Several
youths of Owa-Oyibu, in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta
State, has absconded from their town, as their refusal to worship the
Olokun deity believed to be the god of the community, will attract
severe consequences on them.
It
was revealed from investigations that in Owa-Oyibucommunity, the
worship of the Olokun deity, a water goddess, is hereditary by nature.
This means that when a father who is a devotee dies, his first son
automatically takes over the worship of the Olokun deity.
According several findings and report, such practice will remain in such family from generation to generation.
Based
on the above, Ika Weekly reporters gathered that the young man who was
said to have absconded from the community to an unknown destination, was
expected by the entire members of the town to take over the worshipping
of the Olokun deity from his late father, after he must have been
initiated and installed as the new Chief Priest by the community Elders
in Council.
It
was also discovered that any first son who refuses to serve and worship
the deity, are usually killed by members of the Elders in council, who
are highly respected and seen as the custodians of the people’s culture
and tradition; and the blood of such a person is used to appease the
gods.
Information
also has it, that the reason why several youths of Owa-Oyibu community
run away from the town is because of the archaic custom and tradition of
the land. It was also gathered that whenever the elders discoverthe
whereabouts of a fleeing defaulter, they will trace him to his hideout
and bring him back to the community to face the penalty of their
offences.
According
to a source who spoke to the reporters, disclosed that the adherence to
their tradition is stronger than government policy, hence majority of
the Ika people are afraid of allowing their male children to live in the
rural communities.
Conclusively,
the pressmen also gathered that any defaulter that runs away from the
community, over refusal to worship and bow down for the Olokun deity, is
usually sacrificed to the gods anytime he returns to the community or
caught in his hideout.
CARPENTER HAMMERED TO DEATH, FOR NOT REGISTERING WITH UNION
A
carpenter and father of five children, Mr. Simon Uzum was allegedly
murdered at a site where he was working along Kingsley Street, Boji-
Boji, Owa, by some person's said to be members of Carpenters Union, Ika
North-east chapter on Thursday, 14th June, 2012.
The deceased hailed from Alibume in Idumuesah, Ika North-east local government Area of Delta state.
According
to late Mr. Uzum's relative, Comr. Victor Ewemefa, his brother went for
his usual business that fateful day only to be attacked by members of
the carpenters Union. He added that an eye-witness told them that when
the members arrived at the site, they ordered the deceased to come down
from the building he was working on, which he agreed.
Comr.
Ewemefa stated that the eye witness said immediately Uzum was on his
head, with a hammer he slumped and was rushed to the Central Hospital,
Agbor. He revealed that while receiving medical attention, the deceased
gave up the ghost, disclosing that the murderer's reason was that late
Uzum was not a member of the union and that he has refused to pay the
union is required dues.
“The family and relatives are in confusion and mourning as his death is a great Comr. Ewemefa said.
The
remains of the deceased has been deposited at the Agbor Central
Hospital mortuary. Some of the allged murderer's have been arrested.
ALLEGED 419 MEN APPREHENDED BY MILITARY MEN
Two alleged 419 men have been apprehended by the soldiers in Ika land, led by captain Ubachukwu Solomon Agbo.
The men were apprehended on Sunday, 16th June, 2012.
The
alleged 419 men were said to have cunningly collected the sum of N300,
000 (three hundred thousand naira) from one Mrs. Joy Bienose. She
reported the issue to the soldiers after which they invaded the 419
suspects suspects hide-out and apprehended two of them.
One
of them, Mr. Ndidi Okagu from Abavo in Ika South L.G.A of Delta State,
said the name of their leader is Ifeanyi, aka Don Nwani, and that he
joined the gang in January, 2012. He confessed that plays the role of a
native doctor, whenever anyone prey to them. He noted that they are six
in number and that they always use their car to carry anyone that falls
into their hands and at the end, collect money from the person.
The
second suspect, Ewere Chukwuyem from Owa- Oyibu in Ika North East L.G.A
of Delta state, said that his own job was to use papers or clothes and
bags to cover some few dollars, in order to deceive their victims that
the bags are full of dollars.
