Why I Congratulated Gen. Gowon at 90
My felicitation with Nigeria’s former military Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, on his 90th birthday anniversary, which was celebrated by a cross-section of Nigerians, has been received with mixed feelings by some Nigerians, and some have expressed their sentiments publicly, and privately to me.
I share in some of them, and I feel that as a leader in the vanguard of providing direction for our country to shift base away from all our shortcomings, including the issues that caused our avoidable cruel civil war, I needed to show to the World that the ultimate heroism is forgiving the enemy and moving forward.
Indisputably, the darkest part of our 64-year journey as a nation is the 30 months of civil war from 1967 to 1970 and God almighty whose way is not our way must have a reason why he kept the Chief Prosecutor of the war who is General Gowon alive to be 90 years today and the man who saw the end of the war, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to be there at 87 years super-heading all the moves to see a reconciled and just Nigeria.
There was also a developing new spirit why the same country, Nigeria, gave the Biafra leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a heroic national burial on 2 March 2012, when he joined his ancestors, coincidentally under my tenure as Governor of Anambra state.
The status of the burial given to Dim Ojukwu remains the boldest indication to the World that Nigeria as a country is disposed to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation.
There are various ways human beings can respond to acts of evil, especially one that claimed millions of lives.
One is the tragedy of revenge, and another offers the hope of forgiveness in an attempt to forget. The latter conforms neatly with the template I adopted in greeting Gen Gowon at 90 years old.
In all my dealings with human beings, I try to be guided by my faith as a Christian in a strong message preached by Jesus Christ himself and underscored in reflections in St Paul’s letter to the Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another: if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” And to Ephesians 4: 31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice”
Whatever reason I will give for joining the rest of Nigerians to greet General Gowon, May never truly conform with some persons, especially direct victims of the war, but anger, hurt, and bitterness are the commonest responses to cruelty.
It fuels sectarianism, it leads to resistance and avoidable blood feuds that we are witnessing across the globe, and even in our country and it does not abate.
There is something about forgiveness, it sets the person doing it free. Forgiveness is more a process than an instinct.
It’s hate that has put our society, blessed by God to be the greatest land in the black World, down, but this hate has to stop.
I was under ten years old when the Nigeria/Biafra war started in 1967. Most of my supporters across the country joining me get a new Nigeria were born after the war, and I didn’t feel I should drag them back to the dark side of our history by being unforgiving.
I feel such an act will derail the message of a New Nigeria that we insist is POssible.
‘Must you greet him? Why didn’t you keep quiet?’ some angrily say to me, but that will still be injurious to our journey to a new Nigeria where all political vices, including but not limited to ethnic, religious, bitterness, and regional segregation, are eliminated.
Various personal experiences of victims of injustice across the globe who have chosen to put ugly things behind them visibly demonstrate the transformative power of forgiveness in healing personal and collective wounds.
While it is arguable that with the President and Vice President absent from the Villa , there is no vacancy in the Presidency, in a situation where both the President and Vice President are out of the country, as reported in the media yesterday, it's concerning for a country with such myriads of domestic problems.
The President had told us he would only be gone for 14 days. The 14 days have passed now, and we are waiting to see him in the country.
One would have expected him to return earlier than expected, considering the volume of work that needs to be done in a troubled nation like ours.
The untold hardship that has been unleashed on our people as a result of some of his administration's policies is unimaginable and we need his urgent attention to pilot the nation out of this present situation.
Again, since the President is reportedly in Paris, France, which is just about 833 nautical miles from Stockholm, Sweden, one wonders why he did not just attend the 2-day working visit to Sweden. He could simply have done it on his way back from France with his new powerful jet, which would have taken him a little over 2 hours.
This would have saved time and the very scarce national resources we need critically at this time. Instead, he delegated the Vice President, who needed to travel 3055 nautical miles, over nine hours, and (about 4 times the travel time from Paris) Abuja, Nigeria, to Stockholm, Sweden, to represent him at the event. It would take about 4 times the time and distance it takes to travel from Paris to Stockholm to travel from Abuja to Stockholm.
