effects as “Magical”. Being a drug that causes behavioral reinforcement, cocaine is used by some people in order to make life look better Hence, the drug is more inviting to people that are emotionally unstable and those that lack self-esteem.

Amphetamines Although Amphetamines are not chemically related to Cocaine, their e ffects on people are similar.

However, Amphetamines are more potent, acting 24 hours in the body and can even be made at home using certain chemicals. However, these drugs can cause Psychosis anger and aggression in the user. It also increases alertness, gives a sense of power, excitement and wakefulness while promoting a decreased sense of fatigue and elevating moods. This drug is commonly used by people suffering from depression and those that feel inferior and conquered as it make them feel better.

Narcotics Narcotics are a group of drugs that cause narcosis, a relaxed dreamlike state. They come from the drug, opium and are called opiates. Now we understand why Karl Marx called Religion, the opium of the people but, that is beside the point, a topic for another time. So, opiates like heroin, morphine and codeine are used to relieve emotional pain, making them seductive and hard to control.

There you go, now you know why people abuse drugs and substances. People are broken, crushing each day. People are su ffering inwardly and these substances and drugs provide temporal relief from pain, depression and anxiety. As a result, trade and uses of these drugs and substances will continue to be prevalent in the world despite law enforcement’s effort to get the drugs o ff the street and out of the hands of the manufacturers, distributors and those who use them.

Therefore, what we need is a solution to people’s problems so that they won’t opt for substance and drug abuse. We firstly need to treat the underlying causes; hopelessness, depression and feelings of worthlessness and separation in order to curb the vice of drug and substance abuse. Furthermore, Christian values are also essential in the fight against drug and substance abuse. Let us train our children to seek for God’s help whenever they are troubled and not seek solace in stimulants.

Studies have shown that students who are affiliated to a religion and those who embrace their spiritual values have less chances of using drugs and substances.

AFRICAWORLD NEWS

EVANGELISM

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Lord, teach us how to Pray – Luke 11:1

By Mabel Owabumuwa

D

o you pray with joy and confidence or do you pray grudgingly? God’s presence is in our heart and when we communicate with Him we show our love. Prayer is the way of communica ng with the One Who is the Love of our lives (see 1 Jn 4:16 ). Love is the basis of prayer. Where there is true love, we will always want to pray and desire to learn to pray be er.

Consequently, before asking Jesus to teach us to pray, we should ask Him to teach us to love. When we open our hearts to receive His love, we will pray. We speak and pray from the abundance of our hearts (see Lk 6:45 ). When Jesus' disciples asked Him how to pray; Jesus gave them the Lord's Prayer or Our Father. (See longer version in Mahew 6:9-13).

Jesus' prayer includes an injuncon that we must ask God to forgive us as we forgive those who have wronged us (Mahew 6:14-15 ). God's grace frees us from every form of anger, resentment, envy, and hatred. Through His grace and power we can love and serve one another with grace, mercy, and loving-kindness as Jesus taught us.

Finally, with a thankful heart say: “My soul magnifies the lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. Amen