According
to him “I was an okada rider, before I had an accident with my
motorcycle. During the period, I met one man called Don Nwani, who asked
me to start working for him. I was taught how to speak fluently and
persuasively to deceive people. In our last deal, the share they gave me
was N2,500. We can even stay for two days or more without having any
customer. Please help me, I do not want to die.” he pleaded
In
a interview with Ika Weekly, Mrs. Joy Bienose, the lady whom the
alleged 419 men collected the sum of N300,000 from, said on Thursday,
15th June, 2012, on her way to Umunede for a business trip, she boarded
the alleged 419 men's car, thinking it was a commercial taxi. She said
as they got to Baleke Street, Agbor, the driver stopped and said he
wants to check his tyr. A Quarrel ensued between them and the driver.
The driver took us to an uncompleted building at Buzugbe Street, Boji-
Boji Owa, saying that there is an evil load in the car that needs
spiritual cleansing.
She
was asked to bring the sum of N300,000 which she brought and they
promised to give her N50 million and made her to swear an oath, never to
disclose such information to anybody, which she obliged and did not
inform her husband.
After
she saw that the N50 million was not forth coming, she realized herself
and told one of her friend, residing at power line what happened to
her.
They quickly alerted the army who now laid an ambush and apprehended two of them while others escaped.
Speaking
with journalist, the Army commander in charge of Agbor zone, Captain
Ubachukwu Solomon Agbo said that the public should always report
suspicious actions and unruly behavours in their environment to them, as
he and his men have come to reduce the rate of crime in Ika land and
also bring about lasting peace.
TEENAGER DEFECATES INTO NEIGHBOUR'S POT OF SOUP
Wonders
they say, shall never end as a teenager intentionally defecated into
his neigbour’s pot of soup and his bed. The teenager, whose name was
given as Junior Ojougbo allegedly broke into his father's tenant
apartment on Monday, 18th June, 2012, and defecated into his pot of soup
and on his bed with excrete. He admitted that he did it. That their
tenant, Mr. Nkoyen beat him up when he accused him of raping his
girlfriend.
Junior
Ojougbo said, he had a quarrel with his girlfriend on Sunday 16th June,
2012 and did not allow her to sleep in his room. But because it was
late for her to go home, Mr. Nkoyen humbly allowed her to sleep in his
apartment with his own girl friend.
Mr.
Nkoyen Agbedion who resides at No; 20 Egulemu street, Ime-Obi, Agbor
told Ika Weekly that he had a little misunderstanding with his Landlords
son, Junior, which was settled by his father, but was surprised to see
what Junior did. He said when he came back from work that day, opened
his pot of soup to take some soups, after taking the first spoon, he
found that there is excreter in the stew “I was shocked with what I saw
and when I asked carried out my search, found out that it was Junior who
did it.” Considering the as an abominable , then I sued him to Dein's
Palace. I never attempted any rape on Junior's girlfriend; I only helped
by giving her shelter that night.
In
their judgment after listening to both parties, Chiefs at the Dein
Palace described Junior's act as an abomination and asked him to pay
Nkoyen the sum of N10, 000 and to also buy new foam for him.
IKA NORTH EAST RECEIVES 186.7M, IKA SOUTH, 178.3M
The
Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja has published details of the
monthly revenue allocation to Local Government Councils for the month
of February, shared in March, 2012.
According to
the publication, Ika North-East Local Government received N186, 726,
027. 06milion, while Ika South Local Government got 178, 394, 369. 39.
The total for the two local government is N365, 120, 396. 45million.
THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK
I have found power in the mysteries of thought. EURIPIDES 438 B.C.
Thus
only can you gain the secret isolated joy of the thinker, who knows
that, a hundred years after he is dead and forgotten, men who never
heard of him will be moving to the measure of his thoughtthe subtle
rapture of a postponed power, which the world knows not because it has
no external trappings, but which to his prophetic vision is more real
than that which commands an army. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, JR 1886
When
people say to me: “How do you do so many things?” I often answer them,
without meaning to be cruel: “How do you do so little?” It seems to me
that people have vast potential. Most people can do extraordinary things
if they have the confidence or take the risks. Yet most people don't.
They sit in front of the telly and treat life as if it goes on forever
PHILIP ADAMS
The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. HERBERT SPENCER
Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your world or lose your self-respect. MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS 121-180 A.D.
One must have a good memory to be able to keep the promises one makes
FRIENDRICH WILHELM NIETZSCHE
1878 (as near as we can remember)
Nobody, as long as he moves about among the chaotic currents of life, is without trouble.
