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OKPE UNION BERATES ITSEKIRI LEADERS OVER BOGUS CLAIMS ON TERRITORIES

OKPE UNION BERATES ITSEKIRI LEADERS OVER BOGUS CLAIMS ON TERRITORIES

 

  • URGES OBOREVWORI, DAFINONE, OTHERS TO STAND UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES
  • CALLS FOR CHANGE IN THE APPELLATION” SAPELE OKPẸ COMMUNITY”

The Okpe Union has advised Itsekiri leaders to honour the 1943 WACA judgement and desist from all their bogus claims on Okpẹ territories.

‘’As a nationality that prides itself as a respecter of the rule of law and court judgements, one would expect the Itsekiri Nation to honour the 1943 WACA judgement and desist from all their bogus claims on Okpẹ territories’’

The union also accused the Itsekiri leaders of renaming the sections they were allowed to reside as refugees with Itsekiri names.

‘’For example, they changed Etamua to Ogunaja”, Amua Ogodo to Aja Ogodo”, and a part of Amuokpe to Aja-Sagay”.

In a New Year Message to Okpe Nation, the union decried the blatant demonstration of reckless expansionism by some Itsekiris.

‘’The settler equates himself to the indigenes. The Okpẹ Union demands that Itsekiri leadership call to order these Itsekiri elements who denigrate the sovereignty of the Okpẹ Nation over its territories. The case of the Itsekiri threat in Sapele should be of serious concern to all Okpẹ people’’.

The message presented by President General of Okpe Union Worldwide, Prof Igho Natufe said the claims by the Itsekiris of Abigborodo, Obotie and others to indigenous communities in Okpẹ land were rubbished by the Delta State Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the Okpẹ Sobo Forest Reserve in 2020.

‘’The bogus claims by some Itsekiris to indigenous communities in Okpeland especially in the areas that were constituted into the Sapele Okpẹ Sobo Forest Reserve during the Colonial Era when the Okpẹ Nation was created under the Urhobo Division, led to the setting up of a Delta State Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the Okpẹ Sobo Forest Reserve in 2020 by the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Administration. From the published Record of Proceedings of the Commission of Enquiry, the claims by the Itsekiris of Abigborodo, Obotie and others to indigenous communities in Okpẹ land were rubbished’’

According to the Union, the Itsekiris and the Okpẹs do not have any land boundaries.

‘’The territorial boundary between Okpẹ land and Itsekiriland is the stretch of the Hole in the Wall Creek, the tributary that extends into between Sapele and Abigborodo (boundary between Sapele LGA and Warri North LGA)over which the Emmanuel Uduaghan Administration constructed a bridge, to Obotie-Ugbukurusu, to Ikeresan, to Elume River, to Erogho water side, and finally to the water boundary between Ughoton and Omadino (the boundary between Okpe LGA and Warri South LGA) over which the James Ibori Administration constructed the Ughoton-Omadino Bridge’’.

The Union called on the Okpẹ Traditional Council and political leaders, especially the chairmen of the Sapele Local Government Council (LGC) and the Okpẹ Local Government Council (LGC) and representatives in the Delta State House of Assembly to stand up to their responsibilities as the defenders of Okpẹ sovereignty.

‘’The menace by some Itsekiris is more troubling to the Okpẹ Nation. Recalling that we opened our doors to welcome Itsekiri fleeing from their civil war and offered them shelter, it now seems that our hospitality has become a curse; just as the Hausas in the north and indigenous nationalities in central Nigeria are experiencing with the Fulanis. The Itsekiri civil war, known as the “Nana war” of 1894 forced scores of Itsekiris to flee their lands and ”ran for refuge to Sapele where they were granted refuge by the Okpẹ people”, the owners of Sapele. This was the judgement of the West African Court of Appeal (WACA), Holden at Lagos, Nigeria, on April 30th 1943, before their Honours: Sir Donald Kingdon, Chief Justice of Nigeria – President; Sir Philip Bertis Petrides, Chief Justice, Gold Coast (now Ghana), and George Graham Paul, Chief Justice, Sierra Leone’’.

It urged Okpẹ political leaders, specifically Okakuro Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Okakuro Senator Ede Dafinone, Hon. Ben Etanabene, Ekakuro James Augoye and Perkins Umukoro to begin to articulate and promote Okpẹ interests in their respective portfolios.

‘’The policy of peaceful coexistence continues to define the cornerstone of Okpẹ Union’s relationship with other ethnic nationalities. However, let it be known that, by any legitimate means possible, we will strongly defend the territories of the Okpẹ Nation against intrusions by any ethnic nationality on our sovereignty. While non-Okpẹ nationals are welcome in Okpẹ villages and towns; they must not forget that they are guests and not owners of Okpẹ land. Unlike other nationalities, some elements in the Itsekiri Nation do not seem to understand this fundamental principle of residency outside their ancestral lands. Interestingly, these Itsekiri elements will not dare to claim ownership of Ajoki, Ekehuan and Ologbo in the Benin Kingdom’’.

The union said the appellation” Sapele Okpẹ Community” should be changed.

‘’It has no conceptual difference with the other ethnic communities in Sapele, for instance, the Sapele Ndigbo Community, the Sapele Yoruba Community, the Sapele Itsekiri Community, etc. It is passive. A more positive name, for example, Sapele Indigenes Association should be considered as it connotes a definitive and positive meaning’’.

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LISTS PRIORITIES OKPE UNION REBUKES URHOBO LEADERS

OKPE UNION REBUKES URHOBO LEADERS, LISTS PRIORITIES

 

The Okpe Union has expressed concern over the nefarious activities of some elements of the Itsekiri and Urhobo nationalities.

‘’Some elements of the Itsekiri and Urhobo nationalities continue to constitute irritants to the Okpẹ Nation. The Urhobo via their nefarious WADO activities claim Okpẹ territories. We vehemently reject this as Okpẹ is not Urhobo and neither are we an appendage of any ethnic nationality’’.

The union also stressed its historical mission of facilitating the independence of Okpẹ Nation.

‘’We shall continue to encourage the use of Okpẹ Language in worship and the translation of Church sermons. We shall use the Okpẹ language to enhance the Okpẹ identity and development strategy of Okpẹ Nation. We shall continue to intensify our strategic collaboration with other Okpẹ organizations, as well as with other ethnic nationalities in Delta State and Nigeria, in the realization of this noble historical imperative’’.

The union in a New Year message to the public stressed the need for prominent Nigerians to be thorough and be armed with correct facts in the area of Okpe history, language and culture.

‘’While we reiterate our profound reverence for the Okpẹ Throne, we remain resolute in our defence of democratic tenets and good governance in Okpẹ Nation. We also reiterate our firm view that Okpẹ Kingdom is not an absolute monarchy where a monarch’s pronouncements are considered “final” even when they violate basic democratic norms.  We recognize that to toe the path of truth is a difficult choice that only a small minority with sound social consciousness can embark on. Truth can be suppressed  but can never be imprisoned’’.

The message delivered by the President General of Okpe Union Worldwide, Prof Igho Natufe emphasized the strategic approach to position Okpẹ stakeholders in the pursuit of the recognition of Okpẹ as a distinct ethnic nationality in Delta State.

‘’This objective remains an existential challenge of the Okpẹ Nation which Okpẹ Union was established to attain. We shall intensify our collaboration with internal and external forces for a better appreciation of the benefits of Okpẹ Identity to all parties, including the Urhobo. The two local government councils in Okpẹ Nation, Sapele LGC and Okpẹ LGC, shall be encouraged to play a pivotal role in the Redemption of the Okpẹ Nation’’.

The union called for cooperation and unity to enhance economic development of Okpẹ Nation.

