CAMPAIGN FOR RETORATION OF VALUABLE CULTURE IN AFRICA.- CASE STUDY OF IBENDA OBOLLO

The importance of cultural education in our society can not be over emphasized. the eroding cultural practices have spelt doom to the societies. In the past, societal governance depends on the cultural values and beliefs. on the emergence of Christian Religion particularly in Nigeria, people were indoctrinated to abandon their cultural practices and perspectives. The present day decay of societal values were all as a result of abandoned cultural values.

Robbery, stealing, adultery, kidnapping electoral violence and political oppression are preventable if strong cultural practices are in continuation.

Onwa Asa" festival, Onwa Ano", Yam festival and "Omabe" are all forgoten even though they does different traditional assignments.

Agriculture is mostly affected as food species that were in circulation as at thirty years back are no where to be seen. the prevalence rate of High Blood Pressure in our society currently is at alarming rate unlike the time all these food species are in circulation. baked food are taking over.

Entrepreneurial qualities are sliding off the youths as white cola jobs have overtaken the commercial qualities in them   

PHOTO NEWS: 2018 END YEAR CELEBRATION OF IBENDA TOWN UNION, ENUGU BRANCH

MASQUERAED AT OGBODU ABA WOUNDED IBENDA AND ADA OBOLLO-ETITI PRIESTS

Two Catholic Priests of Nsukka Diocese were on Thursday 12 July 2018 recklessly manhandled, beaten to stupor and loudly injured by some unmasked and masked youths of Ogbodu-Aba in Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State.

Rev. Fr. Peter Chikwado Udaya, the parish priest of St. Patrick’s Parish Ibenda Obollo and Rev. Fr. Daniel Tochukwu Akubue, the parish priest of St. Mary’s Parish Ada-Obollo and the assistant Diocesan Liturgist were attacked as they were going back to their duty posts after a brief visit from St. Charles Parish Eha-Ndiagu.

It was gathered that as the two clergy men got to Ogbodu-Aba, they were stopped, blocked and shamefully harassed by some masked and unmasked Ogbodu-Aba youths and the slightest attempt by the priests to inquire what was amiss were greeted with rains of lashes and massive downpour of slaps from every side. The youths rounded them up and made it difficult for them to escape and pounced on them until the two priests sustained serious injuries.


Fr. Chikwado Udaya during the attack sustained a lot of injuries some of which affected his vision. In fact, since the ugly incident occurred, he has not been able to see with one of his eyes.Both Reverend Fathers are still receiving treatment.

The behavior of the Ogbodu Aba Community is not proper compare to what is obtainable at Obollo Masquared festivals. It has revealed the level of exposure gained by both the traditional rulers council and the youth of Ogbodu Community.

Security agents are hereby informed to do thorough ivestigation and bring the culprits to justice to avert inter-comunial voilence.

The youths of Ibenda community has expressed their disappointment with the barbaric behavior of Ogbodu Aba youths who have failed to understand the importance of Clergy in community development. If their  community do not have respect for clergy irrespective of their denomination, Ibenda youths have such unalloyed respect for clergy and let alone, the Parish Priest of Ibenda Community and  St. Patrick's Parish Ibenda obollo.

We the members of Ibenda Obollo Autonomous community, the Paris honers and other religious in Ibenda demands written apology from the Community of Ogbodu Aba for the unruly behavior exhibited to the two priests of Obollo.

details of the matter will be communicated .

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DEVELOPMENT OF IBENDA OBOLLO AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY IS THE DUTY OF ALL

DEVELOPMENT OF IBENDA OBOLLO AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY IS THE DUTY OF ALL

On 16^th February, 2017, witnessed the beginning of Ibenda Town Union, Enugu State Nigeria Branch held in Enugu. It recorded in attendance, almost members of the branch Union and the Reverend Fr. Chikwado Udaya, the Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s  Ibenda  with his parishioner’s’ representatives.

