<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121</id><updated>2026-04-10T09:25:37.346+02:00</updated><category term="CHUKWUBIKE"/><category term="Charles"/><category term="NIGERIA"/><category term="AFRICA"/><category term="ITALIA"/><category term="FAMILY"/><category term="immigrazione"/><category term="INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE"/><category term="CULTURE"/><category term="ITALO_NAIJA"/><category term="PEOPLE"/><category term="RELIGION"/><category term="DISCRIMINATION"/><category term="IGBO"/><category term="LIVING"/><category term="EXPLOITATION"/><category term="CISTERNA DI LATINA"/><category term="NENWE (nol)"/><category term="OBAMA"/><category term="POLITICS"/><category term="USA"/><category term="MIGRATION"/><category term="CRIMES"/><category term="HUMAN RIGHTS"/><category term="BIAFRA"/><category term="BLOGS"/><category term="HEALTH"/><category term="IMMIGRATION"/><category term="PEPOLE"/><category term="WOMEN"/><category term="CURIOUSITY"/><category term="EUROPE"/><category term="KNOWLEDGE"/><category term="ENUGU"/><category term="RACISM"/><category term="ARTE"/><category term="IGBO HISTORY"/><category term="STORIES"/><category term="BELIEF"/><category term="sports"/><category term="MEDIAZIONE"/><category term="PEACE"/><category term="PREJUDICE"/><category term="IGBO NIGERIA"/><category term="VIOLENCE"/><category term="DEVELOPMENT"/><category term="DIASPORA"/><category term="DIASPORA _ITALIA"/><category term="ENVIRONMENT"/><category term="G2"/><category term="HISTORY"/><category term="SALUTE"/><category term="AMICI"/><category term="EDUCATION SOLIDARITY"/><category term="HUMOUR"/><category term="NOL"/><category term="BUHARI"/><category term="FOOD"/><category term="GAY PRIDE"/><category term="INFORMATION"/><category term="IPOB"/><category term="PETROLIUM"/><category term="ASSOWELCOME"/><category term="FOTOTHOUGHT"/><category term="JOKE"/><category term="MBC"/><category term="NATURE"/><category term="PHC"/><category term="PLACES"/><category term="TOLERANCE"/><category term="WAR"/><category term="BOOKS"/><category term="CHARLIE.MBC"/><category term="FB"/><category term="LEGISLATION"/><category term="TRADGEY AT PHC"/><category term="TRADITION"/><category term="WEDDINGS"/><category term="islam"/><category term="ADANNA"/><category term="AVM CHUKWU"/><category term="BCC"/><category term="Igiaba"/><category term="NENWE"/><category term="NENWE WHO IS WHO"/><category term="OHANEZE"/><category term="TEMPLAR"/><category term="UN"/><category term="Uk"/><category term="VANGUARD"/><category term="WEST AFRICA"/><category term="WHO"/><category term="YOUTHS"/><category term="AMERICA"/><category term="ARCHIVES"/><category term="AVIATION"/><category term="AWGU"/><category term="BUSINESS"/><category term="Bad governance"/><category term="C"/><category term="CHARITY"/><category term="CHRISTMAS"/><category term="DANCE"/><category term="DE"/><category term="FRIENDS"/><category term="FULANI HERDSMEN"/><category term="Food chukwubike"/><category term="G"/><category term="GABON"/><category term="GHANA"/><category term="HEROES"/><category term="INDUSTRIALISATION"/><category term="INNOSON"/><category term="JONALFA"/><category term="LAW"/><category term="LIBYA"/><category term="MANDELA"/><category term="MISINFORMATION"/><category term="MUSIC"/><category term="MY NENWE"/><category term="NDIAGBOR"/><category term="NENWE HISTORY"/><category term="NNAMDI KANU"/><category term="PHOTOBEST"/><category term="Pope.Vatican"/><category term="Quotes"/><category term="RIP"/><category term="RUSSIA"/><category term="SENATOR MB CHUKWUBIKE"/><category term="SOCIETY"/><category term="SOUTHEAST"/><category term="SPY"/><category term="TERROR"/><category term="TRANSPORTATION"/><category term="VATICANO"/><category term="WELCOMING"/><category term="cisterna"/><category term="p"/><title type='text'>CHUKWUBIKES&#39; .... Day by Day</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default?start-index=26&amp;max-results=25'/><author><name>Okey.Chukbyke C.</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01707879076116787313</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='31' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3Tng5Dz4Azw/SPJNComHKzI/AAAAAAAABmI/vVTON3NKyrU/S220/DSCF2455(1).JPG'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>571</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-8446220099785405120</id><published>2025-12-12T15:41:00.000+01:00</published><updated>2025-12-12T15:41:20.746+01:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="BIAFRA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="CHARLIE.MBC"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="IGBO HISTORY"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="WAR"/><title type='text'>THE BIAFRAN WAR OGBUNIGWE </title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eMISmdl7I7JDNxSzwizd-K0HYUdKcd3kmR0Y24PPQyCpLq4yfz1aC8uPr-r63An8S0dpWQUGi2NyW9pTjSUQ5KKqq91W7YBSNlANdNPJVzWyJilaSLnMBb-1-11m1UPyejn3xppnmS8L_LGc89h6OdUolowgyTsutrUj3VnW6xqia4xbtaDMnAMsIL0/s225/1000712111.jpg&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;225&quot; data-original-width=&quot;225&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eMISmdl7I7JDNxSzwizd-K0HYUdKcd3kmR0Y24PPQyCpLq4yfz1aC8uPr-r63An8S0dpWQUGi2NyW9pTjSUQ5KKqq91W7YBSNlANdNPJVzWyJilaSLnMBb-1-11m1UPyejn3xppnmS8L_LGc89h6OdUolowgyTsutrUj3VnW6xqia4xbtaDMnAMsIL0/w320-h320/1000712111.jpg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Ogbunigwe&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Ogbunigwe&lt;/a&gt;, also known as &quot;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #ffe599;&quot;&gt;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Ojukwu+Bucket+Ogbunigwe&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Ojukwu Bucket&lt;/a&gt;,&lt;/span&gt;&quot; was a series of indigenous weapons developed and used by the &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Republic+of+Biafra+history&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Republic of Biafra&lt;/a&gt; during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970). Here&#39;s a detailed introduction:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Origin and Development&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- Background: Biafra faced severe arms shortages and an &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=economic+blockade+Biafra+Nigerian+Civil+War&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;economic blockade&lt;/a&gt; at the start of the war. To counter this, Biafran scientists, mainly from the &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=University+of+Nigeria+Nsukka&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;University of Nigeria Nsukka&lt;/a&gt; (then the &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=University+of+Biafra+history&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;University of Biafra&lt;/a&gt;), formed the &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Research+and+Production+RAP+organization+Biafra&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Research and Production (RAP) organization&lt;/a&gt; to develop a local arms industry.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- Design Team: Led by figures like &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Gordian+Ezekwe+Biafra&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Gordian Ezekwe&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Benjamin+Nwosu+Biafra&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Benjamin Nwosu&lt;/a&gt;, and &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Felix+Oragwu+Biafra&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Felix Oragwu&lt;/a&gt;, the team designed the Ogbunigwe in September 1967.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Types and Specifications&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- Initial Form: Originally a non-guided surface-to-air missile (called &quot;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Flying+Ogbunigwe&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Flying Ogbunigwe&lt;/a&gt;&quot;) designed to counter &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Nigerian+MiG-15+fighters&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Nigerian MiG-15 fighters&lt;/a&gt;, it was later converted to surface-to-surface use.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #04ff00;&quot;&gt;Variants&lt;/span&gt;: Over time, the term expanded to include &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=define+command-detonation+mines&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;command-detonation mines&lt;/a&gt;, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and rocket-propelled projectiles. Shapes ranged from cones to cylinders.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;b&gt;Key Parameters&lt;/b&gt;: Warheads weighed 5-500 kg, with an effective range of up to 8,000 meters for rocket-propelled versions. The killing range of mines and warheads was 180-800 meters, with shrapnel covering a 90° arc.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Operational Use and Impact&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- Tactical Effectiveness: The Ogbunigwe was highly effective against infantry and armored vehicles. &lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;Its most famous use was in the 1968 &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Abagana+Ambush+Nigerian+Civil+War&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Abagana Ambush&lt;/a&gt;, where Biafran forces led by &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Major+Uchendu+Biafra&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Major Uchendu&lt;/a&gt; used it to kill up to 6,000 Nigerian troops from the 2nd Division.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;b&gt;Psychological Impact: &lt;/b&gt;The weapon struck fear into Nigerian troops, becoming a symbol of Biafran ingenuity during the war.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;Name Meaning&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- Originally, &quot;Ogbunigwe&quot; meant &quot;a killer in the heaven or vast sky&quot; in &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Igbo+people&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Igbo&lt;/a&gt;, reflecting its initial role as an anti-aircraft weapon. After the war, it came to be associated with landmines or &quot;instruments that kill in multitudes.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;THE STRENGTH&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;From a scientific perspective, the Ogbunigwe&#39;s strength lay in its clever application of basic explosive physics, adaptability to limited resources, and effective integration of tactical design. Here&#39;s a detailed breakdown:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;1. &lt;b&gt;Core Scientific Principle: The Monroe Effect&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Ogbunigwe was based on the &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=define+Monroe+effect&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Monroe effect&lt;/a&gt; (also known as the &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=define+shaped+charge+effect&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;shaped charge effect&lt;/a&gt;), a fundamental concept in explosive engineering. When an explosive is shaped with a concave cavity (often lined with metal), the &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=detonation+wave&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;detonation wave&lt;/a&gt; converges at the center, creating a high-velocity jet of molten metal or gas that can penetrate armor or disperse shrapnel with great force. This design allowed the Ogbunigwe to maximize damage despite using relatively small amounts of explosive compared to conventional weapons.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;2. &lt;b&gt;Technical Specifications and Performance&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #e06666;&quot;&gt;Warhead and Lethality&lt;/span&gt;: Warheads ranged from 5 kg to 500 kg, with killing ranges of 180–800 meters and a shrapnel arc of 90°. &lt;b&gt;Larger versions could wipe out entire infantry companies or disable armored vehicles, as seen in the 1968 Abagana Ambush where it killed up to 6,000 Nigerian troops.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- Propulsion and Range: Rocket-propelled variants had an effective range of up to 8,000 meters (8.7 miles), making them suitable for long-range attacks on troop concentrations or convoys.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidmTHjYNrp0swpeJmrPe7gNDBizBWMgAKmiKlspjTXMr7tbTFY98oMeAbkO6Bmbxlv_MfHGcGesTSBBKn5-n4eKHsHsCPtAu4vhh0YszaGCAbtNdaPZ-w8mQIDOQWdiQI389BJcj0hW-d7ClAJe5vkaWflUmdwuj2SE60uerIqonjdX4DVsRH4d5_70DA&quot; style=&quot;clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; data-original-height=&quot;359&quot; data-original-width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;180&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidmTHjYNrp0swpeJmrPe7gNDBizBWMgAKmiKlspjTXMr7tbTFY98oMeAbkO6Bmbxlv_MfHGcGesTSBBKn5-n4eKHsHsCPtAu4vhh0YszaGCAbtNdaPZ-w8mQIDOQWdiQI389BJcj0hW-d7ClAJe5vkaWflUmdwuj2SE60uerIqonjdX4DVsRH4d5_70DA&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;b&gt;Guidance&lt;/b&gt;: While unguided, the weapon&#39;s simple design made it easy to deploy quickly in guerrilla or defensive operations, compensating for the lack of advanced targeting systems.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;3. &lt;b&gt;Innovation Under Adversity&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Ogbunigwe&#39;s greatest scientific achievement was its development and mass production under extreme constraints. Biafra faced a total economic blockade, so scientists had to:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;b&gt;Use locally sourced materials&lt;/b&gt; (e.g., recycled metal, homemade explosives) to manufacture warheads and launchers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;b&gt;Adapt the design from an anti-aircraft missile to a surface-to-surface&lt;/b&gt; weapon after the fall of &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Enugu+Nigerian+Civil+War&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Enugu&lt;/a&gt; in 1967, demonstrating flexibility in response to battlefield needs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- Achieve high production rates (up to 500 units per day at its peak) using improvised factories, a testament to their engineering ingenuity.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBeMo-gWw1Y86ffcMBPq0KaWzR2ae5vZGbH8XMTMWjOvGfwHlflAN9p6Dd353JP5wR7ejbAvtTgZpAco3t6WUn83NVCqVKLnUKxVYYCxV3AhADT77eUP3qmOIyS3hJ-Bdjh2hLbJ6DTyLTIxAZ1uq9LzNL-c4wQ-Xy1ANp4huqCm7U12pPdByYTR2TQJs&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; data-original-height=&quot;508&quot; data-original-width=&quot;856&quot; height=&quot;238&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBeMo-gWw1Y86ffcMBPq0KaWzR2ae5vZGbH8XMTMWjOvGfwHlflAN9p6Dd353JP5wR7ejbAvtTgZpAco3t6WUn83NVCqVKLnUKxVYYCxV3AhADT77eUP3qmOIyS3hJ-Bdjh2hLbJ6DTyLTIxAZ1uq9LzNL-c4wQ-Xy1ANp4huqCm7U12pPdByYTR2TQJs=w400-h238&quot; width=&quot;400&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;4. &lt;b&gt;Tactical Effectivenes&lt;/b&gt;s&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The weapon&#39;s design was tailored to Biafra&#39;s defensive strategy. Command-detonated mines and IED variants could be hidden in terrain, while rocket-propelled versions provided long-range fire support. The psychological impact of the Ogbunigwe was also significant—Nigerian troops became so fearful that &lt;i&gt;they often used &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=cattle+use+in+Biafran+war&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;cattle&lt;/a&gt; to clear paths ahead of advancing columns.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;In summary, the Ogbunigwe was not a technologically advanced weapon by modern standards, but its scientific strength lay in its practical application of basic physics, resourcefulness in production, and alignment with tactical needs, making it one of the most effective indigenous weapons of the Nigerian Civil War.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Charles+O+Chukwubike&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=8446220099785405120&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Charles O Chukwubike&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;(Partly copied)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/8446220099785405120/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/8446220099785405120' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/8446220099785405120'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/8446220099785405120'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-biafran-war-ogbunigwe.html' title='THE BIAFRAN WAR OGBUNIGWE '/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eMISmdl7I7JDNxSzwizd-K0HYUdKcd3kmR0Y24PPQyCpLq4yfz1aC8uPr-r63An8S0dpWQUGi2NyW9pTjSUQ5KKqq91W7YBSNlANdNPJVzWyJilaSLnMBb-1-11m1UPyejn3xppnmS8L_LGc89h6OdUolowgyTsutrUj3VnW6xqia4xbtaDMnAMsIL0/s72-w320-h320-c/1000712111.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-9149607608245986978</id><published>2025-12-06T03:07:00.000+01:00</published><updated>2025-12-06T03:07:54.062+01:00</updated><title type='text'>FEMALE LED RELIGIOUS SONGS &amp; SEXUAL AROUSAL IN MEN by Charles O Chukwubike </title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet;&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe allowfullscreen=&#39;allowfullscreen&#39; webkitallowfullscreen=&#39;webkitallowfullscreen&#39; mozallowfullscreen=&#39;mozallowfullscreen&#39; width=&#39;320&#39; height=&#39;266&#39; src=&#39;https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dziTbT-DRcggJfFdxfQqfCXmZENqMdDVfOG2Xf5Q71p02EfMAz-nuURaUns0HfYtTJfkbV_gbMBF2YgsqqXIQ&#39; class=&#39;b-hbp-video b-uploaded&#39; frameborder=&#39;0&#39;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Many men watched twice or more times the above video of the &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Igbo+language&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Igbo language&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=female+gospel+singers&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;gospel/ religion singer&lt;/a&gt; not because of our religiousness but because of a process or chemistry that has kicked off in our system . We can only understand this with close studies as below.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Chukwubike+O.+Charles&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Chukwubike O. Charles&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Charlie.mbc@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The relationship between &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=female-led+religious+songs&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;female-led religious songs&lt;/a&gt; and sexual arousal is a sensitive, complex intersection of &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=define+spirituality&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;spirituality&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=define+emotion&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;emotion&lt;/a&gt;, and &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=define+personal+psychology&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;personal psychology&lt;/a&gt; — and it often surprises people how these elements can overlap, even when the music’s intent is not sexual. Here’s a breakdown of the key dynamics:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #04ff00; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Why Overlap Can Occur&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;b&gt;Vocal and Emotional&lt;/b&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;color: #ffa400;&quot;&gt;Intensity&lt;/span&gt;: Religious songs often feature powerful, heartfelt vocal performances — with qualities like &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=breathiness+vocal+technique&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;breathiness&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=vibrato+singing&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;vibrato&lt;/a&gt;, or &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=soaring+ranges+vocal+performance&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;soaring ranges&lt;/a&gt; that are also associated with sexual arousal (as noted earlier). The intensity of emotion in worship music (longing, devotion, transcendence) can activate the same brain reward pathways linked to pleasure and arousal, creating a subconscious or emotional overlap.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;b&gt;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Themes+of+Connection+and+Intimacy+religious&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Themes of Connection and Intimacy&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;: Many religious texts and songs frame the relationship between the faithful and the divine as one of deep intimacy, &quot;union,&quot; or even romantic longing. Phrases like &quot;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=my+beloved+religious+text&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;my beloved&lt;/a&gt;&quot; or &quot;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=I+yearn+for+you+religious+text&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;I yearn for you&lt;/a&gt;&quot; can resonate on a human, sexual level for some listeners, even as they hold spiritual meaning.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- Personal Association: A religious song sung by a female voice might become tied to a personal memory that has sexual undertones, or a listener may project their own desires onto the emotional delivery of the performance — regardless of the song’s original purpose.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #04ff00; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Cultural and Personal Context Matters&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;b&gt;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Spiritual+Framing+psychology&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Spiritual Framing&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;: For many people, religious music is experienced only as a sacred practice, and arousal does not enter the equation. Cultural or religious beliefs can shape how a listener interprets the music, framing its emotion as purely spiritual rather than sexual.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;span style=&quot;color: #04ff00;&quot;&gt;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Internal+Conflict+psychology&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Internal Conflict&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;: Some may feel discomfort or guilt if they experience arousal while listening to religious music, as it can seem to contradict the song’s sacred intent. This conflict itself can influence how the experience is perceived and processed.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;- &lt;b&gt;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Individual+Sensitivity+psychology&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=9149607608245986978&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Individual Sensitivity&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;: People vary in how strongly they connect auditory/emotional cues to sexual response — some may be more prone to feeling arousal from intense vocal performances, regardless of the content’s context.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;It’s important to note that this overlap is not a reflection of the music’s purpose or the singer’s intent — it’s a product of how the human brain processes emotion, pleasure, and meaning in complex ways.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small;&quot;&gt;(Partly copied)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/9149607608245986978/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/9149607608245986978' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/9149607608245986978'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/9149607608245986978'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2025/12/female-led-religious-songs-sexual.html' title='FEMALE LED RELIGIOUS SONGS &amp; SEXUAL AROUSAL IN MEN by Charles O Chukwubike '/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-862877999496771620</id><published>2025-11-09T04:53:00.003+01:00</published><updated>2025-11-09T04:54:30.579+01:00</updated><title type='text'>MRS MARY EDEH;AN AMBASSADOR OF GIRL EDUCATION, RECILIE AND DISCIPLINE </title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGkb7t7EkK_r0l2T-ZyKHdIsrTKJV7u3Yz8mA0Ie4_vHcGh_n8q2EuF4Vifd6UIWHhB7VQLAKxUi-f0yDOTarCVbuqWXjaXOjUsQYl6h3_4T4-F55BBa5ORvLwf9tBpawLjPVWTw4RHPRPpfrjGtHQj7pOavtf1loJ5D2Qe1L8gcUi182izeVoEVUlR0/s1080/1000640879.jpg&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1080&quot; data-original-width=&quot;831&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGkb7t7EkK_r0l2T-ZyKHdIsrTKJV7u3Yz8mA0Ie4_vHcGh_n8q2EuF4Vifd6UIWHhB7VQLAKxUi-f0yDOTarCVbuqWXjaXOjUsQYl6h3_4T4-F55BBa5ORvLwf9tBpawLjPVWTw4RHPRPpfrjGtHQj7pOavtf1loJ5D2Qe1L8gcUi182izeVoEVUlR0/s320/1000640879.jpg&quot; width=&quot;246&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Today, 8th November 2025 we solemnly honor the life of Mrs. &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Mary+Edeh&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=862877999496771620&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Mary Edeh&lt;/a&gt;, a remarkable woman whose legacy as an ambassador of &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=girl+education&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=862877999496771620&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;girl education&lt;/a&gt; and a pillar of strength will forever inspire us. Through her unwavering commitment, even in the midst of a lot of life and family&amp;nbsp; tribulations she educated her five children ( all girls) to the highest levels, each achieving&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a class=&quot;b-tooltip-container&quot; data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=master%27s+degrees+programs&amp;amp;bbid=4750393534403877824&amp;amp;bpid=1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;color: #cc3300; display: inline-block; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;b-tooltip&quot; style=&quot;display: none; left: 91.3562px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 36px; transform: translate(-20%, 1px); transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; visibility: hidden; z-index: 1;&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe src=&quot;https://nenweonline.blogspot.com/share-widget?w=poi&amp;amp;o=t&amp;amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fved%3D1t%3A260882%26q%3Dmaster%2527s%2Bdegrees%2Bprograms%26bbid%3D4750393534403877824%26bpid%3D1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;border-radius: 20px; border-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 1px 1px 3px 1px; height: 198px; width: 200px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/span&gt;master’s degrees&lt;/a&gt;—a true testament to her dedication and belief in the power of education.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Mrs. Edeh instilled in her children not only academic excellence but also&amp;nbsp;&lt;a class=&quot;b-tooltip-container&quot; data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=instilling+strong+morals+and+discipline&amp;amp;bbid=4750393534403877824&amp;amp;bpid=1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;color: #cc3300; display: inline-block; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;b-tooltip&quot; style=&quot;display: none; left: 150.606px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 36px; transform: translate(-20%, 1px); transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; visibility: hidden; z-index: 1;&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe src=&quot;https://nenweonline.blogspot.com/share-widget?w=poi&amp;amp;o=t&amp;amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fved%3D1t%3A260882%26q%3Dinstilling%2Bstrong%2Bmorals%2Band%2Bdiscipline%26bbid%3D4750393534403877824%26bpid%3D1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;border-radius: 20px; border-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 1px 1px 3px 1px; height: 198px; width: 200px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/span&gt;strong morals and discipline&lt;/a&gt;, shaping them into individuals of integrity and purpose they are today. Her resilience was unmatched; despite the challenges of raising and training her children alone, she never wavered in her determination.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;At an adult age, she herself pursued higher education, entering the university and graduating with commendable grades. A feat very difficult to achieve while combining it with following her children&#39;s education at the same period.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;As a&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #04ff00;&quot;&gt;&lt;a class=&quot;b-tooltip-container&quot; data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=mathematics+teacher+resources&amp;amp;bbid=4750393534403877824&amp;amp;bpid=1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;color: #cc3300; display: inline-block; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;b-tooltip&quot; style=&quot;display: none; left: 113.431px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 36px; transform: translate(-20%, 1px); transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; visibility: hidden; z-index: 1;&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe src=&quot;https://nenweonline.blogspot.com/share-widget?w=poi&amp;amp;o=t&amp;amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fved%3D1t%3A260882%26q%3Dmathematics%2Bteacher%2Bresources%26bbid%3D4750393534403877824%26bpid%3D1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;border-radius: 20px; border-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 1px 1px 3px 1px; height: 198px; width: 200px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/span&gt;mathematics teacher&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;, Mrs. Edeh dedicated her life to nurturing young minds, imparting knowledge and inspiring countless students until her retirement. Her journey is a beacon of hope and a powerful example of&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #ffe599;&quot;&gt;perseverance, courage, and love.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Mrs.+Mary+Edeh&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=862877999496771620&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Mrs. Mary Edeh&lt;/a&gt;’s life reminds us that with faith, hard work, and resilience, barriers can be overcome and dreams fulfilled. She was not just a mother and educator but a great inspiration to all who knew her.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Anytime you met her she showed love and friendship with her charming and captivating smiles and voice which transmitted pure love.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I met her exactly a year ago in the&amp;nbsp;&lt;a class=&quot;b-tooltip-container&quot; data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=United+Kingdom&amp;amp;bbid=4750393534403877824&amp;amp;bpid=1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;color: #cc3300; display: inline-block; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;b-tooltip&quot; style=&quot;display: none; left: 85.3063px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 36px; transform: translate(-20%, 1px); transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; visibility: hidden; z-index: 1;&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe src=&quot;https://nenweonline.blogspot.com/share-widget?w=poi&amp;amp;o=t&amp;amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fved%3D1t%3A260882%26q%3DUnited%2BKingdom%26bbid%3D4750393534403877824%26bpid%3D1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;border-radius: 20px; border-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 1px 1px 3px 1px; height: 198px; width: 200px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/span&gt;United Kingdom&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;at the baptism of her grandchildren (the &lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=triplets+Mary+Edeh+family&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=862877999496771620&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;triplets&lt;/a&gt; of her daughter married to&amp;nbsp;&lt;a class=&quot;b-tooltip-container&quot; data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Dr+Ugo&amp;amp;bbid=4750393534403877824&amp;amp;bpid=1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;color: #cc3300; display: inline-block; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;b-tooltip&quot; style=&quot;display: none; left: 36.2812px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 36px; transform: translate(-20%, 1px); transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; visibility: hidden; z-index: 1;&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe src=&quot;https://nenweonline.blogspot.com/share-widget?w=poi&amp;amp;o=t&amp;amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fved%3D1t%3A260882%26q%3DDr%2BUgo%26bbid%3D4750393534403877824%26bpid%3D1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;border-radius: 20px; border-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 1px 1px 3px 1px; height: 198px; width: 200px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/span&gt;Dr Ugo&lt;/a&gt;) .We spent the whole evening talking. She told me something that was not just consolatory but a great lesson. Madame Mary said “Charlie ,I know the death of your younger sister years ago devastated you a lot,let all of us honour her by following and fulfilling her dreams and purposes which were loving and helping others,and&amp;nbsp; by doing that we may heal our pains”.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Today, I repeat her words to all who mourn her. i.e to alleviate our pains by continuing with her legacy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Mrs. Mary Edeh’s life stands as a powerful inspiration—a testament to strength, determination, and the enduring value of education.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;As we bid her farewell today, we honor her legacy and pray that her spirit continues to inspire future generations.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;May the soul of our beloved Mrs Mary EDEH rest in peace.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I am&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a class=&quot;b-tooltip-container&quot; data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=Charles+O.Chukwubike&amp;amp;bbid=4750393534403877824&amp;amp;bpid=1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;color: #cc3300; display: inline-block; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;b-tooltip&quot; style=&quot;display: none; left: 119.019px; opacity: 0; position: absolute; top: 36px; transform: translate(-20%, 1px); transition: opacity 0.2s ease-in-out; visibility: hidden; z-index: 1;&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe src=&quot;https://nenweonline.blogspot.com/share-widget?w=poi&amp;amp;o=t&amp;amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fved%3D1t%3A260882%26q%3DCharles%2BO.Chukwubike%26bbid%3D4750393534403877824%26bpid%3D1782764787697101851&quot; style=&quot;border-radius: 20px; border-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 1px 1px 3px 1px; height: 198px; width: 200px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/span&gt;Charles O.Chukwubike&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: #c0a154; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;charlie.mbc@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/862877999496771620/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/862877999496771620' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/862877999496771620'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/862877999496771620'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2025/11/mrs-mary-edehan-ambassador-of-girl.html' title='MRS MARY EDEH;AN AMBASSADOR OF GIRL EDUCATION, RECILIE AND DISCIPLINE '/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGkb7t7EkK_r0l2T-ZyKHdIsrTKJV7u3Yz8mA0Ie4_vHcGh_n8q2EuF4Vifd6UIWHhB7VQLAKxUi-f0yDOTarCVbuqWXjaXOjUsQYl6h3_4T4-F55BBa5ORvLwf9tBpawLjPVWTw4RHPRPpfrjGtHQj7pOavtf1loJ5D2Qe1L8gcUi182izeVoEVUlR0/s72-c/1000640879.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-3344642212888504470</id><published>2025-10-26T09:11:00.004+01:00</published><updated>2025-10-26T09:13:51.017+01:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="BUSINESS"/><title type='text'>GEBOS NIGERIA LTD. CONQUER PAPERS PREMIUM QUALITY AND MORE</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Order your premium quality papers stationaries and all printing jobs from &lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #fcff01;&quot;&gt;&lt;a data-preview=&quot;&quot; href=&quot;https://www.google.com/search?ved=1t:260882&amp;amp;q=GEBOS+NIGERIA+LTD&amp;amp;bbid=2025671017128564121&amp;amp;bpid=3344642212888504470&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;GEBOS NIGERIA LTD&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Nation wide distributions&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1W6ai4LkCmq4amPPTbauH4QGSHzK6OQfVzfwPFYhff0_f6gJJ0ujS3_tQCJk6M_GOxIfi2RwsRLTWIegrA_TvuoLyHXm63EgitVZfketSvpwNznHMCCjduR-7Mm-0S0-eUFHpyYOrbSYzrVfIPyCsaWzgbXsUy9mBDmInJ3Mut6EXz_6I7QxKT3fQ8A/s1280/WhatsApp%20Image%202025-07-26%20at%2012.07.44%20(2).jpeg&quot; 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style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;312&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1080&quot; height=&quot;115&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn41Gp0EwuzLfUyz9UxfBu-ViEWPWDHBDPkHJ1dThReolql8UELW4lw-hvTjwyBX_8RJVpMNMqUiWH8i5OJBYUqesaskGX72wNsLI6rZpOEX-bbbTFqV9ddwrxRaTXEdIUyEZsxLspRvVjcDNq5b8SXq-svztRGKYqbWTo8709kx6gMbUg9lkPHB9-RA/w400-h115/WhatsApp%20Image%202025-07-26%20at%2012.07.41%20(1).jpeg&quot; width=&quot;400&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE78ps_gTduL9taIX8omJPjrL0lrBozQwLnxIOoJewCIhkT2FTRKMxcL3Ezw587benOSqWLIP0Vq3JzaxAd2YNSiGx8j4ugM9Tzf8zNSFOqHHMOTtjMRnAhCo_8cV2Vtfu0YcQqiJqVNti52XxuO9E48nAKA4KDZM_RyXGAuHSSAaE8a7iJEjWxTdDjQE/s4096/gabos2.jpg&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;3069&quot; data-original-width=&quot;4096&quot; height=&quot;480&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE78ps_gTduL9taIX8omJPjrL0lrBozQwLnxIOoJewCIhkT2FTRKMxcL3Ezw587benOSqWLIP0Vq3JzaxAd2YNSiGx8j4ugM9Tzf8zNSFOqHHMOTtjMRnAhCo_8cV2Vtfu0YcQqiJqVNti52XxuO9E48nAKA4KDZM_RyXGAuHSSAaE8a7iJEjWxTdDjQE/w640-h480/gabos2.jpg&quot; width=&quot;640&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #ff00fe; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;ABUJA OFFICES&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;14 WAZIRI IBRAHIM CRESCENT&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;GUDA DISTRICT&amp;nbsp; APO ABUJA&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;-------------&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;GREEN PLAZA BLOCK B&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;SHOP 35-37 &amp;amp;43-45 INFORMAL MARKET&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;(opposite Conoil filling station)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;Behind Art &amp;amp; Culture building&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;Area 10 Garki Abuja&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;Tel 07032201187 &amp;amp; 08032603399&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #fcff01; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;LAGOS OFFICE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;30/31 LADIPO STREETMUNSHIN LAGOS&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;TEL09031669429&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #01ffff; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;SULEJA OFFICE&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;NO. 1 HASSAN DALHATU ROAD&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #04ff00;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;ENUGU OFFICE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;NO.1 OKORIE CLOSE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;NEW HAVEN&amp;nbsp; ENUGU&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;TEL.07068330320&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;OFFICIAL E-MAIL: &lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;gebospress@yahoo.com&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/3344642212888504470/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/3344642212888504470' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/3344642212888504470'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/3344642212888504470'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2025/10/gebos-nigeria-ltd-conquer-papers.html' title='GEBOS NIGERIA LTD. CONQUER PAPERS PREMIUM QUALITY AND MORE'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZcTPS9BDfhhUuswJcifb0KGfQ1giVxhqVDyuxp3p8HpuC1-M18RI7DIogJML8OM8Ag1phJe1UOlm4AZej79ZWwyHFy-yAWgDw2EmlGnolTqKwr4EfsuKKULbiL7gRh66cuj5wKejTiOG1WMy11N1odZ3aZcJL_iy4fr1mzLw8usspIZfkkjhqn9bmf0/s72-w534-h749-c/cd9abd35-e74e-4082-8ced-8838634a422d.jpeg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-8163596684853566012</id><published>2025-07-25T09:16:00.000+02:00</published><updated>2025-07-25T09:16:11.903+02:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="AWGU"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="FAMILY"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="FRIENDS"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NDIAGBOR"/><title type='text'>REST IN PEACE:CHIEF GODFREY U. ACHI (NMKPADIGBO 1 OF NDIAGBOR).</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaNib3jCTZQD__xpy0_6n2phglnDiW_H6Bsb0WiYLAV8yfENZowSoWDKJC0yWRl6CtCPQ8U9nB9zRnyhy0pTiOleRObUu0qej-FzQmmOq_yfkNPL5uyKfF-pe70u4PMclu7ZkdJEkWZJhfHt9KCfNeIUAm422IlIXvuTI2CLqzzqM6n-unJwHhASIfP4/s1080/0e56ccd0-3932-4c01-8261-4854fb65a430.jfif&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;761&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1080&quot; height=&quot;225&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaNib3jCTZQD__xpy0_6n2phglnDiW_H6Bsb0WiYLAV8yfENZowSoWDKJC0yWRl6CtCPQ8U9nB9zRnyhy0pTiOleRObUu0qej-FzQmmOq_yfkNPL5uyKfF-pe70u4PMclu7ZkdJEkWZJhfHt9KCfNeIUAm422IlIXvuTI2CLqzzqM6n-unJwHhASIfP4/w320-h225/0e56ccd0-3932-4c01-8261-4854fb65a430.jfif&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Today the Old Awgu and Enugu state in general say farewell