CARL JUNG
The
words “I am….” Are potent words; be careful what you hitch them to. The
thing you're claiming has a way of reaching back and claiming you. A.L. KITSELMAN
Affirmation
of life is the spiritual act by which man ceases to live unreflectively
and begins to devote himself to his life with reverence in order to
raise it to its true value. To affirm life is to deepen, to make more
inward, and to exalt the will to live. ALBERT SCHWEITZER
It's
no good running a pig farm badly for thirty years while saying, “Really
I was meant to be a ballet dancer” By that time, pigs will be your
style. QUENTIN CRISP
While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior. HENRY C. LINK
We
can act as if there were a God; feel as if we were free; consider
Nature as if she were full of special designs; lay plans as if we were
to be immortal; and we find then that these words do make a genuine
difference in our moral life. WILLIAM JAMES
You
said, “but” I've put my finger on the whole trouble. You're a “but”
man. Don't say, “but” That little word “but” is the difference between
success and failure. Henry Ford said, “I'm going to invent the
automobile” and Arthur T. Flanken said, “But…” SGT. ERNIE BILKO
Victory belongs to the most persevering. NAPOLEON
OUR APPOLOGY
On
page 3 of our last week’s edition, we mistakenly used as an editorial a
letter sent to the editor which has the caption: Ika South PDP Should
Harmonise For The Interest Of The People. We understand the
embarrassment it must have caused on the person of Chief Dr. Cairo
Ojougboh . It was not intensional as we blame ourselves for not doing
the proper editing before publication. We are sincerely sorry for the
embarrassment which the publication has brought on the respected leader
of Ika South PDP, Dr. Cairo Ojougbhoh.
Signed
Management
CHUKY DANDY LAUDS IKA ELDERS FORUM, HOSTS COMMUNITY
The
Special Adviser to the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu,
on National Assembly matters and also the Democratic Peoples Party,
House of Representatives, Ika Federal Constituency, candidate in the
April, 2011 general elections, Mr. Festus Chukwuyem Okoh, aka Chuky
Dandy has lauded the apex Elders group in Ika land, Ika Elders Forum for
the great role they are playing towards the development of Ika land.
Mr.
Okoh who visited the IEF on Sunday 17th June, 2012 at their national
secretariat in Boji Boji, Owa, where he hosted them to a sumptuous meal
said he was honoured by the congratulatory message sent to him by the
elders during the time he was appointed aide to the Deputy Senate
President.
According
to him, “I know of the Ika Elders Forum but do not know that they have
gotten to this level. I am honoured by the letter of congratulation
which IEF sent to me during the time I was appointed Special Adviser to
the Deputy Senate President on National Assembly matters”. Mr. Okoh
while urging the elders to train up people that will take after them,
said they should accept him as their son by correcting him whenever he
is not living up to expectations.
Welcoming the
august visitor, the National leader of IEF, Hon Chief Justice Sylvester A
Ehiwario, rtd, said the role of the forum which was established a few
years ago is to advise Ika sons and daughters in government and has
since its establishment recorded quite a good number of successes. He
enjoined Mr. Okoh to be a good ambassador of Ika nation and join hands
in the development of the area.
Chief Barr.
Ogbewi, a member of the forum who took time to describe Mr. Okoh as a
good son called on the elders to remain supportive to the National
Assembly aide.
Thanking
Mr. Okoh for his visit on behalf of the IEF, Chief Paul Eluem,
assured that the elders will continue to pray for and support any Ika
man or woman who is in government, just as he urged him to partner with
the elders in anything he knows will move Ika forward. Present during
the visit were: Chief Hon Justice S.A Ehiwario, rtd, Elder John Ehikwe,
national leader / secretary general IEF, Mr. Andrew Egonte, Chief Dr.
Ifeanyi Ehijene, Prof Godwin Isitor, Mr. Dennis Monye, Mr. Nwali
Nwaebie, Jefferey Ikuh, Chief B. Ogbewi, Mr Emmanuel Uwadia, Chief Dr.
Onyekpeze and Chief Paul Ehiem
In
another development, Mr. Festus Okoh on the same Sunday, 17th June,
2012 hosted his Ogbeisogban community, at the community town hall. The
well attended occasion was spiced up with the presence of Ika Highlife
king, Chief Ifeanyi Akwete Uwayah who entertained all those that turned
out for the occasion with good highlife songs.
Speaking,
the Odion Owerre of Ogbeisogban community, Pa Jeremiah Okobia, showered
praises on Chuky Dandy for carrying his community along in his
activities, urging all Ogbeisogan indigenes to support any of their sons
and daughters that has the intension of developing the community.
On
his part, Mr. Festus Okoh said the reasons he hosted his community were
to honour the Odion Owerre as he was not around at the time the Odion
Owerre was installed and to also thank Ogbeisogban people for the huge
support they gave him during his campaign. He said Ogbeisogban is a
unique and peaceful community in Agbor kingdom. He urged elders of the
community not to hesitate in telling youths of the community the truth
whenever they are going wrong, saying he is proud to be an indigene of
Ogbeisogban and will continue to identify with them. Among those
present at the occasion were Hon Adams Nwokoro, Lady last K, Mr.
Augustine Okumaboa, Ogbeisogban youths, elders, Odion Owere, friends and
a host of Ogbeisogban community members
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE TO HARDWORK
Popular
NollyWood actor, Chief Jim Lawson Maduekwe who hails from Nkwere local
Government Area of Imo State, on Thursday 21st 2012, is presently in
Agbor, for the making of a comedy film that will be out in the market
soon.
In a chat with Ika Weekly, the actor said
that this is his first time of visiting Agbor and also his first movie
in Agbor, adding that he has come to help out with an in-house
production that will encourage other Nollywood stars to come to Agbor.
He noted that the whole aim of coming is to help bring out some young
talents and make the movie industry alive in Agbor, adding that what
they are doing is to create the awareness, so that people can invest
their talent and money in the movie industry.
In
his message to up-coming actors and actresses, he said “I always
believe in one thing and that is hardwork. There is no substitute to
hardwork, and before you become a hardworking person, you must be
disciplined and self discipline is the best form of discipline. The
movie industry does not condole double standards. It is either you are
in or you are out. You don't put one leg in and one leg out, the
industry demands a totality of you. And I wish every up coming artist
the very best and they should make sure that they have patience.”
He
stressed that the movie industry in Nigeria is still evolving as what
they are doing now is home video. He noted that movie industry is a vast
empire that can absorb many talents.
The
vibrant actor who was a radio personality before joining Nollywood said
that in the up-coming movie that is being shot in Agbor, he is
playing the role of a randy chief, portraying, the rich class in the
society in the end passing a message to the public that living an evil
life style is bad. He urged all Nigerians especially Agbor people to
watch out for the movie as it will be best of its kind. He commended the
producer Percy Monday Edoki for the good job he is doing in Agbor and
urged him to do more as success is guaranteed for anyone that is
hardworking.
ABAVO YOUTHS FORUM CALLS FOR CREDIBLE CANDIDATE
Abavo
Youths Forum, a political association comprising eligible youths in
Abavo kingdom has called on youths in the area to get ready and form a
formidable body that can support any credible candidate for the forth
coming local government area election.
The
call was made recently in an enlarged meeting of the association at the
residence of the member representing Ika South in State House Assembly,
Hon. Martins Okonta, at Ekuma village, Abavo in Ika South Local
Government Area.
Speaking
at the occasion the general secretary of the body, Mr. Boi Glory, aka
Boygee, said that Abavo Youths Forum was established on September 14,
2010 with the aim of promoting unity among the youths and to discourage
unnecessary factions in the political development of the Abavo people.
He said that the association whose membership currently stands at about
one thousand, seven hundred has been able to deliver credible candidates
in the past elections, and are ready to repeat same in the on-coming
local government election. He enjoined politicians to come and parley
with the youths as they are the only recognized youth Association in the
area. We support only credible persons into elective positions, he
said. Mr. Boi used the opportunity to call on other eligible Abavo
youths who are yet to join the body, to do so, as it will help bring out
the best candidate.
Exco
members of the Association includes; Eghomie Ifeanyi, Chairman, Boi
Glory, Secretary General, Oseh Jeffrey- Assistant Secretary General and
Ikortu Davidson, Provost others are Isioma Okonta, P.R.O, Otakpomehi
Lugard, Treasurer and Christopher Martins, