AfricaWorld Newspaper 1-15 November 2014 by AfricaWorld Newspaper

AFRICAWORLD OFFICE ATTACKED AND VANDALIZED

™ Our light has come and the glory of Yahweh is with us..∫ - editor.

SUMMARY AFRICAWORLD OFFICE ATTACKED

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Short Editorial story WHY THE VULEditorial tiTURE HAS tledddddNO FRIEND by Ukachukwu Okorie Once upon a time in the land of animals and birds, there was peace and love between all. Birds and animals of all kinds lived together in harmony. Apartments tunneled in caves were shared by all as birds even weaved nests in human caves. The earth was filled with brotherhood as much as green food was plenty. As the population of the earth grew, it was agreed that their must be leadership and authority vested in either an animal or bird. However, it was decided that it must rotate between them. The birds, after much discussion, conceded the first short at leadership to the animals. They told animals to decide among themselves and present the first Emperor of the earth as agreed. As such, a man was presented by all animals and the earth came under his authority unanimously. The birds tallied along with the hope of succeeding man after his death. Unfortunately for the birds, there was a conspiracy between humans and other animals. They planned to shortchange the birds and rotate it between them instead. It happened that during the reign of the humans, there was drought on earth as no rain dropped from the sky for a couple of years. This brought tough times on earth as the human leadership demanded hard work and commitment from all in communal effort to grow drought friendly crops. As this period demanded serious manual labour from all, it was evident that the vulture was lazy and cunning. They would lazy around only to eat more to annoy other birds and animals. The human leadership did not take this kindly as they felt cheated by a little creature without bigger brains. Continue on page 3

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AFRICAWORLD OFFICE ATTACKED AND VANDALIZED

Asked if he thinks the attack was racially motivated, the editor Ukachukwu Okorie said “Ever since we moved into this office managed by LyonsDermody Solicitors, we have been threatened and racially abused in different ways. If not this kind of attack on our equipments, we have grown tick-skin to verbal and other harassment that are not physical. We have risen and shining be-

cause our light has come and the glory is with us. These kind of attacks can only inspire our desire and make us stronger.” According to the editor, the Garda are closing-in on the vandal as he was picked by the street CCTV. A letter dated 24 October, assuring full investigation and signed by a Superintendent at the Store Street Garda Station was

sent to them. Details of all organisations recognised by the Department of Justice & Equality to support victims of crime, was equally enclosed.

of the recession has grown steadily, and expanding to other media related services, including community functions. “As we await the outcome of Garda investigaThe editor was full of tions, we will continue appreciation to their to thank Yahweh for teeming readers and giving us the grace followers across the to serve and inspire. world for their soliWe love doing this job darity and prayers. and we love Ireland”, AfricaWorld newspaper Ukachukwu Okorie which was launched said. at the Irish Writers Centre at the height

AGONY CORNER: Fighting Infidelity, The Subtle Monster That Creeps into Relationships By Abdul Yusuf

Infidelity is a subtle monster that creeps into relationships when guards are down. It is true that in most cases, there might not be any obvious signs of cracks or trouble: you only realise the other party has been playing away with some kind of person outside the matrimony. They try to keep tap with usual family tempo or even

step up in response so as not to induce any kind of suspicion but this cannot be covered for too long.

ples do not plan to be unfaithful to their mate; circumstances, carelessness and ignorance could cause a slip. A strong desire Once one or both to be appreciated, partners start lookloved, respected and ing out and finding getting the assurance comfort in people of relevance or attracother than their letiveness could cushion gal spouse; even a a fellow’s path to the relationship that was arms of strangers. known to be a safe It could start from haven starts to depre- as little as taking a ciate. coffee break with a colleague, offering / In most cases, cou- accepting a lift at the

close of work, sitting out in the pub to unwind, giving / receiving compliment, being supportive and generally finding a friend to talk to in trying times. It’s so easy to form an emotional bond with someone you think pays attention to you. This is one of the reasons experienced lovers will advice never to walk up to anyone and first ask to date them-you

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start gradually. A story was told of an ugly looking guy who lived in a certain neighbourhood but turned out to be the envy of almost all the young men around. To their outmost surprise; this guy dated the best girls anyone could ever desire and he was really in control of the relationship and could also dump them for others at will. When asked how he gets through to the babes, he enthused “I simply make myself available to them first”. Making yourself available to people will walk you straight into the secret chambers of their emotion. This could range from doing something as simple as helping someone pick up fallen items, noticing and giving compliment about looks, offering a space or giving preference for attention. People naturally love to be treated with respect; it feels good to know that someone appreciates you. There is no lie in the saying that “you are vulnerable to whoever meets your emotional need”. Unfortunately, most couples never intentionally thought of being unfaithful to their loved ones. Here is what Sandra B. has to say: “I know I love my husband very much; we have been together for a couple of years and raised four gorgeous children together. When his brother died from a sudden heart failure, my husband had no choice than to resign from his regular nine to five job to manage his business empire. This brought some changes to our closely knitted fami-

ly life where we (the children and I) were always looking forward to his homecoming at the close of work. We would all sit together and have dinner or choose to eat out, watch telly, read and listen to stories and finally retire by planting warm kisses over each other.

them for long. I definitely had a few folds to melt and listening to the testimony of members who started out just like me but achieved their goals within a short time was something very soothing to my anxious soul.

ing on his wife- what a tragedy! One day, he found a very romantic note from my trainer in my bag as he was reaching for my screaming phone alarm. He seized the note, read it privately and carefully thought of what to do with me. It was Two weeks into the heart breaking for club, I found my heart me to see him weep With the new busiheavily skipping toprofusely; asking for ness; my hubby was wards my personal my forgiveness and travelling a lot more trainer. The way he offering to make it up in a short time than talked to me, made to me. I felt so stupid he’s ever done all me feel really comand ashamed of mythrough the period fortable in my skin. I self for stooping so we’ve been married. would purposely delay low but I confessed to The trips were some- his evening calls and him I did not plan to times between four enjoy his calmness as hurt him or take retrito ten days and this he tries to find out bution at his absence. practically looked like how my day went It was not an easy forever to us back and the things I ate time for both of us home; having to cope or how I was able to but we were able to with not hearing the stick to my eating survive it, supporting door bells at 7.00pm. plans. Days I would and caring for each The older kids helped fail flat were my other’s need as much tremendously but who dread but his never as we could. can fill the vacuum condemning attitude created by a father’s lifted me to take anabsence? My nights other chance. were miserably longer; I would read myself Our relationship to sleep but bouts of stayed clean for naps were not enough months even though for health. I felt butterflies in my tummy each time It hurt even deeper we talked or met; I when he got so en- controlled my emogrossed in his work tion and acted as and not remember to if nothing happened call at night. Yes, I at all. I cannot say was meant to under- where exactly I lost stand but that does it but I found myself not solve the probtelling him so much lem. I confided in To- about myself than I nia (my close friend) should have done. He and she advised I appeared to be an should enrol in some ever ready shoulder kind of women or for me to cry on and fitness club that could his words were more help occupy my time soothing than what and thought for most any balm could possipart of the day. It bly offer. I savoured sounded a good idea every moment we had and finding one was and intimacy gradually not a big deal. To be surfaced. honest, joining the fitness club opened me My husband still had to a brand new world his place any time I had no inkling of its he came home; he existence. Members was happy about my were so friendly and courage to work on supportive that it was my weight but he easy for me to dehad no idea someone cide hanging out with else was also work-

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Short story WHY THE VULTURE HAS NO FRIEND From page 2 This trend continued until life came back like it used to be but sooner rather than later, the Emperor died. The death threw the throne open but it was previously agreed that the next occupant shall be one of the birds. Though grudgingly, humans and their counterparts asked the birds to nominate among them. After tough deliberations and arguments, the birds came up with the choice of the vulture but it perturbed all how it came to happen. The humans were the first to object to the choice, arguing about the vulture’s laziness in the case of tough times. Other animals joined the humans in backing off from recognizing the bird’s choice and soon, there were crises of leadership. The birds agreed to back the vulture due to certain strange qualities it possessed that frightened the animals, of which some included patience and cunningness. However, their support became shaky as the whole issue threatened earthly harmony, making them begin to withdraw their support for the vulture. Meanwhile, chaos started to set in when other animals sought the backing of humans to reign as they had agreed but the latter backed off, instead manoeuvering to continue leading with the pretence of holding forth until calm was restored. However, the birds regrouped and nominated another to replace the vulture but the victim could not take it. On the other hand, crises of confidence brewed between the animals over the craftiness of humans. Finally, war seemed imminent and the vulture took his offspring off with a parting warning to other birds to watch out the worst of humans and their fellow animals. Continue on page 4

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Short story Editorial WHY THE VULEditorial tiTURE HAS tledddddNO FRIEND From page 3 For all animals, he promised to stage a come-back for revenge at the right time. A war later broke out on earth when the vulture and its lineage were out. As a form of payback, they always hovered and patiently perched mocking a dying animal or bird to give up fast so they could eat it as a way of pay-back. Since that earthly war, they do not mix with other birds or animals because of lack of trust.

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AfricaWorld wish Dr. Bolere Elizabeth Ket Nigeria Amabass

Signed - Ukachukw

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tebu happy 60th Birthday. Congratulation! sador to Ireland

wu Okorie - editor

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Poems By Ukachukwu Okorie - SMILING DUN LOAGHAIRE Strewn on the habours of the wharf Clean amidst the massage of sea breeze Blowing the unguarded hair through the roots to fluff around Standing lonely yet buzy Meditating as well as looking Counting the movement of sky on the bay of the sea town I smile for thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing Not even the waters can offer me Even with the Wharf town looking I smile like a handbags owner.

- THE GPO Stood the test of time In the struggle for freedom You are a living withness Blood and flesh splattered Tears and anguish chorused You saw the courage of men Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a harbinger of thoughts Faiths converge on thy corridor Men walk past in reverence History rever you Cos you counted the cost When the city of Dublin Fought a sprawling empire.

