Nigerian Children Endure The Worst Poverty and Social Neglect More Than Adults.

A Prince Kelly Udebhulu's Message of Hope!
   

From a distance, tiny bodies make swift movements on branches of a huge wild fruit tree. One would mistakenly think they are wild animals scavenging for food, but a closer move to the tree shocks one’s life. Children as young as five years hang on branches as they make and search for today’s meal.

The first conscience at such a touching sight is the children’s safety. What if the little kids fall 15 meters down the tree, one ponders, It is hot weather (summer) season and snakes are active, what is to become of the kids if they cross the path of vicious and poisonous snakes? As a concerned adult, you attempt a word of advice on the dangers of climbing trees, but with stunned faces the kids stare at your ignorance. You are just coming from distant town and not well versed with the happenings.

The kids climb down with pockets full of the fruit meal. It is them now lecturing you on the biting poverty and neglect, they and their parents face on a daily basis.

“Don’t you know that you have to consume this fruit in the morning and afternoon and serve it for the main meal in the evening),” explains eight-year-old Ogbeide in the local vernacular.

Cooked meal, which forms the most basic of the majority’s diets, is not readily available. In rare cases where grain is sold, many cannot afford it, as it sells at exorbitant  pegged prices.

 

Nigeria is a country in which failure, injustice, cover-ups, sadism, iniquity, wickedness, persecution, lies and abuse of power are welcomed.  A land in which “men of God” do not worship God in truth and holiness but instead sell the anointing and buy private jets indiscriminately..

Here is a country where ignorance and mediocrity is exalted and in which excellence and knowledge is scorned. Where  truth has no place and in which those that tell it are hated and treated with contempt. Ogbeide gazed far beyond horizon!!!

At one village homestead, a six year old pleads with his mother to make porridge so that he can eat. The mother tries to explain that there are no ingredients for the porridge but with a sad look, the kid explains to the mother that it is better than not having anything at all. Young children know what it means to eat porridge without palm oil, salt and pepper. They seem to understand poverty like mature people.

74-year-old  Akhigbe Ujiagbe lies on his bench chair. He is puffing tobacco from his long pipe. His grey eyes are looking in the distant space in the direction of two villages. He declares:

“I have known poverty in this country as a growing young man but this is just too much. I think the ancestors are cursing us. Only a week ago two kids from beyond those two villages died after eating too much of these wild fruits.”

These rural folks like many Nigerians believe that the lack of accountability and corruption among Political leaders are the root cause of their suffering.

As one villager, Akhigbe Ujiagbe remarked: “You have to be in this poverty to understand It.” One wonders if that is the reason politicians seem not to notice the urgency required to solve Nigeria’s political problems and corruptions.

The kids in unison and chorus stared furiously at me and remarked:

“May God deliver Nigeria from the blood-sucking and relentless demons that plague and afflict her, may the adults realize to give kids vocational skills to face their future as the Government disappoints daily”

…to be continued

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu

You can tweet to @princekelly75

WANING INFLUENCE OF TRADITIONAL RULERS

Onogie (king) of Urohi Community;HRH Aidenogie 1

A REVIEW BY PRINCE KELLY     UDEBHULU.


Traditional rulers often derive their titles from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern Nigeria. Although they do not have formal political power, in many cases they continue to command respect from their people and have considerable influence. Some traditional rulers inherited the titles while some are selected depending on the community or communities.


Anyone who has had the opportunity of interacting closely with most traditional rulers will readily agree that some of them are sound and first class individuals. Recently, I had the opportunity of sharing a space with HRH, Aidenogie 1, Onogie (KING) of Urohi Community in Edo State, Nigeria, It was at the Seminar in Lagos and I must say that he held me and the audience spell-bound that day with his masterful speech.

