Features
Nwidadah As Metaphor For The Methodist Character
It was as if all roads led to the heartland and the traditional headquarters of Ogoni Kingdom, Bori, on February 19, 2012, as Hon Legborsi Nwidadah, representing Khana I State Constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly, celebrated his election victory. The event was the first ever official reception of any public officer, and specifically, a member of the state legislature by the Bori Diocese of the Methodist Church of Nigeria. Indeed, the Bishop, Diocese of Bori, for the Methodist Family, Rt Rev Innocent Saro Ndinwii, was right in making the decision.
It was, indeed, a rare event that brought together a huge collection of the crème-de-la-crème in Rivers State, including but not limited to politicians, government officials from all tiers, business moguls, captains of industry, technocrats, women, youth and people from all walks of life. And as if to consummate the church’s foresight in organizing the reception, the massive turn out and convivial atmosphere that characterized the Khana Local Government Council Lodge’s circumference, were an obvious statement to those who needed a visible evidence to convince them that God truly choose Legborsi Nwidadah to represent the constituency in the House of Assembly at this time in history.
This is why the decision of the church to honour the lawmaker with a rare reception requires serious interpretation. Not just because the lawmaker is a worthy ambassador of the church but because Nwidadah has wittingly or unwittingly become a metaphor for the Methodist character in Ogoni. Besides, Nwidadah’s thought-provoking speech and Senator Magnus Abe’s insights into the inner callings of humility, perseverance, hard work, determination and above all, the fear of God, need no less a critical examination and analysis because there impinge on the very reason why the Ogoni’s quest for development deserve attention.
First, let’s take a critical x-ray of the reasons adduced by the church for organizing the first-ever reception in history for a member. The Bishop of Bori Diocese of the Methodist Church, Rt. Rev. Rt Rev Innocent Saro Ndinwii, elucidated this much during his inspirational sermon at the church service. Rt. Rev Ndinwii, noted that that was the first time in the history of the church that a member would be honoured with a reception. He said that the decision was informed by Hon Nwidadah’s humility, long-standing and unblemished service to the church and fellowship.
Rt. Rev Ndinwii, added that as one of the longest serving ushers in the church, Nwidadah was an epitome of exemplary character, commitment to selfless service and an extra-ordinary ambassador of God and the church in the quest to re-order society and transform it for the better. He was particularly enthralled by the fact that the lawmaker continued with his role and duty as an usher in the church even after he had been elected into the state House of Assembly to represent the Khana 1 constituency. The church leader emphasized that Nwidadah’s total submission to the service of God and humanity was a character template worthy of emulation by both adults and the young ones still struggling to make their mark in the state. But above all, the cleric tasked all public office holders to emulate Nwidadah’s public and private lives.
For the reverend bishop, Nwidadah’s unassuming character, humble beginning, records of achievement in learning and leadership, are some of the triggers that pushed the church to initiate a precedential reception for a member in government. The man of God noted that the first-time lawmaker was an institution the youth must learn from, if they are to be relevant in the state’s effort to assert itself as the fastest growing economy in Nigeria and the hub of excellence in human capital development and infrastructural transformation, adding that the ills of society today are mountainous because the youth have failed to learn lessons of good character, discipline, determination, humility, and Godliness imbued in Nwidadah.
Indeed, the significance of the church’s decision is the unlined immortalisation of the lawmaker, who the bishop aligned as the beacon of hope for the realization of the church’s dream of building a new cathedral. According to the bishop, the lawmaker is the face of the church and the conduit through which the church may climb the ladder of prominence as a leading example of a soul-redeeming and reassuring place of worship for the people.
But more reawakening are Nwidadah’s thought-provoking reminiscences into the very heart and soul of the state and nation, and the disturbing plagues and vices that have tormented the fabric of society for decades. His emphasis on the need for moral rebirth, re-orientation, discipline, hard work, and perseverance reminds many of the petit refrains that have continued to haunt us as a people: indiscipline, criminality, cultism, corruption, examination malpractice, abuse of due process, favouritism, nepotism, godfatherism, among others. Thus, his recipes for a better tomorrow are an anecdote for peace, friendship, success and sustainable development.
Nwidadah’s prescription for a stable, virile, progressive and peaceful Ogoni is encapsulated in an entreaty of sort. Delivered amidst hard-to-reach grassroots persons, dignitaries from the Senate, the Rivers State House of Assembly, top officials of some local government councils in the state, notable clerics, public servants and politicians of all stripes and colours who gathered to celebrate the epic occasion, Nwidadah said every Ogoni must work hard to be successful, disciplined, committed and determined to make progress, and protect the peace and sanctity of the land.
He thanked God for His favours in seeing him through the heat and toils of the elections. Specifically, he lauded the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, whom he said, took special interest in him and assisted to mobilise the people of Ogoni who voted en-masse for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to guarantee his victory.
Perhaps, there could not have been a better forum to publicly appreciate not just the major people who mentored Nwidadah to the status he now wields, but also the ordinary grassroots people, who did extra-ordinary things, blended in political subterfuge, to ensure that he represents Khana people in the state Assembly. This is even so because the church provided a formidable platform for a humble and genuine expression of true appreciation and thanksgiving to man and God for the manifestation of the lawmaker’s destiny.
It was indeed the humble expression of this appreciation and thanksgiving with a sincere and genuine spirit of love that now defines Nwidadah as a colossus among men acknowledged by God, the church and the people. He gave this colouration when he sincerely thanked the distinguished Senator Magnus Abe for making it possible for the Methodist Church to honour him. “Without his support, I will not be in the assembly today. He led me from nowhere to become somebody in the state”, and it is the result of his support that necessitated the celebration in the first place.
“I also thank the Chairman, Khana Local Government Council, Gregory Bariledum Nwidam, who has assisted me since 2006. He particularly encouraged me to leave the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Tide newspapers, and to contest election into the local government council as councilor in 2007. Since then, the chairman has never abandoned me,” Nwidadah publicly acknowledged.
He also thanked the entire Methodist Church for organizing a reception in thanksgiving to God for his victory, observing that that was the first time the Methodist Church was honouring any of its members in such a grand style. For this reason, Nwidadah stressed that: “All I need and still ask for is your support. My mission is to achieve adequate and effective representation for the people of Khana Constituency I and the entire Ogoni people. Until that is done, the mission is not fulfilled. I assure you that I will not disappoint you.”
Nwidadah took opportunity of the reception to counsel the youth of Ogoni on the noble way forward and to challenge them to play their part in the socio-political and economic development of the local government and the state. He counseled the youth, saying: “All I want to say to the youth of Ogoni is that hard work and humility pay.”
So for Nwidadah, “the youth should learn to be submissive, humble and obedient. Neither militancy nor armed robbery pays. It is only humbleness, humility, discipline and hard work that pay.” The lawmaker appealed to the youth of Ogoni to draw back, come back from where they have gone wrong and make humbleness, discipline and hard work their hallmark.
On the new face of politics in Ogoni, the first time lawmaker said emphatically, “It has changed drastically for the better. It is no longer what it used to be before. Before this time, you will never see a senator come down to the grassroots to talk with the people.
“But today, the distinguished Senator Magnus Ngei Abe comes down to discuss with the people. You can see how at ease he was with the people. He comes down to hold town hall meetings with the people. It is the same thing we are all doing. We are in constant consultation with the people, on whatever is going on. From village to village, we attend even marriages and burials so that we can feel the pulse of our people. For me, Khana politics has changed from what it used to be for the better,” Nwidadah said.
For Senator Magnus Abe, “Nwidadah is an example of what a true friend should be, very humble and trustworthy. He knows the benefit of showing gratitude to God, being a pastor’s son, and showing gratitude has uplifted him
However, Senator Abe did not stop at highlighting the sterling qualities of Nwidadah. He also noted the challenges facing politicians and the role the people play in making their representatives ineffective in delivering on their mandate. To correct this situation and create a veritable platform for good service delivery that would usher the dividends of democracy to the people, Abe advised the people to “stop asking for money from politicians so that they can concentrate on carrying out the demands of their mandate,” saying that, “when politicians give out money, they may think you have been settled, and then you do not have the moral justification to ask them to perform their duties.” The senator stressed that, “when you do not collect money from politicians, government’s power resides with the people who can recall non-performing representatives.”
Senator Abe used the occasion to call on the civil service to uphold the ethics of public service by guiding politicians in their service to the people, saying that in Britain, the civil service does not joke with the principle of “Speaking Truth to Power”, where a senior civil servant can walk up to the prime minister to advice the him when he goes wrong, whether what he says is pleasing to the prime minister or not.
While challenging the civil service to be bold and show wisdom in their calling to guide the state on the path of honour and development, Abe noted that the peculiar stage our politics may make that task daunting. But he found succor in the church as an impartial and independent moderator. This is why Abe called on the “church to fill the vacuum by boldly Speaking Truth to Power”. He also admonished the church to do so with compassion and love for those in government.
“When you support those in power, they will do well. If we are doing well and you support us, we will do better. But if we are not doing well, and your support appears to be in vein, your power speaks at election,” Abe counseled the church and the sea of heads at the Khana Council Lodge venue of the reception.
As envisioned by the church, the reception was also used to launch a cathedral building appeal fund. And taking advantage of the cream of politicians, business moguls, captains of industry and government officials who graced the occasion to up available money for the cathedral project, the church made no mistake about its intention to squeeze out sufficient money from its friends.
It is indeed not in doubt that the core of the church, Abe and Nwidadah’s presentations is the very irrevocable value of discipline, humility, sacrifice, industry, hard work, cooperation and mutual understanding to the peace, development and prosperity of Ogoni. In fact, all these values and attributes are already a metaphor for Nwidadah, the quintessential character of the Methodist Church in Khana, the epicenter of Ogoni culture and tradition.
Joseph Nwankwor & Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
From the fore going, the fight against drug trafficking should be treated as an international challenge with open collaboration, if the world leadership must win the fight!.
The circumstances or should I say the improvement on drug related activities are modifying and updating on daily basis. A close friend of mine in the United States of America who recently visited Jamaica, came with a lot of complicated information about drug trafficking and transaction. Being a qualified Nurse in US and on a visit to the Reggae Country (Jamaica), she said she was put aback when a man approached her and introduced himself as a Pharmacist. According to her, she immediately picked interest due to her professional background. To her, a business partner is birthed. But she was shocked to the narrows on learning that drug dealers or traffickers and subriquited Pharmacist in that Country. From her account, they ( The Jamaican Pharmacists), are the first set to people to meet and greet you at the Airport. No government or authority challenges them in the open due to the sophisticated nature of their transportation
Come to think of it, who would want to attack a Pharmacist on duty? Nigerians are not left out in the improvement on drug deal. A chat with a confident in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) Rivers State Command, so revealed. The Officer draw my attention to the movement of Dispatch Riders. He said part of the reasons they ride with almost speed equivalent of the thunder lightning, is to meet up with the appointment of delivering hard drug consignment to a client of theirs. According to him, those guys popularly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the ones who now payroll dispatch riders so that they can deliver their consignment ( hard drugs) on schedule no matter the sort of traffic or weather condition. The fear of loosing rich clients and that of the unknown treatment that may come of the Boys, as the officer puts it, drives the Riders crazy thus the reason to speed even at the expense of their lives.
The account of a prominent Party Promoter, Wayne Anthony, as obtained online recently, also pointed out that ‘No Legislation Will Stop Clubbers From Doing Drugs’ Party promoter, Wayne Anthony, arrived in Ibiza, a Spanish Island in 1988, at the same time as dance music and the party drug ecstasy. Despite hallucinating badly enough to make him give up the lifestyle forever, he says laws will never stop clubbers taking drugs. “I don’t think you can control these things,” said former party promoter Wayne Anthony. He arrived in Ibiza in 1988 and began setting up club nights and raves in some of the island’s most iconic venues. In the years that followed, the sleepy Spanish island turned into a raver’s haven of clubbing and hedonism, with party drugs like ecstasy commonly found. “What Ibiza represented was this beautiful, hot island which was visually stunning and we knew you could party there quite legally,” said Wayne. “You didn’t have to look over your shoulder. You could just be as free as you possibly could be.”
That freedom came with a price. Along with the lavish clubs, all-day-benders and hot Spanish sun came drug cartels and crime. The city transformed into one the world’s most vibrant party capitals, “fuelled by a dangerous and lucrative drugs trade which drew as many criminals to its shores as it did party animals”. Wayne, one of the contributors to the documentary, spoke to Sky News ahead of its release.”I’m not going to sit here and say the cartels aren’t there. They are all there and they’ve been there from the ’90s,” said Wayne. But he said most people tried to ignore the organised crime going on around them. According to Wayne, clubbers usually took the approach of: “‘Give me 10 E’s . Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Hallucinating giant spiders Although he described the Balearic island as the “motherland”, it was eventually a bad experience with drugs that convinced Wayne it was time to leave Ibiza.