- SATURDAY MARKET A smile at the odd ones out Hope that restores confidence From household to all You answer the multi purpose call When the cock crows To the tune of the second grub Quenching the lure of Henry and Grafton Giving hope to the hopeless Soul and gong of Cumberland You are a true raft To the place for all nations

Return of the Native

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Editorial WHOEditorial IS AFRAID ti- OF AFRICAWORLD? tleddddd The recent attack on our office, has thrown up the question - Who is afraid of AfricaWorld newspaper? It is unfortunate that we are asking this question: such question are often headlines in developing countries and democracies. Although we have confidence in the Garda investigating team after the forensic department failed to get finger prints, we are compelled to know why such attack, theft and vandalization should happen. Does anyone have issues with our growth and stature? We all know how AfricaWorld rose from May 7 2011 at the Irish Writers Centre till this day. It was out of sheer determination and hardwork by talented folks from all corners of the world. We appeal to anyone who have issues with our brand to change the motive. Our biweekly newspaper is free, independent and rooted in community service. Who does not know that, although we are dogged, yet we struggle to keep our heads high. As we wait for the outcome of Garda investigation, I am compelled to ask oncemore - Who is worried about what we are doing in AfricaWorld? Come in. Uka

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Return of the Native OSAGYEFO KWAME NKRUMAH “African society must be treated as enjoying its own integrity; its history must be a mirror of that society, and the European contact must find its place in this history only as an African experience, even if as a crucial one.”

of Sacred Theology. Nkrumah became a graduate assistant and started teaching in the university. While lecturing in political science at Lincoln he was elected president of the African Students Organization of America and Canada. As an underKwame Nkrumah was graduate at Lincoln he born on September wrote about Africa in 21, 1909, in Nkroful, the student newspaGhana to Madam per,The Lincolnian. Nyaniba and Francis Nwia Kofi NgonloDuring his stay in ma. Simply known as the United States, the father of modern Nkrumah toured and Africa, the Ghanaian evangelised in black nationalist leader who Presbyterian Churchled the former Gold es in Philadelphia and Coast struggle for New York City, as self-rule from Britain well as tutoring fellow remain the most im- students in philosophy portant and popular and theology. pan - Africanist in the 20th century. He It was at this period actually set the ball of his sojourn abroad rolling on the fierce that he mingled with agitation for the de- peolple of different colonisation of Africa background and nurthrough actualising tured the ideas of the new nation of pioneering pan-AfGhana. He led the ricanism and black country from indepen- revolution. dence in 1957 until he was overthrown by Kwame Nkrumah left a coup in 1966. the US for England in May 1945. Though he Kwame, an ex-semhad came to study at inarian, graduated the London School of from Achimota School Economics, however, in Accra in 1930 and he decided to help taught at a Roman organize the Fifth Catholic education Pan-African Congress centre in Axim. Nkru- in Manchester after mah left for the Unit- meeting with George ed States in 1935, Padmore, another receiving a BA from influential Afro-Trinithe Lincoln Univerdadian. Kwame later sity, Pennsylvania in founded the West 1939. He also earned African National Seca Master of Science retariat to work for in education and MA the decolonization of in philosophy in 1942 Africa. He was also and 1943 respective- the Vice-President of ly, from University of the West African StuPennsylvania. After dents’ Union. pledging the Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Nkrumah came back fraternity in 1942, he and became the Genreceived a Bachelor eral Secretary to the

United Gold Coast Convention in 1947 under Joseph B. Danquah after brief stops in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast. This convention (UGCC) took off on exploring paths to independence for the then British Colony of the Gold Coast (now Ghana). He soon emerged as the primary leader of the Ghanaian independence youth movement in 1948 after spending time in colonial gulag due to the protest of Ex-African servicemen protest.

by Ukachukwu Okorie

coup engineered by the United States CIA. As a matter of fact, Nkrumah would never again return to Ghana, however, he continued to push for his vision of African unity from elsewhere. He spent much of his exile in Guinea - Conakry, where he was the guest of Ahmed Sékou Touré, who made him honorary co-president of Guinea. At 62, in August, 1971, with deteriorating health, Kwame Nkrumah died in Bucharest, Romania. Though Osagyefo is no more, his legacies spurred his generaAfter his release from tion, it still inspire the British colonial im- ours in this trying prisonment, Nkrumah times to re-assert the decided to embark vitality of being Afrion a nationwide tour can. to mobilise support. In his speeches, he would proclaim that the Gold Coast needed self-government. Although Kwame Nkrumah was inspired deeply by the ideas and association in the field of people like Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. DuBois, George Padmore and C.L.R. James, Nkrumah would himself go on to spur and encourage his peers at home in Africa to rise in kicking out colonisation of the continent. One of his greatest success was perhaps, his significant influence in the founding of the Organization of African Unity which is the predecessor of African Union (AU). In 1966, February to be precise, while he was away on a state visit to Vietnam, his government was overthrown in a military

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KALUSHA BWALYA By Ukachukwu Okorie ico’s Club America in 1994. The legendary Call him the cat with Azteca, is their home nine lives, Great Kalu ground, and the Zamor the Magic left. bian icon has fondest Kalusha Bwalya is an memories of it. In one enigma and talent. of his interviews with Zambia’s greatest FIFA.com, he said “I sportsman of the cen- am privileged to have tury and FIFA World played in the best Cup Ambassador in stadium in the world, 2010, was born in and to have been able Mufurila, a Copperbelt to call it my home mining town, on 16 ground.” Kalush August 1963. Foot- devoted almost eight ball runs in the family years of his career blood as Kalusha’s to the Mexico and to siblings are not found him, it is truly cherwanting in tapping the ished. round leather game. A seasoned footballer and sport administrator, Kalusha’s elder brother Benjamin Bwalya played professional too while his younger brother, Joel Bwalya played for the Zambia national football team. Robert Earnshaw who currently play for Welsh national football team is his cousin. Although Kalusha debuted against Uganda in 1983, he started to make great impact in Cercle Brugge from 1985 - 1989, playing 95 games and scoring 30 goals. A member of the Chipolopolo that participated at the 1988 Olympic Games, making a solid mark with a most famous hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing against Italy. In his first season at Cercle Brugge, he was the club’s top scorer and was twice voted fans player of the year. Due to his exploits there, Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven took him to the Eredivisie, where he won the championship twice in 1990/91 and 1991/92, under Sir Bobby Robson.

One of the greats in African sport, Kalusha Bwalya contributed immensely in inspiring a generation of African footballers. Apart from his championship medals in the Dutch league, he was African Footballer of the year - 1988 from France Football . As a matter of fact, faith was kind to Kalusha that he was not on the disastrous flight in April 1993 that killed most of the Zambian internationals on their way to a World Cup qualifier in Senegal. He would later spearhead and captain the rebuilt Chipolopolo to a berth in the final From Holland, Kalusha of the 1994 African Bwalya moved to Mex- Cup of Nations, where

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles won them to lift the African Cup of Nations. Kalusha Bwalya is Zambia’s most capped player, playing 100 games and scoring 50. He is all-time top goalscorer second to Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu. He was nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1996.

ern Syria have been attacking the Kurdish city of Ayn al-Arab, also known as Kobani, attempting to seize the city and solidify control of the territory. In the past few days, U.S.-led airstrikes on ISIS have included many targets around Kobani, and appear to have at least slowed their advance for the moHe was nominated as ment. a playing coach of the Zambian national side Kobani is situated on in 2004, but failed a hillside right on the to qualify for the Syria-Turkey border, World Cup. After a a border crossed by first round exit in the tens of thousands of

2006 African Cup of Nations, thus resigning from this post. He is the President of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) since 2008 and under his administrative direction, the Chipolopolo conquered Africa in football by becoming the winners of Africa Cup of Nations in 2012. He also serves on the CAF and FIFA technical and administration committees. Kalusha Bwalya is the founder of the Kalusha Bwalya Foundation Trust which partners with the Dutch to promote sports, HIV/ AIDS awareness and other positive interest.For weeks now, ISIS militants in north-

Kurds fleeing their besieged city. Now, some of these refugees and fellow Kurds from southern Turkey have gathered on the border to watch the battles in Kobani through binoculars and cameras. Some Kurdish forces remain in the city, defending against invading militants, supported by Western aircraft and missiles, while ISIS continues to attack with artillery, mortars, suicide bombings, and small arms. CNN reports that senior U.S. administration officials conceded that Kobani will likely soon fall to ISIS, but downplayed the importance of the loss.

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Why Idi Amin Expelled The Asians Agnes Asiimwe looks back at Uganda’s expulsion of its Asian community 42 years ago, under Idi Amin’s government. Brutal as the expulsion was, one beneficiary of the expropriated Asian properties, says: “I don’t think we shall get another Ugandan with Amin’s kind of nationalism.” Idi Amin, the former president of Uganda, had a dream in August 1972. “I have dreamt,” he told a gathering in Karamoja, northeastern Uganda, “that unless I take action, our economy will be taken over. The people who are not Ugandans should leave.”

entrepreneurs on the other hand faced many odds. The British colonial government forbade Africans to gin and market pulsion. “I thought he was not serious,” cotton. In 1932 when says Kuruvilla. “I had the Uganda Cotton put all my money plus Society tried to obtain a loan into the United Assurance property. We had confidence that we were going into a new era.”

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of stone or concrete. Very few African traders had such buildings. It was clear that the colonial wanted native Ugandans to remain hewers of wood and drawers of water.

partly because of the racial segregation inherited from Uganda’s past.

By 1959, when a trade boycott of all foreign-owned stores was pronounced by Augustine Kamya of the Uganda National Movement, Africans handled less than 10% of national trade. Ambassador Paul Etiang served as Amin’s minister for five years. He was the permanent secretary at the ministry of foreign affairs in 1972. In an interview with New African, he explained that the expulsion came about

British apartheid

But Idi Amin meant every word. Ugandan-Asians had to leave in 90 days. Kuruvilla first sent off his family and lingered around just in case Amin changed his mind. But Amin’s “economic war” was real. The Asians had to make arrangements and hand over their business interests to their nominees.