to one of the last of a generation; The generation of those who fought for our independence, first educationists,&amp;nbsp; post colonial community leaders, disciplinarians more especially noble gentlemen: &lt;span style=&quot;color: #2b00fe;&quot;&gt;CHIEF
GODFREY U. ACHI (NMKPADIGBO 1 OF NDIAGBOR)&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;We thank God Almighty&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;for daddy’s life. A life filled with humility, dedication to humanity, sacrifice
and love for all.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;We shall all miss his gentleness, love and firmness in
discipline.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;May his soul rest in peace .&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Attached below is a Special tribute&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;from the Chukwubikes, Family&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;of Nenwe&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: Arial, &amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;*&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #fcff01;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;A TRIBUTE FROM THE&amp;nbsp; CHUKWUBIKES OF NENWE TO CHIEF GODFREY U. ACHI
(NMKPADIGBO 1 OF NDIAGBOR)&amp;nbsp; ON THE&amp;nbsp; DAY OF&amp;nbsp; HIS BURIAL 26TH JULY
2025*&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;&quot;&gt;It is with&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;mixed feelings of nostalgia, pride, grateful to
God almighty and naturally sadness that we are here witnessing the committing
to mother earth one of the great icons in our family’s (friendship) historical
panorama.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;&quot;&gt;The friendship between Senator M B Chukwubike&amp;nbsp; I suppose&amp;nbsp;
started&amp;nbsp; when they were&amp;nbsp; young teachers more than three quarter of a
century ago. We only remember&amp;nbsp; that&amp;nbsp; the stories&amp;nbsp; they
told&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; whenever they met; and their meetings were&amp;nbsp; always often,&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Right from the time Dad was&amp;nbsp; a senator
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ,&amp;nbsp; Chief&amp;nbsp; Achis’s house&amp;nbsp; was
one of the first calls (amongst a couple others in Ndiagbor) whenever&amp;nbsp; he
returned&amp;nbsp; from the senate sessions in Lagos&amp;nbsp; to share his&amp;nbsp;
experiences and messages from the senate. They would tell stories of their
youth and enjoy them&amp;nbsp;to our amazements.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnI9gL_nSpz_JL71qrt_h-ngWJy36R6gkZe_RG_fcBEJ8PS5708Jri-byUYjJoGdlEK7r3RXpOsV0X12SLDRBXlu42c8nflNZ6-eTaVSdtfFbA25ZV28DK6RRnvEX6APUs3c_exaMRVF3O5tWObaSzcP7ifLHfjP-uBARZKFlK5ka_-LF2lcfHnuJ3E8/s1033/achi.jfif&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1033&quot; data-original-width=&quot;720&quot; height=&quot;400&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnI9gL_nSpz_JL71qrt_h-ngWJy36R6gkZe_RG_fcBEJ8PS5708Jri-byUYjJoGdlEK7r3RXpOsV0X12SLDRBXlu42c8nflNZ6-eTaVSdtfFbA25ZV28DK6RRnvEX6APUs3c_exaMRVF3O5tWObaSzcP7ifLHfjP-uBARZKFlK5ka_-LF2lcfHnuJ3E8/w279-h400/achi.jfif&quot; width=&quot;279&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;&quot;&gt;We always looked forward to visiting his family . He and his wife were
very generous, kind&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;and entertaining though we were always able to
see in him that air and command of high discipline that most Partents’ of that
period and level impacted. He communicated patriotically in a pure Ndiagbor
dialect.&amp;nbsp; I remember he loved&amp;nbsp; tennis and would always visit Nenwe
for a tournament or play one with Dad at St Georges’ court (I suppose ) when we
visited Ndiagbor&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;&quot;&gt;This friendship, mutual respect and alliance continued even in the
dispensation of the local administration of the Division then (Awgu Division
obviously) and the Igbo-etiti which later became our present Aninri .He was
once described by MBC&amp;nbsp; as a very good&amp;nbsp; Peace mediator and an astute
negotiator. If you asked our Dad of a sincere and trustworthy person, Godfrey
Achi or GU&amp;nbsp; (as he used to call him would come up first.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;&quot;&gt;When&amp;nbsp;our mother died in 1999 my father was so desperate,
inconsolable&amp;nbsp; and&amp;nbsp; Chief Achi promptly came to our house ,stayed and
even slept in the same room with Dad giving him a great solidarity and
psychological support you can only get from a loved one or someone who lived
growth stories with you . Throughout the burial period&amp;nbsp; he&amp;nbsp; appeared
in the pictures and video always behind Dad ,reassuring him and tapping his
shoulder always like a boy .He continued to visit intermittently. His cajole
and stories of girls both of them &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;would
have married are still reminiscent in my memory. These are actions and stories
of friendship&amp;nbsp;that are priceless.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: Arial, &amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;&quot;&gt;Daddy&amp;nbsp; and you nurtured and assured&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;the friendship was
passed on and&amp;nbsp; continued, thus &amp;nbsp; in 1971 when your son Emmanuel and
Cousin Tobias&amp;nbsp; came to school in Awgu County Secondary school &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Nenwe. He (Emmanuel) automatically became my
best friend till date and was &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;also &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;adopted by my parents&amp;nbsp; for&amp;nbsp; the&amp;nbsp;
5 years stay in Nenwe. I can also say the same of&amp;nbsp; your daughter Christy
who has continued to be in great contact with me and&amp;nbsp; all my sisters.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;&quot;&gt;As we bid&amp;nbsp; you farewell we&amp;nbsp; solemnly promise&amp;nbsp; to
continue&amp;nbsp; with this solid foundation of love and friendship laid&amp;nbsp; by
you people many&amp;nbsp; decades ago.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;&quot;&gt;May you noble soul rest in peace.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: &amp;quot;Arial&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;From;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #222222; font-family: Arial, &amp;quot;sans-serif&amp;quot;; font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;Chief (Senator) M.B Chukwubikes&#39;&amp;nbsp; Family&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/8163596684853566012/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/8163596684853566012' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/8163596684853566012'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/8163596684853566012'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2025/07/rest-in-peacechief-godfrey-u-achi.html' title='REST IN PEACE:CHIEF GODFREY U. ACHI (NMKPADIGBO 1 OF NDIAGBOR).'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaNib3jCTZQD__xpy0_6n2phglnDiW_H6Bsb0WiYLAV8yfENZowSoWDKJC0yWRl6CtCPQ8U9nB9zRnyhy0pTiOleRObUu0qej-FzQmmOq_yfkNPL5uyKfF-pe70u4PMclu7ZkdJEkWZJhfHt9KCfNeIUAm422IlIXvuTI2CLqzzqM6n-unJwHhASIfP4/s72-w320-h225-c/0e56ccd0-3932-4c01-8261-4854fb65a430.jfif" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-1742099477812580625</id><published>2025-07-16T11:09:00.000+02:00</published><updated>2025-07-16T11:09:13.826+02:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="GHANA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="IGBO"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="WEST AFRICA"/><title type='text'>NIGERIA (IGBO) MUST GO : GHANA,THE MANIPULATION</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSqgetFfQwEDYkOKtvsUuCpHy4EH38RzZ2DbBu44DltM8GgQtB0S7G4N5j64MKdObqqw11vcX46mK2qmsES2Bu8EgQ9Bey6AG5eM1Eyk5VxwcKjTyFoWoUbzr6YuQnfHE7xmHlqS9L3XugloBoejB_nUrxfbHezme2kfb0eTLq28vAPTTLPJ8smmDdtA/s727/Nigeria-Ghana.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;465&quot; data-original-width=&quot;727&quot; height=&quot;205&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSqgetFfQwEDYkOKtvsUuCpHy4EH38RzZ2DbBu44DltM8GgQtB0S7G4N5j64MKdObqqw11vcX46mK2qmsES2Bu8EgQ9Bey6AG5eM1Eyk5VxwcKjTyFoWoUbzr6YuQnfHE7xmHlqS9L3XugloBoejB_nUrxfbHezme2kfb0eTLq28vAPTTLPJ8smmDdtA/s320/Nigeria-Ghana.jpg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;THE GATHERING STORM&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;GHANA,THE INTRIGUE TO HATE &amp;amp; HARM&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Many Ghanaian groups are inflaming the social media especially &lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #fcff01;&quot;&gt;TikTok&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;with &lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;incitements to&amp;nbsp; hate &amp;amp; violence against Igbo people &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;of Nigeria&amp;nbsp; and their businesses in Ghana because&amp;nbsp; of a miscommunication of ideas in a 13 years old video made by an Igbo businessman resident in Ghana!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Ironically these cries of violence against Igbos and the general &lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #ffe599;&quot;&gt;igbo-phobia&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; are &lt;b&gt;fuelled&amp;nbsp; and amplified by many &lt;span style=&quot;color: #0b5394;&quot;&gt;Yoruba platforms&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt; who have become the proverbial &lt;i&gt;&quot;mourners crying more than the bereaved&quot;&lt;/i&gt; and&amp;nbsp; are vigorously transforming &lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #f9cb9c;&quot;&gt;Tik Tok to radio RTLM &amp;amp; radio Rwanda&lt;/span&gt; that we all know fanned the&amp;nbsp; embers&amp;nbsp; of the genocide in Rwanda .&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tik Tok should&amp;nbsp; be more proactive&amp;nbsp; in stopping being used&amp;nbsp; as ugly agents&amp;nbsp; or by anyone to cause&amp;nbsp; harm.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Government of Ghana we are sure will not permit the attack on anyone or any form of breaking down of law and order in Ghana.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Igbo community is also advised&amp;nbsp; to &#39;lower their voices&#39; be humble as usual and use correct languages on their hosts at all times :&amp;nbsp; a must in the Igbo cosmology, culture&amp;nbsp; and way of life.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;One asks : is it not curious that a video made in the public glare 13 years ago resurface this year to cause this issues? Ask yourself again: Are there things we don&#39;t know?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw57PaiTNyKKHJSgf8EyNQM7yqMxwlxPBnFpVxGzXw7r1le2ms73Ff0i0J_jsTur2b5mAfetip_rbRwn2d1kSrQB9Gkae6E0FqGJ5bvKhlT-KFAwB0rYMGvhp83D6Sj0G4NQ99cd8c1-FJeY29aMvBX5nCRPsY9yoLhvT5UPAyP_gP0KuJFd8PR0EWbWI/s686/hq720.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;386&quot; data-original-width=&quot;686&quot; height=&quot;181&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw57PaiTNyKKHJSgf8EyNQM7yqMxwlxPBnFpVxGzXw7r1le2ms73Ff0i0J_jsTur2b5mAfetip_rbRwn2d1kSrQB9Gkae6E0FqGJ5bvKhlT-KFAwB0rYMGvhp83D6Sj0G4NQ99cd8c1-FJeY29aMvBX5nCRPsY9yoLhvT5UPAyP_gP0KuJFd8PR0EWbWI/w320-h181/hq720.jpg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;We ask Ghanaians to pardon&amp;nbsp; whatever misunderstanding or wrong communication etc&amp;nbsp; with their&amp;nbsp; Igbo guests and&amp;nbsp; to as always use civil dialogue&amp;nbsp; as brothers&amp;nbsp; to resolve issues.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I am&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Charles O Chukwubike&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;chukwubike@gmail.com&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;(Multicultural Mediator)&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;(Member CREIFOS Rome)&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/1742099477812580625/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/1742099477812580625' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/1742099477812580625'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/1742099477812580625'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2025/07/nigeria-igbo-must-go-ghanathe.html' title='NIGERIA (IGBO) MUST GO : GHANA,THE MANIPULATION'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSqgetFfQwEDYkOKtvsUuCpHy4EH38RzZ2DbBu44DltM8GgQtB0S7G4N5j64MKdObqqw11vcX46mK2qmsES2Bu8EgQ9Bey6AG5eM1Eyk5VxwcKjTyFoWoUbzr6YuQnfHE7xmHlqS9L3XugloBoejB_nUrxfbHezme2kfb0eTLq28vAPTTLPJ8smmDdtA/s72-c/Nigeria-Ghana.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-4065786415690368555</id><published>2025-05-30T22:52:00.003+02:00</published><updated>2025-05-30T22:53:05.254+02:00</updated><title type='text'>OJUKWUS&#39;  LAST SPEECH IN BIAFRA </title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb7LDmG6nekQal4BiIj6Doq1qJXYPqf3lf0zV4SfBYvVTK-QPF0jq8V8P-v7jYsx5t_V7fvRyn0dQCmBVbLzdlg_0xOrhzXAxn6pP257NKXWbU-NZVtIDVjP0t1dLutu4FnHpMfsXu-1MIu0UMjZA-RrlaB77o53mQQacglH6VIx5lUetSzRkY71vQFI/s720/1000360863.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;565&quot; data-original-width=&quot;720&quot; height=&quot;251&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb7LDmG6nekQal4BiIj6Doq1qJXYPqf3lf0zV4SfBYvVTK-QPF0jq8V8P-v7jYsx5t_V7fvRyn0dQCmBVbLzdlg_0xOrhzXAxn6pP257NKXWbU-NZVtIDVjP0t1dLutu4FnHpMfsXu-1MIu0UMjZA-RrlaB77o53mQQacglH6VIx5lUetSzRkY71vQFI/s320/1000360863.jpg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu gave his last speech as Biafran Head-of-State before leaving for Côte d&#39;Ivoire, on this date. On that occasion, he said:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;“In the three years of the war, necessity gave birth to invention. During those three years of heroic bound, we leapt across the great chasm that separates knowledge from know-how. We built rockets, and we designed and built our own delivery systems. We guided our rockets. We guided them far, we guided them accurately.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;For three years, blockaded without hope of import, we maintained all our vehicles. The state extracted and refined petrol, individuals refined petrol in their back gardens. We built and maintained our airports, maintained them under heavy bombardment.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Despite the heavy bombardment, we recovered so quickly after each raid that we were able to maintain the record for the busiest airport in the continent of Africa. We spoke to the world through telecommunication system engineered by local ingenuity; the world heard us and spoke back to us! We built armoured car tanks. We modified aircraft from trainer to fighters, from passenger aircraft to bombers. In the three years of freedom we had broken the technological barrier.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Credit: Historical Nigeria&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/4065786415690368555/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/4065786415690368555' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/4065786415690368555'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/4065786415690368555'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2025/05/ojukwus-last-speech-in-biafra.html' title='OJUKWUS&#39;  LAST SPEECH IN BIAFRA '/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWb7LDmG6nekQal4BiIj6Doq1qJXYPqf3lf0zV4SfBYvVTK-QPF0jq8V8P-v7jYsx5t_V7fvRyn0dQCmBVbLzdlg_0xOrhzXAxn6pP257NKXWbU-NZVtIDVjP0t1dLutu4FnHpMfsXu-1MIu0UMjZA-RrlaB77o53mQQacglH6VIx5lUetSzRkY71vQFI/s72-c/1000360863.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-5373583688936380263</id><published>2025-05-30T22:00:00.004+02:00</published><updated>2025-05-30T22:00:47.285+02:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="BIAFRA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="WAR"/><title type='text'>THE LETTER FROM OJUKWU TO BANJO </title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #f6f6ec; font-family: &amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &amp;quot;Segoe UI&amp;quot;, Roboto, Ubuntu, &amp;quot;Helvetica Neue&amp;quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8mnNMnwyKOl40fKyLE3EltSq3exFDVyEnlOKX_T2tv7zAURVY2kKDprXqiBE_mw_JIZJ43npiZ9KV3iPaxAO_gogVA6C7xyMP67EN81Aol4l3KTvww4r583-OA8i11WiRm_4zOec64F3B0koiIVZj9GRTmgztdjd1R1VvVhX4-jY_dWD5ugWai8j_h8/s720/1000360786.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;518&quot; data-original-width=&quot;720&quot; height=&quot;288&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8mnNMnwyKOl40fKyLE3EltSq3exFDVyEnlOKX_T2tv7zAURVY2kKDprXqiBE_mw_JIZJ43npiZ9KV3iPaxAO_gogVA6C7xyMP67EN81Aol4l3KTvww4r583-OA8i11WiRm_4zOec64F3B0koiIVZj9GRTmgztdjd1R1VvVhX4-jY_dWD5ugWai8j_h8/w400-h288/1000360786.jpg&quot; width=&quot;400&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Many people dont know who Brigadier General Hillary Njoku is but he was the first GOC of the Biafran Army until he fell out with Ojukwu and was replaced by General Madiebo. After the war ended, Njoku wrote a book called &quot;Tragedy without heroes&quot; in which he wrote about his military career and time as commander of the Biafran Army. He also attached to his book the appointment letter Ojukwu wrote to late Victor Banjo giving him control of Biafran forces to liberate Western Nigeria from the North. The explosive letter is below:&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br style=&quot;background-color: #f6f6ec; font-family: &amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &amp;quot;Segoe UI&amp;quot;, Roboto, Ubuntu, &amp;quot;Helvetica Neue&amp;quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;&quot; /&gt;&lt;i style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;, system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &amp;quot;Segoe UI&amp;quot;, Roboto, Ubuntu, &amp;quot;Helvetica Neue&amp;quot;, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;background-color: #f6f6ec; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; width: 382px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div align=&quot;right&quot; style=&quot;font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;22nd August 1967&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #f6f6ec;&quot;&gt;My dear Victor&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #f6f6ec;&quot;&gt;(1) For sometime now, you and I have been discussing the circumstances Which have led to the current and inevitable disintegration of what was the Federation of Nigeria. We have been fully convinced that the aim of the Hausa/Fulani complex has ever been, and will ever remain the total domination of every other part of what was known as the Federation of Nigeria. It is impossible to forget that the crisis which led to the army takeover in January 1966, the coup of the Northern Soldiers Ied by Gowon in July 1966, the wholesale and indiscriminate massacre of the people of what is now Biafra and to a less degree, the people of the Mid-west and West, including the Yorubas - were all the direct result of the Hausa/Fulani attempt to subjugate and use us as tools, the gallant people of Western Nigeria, namely the Yorubas. We do not need to remind ourselves of the heavy losses in life and property suffered by the Yoruba people in their fight for justice and freedom during 1965.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #f6f6ec;&quot;&gt;2. Sharing our belief that the people of Yorubaland have a right to live a life of equality, self-respect and justice, free of domination and dictatorship from any quarter, you have both identified yourself with the cause of the Biafran struggle for survival and expressed your determination to see the people of Yorubaland freed from Hausa/Fulani domination. We, the people of Biafra, for our part are willing and have decided to give you and the people of Yorubaland every assistance to achieve your aim.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #f6f6ec;&quot;&gt;3. After clearing the whole question with my Executive Council, I, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Biafra Armed Forces, have decided to place at your disposal Biafran forces for the liberation of Yorubaland on the following clear conditions:-&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #fcff01;&quot;&gt;(i)You will have nothing to do with the Military Administration of the Mid-west Territory during your sojourn there prior to your move to the West.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(ii) The willingness and preparedness of Biafra to assist any part of the former Federation of Nigeria wishing and willing to liberate itself from the Hausa/Fulani domination, does not in any way whatever imply any inclination on her part to compromise her sovereignty or preserve what remains of the defunct Federation of Nigeria. In other words, our sovereignty and break with what used to be known as Nigeria are complete and irrevocable. Nothing must, therefore, be said or done by you or any member of the Liberation Army to give a contrary impression.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(iii) Biafra is determined to maintain and safeguard her sovereignty, and ensure that her integrity are never again threatend.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(iv) Biafran troops will, after the liberation of Yorubaland, remain in that territory only for as long as we in Biafra consider it necessary for the Yorubas to consolidate their position and sovereignty against any external threat.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(v) On the liberation of Yorubaland, you will be appointed Military Governor of that territory.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(vi) The liberation of Western Nigeria will be a prelude to the liberation of all Yorubas up to the River Niger and the severance of all connections between the West and the North at Jebba.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(Vii) during the period of Biafra troops presence in your territory, all political measures, statements or decrees shall be subject to the approval in writting, by myself or on my authority.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(Viii) Should our troops arrive and liberate Lagos, the Government of the Republic of Biafra reserves the right to appoint an administrator for that territory. Such an Administrator will remain in office until a merger of that territory with Yorubaland is effected and Biafran troops withdrawn.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(ix) As soon as possible after your appointment as the Military Governor of Western Nigeria and the separation of that territory from Nigeria, you and I must meet to discuss:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(a) The duration of stay by Biafran troops in your territory.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(b) The areas and subjects of co-operation between the liberated state of Western Nigeria, or by what name it may call itself, and Biafra.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(4) I do not need to remind you that Biafra regards all Yorubas as friends. As such, everything must be done, to ensure that the minimum force and loss of life are involved in achieving the objective of liberation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(5) It is essential, in order to avoid misunderstanding or confusion, that all subsequent requests for support be formally made to me by you in writing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;(6) Will you please signify, in writing, your acceptance of the above conditions so that you may leave for Western Nigeria and lead the Army of Liberation.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yours very sincerely&lt;br /&gt;Sigd: Lt. Col. C. Odumegwu Ojukwu&lt;br /&gt;Military Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Biafran Armed Forces.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #f6f6ec;&quot;&gt;Brigadier Victor Banjo Enugu,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #f6f6ec; font-size: 14.6667px;&quot;&gt;Copy to: The Senior Biafra Army Officer Liberation Army to the West&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/5373583688936380263/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/5373583688936380263' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/5373583688936380263'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/5373583688936380263'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-letter-from-ojukwu-to-banjo.html' title='THE LETTER FROM OJUKWU TO BANJO '/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8mnNMnwyKOl40fKyLE3EltSq3exFDVyEnlOKX_T2tv7zAURVY2kKDprXqiBE_mw_JIZJ43npiZ9KV3iPaxAO_gogVA6C7xyMP67EN81Aol4l3KTvww4r583-OA8i11WiRm_4zOec64F3B0koiIVZj9GRTmgztdjd1R1VvVhX4-jY_dWD5ugWai8j_h8/s72-w400-h288-c/1000360786.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-4204100685140849346</id><published>2025-02-25T17:11:00.003+01:00</published><updated>2025-02-25T17:11:19.450+01:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Pope.Vatican"/><title type='text'>WHEN A POPE DIES..</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWyCaQQ3xPCJHjzwoqUauZKnVyVpTS_GfTydbkMg9FrO-ldyY8795S1YB06U4osIgqswKKxHDB6Xn9KV1qc-2BcqJ5SBPTEdlIOCce9fVHgPKOjzDe26i8aGiZD3RBV5wQeYD_7fmA8b85uMdl6643rI2WToaC9-nPe2TxoAP7dQBMvv-Gf2D9EOUo0Y/s1209/1000220487.png&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1209&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1080&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWyCaQQ3xPCJHjzwoqUauZKnVyVpTS_GfTydbkMg9FrO-ldyY8795S1YB06U4osIgqswKKxHDB6Xn9KV1qc-2BcqJ5SBPTEdlIOCce9fVHgPKOjzDe26i8aGiZD3RBV5wQeYD_7fmA8b85uMdl6643rI2WToaC9-nPe2TxoAP7dQBMvv-Gf2D9EOUo0Y/s320/1000220487.png&quot; width=&quot;286&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;With Pope Francis remaining in a critical condition in hospital, millions of Catholics are praying that he will recover.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Vatican offered hope today by saying there has been a &#39;slight improvement&#39; in the condition of the Pontiff, who was admitted on Valentine&#39;s Day with an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;But the plight of the Argentine has prompted discussion about what will happen when the worst news does come.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;After the death of a pope, their funeral will take place a maximum of six days later, during which time their body lies in state in St Peter&#39;s Basilica.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Conclave - where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor - will not happen for at least 15 days from the day of the pope&#39;s passing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Vatican Chamberlain, currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will first certify officially that the Pope is dead by calling his name three times at his bedside.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Pope&#39;s office and private apartments will be sealed and the papal fisherman&#39;s ring removed from his finger and broken with a hammer.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The body of the Pope will then be dressed in red robes with a white mitre on his head, and he will be taken to St Peter&#39;s Basilica to lie in state for three days.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;How Pope Francis’s successor will be chosen&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The College of Cardinals will meet in Rome to choose a successor to&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Pope Francis I. The conclave follows precise rules - only cardinals&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;aged under 80 are allowed to vote. The ballot will not take place for&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;at least 15 days, after nine days of official mourning. In the interim, a&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;cardinal known as the camerlengo, or chamberlain, becomes interim chief with limited powers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Who will be voting?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Of the 252 living cardinals, 138 are under 80 and are therefore eligible to vote in the conclave.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Who will be voting?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Of the 252 living cardinals, 138 are under 80 and are therefore eligible to vote in the conclave.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Inside the Sistine Chapel&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The cardinals are locked inside the chapel without electronic&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;devices or newspapers. Each cardinal secretly fills in the name of his&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;preferred candidate. In order of seniority, they walk to the altar and place it in an urn.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;In contrast to most of his predecessors - Francis revealed in 2023 that he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome&#39;s Esquilino neighbourhood, rather than with most of his predecessors in the grottoes beneath St Peter&#39;s.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Only cardinals who are aged 80 and under - so 138 of 252 currently - can vote in the conclave.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Cardinals will be locked inside the Chapel without access to technology or the outside world until a new pope is chosen by two-thirds majority.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The previous conclave - when Pope Benedict stepped down in 2013 - took just a day, but technically they can last weeks, months or even years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;XxXxxxxx&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;In modern times, they have tended to only last a few days. If after around two weeks of balloting no new pope has been chosen, cardinals can opt for a majority vote.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The conclave&#39;s first day begins with the &#39;Pro eligendo Romano Pontificie&#39; Mass for the election of a Pope.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;white-space: pre;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;	&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;After the death of a pope, their funeral will take place a maximum of six days later, during which time their body lies in state in St Peter&#39;s Basilica.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Conclave - where cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to choose a successor - will not happen for at least 15 days from the day of the pope&#39;s passing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Vatican Chamberlain, currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will first certify officially that the Pope is dead by calling his name three times at his bedside.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Advertisement&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Pope&#39;s office and private apartments will be sealed and the papal fisherman&#39;s ring removed from his finger and broken with a hammer.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The body of the Pope will then be dressed in red robes with a white mitre on his head, and he will be taken to St Peter&#39;s Basilica to lie in state for three days.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;In contrast to most of his predecessors - Francis revealed in 2023 that he will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome&#39;s Esquilino neighbourhood, rather than with most of his predecessors in the grottoes beneath St Peter&#39;s.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Only cardinals who are aged 80 and under - so 138 of 252 currently - can vote in the conclave.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Cardinals will be locked inside the Chapel without access to technology or the outside world until a new pope is chosen by two-thirds majority.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The previous conclave - when Pope Benedict stepped down in 2013 - took just a day, but technically they can last weeks, months or even years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;In modern times, they have tended to only last a few days. If after around two weeks of balloting no new pope has been chosen, cardinals can opt for a majority vote.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The conclave&#39;s first day begins with the &#39;Pro eligendo Romano Pontificie&#39; Mass for the election of a pope.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Advertisement&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Cardinals will gather in the afternoon in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace and then file into the Sistine Chapel.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;As they do so, they will chant the Litany of Saints and the Latin hymn Veni Creator, which implores the saints and the Holy Spirit to help them in their decision.