He’d been partying for days when he realised he’d taken too many drugs. A friend told him to drink cough medicine, dangerous advice that he now says could have killed him. “I saw the worst hallucination I’ve ever seen in all of my life. I ended up locking myself in the villa with all the shutters down. When he sobered up, he realised he had “come to the end” of his party life on the island. “I never looked back. I never took another drug. I got away from the club world.” ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to stop it’ Despite his life-changing experience, he doesn’t think criminalising drugs is a good idea – or particularly effective. “If you’re old enough to vote for who’s going to be a world leader, if you’re old enough to put your name down on debt for 25 years, I feel like you should be old enough to govern what you put inside your own body, you know?” said Wayne.
Back to Nigeria, some illicit drugs worth over N30billion seized at Onne Port in Rivers State.
This blood chilling development forced the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency at the Onne Port, following what authorities described as repeated incidents of importation of dangerous cargo, including arms and ammunition through the said port. To this effect, the government said it was immediately implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port for the next three months by conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers in the premises.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in charge of the port via a press conference, said it henceforth, unveiled the seizures of illicit goods by the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. In defence for his action, Adeniyi said the recurring incidents posed a threat to national security, adding that the health of citizens at the Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, describing it as a disturbing trend.
The customs boss stated, “Earlier today, I joined numerous stakeholders to take a significant step towards the cause of trade facilitation through the inauguration of upgraded facilities provided by the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne. “As I express delight that trade facilitation is getting traction in Onne Port, I cannot help but call your attention to a grave concern. This has to do with the repeated incidents of national security breaches unfolding in Onne Port. I appreciate your presence, as we all have a shared responsibility in safeguarding our national security. As we are all aware, the policy thrust of Mr President supports the re-energising of our business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our capacity for exports, Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to Trade facilitation and economic development. “It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches”.
“The attempts to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through this port has necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port, coming on the heels of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago. It is disheartening that perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts. Recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend; Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens. Today, we are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are twelve containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination. Seizures on Display include: Three (3) x 40-feet containers: Containing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a Paid Duty Value (DPV) of N4,716,573,846.
“Others are, three x 40-feet containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, with a DPV of N17,432,506,000 were seized”.
According to the report, more seized items were, “Five (5) x 40-feet containers; Containing 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of N8, 128,568,295,90. This very action of the Nigeria Customs Service, further complicated the hope of how soon the fight against drug trafficking could be brought to a halt owing to its high profile nature.
Another hair-raising report of the illicit drug deal has it that when NDLEA bursted a Snake-Guarded Shrine Used For Storing Illicit Drugs sometime ago in Edo State. This very news report was published in The Tide Newspaper on June 24, 2024. According to the report, NDLEA said its operatives uncovered a shrine, guarded by a snake, being used for storing illicit drugs, during an operation in Edo State. The Agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, added that its operatives discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects used for drug storage. It further noted that methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg among others, were recovered from the shrine.
To be cont’d
King Onunwor
The persistent clash between farmers and herders in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue. These conflicts, often, over resources like land and water, have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, displacement of large numbers of people, deep-seated mistrust between communities and insecurity. Herders, traditionally nomadic, move their livestock in search of grazing land and water. Farmers, on the other hand, require the same resources for their crops. This competition often leads to clashes, especially in areas where land is becoming increasingly scarce due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. As these clashes intensify, there has been a growing call for sustainable solutions. Two weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu took a bold step towards tackling the issue by inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms and creating the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The committee which has the president as the chairman and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega as the deputy chairman has the mandate to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain as well as propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was part of the recommendations of the National Livestock Reforms Committee. Part of the 21 recommendations submitted to the president include: “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” among others. Experts in the agricultural sector have posited that the livestock industry can create millions of jobs directly in farming, processing, and distribution, and indirectly in related sectors like feed production, veterinary services, and marketing. It provides livelihoods for rural populations, helping to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in rural areas. It also increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings through the exports of livestock and livestock products such as meat, dairy, wool and leather.