The arrangement among most Asian He left Karamoja families was that one by helicopter and would be a Ugandan, stopped at the Toro- another Indian, anro airstrip in eastern other British. So the Uganda. He had sent non-Ugandans transword that he wanted ferred their businesses to address the army. to the Ugandans. The There, he announced British High Commisthe dream again to sion became a camp. a hurriedly organised Many of those with parade by the Rubon- Indian passports wantgi military unit. Some ed to go to the UK. Asians were thrown The three months’ into a panic. Others deadline was fast apthought Amin was proaching. Meanwhile bluffing. many Ugandans celebrated and lined the P. K. Kuruvilla had streets daily to chant, just bought a building “Go home Banglain Kimathi Avenue in deshi! Go home Bandowntown Kampala, gladeshi!” the capital. It was a home for his insurColonial Uganda had ance company, United strongly favoured Assurance. He says: Asians. Many arrived “We invested all the with the British colomoney into buying the nialists to do clerical building. We took a work or semi-skilled loan from the bank, I manual labour in farmhad a house in Kololo ing and construction. and I mortgaged it to They had a salary, raise money for the which became the building.” capital to start businesses. Then President Amin announced the exAspiring Ugandan

high prices by ginning and marketing its own cotton and “eliminate the Indian middleman,” it was not allowed. The banks – Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, and Standard Bank of South Africa – did not lend to many Africans. As such, the Africans could not participate in wholesale trade because the colonial government issued wholesale licenses only to traders with permanent buildings

Up till independence in 1962, there was an unwritten but trusted social order in the colonial administration where Europeans were regarded as first class, Asians as second class, and Africans as third class. For example, in trains there was a first class coach for Europeans and a few Asians, and there were coaches for Asians, and coaches for Africans. Apart-

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heid did not start in South Africa or the US; it started with the “mother country”, Great Britain.

The same order prevailed with other facilities such as toilets. The segregation was not supported by law but it was observed in practice. Africans were not expected to go to the Imperial Hotel (The Grand Imperial Hotel in downtown Kampala). There was a sign outside the hotel that stayed there until 1952. It read: “Africans and dogs not allowed”. The waiters were Asians. “Come independence

in 1962,” Ambassador Etiang explains, “one significant provision in the independence constitution was an article which stated that those people who were not Ugandans as at Uganda’s

independence on 9 October 1962, had two years to make up their minds, whether to become citizens of the new Uganda or adopt the status of British-protected persons, in which case the latter would have a British passport.” Many Asians at the time applied for British citizenship but because business was good in Uganda with no competition from the locals, many did not leave.

In 1969, Britain tabled a revised version of its Immigration Act, the Patriot’s Act. Commonwealth passport holders would need a visa to enter Britain. Britain was compelled to pass

that Act as a condition for its entry into the European Economic Commission (EEC). Now, it was only citizens of member states of the EEC that had the right to travel to Britain without a visa. “Commonwealth members reacted to it very strongly,” Ambassador Etiang recalls. “This is what brought about the immigration discussion in Uganda.” The Ugandan government, then under

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President Milton Obote, started asking: “How do we deal with all these Asians? If Britain was making rules barring us from opportunities in Britain, then we also have the right to have our own rules to regulate those who are coming here.”

to be among the last three to leave. There was Khamis Safi and Mustafa Ramathan, who was the minister for cooperatives. We were having a light chat when Amin came in.

“Khamis posed a question to Amin: ‘Afande, have you That was when Ugan- ever asked yourself da, Kenya, and Tanza- why God made you nia realised that they a president?’ Amin replied by asking needed their own Immigration Acts, and Khamis: ‘What do you the first Immigration mean?’ Acts were subsequent “‘God appointed you passed that year in reaction to the Brit- president,’ Khamis ish Patriot’s Act. By repeated. ‘There are many injustices in this 1971, the issue of country. Each tribe Asians being Ugandans or not, remained has a place they call unaddressed beyond home. Even Etiang here, the Itesots have the provision in the a place. But have you 1962 Constitution. ever asked yourself, “But this is what where do the Nubians I believe triggered come from? As far as the expulsion under Amin,” says Ambas- I know God made you president to rectify sador Etiang. the wrongs that have been handed to NuThe spark bians in this country. We are the ones who The head of the Re- brought Captain Baker ligious Services at here, we are the ones the time, Col Khamis who founded KampaSafi, was from the la. Kampala is Nubian Nubian tribe and a territory.’ Muslim like Amin. Safi was the son of a “Amin was listening. man believed to have You should have been walked to Mecca, on there when this suppilgrimage, in 1917. posedly holy man was It is a popular Nubian talking to Amin, he story. Because he sur- would be docile,” said vived the treacherous Etiang. journey by land, he was deemed to have Amin said, maybe it been a holy man. is true. But Mustafa And because he was Ramathan challenged holy even his children the argument that must be holy. Khamis Kampala was Nubian Safi was therefore territory. an obvious choice to But Khamis insistbe head of Religious ed that Nubians too Services. needed a place. “We brought the Muzungu “By 1972,” Ambas- (white man) here on sador Etiang recalls, our backs. He set up “Khamis Safi was usu- camp at Old Kampala. ally the last person to This place is ours.” visit Amin every day at State House. On 4 July 1972, I happened Continue on page 10

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Amin said, “OK, we’ll think about it.” Three weeks later, Amin left for Karamoja by helicopter. There, he revealed that he had had a dream that what Khamis had said was true. That God had revealed to him that unless he obeyed the advice of the holy son, Uganda risked being taken over by the imperialists. “I believe that was the origin of the expulsion,” Ambassador Etiang says. “Once you told Amin something and he liked it, he would keep it to himself and then later put it in his own way like it was his idea.” When Amin told the cabinet about the expulsion, it was greeted with scepticism. The civil service received the implementation orders as a cabinet directive. The attorney general was directed to draft an expulsion order. Amin was later told he could not expel all the Asians because some were Ugandans. “I met Khamis at State House again,” Ambassador Etiang remembers. “He told

Amin in Kiswahili that what you have done is very good but if you want to remove this tree from here, you don’t just cut off the branches. The idea of only non-citizens leaving is like a branch. Remove the whole tree. An Indian is an Indian. He can have three passports at a time. All of them could be with two or more passports. Amin said okay.

ers, and most of the imported goods they had imported got stuck in Mombasa, the Kenyan seaport. Nobody claimed the goods and Kenyans got them for peanuts. Uganda was hit by an acute shortage of essential goods. What saved the country was that coffee had the highest value ever at the time. One wagon of coffee was $1.8m.

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collapsed in no time. One lucky recipient was the former Kampala City mayor, Hajj Nasser Ntege Ssebagala, who believes that Ugandans failed to run the shops because of lack of experience. Some sold the shirts by collar size where size seven would be sold at seven shillings.

“The point was to get Africans to start doing business,” says Ssebagala. “Out of “I remember 22 Au“The Asians who the many failures, gust 1977,” recalls suffered a lot are there were a handful Etiang, “that time we those who professed were acutely short of of success stories. to be Ugandan because while the oth- paraffin. Iraq gave us That’s how a middle class is created. Amin paraffin – from one er ones had three wanted people to get Muslim brother to months’ notice, the used to money, to another – but KenUgandan-Asians had learn to run a busiyans refused to allow less than a month to ness. The idea was to it to transit. ‘This leave.” give a chance to Afriis very bad indeed,’ They had to abandon cans to come up,” the property given to said Amin. Then he told me: ‘Go to your them by their deSsebagala says Amin parting relatives and boss and see if he demonstrated that can allow it to transit friends. Says Etiang: “This man Khamis Safi through Dar es Salaam he cared about Ugandans. “I don’t think is the single individual [Tanzania]’.” we shall get another who brought all this Ugandan with the kind Etiang, now the forup.” eign minister, went to of nationalism like Amin’s,” Ssebagala see President Julius The British foreign says, without blinking secretary at the time, Nyerere of Tanzania an eyelid. who agreed that the James Callaghan, paraffin should transit In 1973, Amin’s govcame to plead for ernment issued the the Asians, but Amin through Mutukula – Properties and Busirefused to change his all two million litres. nesses (Acquisition) Amin’s government mind. The harsh impact was felt by the distributed the Asian Decree. Under it, Asian properties were businesses to Ugannative Africans. The expropriated by the dans. Many of them Asians were import-

government and sold. Amin agreed to pay the Asians who lost their property, and indeed set up a fund at the central bank, the Bank of Uganda. The Asians who left for Canada and England were paid through the Uganda High Commission for the value of their properties and 30% as disturbance allowance. However, in 1983, under a new president, Milton Obote, the Expropriated Properties Act was instituted to provide for the transfer of expropriated properties to their former owners. Then long after President Yoweri Museveni had taken power (he came into office in January 1986 after chasing out Obote’s second government), he returned the properties to their original Asian owners. “That’s how some Asians came back and repossessed their properties, for which they had already been compensated,” explains Ssebagala. THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN NEW AFRICAN MAGAZINE

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PRIME MINISTER TAFAWA BALEWA!!!!!SIMPLICITY AND HUMILITY OF A MAN THAT ONCE LIVED!!!!! It was reported that Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa went on his only annual leave as Prime Minister of Nigeria in 1963 and decided to spend the vacation in his village. A British photo journalist came calling and was told the PM was on vacation. “To which country?”

he asked, but was shocked to hear it was to his village. On getting to his village, there was no evidence to show that a BIG MAN was there. Everybody was busy with their chores. He met a farmer with his donkey carrying bales of sugarcane for the PM’s home and he

was shocked when the farmer said “ I just left him a while ago. You will see him sitting on bare floor with his kids drinking the sugarcane I gave them”. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less loudmouthers. There is

2014 November 1 -15 | 11

no respect for others without humility in one’s self. Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real. Late Hon. Prime Minister was a true figure of that. True humility is intelligent, self respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves.

It makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be. Nigerians of today need to borrow a leaf from Late Prime Minister….down to earth humble man I rest my case Akin Awofolaju,PhD New York

12 | 2014 November 1 -15

Interview

NIGERIA: EVERYTHING RUNS ON OIL - PAT UTOMI

Abeokuta, probably to call on the Alake, and there was at least 12-car-motorcade. The sirens were on, they were not travProfessor of Entrepreneurship and Political Economy, Pat Okedinachi elling fast enough, Utomi, in this chat with MARCEL MBAMALU at his Victoria Island ofwe couldn’t overtake fice, says Nigeria needs to dramatically slash administrative wastes and refocus on non-oil sectors of the economy. Professor of Entrepre- them and so we travneurship and Political Economy, Pat Okedinachi Utomi, in this chat with elled in a rolling roadMARCEL MBAMALU at his Victoria Island office, says Nigeria needs to block from Lagos to dramatically slash administrative wastes and refocus on non-oil sectors Abeokuta. of the economy. I give you these two by MARCEL MBAMALU to booms and bursts run government is not examples to tell you what has happened to in budgeting in Nige- fair to the Nigerian What’s your take on ria, abandoned projpeople. When most of the cost of governing in Nigeria. Nigeria the falling oil prices ects and all of these us were growing up and implications on in the Federal Capital can be saved a great kinds of things. But the 2015 budget and with India and China’s of Nigeria, motorthe economy? cades were known to surge, the demand was so high that the be something that What I find strange cycles seemed to went only with goverand awkward is that have disappeared. But nors and the Head of something that was they were not going State. Today, every expected has finally parastatal chief has to disappear: First come and we are sur- of all, it is natural to motorcades, sirens prised; it was delayed, have business cycles. and everything. but it has come. Why Secondly, the fact should it really surI like to give a very that India and China prise us? We should were rising was not specific example, not have been planning in a distant past; going to mean that for this a long time the patterns of sup- it was recently: Dr. ago. ply and demand would Joseph Sanusi was not re-establish them- Governor of Central Years ago, there selves; it is just that Bank of Nigeria, and were all kinds of isthe loop of the cycle I was sitting with sues at play. One him on a flight from might be stretched. was, peak oil, which Abuja. We were chatbasically, suggested So, the bottom line ting just before we that, after certain is that that time has landed, and I said to numbers of years, we arrived; it arrived at him, you know, I have would reach a stage the time when shale done this foolish thing where oil will become oil has enabled the again; I have even really not as valuable United States almost forgot to call anyin resource as it is body to meet me at not to need our oil now. There have been at all. It arrived at a the airport. And he all kinds of research time when, even the said, No I can take indicating that in the growth in places like you wherever you are future, besides crude India is slowing down, going and drop you. oil dwindling in its and it suddenly seems So, the CBN governor availability as a source to have caught us by and I landed. He was of energy, there will surprise; whereas, it traveling alone and be alternatives that is something we could proceeded to a Peu- ing out against this have been develgeot 505, which was trend? have been planning oped that will make for, expecting in the his official car. There oil less relevant. All was one police orderly I don’t know for last 15 years. The that conversation was bottom line is that it with him, and I joined them. going on when India him in the back and is here now. rising and China rising they drove me to the You would agree that these problems culmiWhere do we go from Hilton. This was the essentially created great needs for crude here? Central Bank Governor nate in dwindling revenue for the federal oil, and so the usual of Nigeria! government on which I know the first thing volatility. that we must do is Less than six years the states depend for monthly allocations; to dramatically slash later, as I was travIf you remember, the administrative a few years ago, oil elling to Abeokuta, I what really should the states be doing prices were very vol- wastes in our country. saw a successor of What it costs us to atile, the cycles led his who was going to to confront this chal-

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deal of headache if these things are reviewed. It is not security that these things are about; it is about egos. So, we need to dramatically slash the cost of government, we need to focus on productive areas. But what is even more frightening is that we are talking about drop in oil prices, when we are not even producing enough of the oil. As you and I speak, many

lenge as it were? You know, back in the 1960s, the states did not wait for the centre to bring them anything; states were the ones that sent to the center, a reverse of the obtuse federalism that we have. The rapid expansion in agriculture of the 1950s and 1960s were driven primarily by the sub-national

Interview

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of the oil companies are cancelling… they are down to zero rig count, they are just mining what they were producing before — no exploration going on, because the Federal Government has not been paying its cash calls.

so-called goose laying the golden egg, how come we can’t even treat the goose right so that it can continue laying the eggs?

So, we are being hit from two sides; one is the falling oil price, the other has to do with falling reserves. My understanding is Because no further that, we are as far exploration is taking back as $60 billion in place, so it’s a double arrears of cash calls problem. to oil majors. Now, if we continue to be de- But why are the oil pendent on this, the companies not speak-

units. The states need to be creating context for investments and job creation, and therefore revenues that will accrue to them from taxes, from these jobs being created from those agricultural, mining and manufacturing activities in those states will be source of the sustenance of the states, rather than waiting for a

FAC Account meeting. These are part of the damage oil did to the Nigerian economy. I don’t remember any governor who was waiting around for FAC Account meeting in the 70s, but today nothing happens until the FAC account meeting is held. You talked about Federal Government

running into cash calls deficit of $ 60billion; what indices did you consider in arriving at that amount, since such a figure doesn’t just come by happenstance?

body produces any oil in Nigeria, the country will wake up and will be revived. But, of course, it is not practical, because we have created a political class; we have created an economy In fact, I have been that just runs on oil. talking to oil industry But it will make sense people; it is part of to do because many our business to be of our problems come informed. You know from this fixation with one of the things the fact that easy we do at CVL every money will be there month is to focus from oil, and so the on one sector of the spending is going wild Nigerian economy in and totally unreasonlooking for somebody able. to honour, to discuss that sector. The spending of government is totally So as part of my unreasonable but you own research for can’t say to them this conversation, that it is. All the peothis colloquium on oil ple going into politics and gas, that’s how are there because of the figure came to this. If politics were me and I was actua place where thinkally quite alarmed. I ing people go to, am told that even a task their brains on corporation as big as how to create jobs Exxon Mobil is down for ordinary people, to zero rig count. how to do this, how That’s what I heard to do that, many of yesterday; I hope it’s the people in politics correct. won’t go there. But because there is easy For many years, money in politics, all every budget speech kinds of charlatans has one line that was are going there. So I certain, ‘to diversify think Nigeria needs it; the economy away Nigeria needs oil pricfrom the dependence es to crash, you know on the oil and gas.’ that there was a twoIt is a standard line, week period in 1982 and, for more than 20 that Nigeria did not years, I could write sell one barrel of oil. that line in advance I think Nigeria needs of the budget speech to have six months on and yet we didn’t do that. much about that. Do you see the situation abating, or In many ways, it you think oil prices sounds very awkward; but I have been will continue to fall praying for this day; (don’t forget there have been signs of I have been praying for oil prices to drop rebound)? below $10 per barrel. Yes, it is a cyclical In fact, I have actuthing; it will always go ally suggested, at a up and come down; point (and nobody listened to me, so it but that sky-high oil was pointless) that, if price for very long… we could shut the oil that era is gone. wells and say, for the Do you share the next 10 years, no-

2014 November 1 -15 | 13

opinion that new oil finds and shale gas development in the US and others are some of the factors pushing this trend Yes, it is about shale gas in the US. The US is now literally a net exporter, not an importer any more. China’s rise is going to stabilise; it’s not going to grow forever. Besides, oil is being found everywhere now; every African country is going to soon be an oil producing country. Look at Ghana; they have already had their first crisis, because their spending has been ramped up in anticipation of revenues and the thing just went wild. Ghana, we thought, will learn from Nigeria; but they got caught very quickly in the same trouble. Your thoughts on job creation in non-oil sectors… I think my great worry is that we talk about job creation, but we don’t understand how critical the game is: what we need is an obsession, an obsession with how to create jobs out of true value, not government jobs. I heard one governor-elect say that he got the Federal Government Medical Centre to employ about 12 people, that he has created jobs. I thought, oh my God, did this guy understand the meaning of job creation at all.

Continue on page 14 Now we need not government agency

Interview

14 | 2014 November 1 -15

“We need massive programmes of that nature across the country to put young people to work.” employing a few people as the end. Of course, you can have some stimulation of the economy through government projects. For example, I am a big supporter of hiring unemployed people to clean the streets, plant trees, do those kinds of things, because they are adding value and they are programmes to help people, then bring those people into employment, put some money in their pocket and give them new training to be able to do more productive things.

the population (you know we have a youth budge), can create for us an economic boost. It is called demographic dividend, if we engage them, train them properly, re-programme them and get them to do many productive things that are being undone right now and to organise that takes a lot of painstaking effort by people who have a clear vision of where they should be going.

I have talked in the past about, taking the NYSC scheme as an example, providing We need massive intense, really intense programmes of that six months training to nature across the these young graducountry to put young ates in entrepreneurpeople to work. The ship, agriculture and demographic dividend, then make them an which can come from army of entrepreneur-

it is very dangerous to see government as a solver of these ship extension agents problems; it must be and they go and work in stimulating private with farmers, work sector activity. with ploughman to get value out of what I already have seen a they are doing. Credanger in which stimate an army of peo- ulating private sector ple who teach people activity may not be how to create wealth, carried out effectivemake the NYSC ly but in a way that scheme two years, will regress into the pay them decent worse parts of the money, and they are dirigiste dogma, which going out there and is what crippled many creating jobs all over development plans the country, three around the world back years later we won’t in the 70s and 80s. recognise our country. I see that already in I made that proposal our automotive polat a speech at the icy —very wrongly University of Lagos headed, very poorly 11 years ago. thought through, and unlikely to create a While it is very imfew shell jobs and portant to massively prevent Nigeria from try to create job and thinking competivegovernment to play an ness. activist role, especially through entrepreneur- I think that we need ial and agricultural to look at our factor extension services, endowment and look

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at global competiveness and select areas where our endowments will enable us become top producers in certain components of anything at all, whether it’s component of vehicle or even culture. Let’s take culture, which is something we are celebrating with Nollywood and music. A Nigerian who was in Zanzibar last Christmas and calls me, say, you are not going to believe this, he said in this place they worship P-square, they worship these guys here in Zanzibar; that’s a major export for Nigeria. If Nigeria concentrates on creating 30 P-squares a year, it will do much more than building assembly plants that cannot be sustained.