The Onogie (king) was called out to make an impromptu speech and he did not disappoint, without any prompts, papers or prepared notes, he reeled out history, names and dates like what one will normally watch in a movie. His speech which bothered on the integrity of politicians in Nigeria history was not only motivating, but also eye opening. I still think that the standing ovation he received afterwards may not be enough to thank him for showing some of us the other side of traditional rulers. An intelligent side, a side that shows that traditional rulers are men of great intelligence and sound minds.


But I keep asking myself, could the Onogie (king) of Urohi Community, and many more like him, probably idling away in their palaces and kingdoms not be made to be part of the Nigerian renaissance? And should specific roles be assigned to many others like him in the constitution? This to me is vital for good governance.


Factors Responsible For The Waning Influence Of Traditional Rulers In Nigeria:

There is no doubt that traditional rulers today have gradually witnessed the erosion of their powers, from dependence upon elected politicians to the rich citizens. As their roles narrowed, that of the political parties increased. Perhaps it may be necessary at this point to identify the key issues that have contributed to the waning influence of the traditional rulers:

(A) Self-inflicted (partisanship in politics, defecation of traditional values, lack of integrity by some, money-for-chieftaincy policies.

(B)  Social malaise ( moral decay in the society, lack of respect for elders and constituted authority – including traditional institutions)

(C) Dwindling sphere of influence (creation of new states and local governments areas have further balkanized the ‘kingdom’ overseen by the traditional rulers)

(D) Conflict of interest between  local government authorities and traditional rulers, and a need to clarify who should do what in local community matters

(E) Politics (Party politics have been played in a manner to undermine the influence of traditional rulers over local voters)

(F) The Economy (Dwindling economic fortunes which also affected the traditional rulers have further eroded their influence and authority, a situation where some traditional rulers lack mobility and adequate capital does not say much for the institution they represent)

(G) Abuse of privilege (giving chieftaincy titles and honours to less deserving members of the society has created a society with false values, and negative role      models)

(H) The single status movement and the agitation for republicanism (the desire to let the people decide their affairs rather than having a supreme human lording it over them)

I would still love to see the traditional rulers separated from the ‘madness’ of being involved in active politics. Only a thin line separates partisanship and the type of politics they would like to be involved in, any little slip would tip them over to the other side and that is the side that may lead to the erosion of whatever credibility and respect they command among  the people. Let the politicians deal with all that ‘ business of politics’. There are serious risks of losing credibility if the traditional rulers get into the political ring formally. Furthermore, the governments at the 3-tiers involve traditional rulers more in local government affairs. The issue of their welfare should also be considered and be accommodated in yearly budget cycles and executed effectively. That way, the institution of traditional rulers as we know it, will preserve its dignity.

..to be continued

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu

You can tweet to @princekelly75

LAMENT NO MORE; VOTE FOR YOUR CHOICE CANDIDATE

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu

Lamentation is an outward expression of grief over un-welcomed incidence or event. To lament without outward expression amounts to self-defeat and foolishness. Most importantly, you should not forget the past and the present conditions under which you are living as individual. Let not the gifts and other material things you might have received during this period blind you to the sad realities you constantly face as a person. We as a people are faced with so many problems, which include high unemployment and poverty levels, lack of proper health care, poor delivery of social services, corruption and abuse of office and lack of respect for the rule of law.

It's not just a matter of getting into the booth to cast a vote, no! It is important that as you go to vote, you ask yourself what the person you are about to give your valuable vote was doing to curb the high unemployment and poverty levels; what that person was doing to improve our health care, which is in a deplorable state and what that person was doing to improve the delivery of social services to our people.

You must also not forget to ask yourself these other important questions: what was that person you are about to vote for doing to fight corruption and abuse of office.  You ask yourself whether the candidate has made any positive contributions towards the maintenance of the rule of law.  If you do these things, among others, then your vote will be meaningful both to yourself and to the people."

Lament no more and as a registered voter, go and fulfill your democratic and civil obligation to choose a candidate of your choice without monetary inducement or party sentiment.