According to them, a well-funded livestock industry supports the growth of agro-processing sectors, such as meat packing, dairy processing, and leather manufacturing, adds value to raw products and creates additional economic activity as well as stimulates the development of supply chains, including logistics, packaging, and retail, contributing to broader economic growth. It enhances economic resilience by diversifying the agricultural sector and providing a buffer against crop failures or other agricultural shocks and many more. Some other agriculturists have also opined that the livestock industry in Nigeria is currently underdeveloped and that by the creation of the ministry of livestock development will open up the industry which will be a huge money spinner for Nigeria.
Reports have shown that a Livestock Ministry can play a pivotal role in mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders by implementing policies and programmes aimed at fostering coexistence and sustainable resource management. The Ministry can work towards clearly demarcating grazing routes and farming areas. This would reduce instances of trespassing and accidental crop destruction, a common flashpoint for conflict. While introducing rotational grazing systems can ensure that land is used sustainably, preventing overgrazing and land degradation, establishing water points and boreholes specifically for livestock can reduce competition for water resources. Similarly, promoting the development of pasturelands through reseeding and controlled burns can improve grazing conditions.
According to a veterinary doctor, Dr Andrew Obadiah, by providing training for herders on sustainable livestock practices and for farmers on conflict resolution, both parties can understand the importance of coexistence. He said that extension services of the ministry can offer advice on improving livestock health and productivity, reducing the need for large herds and extensive grazing. “Setting up local committees involving both farmers and herders to mediate disputes can provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful resolution. Encouraging community-based conflict early warning systems can help prevent clashes before they escalate”, he emphasised.For Mrs. Stella Ugwu, a farmer, having a ministry dedicated to the development of the livestock industry can help in diversifying income sources for both farmers and herders and in turn reduce dependence on land.
”For instance, promoting agro-pastoralism can provide farmers with livestock and herders with agricultural produce”, she explained, adding that providing incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as subsidies for fodder production or crop insurance, can ease economic pressures. Ugwu was however of the opinion that the creation of a new ministry to handle livestock affairs was uncalled for, since the job can effectively be done by the Technical and Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food security and its equivalent on the states level.In some countries, the establishment of a Livestock Ministry or similar bodies has shown promising results. For example, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture includes a dedicated department for livestock which has successfully implemented programmes to improve pastoral livelihoods and reduce conflicts.
In Kenya, the establishment of the National Drought Management Authority has helped manage resources better, thus reducing clashes between herders and farmers during dry seasons.The president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Othman Ngelzarma, sees the Ministry of Livestock Development achieving the same feat for Nigeria in the near future. He told newsmen that, “MACBAN expresses its deepest appreciation to the Federal Government for creating a ministry of livestock to unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy. With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the Middle Belt Forum took a different view of the proposed Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it was not enough to sustainably resolve the decades-long farmers-herders crisis in the country. According to the National President of the association, Mr. Bitrus Pogu, what is needed to end the perennial farmers/herders clashes is a deliberate action by regulatory bodies and the government to stop criminal elements from carrying out deadly attacks on innocent Nigerians, mainly farmers. Hear him: “If the reason for creating the Ministry is to stop clashes, I think it is wrong because all of these attacks and killings that are happening have nothing to do with conflicts between farmers and herders. “Farmers have never connived at any given time to go and attack herders, but rather, criminals who happen to be Fulani gang up and attack farmers, kill, maim and chase them out of their ancestral homes.
“Then, the Fulani will come and occupy them. So, it is more about invasion, criminality, and terrorism. And the majority of those they hire to do these evils are not even those who have cattle. So, a deliberate action has to be taken by the government against the perpetrators, which will address the criminality.” Mr. Pogu suggested that the government should adopt ranching for productivity and enduring peace between the pastoralists and farmers in particular and the entire country in general.While the establishment of a Livestock Ministry presents a viable solution, it is not without challenges. Funding constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and corruption can hamper its effectiveness. Additionally, deeply ingrained cultural practices and mistrust between farmers and herders can be difficult to overcome.
Critics argue that without a holistic approach that includes land reform, climate change adaptation, and broader economic development, a Livestock Ministry alone may not be sufficient. Therefore, it must work in tandem with other governmental and non-governmental bodies to ensure comprehensive solutions. “A dedicated Livestock Ministry, with its focus on sustainable resource management, conflict resolution, and economic incentives, offers a promising avenue to address the root causes of these clashes. However, its success depends on effective implementation, adequate funding, and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved. With the right strategies and commitment, devoid of any political or selfish interest, it can play a crucial role in fostering peace and prosperity in affected regions”, they advised.
Calista Ezeaku