This does not represent the kind of fiscal responsibility and common sense that is expected of leaders whose people are facing severe hunger and poverty.
This is the time to show true and committed leadership to the people by making decisions that prioritize the well-being of the people and effective management of the nation's scarce resources in alleviating the sufferings of the people.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO
We must declare war on this massive insecurity and other ills that threaten or society and work tirelessly to build a safer, more prosperous, and just society for all. -PO
Jos in Benue State. An Anambra State Commissioner and his wife were abducted in Edo State, and others travelling with them were killed. These are just a few of the many tragic incidents happening across the country.
When I say we should declare war on the economy, power, and insecurity, some people spin the narrative, while others complain.
But what else can we do? In the last 24 hours, several people have been kidnapped across Nigeria, including about 20 dental students from Maiduguri and
THIS IS A MUST WATCH DOCUMENTARY NIGERIANS. 📌
BRUH, Nigeria is clearly at fracture point and i don’t even know what to say and how to feel anymore.
After seeing this, you might become more sad.
Financial Dealings from OBASANJO’s Administration down to APC.
WOW! Nkechi Colewell: Born in UK, Lived 35 Years in Abia Village for the Sick .
Precisely three weeks ago, I had a tap on my back shortly after a Church service in London. As I turned to behold at whose behest, I saw an elderly lady on a wheel chair.
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Her words were simple, straight and shocking - “I bụ onye Igbo?" (Are you Igbo?)
I stared at her with my mouth agape, not sure if she was the one who asked. I felt I had some auditory hallucination but I managed to reluctantly nod in affirmation.
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She gave a toothy smile and probed further - “Ebe n'ala Igbo ka ị sị?" (which part of Igbo land are you from?)
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I told her in shock. She smiled again and said: “M ruru ọrụ na Steeti gị for more than 35 years" (loosely translated, “I worked in your State for more than 35 years)
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As she wanted to tell about herself and her works, my mind quickly went down the memory lane. With every goosebumps my entire body could hold, I asked her: “I bụ Nkechi Rosalind Colwell?"
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She nodded but this time in tears. I rushed and knelt down before her and hugged her in tears.
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Angels come in human forms and I was so sure I just met one.
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NKECHI ROSALIND COLEWELL came to Uzuakoli in Abia State as a young nurse and served in the Leper Colony there.
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She was touched by our lackadaisical attitude towards mental health. She couldn’t stand seeing our mentally-challenged siblings roaming the streets even for simple curable ones.
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She opened a Home for the Mentally ill at Amaudo, Itumbauzo and went round the whole of Abia State, picking up and admitting our siblings to this home.
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They got medical care, learnt a skill and some were rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society.
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Nkechi left the comfort of her home in United Kingdom and dedicated her entire life serving the most deprived in forgotten corners of our homeland.
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As her sister later told me, “She is Nigerian and hardly identifies as British. She still eats your food and desires to return home back to you someday...”
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Her fluency in Igbo language thrilled us all. For almost an hour we spoke, even with my family, we did in Igbo.
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She was given the name NKECHI by Late Pa Herbert Osoka. The community she served also gave her a chieftaincy title, while she was knighted by the Methodist Church.
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Unfortunately, NKECHI suffered a massive stroke attack at Itumbauzo which left her partially paralysed and confined to wheelchair.
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She had to go back to United Kingdom, even against her personal desire (unlike our President) due to the poor state of our healthcare.
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People like NKECHI COLEWELL deserve sainthood.
In a country where national honours are bestowed on undeserving politicians and highest-bidding business men, NKECHI’s name can be easily forgotten.
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In a State where selective amnesia rules her political class, NKECHI won’t be found fit for the “Enyi (Elephant) Abia” state honours and their likes.
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I thanked NKECHI for her service to an ungrateful people like us. I told her that her breed is rare, and when the roll will be called, I believe that she will be counted as the Righteous Among The Nations.
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Thank you, Ms NKECHI COLEWELL
Credit: "Uche Anyanwagu"
—PLEASE SHARE, SHARE AND SHARE TILL THIS ANGEL IS HONORED..
Att: @alexottiofr@AbiaGov