The Priest’s  visit was more of both spiritual and overall development of Ibenda  Obollo Autonomous Community. Among other things discussed and agreed with the Priest was the proposal to Make Town Union, Enugu Branch a zone of the Parish. The idea was a welcome development going by the past experiences we have had. Easy access to the benefits as a parishioner was considered valuable to the decision

His Royal Highness, Igwe Remigius Ogbuishi, the “Ekpo II” of Ibenda  Obollo and the Chairman Ibenda Town Union, Enugu Branch, RTD ASP. Ignatius Nnaji, expressed joy for offer of the opportunity from the St. Patrick parishioner’s

Some challenges of the parishioners spiritual life as a new Parish was x-rayed to include but not limited to, Chapel for Blessed Sacrament, completion of the Parish House, resurrection of the Church building and improving the faith of the Faithfull among other things.

The much work so far done by the Parish Priest was acknowledged while his promise to work with the new Traditional ruler, “Ekpo II”  of Ibenda  to ensure speedy development and understanding is also welcomed.  He admonished us to be very weary of Satan and its antics because Satan can never be happy nor rest to see a unified community like Ibenda.  He attributed past crisis that nearly engulfed the community to the handy work of Satan.

The Rv. Fr. Udaya  prayed for us and the Community in general.

MAKING OF A NEW KING II, IBENDA GETS A TRADITIONAL RULER – EKPO II OF IBENDA

Congratulations Mr. Remigius Ogbuishi, the IGWE ELECT of Ibenda kingdom. The keenly contested traditional ruler ship of Ibenda Obollo Autonomous Community has come to reality.

The normal peace expected to reign did not elude the community irrespective of some challenges. THANK YOU JEHOVAH!

The peoples dream have manifested.

Long Live Ibenda Obollo, Long Live the Good People of Ibenda

DETAILS AND BIOGRAPHY OF THE NEW Traditional Ruler will come your way.

PRESIDENT GENERAL OF IBENDA TOWN UNION BOWS DOWN, YEILD FOR THE CALL TO BECOME TRADITIONAL RULER OF IBENDA.

The unfolding drama of who becomes the next Igwe of Ibenda Autonomous Community has taken a directional approach. This has followed, as a result of the valedictory address delivered by Mr. Remigius Ogbuishi, the Former President General of the Town, and the subsequent stepping down as the President General to enable him contest for the position of the Town’s Traditional Ruler, the EKPO II of Ibenda. Insert is his valedictory speech.

“IBENDA TOWN UNION: JOURNEY SO FAR 04-06-2016

Valedictory Speech By REMI OGBUISHI While Stepping Aside As President General Ibenda Town Union

The present Executives were elected on 31-12-14 and was sworn in on 21-02-15, our goals among others included;

(i)           Sustaining the growth of CSS Ibenda.

(ii)                       Device and exploit ways of generating revenue for the community.

(iii)                    Fostering unity for the rapid development.

(iv)                     Promoting Community Health.

(v)                        Initiating a market (Orie Ibenda) for the Community

(vi)                     Ensuring security of life and properties

(vii)                     Building and equipping a civic centre

(viii)                  Inauguration of all Ibenda Peace Summit

ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR

With little disguise of the modesty of our achievements, we were able to accomplish the following;

(1)                        MOBILIZATION AND INTEGRATION:

(i)              Our community was fully mobilized. They realized the importance of town union and participated actively.

(ii)           The Oha, Town Union, Igwe and Cabinet worked harmoniously.

(iii)        Zinc palaver between the Oha and the Parish was amicably resolved.

(iv)         We participated in the burial activity of the deceased IGWE and ensured constitutional regency.

(2)                        SECURITY:

(i)              A high ranking security advisory committee came on board

(ii)           Last Saturday of every month was set aside for security meeting to review progress.

(iii)        Monthly security salary Levy of N100 was introduced

(iv)         Robbery cases including that of rape were properly addressed.

(3)                        EDUCATION:

(i)              Inauguration of school based Management Committee chaired by Mr. Tai Omenma.

(ii)           Inauguration of Education Committee chaired by Festus Ezeme

(iii)        Inauguration of stake holders in Education in Ibenda comprising all serving Principals, retired Principal, vice Principals whose role is to act as watch dog to both the Primary and Secondary school in Ibenda.

(iv)         Boosting the staff strength of the secondary school

(v)            Equipping the school library with books

(vi)         Posting and taking care of Coppers

(vii)      Ensuring that a hard working person is posting as Principal.

(4)                        INFRASTRUCTURE:

(i)              Rehabilitation of dilapidated church ceiling.

(ii)           Contacts have been made for our road to be included among the ring roads of Enugu Senatorial Zone.

(iii)        On-going efforts to provide working tools e.g. BP apparatus, Sugar and Malaria testing kits to the Health center.

(iv)         Maternity that is being sponsored by Mr. ROMA EGBA through the assistance of Africa Development Banks will soon come on board.

(5)                        REVENUE GENERATION:

(i)              Instituting security levy of N100.00

(ii)           Development levy of N1000.00 also came on board

(iii)        Donations quadrupled by concerned indigenes of Ibenda.

(iv)         ITU branches donated money for our programmes.

(6)                        PROBLEMS:

(i)              Mutual suspicion and lack of trust especially among the elites who were insensitive on communal life pattern.

(ii)           Fear of domination and lack of understanding of the constitutional roles assigned to Oha Ibenda, Town Union and Igwe/ Cabinet caused friction.

(iii)        Town Union being wrongly perceived as “Ndi Enugu” should be jettisoned as it breeds divisiveness

(iv)         There is no strong financial base like membership dues

(v)            Primary Education is still in shamble.

(vi)         No Computer Software for Secondary School

(vii)      Audit of NEPA committee which we inherited is still  lingering.

(viii)   Inability of the Union to sponsor our sons and daughter for political appointments

(ix)         Strengthening the power output by bringing another Transformer through the NEPA committee.

(x)            Midwiving the commencement of a market -Orie Ibenda

(xi)         Nurturing a Youth Wing of ITU and reviving Ichie Club as a partner agency in the development of the Community

(xii)      Carrying out an accurate enumeration survey of all taxable adults in Ibenda

(xiii)   Inaugurating All Ibenda Peace Summit to revisit “Post Pastor era”

CONCLUSION: (you may wish to draw your conclusion/ Score card)

We had your mandate to serve for 4 years out of which I have been on the driving seat for only 17 months. I enjoyed my working relationship with my executives and all members of Ibenda Town Union both at home and abroard. I am very grateful to each and every one of you, am always proud to come from Ibenda land. I will never hesitate to render my service anytime and anywhere I am called upon do so.

For the meantime, I wish to step aside as the President General of the Ibenda Town Union in order to answer the clarion call of both my family, my Umunna and wide range of friends and associates who want me to contest for the vacant stool of IGWE of Ibenda. If it is the wish of God, so it be in Jesus Mighty Name I pray- AMEN.

Long Live Ibenda Ukwa

Long Live Udenu L. G. A.

Long live Enugu State.”

After the speech, a notion was moved and seconded for adoption of the speech and his step down. He stepped aside while Mr Titus Nnamani who is the Vice President now takes over in accordance with the constitution.

Remarkably, Electoral committee was constituted and inaugurated smoothly with all the seven Umunna that make up the town represented.

The Ibenda of today has a great difference from Ibenda of yesterday. With the number of people and the dignitaries that attended the General assembly meeting, there is every indication that the new autonomous community is graduating to older one. Think of those people you know, they were all there.

The issue of Primary school in Ibenda was discussed and resolution was reached to warn erring indigenous teachers to desist from truancy and other unprofessional behaviors or face automatic transfers to other parts of the state. The community resolved to inform the Primary Schools regulating body ENSUBEB should the indigenous teachers fail to turn into a new leaf. Health centre and Secondary schools were also on the page.