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Conclave will take place in the Sistine Chapel. Above: Cardinals on the first day of the Conclave in 2013, after the resignation of Benedict&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;+&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Conclave will take place in the Sistine Chapel. Above: Cardinals on the first day of the Conclave in 2013, after the resignation of Benedict&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Pope Francis addressing the faithful form the balcony of St Peter&#39;s Basilica after being chosen as the new pontiff, Standing under Michelangelo&#39;s &#39;Creation&#39; and before his &#39;Last Judgment,&#39; each cardinal places his hand on the Gospels and pledges &#39;with the greatest fidelity&#39; never to reveal the details of the conclave.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;A meditation on the qualities needed for the next pope and the challenges ahead for the church is delivered by Maltese Cardinal Prosper Grech.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Advertisement&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The master of liturgical celebrations then cries &#39;Extra omnes&#39;, Latin for &#39;all out.&#39;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Everyone except the cardinals then leaves and the voting can begin.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Each cardinal writes his choice on a piece of paper inscribed with the words &#39;Eligo in summen pontificem,&#39; (I elect as Supreme Pontiff).&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;One by one, they approach the altar and say: &#39;I call as my witness, Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The folded ballot is placed on a round plate and slid into an oval silver and gold urn.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;In the past, a single chalice was used to hold the ballots.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;In line with tradition, Benedict lay in state inside St Peter&#39;s Basilica (above, January 2023) and was then buried in a crypt underneath the building. Pope Francis will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome&#39;s Esquilino neighbourhood&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;In line with tradition, Benedict lay in state inside St Peter&#39;s Basilica (above, January 2023) and was then buried in a crypt underneath the building. Pope Francis will be buried in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome&#39;s Esquilino neighbourhood&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;What happens with Pope leadership when he becomes incapacitated?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;But conclave changes made by Pope John Paul II in 1996 required three vessels: one for chapel ballots, another for ailing cardinals at the Vatican who can vote from their beds and the third to hold the ballots after counting.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Outside, in St Peter&#39;s Square, tens of thousands of Catholics will be watching - along with millions more on television around the world - to see smoke emerging from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel after each voting round.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Black smoke means no decision has been reached, white smoke means a new pope has been selected.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The smoke arises from the burned ballots, and a dye is added to make sure the smoke is the right colour each time.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Once the cardinals have chosen from among their number the master of liturgical ceremonies will enter the Sistine Chapel.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The prospective choice will be asked: &#39;Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?&#39;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Assuming they say, &#39;I accept&#39;, the cardinal will then be asked by what name they wish to be known.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The new pope will then be given their iconic white cassock, before each cardinal approaches him to swear obedience.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;(Copied)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnofXU4Or1I7ra621fTx4DL2UojayynTR9SxPuJOxdSQBivI8Jid2iv4jQ3ZMtYypDCUvPYpAy29TWFvI4JtYBGuFSnT3tv9ogKURrllVHpjRm2_T7OyZlK8hheBr0V4BIuxDrhviIT1nw0IDB_2NFkn1InOJ5a3Gn7N6UL374jh7UWVcI0Ng-AKG8GgU/s1662/1000220494.png&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1662&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1080&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnofXU4Or1I7ra621fTx4DL2UojayynTR9SxPuJOxdSQBivI8Jid2iv4jQ3ZMtYypDCUvPYpAy29TWFvI4JtYBGuFSnT3tv9ogKURrllVHpjRm2_T7OyZlK8hheBr0V4BIuxDrhviIT1nw0IDB_2NFkn1InOJ5a3Gn7N6UL374jh7UWVcI0Ng-AKG8GgU/s320/1000220494.png&quot; width=&quot;208&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIchhTSG-9WsHAc2zf6JMlDACQcnn_gXG3HHDanlEqvXBUR7u5JEGW7QrPzx_4NL9h8lb-b4ZQARRNZMlN1XqESJll1jn64jRMi5ucEZBSGAk7dtC4NbC-DjK7XUNe0oMQt7GOzufiY-BdFsxqGkyK0YoRtrZ_1VhlYrVtBJpwqGNSTc4BSolZVsuJX0/s1209/1000220487.png&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1209&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1080&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIchhTSG-9WsHAc2zf6JMlDACQcnn_gXG3HHDanlEqvXBUR7u5JEGW7QrPzx_4NL9h8lb-b4ZQARRNZMlN1XqESJll1jn64jRMi5ucEZBSGAk7dtC4NbC-DjK7XUNe0oMQt7GOzufiY-BdFsxqGkyK0YoRtrZ_1VhlYrVtBJpwqGNSTc4BSolZVsuJX0/s320/1000220487.png&quot; width=&quot;286&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/4204100685140849346/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/4204100685140849346' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/4204100685140849346'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/4204100685140849346'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2025/02/when-pope-dies.html' title='WHEN A POPE DIES..'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWyCaQQ3xPCJHjzwoqUauZKnVyVpTS_GfTydbkMg9FrO-ldyY8795S1YB06U4osIgqswKKxHDB6Xn9KV1qc-2BcqJ5SBPTEdlIOCce9fVHgPKOjzDe26i8aGiZD3RBV5wQeYD_7fmA8b85uMdl6643rI2WToaC9-nPe2TxoAP7dQBMvv-Gf2D9EOUo0Y/s72-c/1000220487.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-81301598756720352</id><published>2024-12-16T14:54:00.001+01:00</published><updated>2024-12-16T14:54:23.953+01:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="CHARLIE.MBC"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="MY NENWE"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NENWE"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="STORIES"/><title type='text'>WHY DON&#39;T WE PLANT THESE CROPS</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw03dxU2-SwAGAlS0gLLBJNagXqS3Jkuf7HeuS6FpOq6dL7TMTbQzkay_VDhyM5UcpKlOleVfQ2hciIT3Sq96H_CFk9qdKjzooMenLQwqT3iwsFcYphNS3dgHLUqD9u73ETQqZgNJOv4uC83CXJ61OqmrcO5Y2QcIEOWf6XLhR_xpWMRVVZv6sI5vCLYM/s1000/1000142300.webp&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1000&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1000&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw03dxU2-SwAGAlS0gLLBJNagXqS3Jkuf7HeuS6FpOq6dL7TMTbQzkay_VDhyM5UcpKlOleVfQ2hciIT3Sq96H_CFk9qdKjzooMenLQwqT3iwsFcYphNS3dgHLUqD9u73ETQqZgNJOv4uC83CXJ61OqmrcO5Y2QcIEOWf6XLhR_xpWMRVVZv6sI5vCLYM/s320/1000142300.webp&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It bothers me a lot when some fundamental items become so scarce at home and everyone is crying and begging the northerners .&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;This was the case of &lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #01ffff;&quot;&gt;cucumber&lt;/span&gt; until some Nenwe families in the 2000s were forced&amp;nbsp; to relocate at home by BH then they tried planting the crop .Bingo!.it grew very well at home ..Right now it will soon become one of our &#39;Nenwe&amp;nbsp; export&#39; crops if the security agencies prevent the new wave of&amp;nbsp; Fulani herdsmen destructions anyway.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Now it is the *&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #01ffff;&quot;&gt;Onions&lt;/span&gt;* that has become gold to the southerner.Maybe we are waiting for another emergency to force us to plant them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;We are in a rain tropical area&amp;nbsp; blessed with different soils and altitudes therefore Capable of growing almost all sorts of crops. During the war when the North severed relationships with us we grew more *88) and &quot;ahadja oghe ogologo* (denominated Biafran Beans ). This beans is now going into extinction&amp;nbsp; and will invariably affect the popular *&lt;b&gt;igbagidi Nenwe&lt;/b&gt;* that people come from far to buy. You didn&#39;t&amp;nbsp; know this kwa?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Our soil right from Enugu to some parts of Nenwe some parts.of&amp;nbsp; upper lands of Mgbowo and Ndiagbor and Awgu will be good for these plants. I cannot say much about Oduma because of water logging of the soil. Agric specialists can say better.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;However it is a plant that you can grow in your house inside sacks and buckets instead of crying because of Ndi ùgwù..&amp;nbsp; I planted two pepper 🌶️ plants in two differents pots on a balcony and had more pepper we needed in a family of 5 for the&amp;nbsp; two Consecutive years they were there . The same with onions. My temp&amp;nbsp; tenant from Nike planted *ogwume* (which is a weed&amp;nbsp; in Italy though) and had to give out some .&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;What I wonder and most people overseas wonder is what has happened to the hands of most of our people at home.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;While growing up in Nenwe Carrots and onions were grown in Nenwe precisely at county by one *&lt;b&gt;Charlie Okụkụ&lt;/b&gt;* . Charles okụkụ was the agric fellow of County sec.school that kept a poultry in the &#39;60s which fed the students. He also planted these crops which we thought he used *magic ndi collage* (tech)&amp;nbsp; to grow at a altitude of HRH Ifeanatus home going towards the road to Obulorum but before&amp;nbsp; the lower lands and swamps near the ebọ that were always easily flooded and waterlogged. Anyone Enya ruru ali may remember this poultry and farms in the late 60s.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;It&#39;s just a shame we always lose initiatives at home and find reasons through&amp;nbsp; inconceivable things,persons and situations.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I shall post on the Nenweonlie University methods how you can grow your own onions in Nenwe within 100 days.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Good morning.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;charlie.mbc@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/81301598756720352/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/81301598756720352' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/81301598756720352'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/81301598756720352'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2024/12/why-dont-we-plant-these-crops.html' title='WHY DON&#39;T WE PLANT THESE CROPS'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw03dxU2-SwAGAlS0gLLBJNagXqS3Jkuf7HeuS6FpOq6dL7TMTbQzkay_VDhyM5UcpKlOleVfQ2hciIT3Sq96H_CFk9qdKjzooMenLQwqT3iwsFcYphNS3dgHLUqD9u73ETQqZgNJOv4uC83CXJ61OqmrcO5Y2QcIEOWf6XLhR_xpWMRVVZv6sI5vCLYM/s72-c/1000142300.webp" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-3648846005383764290</id><published>2024-12-15T08:42:00.005+01:00</published><updated>2024-12-15T08:59:58.485+01:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="CHUKWUBIKE"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NENWE WHO IS WHO"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NIGERIA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="POLITICS"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="SENATOR MB CHUKWUBIKE"/><title type='text'>EXACTLY 60 YEARS 9 MONTHS AGO SENATOR M B CHUKWUBIKE SAID IN THE PARLIAMENT...</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;table cellpadding=&quot;0&quot; cellspacing=&quot;0&quot; class=&quot;tr-caption-container&quot; style=&quot;float: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2WDbmDmsu8D5qH_It2uT0FCsKC89nCyCe0E71v-GgcoxC59ux-zshojHty8z83r9r2BdU59q6yXA_s7ieWuSJ5yuffWDqP46R-cjnqi-I2n9kn7Tpiney-L3w0yln_MxSxvoTtEvqAhuY97WYFH9O0Ub5nf5i4bkVS19l2YoD7ueMcZ0IhNrpQewds8/s960/mbc.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;960&quot; data-original-width=&quot;621&quot; height=&quot;400&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2WDbmDmsu8D5qH_It2uT0FCsKC89nCyCe0E71v-GgcoxC59ux-zshojHty8z83r9r2BdU59q6yXA_s7ieWuSJ5yuffWDqP46R-cjnqi-I2n9kn7Tpiney-L3w0yln_MxSxvoTtEvqAhuY97WYFH9O0Ub5nf5i4bkVS19l2YoD7ueMcZ0IhNrpQewds8/w258-h400/mbc.jpg&quot; width=&quot;258&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td class=&quot;tr-caption&quot; style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;Senator MB Chukwubike&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;AFTER 60 YEARS OF&amp;nbsp; THESE MOTIONS, ADVICES AND MONITORS,&amp;nbsp; WHERE ARE WE NOW IN NIGERIA &amp;amp; AFRICA?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCGvVBLZkzBRnqxMlQ849asH6p-nQ56lpm2o0FQdcIDGs6FZX2U3xfJSALvTT9FIEVHVVZ64et9DW8cEd3hEc2qcpUl5dpFYZB8lbJu5Tp6ZayZE72vxg0Ab06JbDifS61_4pRKNcVRQBKN-qgOksanVAw5Fsvbz-ZkaZUzOIaVtYZ-NwKnbL-M4y_EY/s1746/WhatsApp%20Image%202024-12-15%20at%2007.29.06.jpeg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1746&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1072&quot; height=&quot;725&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCGvVBLZkzBRnqxMlQ849asH6p-nQ56lpm2o0FQdcIDGs6FZX2U3xfJSALvTT9FIEVHVVZ64et9DW8cEd3hEc2qcpUl5dpFYZB8lbJu5Tp6ZayZE72vxg0Ab06JbDifS61_4pRKNcVRQBKN-qgOksanVAw5Fsvbz-ZkaZUzOIaVtYZ-NwKnbL-M4y_EY/w628-h725/WhatsApp%20Image%202024-12-15%20at%2007.29.06.jpeg&quot; width=&quot;628&quot; /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXef0ONaf5YDTe61c0GbwHOihaz2XpyZo0Aq-XNEM1Ws_qhbSOBhFs9rDvsTYDpr3AAlrs7HrUXLGB6JUsV8Z0HcR7SvheGtZGYQ_Sw_Jz67J8Hx7sUPWrBWBV_THsnOcP6wwqSGOmxnQrtUgNfg2HapE5MVhn7oxaOklDV7o2FOd_jOqYBV6BP2asEM/s1771/WhatsApp%20Image%202024-12-15%20at%2007.29.06%20(1).jpeg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1771&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1080&quot; height=&quot;719&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXef0ONaf5YDTe61c0GbwHOihaz2XpyZo0Aq-XNEM1Ws_qhbSOBhFs9rDvsTYDpr3AAlrs7HrUXLGB6JUsV8Z0HcR7SvheGtZGYQ_Sw_Jz67J8Hx7sUPWrBWBV_THsnOcP6wwqSGOmxnQrtUgNfg2HapE5MVhn7oxaOklDV7o2FOd_jOqYBV6BP2asEM/w626-h719/WhatsApp%20Image%202024-12-15%20at%2007.29.06%20(1).jpeg&quot; width=&quot;626&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/3648846005383764290/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/3648846005383764290' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/3648846005383764290'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/3648846005383764290'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2024/12/exactly-60-years-9-months-ago-senetaor.html' title='EXACTLY 60 YEARS 9 MONTHS AGO SENATOR M B CHUKWUBIKE SAID IN THE PARLIAMENT...'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2WDbmDmsu8D5qH_It2uT0FCsKC89nCyCe0E71v-GgcoxC59ux-zshojHty8z83r9r2BdU59q6yXA_s7ieWuSJ5yuffWDqP46R-cjnqi-I2n9kn7Tpiney-L3w0yln_MxSxvoTtEvqAhuY97WYFH9O0Ub5nf5i4bkVS19l2YoD7ueMcZ0IhNrpQewds8/s72-w258-h400-c/mbc.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-6703854117555379985</id><published>2024-12-02T10:50:00.003+01:00</published><updated>2024-12-13T04:11:05.086+01:00</updated><title type='text'>APPRECIATIONS FROM CHARLES O. CHUKWUBIKE </title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCloPa5zZl75_hMvZWVMjd341n1Y1Zi0zS3wkf6e_kbkErYsgDB2Sdni6Uwm_1bjLO5nMnNjLBbobrCAQLT0qepnTjBFb5bzAQ2NTppHwZhCJX2qwCUOaV2-cAoOmo6clPccqoxx0QwzGufNaKhY7iX1pfBmkGyT8st9_oZgGDevYL1nPWRdvPEJhgVQ/s1080/1000124996.jpg&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;978&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1080&quot; height=&quot;363&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCloPa5zZl75_hMvZWVMjd341n1Y1Zi0zS3wkf6e_kbkErYsgDB2Sdni6Uwm_1bjLO5nMnNjLBbobrCAQLT0qepnTjBFb5bzAQ2NTppHwZhCJX2qwCUOaV2-cAoOmo6clPccqoxx0QwzGufNaKhY7iX1pfBmkGyT8st9_oZgGDevYL1nPWRdvPEJhgVQ/w400-h363/1000124996.jpg&quot; width=&quot;400&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Good morning Ndi Nenwe and Friends*, before my apologies I have to say a big *&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #fcff01;&quot;&gt;thank you&lt;/span&gt;* to everyone who believed or didn&#39;t believe( obviously must have believed now) in this project since 2020 when I initiated it till the climax with the presentation of the NENWE WHO IS WHO&amp;nbsp; first edition and project yesterday December 1st,2024.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I want to appreciate the various teams I have formed that worked towards this project so far.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I also thank those in the teams and committees that I dissolved for my good reasons.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I thank all those who understood and volunteered the information requested .&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Special thanks to those who tenaciously and painstakingly did this job of&amp;nbsp; picking the information especially the patience and coping with my incessant phone calls and emails prompting and indicating.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I am sorry I sounded and appeared sometimes too heavy to bear with.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I don&#39;t want to name people here in particular, their names are already written in gold and in the premiation day we shall know them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I want to thank our non-Nenwe guests and friends who stood by the coordinator and the team during the work till the presentation.&amp;nbsp; Your friendship and solidarity are well appreciated.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;As I said yesterday my contacts are available and the email of the project is also available for your inputs ,corrections and complaints.They will be very useful.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Thank you for picking copies of the book and your donations .&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Thank you once again.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I am&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Charles O Chukwubike&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Nenwe.whoiswho@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;charlie.mbc@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/6703854117555379985/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/6703854117555379985' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/6703854117555379985'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/6703854117555379985'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2024/12/appreciations-from-charles-o-chukwubike.html' title='APPRECIATIONS FROM CHARLES O. CHUKWUBIKE '/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCloPa5zZl75_hMvZWVMjd341n1Y1Zi0zS3wkf6e_kbkErYsgDB2Sdni6Uwm_1bjLO5nMnNjLBbobrCAQLT0qepnTjBFb5bzAQ2NTppHwZhCJX2qwCUOaV2-cAoOmo6clPccqoxx0QwzGufNaKhY7iX1pfBmkGyT8st9_oZgGDevYL1nPWRdvPEJhgVQ/s72-w400-h363-c/1000124996.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-3249347663986310589</id><published>2024-12-02T02:18:00.000+01:00</published><updated>2024-12-02T02:18:15.567+01:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="CHARLIE.MBC"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="HISTORY"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NENWE"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NENWE HISTORY"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NENWE WHO IS WHO"/><title type='text'>A SPEECH BY THE NENWE WHO IS WHO PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR AND MODERATOR, CHARLES OKECHUKWU CHUKWUBIKE</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARWsQ-wrvGHKckXmaTK6tlp2sK4FTM3p22enukg3I8eLfbQSHyY6Q2Mf84Tp6mnoy3yWX1wBbaNzSkCpW9KJ0cl8Dgpt8LQDlLhisrz-GJtPD3Vk1b6weaP7UOMKYcTsFs8Hm2KpiwAX1Lv1AgZRs964p6xxrWASGXy0KKn482e6JSS0bp-8IObC1eH0/s1600/front%20and%20back%20pages%20wiw.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1038&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1600&quot; height=&quot;130&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARWsQ-wrvGHKckXmaTK6tlp2sK4FTM3p22enukg3I8eLfbQSHyY6Q2Mf84Tp6mnoy3yWX1wBbaNzSkCpW9KJ0cl8Dgpt8LQDlLhisrz-GJtPD3Vk1b6weaP7UOMKYcTsFs8Hm2KpiwAX1Lv1AgZRs964p6xxrWASGXy0KKn482e6JSS0bp-8IObC1eH0/w200-h130/front%20and%20back%20pages%20wiw.jpg&quot; width=&quot;200&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;A SPEECH BY THE NENWE WHO IS WHO PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR, CHARLES OKECHUKWU CHUKWUBIKE ON THIS DAY,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;1&lt;sup&gt;ST&lt;/sup&gt;&amp;nbsp;DECEMBER 2024 AT THE UNVEILING OF THE FIRST EDITION DEDICATED TO THE MEMORIES OF SENATOR (CHIEF) M.B.CHUKWUBIKE.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Distinguished ladies and gentlemen you are all welcome to this remarkable and history making day: The presentation of the maiden edition of Nenwe Who is who.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;THE BACKGROUNG:&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Before the presentation day of the HISTOY OF NENWE TOWN, the author Senator Chief M.B Chukwubike read aloud to me half of the book and made me read aloud the remaining half to him. This exercise took us three evenings. He never told me all the reasons&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;for that but during the exercise I observed that there were many events, places and personalities&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;that were supposed&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;to be a book&lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;of&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;their own&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;and&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;I promised myself it would be realised one day and put in a big library.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Years and decades passed the personalities increased naturally. Updating the history book he wrote&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;also became very imperative .&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Having worked&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;for many years in data collection in a county in Europe&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;and participating in their biannual historic and who is who update, I thought in 2020 to replicate the same&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;in Nenwe through a continuous&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;update that would pull our history and people out of&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;the oral history where they have been and gradually disappearing. Many people were enthusiastic about the project and I got as many as wanted involved in it, However at some point I observed there was little progress because enthusiasm and eager to work was high but knowing what to do was the essential and that was what we lacked , though everyone was good in their specialised areas educating the team on this novel way of documenting history and working on line&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;since I live overseas&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;was imperative at this point.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;This dragged and delayed the work.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;In 2023 after returning a couple of times to Nigeria I got a dedicated team of 8 people who were ready in the arduous data collection. I am happy to announce that today in my little Nenwe circle we have a handful of people who now understand the working principles of this system which is just the primary stage that is prelude to the archiving which is my or our next target.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Ladies and gentlemen here we are today with the work ready. However permit me to add that as I said earlier it is a&amp;nbsp;&lt;b style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;‘work in progress’.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;There are less than a 90 names out of the double that&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;were supposed to&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;be publish in this edition, there are just a couple of historical&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;events, personalities&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;and landmarks as against ten&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;s&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;that&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;I wrote already. The publication was first come&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;first served and many contacted people are still to understand what it is all about therefore didn’t consent to their personal&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;information being published . It is well understood .They might by this first edition understand what I meant and they might appear in subsequent editions.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;The presentation in&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;&quot;&gt;th&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;is&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;book is not uniform as it should be professionally but this will also distinguish it as the first edition. The arrangement is alphabetical and space allocated is not according to importance.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;THE TEAM;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Mr. Silas Nwenya, Mr.Patrick O.Chukwubike, Ken.Ogbu, PhD,&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;&quot;&gt;C&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;hief&lt;/span&gt;. Godwin Onuh (Ezeife), Prof. Michael O Maduagwu, Fidel Nwabueze Ogbo,PhD,&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Surv. E Okorie, Mr. IKechukwu the&amp;nbsp;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot;&gt;G&lt;/span&gt;reatest Ude ,Cyril O Oleh,&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;PhD, Mazi Clem Ebere, Nicholas Udeh&amp;nbsp;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot;&gt;E&lt;/span&gt;sq. Mrs. Kande&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Daniel&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot;&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Louis Orji,PhD, Engr Bismarck Orji, Engr Ken Mbah&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot;&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;&quot;&gt;among others (&lt;i&gt;aguwa ndi oma aba l&#39;iro&lt;/i&gt;).&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;I must recognize the contributions of these gentlemen and ladies who were always ready to source and transmit to me information and contacts&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;when needed. I must remember&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;Chief Camillus Igwebuike and Mr John Nwaru&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;(both resting in peace) who in the beginning were very supportive and always listened to my questions and curiosities on phone. Most important is the home front where I am fortunate to have someone who has too much authentic heroic Nenwe blood of Chief Harrison Chukwumba (Ebili jiishi edje ogu), at some point I thought my wife Ndidi Harrison would have left me so that&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &#39;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;I marry Nenwe&#39;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;due to my exaggerated time and dedication to Nenwe projects but she is still holding forth just like my beloved sister Ngozi who in our everyday quarrel i&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;n&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;everything, but&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;if I mention to her Nenwe is involved&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;she would pardon everything.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;THE FUTURE;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;As already mentioned&amp;nbsp; the&amp;nbsp; main aim is&amp;nbsp; to&amp;nbsp;&lt;b style=&quot;background-color: #f1c232;&quot;&gt;have&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;a virtual and&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;physical&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;cultural, historical data bank and library&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;where thousands of documents and graphics we have in the family library could be made accessible to the general public free of charges,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #eeeeee;&quot;&gt;a&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;promise made to my Dad four decades ago; precisely on the&amp;nbsp;day of presentation&amp;nbsp;of his book ; The History of Nenwe town.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;A portal and platform will soon be created where all the&amp;nbsp; historical information and actual&amp;nbsp; data could be sourced virtually ie. from any part of the world.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;As this first edition of the book Nenwe Who Is Who is being presented and unveiled today&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;simultaneously at Abuja, Enugu and virtually via zoom&lt;/b&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;I&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;wish to&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;thank you all&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;for&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;coming and&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;for&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;all your&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;support&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;I want everyone to see this&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;as&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;a service&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;to humanity&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;irrespective&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;of your&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;origin. I also promise to make available myself and experiences to anyone who may wish to implement such a program in their own communities.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;There will be the books&#39; NENWE TOWN unveiling program in between the Christmas 2024 and New year 2025 .&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;In March 2025 we shall have the&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #ffd966;&quot;&gt;general&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;premiation day&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;of&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;the personalities in this first edition&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;and the facilitators&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;by the Coordinator also in Nenwe&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;. You will all be informed of the exact dates and venues of these two&amp;nbsp; events in&amp;nbsp; Nenwe.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Please a second favour after that of getting copies of&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;&quot;&gt;th&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;is&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;absolute first edition,&amp;nbsp;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;is to&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;kindly&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;write any corrections, comment or suggestions through the email in the book.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;mailto:Nenwe.whoiswho@gmail.com&quot;&gt;Nenwe.whoiswho@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;or to mine&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;mailto:chukwubike@gmail.com&quot;&gt;chukwubike@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;, I shall personally&amp;nbsp; reply you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;I thank God for the gift&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;of life and memory and&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;pray for the Grace&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;to still be with me&amp;nbsp;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;and the team&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;for a while . I end this with a conversation about my memory with my mom Magdalene Ekpete in 1997.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;In a conversation I told her the name of the European doctor who used to treat me in the Awgu Joint Hospital when I was&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;a kid. She wondered how I knew her name . My dad went into his room and got his 1965 diary and confirmed the name was correct. My mom asked me the techniques and I told her something. The next day she asked me again what I said yesterday the techniques were and I told her I didn’t remember. In her typical way she said. “These are those who don’t remember what&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;&quot;&gt;the&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;y&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;ate in the night but will tell you the taste of the wine in the wedding at Cana&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;&quot;&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;(H&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;ahaha&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;!!)&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;May her soul and the soul of Bridget another one with super memory rest in peace.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;Thank You for coming&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;and for picking a copy of this maiden edition of Nenwe Who Is Who.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Charles Okechukwu Chukwubike&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;Coordinator/Moderator&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=&quot;EN-US&quot; style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;&amp;amp; Team Lead&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;NENWE WHO IS WHO&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;PUBLICATIONS&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;mailto:Nenwe.whoiswho@gmail.com&quot;&gt;Nenwe.whoiswho@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;line-height: normal; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;mailto:Charlie.mbc@gmail.com&quot;&gt;Charlie.mbc@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/3249347663986310589/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/3249347663986310589' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/3249347663986310589'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/3249347663986310589'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2024/12/a-speech-by-nenwe-who-is-who.html' title='A SPEECH BY THE NENWE WHO IS WHO PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR AND MODERATOR, CHARLES OKECHUKWU CHUKWUBIKE'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARWsQ-wrvGHKckXmaTK6tlp2sK4FTM3p22enukg3I8eLfbQSHyY6Q2Mf84Tp6mnoy3yWX1wBbaNzSkCpW9KJ0cl8Dgpt8LQDlLhisrz-GJtPD3Vk1b6weaP7UOMKYcTsFs8Hm2KpiwAX1Lv1AgZRs964p6xxrWASGXy0KKn482e6JSS0bp-8IObC1eH0/s72-w200-h130-c/front%20and%20back%20pages%20wiw.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-1455874455356074130</id><published>2024-05-27T19:08:00.000+02:00</published><updated>2024-05-27T19:08:18.469+02:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="BIAFRA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="HISTORY"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NIGERIA"/><title type='text'>NIGERIA  (1960 - PRESENT)</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUCR62L1Qnz9f4SKMIyEceSIgGV4bnOj4IePtOpPwP8LUquj9eifsPCyzZ26H6Ww8ApXmKXU8qCM0SAwsx9r6PFqJpCr5zR7dqnov6-JbNADxa6DpQ7-sL7xtnaRJXyeD1t_AIXbCxzuzJdGUaCGs4FHfbNZ57DpwKc2A_fPzBlsDx3ZiBP_7MnOUf8hA&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; data-original-height=&quot;616&quot; data-original-width=&quot;800&quot; height=&quot;240&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUCR62L1Qnz9f4SKMIyEceSIgGV4bnOj4IePtOpPwP8LUquj9eifsPCyzZ26H6Ww8ApXmKXU8qCM0SAwsx9r6PFqJpCr5zR7dqnov6-JbNADxa6DpQ7-sL7xtnaRJXyeD1t_AIXbCxzuzJdGUaCGs4FHfbNZ57DpwKc2A_fPzBlsDx3ZiBP_7MnOUf8hA&quot; width=&quot;312&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white; color: #582c83; font-family: &amp;quot;Source Sans Pro&amp;quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 34px;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Nigeria (1960-present)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;entry-content&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: &amp;quot;Source Sans Pro&amp;quot;, sans-serif;&quot;&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 700;&quot;&gt;Pre-Crisis Phase (October 1, 1960-January 14, 1966):&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; The Federation of Nigeria formally achieved its independence from Britain and joined the Commonwealth of Nations (CON) on October 1, 1960.&amp;nbsp; On October 1, 1960,&amp;nbsp;Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, founder of the&amp;nbsp;Northern People’s Congress&amp;nbsp;(NPC), was appointed as prime minister (head of government) of the Federation of Nigeria.&amp;nbsp; Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, leader of the&amp;nbsp;National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, was appointed as Governor-General (representative of Queen Elizabeth II, the Nigerian head of state) on November 16, 1960.&amp;nbsp; The Federal Republic of Nigeria was established on October 1, 1963, with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as prime minister (head of government) and Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe as president (head of state).&amp;nbsp; President&amp;nbsp;Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe dissolved the House of Representatives on December 8, 1964.&amp;nbsp; Parliamentary elections were held on December 30, 1964 and March 18, 1965, and the NPC won 162 out of 312 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The&amp;nbsp;National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) won 84 seats in the House of Representatives. The United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) boycotted the parliamentary elections.&amp;nbsp; Regional elections were held on October 11, 1965. Chief Samuel Akintola of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) was re-elected as prime minister of the Western Region on October 11, 1965. Some 160 civilians and seven government policemen were killed in political violence in the Western Region following the regional elections. Some 20 individuals were killed in political violence in Ilesha on January 12, 1966.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 700;&quot;&gt;Crisis Phase (January 15, 1966-July 5, 1967):&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was deposed and killed in a military coup led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu and Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna on January 15, 1966.&amp;nbsp; Prime Minister Samuel Akintola of the Western Region and Prime Minister Ahmadu Bello of the Northern Region were also deposed and killed during the military coup on January 15, 1966.&amp;nbsp; The Supreme Military Council (SMC) headed by General Johnson Aguyi-Ironsi, a member of the predominantly Christian Ibo ethnic group, took control of the government and suspended the constitution on January 16, 1966. Twenty-two individuals were killed during the military coup.&amp;nbsp; Some 3,000 Nigerians fled as refugees to Dahomey (Benin).&amp;nbsp; The government of Ghana provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the military government on January 17, 1966.&amp;nbsp; The Nigerian government abolished the four federal regions on May 24, 1966. Some 115 individuals, mostly ethnic Ibos, were killed in political violence on May 28-June 2, 1966.&amp;nbsp; Major General Aguyi-Ironsi was deposed and killed in a military coup led by Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed on July 29, 1966.&amp;nbsp; Some 30 individuals were killed in political violence in Lagos on July 29-August 1, 1966, and some 250,000 ethnic Ibos fled from the Northern Region to the Eastern Region following the military coup.&amp;nbsp; Lt. Colonel Yakuba Gowon was sworn in as the head of the federal military government following the military coup, and he restored the four federal regions on August 31, 1966.&amp;nbsp; Some 2,000 ethnic Ibos were killed in political violence in the Northern Region from September 29 to October 4, 1966.&amp;nbsp; Lt. Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria, declared that the region would no longer recognize Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon as head of the federal military government on March 2, 1967.&amp;nbsp; Lt. Colonel Gowon assumed full powers as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and head of the military government on May 27, 1967.&amp;nbsp; Lt. Colonel Gowon proclaimed a state-of-emergency on May 28, 1967.&amp;nbsp; Lt. Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, military governor of the Eastern Region, declared the independence of the Republic of Biafra in southern Nigeria on May 30, 1967.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 700;&quot;&gt;Conflict Phase (July 6, 1967-January 15, 1970)&lt;/span&gt;: Government troops launched a military offensive against Biafran rebels on July 6, 1967. The Egyptian government provided military assistance (military aircraft and pilots) to the Nigerian government. The presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and the Emperor of Ethiopia jointly appealed for a ceasefire and peaceful negotiations on July 8, 1967. The East African Community (EAC) offered to send a four-member conciliation commission (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia) to Nigeria, but the mediation offer was rejected by the government. The Vatican City appealed for peaceful negotiations in July 1967. Foreign Minister Emile Zinsou of Dahomey offered to mediate negotiations in August 1967, but the mediation offer was rejected by the Nigerian government.&amp;nbsp; The British government provided military assistance to the Nigerian government beginning on August 9, 1967. The government of the Soviet Union provided military assistance (military aircraft and 170 military technicians) to the Nigerian government beginning on August 19, 1967.&amp;nbsp; The Organization of African Unity (OAU) heads-of-state condemned the rebellion, and established a six-member consultative commission (Cameroon, Congo-Kinshasa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Niger) chaired by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia on September 14, 1967.&amp;nbsp; CON Secretary-General Arnold Smith attempted to facilitate negotiations between Biafran rebel and government representatives beginning in October 1967.&amp;nbsp; Government troops captured Enugu, the Biafran capital, on October 4, 1967.&amp;nbsp; Prime Minister Alexei Kosygin of the Soviet Union offered economic assistance to the government on October 16, 1967.&amp;nbsp; Some 2,000 government soldiers were killed during an attack against Biafran rebels near Onitsha on October 18, 1967.&amp;nbsp; The Switzerland-based NGO, World Council of Churches (WCC), established a mission to provide humanitarian assistance to individuals displaced during the conflict beginning on November 20, 1967. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) established a mission to provide humanitarian assistance to individuals displaced during the conflict beginning in January 1968. The Society of Friends (Quakers) established a three-member committee to facilitate negotiations between the parties beginning on February 3, 1968. The Vatican and WCC jointly appealed for a ceasefire on March 20, 1968, but the ceasefire appeal was rejected by the parties. Government troops captured Onitsha on March 22, 1968. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) established a mission (“International Airlift West Africa”) to provide humanitarian assistance to individuals displaced during the conflict beginning in April 1968.&amp;nbsp; The Tanzanian government provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to Biafra on April 13, 1968.&amp;nbsp; The government of Czechoslovakia imposed military sanctions (suspension of arms shipments) against the government and Biafran rebels on April 24, 1968.&amp;nbsp; CON Secretary-General Arnold Smith facilitated preliminary negotiations between the parties in London on May 2-15, 1968.&amp;nbsp; The government of Gabon provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to Biafra on May 8, 1968.&amp;nbsp; Government military aircraft attacked rebel targets in Port Harcourt and Aba on May 9, 1968, resulting in the deaths of 150 civilians.&amp;nbsp; The government of Ivory Coast provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to Biafra on May 15, 1968.&amp;nbsp; Government troops captured Port Harcourt on May 18, 1968.&amp;nbsp; The government of Zambia provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to Biafra on May 20, 1968.&amp;nbsp; CON Secretary-General Arnold Smith and President Milton Obote of Uganda facilitated formal negotiations between the parties in Kampala, Uganda on May 23-31, 1968.&amp;nbsp; The Dutch government imposed military sanctions (suspension of arms shipments) against the Nigerian government and Biafran rebels on June 6, 1968.&amp;nbsp; The Belgian government imposed military sanctions (suspension of arms shipments) against the Nigerian government and Biafran rebels on July 5, 1968. The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) established a commission of inquiry, which visited the region from July to September 1968. The ICRC appointed August Lindt of Switzerland as coordinator of the ICRC mission in Nigeria and Biafra on July 19, 1968. The OAU consultative committee, chaired by President of Hamani Diori of Niger, facilitated preliminary negotiations between the parties in Niamey, Niger on July 20-26, 1968.&amp;nbsp; The French government expressed its support for the Biafran rebels on July 31, 1968, and provided military assistance (weapons and ammunition) to the Biafran rebels beginning in August 1968.&amp;nbsp; The OAU consultative committee, chaired by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, facilitated formal negotiations between the parties in Addis Ababa between August 5 and September 9, 1968.&amp;nbsp; Government troops captured Aba on September 4, 1968.&amp;nbsp; The governments of Britain, Canada, Poland, and Sweden established a four-member fact-finding mission to investigate allegations of genocide by government troops beginning on September 7, 1968.&amp;nbsp; Government military aircraft bombed the Aguleri market near Onitsha on September 16, 1968, resulting in the deaths of 510 individuals.&amp;nbsp; Government military aircraft attacked Umuahia township on September 28, 1968, resulting in the deaths of 31 individuals.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed two ICRC personnel, two WCC personnel, and 100 civilians in Okigwi on September 30, 1968.&amp;nbsp; OAU heads-of-state appealed for a ceasefire in September 1968.&amp;nbsp; The Joint Church Aid (JCA) mission – which consisted of the Catholic Relief Service (CRS), Caritas International (CI) – the Vatican City humanitarian assistance organization, and Church World Service (CWS) – was established in 1968. The AFSC and the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) established a mission to provide humanitarian assistance to Nigerians beginning in January 1969. The Common African, Malagasy, and Mauritanian Organization (Organisation Commune Africaine et Malgache – OCAM) established a conciliation commission on January 29, 1969.&amp;nbsp; Prime Minister Harold Wilson of Britain attempted to mediate a ceasefire agreement between Biafran rebel and government representatives on March 27-31, 1969.&amp;nbsp; The OAU consultative committee facilitated negotiations between the parties in Monrovia, Liberia on April 17-20, 1969.&amp;nbsp; The OAU consultative committee appealed for a ceasefire on April 20, 1969.&amp;nbsp; UN Secretary-General U Thant appointed Said-Uddin Khan as his representative for relief activities in Nigeria on April 28, 1969.&amp;nbsp; Government military aircraft shot down an ICRC aircraft on June 5, 1969, and the ICRC suspended its airlift operation in Biafra on June 10, 1969.&amp;nbsp; August Lindt resigned as coordinator of the ICRC mission on June 19, 1969.&amp;nbsp; The ICRC terminated its humanitarian mission in Nigeria on October 2, 1969.&amp;nbsp; The Quaker mission ended its efforts to facilitate negotiations between the parties in November 1969.&amp;nbsp; The OAU consultative committee was dissolved on December 15, 1969. Biafran leader Colonel Ojukwu fled the country on January 11, 1970.&amp;nbsp; The governments of Denmark, Ireland, and the US provided humanitarian assistance to refugees beginning on January 12, 1970.&amp;nbsp; The governments of Australia, Ethiopia, Italy, Norway, and West Germany provided humanitarian assistance to refugees beginning on January 13, 1970.&amp;nbsp; The Nigerian government banned the JCA on January 14, 1970.&amp;nbsp; Biafra formally surrendered to government troops on January 15, 1970. Some 45,000 government troops, 45,000 Biafran rebels, and 30,000 civilians were killed, and some 500,000 individuals died as a result of starvation during the conflict.&amp;nbsp; Some three million individuals were internally displaced during the conflict.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 700;&quot;&gt;Post-Conflict Phase (January 16, 1970-October 1, 1979):&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Lt. Colonel Gowon was deposed in a military coup led by General Murtala Mohammed on July 29, 1975.&amp;nbsp; The Libyan government provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the government of General Murtala Mohammed on July 30, 1975, and the British government provided diplomatic assistance (diplomatic recognition) to the Nigerian government on August 1, 1975.&amp;nbsp; The SMC appointed the 25-member Federal Executive Council (FEC) on August 6, 1975.&amp;nbsp; General Murtala Mohammed appointed a 50-member committee to draft a new constitution, and the committee convened on October 18, 1975.&amp;nbsp; Government troops and civilians clashed in Ugep on December 25, 1975, resulting in the deaths of nineteen individuals.&amp;nbsp; General Murtala Mohammed and 24 other military personnel were killed during a military rebellion headed by Lt. Colonel Bukur Suka Dimka on February 13, 1976, and Lt. General Olusegun Obasanjo was appointed as head of the SMC on February 14, 1976.&amp;nbsp; On March 11, 1976, more than 30 government soldiers, including Major-General Illya Bisalla and Lt. Colonel Dimka, were executed for their involvement in the military rebellion.&amp;nbsp; On May 16, 1976, Lt. Colonel Dimka and six other individuals were executed for their involvement in the military rebellion and assassination of General Murtala Mohammed.&amp;nbsp; The 50-member committee appointed in October 1975 submitted a draft constitution to the SMC on September 14, 1976.&amp;nbsp; The SMC formally established a 230-member Constituent Assembly on August 31, 1977, and the Constituent Assembly held its first meeting on October 6, 1977.&amp;nbsp; Nine individuals were killed during demonstrations in Lagos on April 20-28, 1978.&amp;nbsp; General Obasanjo ended the state-of-emergency and lifted the ban on political parties on September 21, 1978.&amp;nbsp; One the same day, the Constituent Assembly submitted a draft constitution, which created a presidential system of government in Nigeria.&amp;nbsp; Three political parties – the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP), and the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) – were organized on September 22, 1978.&amp;nbsp; Legislative elections were held on July 14, 1979, and the NPN won 168 out of 449 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The UPN won 111 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the NPN was elected president with 34 percent of the vote on August 11, 1979, and he was inaugurated as president on October 1, 1979.&amp;nbsp; The new constitution went into effect on October 1, 1979.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 700;&quot;&gt;Post-Crisis Phase (October 2, 1979-December 30, 1983):&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp; Government police and members of the Muslim fundamentalist (Yen Izala) sect headed by Malam Mohammadu Marwa clashed in Kano in northern Nigeria on December 18-31, 1980, resulting in the deaths of some 1,000 civilians and 50 government policemen.&amp;nbsp; Some 5,000 individuals were killed in political violence in 1980 and 1981.&amp;nbsp; Government police clashed with members of the Yen Izala sect in&amp;nbsp;Maiduguri in the state of Borno and Kaduna in northeastern Nigeria on October 26-31, 1982, resulting in the deaths of some 100 government policemen and 400 civilians.&amp;nbsp; The government banned the Yen Izala sect on November 18, 1982.&amp;nbsp; The government expelled some 2.2 million illegal immigrants from the country between January 17 and February 28, 1983. Eight individuals were killed in political violence in Ibadan in the state of Oyo on July 8, 1983.&amp;nbsp; President Shagari was re-elected for a second term with 48 percent of the vote on August 6, 1983, and he was inaugurated on October 1, 1983.&amp;nbsp; The NPN won 13 out of 19 state governorships in elections on August 13, 1983.&amp;nbsp; Eighty-two individuals were killed in political violence in the state of Ondo on August 18-20, 1983.&amp;nbsp; Legislative elections were held on August 20-27, 1983, and the NPN won 60 out of 96 seats in the Senate and 306 out of 450 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The UPN won 16 seats in the Senate and 51 seats in the House of Representatives.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 700;&quot;&gt;Crisis Phase (December 31, 1983-May 29, 1999):&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;President Alhaji Shagari was deposed in a military coup led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari on December 31, 1983, and the 19-member Supreme Military Council (SMC) headed by General Buhari took control of the government on January 3, 1984.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with members of a Muslim fundamentalist sect headed by Musa Makaniki in Yola in the state of Gongola on February 27, 1984, resulting in the deaths of some 1,000 individuals.&amp;nbsp; Government police clashed with members of the Muslim Fundamentalist sect Yen Izala headed by Yusufu Adamu in Gombe on April 26, 1985, resulting in the deaths of 150 individuals.&amp;nbsp; General Buhari was deposed in a military coup led by Major General Ibrahim Babangida on August 27, 1985, resulting in the deaths of one government policeman.&amp;nbsp; The 28-member Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) headed by General Babangida took control of the government on August 29, 1985.&amp;nbsp; The government announced the discovery of a plot within the military to overthrow the government on December 20, 1985, and several hundred military personnel were arrested for their involvement in the plot.&amp;nbsp; Thirteen military personnel were convicted and sentenced to death on February 25, 1986.&amp;nbsp; Ten of the military personnel, including Major-General Mamman Vatsa, were executed in Lagos on March 5, 1986.&amp;nbsp; A new constitution went into effect on May 3, 1989, and the ban on political parties was lifted.&amp;nbsp; On October 7 1989, President Babangida dissolved thirteen political parties that had applied for registration since May 1989.&amp;nbsp; Government troops suppressed a military rebellion led by Major Gideon Orkar on April 22, 1990, resulting in the deaths of some 200 individuals.&amp;nbsp; Forty-two military personnel were executed for their involvement in the military rebellion on July 27, 1990, and twenty-seven individuals were executed for their involvement in the military rebellion on September 13, 1990.&amp;nbsp; Government police clashed with anti-government demonstrators in Lagos on May 4-13, 1992, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals.&amp;nbsp; Some 300 individuals were killed in religious violence throughout the country on May 16-18, 1992.&amp;nbsp; Legislative elections were held on July 4, 1992, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won 314 out of 593 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The National Republican Convention (NRC) won 275 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The Transitional Council (TC), a civilian government headed by Ernest Adegunle Shonekan, replaced the military government on January 4, 1993.&amp;nbsp; Moshood Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was elected president with 58 percent of the vote on June 12, 1993.&amp;nbsp; President Babangida nullified the results of the presidential election on July 4, 1993, resulting in the deaths of eleven individuals during rioting in Lagos on July 5, 1993.&amp;nbsp; The European Community (EC) imposed military sanctions (arms embargo) against the government on July 13, 1993.&amp;nbsp; President Babangida resigned on August 26, 1993, and the Interim National Government (ING) headed by Ernest Adegunle Shonekan formed a civilian government.&amp;nbsp; General Sani Abacha deposed the civilian government and dissolved the parliament on November 17-18, 1993.&amp;nbsp; The Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) headed by General Abacha took control of the government on November 24, 1993.&amp;nbsp; Moshood Abiola was arrested and charged with treason on June 23, 1994.&amp;nbsp; General Abacha lifted the ban on political activity on June 27, 1995.&amp;nbsp; The military government convicted and executed Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other members of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) on November 10, 1995.&amp;nbsp; The London-based non-governmental organization Amnesty International&amp;nbsp; condemned the Nigerian government for the executions on November 10, 1995.&amp;nbsp; The European Union (EU) condemned the Nigerian government for the executions on November 10, 1995.&amp;nbsp; The CON imposed imposed diplomatic sanctions (suspension of membership) against the government on November 11, 1995.&amp;nbsp; The CON established an eight-member Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG-Nigeria) on November 11, 1995, which consisted of the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, Ghana, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, to monitor human rights and political conditions in the country.&amp;nbsp; The EU imposed economic sanctions (suspension of economic assistance and travel ban) and military sanctions (arms embargo) against the Nigerian government on November 20, 1995.&amp;nbsp; On December 22, 1995, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution condemning the Nigerian government for the executions of MOSOP members.&amp;nbsp; UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali sent a four-member fact-finding mission headed by Atsu Koffi Amega of Togo to investigate human rights conditions in Nigeria from March 28 to April 12, 1996.&amp;nbsp; The United Democratic Front of Nigeria (UDFN) was established on April 1, 1996.&amp;nbsp; The foreign ministers of the CON imposed military sanctions (arms embargo) and economic sanctions (travel embargo and freeze on foreign-held assets) against the government on April 24, 1996.&amp;nbsp; The CMAG-Nigeria sent a 17-member fact-finding mission to the country on November 18-20, 1996.&amp;nbsp; The government charged 15 individuals with treason on March 12, 1997.&amp;nbsp; The Canadian government imposed diplomatic sanctions (suspension of diplomatic relations) against the Nigerian government on March 13, 1997.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with demonstrators in Ibadan on April 15, 1998, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals.&amp;nbsp; At least three individuals were killed in an explosion in Lagos on April 23, 1998.&amp;nbsp; Legislative elections were held on April 25, 1998, and the&amp;nbsp;United Nigeria Congress Party&amp;nbsp;(UNCP) won 229 out of 282 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) won 39 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; Opposition political parties were banned from participating in the legislative elections and called for a boycott of the legislative elections.&amp;nbsp; General Sani Abacha died on June 8, 1998, and was replaced by General Abdulsalami Abubakar.&amp;nbsp; Moshood Abiola died in prison on July 7, 1998.&amp;nbsp; The EU lifted economic sanctions (travel ban) against the Nigerian government on November 1, 1998.&amp;nbsp; Nigeria’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) requested international monitoring of local, state, and national elections to be held between December 5, 1998 and February 27, 1999.&amp;nbsp; Elections for local councils were held on December 5, 1998, and elections for state governors and assemblies were held on January 9, 1999.&amp;nbsp; The CON sent 17 short-term observers to monitor the election process from November 30, 1998 to January 11, 1999.&amp;nbsp; The Association of African Elections Authorities&amp;nbsp;(AAEA) and the International Foundation for Election Systems&amp;nbsp;(IFES) sent 15 short-term observers headed by Kwadwo Afari-Gyan of Ghana to jointly observe the local elections from November 15 to December 8, 1998.&amp;nbsp; Nineteen individuals were killed in political violence in the Niger Delta region on February 1, 1999.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Legislative elections were held on February 20, 1999, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 206 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The All People’s Party (APP) won 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and the Alliance for Democracy (AFD) won 68 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP defeated Olu Falae of the APP by a margin of 63 percent to 37 percent to win the presidential election on February 27, 1999.&amp;nbsp; The AAEA/IFES sent 28 short-term observers to jointly observed the elections from February 16 to March 2, 1999.&amp;nbsp; The OAU sent 50 short-term observers from 18 countries headed by Ali Hassan Mwinyi of Tanzania to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from February 18 to March 2, 1999.&amp;nbsp; The CON sent 34 short-term observers from 23 countries headed by Ketumile Masire of Botswana to monitor the elections from February 12 to March 2, 1999.&amp;nbsp; The National Democratic Institute (NDI) and The&amp;nbsp;Carter Center (TCC) sent 60 short-term observers from 10 countries headed by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Mahamane Ousmane of Niger to jointly monitor the legislative and presidential elections from February 17 to March 1, 1999.&amp;nbsp; The International Republican Institute (IRI) sent 43 short-term observers headed by General Colin Powell of the U.S. to monitor the president election from February 22 to February 28, 1999.&amp;nbsp; The EU sent 100 short-term observers to monitor the presidential election.&amp;nbsp; The&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(OIF) sent short-term observers to monitor the presidential election.&amp;nbsp; General Abdulsalami Abubakar signed into law a new constitution on May 5, 1999.&amp;nbsp; The CON lifted diplomatic sanctions (suspension of membership) against the Nigerian government on May 29, 1999.&amp;nbsp; Olusegun Obasanjo was inaugurated as president on May 29, 1999.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 700;&quot;&gt;Post-Crisis Phase (May 30, 1999-January 23, 2006):&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;The EU lifted military sanctions (arms embargo) against the Nigerian government on June 1, 1999.&amp;nbsp; The CON lifted military sanctions (arms embargo) and economic sanctions (travel embargo and freeze on foreign-held assets) against the Nigerian government on November 1, 1999.&amp;nbsp; Some 100 individuals were killed in ethnic violence in Lagos on November 28, 1999.&amp;nbsp; Governor Alhaji Ahmed Sani announced the introduction of Islamic law&amp;nbsp;Sharia in the state of Zamfra on January 27, 2000.&amp;nbsp; The state of Kaduna introduced Sharia in February 2000.&amp;nbsp; Some 400 individuals were killed, and some 100,000 individuals were displaced as a result of violence in the city of Kaduna in the state of Kaduna on February 21-23, 2000.&amp;nbsp; More than 50 individuals were killed in religious violence in the town of Aba in southeastern Nigeria on February 28, 2000.&amp;nbsp; The ICRC provided humanitarian assistance to individuals adversely affected by the violence in the state of Kaduna beginning on February 28, 2000.&amp;nbsp; President&amp;nbsp;Olusegun Obasanjo met with the country’s 36 state governors on February 29, 2000, and the group agreed to suspend Sharia in the states of Niger, Sokoto, and Zamfara.&amp;nbsp; Government police arrested 40 supporters of an independent state of Biafra on April 19, 2000.&amp;nbsp; Some 200 individuals were killed as a result of religious violence in the state of Kaduna on May 22-25, 2000.&amp;nbsp; Some 25 individuals were killed in violence in Bambam in the state of Gombe on September 7-9, 2000.&amp;nbsp; Bariya Ibrahim Magazu was given a sentence of 180 lashes for fornication by a Sharia court in the state of Zamfara in September 2000. Some 100 individuals were killed and some 20,000 individuals were displaced as a result of violence in Lagos in October 2000. Some 1,500 individuals were killed as a result of violence in 2000. A reduced Sharia sentence of 100 lashes against 17-year old Bariya Ibrahim Magazu was carried out in the state of Zamfara on January 19, 2001.&amp;nbsp; The government of Canada condemned the flogging on January 22, 2001. The United Nations Children’s Fund&amp;nbsp;(UNICEF) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the flogging on January 23, 2001.&amp;nbsp; Government police arrested the leader of a Biafran secessionist movement, Ralph Uwazuruike, on February 8, 2001.&amp;nbsp; Some 200 individuals were killed, and some 50,000 individuals were displaced as a result of violence in the state of Nassarawa on June 12-26, 2001. Some 1,000 individuals were killed in violence in the state of Bauchi in July 2001.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Some 1,000 individuals were killed in religious violence in Jos in the state of Plateau on September 7-17, 2001.&amp;nbsp; President&amp;nbsp;Olusegun Obasanjo deployed government troops to suppress the violence in Jos on September 8, 2001.&amp;nbsp; Members of the Tiv ethnic group killed 19 government soldiers in the village of Zaki-Biam in the state of Benue on October 11-12, 2001. Some 100 individuals were killed as a result of violence in Kano on October 13-14, 2001. Government troops killed some 200 civilians, and some 300,000 were displaced as a result of the violence in the state of Benue on October 22-24, 2001. Eleven individuals were killed as a result of violence in the state of Kaduna state in northern Nigeria on November 2-4, 2001. Some 20 individuals were killed as a result of violence in the village of Dagwom Turu in the state of Plateau on December 30, 2001. Some 400,000 individuals were displaced as a result of violence in 2001.&amp;nbsp; Sani Yakubu Rodi was executed under Sharia in a prison in Kaduna on January 3, 2002.&amp;nbsp; The U.S.-based NGO, Human Rights Watch (HRW), condemned the execution on January 8, 2002.&amp;nbsp; Government police clashed with members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in southwest Nigeria on January 12, 2002, resulting in the deaths of 36 individuals.&amp;nbsp; Some 100 individuals were killed as a result of violence in Lagos on February 2-5, 2002.&amp;nbsp; Government troops were deployed to suppress the violence in Lagos on February 5, 2002.&amp;nbsp; The Nigerian government declared that certain aspects of Sharia were unconstitutional on March 22, 2002.&amp;nbsp; The death sentence against Safiya Husaini for adultery was overturned by a Sharia appeals court on March 25, 2002.&amp;nbsp; On April 20, 2002, the U.S. government agreed to provide $4 million in military assistance to the government.&amp;nbsp; Muslim clerics in the state of Oyo introduced Sharia on May 1, 2002, but the state government declared that it would not enforce Islamic law in the state.&amp;nbsp; Some 15 individuals were killed as a result of violence in Jos in the state of Plateau on May 2, 2002.&amp;nbsp; Some 100 individuals were killed as a result of violence in the town of Nembe in the state of Bayelsa on July 20-22, 2002.&amp;nbsp; On August 3, 2002, President&amp;nbsp;Olusegun Obasanjo announced a postponement of local elections, which were scheduled for August 10, 2002.&amp;nbsp; The Nigerian House of Representatives demanded the resignation of President&amp;nbsp;Olusegun Obasanjo on August 13, 2002, but the demand was rejected on August 14, 2002.&amp;nbsp; Six individuals were killed as a result of violence in the village of Kassa on October 14, 2002.&amp;nbsp; Eight individuals were killed as a result of violence in Jos on October 22-23, 2002.&amp;nbsp; On November 13, 2002, President Olusegun Obasanjo granted amnesty to 80 government soldiers who fought in the Biafran conflict on the side of the rebels between 1967 and 1970.&amp;nbsp; Some 215 individuals were killed in violence in Kaduna and Abuja on November 20-23, 2002.&amp;nbsp; Some 4,500 individuals were displaced in Kaduna.&amp;nbsp; Some 25,000 Nigerians were refugees (externally displaced) in 2002.&amp;nbsp; Six individuals were killed in political violence in the state of Benue on February 19, 2003.&amp;nbsp; Some 64 individuals were killed in northeastern Nigeria on February 24-28, 2003.&amp;nbsp; Fulani tribesmen attacked the village of Dumne on February 27, 2003, resulting in the deaths of 50 individuals.&amp;nbsp; The U.S.-based NGOs, NDI and The Carter Center, sent a pre-election assessment mission to Nigeria on March 16-21, 2003.&amp;nbsp; Government police clashed with supporters of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra&amp;nbsp;(MASSOB) near the town of Owerri on March 29, 2003, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals.&amp;nbsp; Legislative elections were held on April 12, 2003, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 76 out of 109 seats in the House of Representatives, and the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) won 27 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; President&amp;nbsp;Olusegun Obasanjo was re-elected with 62 percent of the vote on April 19, 2003.&amp;nbsp; The African Union (AU) sent 21 observers headed by Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from April 3 to April 22, 2003.&amp;nbsp; The EU sent seven election experts, 38 long-term observers, and 62 short-term observers headed by Max van den Berg of the Netherlands to monitor the elections from March 11 to May 20, 2003.&amp;nbsp; The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sent short-term observers to monitor the presidential and legislative elections.&amp;nbsp; The NDI sent 50 short-term observers from 12 countries to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from April 7 to April 21, 2003.&amp;nbsp; The CON sent fourteen observers and eight staff headed by Salim Ahmed Salim of Tanzania to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from April 8 to April 25, 2003.&amp;nbsp; The IRI sent 55 short-term observers to monitor the legislative and presidential elections.&amp;nbsp; Some 12,000 individuals fled as refugees as a result of ethnic/political violence in the Nigerian Delta region, including the town of Warri, in May 2003.&amp;nbsp; Some 100 individuals were killed in ethnic violence in the town of Warri on August 15-19, 2003.&amp;nbsp; Some 78 individuals were killed in religious violence in Yelwa on February 4, 2004.&amp;nbsp; Some 630 individuals were killed in religious violence in Yelwa on May 2-4, 2004.&amp;nbsp; President&amp;nbsp;Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state-of-emergency in the state of Plateau on May 18, 2004.&amp;nbsp; On May 9, 2005, government authorities charged some 80 members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra&amp;nbsp;(MASSOB) with holding an illegal “secessionist rally” in southeastern Nigeria.&amp;nbsp; On July 6, 2005, government authorities dropped charged against 53 Nigerian “footballers” (soccer players) who were arrested for playing in a soccer tournament organized by the banned MASSOB.&amp;nbsp; Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of MASSOB, was arrested by government police on October 27, 2005.&amp;nbsp; Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of MASSOB, and six supporters were charged with treason by government authorities in Abuja on November 8, 2005.&amp;nbsp; Government police and ethnic-Ibo supporters of MASSOB clashed in Onitsha in southeast Nigeria on December 5-6, 2005, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 700;&quot;&gt;Crisis Phase (January 24, 2006-present):&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)&amp;nbsp;militants attacked the offices of an oil company in Port Harcourt on January 24, 2006, resulting in the deaths of seven government policemen and two civilians.&amp;nbsp; More than 30 Christians were killed during protests by Muslims in the state of Borno on February 18, 2006.&amp;nbsp; At least 80 individuals, mostly Muslims, were killed in anti-Muslim riots in the town of Onitsha on February 21-22, 2006.&amp;nbsp; MEND&amp;nbsp;militants exploded a car bomb near a military barracks in Port Harcourt on April 19, 2006, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants killed one individual, a U.S.-based oil company executive, in Port Harcourt on May 10, 2006.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants killed six government policemen in Port Harcourt on May 14, 2006.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with MEND militants in the Niger Delta region on June 6, 2006, resulting in the deaths of at least five government soldiers and one militant.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed ten MEND militants in the Niger Delta region on August 20, 2006.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants killed ten government soldiers in the Niger Delta region on October 2, 2006.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with MEND militants in the Niger Delta region on October 4, 2006, resulting in the deaths of nine government soldiers.&amp;nbsp; Government police killed two protesters in Jos on October 13, 2006.&amp;nbsp; Governor Ayo Fayose of the state of Ekiti was impeached on corruption charges by the state assembly on October 16, 2006.&amp;nbsp; On October 19, 2006, President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state-of-emergency in the state of Ekiti after suggesting that the impeachment of Governor Ayo Fayose was “a clear case of usurpation of power” by the state assembly.&amp;nbsp; One government soldiers was killed by MEND militants in the Niger Delta region on November 22, 2006.