 

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PREPARATIONS IN TOP GEAR FOR ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI'S BURIAL CEREMONIES

PREPARATIONS IN TOP GEAR FOR ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI’S BURIAL CEREMONIES

  • CAKASA, WEMA, POLARIS MOURN
  • IJAW LEADERS EXPRESS GRIEF
  • LAGOS RESIDENTS COMFORT ANTHONY GEORGE-IKOLI
  • CHARIS MICROFINANCE BANK EXTOLS LATE MATRIARCH’S VIRTUES

 

Preparations are in top gear as the family of First Republic politician, nationalist and pioneering journalist, Ernest Sissei Ikoli, gets set to bid farewell to a woman of profound moral scruples, stickler for hard work and excellence, Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

The burial activities, scheduled for November 27 – 30 in Lagos, are expected to attract traditional rulers, clergymen, business tycoons, top government functionaries, prominent lawyers, public affairs experts, diplomats and media professionals across the world.

Following the demise of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli on September 2, 2025 at the age of 93, the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation released burial plans indicating that the burial ceremonies will take place between Friday, November 27, 2025 and Sunday, November, 30, 2025.

‘’The service of songs is scheduled to hold on Thursday, November 27, 2025 at the Citadel, 274, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island by 5:00pm. The funeral service will be held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos on Friday, November 28. This will be followed by internment. The entertainment of guests will take place at The Hall Event Centre, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island while Thanksgiving Service will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at The Salvation Army Church, Lagos Island’’

The Ernest Ikoli Foundation Statement said Elsie Ajayi Ikoyi was a woman liked by everybody because she had dignity and integrity.

‘’Mama Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a mother to all, a church servant and a study in humility.

The woman of the altar, industry and unyielding grace was born beneath the golden skies of Kaduna on June 24, 1932″

The statement highlighted Mama Ayo’s intellect, resilience, wisdom and sobriety.

“Mama Ayo’s mind was a boundless library. She devoured books not for ornament, but for illumination — a habit that would later become the quiet engine of her wisdom”

The statement issued in Lagos by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Ernest Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli (SAN), highlighted professionalism, apprenticeship in nation-building and her role as Executive Assistant to the First Editor of Daily Times, Publisher of African Messenger, President of the Nigerian Youth Movement, one of the founders of Action Group (AG) and representative of Lagos in the Legislative Council, Ernest Ikoli.

“Mama Ayo moved with quiet precision behind the scenes of history. While Ernest drafted editorials that stirred the conscience of a colony awakening to freedom, Mama Ayo kept the rhythm of his days — managing correspondence, organizing schedules, shielding  one of the activists of Nigeria’s political history from distraction”

 

Well known as a tireless and cheerful woman who could be counted on, the statement said Elsie avoided the spotlight that focused on Ernest Sissei Ikoli through his long political career.

“In her presence, chaos yielded to order. In her silence, purpose found its voice. She did not seek the spotlight, but stood steadfast in its penumbra — a dutiful woman, an unseen architect of legacy, ensuring that the man who helped forge Nigeria’s voice never lost his own”

The statement recalled the period when the mantle of the sole provider fell upon her shoulders.

“Mama wore it not as a burden, but as a covenant. She became a staff member and major distributor for Abbott Pharmaceuticals during its pioneering years in Nigeria — a time when Similac and Isomil were not just products, but promises whispered into the cribs of a hopeful, growing nation. With grit and grace, she out-distributed her peers, not through force, but through faithfulness – waking before dawn, returning long after dusk, her arms laden not just with formula tins, but with the nourishment of futures. In her, Abbott did not merely find a distributor — they found a disciple of diligence, a woman who treated every delivery as a divine assignment”

Widely respected for her innumerable contributions to the development of individuals and groups in Nigeria and the world at large, the statement emphasized courage in adversity and how life exacted its cruel toll on Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

“The loss of two of her children carved a canyon in her soul — a grief so profound it could have extinguished her. But Mama Ayo did not retreat. She ascended. In the hallowed halls of the Salvation Army, Marina Corps, she entered into a sacred covenant with God — a vow of everlasting service. There, as Welfare Keeper of the Home League Unit, she washed altar linens until they gleamed like morning snow, believing that holiness resided not only in prayer, but in purity of preparation. She folded hope into every crease, ironed devotion into every hem. Her hands, which once balanced ledgers and stacked crates, now cradled communion cloths with the reverence of a priestess”.

The statement emphasized her role in the women’s ministries.

“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a pillar in the Women’s and Mother’s Ministries, where her counsel was sought not for its volume, but for its virtue. And beyond the church walls, she poured her spirit into the Nembe Women Society (Lagos Branch) — gathering daughters of the Niger Delta in diaspora, weaving community from memory, stitching solidarity with stories. She did not merely lead — she mothered. She did not merely organize — she sanctified”.

 

Blessed with a rich and agile mind, the statement said Mama Ayo’s worldview was sculpted by sweat and scripture.

“Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli believed work was worship, excellence an echo of the divine, and failure not a full stop — but a comma in God’s longer sentence. Like the ant she so admired, she saw the cathedral in the crumb, the empire in the errand. She got up early, humming hymns to the rhythm of responsibility. She taught by presence: “Do it yourself, Do it well and Do it now.” Not as a command, but as a creed”.

The statement lavished praise on her for the quiet revolution.

 

 

 

“Her altar remains spotless. Her hands shape us. Her name — Elsie — “God’s Promise” — echoes in every life she lifted. Rest now, Mama. The Rock you carried has become the monument. The vision you served has become a victory. Well done, good and faithful servant”

Elsie Ajayi Ikoli will be remembered for her restlessness in terms of work and her persistence in excelling. She will also be remembered with respect.

Meanwhile, major organizations in Nigeria have expressed their condolences following the death of Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

Charis Microfinance Bank has described the death of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as an irreparable loss.

‘’On behalf of the Management and Staff of Charis Microfinance Bank Limited, we wish to express our deepest condolences to you and your family on the passing of your beloved mother, Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli, who slept in the Lord on the 2nd of September, 2025. We share in your grief during this difficult time and pray that God grants you and the entire family the strength and comfort to bear the irreparable loss’’ the bank said in a statement on Monday morning.

The dynamic financial institution also extolled the qualities of Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli and relevance of Lagos lawyer, Anthony George-Ikoli, in the business community and political history of Nigeria.

‘’As our esteemed chairman, your leadership, wisdom and commitment have been instrumental in guiding the bank towards its vision of financial inclusion, sustainable growth and economic prosperity. The values of honesty, accountability and integrity that you embody are a true reflection of the strong foundation and nurturing influence of your late mother. Her legacy lives on through you and the many lives she touched’’.

The bank, according to the statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Obiora Unigwe and the Head, Products & Brand Management, Osasu Steve-Momoh, is deeply saddened by her death.

‘’At Charis Microfinance Bank, we consider ourselves a family, and in this moment of sorrow, we stand firmly with you in solidarity and prayer. While her physical presence will be greatly missed, we take solace in the knowledge that Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli lived a life of grace, faith and purpose, one that will continue to inspire all who knew her. Please accept our heartfelt sympathy, and may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace’’

CAKASA (Nigeria) Company Limited also paid tribute to the memory of this role-model who stamped her footprints on the sands of time.

‘’On behalf of the Board, Management and the entire staff of CAKASA (Nigeria) Company Limited, I acknowledge the news of the transition to the glory of our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli who slept peacefully in the Lord on 2nd September, 2025. What an irreplaceable loss’’ Cakasa (Nigeria) Company Limited said in a statement.

The statement by the Chairman of CAKASA, Christopher A. Alabi, described Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as a great mother.

‘’No doubt, the transition of our dearly beloved matriarch had left a great and indelible void in the hearts and minds of not just the immediate family but anyone who had had a rare occasion to meet her’’.

 

The engineering, procurement and construction company highlighted her virtue and nobility.

‘’The outpouring of grief and emotion over her transition is a clear affirmation of her personality as an embodiment of virtue and nobility. She showed love without expectation to all, cared for others without conditions and touched lives in innumerable and invaluable ways’’.

The statement advised Antony George-Ikoli and members of his family   not to grieve.

‘’Mama Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a rare gem. She personified selflessness, altruism and service to humanity. What a life well lived, a legacy superlatively delivered. She would be sorely missed, but we are not without hope. And so, it is well said that albeit ‘’ nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower’’. Let us grieve no more. But find hope and strength that whatever our worries and cares may justifiably be on account of her glorious transition. We must give them over to God for He cares for us. God’s care closes every void. His comfort soothes every pain and His love trumps every loss.

 

It also reminded Antony George-Ikoli of the roles played by Elsie Ajayi Ikoli in the Lord’s Vineyard.

‘’Thus,  as we grieve the irreparable loss, we must take solace in the sublime truth that our sister, having died a worthy daughter of the Lord and servant in His Vineyard, the heavenly hosts are rejoicing  to meet her behind the veil of immortality of course.

 

Similarly, WEMA Bank extended condolences to Anthony George-Ikoli on the passing of his dearly beloved mother.

‘’As a team, we are deeply saddened by this loss and understand how difficult it is to part with a loved one.

In a letter signed by Business Development Manager, Olaniyi Saheed and Zonal Manager, LM, Lucky Imoisilli, the bank expressed solidarity with the family during the period of mourning.

‘’Please accept our deepest sympathy and we pray that God grants you and your entire family the strength and comfort you need during this time and may her soul rest in peace’’.

In the same vein, Polaris Bank extended sympathies to the family of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

‘’It was with deep sadness that we received the news of the passing of your dear mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli. On behalf of the Management and Staff of Polaris Bank, we wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to you and your family during this difficult time’’

The bank in a letter by its Relationship Manager, Nta Henshaw and Branch Manager, Cibuzo Ogbonna acknowledged Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s contributions to the growth of the family.

‘’We understand that the loss of a mother leaves a void that cannot be easily filled. May you find strength in the cherished memories you shared with her and may her legacy of love and guidance continue to comfort and inspire you. Please be assured of our thoughts and prayers as you go through this period of grief. We stand with you and wish you and your family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss’’.

The leaders of the Ijaw Nation expressed grief over the demise of Anthony George-Ikoli’s mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

 

In a statement on Monday, the Ijaw leaders paid their deepest and heartfelt condolences, saying that the prayers of the Ijaw people are with Chief Anthony George-Ikoli and his family at this difficult time.

‘’Our prayers are with you and the entire bereaved family because of this irreparable loss. Though a painful exit of a good mother, God loves her more’’.

The statement by the Lagos State Chairman, Tonye Leonard Harry and State Secretary, Elayelagha Golden Ambakaderemo commiserated with Anthony George-Ikoli over the demise of his beloved mother, Mrs. Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

‘’Please accept our heartfelt condolences and may you find comfort and strength during this difficult time’’

 

The statement by the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Lagos chapter urged Anthony George-Ikoli and his relatives to draw strength from the mother’s illuminating attributes of honesty, discipline, resilience and joyful spirit.

‘’Her sweet memories will forever be etched in our minds” the statement added.

Lagos residents also expressed profound sadness at the passing of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

A statement by the Alaka Executive Committee offered the deepest and most heartfelt condolences to famous lawyer, Chief Anthony George-Ikoli and his entire family.

‘’The loss of a mother is one of life’s most profound sorrows and we understand that no words can fully ease the pain you are experiencing’’.

 

The statement was signed by the Alaka Estate Chairman, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ugwu and the General Secretary, Mrs. Kemi Awe

‘’We stand with you in solidarity during this period of bereavement” the statement said.

‘’Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you navigate through these challenging times. We pray that the Almighty God will grant your mum eternal rest and provide you and your family with the strength, comfort and solace needed to bear this irreplaceable loss’’.

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OTHERS EULOGIZE ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI AS DIGNITARIES GATHER IN LAGOS PRISONERS CARE VIBROFLOTATION AND GEOTECHNICAL

VIBROFLOTATION AND GEOTECHNICAL, PRISONERS CARE, OTHERS EULOGIZE ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI AS DIGNITARIES GATHER IN LAGOS

VIBROFLOTATION AND GEOTECHNICAL, PRISONERS CARE, OTHERS EULOGIZE ELSIE AJAYI IKOLI AS DIGNITARIES GATHER IN LAGOS
Dignitaries from all over the world will gather in Lagos on Friday, November 28, 2025 to pay their last respects and bid farewell to Madam Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.
A statement on Friday morning by the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation said Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s burial activities would begin on Thursday, November 27 in Lagos.
The statement by the Executive Vice Chairman of Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli, said a service of songs and nights of tributes would hold on Thursday, November 27 at the Citadel, 274, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island by 5:00pm.
“Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s funeral service will be held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos on Friday, November 28, 2025.”
The statement also said a private family interment for Elsie Ajayi Ikoli would take place immediately after the church service.
“The casket will be lowered into the ground at 1:30 pm”
“Reception will be by 2:00 pm at The Hall Event Centre, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island” the statement said.
“Thanksgiving Service will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at The Salvation Army Church, Lagos Island” the statement said.
The Foundation described Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as a priceless Jewel that would be hard to replace.
“Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was an embodiment of the virtues of doggedness and resilience”.
She passed on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at the enviable age of 93.
Fondly called “Mama Ayo” by friends and associates, Elsie Ajayi Ikoli, according to the family, was a good mother, matriarch, cook and counselor.
Meanwhile, some lawyers and organizations Friday evening extolled Mama’s love for the family, leadership roles and the breeding of a new generation of great thinkers and leaders.
‘’Her life was marked by grace, generosity and steadfastness Legal Answers said in a statement.
The statement signed by Teinane Okpokiti and Owokori Akuiyibo recalled that Elsie Ajayi set an example of the kind of things all of us should be doing.
‘’As a distinguished Senior Advocate in Nigeria, your work stands as a testament to the values she quietly imparted – integrity, resilience and a respectful dignity. Her steady encouragement, prayers and belief in you helped shape a part of purpose and perseverance and her influence is reflected in the principled example you set in your career and life’’
They urged Nigerians to emulate the late matriarch who they said lived a selfless life.
‘’Mama’s warmth touched many and her legacy of service and quiet strength will be remembered with respect’
The Prisoners Care Support Association said Elsie Ajayi Ikoli acquired a robust experience which she put at the service of the people.
‘’We pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and also grant her eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord’’ a statement by the Acting President, Peter Alex Ochor said.
Vibroflotation and Geotechnical Nigeria also joined others in mourning the passing of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli who lived a life of service to humanity.
‘’On behalf of the Management and Staff of Vibroflotation and Geotechnical Nigeria Limited, we extend our sincere condolences to you and your family on the passing of your beloved mother. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time and we pray for strength and comfort for you and your loved ones’’ a statement by the Acting Managing Director, Kemi Fadipe, said.
The Adam & Eve Team also sent condolences to Chief Anthony George-Ikoli.
‘’Losing a mother is a profound experience and we can only imagine the grief you are feeling right now. Please note that we are keeping you and your family in our thoughts during this difficult time’’
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OUR RELIGIOUS ALBATROSS BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

OUR RELIGIOUS ALBATROSS BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

OUR RELIGIOUS ALBATROSS BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

If we aspire to be a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society, we have to remove religion from the centrality of our politics. We must decentralize governance.

We have too many religious holidays and none of the religions is indigenous. Religion should have no place in our public lives.

The minds of our people have been seriously poisoned and corroded by religion. If we want to change our situation, we have to change the way we think. How can we think when the minds of the majority of our people have been corroded by religion?

 What is happening in Nigeria is akin to mass psychosis. How do we extricate our nation from this?  I am tempted to say let us pray. There goes my brain. Religion short circuits any thought process and leads to arrested development. What is the point of thinking when God is in charge? This leads to fatalism that is prevalent in Nigeria.

The present way and verve which Nigeria embraces religion is destructive to a society that is struggling to render service to its people in a pluralistic society. If Religion is such a good thing, the benefits will have been everywhere by now and the colonizers will never give it to us for free.

In order to create docility, they forced the Chinese to consume the real opium which was medicinal in China at that time. The Chinese leaders saw the harm it was doing to the people and they picked up arms. This led to the Opium wars that led to the loss of Hong Kong and Macao.

Africa had no opium and the colonizers discovered religion could be more addictive than opium and they cultivated it as it was cheaper than the real opium.

Docility has always been the endpoint of slavery and colonialism. Nigerians are more docile and self-destructive than any group of people I know. They worship and nurture those who steal and vandalize their commonwealth and without a blink lynch a person who steals a loaf of bread to ward off starvation. This level of cognitive dissonance is only seen amongst drug addicts.

When I hear of foreign aid, I squirm at the thought of adding foreign priests and pastors to these orgies of abuse of Africans.

The most religious geographies in Nigeria are the most violent and destructive to the body politics of Nigeria. Religion is not about love. It is about power.  Since rulers around the world adopted religion to fortify their legitimacy, religion has always been a tool of power.

Every religion started with the founder having some private revelation. These revelations were not corroborated by a third party or done in the glare of the public. Someone said he saw God and we believed him. The king believed him and the king adopted the religion and the king became God and no one can criticize the king because the king is God.

 In the prescientific world of yore, anything could be a miracle. Most early religious people directed their ire at the rulers. The wily rulers simply adopted the religion and usurped God’s power. The conundrum I continue to find is that none of the so-called founders actually set out to start a religion. These religions started many years after they were dead.

Moses criticized pharaoh and Jesus condemned the High Priests who were working in tandem with the Roman government in the occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people.

In today’s world, the Pope who is preaching Jesus will be on the side of Rome.  Mohammad was not loved by the rulers of his time. Early prophets told the truth. Nathan told David about his lust. Nigerian prophets of today would collect their tithes and personally get rid of Uriah.

Why should the king bother with such little people like Uriah? Every great prophet was anti-establishment. The prophets of today, especially in Nigeria are the establishment. Whatever they say is not of God but from their selfish desires to covet what belongs to others. This is why religion is at the root of all corruption in Nigeria.

For Nigeria to be whole, we must excise religion from all our public interaction. Those who want sharia should find another country.

Nigeria is an African Country. It has no relationship with Saudi Arabia. Any organization that condones the killing of Nigerians like those being ministered to by the likes of Gumi should be outlawed.

Our aspiration is to run a country with objective scientific principles that are objective and verifiable. Any religious gobbledygook must be rejected.

Religion has not developed in any country in the world. The poorest nations in the World are overwhelmingly religious. In Bangladesh, the average religious holiday is about 2 weeks.

The two regions that have religious extremism in Nigeria are the North and the South-East. If there is goodness in religion, we will see it in these regions.

What do we see? In the South East, we see violence, kidnappings, ritual killings and fake manufacturing of drinks and drugs that the good Christians there produced for their neighbors.

 Every morning in Aba, Onitsha and the environs, the good Christians wake up early to prepare a poison that will be unknowingly consumed by their neighbors for a fee. Did Jesus teach that? In the North, violence, human trafficking, child abuse, child marriages and religious killings, raping and kidnappings that numbs the mind. This is what religion breeds.

 Every Friday morning in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto, the “good” Muslims lay their praying mats on the road oblivious to traffic and start praying. The road is blocked and others cannot engage in their activities of daily living. At the end, they rise up and sacrifice Deborah Samson to their Allah. Any person who challenges this barbaric behavior is subjected to vigilante justice. Is this what Mohammed taught them? Jesus actually referred to this kind of people as the Pharisees. Why do I have to know you are praying? Why is it necessary to obstruct my movement because you are praying? This is nothing but an exercise of power.

Religion is the devil but the priest has been able to convince their gullible and ignorant followers that the opposite is true. Most of the religionists in Nigeria will say they love God but will not blink as they kill their fellow man in the name of God.

From what is happening in Nigeria, it will be difficult for any of these religious gooks to convince me that they are not working for the devil. At times like this, I am beginning to think of Tom Payne, my Idol. If God is capable of these atrocities, then the devil has nothing else to do. The devil should join the Church or mosque and do what the devil does best: Destruction.

 What I try to emphasize in my writing is that at this time in our history, we have to learn to live together as black people. If we aspire to become the hope of the Black World, we must learn to have allegiance to each other. It is difficult to do so now because the colonizers left their Trojan horses of religion which we have fashioned into Molotov cocktails to haul at each other every now and then.

We must learn to love each other. We don’t have to like each other but we can develop the capacity to evolve a society where our laws prevent us from hurting each other.  The religions that are creating these divisions are imported and are tools the colonizer used to make us pliant for servitude.

We need to learn how to remove these barriers that were created by those who came into our land for conquest. This needs the art of diplomacy and time. We have to understand we need each other to survive. Things will change when we start seeing ourselves in each other.

Europe lived through a period where they were intolerant of each other and the continent is gradually resuming some semblance of civility towards each other. The world war was actually intertribal and religious wars. Kosovo is still almost a war zone with animosities but life is getting better.

This is where I fault the proponents of Biafra. The quickness in which they want to resolve issues with violence or war is akin to people who have no experience with the devastation war brings. They are quick to issue ultimatums and engage in kinetic actions that will rally an opponent against them. This bellicosity and lack of diplomacy is due to the fact their societies never engaged in many wars as a nation, where serious thought is given to the consequences of losing. They made this mistake in the Nigerian civil war and they are at it again.

The Oyo Empire was one of the bloodiest empires in West Africa. The fall of the Oyo Empire led to the wholesale enslavement of the Yoruba people. The Yoruba people are the largest enslaved tribe in Africa. From Brazil to Suriname Cuba, the Yoruba language and religion are the norm. This devastation had an effect on the Oyo Empire and they learned from it.

This is the reason why the Yoruba people are very diplomatic about thorny issues. They have been accused of being tricky. They learned a lot from their history and a Yoruba man will never beat his chest to a man who has an AK 47 pointing to his chest. If a Yoruba man decides to go to war, I will not have many questions to ask before I join because I know he has deliberated about everything and he has no other choice and I know he will win because he also understands the opposition.

When Nnamdi Kanu threatens a Buhari who is a President, Kanu assumes that Buhari is an idiot because of Igbo man’s arrogance and limited education. Where is Kanu today? Buhari could have eliminated Kanu in Nairobi if that was his mission. His mission was to arrest and prosecute him. Notwithstanding his theatrics, Nnamdi should thank Buhari for not murdering him in Nairobi or through a calculated plane crash. He should learn that a good leader is not a blood thirsty vagabond who issues orders to kill people at will. He should respect our courts and follow the due process of trial.

Those who are asking America to invade Nigeria have the same infantile thinking. They think Trump will drop the bombs, the Muslims will disappear and they will have their Biafra and everything is over. This naivety led to the colossal failure of Ojukwu and the Igbos still call him the people general.

Please turn the page. It is titled the “Day After “ For some reasons, the Biafrans don’t know that their book of dreams has  a next page. Ojukwu forgot that page too. “After Biafra lost, they blamed everyone but themselves. The people who rejected the advice of Nnamdi Azikiwe, a seasoned statesman for the bellicosity of a renegade now tell us it was other people’s fault.

Warriors don’t brag about battles. They don’t even show us their scars.  They leave that for amateurs who have never seen widows and orphans. Hitler tried it the second time and the results were the same and more devastating. It is not necessary to repeat a class if all lessons are learned.

My submission is that we should learn diplomacy. The making of a nation requires this. Those who negotiate on behalf of their people should always avoid the temptation to think their adversary is an idiot.

America has not given us creative leaders lately. They have become used to antiseptic wars. Donald Trump coming to Africa to save Christian sounds like a 419 proposition for the racist religious right of America. He doesn’t need to spend much effort to destroy Nigeria or kill those causing the problem.

Let’s be more creative. He should tell Nigeria he is dropping 20 billion dollars in Lokoja for Christians and Muslims to share equally. He should then sit and wait. All the Muslims and Christians will arrive with their swords and AK 47. There will be a holy war as each side tries to claim this loot. The only ones who will be left alive are Nigerians who didn’t believe the story and those who have not been converted or sent away by their priests because they are not real Muslims or Christians. The Catholics will ask for confessions before any one is allowed to join the broil. By morning, America can walk in and take the rare earths and minerals without firing a shot . They can collect their money from the pockets of all the dead Christians and Muslims who were engaged in a jihad.

Where are the good Christians in Nigeria? They have been raptured. Where are the Muslims? They are in paradise with their 72 virgins. Religion has always been a lie, a big lie. Religion is an intoxicant invented by men of power. This intoxicant is the greatest purveyor of violence and cruelty in our world. The exceptions don’t make the rules. Prove me wrong.

What is so holy about a war that God has to take sides? If America defeats Nigeria tomorrow, does it mean America was right and God was on their side? No, they have better intelligence and technology. God wasn’t the referee.

DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS

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CONTRACTORS GOVERNMENT AGENTS AND THE STABILITY OF NIGERIA BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

CONTRACTORS, GOVERNMENT AGENTS AND THE STABILITY OF NIGERIA BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

CONTRACTORS, GOVERNMENT AGENTS AND THE STABILITY OF NIGERIA BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

 

 

Who makes these changes?

“I shoot an arrow right, it turns left“

I chase after a deer; I get chased by a lion.

I dig a hole for my enemies, and I fall into it……….

I should be careful about what I want” …. RUMI

 

Who makes these changes? Why can’t we understand that what goes around comes around? I have been doing some random musings lately. Why is it so easy for government agents not to pay contractors who have diligently completed an assignment on behalf of the government? The government being the largest employer is setting bad examples to rogue employers who are exploiting Nigerians daily.

 

 

How can the government compel private institutions to pay what they owe, when the government is the chief culprit in this regard? Those in government must ask the critical question. Is the non-payment for services part of the root cause of the various unrest in Nigeria? These actors may be those who have been damaged by government actions. This is a big issue that should worry any person or politician in any position of authority.

The stories concerning non-payment for duly executed contracts are very disturbing. The cavalier altitude of the elite in this regard is overwhelming and numbing. All tiers of governments in Nigeria treat their contractors and workers with arrogance and disdain like the military used to do. This attitude of not paying contractors and suppliers has become a culture that will cripple the country. A businessman takes a loan from a bank to execute contracts on behalf of government and there is no hope of him getting paid. The bank comes after him and he loses everything. This is cruel and unfair.

 

No government should consider owing contractors as a policy of development. Some of these folks die without collecting what is owed to them. There should be a law to stop the government from these abuses of citizens. The stories are so numerous and heartbreaking. There was the story of a contractor who procured vehicles for some state government.  Many months have passed, and nothing has been paid. The contractor lost his collateral to bank seizures.

 

We cannot develop Nigeria with this primitive way of thinking and interaction with citizens who use their resources and ingenuity to provide services to the government that have no respect for the sanctity of contacts.

 

 

All the politicians in this country profess some faith. It is sacrilege not to pay the laborer his just wages. No economy can develop if those who participate and deliver service are not paid their just wages after completion of set contracts.

There should be a law to stop this abuse of citizens. If this situation is not remedied, it will soon have a multiplier effect that will drag the economy down and increase the suffering of hard-working Nigerians who dare to participate in business ventures with the government and its agencies.

A law should apply here, that sixty days after completion of a project, the government must pay if the work is satisfactory. If there is any dispute, the agencies involved must pay fifty percent and the other fifty percent should be paid with interest when the dispute is resolved.

Those who are in charge and derive joy from withholding citizens legitimate earning should know that what goes around comes around. Someone may not release their pension until after their death. If this attitude becomes the Nigerian culture, they have a responsibility to be a bull work against rogue government policies. No one should protest to be paid his just earnings. This sordid behavior in the corridors of power should be stopped as it is beginning to be a culture.

The nature of Nigerian society is that the dark is always calling to the dark. Before we know it, all government agencies will be like NEPA that charges exorbitant fees without supplying a single unit of electricity.

Pay the laborer his just wages. Government should not engage in theft of service. The National Assembly should conduct a study to see how prevalent this malady is in this country and advance legislation to preclude it.

If you don’t pay those who work, don’t be surprised when your system becomes clogged with flotsam and jetsam that will sink the ship of state. No one should work for a government that does not pay. Those who will do so are desperados who are there to deplete and convert government resources. Some of the unrest throughout the country may be due to people who feel they have been taken advantage of by the state or federal government. These include those who executed contracts and were not paid and became desperate.

Government must at all times try to reduce the ranks of desperado by not deliberately pushing people into poverty.  This lack of regard of citizens leads to a culture of nonchalance that defines Nigeria today. We can do better by refusing to race to the bottom.

All governments must as a matter of urgency assume their responsibility to pay their workers and contractors their fair and just compensation. Any government that does not comply with this fundamental objective is a rogue government that has no place in civilized societies. Such governments can only produce discontent and anarchy.

DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS

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Elsie Ajayi Ikoli dies at 93

Elsie Ajayi Ikoli dies at 93

 

The Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation on Sunday announced the passing of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

 

Elsie Ajayi Ikoli departed this earth on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, in the quiet of her Lagos home — not with fanfare, but with fulfillment. She was 93.

 

A statement issued in Lagos by the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation described the death of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as a big loss to the people of Bayelsa and Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general.

 

“Mama Ayo, as friends, family members and neighbors called her, was a good mother, a church servant and a quiet revolutionary. She turned duty into destiny, grief into gospel, and labour into love. She also turned scarcity into a sanctuary for her children with hands calloused by labor and a heart softened by grace”

The statement by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli, said the death of Elsie Ajayi Ikoli has robbed Nigeria of a seasoned business icon.

 

“Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was a woman of the altar, industry and unyielding grace”

 

The statement highlighted Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s intellect, resilience, wisdom and sobriety.

 

“Mama Ayo’s mind was a boundless library. She devoured books not for ornament, but for illumination — a habit that would later become the quiet engine of her wisdom”

 

The statement highlighted  professionalism, apprenticeship in nation-building and her role as Executive Assistant to the First Editor of Daily Times, Publisher of African Messenger, President of the Nigerian Youth Movement, one of the founders of Action Group (AG) and representative of Lagos in the Legislative Council, Ernest Ikoli.

 

“Mama Ayo moved with quiet precision behind the scenes of history. While Ernest drafted editorials that stirred the conscience of a colony awakening to freedom, Mama Ayo kept the rhythm of his days — managing correspondence, organizing schedules, shielding his genius from distraction”

 

A tireless and cheerful woman who could be counted on, the statement said Elsie avoided the spotlight that focused on Ernest Sissei Ikoli through his long political career.

