Remembering Biafra Declaration Day.

Folks, on this day (30th May 1967), 46 years ago, Biafra was declared, in response to the pogrom, killings and genocide against Igbos in Northern and Western Nigeria. Biafran Republic was declared to provide Igbos, with security and safety of their lives and properties. Nigerian government then, in collaboration with imperialistic British government and other foreign powers, declared war on Igbos. At the end of which, over 2 million of us (Igbos) paid the supreme sacrifice. Till date, Igbos all over Nigeria are still being hunted down and killed, at the slightest excuses, or killed for no reasons or no faults of theirs. Igbos have become endangered species. Please, as you read this message, kindly pause and observe a two minutes silence, for our fallen heroes and heroines, they laid down their lives, that we might have ours today. This day (30th May) deserves to be remembered by all Igbos worldwide. For on the average, every family in Biafra lost, at least one person to the war. To this end, my appreciation goes to Igbo Canadian Community Association that planned their 2013 Biafran war memorial day on Saturday 1st June 2013. Other Igbo communities globally should follow suit. Elsewhere around the world, people remember wars and reflect on it. Igbos cannot be an exception, hence Biafran war is worth remembering, on this day of its declaration. It should be an occasion for soul searching amongst the Igbos, especially a time to bury all hatchets, differences, egos etc and begin to unite. For Igbos to progress as a group, their unity is non-negotiable. Permit me to also thank Igbo Forum UK (This group is made up of delegates of several Igbo Unions in UK, Ireland, and Europe), part of their mission is to unite Igbos. May God bless us. C.V.Akuta UK. www.briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com 30th May 2013.

Funding Opportunity Coming Soon on www.ahadiway.org in july2013

You already heard from me about a new income opportunity that is about to launch on www.ahadiway.org . I want to give you a few of the details available about this program and what you can expect for the launch.
Get ready because you don’t want to miss this one. This program will have everything you need and I helped personally in the development of the system and funding structure.
Compensation
This new program will feature an unique funding plan, it will be the first of its kind and it will have no restrictions to the members, people will have the option to choose from a onetime payment or monthly, they will be able to withdraw any time, any amount they earn without having to meet any qualifications requirements, no monthly admin fee nor anything like that and a very helpfully toll.
Here are some of the main factors that will make this program unique.
1st – The Program
* Unique funding Plan, ready for Active & Passive Members
* No withdrawal requirements and fast daily payments
* Global Membership (Solid Trust Pay, Alertpay & Liberty Reserve)
* Marketing & Advertising Material ready
* Trusted Administration & Professional Programmers
* Strictly One Account per person, per ip address & per household
 All you need to do is to create your own account with www.ahadiway.org and the will help you with your entire funding request. You can request any kind of fund as you will be directed whether is school fees, workshop or anything you would like to be funded for. we are asking you to forwad this email to everyone.

Owelle Rochas: Teach Us How To Fish.

This message is a direct response to a recent promise made by the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, that Imo State Government, will pay her unemployed graduates monthly sum of N20,000 (twenty thousand naira only). This is pure welfare system, but bad economics. The author will illustrate what he means and proffer suggestions. But it’s worthy to note also, that the author is an economist by profession and practice, therefore, the suggestions should be given due considerations, that it deserves. Imo State Government should ask these unemployed youths to offer the state or themselves one form of service(s) or another in return for these monthly payments. By accepting to do any of the listed jobs below, Imo State government would have succeeded in teaching them how to fish, instead of giving them, free fish (free money). The following jobs can be done for the state and also for themselves. (a)Street cleaning/sweeping: Assign some of them to help clean/sweep the streets in Imo State. They also could help to clear the gutters/drainages (where they can). Ask residents of the streets to observe them and certify their work before paying them. A sort of checks and balances. Where there are existing contractors doing these jobs, still assign these unemployed people to them. (b) Beautifying the state: Engage many of them in beautifying cities in Imo State, let them help to plant flowers/trees or help to water trees/plants/flowers, along various streets in different cities of Imo State. Again where there are existing contractors doing these jobs, still assign these unemployed people to them to acquire job experiences. (c) Distribute economic trees and livestock(s) to them: Dear Owelle Rochas, during one of your events/visits to London, last year (3rd November, 2012), at the inauguration of Imo APGA UK Chapter, you asked Imolites (Imo State indigenes) to plant economic trees. This is the time/opportunity for you to actualize this vision. Pay them half of the amount, and use the other half of the proposed amount (N10,000) each month, to buy each unemployed graduate seeds/economic trees to plant. In addition, you can do same by also using half of the proposed amount to buy them livestock(s) to breed. Imagine where about 5,000 youths (this is a conservative estimate) are planting about 10 economic trees monthly or imagine where 5,000 youths are getting livestock(s) monthly to breed. (d) For item (c) above, make sure suppliers are Imo indigenes, so that money will circulate among the indigenes. The multiplier effects will be enormous for the state economy. Where there are no competent local suppliers, others can supply. Japan once practised a closed economic system. (e) Identify the unemployed graduates who are skills oriented, that could be trained to become, bricklayers, carpenters, hair stylists, mechanics, painters, electronics repairs etc. Identify trainers and use half of the proposed amount and pay directly to the trainers, so that they could acquire relevant skills. Subsequent payments to be conditioned, upon progression of skills acquisition. The list above is not exhaustive. By doing any of the above, they would acquire lifelong skills. They could also have working experiences for future job references. These would also engage them productively. There would be added value to Imo State economy. The activities above would also occupy their time. Remember an idle mind is a devil’s workshop. C.V.Akuta UK 22/5/13.

State of Emergency; Matters Arising.

1. On paragraph 1, of President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech, of May 14th 2013 (Declaration of State of Emergency), he mentioned eleven states (Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau, Bayelsa, Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa) as states with serious security challenges, but he ended up declaring state of emergency on only three states (Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa). He didn’t outline the security measures for the remaining states and the remaining parts of the country. 2. State of emergency was declared before by his government, in most of the affected states. Could the President, please shed more light, on the achievements, gains or otherwise of that previous exercise. 3. On Paragraph 13, the President directed the Chief of Defence Staff to deploy more troops. This is what Mr. President should have done since, and perhaps save more lives and properties. Let me add here that, deployment of troops would not yield the desired results without effective intelligence gathering. 4. President Goodluck Jonathan should have also declared a state of emergency on high rates of kidnapping at the South East, South South, South West etc. 5. On paragraph 6, Mr. President acknowledged that the activities of these terrorists, insurgents (I would add, criminals and kidnappers) amounted to a declaration of war. Therefore, a state of war exists. In war situations, the leader should mobilize the entire citizens, for the common objective of defeating the enemy. Without mobilizing the local and indigenous people, this exercise might not go far. Effective policing is a collective effort(s), it requires the active support and participation of the local communities. He needs to win their hearts, minds, loyalty and support. These, he is yet to do or failed to do. 6. Nigerian Customs and Exercise deserves a state of emergency too, for failing to protect our borders, from where numerous arms and ammunitions have found their way into the country. Nothing short of disbanding the organization will be acceptable. May God bless Nigeria. C.V.Akuta UK 15/05/13.

Self and Safe Defence.

If ever, you have never been worried or disturbed about the security situation in Nigeria, now is the time to get seriously concerned, about the deplorable state of affairs, especially high level of insecurity. First let me start with the most recent been, the Ombatse, in Nasarawa State, where over 100 Nigerian Police and other security officers were massacred in a single incident. Police has identified 2 of their officers who leaked information to the Ombatse cultist, which led to the deaths of their colleagues. (I will come back to issue of police giving out information to criminals). Forty eight (48) hours before this Ombatse incident, more than twenty Nigerian Police officers were also killed in Bama Borno State, by the Boko Haram. Just last month (April 2013), about 12 Nigerian Police officers were killed in the creeks of Bayelsa State, by the militants. Sometime in March 2013, former Commissioner of Police of Kwara State, was shot dead at his residence in Enugu. Lastly, former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim is currently seeking asylum in United Kingdom, due to the threats of Boko Haram. When you factor in the political assassinations, unsolved murder cases, high rate of kidnappings, other crimes in different parts of the country, you will then realize the danger facing all. No one is safe, this includes both Nigerians at home and abroad. Directly or indirectly what happens in Nigeria, has a way of affecting those in Diaspora. There is now a total breakdown of security. The most disturbing aspect was the fact that, 2 Police officers were discovered to have leaked information, that led to the killing of their colleagues at Ombatse, Nasarawa. This simply means that the masses will find it difficult to trust the police. If the masses cannot trust the police, how then can they give information to the police to fight crimes, without risking their lives? Police is no longer your friend, but now your enermy. The situation is worse and has resulted in self help, therefore every citizen should, ensure self and safe defence and protection of himself and immediate families. It is highly recommended for all to be at highest level of alert. Treat everyone as a suspect till proven innocent. Avoid unnecessary movements. Spy each other. Keep round the clock surveillance of your immediate environment. Join or start a neighbourhood watch group or a vigilante group. Where possible, villages, communities etc could resort to ancient cultural and traditional methods of crime fighting. Report suspicious movements to your immediate neighbours, or to the community leaders. Alert the police, along with other security services/agencies. Use your facebook, mobile phone/sms, email etc to broadcast any suspected crime. The writer suggests, a synergy between the police and the media, whereby every crime reported to the police, should be broadcasted live by various media houses. Mass media, is a useful tool in crime fighting. The above is not exhaustive. Use all legal means possible to provide yourself a protection from criminals. No price is too much for your security. Also remember that, Nigerians themselves can only solve this problem, no foreign power can do it for us. Just the will is what we need. Remember, where there is a will there is a way. C.V.Akuta UK. 12/5/13.

Pause Before the Amnesty.