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants killed three security guards in Obagi in the Niger Delta region on December 21, 2006.&amp;nbsp; Some 13,000 Nigerians were refugees (externally displaced) in 2006.&amp;nbsp; Gunmen killed 12 individuals, including four local chiefs, on a boat traveling to the village of Kula in the Niger Delta region on January 16, 2007.&amp;nbsp; Gunmen killed two oil workers on a vessel near Bonny Island in the Niger Delta region on January 16, 2007.&amp;nbsp; The ECOWAS sent a six member (pre-election) fact-finding mission led by Sir Dawda Jawara of Gambia to Nigeria on February 10-27, 2007.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants killed one government soldier in the Niger Delta region on March 4, 2007.&amp;nbsp; Elections for state governors and assemblies were held on April 14, 2007.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Islamic militants in Kano on April 17-18, 2007, resulting in the deaths of some 25 militants.&amp;nbsp; Legislative elections were held on April 21, 2007, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 260 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) won 62 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP was elected president with 70 percent of the vote on April 21, 2007, and he was inaugurated as president on May 29, 2007.&amp;nbsp; The ECOWAS sent 200 short-term observers from 29 countries led by Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara of Gambia to monitor the governorship, state assembly, legislative, and presidential elections from April 8 to April 23, 2007.&amp;nbsp; The CON sent eleven short-term observers led by Joseph Warioba on Tanzania to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from April 10 to April 27, 2007.&amp;nbsp; The EU sent eleven election experts, 66 long-term observers, and 60 short-term observers from 23 countries led by Max van den Berg of the Netherlands to monitor the legislative and presidential elections.&amp;nbsp; The NDI sent 61 observers (long-term and short-term) from 16 countries to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from March 15 to April 23, 2007.&amp;nbsp; The IRI sent 59 short-term observers to monitor the legislative and presidential elections.&amp;nbsp; At least 200 individuals were killed in election-related violence.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants killed two government policemen in Port Harcourt on April 27, 2007.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants attacked Chevron facilities in the state of Bayelsa on May 1, 2007, resulting in the deaths of ten individuals.&amp;nbsp; Umaru Yar’Adua was inaugurated as president on May 29, 2007.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants declared a unilateral ceasefire on June 2, 2007.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed eight MEND militants in the state of Bayelsa on June 13, 2007.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with MEND militants on the Ogboinbiri oil platform in the Niger Delta region on June 21, 2007, resulting in the deaths of 12 militants, two civilians, and one government soldier.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants attacked two boats in the Niger Delta region near Port Harcourt on August 3, 2007, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants ended their unilateral cessation of military hostilities on September 24, 2007.&amp;nbsp; Government naval personnel clashed with MEND militants in the Niger Delta region on October 31, 2007, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals.&amp;nbsp; Six individuals were killed in local election-related violence in the state of Kano on November 19, 2007.&amp;nbsp; Some 14,000 Nigerians were refugees (externally displaced) in 2007.&amp;nbsp; Government police clashed with Niger Delta militants in Port Harcourt on January 1, 2008, resulting in the deaths of four government policemen, six militants, and three civilians.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants declared a unilateral ceasefire on June 24, 2008.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants ended their unilateral ceasefire on July 12, 2008.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants declared a unilateral ceasefire on September 21, 2008.&amp;nbsp; Some 381 individuals were killed and some 10,000 individuals were displaced as a result of religious violence in Jos in the state of Plateau on November 28-29, 2008.&amp;nbsp; Some 14,000 Nigerians were refugees (externally displaced) in 2008.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants ended their unilateral ceasefire on January 30, 2009.&amp;nbsp; Four individuals were killed in religious violence in Bauchi in the state of Plateau on February 21, 2009.&amp;nbsp; Government troops launched a military offensive against MEND militants in the Niger Delta on May 15, 2009.&amp;nbsp; On June 26, 2009, President Umaru Yar’Adua announced an amnesty plan for militants fighting against the government in the Niger Delta region.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants killed five oil industry workers in Lagos on July 11-12, 2009.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants declared a 60-day ceasefire on July 15, 2009.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Boko Haram militants in northeastern Nigeria on July 26-30, 2009, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 individuals.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram, a Sunni Muslim group established by Mohammed Yusuf in&amp;nbsp;Maiduguri in the state of Borno in 2002, supported the establishment of Sharia in Nigeria.&amp;nbsp; Government troops captured and killed Mohammed Yusuf, founder and leader of Boko Haram, in Maiduguri in the state of Borno on July 30, 2009.&amp;nbsp; The Nigerian Government granted amnesty to Niger Delta militants who agreed to lay down their arms between August 6 and October 4, 2009.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants ended their 90-day ceasefire with the government on October 16, 2009, but announced a unilateral ceasefire with the government on October 25, 2009.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants killed two government sailors on an oil tanker in the Niger Delta on November 24, 2009.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with members of the Islamic sect Kala Kato in the state of Bauchi on December 27-28, 2009, resulting in the deaths of at least 38 individuals.&amp;nbsp; Some 200 individuals were killed and more than 20,000 individuals were displaced as a result of religious violence in Jos in the state of Plateau on January 17-20, 2010.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants ended their unilateral ceasefire with the government on January 30, 2010.&amp;nbsp; Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan was approved as Acting-President by the National Assembly on February 10, 2010.&amp;nbsp; President Umaru Yar’Adua died of an illness on May 5, 2010, and Vice-President Goodluck Johnson was sworn in as Interim President on May 6, 2010.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants bombed a Nigerian independence day parade in Abuja on October 1, 2010, resulting in the deaths of twelve individuals.&amp;nbsp; Henry Okah, leader of the MEND militant group that claimed responsibility for the Abuja bombings, was arrested by South African police in Johannesburg on October 2, 2010.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants attacked a government police station in&amp;nbsp;Maiduguri in the state of Borno on October 11, 2010.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed some 80 individuals in bombings in Jos in the state of Plateau on December 24, 2010.&amp;nbsp; Six individuals were killed in attacks on churches in&amp;nbsp;Maiduguri in the state of Borno on December 24, 2010.&amp;nbsp; On December 27, 2010, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the “deplorable acts of violence” in Nigeria.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed three government police officers and two civilians in Maiduguri in the state of Borno on December 29, 2010.&amp;nbsp; At least four individuals were killed in a bombing in Abuja on December 31, 2010.&amp;nbsp; Some 18 individuals were killed in religious violence in Jos in the state of Plateau on January 7-10, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Another 13 individuals were killed in religious violence near Jos on January 11, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Eleven individuals were killed in a stampede at a political rally in Port Harcourt on February 12, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Three individuals were killed in a bombing at a political rally near Abuja on March 3, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Six individuals were killed in a bombing of an office of Nigeria’s election commission in Suleja on April 8, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Legislative elections were held on April 9, 2011, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 199 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The&amp;nbsp;Action Congress of Nigeria&amp;nbsp;(ACN) won 69 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP was elected president with 59 percent of the vote on April 16, 2011.&amp;nbsp; The Commonwealth of Nations (CON) sent 13 observers and ten staff members led by Festus Gontebanye Mogae of Botswana to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from March 25 to April 18, 2011.&amp;nbsp; The AU sent 40 short-term observers led by Ahmed Issack Hassan from Kenya and former President John Agyekum Kufor of Ghana to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from March 27 to April 18, 2011.&amp;nbsp; The EU sent nine election experts, 52 long-term observers, and 60 short-term observers from 29 countries led by Alojz Peterle of Slovenia to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from March 1 to May 21, 2011. The NDI sent 12 long-term observers and 52 short-term observers from 23 countries led by Joseph Clark from Canada to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from January to May 22, 2011.&amp;nbsp; The ECOWAS sent 300 short-term observers led by Amos Claudius Sawyer of Liberia to monitor the legislative and presidential elections from April 12 to April 17, 2011.&amp;nbsp; The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) claimed fraud in the presidential election.&amp;nbsp; At least three individuals were killed in bombings in&amp;nbsp;Maiduguri in the state of Borno on April 25, 2011.&amp;nbsp; At least 16 individuals were killed in an attack on a predominantly Christian village in the state of Bauchi on May 7, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Some 800 individuals were killed, and some 65,000 individuals were displaced following the April 2011 elections.&amp;nbsp; Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as president on May 29, 2011.&amp;nbsp; At least 14 individuals were killed in Boko Haram bombings near the Shadawanka military barracks in the state of Bauchi on May 29, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Eight individuals were killed in a Boko Haram suicide bombing at the police headquarters in Abuja on June 16, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants attacked a police station and bank in the town of Kankara in the state of Katsina on June 20, 2011, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed at least ten individuals in a series of attacks in&amp;nbsp;Maiduguri in the state of Borno on July 3, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed eleven Boko Haram militants in&amp;nbsp;Maiduguri in the state of Borno on July 9, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed three government policemen and one civilian in Maiduguri in the state of Borno on August 19, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants attacked several police stations and banks in the town of Gombi in the state of Adamawa on August 25, 2011, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 individuals.&amp;nbsp; The UN compound in Abuja was damaged by a suicide car bombing by Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants on August 26, 2011, resulting in the deaths of 23 individuals.&amp;nbsp; UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the suicide car bombing.&amp;nbsp; More than 40 individuals were killed in religious violence in Jos in the state of Plateau on September 1, 2011.&amp;nbsp; At least 27 individuals were killed in religious violence in the villages of Babale, Dabwak, and Tatu in the state of Plateau on September 3-4, 2011.&amp;nbsp; At least 19 individuals were killed during an attack on the village of Lingyado in the state of Zamfara on October 2, 2011.&amp;nbsp; As of October 2011, there were some 370,000 internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, including some 74,000 IDPs in camps.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants attacked the police headquarter, several government buildings, two banks, and several churches in Damaturu in northern Nigeria on November 4, 2011, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 individuals. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants attacked a military school near Kano on December 15, 2011, resulting in the deaths of four military officers.&amp;nbsp; Government policemen clashed with Boko Haram militants in Kano on December 17, 2011, resulting in the deaths of three policemen and four militants.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Boko Haram militants in Damaturu, Maiduguri, and other towns in northern Nigeria on December 22-23, 2011, resulting in the deaths of at least 68 individuals.&amp;nbsp; At least 42 individuals were killed in church bombings by Boko Haram militants in Madalla, Jos, Gadaka, and Damaturu on December 25, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Representatives of the AU, EU, and Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned the church bombings.&amp;nbsp; UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN Security Council condemned the church bombings.&amp;nbsp; Representatives of the governments of Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, UK, U.S, and Zambia condemned the church bombings.&amp;nbsp; At least 50 individuals were killed in ethnic violence in the state of Ebonyi on December 31, 2011.&amp;nbsp; President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the states of Yobe, Borno, Plateau, and Niger on December 31, 2011.&amp;nbsp; Some 90,000 Nigerians were displaced in Damaturu in December 2011.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants attacked the town of Mubi in the state of Adamawa on January 5, 2012, resulting in the deaths of at least 18, mostly ethnic Ibo, individuals.&amp;nbsp; Eight individuals were killed in Yola in the state of Adamawa on January 5, 2012.&amp;nbsp; At least five individuals were killed at a mosque and Islamic school in the city of Benin on January 9, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed eight individuals, including four policemen, in the town of Potiskum in the state of Yobe on January 9, 2012. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants attacked police stations and government buildings in Kano on January 20, 2012, resulting in the deaths of some 150 civilians and 32 government policemen.&amp;nbsp; The U.S. government condemned Boko Haram on January 24, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed eleven Boko Haram militants in Maiduguri in the state of Borno on January 28, 2012.&amp;nbsp; The military headquarters in Kaduna was damaged by a suicide bombing by Boko Haram on February 8, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed eight Boko Haram militants in Maiduguri in the state of Borno on February 20, 2012. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants attacked a government police station and bank in the town of Jama’are on February 27, 2012, resulting in the deaths of three policemen.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 20 individuals at churches in northern Nigeria on April 29, 2012.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants attacked a police convoy in the town of Jalingo in the state of Taraba on April 30, 2012, resulting in the deaths of eleven individuals.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least nine individuals in a suicide attack on a church in the state of Bauchi on June 3, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed 16 suspected&amp;nbsp;Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants in&amp;nbsp;Maiduguri in the state of Borno on June 5-6, 2012. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants killed at least five individuals in a suicide bombing of the police headquarters in&amp;nbsp;Maiduguri in the state of Borno on June 8, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Some 50 individuals were killed by Boko Haram militants in suicide bombings of churches in the state of Kaduna on June 17, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed some 130 individuals in the state of Plateau on June 17, 2012.&amp;nbsp; At least five individuals were killed in a suicide bombing of a mosque in Maiduguri in the state of Borno on July 13, 2012.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants killed two government soldiers in a clash in the Niger Delta region on August 4, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least six government soldiers and two civilians in a suicide bombing of a military convoy in Damaturu in the state of Yobe on August 5, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed 19 individuals at a church in Okene in the state of Kogi on August 6, 2012. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed two government soldiers near a mosque in Okene in the state of Kogi on August 7, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Boko Haram militants in Maiduguri in the state of Borno on August 12, 2012, resulting in the deaths of 20 militants and one government soldier.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed seven suspected&amp;nbsp;Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants in&amp;nbsp;Maiduguri in the state of Borno on September 7, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed at least 35 suspected&amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants in the states of Adamawa and Yobe on September 24, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants killed more than 25 individuals in the town of Mubi on October 3, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed some 30 suspected Boko Haram militants in Damaturu on October 7, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants killed three policemen during an attack on a government police station near Damaturu on November 9, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Eleven individuals were killed in a suicide bombing of a military barracks by Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants in Jaji in the state of Kaduna on November 25, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants attacked a government police station in Abuja on November 26, 2012, resulting in the deaths of two policemen.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed ten individuals in the village of Chibok and five government policemen in Gamboru Ngala in the state of Borno on December 1-2, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed six individuals at a church in the village of Peri in the state of Yobe on December 24, 2012. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed 15 individuals near Maiduguri in the state of Borno on December 28, 2012.&amp;nbsp; Some 600 individuals were killed by Boko Haram militants in 2012. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants attacked a government police station and government office in the town of Song in the state of Adamawa on January 2, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with MEND militants in the state of Ogun on January 9, 2013, resulting in the deaths of 40 civilians, seven militants, and three government soldiers.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants killed 23 individuals in Damboa in the state of Borno and Kano on January 21-22, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops&amp;nbsp;clashed with&amp;nbsp;Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants in the state of Borno on February 1, 2013, resulting in the deaths of 17 militants and one government soldier.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants attacked an oil vessel near Bonny Island in the Niger Delta region on February 4, 2013, resulting in the death of one government sailor.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants attacked an oil barge in the Niger Delta on February 5, 2013, resulting in the deaths of four foreign oil workers.&amp;nbsp; Four opposition political parties merged to form the All Progressive Congress (APC) on February 6, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed 20 Boko Haram militants in the village of Monguno in the state of Borno on March 3, 2013. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed at least 22 individuals in a suicide car bombing of a bus station in Kano on March 18, 2013. &amp;nbsp;Henry Okah, former leader of the MEND militant group, was sentenced to 24 years in prison by a South African court on March 26, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Boko Haram militants in Kano on March 31, 2013, resulting in the deaths of 14 militants and one government soldier.&amp;nbsp; MEND militants killed twelve government policemen in the state of Bayelsa on April 6, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Boko Haram militants in the town of Baga on April 19-20, 2013, resulting in the deaths of dozens of individuals. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants attacked military barracks, a prison, and a police station in the town of Bama in the state of Borno on May 7, 2013, resulting in the deaths of 22 policemen, 14 prison guards, two government soldiers, four civilians, and 13 militants.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed 53 individuals in the state of Benue on May 14, 2013.&amp;nbsp; President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency and government troops launched a military offensive against Boko Haram militant camps in the states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa on May 14, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Some 42 individuals, including at least 27 students, were killed by Boko Haram militants during an attack against a boarding school in the town of Potiskum in the state of Yobe on July 6, 2013. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants attacked a government police station and bank in the town of Karim Lamido in the state of Taraba on July 6, 2013, resulting in the deaths of three policemen. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed 20 individuals in the town of Baga in the state of Borno on July 27, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 12 individuals in Kano on July 29, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants attacked a military base in the town of Malam Fatori and a police station in the town of Bama in the state of Borno on August 4-5, 2013, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 militants, two government soldiers, and one government policeman.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed 44 individuals at a mosque in the town of Konduga and 12 individuals in the village of Ngom in the state of Borno on August 11, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed 11 individuals in the town of Damboa in the state of Borno on August 15, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed 44 individuals in the village of Demba in the state of Borno on August 19, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 20 pro-government militiamen in the town of Bama and the village of Damasak in the state of Borno on August 25-26, 2013. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed at least 24 pro-government militiamen near the town of Monguno in the state of Borno on August 30, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed 15 individuals in the town of Gajiram and five individuals in the village of Bulabilin Ngaura in the state of Borno on September 4-5, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed some 50 Boko Haram militants in the state of Borno on September 6, 2013. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants clashed with members of a pro-government militia in the town of Benisheik in the state of Borno on September 8, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Boko Haram militants near Maiduguri in the state of Borno on September 10-12, 2013, resulting in the deaths of several dozen militants and at least 16 government soldiers. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed at least 143 individuals on the road between Maiduguri and Damaturu in the state of Borno on September 17, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 16 individuals on the road between Maiduguri and Damboa in the state of Borno on September 19, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government security forces clashed with suspected Boko Haram militants in Abuja on September 20, 2013, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 41 students at an agriculture college in Gujba in the state of Yobe on September 28, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Boko Haram militants in Damboa in the state of Borno on October 5, 2013, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 individuals. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed 19 individuals near the town of Logumani in the state of Borno on October 20, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed 74 suspected Boko Haram militants in the villages of Galangi and Lawanti in the state of Borno on October 24, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Boko Haram militants in Damaturu in the state of Yobe on October 24-25, 2013, resulting in the deaths of dozens of individuals. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed 27 individuals in the village of Gulumba in the state of Borno on October 31, 2013. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants killed 13 individuals in the village of T-Junction on the state of Borno on November 2, 2013. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants attacked a wedding convoy near the town of Bama in the state of Borno on November 2, 2013, resulting in the deaths of more than 30 individuals.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Boko Haram militants in Kano on November 9, 2013, resulting in the deaths of five militants and two government soldiers.&amp;nbsp; On November 13, 2013, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that some 40,000 Nigerians had been displaced to Niger during the recent Nigerian military offensive against Boko Haram militants. &amp;nbsp;On November 13, 2013, the U.S. government designated Nigeria’s Boko Haram and Ansaru militant groups as “foreign terrorist organizations.” &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed 12 individuals in the village of Sandiya in the state of Borno on November 23, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed more than 50 Boko Haram militants in the Gwoza hills in the state of Borno on November 28, 2013. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants attacked several military bases in Maiduguri in the state of Borno on December 2, 2013, resulting in the deaths of several individuals.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants attacked a military barracks in the town of Bama in the state of Borno on December 20, 2013, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 government soldiers.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Boko Haram militants near the border with Cameroon in the state of Borno on December 23, 2013, resulting in the deaths of some 50 militants, 15 government soldiers, and five civilians.&amp;nbsp; Government troops killed some 56 Boko Haram militants in Alafa forest in the state of Borno on December 28, 2013. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed eight individuals in the village of Tashan Alade in the state of Borno on December 29, 2013.&amp;nbsp; Some 470,000 Nigerians were displaced, mostly as a result of the Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;insurgency, in 2013 (more than three million Nigerians overall were internally-displaced at the end of 2013).&amp;nbsp; At least 17 individuals were killed in a Boko Haram car bombing in Maiduguri in the state of Borno on January 14, 2014.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed 52 individuals in the village of Kawuri in the state of Borno and 22 individuals in the village of Waga Chakawa in the state of Adamawa on January 26, 2014.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 39 individuals in the town of Konduga in the state of Borno on February 11, 2014.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed some 106 individuals in the village of Izghe in the state of Borno on February 15, 2014.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 29 students at a boarding school in Buni Yadi in the state of Yobe on February 24-25, 2014.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants attacked the town of Michika and the villages of Shuwa and Kirchinga in the state of Adamawa on February 26, 2014, resulting in the deaths of 37 civilians and six militants.&amp;nbsp; A coalition of west African troops from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, known as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), launched a joint military offensive against Boko Haram militants in northeastern Nigeria and neighboring countries from January 23 to December 24, 2015, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 militants, civilians, and west African soldiers.&amp;nbsp; On January 29, 2015, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) authorized the deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) consisting of between 8,500 and 10,000 troops from the Benin (150 soldiers), Cameroon (2,250), Chad (3,000 soldiers), Niger (1,000 soldiers), and Nigeria (3,000 soldiers) to combat Boko Haram militants in the Lake Chad Basin.&amp;nbsp; The mandate of the MNJTF, which was originally established by the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) on March 21, 1994, was to provide security for areas affected by the activities of the Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, facilitate the implementation of stabilization programs such as the return of internally-displaced persons and refugees, and facilitate humanitarian assistance to affected populations.&amp;nbsp; Major-General Tukur Yusuf Buratai of Nigeria was appointed as the first commander of the MNJTF in May 2015.&amp;nbsp; Chadian troops attacked Boko Haram militants in Gamboru on February 4, 2015, resulting in the deaths of some 200 militants and nine Chadian soldiers. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on March 7, 2015.&amp;nbsp; Government troops recaptured the towns of Bama and Gwoza from&amp;nbsp;Boko Haram&amp;nbsp;militants on March 16 and March 27, 2015.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants attacked an island in Lake Chad on April 25, 2015, resulting in the deaths of 46 Nigerian soldiers and 28 civilians.&amp;nbsp; Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was elected president with 54 percent of the vote on March 28-29, 2015, and he was sworn in as president of Nigeria on May 29, 2015.&amp;nbsp; The APC won 225 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 125 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed 41 individuals in elected-related violence.&amp;nbsp; The AU sent 84 long-term and short-term observers led by former President Amos Sawyer of Liberia to monitor the presidential and legislative elections.&amp;nbsp; The CON sent ten short-term observers led by former President Bakili Muluzi of Malawi to monitor the presidential and legislative elections on March 21-30, 2015.&amp;nbsp; The ECOWAS sent 12 long-term and 225 short-term observers led by former President John Kufuor of Ghana to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from January 23 to March 29, 2015.&amp;nbsp; The EU sent 30 long-term observers and more than 60 short-term observers from 27 countries led by Santiago Fisas Ayxela from Spain to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from January 12 to March 30, 2015.&amp;nbsp; Nigerian governor elections were held on April 11, 2015.&amp;nbsp; The EU sent 58 observers from 26 countries to monitor the governor elections.&amp;nbsp; At least 30 individuals were killed in election-related violence on April 11, 2015.&amp;nbsp; Government troops and Boko Haram militants clashed near Buni Yadi in the state of Yobe on January 7-8, 2017, resulting in the deaths of five government soldiers and more than 15 militants.&amp;nbsp; Nigerian government aircraft accidentally bombed a refugee camp in the state of Borno on January 17, 2017, resulting in the deaths of 115 individuals. Six individuals were killed in suicide bombings in Maiduguri on March 18, 2017.&amp;nbsp; Government troops launched a military offensive against Boko Haram militants on April 2, 2017. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed four civilians near Maiduguri on December 25, 2017.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed four individuals near Maiduguri in the state of Borno on April 26, 2018.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants ambushed and killed five government soldiers near the town of Gwoza in the state of Borno on May 31, 2018. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants killed nine government soldiers in the town of Gajiram in the state of Borno on June 18, 2018. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants attacked government soldiers near the town of Geidam in the state of Yobe on Jul 20, 2018, resulting in the deaths of 31 soldiers. &amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants attacked government troops in the village of Metele in the state of Borno on November 22, 2018, resulting in the deaths of some 70 soldiers.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashed with Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi in northeastern Nigeria on July 15, 2018.&amp;nbsp; ISWAP militants captured the town of Gudumbali in the state of Borno on September 8, 2018.&amp;nbsp; On October 31, 2018, Boko Haram militants killed at least 15 individuals in several villages in the state of Borno, including Kofa, Dalori, and Bulabrin.&amp;nbsp; On November 18, 2018, ISWAP militants attacked a government militant base in the town of Metele, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 soldiers.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;span class=&quot;mw-headline&quot; id=&quot;2019&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;President Muhammadu Buhari and the main opposition political party presidential candidates signed the&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;National Peace Accord&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;in Abuja on February 13, 2019, promising to call on their supporters “to refrain from violence or any acts that may in any way jeopardize our collective vision of a free, fair and credible election”.&amp;nbsp; President Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected with 56 percent of the vote on February 23, 2019.&amp;nbsp; The All Progressives Congress (APC) won 217 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives, and the People’s Democratic Party won 115 seats in the House of Representatives.&amp;nbsp; The ECOWAS sent 30 long-term observers and 170 short-term observers led by former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from January 13 to February 24, 2019.&amp;nbsp; The AU sent 50 short-term observers led by former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe of Ethiopia to monitor the presidential and legislative elections from February 9 to February 28, 2019.&amp;nbsp; The CON sent short-term observers led by former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania to monitor presidential and legislative elections from February 8 to February 23, 2019.&amp;nbsp; The EU sent 40 long-term and 91 long-term observers from 29 countries to monitor the presidential, legislative, and governor elections from January 21 to March 25, 2019.&amp;nbsp; The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) sent 16 short-term observers led by former President Rupiah Banda of Zambia to monitor presidential and legislative elections from February 6 to February 26, 2019.&amp;nbsp; The IRI and NDI sent 40 short-term observers from 19 countries to jointly monitor the presidential and legislative elections from February 11 to February 25, 2019.&amp;nbsp; Thirty individuals were killed in Boko Haram suicide bombings in Konduga in the state of Borno on June 16, 2019.&amp;nbsp; On July 4, 2019, Boko Haram militants ambushed and killed at least five government soldiers in Damboa in the state of Borno.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 65 individuals in the town of Nganzai in the state of Borno on July 27, 2019.&amp;nbsp; Government troops clashes with Boko Haram militants near Maiduguri in the state of Borno on August 15, 2019, resulting in the deaths of three government soldiers.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed eight individuals in the village of Balumri in the state of Borno on August 31, 2019.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed 19 Fulani cattle herders near Ngala on December 14, 2019.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed seven individuals during an attack near Chibok in state of Borno on December 24, 2019.&amp;nbsp; As of December 31, 2019, more than 50,000 individuals have been killed and 2.4 million individuals have been displaced as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency since July 2009.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants bombed a market in Gamboru in the state of Borno on January 6, 2020, resulting in the deaths of at least 38 individuals.