 

“In her presence, chaos yielded to order. In her silence, purpose found its voice. She did not seek the spotlight, but stood steadfast in its penumbra — a dutiful woman, an unseen architect of legacy, ensuring that the man who helped forge Nigeria’s voice never lost his own”

 

The statement recalled the period when the mantle of the sole provider fell upon her shoulders.

 

“Mama wore it not as a burden, but as a covenant. She became a staff member and major distributor for Abbott Pharmaceuticals during its pioneering years in Nigeria — a time when Similac and Isomil were not just products, but promises whispered into the cribs of a hopeful, growing nation. With grit and grace, she out-distributed her peers, not through force, but through faithfulness – waking before dawn, returning long after dusk, her arms laden not just with formula tins, but with the nourishment of futures. In her, Abbott did not merely find a distributor — they found a disciple of diligence, a woman who treated every delivery as a divine assignment”

 

A study in humility, matriarch, cook and counselor, the statement recollected how life exacted its cruel toll on Elsie Ajayi Ikoli.

 

 

 

“The loss of two of her children carved a canyon in her soul — a grief so profound it could have extinguished her. But Mama Ayo did not retreat. She ascended. In the hallowed halls of the Salvation Army, Marina Corps, she entered into a sacred covenant with God — a vow of everlasting service. There, as Welfare Keeper of the Home League Unit, she washed altar linens until they gleamed like morning snow, believing that holiness resided not only in prayer, but in purity of preparation. She folded hope into every crease, ironed devotion into every hem. Her hands, which once balanced ledgers and stacked crates, now cradled communion cloths with the reverence of a priestess”.

 

The statement emphasized her role in the women’s ministries.

 

“She was a pillar in the Women’s and Mother’s Ministries, where her counsel was sought not for its volume, but for its virtue. And beyond the church walls, she poured her spirit into the Nembe Women Society (Lagos Branch) — gathering daughters of the Niger Delta in diaspora, weaving community from memory, stitching solidarity with stories. She did not merely lead — she mothered. She did not merely organize — she sanctified”.

 

Blessed with a rich and agile mind, the statement said Mama Ayo’s worldview was sculpted by sweat and scripture.

“She believed work was worship, excellence an echo of the divine, and failure not a full stop — but a comma in God’s longer sentence. Like the ant she so admired, she saw the cathedral in the crumb, the empire in the errand. She got up early, humming hymns to the rhythm of responsibility. She taught by presence: “Do it yourself, Do it well and Do it now.” Not as a command, but as a creed”.

 

The statement lavished praise on her for the quiet revolution.

 

“Her altar remains spotless. Her hands still shape us. Her name — Elsie — “God’s Promise” — echoes in every life she lifted. Rest now, Mama. The Rock you carried has become the monument. The vision you served has become a victory. Well done, good and faithful servant”

The Ernest Ikoli Foundation highlights the values of the late First Republic politician, nationalist and pioneering journalist, Ernest Sissei Ikoli, to inspire present and future generations.

 

It also promotes the ideals of integrity, unity and service that the late leader championed.

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ERNEST IKOLI'S FAMILY ANNOUNCES BURIAL DATE FOR ELSIE AJAYI

ERNEST IKOLI’S FAMILY ANNOUNCES BURIAL DATE FOR ELSIE AJAYI

 

The family of prominent political leader, thinker and great journalist, Ernest Sissei Ikoli, on Wednesday described Elsie Ajayi Ikoli as a priceless Jewell that would be hard to replace.

 

“Elsie Ajayi Ikoli was an embodiment of the virtues of doggedness and resilience”.

 

She passed on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at the enviable age of 93 years.

 

Fondly called “Mama Ayo” by friends and associates, Elsie Ajayi Ikoli, according to the family, was a good mother, matriarch, cook and counselor.

 

A statement on Wednesday by the Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation said Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s burial activities would begin on Thursday, November 27 in Lagos.

 

The statement by the Executive Vice Chairman of Ernest Sissei Ikoli Foundation, Chief Anthony George- Ikoli said a service of songs and nights of tributes would hold on Thursday, November 27 at the Citadel, 274, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island by 5:00pm.

 

“Elsie Ajayi Ikoli’s funeral service will be held at The Salvation Army Church, 11 Odunlami Street, Lagos on Friday, November 28, 2025.”

 

The statement also said a private family interment for Elsie Ajayi Ikoli would take place immediately after the church service.

 

“The casket will be lowered into the ground at 1:30 pm”

 

“Reception will be by 2:00 pm at The Hall Event Centre, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island” the statement said.

 

“Thanksgiving Service will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at The Salvation Army Church, Lagos Island” the statement added.

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UNEASY NEIGHBOURS AND THE BIAFRA DIALOGUES BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

UNEASY NEIGHBOURS AND THE BIAFRA DIALOGUES BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

 

UNEASY NEIGHBOURS AND THE BIAFRA DIALOGUES BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

 

Lately, there have been eruption of kings and kingdoms of the Igbo people all over Nigeria and other parts of the world. If these occurrences were not being normalized, they will be easy to ignore.

 

Some months ago, I wrote that the two tribes militating against Nigeria progress are the Fulani and the Igbo. From the surface, they look different but their core ideology is the same.

 

I wrote a five part essay on how the Fulani people achieved their dominance of Nigeria. They used Religion. They are colonizers and they only want to be Nigerians if they are in charge.

 

The Igbo people only want to be in Nigeria if they are in charge. The South-East people want to achieve the same thing by using commerce and psychological warfare. Where the Fulani people are quiet, the Igbo people are haughty. You can hear their steps many miles away. The Fulani people are austere while the Igbo people are opposite. They tell you they are the best and without them Nigeria cannot move on. They will engage in de-marketing campaigns to prove their point.

 

Nnamdi Kanu started by declaring Nigeria a zoo. His acolytes took his campaign against Nigeria to a higher level where they will make fictitious gory films about Nigeria.  They pumped negative news about Nigeria into the blogosphere.  Most of the negative stories against Nigeria overseas are a well oil propaganda machine by the Biafrans. Nigeria is bad because the Igbo people are not in charge. While the Fulani will plot a comeback, the Igbo would settle for blackmail that they are being marginalized.  They will not make any effort to collaborate with others to contest for power. They think power will be surrendered to them by blackmail and harassment of their irregular forces under the control of Nnamdi Kanu.

 

The recent proliferation of kingship in Igbo land, Nigerian and overseas is part of this agenda. They will cry victim and the world will come to their support.  This behavior has confirmed the fact that the Igbo people have no respect for the rights of their hosts.

 

From Dallas to Lagos and China to Pakistan, they want to set up a kingdom and undermine their host. If this were not a threat to innocent Nigerians, it would not be a thing. This behavior has made many folks to distant themselves from Nigerians as they cannot tell who is who. These kingdoms have been associated with a high level of predation. This elephant in the room is too big to ignore. All politics, they say ends at the water’s edge. This means that whatever division we have at home should stay at home as we cross the seas as Nigerians to foreign lands. In this way, we subsume our local identity for the national identity. Igbo people have refused to do since the end of the civil war. Igbo nationalism became the norm after the civil war. Nigerians have been reluctant to push back because we don’t want anything to remind us of the bitter past. This lack of push back is a mistake that has led the proponents of Biafra to preach the rightness of their cause. Any attempt to tell the real history of the conflict is met with revisionist history where every Nigerian becomes a villain and cannot muster any argument to challenge the aggressiveness and unwarranted provocation of the Igbo. They have managed to spread lies and innuendo to obfuscate the reasons for our present discontent. The generation of Igbo people who were alive during Biafra handed lies to their children who now look at Nigeria with anger and bitterness. Their most popular lie is that all Igbo people were stripped of their wealth, genocide was committed against them and they were given twenty pounds at the end of the civil war. With that twenty pounds in their pocket, they used the Igbo ingenuity to create massive wealth in a Nigeria that hates and discriminates against them.