Following pressures from some Nigerians (Sultan of Sokoto etc), the federal government has constituted a committee for Boko Haram amnesty. The author is concerned about which Boko Haram, the amnesty is meant for? The President has made two contradictory statements on Boko Haram, first, he said, that some are in his government, secondly he referred to them as faceless or invincible. Now if actually they are part of his government, then amnesty is not necessary since they already enjoy financial and other benefits, and if they are faceless and invincible like the President said, then also amnesty is not necessary. This is because you cannot give amnesty to an invincible/faceless group. Except those proponents of amnesty can identify them, otherwise this might become another “Nigerian Project” (conduit pipe for steeling public money). Since the President has gone ahead to constitute a Boko Haram amnesty committee in the first place, then fairness and equity demands that he should also constitute Compensation Committee to pay the innocent victims and surviving family members of those attacked/killed/displaced by the Boko Haram. However, to achieve a balance, this proposed committee should also pay the innocent victims and surviving family members of those attacked/killed/displaced by the MEND etc. A look at the money spent so far on amnesty to, and rehabilitation of MEND members, is an idea on how much that could also be spent on Boko Haram. The author understands that no amount of compensation can replace loved ones etc, but it’s also their right to demand compensation, after all, the primary responsibilities of every government (Nigerian government inclusive) are security and welfare. Failing in these duties, means that the federal government should accept some responsibilities. Both the American and United Kingdom governments paid compensation to the victims of terrorists’ attacks of 9/11 and 7/7. I suggest that innocent families of those attacked/killed/displaced by both MEND and Boko Haram etc should institute a class action against the federal government. This reminds me of the request made by the luxury bus operators Kano Branch to the federal government, asking for N495 million naira, as compensation for the loss of nine buses during the March 18 bomb blasts, at their motor parks in Kano. The Central Bank Governor (Sanusi) did pay some money to innocent victims during an initial terrorists attack in Kano last year (2012). Therefore asking federal government for compensation is in order. This step by luxury bus operator(s) is a very positive step, and also an indication of what others should do. The author will add here, that they also should consider a legal action if the federal government fails. Having accepted amnesty for MEND and Boko Haram, which goes with high monetary inducements, the federal government should be prepared to start negotiations with other groups or new ones that might spring up. Here the author prays to be proven wrong, but other existing or new groups might start agitation, aiming for amnesty. After all, what is good for the goose should be good for the gander? But the truth is, the government might not be better than these groups. The government thru their actions, inactions, wrong policies, corruption etc has directly or indirectly killed more Nigerians. The solutions to our problems, begins when we have determined to solve them, for now, that determination is not there. May God bless Nigeria. Chinedu Vincent Akuta UK 9/4/13.

Pardon for Alamieyeseigha; A Rejection.

Fellow citizens, please join the author and other Nigerians in rejecting the Presidential pardon granted Former Governor Alamieyeseigha. His cases (stealing billions from Bayelsa State treasury, caught laundering money in London, jumped bail from London, served jail sentence in Nigeria etc) are pure criminal offences and does not deserve a presidential pardon. The President has made a mockery of the powers conferred on him to grant pardons. Such action(s), if not reversed, will directly and indirectly encourage corruption. To further complicate issues, the Presidential Senior Special Assistant on Media (Doyin Okupe) was reported to have said, that the President owes no one an apology for granting Presidential pardon to an ex convict. The President appears to be enjoying the company of ex convicts. During his Presidential Campaign tour of Lagos State in 2011, he and Olabode George (another big time ex convict) shared the same VIP stand. One wonders what his numerous advisers are doing. The National Council of State (the body made up of past heads of states and other “eminent” Nigerians) that sat and approved this Presidential pardon, deserves our condemnation. By this singular act, they have added more disgrace to the nation. Therefore, Nigerians should reject this pardon. C.V.Akuta UK 13/3/13.

Chinua Achebe: A Tribute.

Things have indeed fallen apart, with your departure to great beyond (the land of our fore fathers and our ancestors). Your death, though a great loss to the global literary community, is a greater loss to your nation (Nigeria) and your tribe the Igbos, whose culture you proudly put on the world map, through your most popular novel (Things Fall Apart). When the call came to serve your people (Biafrans), you proudly served as a very worthy cultural ambassador, helping also to put Biafra on the world centre stage. The efforts of worthy sons and daughters like you, helped sustain Biafra. Like all heroes, you survived the Biafra war and lived to give us your true accounts of the war through what you know best, a book by the title of; There Was A Country. Thank God, you published this book before your departure. In the course to take Nigeria to greater heights, you worked with the legendary Aminu Kano of blessed memory, whose leadership qualities you extolled. When the nation wasn’t moving forward (and still not moving forward now), you detailed the trouble with Nigeria, in your book titled; The Trouble with Nigeria. (it’s a highly recommended book). I was greatly touched and inspired, when you rejected a national award by a corrupt government of Nigeria. That was principles and courage at display. You were courageous and fearless. Your type of person(s), comes one in a million and once in a century. My generation are grateful, to have witnessed your sojourn thru earth. For the upcoming generations, that could not witness your passage thru earth, no word will be sufficient to describe you. You came, you saw and you conquered the world thru literature. You cannot die because your works/books speak(s) for you. May your soul, and other faithfully departed, rest in peace. Chinedu Vincent Akuta UK 23/3/13.