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 30 individuals in the town of Auno in the state of Borno on February 9, 2020.&amp;nbsp; On April 6, 2020, MNJTF troops attacked&amp;nbsp;Boko Haram militants in the Lake Chad region, resulting in the deaths of 19 militants.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 69 individuals in the village of Faduma Koloram in the state of Borno on June 9, 2020.&amp;nbsp; Boko Haram militants killed at least 20 government soldiers and 40 civilians in Monguno and Nganzai on June 13, 2020. On June 29, 2020, Boko Haram militants ambushed and killed at least nine government soldiers near Damboa in the state of Borno.&amp;nbsp; On July 7, 2020, ISWAP militants ambushed and killed more than 30 government soldiers in the village of Bulabulin in the state of Borno.&amp;nbsp; Three individuals were killed in explosions in Maiduguri in the state of Borno on July 30, 2020.&amp;nbsp; ISWAP militants claimed to have killed 20 government soldiers in the town of Magumeri and Baga on September 1-3, 2020.&amp;nbsp; On September 15, 2020, the U.S. Department of State imposed diplomatic sanctions (visa restrictions) against Nigerians accused of undermining democratic principles in the states of Edo and Ondo.&amp;nbsp; On September 20, 2020, Boko Haram militants ambushed a convoy of government troops near Damboa in the state of Borno, resulting in the death of seven government soldiers.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;[Sources:&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Africa Contemporary Record&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(ACR&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 18px;&quot;&gt;), 1968-1969, 1969-1970, 1974-1975, 1975-1976, 1976-1977;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;Africa Diary&lt;/em&gt;, February 21-27, 1966, June 25-July 1, 1967, July 9-15, 1967, August 13-19, 1967, September 17-23, 1967, October 8-14, 1967, November 5-11, 1967, November 26-December 2, 1967, March 3-9, 1968, April 28-May 4, 1968, May 19-25, 1968, June 30-July 6, 1968, June 30-July 6, 1968, August 4-10, 1968, September 22-28, 1968, October 6-12, 1968, October 27-November 2, 1968, November 10-16, 1968, November 24-30, 1968, December 24-31, 1968, February 5-11, 1970, February 19-25, 1970, September 3-9, 1975, February 19-25, 1976, March 18-24, 1976, April 15-21, 1976, May 6-12, 1984, July 15-21, 1984;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Africa Report&lt;/em&gt;, March 1966, October 1967, February 1968, March 1968, May 1968, June 1968, November 1968, February 1969, March-April 1969, May-June 1969;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Africa Research Bulletin&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(ARB), February 1-28, 1970, September 1-30, 1978, August 1-31, 1979, August 1-31, 1983, October 1-31, 1983, December 1-31, 1983, January 1-31, 1984, March 15, 1986, June 15, 1989;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;African Union&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(AU), March 31, 2011, April 12, 2011, April 18, 2011, March 29, 2015;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;Agence France-Presse&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(AFP), May 2, 2002;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Al Jazeera,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;May 31, 2013, February 13, 2019;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Amnesty International,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;November 10, 1995;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Associated Press&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(AP), September 24, 1998, October 30, 1998, February 27, 1999, May 19, 1999, May 29, 1999, February 25, 2000, September 8, 2001, November 24, 2002, March 3, 2003, March 23, 2003, March 26, 2003, April 23, 2003, May 3, 2003, August 17, 2003, August 22, 2003; Banks and Muller, 1998, 682-688; Bercovitch and Jackson, 1997, 135;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;British Broadcasting Corporation&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(BBC), April 15, 1998, April 19, 1998, April 20, 1998, April 23, 1998, April 27, 1998, July 8, 1998, October 30, 1998, December 6, 1998, February 22, 1999, May 5, 1999, May 19, 1999, November 28, 1999, February 28, 2000, February 29, 2000, April 19, 2000, May 24, 2000, February 8, 2001, September 8, 2001, September 9, 2001, January 4, 2002, March 21, 2002, March 22, 2002, April 20, 2002, November 13, 2002, March 28, 2003, March 31, 2003, April 12, 2003, April 14, 2003, April 15, 2003, May 15, 2003, August 4, 2003, August 17, 2003, August 18, 2003, August 19, 2003, August 21, 2003, August 22, 2003, January 5, 2004, January 7, 2004, January 13, 2004, January 14, 2004, March 27, 2004, March 29, 2004, April 21, 2004, April 25, 2004, April 30, 2004, May 11, 2004, May 12, 2004, May 31, 2004, June 2, 2004, July 14, 2004, August 31, 2004, September 3, 2004, September 8, 2004, September 22, 2004, October 2, 2004, October 7, 2004, March 17, 2005, March 22, 2005, April 29, 2005, May 9, 2005, July 6, 2005, October 27, 2005, November 8, 2005, December 6, 2005, January 18, 2006, January 24, 2006, February 19, 2006, February 22, 2006, February 23, 2006, February 24, 2006, April 20, 2006, May 15, 2006, June 7, 2006, October 13, 2006, October 16, 2006, October 19, 2006, December 21, 2006, January 16, 2007, April 15, 2007, April 18, 2007, April 23, 2007, May 29, 2007, June 2, 2007, June 14, 2007, June 21, 2007, July 3, 2007, August 3, 2007, September 24, 2007, October 31, 2007, November 19, 2007, November 21, 2007, January 1, 2008, June 22, 2008, July 10, 2008, September 21, 2008, November 28, 2008, November 29, 2008, November 30, 2008, January 30, 2009, February 21, 2009, June 26, 2009, July 13, 2009, July 15, 2009, July 26, 2009, July 27, 2009, July 28, 2009, July 29, 2009, July 20, 2009, July 31, 2009, October 25, 2009, December 29, 2009, January 20, 2010, January 30, 2010, February 10, 2010, March 8, 2010, May 6, 2010, October 12, 2010, November 23, 2010, December 25, 2010, December 27, 2010, December 30, 2010, January 1, 2011, January 10, 2011, January 11, 2011, February 13, 2011, March 3, 2011, April 8, 2011, April 16, 2011, April 18, 2011, April 24, 2011, April 25, 2011, April 26, 2011, May 7, 2011, May 9, 2011, May 29, 2011, May 30, 2011, June 1, 2011, June 16, 2011, June 17, 2011, June 21, 2011, July 3, 2011, July 6, 2011, July 10, 2011, July 12, 2011, August 19, 2011, August 26, 2011, September 2, 2011, September 5, 2011, October 2, 2011, November 1, 2011, November 4, 2011, November 5, 2011, November 26, 2011, December 16, 2011, December 19, 2011, December 23, 2011, December 24, 2011, December 25, 2011, December 30, 2011, January 1, 2012, January 7, 2012, January 10, 2012, January 21, 2012, January 23, 2012, January 28, 2012, February 20, 2012, February 28, 2012, April 30, 2012, June 6, 2012, June 8, 2012, June 17, 2012, June 18, 2012, July 13, 2012, August 5, 2012, August 7, 2012, August 8, 2012, August 12, 2012, September 8, 2012, September 24, 2012, October 7, 2012, November 9, 2012, November 25, 2012, November 26, 2012, December 2, 2012, December 25, 2012, December 30, 2012, January 3, 2013, January 22, 2013, February 1, 2013, February 7, 2013, March 3, 2013, March 19, 2013, March 31, 2013, April 22, 2013, May 7, 2013, May 15, 2013, May 17, 2013, July 7, 2013, July 30, 2013, August 5, 2013, August 13, 2013, August 16, 2013, August 23, 2013, August 27, 2013, August 31, 2013, September 6, 2013, September 8, 2013, September 18, 2013, September 19, 2013, September 20, 2013, September 29, 2013, October 20, 2013, October 25, 2013, November 3, 2013, November 13, 2013, November 23, 2013, December 2, 2013, December 20, 2013, January 14, 2014, January 27, 2014, February 12, 2014, February 16, 2014, February 19, 2014, February 25, 2014, February 27, 2014, March 27, 2015, January 24, 2017, March 3, 2019, June 29, 2020, July 9, 2020, July 30, 2020, September 3, 2020, September 22, 2020; Bloomberg, February 13, 2019; Butterworth, 1976, 419-421;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Cable News Network&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(CNN), February 24, 2000, September 8, 2001, September 11, 2001, November 5, 2001, February 5, 2002, March 25, 2002;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;The&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Carter Center,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;February 16, 1999, February 22, 1999, March 1, 1999, March 28, 2003;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Christian Science Monitor&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(CSM), May 26, 2000; Clodfelter, 1992, 1017-1019;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Commonwealth of&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Nations&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(CON), November 22, 1998, February 12, 1999, May 18, 1999, April 1, 2003, April 10, 2007, April 22, 2007, April 27, 2007, April 18, 2011, March 23, 2015, March 30, 2015; Degenhardt, 1988, 256-257; Donelan and Grieve, 1973, 259-264; Dupoy and Dupoy, 1977, 1325-1326;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Economic Community of West African States&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(ECOWAS), April 29, 2003, April 15, 2007, April 23, 2007, April 1, 2011, April 12, 2011, April 17, 2011;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Economist&lt;/em&gt;, July 5, 2001, September 13, 2001, October 18, 2001;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;European Union&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(EU), November 10, 1995, March 30, 2015;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Facts on File&lt;/em&gt;, January 13-19, 1966, February 3-9, 1966, June 9-15, 1966, August 11-17, 1966, September 29-October 5, 1966, October 20-26, 1966, January 8-14, 1970, January 15-21, 1970, January 22-28, 1970, February 5-11, 1970, August 2, 1975, August 23, 1975, February 21, 1976, March 13, 1976, March 27, 1976, May 22, 1976, June 23, 1978, October 6, 1978, August 24, 1979, October 5, 1979, September 20, 2001, October 18, 2001, November 1, 2001;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Foreign Broadcast Information Service&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(FBIS), April 10, 1996, April 12, 1996, April 16, 1996;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Human Rights Watch&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(HRW), January 23, 2001, October 25, 2001, January 8, 2002;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;International Business Times&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(IBT), January 9, 2017;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;International Committee of the Red Cross&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(ICRC), March 2, 2000; Jessup, 1998, 529-530;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;International Foundation for Election Systems&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(IFES), November 27, 1998, February 16, 1999, February 23, 1999, March 2, 1999;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;International Republican Institute&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(IRI), February 22, 1999, February 28, 1999; Jessup, 1998, 529-530;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Keesing’s Record of World Events&lt;/em&gt;, February 13-20, 1965, February 5-12, 1966, September 17-24, 1966, February 4-11, 1967, April 22-29, 1967, June 17-24, 1967, September 9-16, 1967, September 30-October 7, 1967, April 27-May 4, 1968, August 24-31, 1968, January 25-February 1, 1969, May 31-June 7, 1969, November 1-8, 1969, February 28-March 7, 1970, March 14-21, 1970, April 18-25, 1970, August 25-31, 1975, September 3-9, 1975, July 16, 1976, December 19, 1980, January 1984, May 1984, November 1985, January 1987, October 1989, April 1990, July 1990, September 1990, May 1992, July 1992, July 1993, August 1993, November 1993, June 1995, November 1995, March 1996, April 1996, November 1996, March 1997, February 1999; Langer, 1972, 1267-1268;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;National Democratic Institute&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(NDI), January 12, 1999, February 22, 1999,&amp;nbsp;April 21, 2003, April 23, 2007, April 11, 2011;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;New York Times,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;July 23, 2002, August 4, 2002, November 25, 2002, May 13, 2004, May 19, 2004, April 16, 2007, April 22, 2007;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Norwegian Refugee Council&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(NRC), November 28, 2001;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Panafrican News Agency&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(PANA), April 26, 1996, October 23, 1997, February 18, 1999, January 24, 2001;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Reuters&lt;/em&gt;, March 2, 1998, December 6, 1998, January 4, 1999, January 9, 1999, February 17, 1999, February 18, 1999, February 27, 1999, May 29, 1999, May 31, 1999, January 22, 2001, October 15, 2001, May 27, 2002, August 13, 2002, August 28, 2002, October 14, 2002, October 23, 2002, February 20, 2003, March 3, 2003, April 12, 2003, April 21, 2003, April 22, 2003, May 3, 2003, March 27, 2004, April 22, 2007, November 8, 2010, July 6, 2013, July 28, 2013, July 29, 2013, August 5, 2013, August 12, 2013, August 23, 2013, August 31, 2013, September 6, 2013, September 7, 2013, September 12, 2013, September 18, 2013, September 20, 2013, September 29, 2013, October 6, 2013, October 20, 2013, October 25, 2013, November 4, 2013, November 9, 2013, November 13, 2013, November 23, 2013, November 29, 2013, December 2, 2013, December 13, 2013, December 21, 2013, December 24, 2013, December 30, 2013, March 16, 2015, April 11, 2015, January 9, 2017, December 26, 2017, November 1, 2018, July 7, 2019, July 28, 2019, February 10, 2020, June 9, 2020, June 13, 2020;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;This Day&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(Lagos, Nigeria), May 5, 2002;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;United Nations&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(UN), December 22, 1995, March 20, 1996;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;Vanguard&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(Lagos, Nigeria), May 5, 2002, August 15, 2002;&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Washington Post,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;March 2, 1999, February 10, 2002.]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 700;&quot;&gt;Selected Bibliography&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;Akuchu, Gemuh E. 1977. “Peace Settlement of Disputes: Unsolved Problem for the OAU.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Africa Today&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;24 (October-December): 39-58.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;Anber, Paul. 1967. “Modernisation and Political Disintegration: Nigeria and the Obos,”&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;The Journal of Modern African Studies,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;vol. 5 (2): pp. 163-179.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;Amate, C. O. C. 1986. “Intervening in Africa’s Civil Wars.” Inside the OAU: Pan-Africanism in Practice. London: Macmillan Press, 431-458.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;Edgell, Alvin G. 1975. “Nigeria/Biafra.” In Morris Davis, editor. Civil Wars and the Politics of International Relief. New York: Praeger Publishers, 50-73.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;Kew, Darren. 1999. ” ‘Democrazy: Dem Go Craze, O’: Monitoring the 1999 Nigerian Elections,”&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;A Journal of Opinion,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;vol. 27 (1), pp. 29-33.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;Kohnert, Dirk. 2004. “Election Observation in Nigeria &amp;amp; Madagascar: Diplomatic vs. Technocratic Bias,”&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Review of African Political Economy,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;no. 99, pp. 83-101.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;Phillips, Claude S. 1980. “Nigeria’s New Political Institutions, 1975-1979,”&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;The Journal of Modern African Studies,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;vol. 18 (1), pp. 1-22.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;Wiseberg, Laurie S. 1972. “Christian Churches and the Nigerian Civil War.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Journal of African Studies&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;2 (Fall): 297-331.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;Woronoff, Jon. 1970. “The Nigerian Civil War.” In Organizing African Unity. Metuchen, NJ: The Scarecrow Press, Inc, 395-434.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;Zukerman, Morris E. 1970. “Nigerian Crisis: Economic Impact on the North,”&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;The Journal of Modern African Studies,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;vol. 8 (1), pp. 37-54.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;&quot;&gt;source&lt;a href=&quot;https://uca.edu/politicalscience/home/research-projects/dadm-project/sub-saharan-africa-region/nigeria-1960-present/&quot;&gt;source&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/1455874455356074130/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/1455874455356074130' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/1455874455356074130'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/1455874455356074130'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2024/05/nigeria-1960-present.html' title='NIGERIA  (1960 - PRESENT)'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUCR62L1Qnz9f4SKMIyEceSIgGV4bnOj4IePtOpPwP8LUquj9eifsPCyzZ26H6Ww8ApXmKXU8qCM0SAwsx9r6PFqJpCr5zR7dqnov6-JbNADxa6DpQ7-sL7xtnaRJXyeD1t_AIXbCxzuzJdGUaCGs4FHfbNZ57DpwKc2A_fPzBlsDx3ZiBP_7MnOUf8hA=s72-c" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-7740129654299781794</id><published>2024-05-27T15:01:00.000+02:00</published><updated>2024-05-27T15:01:23.302+02:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="BIAFRA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="HISTORY"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="IGBO NIGERIA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NIGERIA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="WAR"/><title type='text'>Biafran Declaration of Independence</title><content type='html'>&lt;h3 class=&quot;subtitle&quot; style=&quot;background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-color: rgb(106, 93, 83); border-bottom-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-shadow: white 0px 1px 0px; color: #182e42; font-family: &amp;quot;Montserrat Light&amp;quot;, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 3rem; margin: -1px 0px 2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0.5rem 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; font-size: 2.7rem; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1KU4YnXuFusl3TYQyk8FEzh9-f8J3Q5Y2zXDTehq3yi8M1d_vxKpY120qk5ISj8YdAbsnb1j2Ll8Rz2rz-yNmOZoCVLjo9OzGG8AMGf3ZhzHOsXRDKZ4jmIg0rngnoc6njA7EGESKsv1_oLdT8CsFwHTdgBl-C05Q3DO8r_lheNaLstOA_2oMH11pg8A&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; data-original-height=&quot;720&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1280&quot; height=&quot;180&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1KU4YnXuFusl3TYQyk8FEzh9-f8J3Q5Y2zXDTehq3yi8M1d_vxKpY120qk5ISj8YdAbsnb1j2Ll8Rz2rz-yNmOZoCVLjo9OzGG8AMGf3ZhzHOsXRDKZ4jmIg0rngnoc6njA7EGESKsv1_oLdT8CsFwHTdgBl-C05Q3DO8r_lheNaLstOA_2oMH11pg8A&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Biafran Declaration of Independence&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;formatted&quot; style=&quot;background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #383838; font-family: &amp;quot;Libre Baskerville&amp;quot;, serif; margin: 0px 0px 2rem; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;This is a political declaration of Biafra published after a period of time when the military governor of Eastern Nigeria had taken a critical stance against the people who carried out the July, 1966, coup.&amp;nbsp; Lt. Col. C. O. Ojukwu denied the legitimacy of the coup leaders to rule and also claimed that the rest of Nigeria, especially those living in the North, had carried out murderous actions (and policies) against Easterners, especially the Igbo people, the largest ethnic group numerically in the East.&amp;nbsp; His staunch stands can result in comparisons of him to George Washington--or he can be seen as another military opportunist.&amp;nbsp; All in all Nigeria has had nine coups in the last forty years, not counting unsuccessful attempts.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Declarations such as this one assert principles and tell a story.&amp;nbsp; The American&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/declaration/decmain.html&quot; style=&quot;background: transparent; color: #4ec6b7; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.12s ease 0s, background-color 0.2s ease 0s; vertical-align: baseline;&quot; target=&quot;blank&quot;&gt;Declaration of Independence&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;asserts the primacy of the natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and then, in the long middle section of the document, gives a long list of examples of actions taken by King George III against the Americans in order to tell a story of oppression that justifies the revolution.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p align=&quot;center&quot; style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;em style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Questions on the reading&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;What principles does the Biafran declaration assert?&amp;nbsp; What story does it tell? &amp;nbsp; The Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria are usually seen as the core of this movement. &amp;nbsp; How many times are the Igbo mentioned in this document?&amp;nbsp; Why is this the case? &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;It might be helpful to pause at the end of each paragraph to reflect on what it might mean and why the authors decided to include the statement.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;h3 style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #191919; font-family: &amp;quot;Montserrat Light&amp;quot;, sans-serif; font-size: 2.3rem; line-height: 4rem; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;The Biafran Declaration of Independence&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;[The following is taken from C. Odumegwu Ojukwu,&amp;nbsp;&lt;em style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;Biafra Selected Speeches and Random Thoughts of C. Odumegwu Ojukwu&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(NY: Harper &amp;amp; Row, 1969), 191-196]&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;Resolution passed on May 27, 1967.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;WE, THE Chiefs, Elders, and Representatives of Eastern Nigeria, gathered at this Joint Meeting of the Advisory Committee of Chiefs and Elders and the Consultative Assembly, do solemnly declare as follows:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;WHEREAS we have been in the vanguard of the national movement for the building of a strong, united, and prosperous Nigeria where no man will be oppressed and have devoted our efforts, talents, and resources to this end;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;WHEREAS we cherish certain inalienable human rights and state obligations such as the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness; the right to acquire, possess, and defend property; the provision of security; and the establishment of good and just government based on the consent of the governed;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;WHEREAS in practical demonstration of these beliefs, our people settled in other parts of Nigeria, served their country in many capacities, and contributed immensely to the growth and development of Nigeria;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;WHEREAS WE ARE LIVING WITNESSES OF INJUSTICES AND ATROCITIES COMMITTED against Eastern Nigeria, among which are the premeditated murder of over 30,000 of our innocent men, women, and children by Northern Nigerians, the calculated destruction of the property of our sons and daughters, the shameless conversion of 2,000,000 Eastern Nigerians into refugees in their own country, all this without remorse;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;WHEREAS in consequence of these and other acts of discrimination and injustice, we have painfully realized that the Federation of Nigeria has failed, and has given us no protection;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;WHEREAS in spite of these facts, the government and people of Eastern Nigeria have persisted in their efforts to find a practical and just solution that would preserve the continued existence of Nigeria as one corporate unit and restore peace and confidence as demonstrated by the initiative of our military governor in getting all the military leaders together at Aburi, Ghana;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;WHEREAS the hopes which the Aburi Agreement engendered have proved to be misplaced and have been destroyed by a series of acts of bad faith and distortions and finally by a refusal on the part of the &quot;Lagos Government&quot; to implement these and other agreements notwithstanding the fact that they were freely and voluntarily entered into;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;WHEREAS the Federation of Nigeria has forfeited any claim to our allegiance by these acts and by the economic, political, and diplomatic sanctions imposed against us by the so-called Federal Government;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;AND WHEREAS the object of government is the good of the governed and the will of the people its ultimate sanction;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these and other facts and injustices, we, the Chiefs, Elders, and Representatives of all the twenty provinces of Eastern Nigeria, assembled in this Joint Meeting of the Advisory Committee of Chiefs and Elders and the Consultative Assembly, at Enugu this 27th day of May, 1967&lt;em style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;hereby solemnly:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;MANDATE His Excellency Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, to declare at the earliest practicable date Eastern Nigeria a free, sovereign, and independent state by the name and title of the REPUBLIC OF BIAFRA.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;RESOLVE that the new REPUBLIC OF BIAFRA shall have the full and absolute powers of a sovereign state, and shall establish commerce, levy war, conclude peace, enter into diplomatic relations, and carry out, as of right, other sovereign responsibilities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;DIRECT that the REPUBLIC OF BIAFRA may enter into arrangement with any sovereign unit or units in what remains of Nigeria or in any part of Africa desirous of association with us for the purpose of running a common services organization and for the establishment of economic ties.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;RECOMMEND that the REPUBLIC OF BIAFRA should become a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of African Unity, and the United Nations Organization.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;RECOMMEND the adoption of a federal constitution based on the new provincial units.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;REAFFIRM His Excellency&#39;s assurance of protection for the persons, properties, and businesses of foreign nationals in our territory.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; line-height: 17pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;DECLARE our unqualified confidence in the Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and assure him of our unreserved support for the way and manner he has handled the crisis in the country.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;So help us God.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;THE DECLARATION&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;[Made by Col. Ojukwu]&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Fellow countrymen and women, YOU, the people of Eastern Nigeria:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;CONSCIOUS of the supreme authority of Almighty God over all mankind, of your duty to yourselves and posterity;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;AWARE that you can no longer be protected in your lives and in your property by any government based outside Eastern Nigeria;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;BELIEVING that you are born free and have certain inalienable rights which can best be preserved by yourselves;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;UNWILLING to be unfree partners in any association of a political or economic nature;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;REJECTING the authority of any person or persons other than the Military Government of Eastern Nigeria to make any imposition of whatever kind or nature upon you;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;DETERMINED to dissolve all political and other ties between you and the former Federal Republic of Nigeria;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;PREPARED to enter into such association, treaty or alliance with any sovereign state within the former Federal Republic of Nigeria and elsewhere on such terms and conditions as best to subserve your common good;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;AFFIRMING your trust and confidence in ME; HAVING mandated ME to proclaim on your behalf, and in your name, that Eastern Nigeria be a sovereign independent Republic, NOW THEREFORE I, LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU, MILITARY GOVERNOR OF EASTERN NIGERIA, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY, AND PURSUANT TO THE PRINCIPLES, RECITED ABOVE, DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY PROCLAIM THAT THE TERRITORY AND REGION KNOWN AS AND CALLED EASTERN NIGERIA TOGETHER WITH HER CONTINENTAL SHELF AND TERRITORIAL WATERS SHALL HENCEFORTH BE AN INDEPENDENT SOVEREIGN STATE OF THE NAME AND TITLE OF &quot;THE REPUBLIC OF BIAFRA.&quot; AND I DO DECLARE THAT:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;(i) all political ties between us and the Federal Republic of Nigeria are hereby totally dissolved;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;(ii) all subsisting contractual obligations entered into by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or by any person, authority, organization, or government acting on its behalf, with any person, authority, or organization, or relating to any matter or thing, within the Republic of Biafra, shall henceforth be deemed to be entered into with the Military Governor of the Republic of Biafra for and on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Biafra, and the covenants thereof shall, subject to this Declaration, be performed by the parties according to their tenor;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;(v) steps will be taken to open discussions on the question of Eastern Nigeria&#39;s due share of the assets of the Federation of Nigeria and personal properties of the citizens of Biafra throughout the Federation of Nigeria;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;(vii) we shall keep the door open for association with, and would welcome, any sovereign unit or units in the former Federation of Nigeria or in any other parts of Africa desirous of association with us for the purposes of running a common services organization and for the establishment of economic ties;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;(x) it is our intention to remain a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations in our right as a sovereign independent nation.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC OF BIAFRA!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;AND MAY GOD PROTECT ALL WHO LIVE IN HER&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 2rem 30px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: transparent; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.historians.org/teaching-and-learning/teaching-resources-for-historians/teaching-and-learning-in-the-digital-age/through-the-lens-of-history-biafra-nigeria-the-west-and-the-world/the-republic-of-biafra/biafran-declaration-of-independence&quot;&gt;SOURCE&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/7740129654299781794/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/7740129654299781794' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/7740129654299781794'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/7740129654299781794'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2024/05/biafran-declaration-of-independence.html' title='Biafran Declaration of Independence'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1KU4YnXuFusl3TYQyk8FEzh9-f8J3Q5Y2zXDTehq3yi8M1d_vxKpY120qk5ISj8YdAbsnb1j2Ll8Rz2rz-yNmOZoCVLjo9OzGG8AMGf3ZhzHOsXRDKZ4jmIg0rngnoc6njA7EGESKsv1_oLdT8CsFwHTdgBl-C05Q3DO8r_lheNaLstOA_2oMH11pg8A=s72-c" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-2694094980328952871</id><published>2024-03-09T07:16:00.000+01:00</published><updated>2024-03-09T07:16:12.351+01:00</updated><title type='text'>THE NIGERIAN MAD THIEVES  </title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4y-x6J_4F8qQOLo35vhsEWc8i2bP5HU3KRZNSSSF_8-MxEhiIE71j0jvYSqkNfo80q8pzWmKna_fosbi-Ps_OiNzoyVOubmcNnbkl0tNcxMLT6ZEdVI9cVlYH9_vsBKfKdYELizbOGQ7YOwXG3kLlPRzyV75HJC7Z6yrarKECWTrObuZaXWAXdq3d-c/s500/XGltYWdlc1xjb250ZW50XDkxMzIwMjI3MDE0NF9hNDVkODgyNzE1N2I0NTJjOWIxZWY0NGFlZTUxYjA2Ny5qcGVnfDUwMHwzNTB8.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;312&quot; data-original-width=&quot;500&quot; height=&quot;200&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4y-x6J_4F8qQOLo35vhsEWc8i2bP5HU3KRZNSSSF_8-MxEhiIE71j0jvYSqkNfo80q8pzWmKna_fosbi-Ps_OiNzoyVOubmcNnbkl0tNcxMLT6ZEdVI9cVlYH9_vsBKfKdYELizbOGQ7YOwXG3kLlPRzyV75HJC7Z6yrarKECWTrObuZaXWAXdq3d-c/s320/XGltYWdlc1xjb250ZW50XDkxMzIwMjI3MDE0NF9hNDVkODgyNzE1N2I0NTJjOWIxZWY0NGFlZTUxYjA2Ny5qcGVnfDUwMHwzNTB8.jpg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;*AUTHOR UNKNOWN, BUT THIS SHOULD BE A COMPULSORY READ FOR ALL NIGERIANS:*&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;In one passage s/he writes:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&quot;.... &lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #fcff01;&quot;&gt;the almajiri, area Boys, MC Oluomo, and their likes are not the main threat to this beautiful country. The elites are.&quot; I couldn&#39;t agree more.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Contentment is the grace to stand up from the dining table and look away from the food tray when your belly is full.*&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;But the Nigerian&amp;nbsp; public official, although filled and belching with excess, would still hide stolen meat within the corners of his mouth at a dinner, stuff fried rice into his socks, and try to shuffle moinmoin into his shoes. Madness, you say.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;But who else would steal 80 billion Naira except a mad fellow.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I am no longer numbed at the numbers stolen in Nigeria, but I am terribly saddened by the titles of the pen robbers.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Kemebradikumo Pondei, that dramatic NDDC acting Managing Director that fainted in the Senate, was a Professor of Medicine. A man trained to build, repair, and even possibly manufacture life. Yet, he too got to the table and scooped jollof rice into his boxers.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Do you know who Diezani Alison-Madueke was? No, you don&#39;t. When ladies of her age were wishing and praying to be admitted to Shell Petroleum as typists or tea girls, she was already on the board of the company as an executive director. God gave her the bigger privilege of marrying Allison Madueke, a naval officer and former military Governor of two States. She was a trained architect who transformed to&amp;nbsp; become Nigeria&#39;s first female petroleum minister. Yet, despite these privileges, Diezani stole our barbequed fish, roasted yams, and hide them in her bra. Like a mad woman.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;You recollect that JAMB/NECO ex Registrar, that Professor, the one that stole almost a billion. Just go through his CV, he had been eating from one educational agency to another non-stop since the military era. But at almost 70, a grandpa, he comes from a detention facility and goes to court to defend himself for stealing monies he would never need. At 70, a man is nearer to his grave, but in Nigeria, a 74 year old Minister would steal to buy a plot of land to build a new mansion. His sepulchre, of course.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;Our leaders make you poke at your credentials and certificates. lf medical doctors, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Doctors of Philosophy, and Professors would be this bestial and mad, you wonder to what purpose is our education.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;They say people steal government funds because they fear falling into the poverty trap. But how do you explain a Uzor Kalu, Rochas Okorocha, who rode on private billions before politics and still stole the community goats and chickens. Or Lucky Igbinedion, former Governor of Edo State, who had a golden spoon in his mouth and nevertheless seized the feeding bottles of milk from the mouths of Edo babies.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;A billion has nine zeros. With ₦80 billion, you can build a brand new town, local government area, of 15, 000 low-cost housing units complete with roads, schools, and hospitals. ₦80 billion would build a new ten - Faculty University,&amp;nbsp; that can accommodate 20,000 undergraduates and graduate students. But an accountant allegedly stole such a staggering sum. A fellow of ICAN. A distinguished member of a privileged elite group. Who else should know the cost implication of fraud better than a chartered accountant?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;See, the almajiri, area boys, MC Oluomo, and their likes are not the main threat to this beautiful country. The elites are. The Directors, Permanent Secretary, vice chancellors, CEO, solicitor generals, Senators, Governors are the ones bleeding us. Not bandits, boko haram, or IPOB. The elites are the ones bombing and destroying the social architecture of our nation with their unbridled hedonism. They think the stolen billions would enamour them to the dangers ahead. &quot;But stolen melons are the sweetest...they don&#39;t know the former guests are now citizens of hell.&quot; Everyone is today a victim.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Having broken the social ligaments that hold our nation together, by stealing monies meant for education, healthcare, and infrastructure, the elites have rendered Nigeria a classless nation.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Billionaires are now stolen, emirs are kidnapped, and attempts have been made in the recent past to abduct a serving governor. The elites had sowed wild thorns, and the harvest is fully here.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Politicians steal in Japan and Senators thief in America. A $50,000 bribe. A golden watch. Or a misappropriated flight ticket or inflated hotel bills. But in Nigeria, our leaders don&#39;t embezzle. They haul. Why? Because they are mad.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Our politicians, despite their jejune certificates, lack the intellectual capacity to solve our economic problems, and worse, they lack the contemplation of the right philosophy of public service. They aren&#39;t kingly, and neither are they philosophic.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Leaders are made to live for God, and their existence is for society&#39;s sake. We are to use our gifts, spend our grace, and deploy our earthly terms and years to serve community, society, country, and mankind.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;No man living personally needs a billion. What for? Dangote, Buhari, Bua, Otedola, OBJ, Elumelu, TY Danjuma, cannot&amp;nbsp; spend fifteen thousand naira daily on Nigerian foods or meals. If they do, they would die sooner than their time. You would, too, because God didn&#39;t create us to be excessive.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Every extra gift, talent, grace, money, and wealth we have is not totally for us but for society and state. We are to give, give, and give, for state, humanity, and posterity.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: xx-large;&quot;&gt;Although nature and law permit optimal material rewards and compensation for our efforts. That is why the Accountant General of the Federation, Minister, Governor, Senator, Rep, permanent Secretary is well remunerated above others, so he won&#39;t run mad and go about stealing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;But all is not sad. Like Chief Micheal Adekunle Ajasin, there are a few saints in this country of sin. There are good examples despite the rot. Oby Ezekwesili was former minister of solid minerals and education. She does not have the look nor the body scent of a thief. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala handled our billions of dollars at the time Nigeria was awash with much. Her hands are not hypo clean. But she didn&#39;t haul our billions into her truck. If she had, no one would call her higher into WTO. We also have the like of Professor Ishaq Oloyede of JAMB, who started reporting and returning surplus to the Treasury, unlike his predecessors as JAMB Registrars. Therefore, in this country, not all are crazy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;*Prayer:* God, open the eyes of our elites to see and know that they don&#39;t need what they steal. For only a mad fellow gathers stones and pans that are needless.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;*Don&#39;t forget when you see something say something Nigerians!!!.*&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;If you find this message impactful, please share as you may help inspire others for a NEW NIGERIA 🇳🇬.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/2694094980328952871/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/2694094980328952871' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/2694094980328952871'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/2694094980328952871'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-nigerian-mad-thieves.html' title='THE NIGERIAN MAD THIEVES  '/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4y-x6J_4F8qQOLo35vhsEWc8i2bP5HU3KRZNSSSF_8-MxEhiIE71j0jvYSqkNfo80q8pzWmKna_fosbi-Ps_OiNzoyVOubmcNnbkl0tNcxMLT6ZEdVI9cVlYH9_vsBKfKdYELizbOGQ7YOwXG3kLlPRzyV75HJC7Z6yrarKECWTrObuZaXWAXdq3d-c/s72-c/XGltYWdlc1xjb250ZW50XDkxMzIwMjI3MDE0NF9hNDVkODgyNzE1N2I0NTJjOWIxZWY0NGFlZTUxYjA2Ny5qcGVnfDUwMHwzNTB8.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-1351232473620499591</id><published>2024-03-07T23:11:00.002+01:00</published><updated>2024-03-07T23:11:30.226+01:00</updated><title type='text'>Admiral Madueke at 80</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XWp9hzvTIvb3Y9t_a9otVrXOGg1ca_5pMrRUIxh-AEPgxdaworXAmI11DfY4BDTLft7d98Uo0LxlvgSgxylMvAH8Hv1enFEofoGxyzs8gHfJMggl_vKtrcGrcubzzBaGl5zgpedRNOnnnYf-35SwWsAAucwnPvHVFEFvqGzETjBFnByJlp2qNf1ibNA/s834/Screenshot_20240307-220623-262.png&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;834&quot; data-original-width=&quot;720&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XWp9hzvTIvb3Y9t_a9otVrXOGg1ca_5pMrRUIxh-AEPgxdaworXAmI11DfY4BDTLft7d98Uo0LxlvgSgxylMvAH8Hv1enFEofoGxyzs8gHfJMggl_vKtrcGrcubzzBaGl5zgpedRNOnnnYf-35SwWsAAucwnPvHVFEFvqGzETjBFnByJlp2qNf1ibNA/s320/Screenshot_20240307-220623-262.png&quot; width=&quot;276&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Hurrah for Admiral Madueke!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Byadmi March 7, 2024&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Admiral Madueke, the cat with nine lives is 80 ye&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;ars old today.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;By Chuks Iloegbunam&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;An Igbo saying goes like this: If a man’s chi (personal god) is not a party to the scheme, death will not kill him. On the morning of July 30, 1966, Midshipman Alison Madueke, boarded a KLM, Royal Dutch Airline plane for London, via Amsterdam. He was on his way to officer training at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Devon, England. The plane started taxiing for takeoff. But midway, as it gathered speed, the attempt was aborted. The pilot addressed the passengers through the intercom: “This is the captain speaking. Will the three Naval officers flying to London please alight?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;They are wanted by the military authorities.” Down on the tarmac, Alison was seized and manhandled by Northern Nigerian military officers and men. The July 29, 1966 countercoup, the bloodiest putsch in African history, was underway.By sheer miracle, Madueke survived the coup that took the lives of 40 Igbo officers and 128 other ranks. He eventually got to the Naval College. After a course that lasted a little over a year, he was commissioned as Acting Sub-Lieutenant in September 1967. He was declared the Best Commonwealth Midshipman in Home Waters. At this time, the Nigerian civil war had started. Rather than return to his formation, he crossed the English Channel into mainland Europe and headed for Lisbon, Portugal where Biafra had an accredited representation. Assisted by Biafran officials, he made a beeline for Port Harcourt, where he joined the Biafran Navy. He saw action in the Niger Delta Creeks and on the River Niger, near Onitsha.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Despite sustaining three injuries, he survived the war. He returned to the Nigerian Navy in 1972, still marking time as an Acting Sub-Lieutenant. Despite this, he became 21 years later, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) in the rank of Rear Admiral. As the Naval Chief, he was a member of General Sani Abacha’s Provisional Ruling Council. He and the late Major General M. C. Alli, the Army Chief of Staff, were thrown out of the PRC and retired. General Abacha could not stomach their contrary views to his June 12 stance. Their exit led to orchestrated reports that the duo had planned to topple Abacha’s junta. He survived the sinister schemes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Admiral Madueke went into the shipping business and, thereafter, into the communications industry. His international passport was seized for the eight years that the Truthful Lie was in power. During this period, he wrote his autobiography titled Riding The Storms With God In My Sails. (Eminent Biographies, 2019.) This book of 509 pages gives a comprehensive account of his life from birth until 2019. From it, we learn that he had attended the Our Lady’s High School, Onitsha. This school has produced countless national figures, including Professor Ben Nwabueze, Eze (Professor) Green Nwankwo, Professor B. I. C. Ijomah, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, and Justice Ezebilo Ozobu. It was established by a Grade Two teacher, Sir Peter Chukwurah from Abatete. He also built the Fatima High School in Aguobu Owa and was a member of the Eastern Nigeria House of Assembly. In 1962, Madueke passed the School Certificate examination in Division One. We also learn that he was the Military Governor of the old Anambra State from January 1984 to September 1985, and the Military Governor of the old Imo State from September 1985 to July 1986.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The book contains Admiral Madueke’s long list of achievements in Anambra and Imo States. Only two will be mentioned here. The administrations he headed built the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, and the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri. This article will conclude with a word on the Owerri Airport. Suffice it to say that, of all his achievements, none ranks higher than his autobiography. The book is a treasure trove of information that everyone, especially rampant commentators on national issues, will do well to read. Unfortunately, the country seems not to have discovered the value of knowing its history and the great importance of biographies in historical development and archiving. There is hardly a major American, Asia, or European politician or military officer whose story has not been written by himself or by someone else. There is hardly a journalist from those continents who has practiced for a decade without the account of his stewardship in book form. Yet, there is neither a biography nor an autobiography of a personage like Commodore Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe, the former Nigerian Chief of General Staff. There hardly is a biography of any Igbo traditional ruler. Why shouldn’t there be a biography of a great bureaucrat like the late Alhaji Shehu Musa?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;We must extend the questions. Where are the biographies of Brigadier-General Zakariya Maimalari, Lieutenant Colonel Joe Akahan, and Lieutenant Colonel James Yakubu Pam? Mazi Mbonu Ojike, a preeminent pre-Independence politician and statesman, was the Boycott King. Why was he so called? If there was a biography of him, the answer would be in it. There is no biography of Sir Peter Chukwurah. His schools have produced professors, judges, governors, senators, military officers, and much more. If someone wrote his biography, he may discover why governments took over his schools decades ago without paying his family as much as a single Kobo in compensation to this date. Where are the biographies of soccer legends Albert Onyeanwuna and Tesilimi (Thunderbolt!) Balogun?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;It was to help fill this nasty chasm that I decided to strike a blow in recording contemporary history in my own little way.&amp;nbsp; (I have so far written three biographies – those of General Aguiyi-Ironsi, Eze (Professor) Green Nwankwo, and Mr. Peter Obi.) That was why I published Riding The Storms With God In My Sails. That is why my publishing house is currently working on three different biographies. There are other biographers, of course. But many more are urgently required. It is the reason I urge Nigerians to introduce fresh and heightened interests in the noble business of documenting and disseminating the stories of our people. Books engender far more education than the mere structures that are otherwise known as schools.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Now back to Admiral Madueke’s stint as the Military Governor of Imo State. He wrote that his administration constructed the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri. Admiral Madueke tells the story of how he built that airport from page 279 to page 295 of his book. It contains five photographs related to the project. These are (1) The picture in which he and some of his officials posed with the traditional rulers of Logara-Obiangwu and Umuohiagu on whose lands the airport is situated. The picture was taken when the foundation stone of the airport was laid. (2) The picture where Admiral Madueke (then a Captain) was laying the airport’s foundation stone surrounded by his officials and some dignitaries. (3) A group picture of Madueke and the six members of the Airport Task Force. All their names are listed. (Behind them can be seen the peering head of Lieutenant Dele Ezoba, Madueke’s aide de camp, who later became the Chief of the Naval Staff in the rank of Admiral. (4) The fourth picture is of Madueke presenting a bowl of kolanuts to Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, the Chief of General Staff, who attended the launch of the Imo Airport Appeal Fund at the Aba Sports Stadium. (5) The last picture is the front view of the airport’s terminal building.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Shortly after Madueke’s book was launched in 2019, I as its publisher, started receiving angry calls from friends who said that, given my posture as “an honest man,” they could not understand why I subscribed to the fallacy that the Imo Airport was built by Alison Madueke. Some even spoke at me. Had any one of these accusers read the book? Hardly! But some of its readers told them that they encountered the lie’s repugnant face within the book’s covers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Well, Rear Admiral Alison Amaechina Madueke is alive and well. I am certain that he is willing to answer those who publicly state their disagreement with his Imo Airport story. His book has not run out of stock. Some bookstalls still have it. Besides, it is always available at the annual Lagos International Book Fair which takes place during May. People should read the book and make up their minds. Not only on the matter of a facility at which aircraft take off and land. But also, on the numerous questions raised in the book that can still do with the joined issue.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;For today, this is from me to Admiral Madueke: Many Happy Returns Of The Day!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0.0pt; margin-top: 0.0pt;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Chuks Iloegbunam wrote in from Abatete, Anambra State&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/1351232473620499591/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/1351232473620499591' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/1351232473620499591'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/1351232473620499591'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2024/03/admiral-madueke-at-80.html' title='Admiral Madueke at 80'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XWp9hzvTIvb3Y9t_a9otVrXOGg1ca_5pMrRUIxh-AEPgxdaworXAmI11DfY4BDTLft7d98Uo0LxlvgSgxylMvAH8Hv1enFEofoGxyzs8gHfJMggl_vKtrcGrcubzzBaGl5zgpedRNOnnnYf-35SwWsAAucwnPvHVFEFvqGzETjBFnByJlp2qNf1ibNA/s72-c/Screenshot_20240307-220623-262.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-2110751263333050660</id><published>2024-02-21T09:48:00.002+01:00</published><updated>2024-02-21T09:51:43.393+01:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Bad governance"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="IGBO NIGERIA"/><title type='text'>OHANAZE; IGBOS PLEASE DON&#39;T JOIN  PROTESTS AGAINST GOVERNMENT </title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVmdYZnX_IXWIDUBTsgZ-FP-J9JJJ42ql6QJS0Q_NPCiUBJXf5h-3WGGgDSIqGD-JImJ5xz4fxSLvh-zArM97oZK1UZ-Jm_FcFk1cac4XZInOPb9YXaN5VqGD1NYjWtoXKtWPVuUsCIKEaHePb2HFSIWuDAuar_bLQOyFkTN9SHa68itlDFOfmBvOV0g/s800/18137337_1000075669_webp_webpdfd0ce567bb32320205a9c3104188a5e.webp&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;436&quot; data-original-width=&quot;800&quot; height=&quot;174&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVmdYZnX_IXWIDUBTsgZ-FP-J9JJJ42ql6QJS0Q_NPCiUBJXf5h-3WGGgDSIqGD-JImJ5xz4fxSLvh-zArM97oZK1UZ-Jm_FcFk1cac4XZInOPb9YXaN5VqGD1NYjWtoXKtWPVuUsCIKEaHePb2HFSIWuDAuar_bLQOyFkTN9SHa68itlDFOfmBvOV0g/s320/18137337_1000075669_webp_webpdfd0ce567bb32320205a9c3104188a5e.webp&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On Feb 19 ;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: xx-large;&quot;&gt;By Anayo Okoli.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;OHANAZE Ndigbo has directed Ndigbo all over the country not to join the ongoing protests against hardship.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;In a statement signed by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu entitled “Message to all Igbos worldwide”, he said: “I write as your leader at this critical period in our Country, Nigeria. Events in Nigeria today are no doubt very disturbing. The economy has turned very bad, a sceptre of frustration is everywhere.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;I have received many entreaties from many parts of the Country requesting me to call Igbos to join in demonstration and violent action in the Country against the Government.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;“As your leader, I am directing that no Igbo group or community in Nigeria or in Diaspora should join in this action. I am still studying the situation. I have asked Nigerians who approached me the following questions, what did they do when the past government disfranchised Igbo land?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Most of the Igbo are in the South East and the South East is very sadly marginalized in all ramifications. We are the only geopolitical zone that has only five (5) states. This situation has cost us billions of financial losses. It has also cost us losses in both political appointments and legislative representations. In 2005 and 2014, we raised this issue at various political conferences. All men of goodwill at the conference agreed that it was unfair for the Southeast to have only five States and recommended that an additional state be created in the Southeast but up till today, this has not been done. I have severally drawn the attention of the federal Government to this injustice against the Southeast. This statement should serve as a notice that if no step is taken by the federal Government and the National Assembly towards the creation of an additional state in the Southeast, I will have no choice than to go to Court.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&quot;In the 1999 Constitution as amended, we all endorsed a federal character. Igbos by nature would have preferred the free competitive process rather than a federal character paradigm. But we realised that Nigeria is a federation comprising so many ethnic nationalities and as part of our sacrifice towards the unity of Nigeria, we accepted the federal character option but unfortunately, it has been used to manoeuvre the Igbo out of most critical positions in Government. For Example, the former President Muhammadu Buhari openly confessed that he didn’t give us our due because we didn’t vote for him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&quot;Youths all over the world are very restive and sensitive to any issue affecting their future. In Nigeria, Igbo youths and youths from other tribes at various times expressed their dissatisfaction with events in the Country. It is clear to us that when youths from other tribes of the country are involved they are reprimanded and forgiven; but when the Igbo youths are involved they are arrested, incarcerated and even charged for serious offences. For example, the arrest and detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu generated a lot of problems for the Igbos. Many Igbos, including Governors, members of the National Assembly, Religious leaders, Traditional Rulers, and Business leaders pleaded with Mr. President for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu but without success&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Also, there are many Igbo Youths detained in various correctional Centres for flimsy excuses. For example, there is a case of Eze Fredrick Nwajiagu who has been in detention in Lagos without any justifiable reason.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&quot;Since after the 2023 general election, Igbos have been victimised over the failure of APC to win in Lagos and Abuja. It has been brought to my notice that there is a conspiracy to cripple Igbo business enterprise in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of Nigeria. All these are aimed at incapacitating the Igbos from all future political activities&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&quot;In some parts of Nigeria, Igbos who answer Igbo names, who are raised in Igbo culture and tradition, continue to deny their Igbo Heritage. This is because some people outside the Eastern Nigeria who assume the monopoly of political power, have continued to brainwash this set of people and turned their minds against their kit and kin, the Igbos. For example, after the Civil War which was fought by the entire Eastern Nigeria this group of people profiled it as if it was a war by a few Igbos and they influenced our kit and kin in Rivers State to seize our assets in the name of abandoned property. Remarkably, the end of Civil War was based on 3Rs Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. Most unfortunately, the 3Rs were never implemented in the war torn areas. History will always record the contributions of General Yakubu Gowon, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and General Obasanjo towards the peaceful conclusion of the Civil War on the basis of no victor, no vanquished. It is regrettable that up till today, in spite of the efforts of Igbos to demonstrate their commitment to one united Nigeria, Igbos are victimized in many parts of the Country and people profile them wrongly at various times.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;It is clear to me that Igbos must work hard in order to succeed in Nigeria. It is no secret that most contracts executed by Igbo business men in Nigeria are bought from original awardees. In terms of political power, the Presidency of Nigeria was zoned to rotate between the North and the South. We accepted it. The last election was a defining moment in the country when in fact Igbos generally believed it was their turn to produce a president but some groups of Nigeria ganged up against Igbos and we failed in this quest. We once more thank all Nigerians who have shown their patriotism and love for one united Nigeria by supporting a very credible Igbo candidate, Mr Peter Obi. These Nigerian leaders are too numerous to mention but we cannot fail to express our thanks to Chief Dr. Edwin Clark, the Leader of South South region, Pa Ayo Adebanjo the Leader of Afenifere and Dr. Bitrus Pogu the Leader of Middle Belt Forum for their courage in supporting an Igbo candidate.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/02/hardship-dont-join-protest-ohanaeze-directs-ndigbo/amp/&quot;&gt;Source&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/2110751263333050660/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/2110751263333050660' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/2110751263333050660'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/2110751263333050660'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2024/02/ohanaze-igbos-please-dont-join-protests.html' title='OHANAZE; IGBOS PLEASE DON&#39;T JOIN  PROTESTS AGAINST GOVERNMENT '/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVmdYZnX_IXWIDUBTsgZ-FP-J9JJJ42ql6QJS0Q_NPCiUBJXf5h-3WGGgDSIqGD-JImJ5xz4fxSLvh-zArM97oZK1UZ-Jm_FcFk1cac4XZInOPb9YXaN5VqGD1NYjWtoXKtWPVuUsCIKEaHePb2HFSIWuDAuar_bLQOyFkTN9SHa68itlDFOfmBvOV0g/s72-c/18137337_1000075669_webp_webpdfd0ce567bb32320205a9c3104188a5e.webp" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-1262291878652410661</id><published>2023-11-29T14:45:00.001+01:00</published><updated>2023-11-29T14:47:57.443+01:00</updated><title type='text'>THE STORY OF GEORGE IYAMU, THE CORRUPT POLICEMAN THAT HELPED ANINI AND HIS GANG</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9d9I3l1SHfcpo01RbvEU2JZD4WGD6e7HOicSYNENITaNU8s8U7FZPXUJjDlEKp_WHg7RjTav_aPbusZncIA7E6VIxrUupg28s-kvcNkDKmvXT8J2Kt42cwsSsJT9wyiHZvtKudX-JLhVCPnnLrr_zD-NhH4vR4MU4OzDiAmiCNSsYxqr-XcmmM_Akygk/s1029/Fdm2SLiWQAU37U_.jpg&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1029&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1029&quot; height=&quot;320&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9d9I3l1SHfcpo01RbvEU2JZD4WGD6e7HOicSYNENITaNU8s8U7FZPXUJjDlEKp_WHg7RjTav_aPbusZncIA7E6VIxrUupg28s-kvcNkDKmvXT8J2Kt42cwsSsJT9wyiHZvtKudX-JLhVCPnnLrr_zD-NhH4vR4MU4OzDiAmiCNSsYxqr-XcmmM_Akygk/s320/Fdm2SLiWQAU37U_.jpg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;George Iyamu was a corrupt Police officer back then in the 1980s, he worked for the notorious criminal Identified as Lawrence Anini. Back then in the 1980s, the citizens of Nigeria were being terrorized by the infamous Lawrence Anini and his gang. Lawrence was popularly called the Law by people in the country.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;He used to terrorize Bendel State from the year 1980 to the year 1986 before his death. Lawrence used to be a professional Taxi driver but he stopped the job and started driving criminals in the city. Lawrence later formed his gang of criminals and they all robbed, kidnapped, and also killed many Nigerians.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;Lawrence Anini men was practically invisible due to the fact that he had some Insiders in the Police force. Some corrupt officers were also part of his gang, they gave him Intel and&amp;nbsp;protected him from&amp;nbsp; arrest. Lawrence was feared by everybody because he spared no&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;one, he even killed over 9 Police Men in his time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Lawrence Anini was caught on December 3, 1986 in the company of 6 Women. He was shot on his leg which later made the Doctors to cut off his leg. While Lawrence was in the&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;police station, he went ahead to reveal those members of his gang.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Lawrence Anini mentioned the Police Inspector George Iyamu as his accomplice. George was exposed for working with Lawrence before his arrest, he lived a life of affluence and owned&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;; font-size: medium;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;several cars and houses. It was revealed that Inspector George used to protect Lawrence and his gang members from the law. He also used to give them guns and ammunitions, he also supplied them with Intel and logistical support.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;When Lawrence revealed the involvement of Inspector George in his criminal activities, the Police Man denied everything totally. Even though Lawrence could not speak proper English, he called Inspector George a bloody liar.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;Nobody would have everimagined that a Police officer would ever assist a criminal in committing such a crime. That explains why it was difficult to catch Lawrence as at that time, he was able to get the necessary information he needed from Inspector George. Lawrence had to pay George a huge amount of money for him to keep shut and protect him from harm.&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6wp_6Rcxv__dGhp_ju0at7gfgZf48M5DdbusE8dj7UARBO4z85kHSZ187GY-Zpl4X0fpB1J-mL0b-zPvYHzgrtIdyLzwsjeFGka9PQI19iPv2BCZ01Meh4vJbfuy_RfPVdYVwMX1jIbYvjKJQpFR4mDO5lP93ImUNtSr5Wu8BQs31_TpPLJbv3uIQi4/s1029/Fdm3EOTXwBE0k01.jpg&quot; style=&quot;clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;686&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1029&quot; height=&quot;133&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6wp_6Rcxv__dGhp_ju0at7gfgZf48M5DdbusE8dj7UARBO4z85kHSZ187GY-Zpl4X0fpB1J-mL0b-zPvYHzgrtIdyLzwsjeFGka9PQI19iPv2BCZ01Meh4vJbfuy_RfPVdYVwMX1jIbYvjKJQpFR4mDO5lP93ImUNtSr5Wu8BQs31_TpPLJbv3uIQi4/w200-h133/Fdm3EOTXwBE0k01.jpg&quot; width=&quot;200&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;Inspector George and Lawrence Anini were sentenced to death by . squad on March 29, 1987. They were both killed in front of happy Nigerians that came to witness the end&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;of the era of Lawrence Anini.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://wap.org.ng/read/story-of-george-iyamu-the-corrupt-policeman-that-helped-anini-and-his-gang/&quot;&gt;SOURCE&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span face=&quot;&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;, sans-serif&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; font-size: 15px;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/1262291878652410661/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/1262291878652410661' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/1262291878652410661'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/1262291878652410661'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-story-of-george-iyamu-corrupt.html' title='THE STORY OF GEORGE IYAMU, THE CORRUPT POLICEMAN THAT HELPED ANINI AND HIS GANG'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9d9I3l1SHfcpo01RbvEU2JZD4WGD6e7HOicSYNENITaNU8s8U7FZPXUJjDlEKp_WHg7RjTav_aPbusZncIA7E6VIxrUupg28s-kvcNkDKmvXT8J2Kt42cwsSsJT9wyiHZvtKudX-JLhVCPnnLrr_zD-NhH4vR4MU4OzDiAmiCNSsYxqr-XcmmM_Akygk/s72-c/Fdm2SLiWQAU37U_.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-6481321010988581941</id><published>2023-10-27T18:12:00.004+02:00</published><updated>2023-10-27T18:15:38.513+02:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="AFRICA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="RELIGION"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="WEST AFRICA"/><title type='text'>VOODOO :A MISJUDGED RELIGION?</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLH8WwdnkC2ILqIU47sGwHdzGLwTAdQs2ajYBmZ7dlAR-nLWghRxPfInfEM-gM3fEAYWjCznfjnBZ9R12CRipPAczT76-V8RDne454XOCWEopRBS7CNCZ-OohGkzjNpgARIwtlgm-oLIgTrNhpdcYtaHTR5enBJxjkRWWN-reu7uVsvdXkwSyNkMZ6rOg&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; data-original-height=&quot;549&quot; data-original-width=&quot;976&quot; height=&quot;180&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLH8WwdnkC2ILqIU47sGwHdzGLwTAdQs2ajYBmZ7dlAR-nLWghRxPfInfEM-gM3fEAYWjCznfjnBZ9R12CRipPAczT76-V8RDne454XOCWEopRBS7CNCZ-OohGkzjNpgARIwtlgm-oLIgTrNhpdcYtaHTR5enBJxjkRWWN-reu7uVsvdXkwSyNkMZ6rOg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white; color: #141414; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.125rem; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: 700;&quot;&gt;By Pumza Fihlani&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-1bdte2-BylineComponentWrapper e8mq1e90&quot; data-component=&quot;byline-block&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #141414; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1.5rem auto; max-width: 50rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-qt5zqv-BylineWrapper e8mq1e917&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-h3c0s8-ContributorContainer e8mq1e916&quot; style=&quot;align-items: flex-end; border: 0px; color: #545658; display: grid; font: inherit; gap: 1rem 0.5rem; grid-template-columns: 1fr; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-1u2in0b-Container-ContributorDetails e8mq1e913&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font: inherit; grid-column: 1 / 3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-84ltp5-Text e8mq1e910&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0.8125rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.23077; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-jlwt2c-Divider e8mq1e915&quot; style=&quot;background-color: #8a8c8e; border: 0px; font: inherit; height: 0.125rem; margin: 1rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 2.5rem;&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #141414; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;b class=&quot;ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;While many African traditions and cultures are under threat from modern life, there is one which is holding its own - voodoo.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #141414; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;It has suffered from a bad press internationally but is an official religion in the West African country of Benin.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #141414; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;In the voodoo heartland of Ouidah, the sound of drums fills the air, while men and women dressed mainly in white take turns to dance around a bowl of millet, a freshly slaughtered chicken and alcohol.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #141414; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;These are the day&#39;s offering at the Temple of Pythons.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #141414; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;They have an audience of about 60 people who have gathered from nearby towns for an annual cleansing ceremony.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #141414; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Inside the temple, where more than 50 snakes are slithering around a custom-made pit, local devotees make amends for sins of the past year.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-19w8cxh-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper egtrm1f0&quot; data-component=&quot;subheadline-block&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #141414; font-family: ReithSans, Helvetica, Arial, freesans, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 2.5rem 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;h2 class=&quot;ssrcss-y2fd7s-StyledHeading e10rt3ze0&quot; id=&quot;Blood-snakes-and-power&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot; tabindex=&quot;-1&quot;&gt;&lt;span role=&quot;text&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Blood, snakes and power&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span role=&quot;text&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;In voodoo, the python is a symbol of strength - the devotees explain they are relying on Dagbe, the spirit whose temple this is, to give them the power to change.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;And to make that change happen, blood must be spilled.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1&quot; data-component=&quot;image-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1.5rem 0px; max-width: 50rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;ssrcss-4qvfmb-StyledFigure e34k3c23&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;ssrcss-1hq4gmv-Placeholder etlorgc0&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 450px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;The first offering is a chicken - some of the blood is spread across the tiles of the temple and the rest is mixed into a communal bowl of millet - which the devotees eat as it is passed around.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Voodoo is rooted in the worship of nature and ancestors - and the belief that the living and the dead exist side by side - a dual world that can be accessed through various deities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Its followers believe in striving to live in peace and to always do good - that bad intentions will not go unpunished, a similar concept to Christians striving for &quot;righteousness&quot; and not &quot;sinning&quot;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1&quot; data-component=&quot;image-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1.5rem 0px; max-width: 50rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;ssrcss-4qvfmb-StyledFigure e34k3c23&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;ssrcss-1hq4gmv-Placeholder etlorgc0&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 450px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1&quot; data-component=&quot;image-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1.5rem 0px; max-width: 50rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;ssrcss-4qvfmb-StyledFigure e34k3c23&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;figcaption class=&quot;ssrcss-1mget3o-StyledFigureCaption e34k3c22&quot; style=&quot;border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(138, 140, 142); border-left-style: solid; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; color: #545658; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0.875rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.28571; margin: 0.5rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5rem; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-y7krbn-Stack e1y4nx260&quot; spacing=&quot;6&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;{Voodoo believers communicate with their gods through prayers and meditation}&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Modest estimates put voodoo followers here at at least 40% of Benin&#39;s population. Some 27% classify themselves as Christians and 22% Muslims.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;But expert on African religions and traditions Dodji Amouzouvi, a professor of sociology and anthropology, says many people practice &quot;dual religion&quot;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;There is a popular saying here: &#39;Christian during the day and voodoo at night&#39;. It simply means that even those who follow other faiths always return to voodoo in some way,&quot; he tells me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;To illustrate the closeness of the two faiths, there is a Basilica opposite the Temple of Pythons in the town square.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;At the moment many people here in Benin feel let down by the establishment, there are no jobs,&quot; Mr Amouzouvi.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;People are turning to voodoo to pray for better times.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;But how did voodoo get exported to places such as New Orleans and Haiti?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;At the edge of the sea in Ouidah stands La Porte du Non-Retour &quot;The Door of No Return&quot; - a stone arch monument with carvings of men and women in chains walking in a procession towards a ship.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;It was from this point that many thousands of African slaves were packed into ships and taken to the Americas - the only thing they took with them was voodoo, which they clung to as a reminder of home.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;They continued to practise it, at times being beaten if caught by the slave masters.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizTlxd_rRYaTDtbszQOoBMPNoLL2Sl9-zw8Wl325TSbgcRbhoBuaMFIZcHJojqM8P-GtbeM75IdSVc9mcKd98rCZM2yVA8O2RkLR81F5nw-n-1bCdgPebm_FmQuwto5OEmD1R73XN_BNfzdJqqkopDGdvsug_yMQn2X33NLgWwSWjYCi1sfdax2v_b_Nc&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; data-original-height=&quot;549&quot; data-original-width=&quot;976&quot; height=&quot;113&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizTlxd_rRYaTDtbszQOoBMPNoLL2Sl9-zw8Wl325TSbgcRbhoBuaMFIZcHJojqM8P-GtbeM75IdSVc9mcKd98rCZM2yVA8O2RkLR81F5nw-n-1bCdgPebm_FmQuwto5OEmD1R73XN_BNfzdJqqkopDGdvsug_yMQn2X33NLgWwSWjYCi1sfdax2v_b_Nc=w200-h113&quot; width=&quot;200&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This made some even more determined to keep it alive, according to reports.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Some practices in voodoo can appear threatening to the outsider - the slaughtering of animals have in part earned the faith its unflattering image, some say.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;But Mr Amouzouvi says voodoo is not all that different to other faiths.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;Many religions recognise blood as a source of power, a sign of life. In Christianity it&#39;s taught that there is power in the blood of Jesus,&quot; he says.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;Voodoo teaches that there is power in blood, it can appease gods, give thanks. Animals are seen as an important part of the voodoo practice.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Regine Romaine, an academic with a keen interest in voodoo, agrees.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;The African experience is open for all to see - people are invited to witness the ceremonies, the slaughtering and that same openness has been judged whereas it isn&#39;t in other systems like the Islamic and Jewish faiths,&quot; she tells me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;Slaughtering animals is not unique to voodoo. If you go to the kosher deli or buy halaal meat, it&#39;s been killed and allowed to bleed out before being shared.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;Ultimately, the gaze on voodoo over the years has not been one of love - that&#39;s why it&#39;s been given a bad image.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Ms Romaine is of Haitian and US heritage.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip0cwfsUinvKZasWuSO7aHeyl6om0LTYlevK_6n3QrbkBJ2EpsW0BUNF-qT8pnzy3GGsbSFs1XyIh7Y49QCUnMlkIuZHmeA42RbFWmVCsp1OrxG9jqiMstHiPFbnsyvI2deeYKeEXZvCIDOu-E-bL8DxLBJQrffiOW-U-YTujmxJ9Khi_C8Q792ZuBKUY&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; data-original-height=&quot;549&quot; data-original-width=&quot;976&quot; height=&quot;113&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEip0cwfsUinvKZasWuSO7aHeyl6om0LTYlevK_6n3QrbkBJ2EpsW0BUNF-qT8pnzy3GGsbSFs1XyIh7Y49QCUnMlkIuZHmeA42RbFWmVCsp1OrxG9jqiMstHiPFbnsyvI2deeYKeEXZvCIDOu-E-bL8DxLBJQrffiOW-U-YTujmxJ9Khi_C8Q792ZuBKUY&quot; width=&quot;200&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;She first learned about voodoo from her aunt in Haiti - she travelled on a pilgrimage to retrace the &quot;slave route&quot; and her last stop was here in Benin where she has been living for more than a year.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-19w8cxh-ComponentWrapper-HeadlineComponentWrapper egtrm1f0&quot; data-component=&quot;subheadline-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 2.5rem 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;h2 class=&quot;ssrcss-y2fd7s-StyledHeading e10rt3ze0&quot; id=&quot;Voodoo-is-not-evil&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 1.125; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot; tabindex=&quot;-1&quot;&gt;&lt;span role=&quot;text&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&#39;Voodoo is not evil&#39;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;According to Ms Romaine, voodoo&#39;s bad image abroad has a lot to do with what people have seen in Hollywood films.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;The image of voodoo went wrong from the first encounter - from the first visitors to the continent, the anthropologists who didn&#39;t understand what they were seeing and from that came a lot of xenophobic writing,&quot; she says.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;It was also worsened by the US invasion of Haiti much later, which gave rise to Hollywood&#39;s fascination with the horror stories that all had voodoo.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Back at the ceremony, the processing of devotees has now moved to the town square for the final stage of the rituals.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;There is more drumming, singing, dancing and after four animals are killed and cooked inside three large flaming pots of clay, the meat inside is shared by all those who have attended the day&#39;s proceedings.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;The Regional High Priest of Voodoo Daagbo Hounon is presiding over the day&#39;s rituals.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;He is dressed in ceremonial robes, with a striking top hat, and holding a staff made from cowry shells.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;He is a big man with a booming voice and speaks passionately about their belief system - he tells me that their faith is misunderstood.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;Voodoo is not evil. It&#39;s not the devil,&quot; he says.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;If you believe and someone thinks badly of you and tries to harm to you, voodoo will protect you. Some say it is the devil, we don&#39;t believe in the devil and even if he exists, he&#39;s not here,&quot; he tells me.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;He is keen to welcome international visitors.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;The small town offers an &quot;initiation&quot; from people from all over the world to come and learn about the practice - from how to use herbal medication, how to pray and meditate, how to perform rituals for the gods.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;High Priest Hounon says the programme is popular with tourists from the US, Cuba and parts of Europe.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;For many West Africans in the diaspora, voodoo has become a symbolic coming home.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Ms Romaine, who is also member of that diaspora, believes voodoo is successful because it provides a connection to a neglected identity.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;She tells me that voodoo is gaining appeal in the US amongst young people.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&quot;There is a shift especially in the Americas. The younger generation now want to proclaim their identity in a way that the previous generation was perhaps more intimidated to do and spiritual identity is a part of that. For some voodoo meets that need.&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;The government here in Benin is committed to upholding the practice.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_Zni6JiTXeBtjV2YWxj768x-pyytErk2TYw_QuGVD3WhAL5kT189iNUy20J5SYgHd3GDiq2l_5_w559yGcduKvCvMyvjq0EyQ-f1mpwDo0IOgSJ2ImJ-3ZernV_GyZEAOoSrRfBvOqZcnq7F5YPZ1aGnWrbbT1EgXU_1xczsZrHJ7kF3eaX0GJo56G9s&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img alt=&quot;&quot; data-original-height=&quot;549&quot; data-original-width=&quot;976&quot; height=&quot;113&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_Zni6JiTXeBtjV2YWxj768x-pyytErk2TYw_QuGVD3WhAL5kT189iNUy20J5SYgHd3GDiq2l_5_w559yGcduKvCvMyvjq0EyQ-f1mpwDo0IOgSJ2ImJ-3ZernV_GyZEAOoSrRfBvOqZcnq7F5YPZ1aGnWrbbT1EgXU_1xczsZrHJ7kF3eaX0GJo56G9s=w200-h113&quot; width=&quot;200&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;In the mid 1990s it built a monument to voodoo in a place known as the sacred forest - an ancient place of worship on the edge of town.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Life-sized metal and wooden totems have pride of place amongst the towering trees - this place is meant to help teach young people here about their voodoo heritage.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0&quot; data-component=&quot;text-block&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 1rem 0px; max-width: 36.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;With the government supporting it at home and the descendants of slaves embracing it abroad, the ancient voodoo tradition has found a place in the modern world, where other African belief systems are often struggling for relevance.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10&quot; style=&quot;border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-41048840&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;source&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;source srcset=&quot;https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/9F4E/production/_97528704_img_4302.jpg.webp 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/9F4E/production/_97528704_img_4302.jpg.webp 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/9F4E/production/_97528704_img_4302.jpg.webp 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/9F4E/production/_97528704_img_4302.jpg.webp 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/9F4E/production/_97528704_img_4302.jpg.webp 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/9F4E/production/_97528704_img_4302.jpg.webp 976w&quot; type=&quot;image/webp&quot;&gt;&lt;/source&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;&quot;&gt;&lt;picture&gt;&lt;source srcset=&quot;https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/17C33/production/_97613379_38e86e96-01c0-4e72-abcd-019ccdc02e12.jpg.webp 240w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/17C33/production/_97613379_38e86e96-01c0-4e72-abcd-019ccdc02e12.jpg.webp 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/17C33/production/_97613379_38e86e96-01c0-4e72-abcd-019ccdc02e12.jpg.webp 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/17C33/production/_97613379_38e86e96-01c0-4e72-abcd-019ccdc02e12.jpg.webp 624w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/17C33/production/_97613379_38e86e96-01c0-4e72-abcd-019ccdc02e12.jpg.webp 800w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/17C33/production/_97613379_38e86e96-01c0-4e72-abcd-019ccdc02e12.jpg.webp 976w&quot; type=&quot;image/webp&quot;&gt;&lt;/source&gt;&lt;/picture&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/6481321010988581941/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/6481321010988581941' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/6481321010988581941'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/6481321010988581941'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2023/10/voodoo-misjudged-religion.html' title='VOODOO :A MISJUDGED RELIGION?'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLH8WwdnkC2ILqIU47sGwHdzGLwTAdQs2ajYBmZ7dlAR-nLWghRxPfInfEM-gM3fEAYWjCznfjnBZ9R12CRipPAczT76-V8RDne454XOCWEopRBS7CNCZ-OohGkzjNpgARIwtlgm-oLIgTrNhpdcYtaHTR5enBJxjkRWWN-reu7uVsvdXkwSyNkMZ6rOg=s72-c" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-8395143074054999312</id><published>2023-10-21T13:38:00.000+02:00</published><updated>2023-10-21T13:38:10.343+02:00</updated><title type='text'>LONG JOHN SILVER NWARU &amp;i (The SP)</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1vx9Pj1l5IN16LuA4oHLTpj320ez3keTpqGt_MutUg_p3JOSIcB4El-IWnsVchwvRpIjmHolgGX1MXbh5O1hiJZUm1zwkADYSnzSdhInbGbVIDIEX5uC3zk1STI65mzE9VivrMo1_paFgARCJXulWwPE4wg31LHoumlo9hGc4icwm0NOsRuAXApLHik/s1114/Lumii_20231019_050741134.jpg&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1114&quot; data-original-width=&quot;718&quot; height=&quot;200&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1vx9Pj1l5IN16LuA4oHLTpj320ez3keTpqGt_MutUg_p3JOSIcB4El-IWnsVchwvRpIjmHolgGX1MXbh5O1hiJZUm1zwkADYSnzSdhInbGbVIDIEX5uC3zk1STI65mzE9VivrMo1_paFgARCJXulWwPE4wg31LHoumlo9hGc4icwm0NOsRuAXApLHik/w129-h200/Lumii_20231019_050741134.jpg&quot; width=&quot;129&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;The war was fought and everyone lost as in&amp;nbsp; many wars . I found myself in Awgu County&amp;nbsp; Sec Sch.(1972)and Jon was in class 4 &amp;nbsp; (with my cousin Law Nwarueze). He&amp;nbsp; was&amp;nbsp; the deputy SP. The next year he was overwhelmingly and almost&amp;nbsp; unanimously voted for the post of&amp;nbsp; the SP.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;County had the air and hope equal to the one in Nigeria when Obi was winning with the obidents. It was a beautiful time.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;Everyone attended the morning&amp;nbsp; assembly to see this&amp;nbsp; handsome SP that had&amp;nbsp; much swags. His English&amp;nbsp; was better and more Queenly than what you hear now in London . How he did that&amp;nbsp; is still an enigma.His uniform fitted him more than ordinary and he had a way of carrying his frame which we all called &#39;Pirates walk&#39; and imitated it. I remember my mom observed I was walking differently and cautioned me sternly.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;He didn’t carry the SP functions&amp;nbsp; with&amp;nbsp; iron fist ; we all obeyed all rules happily…… He was loved!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;We were told by some seniors that all the girls coming&amp;nbsp; from Girls schools like Queens sch. Enugu , Rosary High sch Awgu , Ovim girls , Sedess Oghe etc&amp;nbsp; to bring invitations to&amp;nbsp; parties or association events all wanted to talk with him even if he wasn&#39;t the person to receive the invitations! . The SP was popular in all the female schools who &#39;crushed on&#39; him and I suppose he knew but it&amp;nbsp; didn’t&amp;nbsp; bother him…..&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;December 1972 the WASC/GCE.., the send-off and we missed him …….&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;To be continued&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir=&quot;ltr&quot; style=&quot;line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;mailto:Charlie.mbc@gmail.com&quot; style=&quot;text-decoration-line: none;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;Charlie.mbc@gmail.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/8395143074054999312/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/8395143074054999312' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/8395143074054999312'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/8395143074054999312'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2023/10/long-john-silver-nwaru-sp.html' title='LONG JOHN SILVER NWARU &amp;i (The SP)'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1vx9Pj1l5IN16LuA4oHLTpj320ez3keTpqGt_MutUg_p3JOSIcB4El-IWnsVchwvRpIjmHolgGX1MXbh5O1hiJZUm1zwkADYSnzSdhInbGbVIDIEX5uC3zk1STI65mzE9VivrMo1_paFgARCJXulWwPE4wg31LHoumlo9hGc4icwm0NOsRuAXApLHik/s72-w129-h200-c/Lumii_20231019_050741134.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-7443397348607118399</id><published>2023-10-20T10:30:00.003+02:00</published><updated>2023-10-20T10:44:23.125+02:00</updated><title type='text'>LONG JOHN SILVER  NWARU  &amp; I</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NBDDF4ojSXcKqV0QNs2ol6a6jumhyJzHMRtyN8S0pVD96u3HBFgGmDhXbjuBjgQvEAbBugXKaeB-rjOG-V0W3Cay619jByK6BA5K0LYgcXErfumkLOxLvKXVvzMI6Ld-vnZUQ_BFttIYphtUPSIp8ReDlMiKqKObwIAXRG4g1yqI5urFOjIMaJYh7o4/s640/IMG-20231017-WA0010.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;640&quot; data-original-width=&quot;640&quot; height=&quot;200&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NBDDF4ojSXcKqV0QNs2ol6a6jumhyJzHMRtyN8S0pVD96u3HBFgGmDhXbjuBjgQvEAbBugXKaeB-rjOG-V0W3Cay619jByK6BA5K0LYgcXErfumkLOxLvKXVvzMI6Ld-vnZUQ_BFttIYphtUPSIp8ReDlMiKqKObwIAXRG4g1yqI5urFOjIMaJYh7o4/w200-h200/IMG-20231017-WA0010.jpg&quot; width=&quot;200&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&amp;nbsp; LONG JOHN SILVER&amp;nbsp; NWARU&amp;nbsp; &amp;amp; I&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;It was 1966/67 the pogrom was on, and like many places in the southeast, Nenwe had her own share of returnees. The schools especially St Peters&amp;nbsp; were filled with new faces like the Mbahs, Mbanwarus,Nwaruezes,Chukwukadibes ,Kanus, Onwes etc. Most of them spoke igbo sparingly.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;However , there were also some people at Peters who weren&#39;t returnees but &#39;migrated&#39; from St. Paul&#39;s, St David&#39;s and St Theresa&#39;s that hadn&#39;t elementary 5 classes, so we had to decipher the &quot;Nenwe refugees&quot; from the locals through their level of grip of olu Nenwe.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Jon was a college fellow anyway but when the real&amp;nbsp; war began,schools closed the militias came to&amp;nbsp; quarter in County from&amp;nbsp; then we started to see such people around.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;My first contact&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;with John was at the Altar under Rev Fr&amp;nbsp; Silvester Eze&amp;nbsp; who became the chaplain for the Biafran Militia in Nenwe etc.. He doubled with serving also Rev Fr Orji&amp;nbsp; of Nenwe who also returned home . He was ordained just about a year or less.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;John was always elegant and thought us the junior ones mass serving diligently. It was the period that followed the transition of the old ways of mass( the Rev and alter backing the congregation) which we knew already. John was a patient and nice teacher. We travelled in Fadas&#39;&amp;nbsp; small Fiat 600 all around Nenwe. We served him, the reverend and the mass but I think&amp;nbsp; serving him(Jon) was what we cared more for because as kids he would recommend any efforts to the Rev&amp;nbsp; and his approval of our abilities was paramount …..Nenwe fell into the handsome the Federal troops (a.k.a Vandals) and we parted………. Truncated&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;To be continued.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Charlie.mbc@gmail.com&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;text-align: justify;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/7443397348607118399/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/7443397348607118399' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/7443397348607118399'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/7443397348607118399'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2023/10/long-john-silver-nwaru-i.html' title='LONG JOHN SILVER  NWARU  &amp; I'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NBDDF4ojSXcKqV0QNs2ol6a6jumhyJzHMRtyN8S0pVD96u3HBFgGmDhXbjuBjgQvEAbBugXKaeB-rjOG-V0W3Cay619jByK6BA5K0LYgcXErfumkLOxLvKXVvzMI6Ld-vnZUQ_BFttIYphtUPSIp8ReDlMiKqKObwIAXRG4g1yqI5urFOjIMaJYh7o4/s72-w200-h200-c/IMG-20231017-WA0010.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-2358853000025575697</id><published>2023-09-06T21:38:00.003+02:00</published><updated>2023-09-06T21:38:32.460+02:00</updated><title type='text'>HOPE  by Ejike Eze (esq)</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV63s8BDDVp0Z1RdhNhiSIkEOJE1fxZyZ8dfX4cnvQ0cbUjvbj-vStPCiKdy1HGAkljtfWVKdG2tu7WrOhy1TsuwSR7FU1nyl1QYNWneUsTlVmxYPtk0oFOF182nZio3MKsKwxQEAWAnxmKdgb49caBFG9oj3ko9uOKQ1gp3hCHuqMIXjpPH-ySmZ293g/s2400/efb948dc-6c4d-47a0-9b8d-278ff688044b.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;1350&quot; data-original-width=&quot;2400&quot; height=&quot;113&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV63s8BDDVp0Z1RdhNhiSIkEOJE1fxZyZ8dfX4cnvQ0cbUjvbj-vStPCiKdy1HGAkljtfWVKdG2tu7WrOhy1TsuwSR7FU1nyl1QYNWneUsTlVmxYPtk0oFOF182nZio3MKsKwxQEAWAnxmKdgb49caBFG9oj3ko9uOKQ1gp3hCHuqMIXjpPH-ySmZ293g/w200-h113/efb948dc-6c4d-47a0-9b8d-278ff688044b.jpg&quot; width=&quot;200&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Hope is such a powerful emotion.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;It has been mined and manipulated by generations of smart people to get by in no small way and I am careful with words here.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;What will the day , tomorrow or next week feel like without hope ?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Hope for a better life, better results and outcomes even in the face of abysmally skewed odds!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Life is a pain and we must continue to create hope to get through each day .&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Now some have moved&amp;nbsp; hope to another court . The Supreme Court of Nigeria.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Some&amp;nbsp; had hoped in the appeal&amp;nbsp; court. Lived the hope even when our heads and environment screamed otherwise. Our hearts kept hoping. It was the only way to keep going.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;In a few months , we may begin to hope in the African Court of Justice , United Nations or the mirage like intervention of some foreign powers, or some supreme deity whose track record should ordinarily call for caution. We may even hope for the poisonous chalice of men in boots and armed with our guns.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Hope must be kept alive, even if to reduce for a short while , the hopeless misery that our lives are.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;( by Barr. Ejike Eze)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Reacting to the court pronunciations on the electoral cases in Nigeria today&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/2358853000025575697/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/2358853000025575697' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/2358853000025575697'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/2358853000025575697'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2023/09/hope-by-ejike-eze-esq.html' title='HOPE  by Ejike Eze (esq)'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV63s8BDDVp0Z1RdhNhiSIkEOJE1fxZyZ8dfX4cnvQ0cbUjvbj-vStPCiKdy1HGAkljtfWVKdG2tu7WrOhy1TsuwSR7FU1nyl1QYNWneUsTlVmxYPtk0oFOF182nZio3MKsKwxQEAWAnxmKdgb49caBFG9oj3ko9uOKQ1gp3hCHuqMIXjpPH-ySmZ293g/s72-w200-h113-c/efb948dc-6c4d-47a0-9b8d-278ff688044b.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-5078449295422639107</id><published>2023-08-30T09:54:00.003+02:00</published><updated>2023-08-30T09:54:26.267+02:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="AFRICA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="GABON"/><title type='text'>GABONESE PRESIDENT ( BONGO) AN IGBOMAN?</title><content type='html'>&lt;p style=&quot;box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;background-color: white; clear: both; color: #212529; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw6IcyRJNlQS1JKZQFX5Tang5DrmNed1fjDKT7TTHBZurUHBAbt7salzM_kjWOWRi3DV90vDF_lFUWBfrcLVpvAwCTaEtLaXqGhKVBn-fSMgHcGsAe0XDPGwXySMvUU-p2jnAN3vpPFv5Kv5HhPiBZST4lbpYtn5Hd1hGBwly_YKy4mMTuGMwLa3GSLk/s510/President-Ali-Bongo.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;322&quot; data-original-width=&quot;510&quot; height=&quot;202&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw6IcyRJNlQS1JKZQFX5Tang5DrmNed1fjDKT7TTHBZurUHBAbt7salzM_kjWOWRi3DV90vDF_lFUWBfrcLVpvAwCTaEtLaXqGhKVBn-fSMgHcGsAe0XDPGwXySMvUU-p2jnAN3vpPFv5Kv5HhPiBZST4lbpYtn5Hd1hGBwly_YKy4mMTuGMwLa3GSLk/w320-h202/President-Ali-Bongo.jpg&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white; color: #212529;&quot;&gt;President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon is a Nigerian of the ethnic&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt; &lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #fcff01;&quot;&gt;Igbo stock&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: #fcff01;&quot;&gt;,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt; adopted by a former leader of the country during the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;background-color: white;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;Biafran war&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;background-color: white; color: #212529;&quot;&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt;This startling revelation is about to be revealed as a court in western France Thursday allowed a family member of Ali Bongo Ondimba to view the birth certificate of the leader after accusations that he lied about where he was born.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt;With next year’s presidential elections approaching, controversy has been brewing over Ali Bongo’s place of birth with critics saying he falsified his birth certificate to hide the fact that he was adopted from another country.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt;If the allegations prove true, it could keep him from running for another term and cost him his wealth.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt;The court in Nantes allowed 25-year-old Onaida Maisha Bongo Ondimba, a daughter of former president Omar Bongo, to view the documents in full.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt;Her lawyer Eric Moutet hailed the decision as “enormous”, though “diplomatically complex”.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt;Ali Bongo is the only one of ex-president Omar Bongo’s 54 declared heirs not to have produced the identification documents.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt;Ali Bongo assumed the presidency following the 2009 death of his father Omar Bongo, who had presided over the west African nation and its oil and mineral wealth since 1967.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt;The Gabonese constitution says one must be born Gabonese to serve as the head of state, but French investigative journalist Pierre Pean alleged in a recent book that the president was actually Nigerian and was adopted during the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: red;&quot;&gt;Biafran war&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt; in the late 1960s.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #212529;&quot;&gt;Bongo himself claims he was born in Brazzaville in 1959, former capital of French Equatorial Africa.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;&quot;&gt;The Nantes civil registration centre is responsible for all birth certificates of people born in French Equatorial Africa up to 1960, when the former colonial countries in the region gained independence to become Gabon, Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic.&lt;br /&gt;Ali Bongo announced in late August that he would give “all his share of the inheritance” from his father to “the Gabonese youth” in a speech marking the 55th anniversary of independence.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Poppins; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/11/13/revealed-gabonese-president-is-an-igboman/&quot;&gt;SOURCE&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp; (written in 2015)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;AV63c00bf43cb923ad1905eb24&quot; style=&quot;box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 640px; width: 640px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div id=&quot;aniBox&quot; style=&quot;box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 40px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div id=&quot;aniplayer_AV63c00bf43cb923ad1905eb24-1693380817074&quot; style=&quot;box-sizing: border-box;&quot;&gt;&lt;avp-player-ui _382ee1c9-h=&quot;&quot; _382ee1c9=&quot;&quot; avp=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;avp-player-ui avp-horizontal&quot; data-content-type=&quot;video&quot; h=&quot;x4s x3s xxs&quot; style=&quot;--avp-container-width: 640px; --avp-control-panel-block-size: calc(var(--avp-secondary-control-size) + var(--avp-timeline-block-size)); --avp-offset-bottom: 210px; 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font-weight: inherit; height: auto; justify-content: center; line-height: var(--avp-caption-height); margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; overflow: visible; padding: 0 var(--avp-caption-padding); pointer-events: inherit; position: static; text-align: inherit; text-wrap: nowrap; transform: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: initial; width: 640px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span _1a962852=&quot;&quot; avp=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;avp-caption-title-text&quot; style=&quot;background: none; border-radius: 0px; border: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: inherit; display: inline; font: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; pointer-events: inherit; position: static; text-align: inherit; text-overflow: ellipsis; transform: none; transition: none 0s ease 0s; vertical-align: initial; white-space: inherit; width: 630px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/avp-caption&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/avp-player-ui&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/5078449295422639107/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/5078449295422639107' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/5078449295422639107'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/5078449295422639107'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2023/08/gabonese-president-bongo-igboman.html' title='GABONESE PRESIDENT ( BONGO) AN IGBOMAN?'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtw6IcyRJNlQS1JKZQFX5Tang5DrmNed1fjDKT7TTHBZurUHBAbt7salzM_kjWOWRi3DV90vDF_lFUWBfrcLVpvAwCTaEtLaXqGhKVBn-fSMgHcGsAe0XDPGwXySMvUU-p2jnAN3vpPFv5Kv5HhPiBZST4lbpYtn5Hd1hGBwly_YKy4mMTuGMwLa3GSLk/s72-w320-h202-c/President-Ali-Bongo.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2025671017128564121.post-6267252499775336390</id><published>2023-06-12T19:16:00.011+02:00</published><updated>2023-06-12T19:25:37.652+02:00</updated><title type='text'>SIRIKA LIED ABOUT AIR PEACE</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaI5OfRGcaKN7ya9RcV_OPmajxKWt46npQ_s320sgvdKuDfx5ulX7hiS623CjU0I8p1NZCRzz4ZcsKiF7KhWRdUIGWgpQxfinnCV9FVvJ6KHQfgtGGlxP6OS-VN2ZdIuLkJ2iByiZKeJt1lcIAZzPtkJlR2XZgg_jaj1k6OBFq6U_yV8811krjPyM/s1280/images-2021-06-16T093554.895.jpeg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; data-original-height=&quot;720&quot; data-original-width=&quot;1280&quot; height=&quot;113&quot; src=&quot;https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaI5OfRGcaKN7ya9RcV_OPmajxKWt46npQ_s320sgvdKuDfx5ulX7hiS623CjU0I8p1NZCRzz4ZcsKiF7KhWRdUIGWgpQxfinnCV9FVvJ6KHQfgtGGlxP6OS-VN2ZdIuLkJ2iByiZKeJt1lcIAZzPtkJlR2XZgg_jaj1k6OBFq6U_yV8811krjPyM/w200-h113/images-2021-06-16T093554.895.jpeg&quot; width=&quot;200&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;nbsp;ARISE NEWS INTERVIEW: SIRIKA LIED ABOUT AIR PEACE&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;We watched with dismay the interview granted by former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika to Arise TV on Sunday, June 11, 2023, where he made spurious claims about Air Peace, Nigeria&#39;s foremost airline.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Air Peace deems it absolutely necessary to debunk these false assertions.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Firstly, Sirika, in his bid to denigrate Air Peace while praising Ethiopian Airline, stated that we leased &#39;two’ Boeing 777 aircraft on a monthly lease fee of $250,000, parked the aircraft for several months and incurred losses of $19 million while all the aircraft engines and landing gears became due for replacement when we were ready to fly. He went on to ask, &quot;who does that?&quot;. He stated that Ethiopian Airlines would never do that.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;This is a blatant lie as we have three and not two Boeing 777 aircraft which were never leased or rented, but were purchased outrightly by the airline.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Air peace never incurred such a loss, we never paid rentals contrary to his lies. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA) can attest to the purchase and ownership of the Aircraft by Air peace.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Secondly, Sirika said the airline stopped flying to Dubai because &#39;we lack capacity&#39;. This is another stark lie.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Air Peace never stopped the Dubai operations because of lack of capacity.&amp;nbsp; Air Peace commenced operations into the UAE in July, 2019, but in October 2022, the UAE Government announced a total visa ban on Nigerians.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;Neither Emirates nor Air Peace is operating the Nigerian/UAE route since the ban. The persisting non-issuance of visas and the accompanying inconveniences necessitated the suspension of our Dubai operations from November 22, 2022 till date.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;For the former minister to ascribe the suspension to &#39;lack of capacity&#39; is not only shocking but also shows how keen he is to disparage an airline which ascendancy, has defied all the commercial odds and hostile environment placed on its path to continue to serve our nation proudly.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;How could an airline that placed a firm order for 13 brand new E2-195 aircraft, a firm order of 15 Boeing 737 Max 8 &amp;amp; Max 10, with over 30 aircraft already in its existing fleet be accused of lacking in capacity?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;How can an Airline that stood up for the entire nation during the Covid-19 outbreak, and embarked on rescue operations worldwide, evacuating Nigerians from far away China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, UK and South Africa during the Covid-19 lockdowns be accused of lacking capacity?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;We implore the general public to disregard these lies told by the former minister of Aviation against Air Peace during the Arise TV Interview.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;We take serious exception to a situation where Airpeace is being misrepresented in the public sphere, causing wrong perceptions about our brand&lt;/span&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;SIGNED&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Toyin Olajide (Mrs)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chief Operating Officer&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Air Peace&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/feeds/6267252499775336390/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='https://www.blogger.com/comment/fullpage/post/2025671017128564121/6267252499775336390' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/6267252499775336390'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='https://www.blogger.com/feeds/2025671017128564121/posts/default/6267252499775336390'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='https://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2023/06/sirika-lied-about-air-peace.html' title='SIRIKA LIED ABOUT AIR PEACE'/><author><name>CHARLIE.MBC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/08895974414571315765</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GC_ojOZTw3Zyj5IxWgHp9gxlPAaBjb8gX1wlKc1apzdpj08fLHiaD66Iii4590WA2yW1f6Rp2FRKukfcfJtYkqxdI_LYvqhmBSCxNoPRJtyPetr0zYexcL6p8uadEQ/s220/IM003103.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAaI5OfRGcaKN7ya9RcV_OPmajxKWt46npQ_s320sgvdKuDfx5ulX7hiS623CjU0I8p1NZCRzz4ZcsKiF7KhWRdUIGWgpQxfinnCV9FVvJ6KHQfgtGGlxP6OS-VN2ZdIuLkJ2iByiZKeJt1lcIAZzPtkJlR2XZgg_jaj1k6OBFq6U_yV8811krjPyM/s72-w200-h113-c/images-2021-06-16T093554.895.jpeg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>