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News

2014 November 1 -15 | 15

IGBO WORLD ASSEMBLY (IWA) MESSAGE TO IGBO GENERAL ASSEMBLY (IGA) SPAIN AND EUROPEAN IGBO COMMUNITIES (EIC) MURCIA, SPAIN

Worldwide Ex- Council of Igbo Theme: IGBO UNITY State Americas(CISA) AND ACTUALIZATION National President OF IGBO AGENDA IN Chairman of Igbo NIGERIA AND DIASPO- World Assembly(IWA) RA Chairman Ohanaeze Diaspora Committee Igbo World Assembly Board of trustee Igbo (IWA) welcomes the Village Frontiers Culvarious Igbo, Nigeritural Mus an, African leaders Current Representapresent today. IWA tive of Ndi Anambra salutes the special in CISA guest of honour Her Chairman of Council of Excellency Mrs Bianca Igbo State Americas(Ojukwu the Nigerian CISA) Board of PresiAmbassador in Spain, dents Guest of Honour Ma- Ex-Chairman Nigeria Dolores Hernandez ria-American World Councillor of ImmiAffairs Council gration, Chief (Sir) Founding Vice ChairChris Ofodili President man World Igbo ConIgbo General Assem- gress bly(IGA)Spain, Our Host Emeka Malife, Igbo World Assembly President Ohanaeze (IWA) congratulates Ndiigbo Murcia Prov- Igbo General Assemince, Spain, Emeka bly(IGA) Spain and Onuma Ex- President European Igbo ComOhanaeze Ndiigbo munities(both affiliMurcia Province,Spain, ates of IWA) leaders Ndi Eze, Ndi nze na from the various diOzo, members of aspora countries in the diplomatic corps, convention holding Elected officials and in Murcia province, Igbo Union members, Spain, on October 18, representative and 2014. Igbo World leaders of various Assembly extends an provinces in Spain. enthusiastic support to our brethren’s on I am Dr Nwachukwu a worldwide basis and Anakwenze and have to you all: IWA theme been serving Ndiigbo message today is Igbo and Nigerians in var- unity and actualizaious capacities since tion of Igbo agenda I finished my medical in Nigeria and Diastraining as a physician pora. IWA, IGA, EIC 30 years ago. and Ohanaeze Ndiigbo Below are some my are working togethpast and current posi- er towards improving tions in service to our the lives of our peopeople. ple through collective efforts with all stakePresident ASA South- holders”. ern California President ASA-USA IWA is the UmbrelBoard member Igbo la Organization that Cultural Association of represents the Apex Southern California National Igbo OrganiChairman of Anamzations (outside Nibra State Association geria) in the various

countries of the world such as USA, UK, France, Spain, Finland, Netherland, Ireland, India, Ghana, Mali, UAE (Dubai), Pakistan, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Russia, Australia, Denmark, Japan, Italy, Mali, Ghana, Korea, China, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden and Canada. The Igbo World Assembly (IWA) works very closely and recognizes Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo as the mouthpiece of Ndi-Igbo World Wide.

always necessary; we must establish and prosper our economies; we must promote our welfare; we must tell our stories; and we must celebrate our culture and history.

This is IWA’s commitment to Igbo leaders and friends of Ndiigbo who share our vision to attain and perfect that elusive global Igbo Union. It is in that light that IWA wishes to use the event of our convention to introduce The Igbo World Asour platform, to seek sembly, is the only bona fide, inter-conti- program partners, to nental, Igbo Advoca- assemble committed Igbo leaders, and to cy group of its kind founded on May 19, reflect on how to 2008, and represents leverage Igbo’s Diasa committed attempt pora presence as a new instrument in the to truly perfect a struggle against Igbo Global Igbo Union. enemies. IWA is open IWA is founded on the twin principles of to cooperating and collaborating with othNjikoka and Igba Izu (synergy and collab- er Igbo groups with the aim of moving the oration) and we are Igbo Nation and agencommitted to working with, collaborating da forward. with, partnering with IWA will commence all genuine Igbo political, economic and by expressing our social expression vehi- support for and solcles. By presenting a idarity with Ohaneze platform to leverage Ndi Igbo currently led by the indomitaIgbo Diaspora as a ble Gray Igarawey for strategic partner on continuing the mission Igbo issues, we aim to advance the Igbo of bringing Ndi Igbo agenda as never be- together, the mission, fore done in our post- which Chief Ojukwu fought for throughout war history. his lifetime. As the representatives of Ndi Our goal is clear, Ndi-Igbo must speak Igbo in Diaspora, we are resolute at making with one voice and one accord; we must peace and /or combating the adversary seek to do and be done equitably, by all syndrome that has plagued Ndi Igbo for means expedient or a very long time. As warranted; we must you know, Ohanaeze wage struggles as has clearly emerged necessary; we must stronger from its inconclude peace as

ternal turmoil of the past. During Dr. Dozie Ikedife’s tenure as the President General, he laid the solid foundation, which has propelled Ohaneze to a new height. The immediate past leadership under President General Ralph Uwechue built on the foundation of his predecessor and brought Ohaneze to the position of calm, credibility, and discipline. These attributes are the cornerstone of innovative and progressive governance that will re-position Ndi Igbo to take their rightful place in Nigeria. The current Ohanaeze leaders led by Chief Igarawey are very focused with it team leadership approach and are destined to take us far in the right direction. Ohanaeze leaders performed very well in the just concluded National conference with fantastic results. OUR PHILOSOPHY/BELIEVES True democracy and freedom is what we want for ourselves as Ndiigbo, Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Our history in Nigeria clearly shows that NdiIgbo have always stood for democracy and fair play for all. We do not believe or promote religious based politics and ideology. We want a Nigeria where the majority’s right is balanced with the minority’s right. We want

16 | 2014 November 1 -15

News

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What This Man Is Claiming About the US Involvement with the Ebola Virus Is Quite Thought-Provoking I think we should first watch this video to get a good background statement then read the response: http://atlantablackstar. com/2014/10/10/ what-this-man-is-claiming-about-the-us-involvement-with-theebola-virus-is-quitethought-provoking/

where one of the first outbreaks happened. Genus Ebola virus is 1 of 3 members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus), along with genus Marburgvirus and genus Cuevavirus. Genus Ebola virus comprises 5 distinct species: BDBV, EBOV, and SUDV have been associated with large EVD outbreaks in Africa, whereas RESTV There is an obvious and TAFV have not. misunderstanding of The RESTV species, the purpose of US found in Philippines patent on Ebola. if and the People’s Rethe US government is public of China, can involved, this patent infect humans, but would be classified no illness or death in and not readily avail- humans from this speable to the general cies has been reportpublic. The Tuskegee ed to date. You can Syphilis study was learn more from the outed by a whisCDC or check the link tle blower. In fact, below for more inforall discoveries of US mation. You can even involvement in shady listen to the discusactivities were outed sion. by either a whistle blower, investigative Meanwhile, American journalists, or they private sector corbecome declassified porations have been by other regimes. It very notorious in the is unfortunate that ways in which they we must leave with conduct their business suspicious minds. I did abroad. If there is not like the fact that some economic adsuch an intelligent vantage down the line man like Randy Short on the EVD outbreak, was exposed to public then we should all be criticism in his effort very worried. Because to protect African most of the managpeople. I am howev- ers are short sighted, er very happy that greedy and unscruhe was bold enough pulous. We know the to stand out there Philip Morris story and exercise his 1st in the Czech repubamendment right. lic; the Italian waste dump in Eastern NigeEbola Virus Disease ria, and several other (EVD) was first identi- atrocities that are befied in 1976, when it yond our comprehenfirst appeared in 1976 sion. This is why the in 2 simultaneous out- US government must breaks, in Nzara, Su- regulate these interdan, and in Yambuku, national corporations Democratic Republic with stricter laws and of Congo. The virus is tougher penalties. named after the Ebola River, which runs near But when it comes to the Congolese village the cost of Ebola, let

us imagine what the bill might have looked like for patients treated in the US. Insurance companies are not celebrating over the hospital bills of Ebola survivors. Kent Brantly, the first person to be transported from Liberia to the U.S. for care, was covered under health insurance provided by his charity, Samaritan’s Purse. The other aid worker, Nancy Writebol’s bill was covered by North Carolina-based missionary group SIM’s health and workers’ compensation insurance plans, Writebol’s evacuation from Liberia was covered in full by one of SIM’s insurance carriers, Aetna Inc. SIM also paid her $25,000 deductible. Our brother Thomas Eric Duncan came to the U.S. from Liberia on Sept. 20 on a tourist visa. He had no health insurance to pay for his care. Reverend Jesse Jackson traveled to Dallas at the request of Duncan’s mother. We discovered that the care provided to Ebola patient may be costing more than $1000 per hour. That is $24000 a day since the treatment requires intensive monitoring. Additional treatment included fluids replacement, blood transfusions and drugs to maintain blood pressure. There’s also the cost of security, disposing of Ebola-contaminated trash and equipment to protect caregivers. Brother Duncan Racked up as much as half a million dollars, a bill Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dal-

las is unlikely to ever collect from his estate. I wonder if the 1 million pledged by the African Union Commission to combat Ebola was intercepted to pay this outstanding Bill, would it be harsh or would it be fair. My point here is that the US has pledged over 400 Million, and AU pledges 1 million towards its own problem and that bothers me seriously. That bill was just TX and Atlanta rate. Imagine what it’ll cost in NYC. So when we make conspiracy theories, let us do so with conscientiousness otherwise, let us enjoy it as a form of entertainment. Often, if you follow the money you may find the source. There is a lesson to learned here. We need to stop going public on false information on African issues, it reflects very badly on our collective effort. It is disreputable. Mr. Short was genuinely worried and could have been acting on his impulse when making the case to substantiate his accusation of the US government, but his argument simple lacks adequate due diligence and it is damaging to our collective effort. I think we need to have a spokesperson on every issue at the African Union. If officially including the Diaspora in uniting all African people in African and Diaspora is outside the African Union’s agenda, we need and must create a united platform where all African people everywhere can

think together and have a better representative system that reflects our collective interest on every single issue everywhere in the world. This has to be African leaders at a very high level, not micro level discussion forum representatives, which we have plenty; but strategic macro level meetings with all African countries and African Diaspora representatives, which are rare. We are in dire need of it. We should make it a priority to resolve our problems and reduce our collective vulnerabilities as a people. Lean more about the Ebola Virus: http://bit.ly/ MDG-ERP-EBOLA

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Technology

2014 November 1 -15 | 17

Maths made easy... Education is best policy or legacy as the saying goes, when we learn we develop and that contributes to global economy, so there is no by limit to what we can do when knowledge is Uche acquired. Onyenagubo will reveal the answer, not only that, also furnish the step-bystep guide to arriving at the answer... that comes handy and helps to deliver the explanation to your child. The PhotoMath app Mathematics as a core subject in early school has always been difficult for most students. Teachers have continuously devised different methods to impact students as easy as possible but it still remains the hardest subject in the history of schooling.

camera of the device, snap the image of the question and wait for the answer immediately and then request for “step by step” guide, showing how the problem was solved. Looking at the app, it might appear to be a way for students to cheat but it helps to resolve quickAs we always empha- ly what could possibly sise on Tech_Pilot, take longer time to technology has a way figure out. On the of unravelling pecuother hand, as every liar issues around us, other thing, many stumaking it easier and dents could result to simple. PhotoMath using it wrongly. is an app developed by Microblink, a Lon- As we know, when don-based company new technologies are designed to solve discovered, it takes math problems by an different dimensions easy means of scan- and expands ning the question and rapidly. The Phoreceiving an answer. toMath is at its young Aside from the Pho- stage with most batoMath app, Microblink sic topics incorporatalso works with nued in it. It currently merous customers supports basic arithacross 30 countries metic, fractions, decto set up “computer imal numbers, linear vision technology” for equations and several their mobile apps. functions like logarithms. The PhotoMath clearly stands out as a step The positive side of to assist tutors and this app is the prostruggling students vision it will give to approach math’s parents who struggle problems using smart to assist their wards devices. The idea is with Homework in simply basic in terms maths related probof usage, with the lems. A quick scan

uses Optical Character Recognition, (OCR) Technology to read the question/equation and calculates the answers within seconds. There is a red frame which captures equation in order to streamline or focus adequately the prob-

lem to avoid ambiguity. The link below demonstrates how it works: http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=XlbVB50mIh4

There are still some teething issues around the PhotoMath app: 1. Can only read printed text. (for example, mistaking the “X” variable as the multiplication symbol 2. The red frame also causes limitations because there may not be enough spacing between two separate math problems in the textbook to capture the equation that you want The PhotoMath app is available for free on iOS and Windows Phone now, but the Android version will be released sometimes in the coming months or so. AS earlier mentioned, all these challenges can be resolved as research continues.

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18 | 2014 November 1 -15

a Nigeria where the various ethnic groups feel that they have a stake in the future of the country. We envision a Nigeria where leadership is based on the ability to work hard, where fairness reigns with a sense of direction and accountability to the various groups and for the common good of the country. We envision a Nigeria where people can vote and be voted for everywhere.

ty. Mediocrity has no place in any progressive democracy. Ndiigbo are egalitarians by nature. We believe that all people are, in principle, equal and should enjoy equal social, political, and economic rights and opportunities. We do not believe in murdering or attacking others, visitors, guests, or strangers in our midst. Ndiigbo are among the most welcoming, friendly, hospitable and tolerant and freedom loving people on earth. Our renowned hospitality, friendship and welcoming nature are highlighted on our use of “Kola nut” to symbolize our warmness, friendship, and universal brotherhood to all.

This belief system is deeply rooted in meritocracy; a system that gives opportunities and advantages to people on the basis of their ability and not on the basis of their wealth or seniority. This belief system, my friends, is the basis for our refusal Also “Nwanne di na mba” meaning that to accept mediocri-

a stranger from a foreign land also suffices as a brother or a sister. This Igbo mantra of “Nwanne di na mba” enables us as Ndi Igbo to settle anywhere in the world as our home and enables us to welcome anybody in our midst.

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“Ebe onye bi k’ona awachi.” Igbo settled in West Africa, Africa in the various independent but linked communities. The Nri maintained an ancient Igbo market system that regulated the commerce of West Africa,

Ala Igbo (Igbo land in Nigeria or the mother land) and Ala Igbo (Igbo land) in the new world (US, Brazil, Belize, Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, Cameron and the entire Caribbean’s and West Indies) and position Igbo as a black nation that every black worldAnother Igbo cliché, wide will point to with “Oje mba enwe ilo”, The reach of Igbo pride, it is importmeaning a traveler/ whether it is spiritu- ant that we begin to visitor has no eneality, mysticism, civ- seriously consider the my and means us no ilization, philosophy, needs of the Global harm. This old mantra trading agriculture and Igbo. was drilled on eviron work etc, extendery Igboman/woman, ed beyond the shores It is time for Ndi early in our lives and of Africa. Igbo are Igbo to implement a used to encourage us (Ndi Mbu na Ndi “think home philosand those we come Gboo) the first people ophy” meaning that; in contact with, to created and an anwe might perish as be kind to travelers/ cient people is a fact. a people on the long strangers that we run if we do not bemay encounter along We salute and welgin now, to self-actuour trails in life. come the large grow- alize and make ways ing Igbo nation and to our homeland. Our Igbo ancestors our ancestors. We will believed in frontier fulfil the dreams of expansion based of Ndiigbo both in Nne IWA’S BLUE PRINT

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FOR NDI-IGBO 1. To Reposition Ndi-Igbo politically in seeking POLITICAL EQUITY. 2. To Reposition and Regenerate the South East and South South Geo-Political Zones. 3. IWA supports the actualization of South Eastern and South South Nigerian Economic Commissions 4. Attract “genuine” foreign investors to SE & SS in the field of Technology, Healthcare and Social Services 5. Agriculture and Food Security: Food sufficiency and production is a necessity. We need to be self-sufficient in food production. 6. Work assiduously for the creation and implementation new states in South-East and South-South as achieved in the recent Nigerian national confab. 7. Push for Youth Empowerment and Skill Acquisition 8. Work for security of South East and South South Geo Political Zones. 9. Cultural heritage.-To support and propagate our Igbo language and culture. Support CISA movement for promotion of our cultural heritage ie Igbo village in Staunton, Virginia 10 To achieve self-sufficiency in Power/Energy Sectors

colonial times to the present. 12. Caliphate Colonialism is the root cause of the problems with Nigeria The long-suffering victims of Caliphate Colonialism must now go on the counter-offensive and restructure Nigeria for the good of all 13 It is time to do away with Boko haram for the good of all Nigerians 14. IWA rejects and condemns selfishness by some of our politicians against the general interest of Ndiigbo. Our people in positions of authority and those who are in the corridors of power in our country must regard themselves as holding those positions in trust for Ndiigbo. 15. IWA calls for a change in investment strategy as Ndiigbo by thinking home first in our future investment decisions. Ndiigbo needs a think home first investment strategy based on what recently happened in places like Lagos and Kano recently. APPLICATION OF IWA BLUE PRINT FOR NDI-IGBO AS STATED BELOW:

1. The application of the twin principles 11. A credible Nigeri- of Njikoka(synergy) an census is needed and Igba Izu (Flexibilfor fairness and equity ity/Collaboration/Diafor all Nigerians. Why logue/Diplomacy). and is someone afraid of not Nzogbu Nzogbu(having a reliable cen- force) strategy; sus in Nigeria? It is Therapy and healing common knowledge for our “Igbo Enwe that Nigeria has been Eze Syndrome” (Indioperating on falsified vidualism vs. consensus/collective strategy and inflated population figures for some politically speaking). We need diversificaregions from the

tion of strategies so as to have several options. We should always put our smartest men and women in the front to represent Igbo interest in Nigerian and world affairs at all times. We need to broadly define Ndi Igbo to include all our brothers and sisters at home, outside Igbo land and in diaspora We need to work for the interest of Ndi-Igbo first and then the interest of Nigeria or any political parties. We always need to remember that we are the largest ethnic group in Nigeria and Africa We need to have elected and appointed federal offices commensurate with the large size of Ndi-igbo as the largest ethnic group in Nigeria and Africa. NdiIgbo were recently short changed again recently as Nigerian Police gets 2 new AIGs, 37 new commissioners We have to do something about this? INEC just recently fraudulently awarded more voting booth to Northern Nigeria verses South on the bases on what? This must be rejected by all Nigerians for the attempted injustice. The perpetrators of this fraud such as Jega must resign or be fired from office. Recent history shows that despite past animosities, the various groups in the SE,SS,SW,NC(Middle Belt) have come to realise that the only way the area could be relevant and thereby assert itself in the nations affairs once again is by closing ranks. Common interest demands it. Isolationism is not