…to be continued

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu

You can tweet to @princekelly75

In Time Like This: Media and Elections

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu

The mass media are essential to the conduct of democratic elections. A free and fair election is not only about casting a vote in proper conditions, but also about having adequate information about parties, policies, candidates and the election process itself so that voters can make an informed choice. A democratic election with no media freedom would be a contradiction in principle.

But the paradox is that, in order to ensure that freedom, a degree of regulation is required. Government media, funded out of public money, should be required to give fair coverage and equitable access to opposition parties, for example. Media often may not be allowed to run reports - for example on exit polls or early results - before every vote has been cast.

The mass media – often referred to as just “the media” – are usually understood to refer to the printed press and to radio and television broadcasters. In recent years, the definition has perhaps become broader, encompassing the Internet in its various forms and other new forms of electronic distribution of news and entertainment, such as short message services to mobile telephones.

The prime concern is the right of voters to full and accurate information. But this is not the only right involved. Parties and candidates are entitled to use the media to get their messages across to the electorate. The media themselves have a right to report freely and to scrutinize the whole election process. This scrutiny is itself an important additional safeguard against interference or corruption in the management of the election.  The electoral management body (INEC) has a crucial need to communicate information to the electorate – and to a variety of other groups, including the political parties and the media themselves.

It is a truism that the media play an indispensable role in the proper functioning of a democracy. Discussion of the media's functions usually focuses on their "watchdog" role: by unfettered scrutiny and discussion of the successes and failures of governments, the media can inform the public of how effectively its representatives have performed and help to hold them to account. Yet the media can also play a more specific part in enabling full public participation in elections, not only by reporting on the performance of government, but also in a number of other ways:

i) Educating the voters on how to exercise their democratic rights.

ii) Reporting on the development of the election campaign.

iii) Providing a platform for the political parties to communicate their message to the electorate.

iv) Allowing the parties to debate with each other.

v) Reporting results and monitoring vote counting.

vi) Scrutinizing the electoral process itself in order to evaluate its fairness, efficiency, and probity.

 These ways, which are essentially all aspects of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, apply at all times, and not only when there is an election pending. But it is the very formality of the election process - the fact that it is conducted according to procedures that are clearly set out in law - that has stimulated the interest of those who are concerned with issues of media freedom. How far media freedom and pluralism are respected during an election period can be a fairly sensitive index of respect for freedom of expression in general - itself an essential precondition for a functioning democracy. Conversely, an election can be an ideal opportunity to educate both the authorities in their obligation to respect and nurture media freedom and the media in their responsibility to support the democratic process. Freedom of Expression must be practical as it is in theory and principle during and after elections.

…to be continued

By Prince Kelly Udebhulu

You can tweet to @prince kelly75

PRINCE KELLY UDEBHULU INTERVIEW ON FORTH-COMING EDO STATE LG ELECTION

prince kelly udebhulu

Prince Kelly Udebhulu is a native of Urohi Community, Esan West LG of Edo State, Nigeria. A survey to his personality and achievement worth emulation. He left the shore of Nigeria for abroad to look for a greener pasture and returned to Nigeria years later. He is the Chairman, VICUMA NIG.LTD( www.vicuma.net). He is married with children and attained his PGD in Intelligent Management & Analysis.

Excerpt:

Prince Kelly Udebhulu has called on Edo State citizens to vote wisely in forth-coming Local Government election.

In an interview ahead of LG elections, Prince Kelly Udebhulu urged Edolites to take a close look at all the candidates that have offered themselves for Local Govt leadership.

"It is, therefore, very important for Edolites to make a wise choice as they vote for their LG chairmen & councilors of their own choice. Edolites must only be ready to give their vote to people that deserve that vote. In short, let them ensure that they vote wisely in this election."
Prince Kelly Udebhulu said that Edolites must be mindful that their decision  has a huge bearing on Edo State's future.

"We can only tell the Edo people to realize as they go to cast their votes to bear in mind that their decision could either secure or destroy their future and that of their children and the generations to come,"  Prince Kelly Udebhulu said.