 

This HORATIO Algiers story is something only children will believe. This is the story the Igbo people believe. Since these children grew up, there was no counter narrative of the Nigerian civil war. Nigerian children consumed this history and they also became uninformed and they have been unwittingly made villains in this macabre dance. This is the history that made people like Nnamdi Kanu.  This revisionist history is what they use as propaganda against the Nigerian state. This is the source of their righteous indignation against the Nigerian state. They started preaching Biafra with the authority of ignorance. Due to this ignorance, a lot of Nigerians did not know how to react to these new proponents of Biafra who have gradually adopted psychological warfare tactics. Any attempt to correct any lies by these groups is labeled Igbophobia. In order not to be cast with this label, a lot of opinion leaders   ceded the discussion to this uninformed Nnamdi generation of Igbo people who started running wild in Igbo land. By the time the authorities knew what was happening, Nnamdi Kanu had a full-fledged army and a Biafran passport for his followers. He started declaring holidays and punishing anyone in Igbo land who opened their shops or violated their criminal directives.

 

This was the failure of the government of Nigeria to secure the peace at the end of the Nigerian civil war.  If the leaders of the Biafran rebellion had been punished, a matter of reason will not be toyed with by anyone who knew of the damage that war did to Nigeria.

 

Nnamdi  Kanu was placed under house arrest  but he escaped back to London where he resumed  his position as the Commander  in Chief of the Biafran Army. He gave orders and they were carried out in Igboland.  His activities became far reaching that those elected to govern became his subordinates in Igbo land. This is why you don’t see any prominent Igbo person who can vociferously challenge Nnamdi Kanu’s rebellion. The naive and uninformed Igbo people have made him their messiah and they have been donating generously to set up this Biafran state.

 

He was arrested for the second time in Kenya and brought to Nigeria for trial.  Unfortunately for our nation, we don’t know how to compartmentalize crimes. The trial of Nnamdi Kanu should have been a criminal trial that should not take so much time or attention of Mr. President.

 

This is Nigeria where a criminal was made a martyr due to unnecessary political intervention. Instead of being tried and sentenced, we now cede decisions to the political arena. This is wrong. An unrepentant criminal will repeat his crime. His deputy was arrested and convicted in Finland within six months. The Finish people care about justice, they did not care about being labeled Igbophobia.  Justice was dispensed. From the court proceedings, the criminality involved in these Biafran activities could not be denied. Sam Ekpa was convicted.

 

Where are the Igbo people who are opposed to this criminality? Why are they so quiet? They cannot talk because Nnamdi Kanu controls the foot soldiers that dispense justice without mercy in Igboland.  Nnamdi is the product of Nigerians lackadaisical attitudes towards nationhood. This is what happens when a Nation refuses to punish those who try to dismember it. Surreptitiously groups like that of Nnamdi Kanu have been undermining Nigeria. They have used psychological tactics of labeling any opposition as Igbophobia.  Well-meaning Nigerians have succumbed to this emotional blackmail. This has led to the paralysis of analysis of the struggles of the average Igboman in Igboland. The insecurity that the Biafrans created is what has led to the emptying of Igboland as people are fleeing from the South-East geo-political zone due to insecurity.

 

The more people flee, the more they aggregate in some locales. It is okay to settle in new places. That is the story of man. What I find disturbing about these new Igbo settlers is their propensity to set up the Igbo kingdom anywhere they go. We have never seen this kind of Igbo nationalism at this level. What is happening in Igboland? There was no monarchy or central governing system in Igbo history. Why the rush to become kings in other peoples land?  Why do Igbo people think it is okay for them to set up their kingdom in another man’s kingdom? An action like this is considered an act of war in some climes. To be a king, you have to conquer the territory. Two kings cannot rule one domain? These actions have not been challenged in Nigeria and a lot of Igbo people think they can take this behavior overseas. It is obvious they were not prepared for the fireworks that come with such proclamation. This confirms that the Igbo people had no monarchy in their history? If they did, they would understand that there is a lot of bloodletting on the way to royalty.

 

In the past, I said Igbo complained most about tribalism. My observation is that Igbo are the most tribalistic people in Nigeria. It is this tribal propensity that makes them want to set up a tribal hegemony anywhere they find themselves.

 

Why is it necessary to tell an Isoko man that his ancestors are Igbo when all the historical facts are contrary? Why is it necessary to tell an Ikwere man that he is denying his Igbo ancestry? It is rude for an Igboman to tell an Isoko or Itsekiri that their lineage is from Igboland. This is a direct assault on the history of these people. The claims by Igbo are becoming so absurd that they stress credulity.

 

Recently an Igbo man on YouTube said they were in Ile Ife before the Yoruba people arrived.  How can you expect  Yoruba people to take you seriously with these kinds of outlandish  proclamations? So many unsubstantiated and outlandish remarks have been made by Igbo scholars that we don’t know what to believe anymore. The Igbo people claim they are the lost tribe of Israel. There is no DNA evidence in this regard. The farthest East their DNA went is the Bantu tribes of the Congo. The people in the Horn of Africa have direct lineage to Palestine. They don’t use that as a bragging right.

 

From the above, I am beginning to see that the Igbo people are still in the tribal stage of development where tribal identity is paramount for survival. Most of the other tribes in Nigeria came from empires and have shed the tribal cocoon that is necessary to form a nation. So it is easier for them to adapt to their new realities.

 

The Igbo people are still at a stage where they are trying to form a nation from their disparate tribes.  This process was interrupted by the colonialists. It is possible the Benin Empire could have conquered and annexed Igbo land if the British did not invade the empire. Forming a country is a union of Nations. The Benin Empire, the Oyo Empire and the Kanem Bornu Empire, Mali Empire and others were the nations within the Nigerian space. The Igbo people were just a group of disparate tribes that have not become a nation at the arrival of the colonialists.  The present struggles are the attempts by people to hold on to an identity in a changing world.  This is the atavism we see today. If the Igbo people succeed in having their Biafra, they will still negotiate these intricacies in order to form a united Biafra. These painful negotiations require patience and diplomacy. These are the kind of experiences they need instead of using bellicosity as a tool of diplomacy.

 

DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS

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THE DUALITY OF THE AFRICAN SOUL BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

THE DUALITY OF THE AFRICAN SOUL BY DR AUSTIN ORETTE

 

Religion in Nigeria will always be a cog in the wheel of progress because this is the Trojan horse the colonizers left behind. It is the only thing that leads to arrested development of any intelligent discussion of finding solutions to what is holding Nigeria back.

 

At the time the British left, they were very happy that the religion they brought had displaced our traditional methods of worship. Besides, the African religion is not inducing passion for hatred and killing of each other as their religions needed constant sacrifice of the unbelievers. They trained the African how to kill and die for their gods and forget self-inquiry and self-improvement.

 

In Nigeria, they made it potent for these religions to constantly be at war with each other and forget they are the victims of a master puppeteer. The African especially the Nigerian has lost his mind in the macabre of this zealotry. He is always in a perpetual state of hallucinations, religious ecstasy and zealotry.  The White man’s god became African with all its hateful passions and pride.

 

Since we hate ourselves, we kill the self we see in each other. It is not necessary for the white man to kill us. We can do that better than him. Now and then, we call them for supervision. This reassures them of the superiority of their god. Their religion always reminds us that we are birds of different plumage. We have to deny our brothers, friends and family in order to devote our time to their god who has blessed them with technology. It must be true that their god gave them the gadget directly. We also have to build big houses for their gods because he does not like huts.. We sleep there every day but don’t see god. They tell us to just continue to pray and have faith. We don’t have to work or think. Nothing is needed but faith.

 

If you are a Muslim, you have to kill your neighbor if you see him tear a page from the Holy Book. Islam is peace you know! The only requirement is prayer. Five times a day or make it continuous for effect. The decibel of the loudspeakers has to be increased to drive out the demons. Those who cannot make it through the noise be damned or join in this state of lost civility. The brainwashing has started. These religions made the African supplicant and will always see the white god as their savior.

We have white Jesus and we have off white Mohammad.  An African can never have any angel that looks like him and he has to always turn the other cheek. Mission accomplished. Africans cannot look for solutions from within. If a problem is too difficult to solve, all he has to do is to go to Mecca or Rome. He has to talk to the white god personally because the white god has all the answers. If he cannot see the white god, the white man will do as his deputy. This is the beginning of white worship which is the most common idolatry in Africa. The ways and whys of the conqueror become supreme; He cannot pray in Africa because his prayers will be thwarted by the many demons that abound in Africa. The land of Africa is not holy enough for the white god. This took away the agency and self-confidence of the African. Nothing in his vicinity reminds him of his divinity. Gradually, his self-confidence erodes and he sees himself as having everything in common with his colonial oppressors. Any attempt to loosen these chains of oppression is vehemently opposed by the guard of his oppressor. These guards are the various pastors and imams who play the role of interpreting the white man’s god to him. Any dream of the sheep leaving the plantation and finding the meaning of his existence, the chains is tightened and he continues with his anesthetic prayers that confuse and consume him. He can’t leave if he is a Muslim because he will be killed in the North of Nigeria. If he is in the South, he is ashamed to enforce compliance. From the cradle to the grave, the African lives with the fog of knowingness that gnaws at him. He lacks the courage to break free from the shackles of these foreign religions and he gradually evolves a duality in his existence. In most cases, he will seek the help of his ancestors to intercede by stealth. So it can be said that the African maintains a duality that is necessary to survive his environment. This duality results in double loyalty; one to the oppressors and one of his traditional roots which he has been forced to vilify. On Sundays or Fridays, he goes to the church or mosque. On the days that he can have his privacy, he goes to the Babalawo for his incantation. This double loyalty places him in an uncomfortable position where his loyalty to his imported religion becomes the same as loyalty to his colonial oppressor.

Nothing can highlight this more than the death of Charlie Kirk in America. Before the bullet could land, Nigerians have already taken sides because of this loyalty to the oppressor. All they heard is that he was a Christian. They don’t have the presence of mind to know the definition of Christianity in the land of their oppressors. They make statements that are ignorant and out of context with the issues. They start speaking and arguing about issues they know nothing about with the authority and bravado of ignorance. All they hear is that a prominent American Christian was killed. That is all. They suddenly become Christian warriors trying to force the gate of heaven to be opened for this “lovely” Christian who was killed by the devil. They will even prepare a sermon to tell their congregation to live the righteous life of Charles Kirk who was killed by the devil.

 

 

Now we may ask: Who was Charlie Kirk? To answer this question, you have to know American culture and politics in real time. Nigerians without any iota of fact will pontificate about this man’s exemplary life. Due to the fact that he is white, they will go further and equate him to Jesus Christ. If you don’t believe this, just read comments coming from Nigerians on YouTube and other social media.

 

This lack of knowledge and loquaciousness is very embarrassing to those of us who live in this culture and follow the issues closely. These ignorant discussions can place us in danger as those who don’t know the difference assume every Nigerian has sympathy with the white oppressors of America who use Christianity for their hateful actions against black people in America.

 

A white Christian went into a black church. He was welcomed. After prayers, he brought his gun and killed everyone there. His Christian god told him to do so. When he was arrested, the police took him to MacDonald for lunch. They are Christian police. What did this “good “Christian police do when they arrested George Floyd? They strangled him in plain view of the public. Here in America, rational people don’t jump to conclusions or make saints out of sinners just because they say they are Christians.

 

The Kkk that terrorized and lynched black Americans after the civil war were Christians. The burning cross is their insignia.  Right wing Christianity in America is a white supremacy organization. Here in America, people look at the issues with objective lenses. We even ask questions and go to the archive to examine the records.  The Nigerian will not do this because he cannot see beyond his narrow lens of religion and confuses his version of Christianity with American right wing Christianity which is nothing but white Supremacy organization. Please stop. Your ignorance will get a lot of people killed in America.

In America, the pace of news is very rapid and a big story today is overshadowed by bigger stories tomorrow and what seems monumental today becomes a footnote tomorrow. Who was Charlie Kirk? He was thirty one year old and dropped out of college after the first semester. He is a Christian but he preached the gospel of the Pharisees. He engages in revisionist history and uses pseudo intellectualism to argue points that cannot be factually verified. His main hatred is against Black Americans and any other blacks who live in the US. His organization, Turning Point, USA was sponsored by racist American billionaires. He does not let facts get in his way when he is talking about black people. Time after time, he says black people are mentally inferior. He tells the World that black people are very violent, and they are 13 percent of the population and fifty percent in jail. This is clearly a lie.  He was the one who started the rumor that white South Africans are being subjected to genocide. This is what led to the confrontation of Donald Trump and the South African president. Trump did not believe the South African president. He sent a plane to South Africa to carry the white people to America and granted all of them asylum.  I just use these few points to introduce Charlie Kirk to the Nigerian audience who have been blinded by religion.

 

 

 

Charlie Kirk is your oppressor. He is not a follower of Jesus. He uses the name of Jesus the way the colonial master used the name of Jesus for slavery and colonialism. Charlie Kirk was the person encouraging counter protests when George Floyd was murdered in broad daylight by strangulation at the hands of the police. On January 6, 2017, he was the one who bused protesters to riot at the capitol. He is what is known as an agent provocateur.  He is a right winger. He believes there should not be any amendments to the second amendment of the constitution which gives the American citizens the right to bear arms. He is opposed to any legislation that will interfere with the people’s right to bear arms. He says any death from gunshot in America should be considered collateral damage in the fight for freedom. Due to the bellicose stand of these right wingers like Charles Kirk, it is impossible to pass any sensible gun laws. These people believe very deeply that guns don’t kill people. People kill people. One can actually deduce from this summary that Charles Kirk died from his own hemlock. His hatred of black people is so visceral that at the time he was killed, he was talking about black violence in an auditorium in University in Salt Lake City, Utah. This cannot be rationalized. Utah is more than 98 % white. Why would a white man talk about the violent criminality of black people to an audience of mostly white people in Utah? The only reason is that he is on a crusade to unite white people against black people in America. He was telescoping racism to young white people who live in Utah to start hating black people they have not met. He was fomenting racial animosity. He frequently goes to Europe to give lectures and recruit white Europeans to his violent anti-black racism .This is the stuff the right wing of America feeds on.

 

 

In this journey of hatred, they identify themselves as Christians. They are Christians alright but they are not followers of Christ who taught love, tolerance and charity.  He hates immigrants and wants borders closed. Recently, he said in a speech that America does not need more Indians. Are these the actions of a Christian? If he is Christian, then Donald Trump must be his pastor. They worship at the temple of bigotry. He is one of the architects of the policies that trample on the vulnerable in our society.  I don’t wish for anyone dead but he is a victim of his own poison. In his own words, he can be considered collateral damage. If you ask me to shed a tear for him, then it is okay to cry for Osama bin Laden. We don’t worship the same God, so I cannot ask God to open the gates of Heaven for him even when a majority of those he hurt with his hatred have opened the gates of hell without any bumps and unambiguous road signs.

Charlie Kirk said it himself. Empathy is a bad thing. Mourning his death is against his personal wishes.

 

DR AUSTIN ORETTE WRITES FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS

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