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part of Igbo culture and it will not help Ndiigbo. It is our nature to reach out to others of like mind for the good of Nigerians. Isolationism or secession will not serve our overall best interest. An alliance with other groups/neighbours is the key regardless of the fear of a hidden Igbo agenda for domination. This fear of Igbo domination was keeping them from working with us. There is no homogenous group in the North because it is made up of more than 250 tribal groupings, Christians, Muslims and non-Christians. We need to reach out to the Northern moderates who are willing to work for the good of all Nigeria and at the same time ostracize the extremist and trouble makers amongst them. Ndiigbo need to utilize collaboration, cooperation and alliance building with other ethnic groups in SE/SS/SW/ NC particularly the Northern and Southern minorities. This is the best way to counter Caliphate colonial strategies Ndiigbo need to be prepared to play prominent roles at the Nigerian political centre stage and not at the peripheral of political power IWA states that Ndiigbo should not have permanent friends or enemies. But we should have permanent interest such as creating a level playing field and fair play for all Nigerians There is a need to restructure Nigeria to ensure true federalism based on regions or zones therefore implementation of the key agreements of the just concluded Nation-

al Conference is critically important. We need a Nigerian political structure that is based on equity, fair play, balance and equal access to political power for the good of all Nigerians. IWA states that reasonable reform was made at the just concluded National confab. Our Ohanaeze leaders and Igbo delegates did a very good job in representing us at the national confab. We still did not achieve everything that we wanted. We will continue to fight for a Nigerian federation where power is shared between the centre and component of federating units based on zones/regions in a more equitable manner. IWA feels that what Nigeria needs on the long run is true federalism which is a system of government based upon democratic rules and institutions in which the power to govern is shared between National and Regional/ State Governments. The individual federating units need to have more control over their own affairs and should only be controlled by a central government for issues in the single exclusive list. IWA position is that eventually Nigeria should be redefined as Federating Units based on Zones/ Regions which means that these structures of power and administration would develop and manage the resources in their territory and pay royalty and tax to the federal government. IWA felt that a return to fiscal federalism as contained in the 1963 Constitution is the

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way to go eventually. IWA believes that each region should be responsible for the development and management of resources including minerals from their region. This will foster industrial development and competition among regions instead of the current docile nature of a majority of states as presently constituted. We need to implement the National confab recommended equity in state creation within the geo-political arrangement in our country Nigeria A fully functional Electrical Power system(including gas and coal powered), fully functional International Airport, Major federal Roads and Second Niger bridge should be built in the South East zone To fight self-inflicted injuries – corruption, lack of meritocracy at all levels, also within the education establishment. IWA reiterated its position about Ndiigbo/SE that President Ebele Jonathan and South South zone will be supported by Ndiigbo in 2015 and allowed to complete his second term in office if he so desires. IWA states that it was actually the turn of Ndiigbo to produce the 2015 Nigerian Presidency. However if President Jonathan makes up his mind to run in 2015, Ndiigbo would shelve their ambition until 2019 to allow him serve out his second term. On that basis after South-South, equity and fairness demands that it will be the turn of the South East to produce the President of the Federal Re-

public of Nigeria after President Jonathan in an unbroken succession. Igbo demands from President Jonathan remains the same and unchanged. We will like him and his administration to fulfil them as soon as possible. IGBO AGENDA/DEMANDS In the area of infrastructural development, we continue to advocate the federal government to fully operationalize the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, which has been upgraded to the international standard by making possible for major world airlines like KLM, Lufthansa, British airways, Alitalia, AirFrance,Delta Airline,United Airline etc to land and take off from the airport,and for upgrading of Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport at Owerri. We thank President Jonathan for a good Job done so far and fulfillment of promise as far as Akanu Ibiam International Airport is concerned We want President Jonathan to implement the much needed repairs on the Enugu to Port Harcourt Road, Onitsha to Enugu Road, Ninth Mile to Markudi Road, Umuahia to Arochukwu Road, Enugu to Abakiliki Road and the bridge linking Ebonyi and Obubra in Cross River,Onitsha to lagos Highway are paramount to infrastructural growth and development of our people. Intervention in the 2000 active erosion

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sites in the Igboland,

IWA demand that The building of coal- South East massive fired plant and the supply of natural gas reactivation of coal should be exploited. mines at Enugu. We Both government and also need a Gas fired private sector indusplants in our oil and trialists should invest gas producing areas. heavily in this sector so as to provide powContinues exploration er, jobs and wellbeing of crude oil and gas for our youths and deposits in states like citizens. This will also Anambra(until recently change the rural-urban found) , Ebonyi, and migration and brain Enugu. drain being experiThe crude oil in these enced in our land states is being kept IWA want Ndiigbo to as national strategic continue the leaderreserves and that ship in commodity decision has impact- trading but we should ed negatively on the now take the lead in economy and finanmanufacturing of the cial profile of these commodities that we states. sell IWA demands for We need world class major Federal Governsea ports in Warri, ment presence in IgPort Harcourt, Calaboland with sponsored bar, Onitsha, Uguta industries The dredging of River Niger up to Lokoja with a Sea Port in Onitsha. These are needed for Nigeria to be fully economically integrated and functional power.

THE IGBO LEADERSHIP QUESTION

1. Igbo leaders are supposed to be men or women elected by a group to act and speak on their behalf. IWA want immediIgbo leaders are supate construction of a posed to derive their standard guage East- authority and power west Railway line in- from the people they corporated in the 2nd are leading or repreNiger Bridge design, senting and exercises to run from Onitsha such power and auwestwards to Lagos thority for the benefit and its seaports and of the people and not eastwards to Enugu, for himself or herself. Onitsha Aba, Owerri, Warri, Port Harcourt 2. Igbo leader’s words and Calabar. and actions must at all times reflect the There ought to be fully discussed and at least a Federal agreed views, opingovernment sponions, needs, aspirasored 500 barrel per tions, fears and inday of crude oil mega terests of the people refinery sited between he/she represents. Abia and Imo states Igbo leaders should and then a mega protect and defend petrochemical industry the interests of the strategically sited to people at all times serve Anambra, Enu- and should be pregu and Ebonyi states pared to lay down both aimed at provid- their lives in defence ing jobs to our team- of Ndiigbo if need be. ing young graduates.

NIGERIAN CENSUS ISSUES IWA have noted that many people including the former census boss Odimegwu and at Adekunle Ajasin University in 2006, said the same thing, that since 1816, no census has been credible in Nigeria. The reason why the North was against Odimegwu is that they know that for the first time, census would be conducted by a credible census board in Nigeria. They are trying to defend their unjust gains through manipulations of previous census exercises.” IWA stated that due to the manipulation of census figures in the past, the North had gained undue political advantages over the South. IWA is here stating that on the basis of manipulated census the North, which was one out of three regions we had in the country, now has 19 states, while the Western and Eastern regions have 17 states combined. In the First Republic, Lagos and Kano were divisions. Today, Kano has been divided into Kano and Jigawa states, with 77 local government areas shared between the two, Lagos has remained one state, with about 20 local governments. “It is also on the basis of this that the North-West and the North-East have enough representatives in the National Assembly to initiate/ threaten the impeachment of the President; they can influence things because of this manipulation of census. There is

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nothing wrong in what determination to sucOdimegwu said. He ceed, well established said the truth. history, complex but focused life style, It smacks of a hidden great hope and aspiagenda for anyone to rations… the East is be afraid of having good in business and a reliable census in technology, the west Nigeria. It is common is good in administraknowledge that Nige- tion and commerce, ria has been operating law and medicine, on falsified populabut it was a pity we tion figures from the planned our agenda colonial times to the to give power “at all present. We cannot cost” to the northmake progress based erner. They seemed on faulty data. to be submissive and silly of a kind. Our Historically speaking, mission was accomHarold Smith(a British plished by destroying colonial Administrator) the opposition at all stated the following fronts. The west led “I am in my 80s now; in the fight for the inI have agreed but in dependence, and was the past ‘they’ did punished for asking not want me to say for freedom. They will anything, but now not rule Nigeria! HarI don’t want to go old Smith confessed to my grave without that the Census retelling the truth about sults were announced the atrocities perpe- before they were trated in Africa by counted. Despite seethe colonialists. Broth- ing vast land in the ers and sisters; on north, we still gave Ben TV, Harold Smith the north 55 million was on a program instead of 32 Million. to reveal what went This was to be used behind the scene be- to maintain their mafore independence. jority votes and future The Oxford University power bid”. graduate had this to The north was say about his role in seriously encouraged Nigeria pre and after to go into the milindependence era. itary. According to ‘Our agenda was to him, they believe that completely exploit the south may attend Africa. western education, but future leaders will Nigeria was my always come from duty post. When we military background. assessed Nigeria, this Their traditional rulwas what we found in ers were to be made the southern region; influential and super strength, intelligence, human. The northern-

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ers were given accelerated promotions both in the military and civil service to justify their superiority over the south. Everything was to work against the south. We truncated their good plan for their future. “I was very sorry for the A.G; it was a great party too much for African standard. We planned to destroy Awolowo and Azikwe well, the west and the east and sowed a seed of discord among them”. We tricked Azikwe into accepting to be president having known that Balewa will be the main man with power. Awolowo has to go to jail to cripple his genius plans for a greater Nigeria. However, Harold Smith justified the British agenda of colonialism in Nigeria, which he believed was originally to help build Africa after the ruins of slave trade, but lamented that the British only looked after themselves and not after Nigerian interest”. HISTORIC FACTS ABOUT NIGERIA: The late Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, Stated about the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria; . “The new nation called Nigeria should

be an estate of our great grandfather Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities in the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us and never allow them to have control over their future”.

tem they deem proper for the relationship between the peoples of Nigeria:

“In this country, all of us need one another. Hausa need Igbos, Igbos need Yoruba and the Yorubas need the Northerners. Everyone has a gift from God. Northerners are endowed by God with leadership qualities. The Yoruba man knows how to earn a In 1992, Maitama Sule, a senior Caliph- living and has diplomatic qualities. The ate politician, shed Igbo man is gifted in more light on the commerce, trade and Sardauna’s Nigeria Project when he de- technological innovation. God so created tailed the Caliphate view of the caste sys- us individually for

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Ndi Igbo possesses a voice and political will more powerful and more richly endowed than that of any other ethnic group in Africa.

a purpose and with different gifts. Others are created as kings, students and doctors. We all need each other. If there are no followers, a king will not exist, if there are no students a teacher will not be required, etc.” The interpretation, in the Caliphate’s feudal version of Nigeria the peoples have been divided into castes, or hereditary occupational classes: Fulani/ Hausa are to be rulers, Yoruba are to be diplomatic messengers and Igbo are to be traders and technicians. Despite our contributions to Nigeria, Ndi Igbo have continued to suffer historic injustices in Nigeria. Incessant acts of violence continue to be directed to our people in Northern Nigeria. The mindless pogrom of Ndi Igbo in Northern Nigeria in 1966, genocidal civil war waged against our people for which starvation was deemed a legitimate tool of war resulting in untold hardship and misery to Igbo children and non-combatants, and the current act of marginalization to name a few.