"I'm confident and sure that the Edo State people weighed and fully know all the candidates that have presented themselves for election, especially those vying for the Chairmanship. I also know that they are familiar with the contributions that each candidate has made to their welfare and to the Local Govt areas in general."

Prince Kelly Udebhulu advised Edolites to ensure that they vote for leaders who not only have the passion to serve them but also have a proven track record.

"My appeal to my brothers and sisters as they go to vote is that they should also look out for maturity, respect for our people, experience, transparency and integrity in those vying for election and various levels of the process," Prince Kelly Udebhulu said.

"Most importantly, we should not forget the past and the present conditions under which we are living as individuals and as a people in general. Let not the gifts and other material things we might have received during this period blind us to the sad realities we constantly face as a people."

Prince Kelly Udebhulu said even as they cast their votes, people should be mindful of the difficulties and challenges they experience daily.

"Edo State is faced with so many problems, which include high unemployment and poverty levels, lack of proper health care, poor delivery of social services, corruption and abuse of office and lack of respect for the rule of law," Prince Kelly Udebhulu said.


Prince Kelly Udebhulu said before casting their votes, Edolites must ask themselves certain pertinent questions about the individuals vying for Chairmanship and councillorship positions.

"It's not just a matter of getting into the booth to cast a vote, no! It is important that as our people go to vote, they ask themselves what the person they are about to give their valuable vote was doing to curb the high unemployment and poverty levels; what that person was doing to improve our health care, which is in a deplorable state and what that person was doing to improve the delivery of social services to our people," Prince Kelly Udebhulu said.

"Edolites must also not forget to ask themselves these other important questions: what was that person they are about to vote for doing to fight corruption and abuse of office. They should also see if the candidate they are about to choose has made any positive contributions towards the maintenance of the rule of law in the Local Govt, State or country. If they do these things, among others, then their vote will be meaningful both to themselves and to the State."

Prince Kelly Udebhulu appealed to all Edolites who have registered as voters to turn out in numbers and fulfill their democratic obligation to choose a candidate of their choice.

To be continued

Published by Esan People News Crew

All right reserved 2013 copyright

Book: Legacy of Good governance; the story of Prof. Ambrose F. Alli launched in Ekpoma

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The first Executive Governor of the defunct Bendel State (1979-1983) late Chief Ambrose Folorunsho Alli, a Professor of Histopathology and Morbid Anatomy, was on the 22^nd of December 2012 celebrated when a book titled: “Legacy of Good governance, the story of Prof. Ambrose F. Alli” written by E.K Agbonyeme was officially launched and presented to the public. The presentation of the book came up at Esan west Local government Secretariat, Ekpoma.
Professor Ambrose Alli, the father of liberal opportunities touched the lives of his people positively as the Governor of the defunct Bendel state through the implementation of the four cardinal programs of his party UPN. The administration of Prof. Alli is unique in the sense that people are unanimous in their verdict that he was a ‘special person’ different from all the other governors before him. Amongst the several legacies left behind by the legendary Professor is the foremost State University in Nigeria, the Bendel State University and now Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma.

Irrua-Uromi War of 1892-1893

Omanmoje was a Princess from the ruling house in Uromi, but married to Eromosele, the Onojie of Irrua. With the passage of time, Eromosele cared less for Omanmoje at her prime of life. For this neglect, the youthful Princess deserted Eromosele’s harem to re-marry at her hometown of Uromi. Onojie Eromosele could not bear the thought that another man would sexually be intimate with his wife, an act he probably considered, in his assessment, a royal insult, and subsequently, Eromosele declared war on Uromi to reclaim his wife. The war was brought to an end when Okolo, the Onojie of Uromi, Omanmoje’s uncle sued for peace. The peace terms “consisted of a woman to die in place of Princess Omanmojie; one of Okolo’s daughters, as a wife in lieu of the deserting Omanmojie, the return of Omanmojie herself as well as her son from her present husband…”
Source: Eve Ikuenobe-Otaigbe. The Esan People of Nigeria

A Tiny Bush Path

By Obue Kennedy

The political maladministration of the commonwealth of the good people of Edo State in general and Esan People in particular since the period that preceded the colonial era could possibly ignite rancor and acrimony. The governance of the Edo State polity since then and especially the era of 1999 to date, had not shown a picture of a state governed by sincere and honest people who actually sown to an oath of allegation.

The evolving of modern societies is a function of the pragmatic use of the instruments of governance, which are transparent to administer the commonwealth of our people to develop the state. Most states in the Nigeria federation leverage on partnership with international developmental agencies to empower her citizenry. What we have witness in Edo state since the evolution of man, in infrastructural development, is the establishment of University of Benin and other Higher and lower academic institution, Ogbe Stadium, Specialist Hospitals, Bendel Feed and Flour Mill (Dead), Okpella Cement Factory (dead), Bendel Brewery (Dead) Edo Line (Dead) Bendel Insurance Company (Dead)etc.

Edo states do not have overheads bridges or Rapid Bus corridor, rail lines or infrastructural development for industrial estates; neither do we have RED ROOFS Projects spreads across the nooks and crannies in other states. Year in Year out Edo state is saddle with political malady, manipulators and misapplication of fund shared in homes of political gladiators with impunity, thereby mortgaging the future of the unborn generation of the Edo people.

Industrialization, commercialization and economic development are twins. Any society that does not create value with economic activities, infrastructural development and people empowerment programs will necessarily be bankrupt. It is important we stop the idea of dressing up dummy and pressing his candidacy through a political party in the throat of the peace loving people of Edo state as their leaders. We must rise up to support the laudable idea of not only one man one vote, also standby to see your vote count.
We cannot continue in an endless drift of our able bodied youths on sojourn by foot through the desert of neighboring countries not knowing what lies ahead of them for supposedly better opportunities in Europe, Asia and other continents of the world because of the insensitivity of our so-called political gladiators in the management of our sovereign wealth. It is of note that a bearded mustache Governor, who supposedly is a son to a self-acclaimed legend, left Edo State a pariah state for a whopping period of eight years of mundane. The only juice processing plant idea that ever came into his head never saw the light of the day with eight years duration period to complete the factory. What a shame!

Esannow should begin a massive political reawakening of his people, on the need for transparency in corporate governance and development. If the current trend is not changed, you will agree with me that successive leadership of the state will continue to be in the hands of few age rickety politicians, who had always be dubious in their idea and old fashioned in understanding of the present day economics strategy of industrialization and globalization. They are political gladiators who are trained by the tactics of winner takes it all and they walk day by day in that mindset of such a tiny bush path that leads to the forest.

They walk their ways through clandestine activities to political relevance. You would presumably conclude that they are the best in intellectualism. If this trend is not check as urgently as now, our roads, schools, industries, hospitals will not be different from that tiny bush path that leads to the forest or what would you possibly expect from a state whose bulk of active youths are on a footpath sojourn to a faraway land seeking for greener pasture.

In as much as the Comrade governor’s victory in the election is a case before the Tribunal, and if all evidences against him proved him culpable, it is expedient that the law should take it full course as an estate of the realm that does not have emotions. However it is also important to note that apart of Dr. S.O ogbemudia, Professor A. F Alli, Chief John Odigie Oyegun and now Comrade Adams Oshiomonle who had tried but in the most of millipede race to evolve good governance and infrastructural development in the state, no sooner would Edo state be truly as a bush path that leads to the forest.

We should hold our leaders to accountabilities and fashion a new order that will courage growth and development in the state. We can do it! Edo state is blessed with great men and women that can fix the state, so that we can catch up in the federation of state in infrastructural development. Edo state is backward in Nigeria in terms of infrastructural development. Except there is a compete departure from the old system, most Edo indigene who have never travelled out from Edo State in their life might not even know overhead bridges, railway lines, serviceable airstrip etc. to say the least.

It is laughable to praise the efforts of the Comrade Governor at this moment. Adams Oshiomonle has not achieved anything compared to the landmark success he recorded as a Labor leader than as a governor. Esannow is watching and we are also praying fervently that the comrade governor should translate his activism as a labor leader more to emancipate the ordinary Edo man from neo-colonialism, maybe his name might be written with an indelible ink on the sand of time. We need industrial and infrastructural development. Unproductive economies have not place in the Millennium Development Goals or strategy.
……To be continued
Obue Kennedy Ede writes for Esannow, he is based in Lagos

UROHI COMMUNITY(ESAN WEST LG) ANNUAL FESTIVAL, 25 THRU 27TH JANUARY, 2013: A THANK YOU BY SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF UROHI COMMUNITY.

Prince Ibhaze and friends

Royal Party at d Palace

Prince Kelly and Relatives

Onogie of Urohi

Dance time at the Royal Palace

Chief Isekhure of Urohi

Queen of Urohi

BY Prince Kelly Udebhulu.

Across Urohi community and among the people of Urohi, Edo State of Nigeria in the diaspora, the last weekend of every January, as it is now, is gladdened with the celebration of  Urohi Annual Festival which is best pictured in the framing by Chinua Achebe’s work as far back as in the 1950s.

As Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (1958) describes: “The pounded yam dish placed in front of the partakers of the festival was as big as a mountain. People had to eat their way through it all night and it was only during the following day when the pounded yam “mountain” had gone down that people on one side recognized and greeted their family members on the other side of the dish for the first time."

Urohi People are the inhabitants of Urohi Community, Esan West LG; Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State, Nigeria, rule by an Onogie (Monarchical King), the Community is  known  for agricultural produces like rice, pineapple, yam, cassava, orange, mango and guava, hence tagged “The Food Basket of Edo State”. Craft works with wares such as carving, hand-woven clothes, ebony rings, bowls, ash-trays, flower pots and bronze objects together with the art of basket-making which are veritable works of art like shopping baskets, waste paper baskets and farmer’s wicker baskets are major skills found among Urohi People. Urohi Community holds the highest community in Esan Land that harbors Farm Settlers and community inter-marriages record. It is visible and proven.

At this annual festival, there were dance ceremonies, gift exchange, marriages, young beautiful faces appeared in their new wears, settlement of minor and major disputes among families, friends and leaders, outsiders and visitors from other tribes, communities, towns, cities and countries visited Urohi Community, the people meals were  tested and eaten to satisfaction, the people mode of dressing were copied, the beautiful and eloquent accent of Esan Language softened the hearts that attended the festival. Trading flourished paving ways for settlers to resident in Urohi Community and contributed to the known inter-community/tribal marriages.

  By last Friday of January annually, the starting day of the annual festival, chieftainship titles are honored on well meaning people selected to be honored by the Royal Palace,  crowd of people surged with energy and vivid animation. Electrified participatory charm was seen everywhere. There was an infectious spirited aura of being at a historical festival of people heritage and culture.

 The next day which was Saturday, dignitaries, thousands of visitors, dances, enormous site seeing ceremonies, tributes to the Royal Palace, Chieftaincy titled holders were seen in their dignify attires and head cut styles, the aromas of different cookings and passage of cooked foods here and there make passersby to over fed even without tasting the food yet. A visit to the festival was a sure trip!

  During the festival and after the festival on Sunday being the last Sunday of January annually, sorrows vanished, future life partners chosen, misdemeanors checked and hooliganisms minimized among youths and visitors. 

  Thank you for your visit to Urohi Community Annual Festival.

  Long Live HRH, AIDENOGIE 1, Long Live the People of Urohi, Long Live Esan People, Long Live Nigeria.

   By Prince Kelly Udebhulu.

    www.vicuma.net

You can tweet to @princekelly75