Since the end of that internecine civil war, successive governments in power have followed a policy of institutionalized political and economic incapacitation of Ndi Igbo. Starting with the Indigenization Decree of 1970 conducted in the immediate aftermath of the civil war and in a manner deliberately calculated to shut Ndi Igbo out of ownership of vital economic assets; an attempt to ensure our descent to perpetual economic underclass in Nigeria. Incapacitation has become structurally embedded in the political corpus of Nigeria by inequitable state creations, inequitable resource allocation formulas; intentionally skewed census figures calculated to portray Ndi Igbo as minorities and premeditated disenfranchisement of Ndi Igbo residing in ex-Igbo land in Nigeria. The same structural design was applied to relegate Ndi Igbo to perpetual economic and political underclass in Nigeria. The absence of Federally-sponsored industrial complexes, power plants, refineries, hyperemic energy

Ndi Igbo must organize ourselves for political, economic, social, and cultural enhancements and must have control over developments affecting us and our lands, territories, and resources and must maintain and strengthen our institutions, cultures allocation, dilapidation and traditions, and of federal inter-state promote their develroads in Ala Igbo, opment in accordance degradation of our with our aspirations federal schools and and needs and must universities, severe deal decisively with unemployment, enIgbo proxies and/or vironmental decay, anti-Igbo forces. intentional misapplication of the federal Ndiigbo are the largcharacter principle est single ethnic that totally ignores group in Africa and Ndi Igbo outside Ala Nigeria with Igbo Igbo resulting in dis- towns and villagproportionate shut es encompassing at out of Ndi Igbo from least three zones Federal Civil Service, (SE,SS,NC) in NigeMilitary, Police, Cusria. South East zone toms, and other para- might be our core statal. zone; however, Igbo communities must inThe social, economclude all zones where ic, and political dec- Ndi Igbo reside. Ndiadence of Nigeria, igbo are about one the improbity of our third and not one public officers, the sixth of the Federal enormous ethnic hos- Republic of Nigeria as tilities welded into some people might the Nigerian polity, want you to believe. the impious waste of our common wealth, The escalating inabuse of power, sub- ter-ethnic and reliversion of authority, gious conflicts have corruption in every progressively made segment of our soci- life insecure in parts ety, and all such ills of our country and that have perennially have forced increasing put Nigeria on the numbers of Nigeribrink of disintegration. ans to abandon their NdiIgbo are one of residences and enterthe most itinerant prises in places where people in human his- they have long lived tory. The totality of in order to seek refNdi Igbo worldwide uge and security for exceeds the poputhemselves and their lation of any other families in their native ethnic group in Nige- homelands. Terrorist ria, and by acting in groups claiming to be concert and accord, on a jihad for religion

are rampaging at will; killing and destroying without restraints in some parts of our country. The Northern States Nigeria have chosen Sharia laws and religious conflicts have become endemic. In the Middle Belt territories, intensified immigration from territories of the farther north has spawned a tradition of vicious inter-ethnic and religious conflicts. The Niger Delta communities form the main bases for oil companies to explore oil in Nigeria, on-shore and offshore. Those Niger Delta communities have being obliterated to the level that indigenes cannot fish, farm or make a living. They are not even guaranteed of portable drinking water without pollution from oil drilling. The oil companies and connected military and non-military business persons within and outside Nigeria get oil block allocations and have made Billions of Dollar profits from the environmental burden and neglect borne by the Niger Deltas. The goose that lays the golden egg has no egg. Is this a fair way to treat our fellow Nigerians? The Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, recently on behalf of his colleagues, asked for a review of the revenue formula that “reflects current realities which implies that the 19 Northern governors demand for a review of the revenue derivation formula to give more funds to them. This means that money

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Fela Anikulapo Kuti

became aware of the plight of black peoples all over the world. By Ukachukwu Okorie Nigeria in 1963, reWith what he saw in formed Koola Lobitos the United States, Fela Kuti was born and worked as a ra- Fela gained a clearer Olufela Olusegun dio producer for the understanding of his Oludotun Ransome-Ku- Nigerian Broadcasting mother’s fight for the ti on October 15, Corporation (NBC). rights of Africa under 1938 in Abeokuta, colonial rule in Nigeria, Nigeria to Funmilayo Back home, Fela con- together with her Ransome-Kuti, a fem- tinued his musical support of the Pan inist in the anti-cocareer, traveling to Africanist doctrine lonial movement and Ghana in 1967 where expounded by Kwame Rev. Israel Oludotun his style took a dras- Nkrumah, Ghanaian Ransome-Kuti, a Prot- tic change to a new head of state, who estant minister. Fela direction. Afrobeat, as had negotiated inis brother to Beko he termed it became dependence for his Ransome-Kuti and first the soul of his rhyme. country with Britain cousin to the Nobel His Afrobeat is a laureate Wole Soyin- fusion of Jazz, Funk, Towards the end of ka, the first African High-life, psychedelic a ten month tour, he to win a Nobel Prize rock, and traditional changed the name for Literature. Until West African chants of the band to Fela his death on August and rhythms. Ransome Kuti & Nige2, 1997, Fela was a During the Nigeria-Bi- ria 70. Afrobeat was proponent of Afrobeat afra civil war, Fela a great success in music, human rights took Koola Lobitos Lagos and Fela was activist, political and to the United States able to open a club socio-economic cruwhere he was inspired in the Empire Hotel, sader. by the Black Power which he called the Fela studied music movement through Afro Shrine. At that in Trinity College of Sandra Smith (now time, he was playing Music against medIzsadore), a partisan trumpet, switching icine which he was of the Black Panther later to saxophones sent to London in Party. She introduced and keyboards. He 1958. While in school, Fela to the thoughts later started singing he formed Koola Lo- of Malcolm X, Eldridge in Pidgin English rathbitos band, playing a Cleaver and other than Yoruba his fusion of highlife and er black activists, native language, so jazz. He returned to through which he as to be understood

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lates in another song, ‘Unknown Soldier’, shortly after the end of Festac in February 1977, a thousand soldiers attacked Kalakuta, burning down his house and beating and raping many of its occupants. UnforPursuing his dream of tunately, during the attack, Fela’s mother, an alternative society which he sang in then aged 77, was defiance to the ills of thrown from a first government, in 1974, floor window, causing fracture to a leg and Fela built a fence around his house and suffering severe trauma. She would later declared it to be an die the following year independent state: as a direct result of Kalakuta Republic. the outrage. This action stunned bourgeois Until his death, on Nigerian society, as this spirit of defiance uncounted dozens of soon spread through- occasions, Fela suffered the consequencout the region like es of his scathing wildfire. denunciations of military misrule and brigIn 1977, during the Festival for Black Arts andage in Africa with and Culture (FESTAC) arrests, jailings and beatings at the hands held in Lagos, Fela sang ‘Zombie’, a sat- of the authorities. At ire of the army, which death, his philosophy become very popular spread to all parts of the world and perthroughout Africa, formances have been thus attracting the fury of the unpopular staged in his honour and memory. We reNigerian military regime on his followers member Fela Anikulaand abode. As he re- po Kuti. all over Nigeria and in neighbouring countries. Soon his brand of music spread far as he depicted everyday social situations with which a large part of the African population was able to identify.

Travel & Tourism SPOTLIGHT ON SOUTH AFRICA

By Lisa Bank

With natural beauty, constant sunshine, and a long list of wildlife, South Africa is becoming a booming tourist destination for visitors the world over. What’s more, is that it is an incredibly affordable vacation for everyone looking for a bit of luxury on a budget. Roundtrip flights from Dublin to Johannesburg start at around €600 return. Flights to and from Cape Town tend to be slightly more, starting at €700. South Africa also has a variety

swim with the Great Whites in some shark cage diving! Moreover, there is a great variety of shopping, a fantastic nightlife, and fabulous wine tasting tours. Naturally, where there’s good wine, there’s also great food. Or if you’re looking for something a little less relaxing, why not try skydiving, hiking, surfing or bungee jumping to name a few. Although South Africa is a large country, getting around is

of accommodation options, with many recognizable western chains throughout the country. Guests can choose anything from party hostels and guesthouses, to bed and breakfasts and luxury hotels. Safaris and game viewing in South Africa are a must-do for most visitors, and is listed as the number one activity by the country’s official tourism site. There are safari experiences available all over the country, but the most

iconic spot is the famous Kruger National Park. Safaris range in price and length, starting at one day for about €100 per person, to a week or more for €1600 and up. However, once you’ve seen ‘the Big 5’ on your safari, the options for other activities are seemingly endless. South Africa is home to world-class beaches, complete with a variety of water sports, and marine life. If you’re feeling brave, you could even

fairly cheap and easy. Renting a car is always a good option. You could even rent an SUV and partake in a self-guided safari during part of your trip, which is more budget friendly than a guided safari experience. Buses and trains are also efficient and connects visitors to all of the country’s prime destinations. With something for everyone, it’s the perfect destination for families, friends or a romantic getaway to sunny South Africa.

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Special Dedication of DEARLORD AYEVBOSA

See more of the event on AfricaWorld Photos & TV Facebook pages.

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF AKINA DADA WA AFRICA LIMITED

Date: 15th November 2014 Venue: Killarney Court Community Centre Time: 10.00-3pm Time

Agenda Item

Lead by

10.00-11

Registration, tea and coffee

11.00

Welcome & apologies

Amel Yacef- AkiDwA Chair

11.10

Minutes of last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s AGM

Chair AkiDwA Salome Mbugua-CEO,

11. 25

Annual Report for the year 2013

AkiDwA Jules Buckley- AkiDwA

11.45

Financial Report for the year 2013

12.00

Appointment of Auditor

Treasurer Jules Buckley

12.10

Board Nominations

12.40

Celebrating Achievements

3.00

End meeting

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Onwa & Marienika Are Married Kenneth Agbo (Onwa) finally married his girlfriend Marienika Elyse in Ireland. See events in pictures and video clips on Africaworld Photos and Africaworld TV on Facebook.

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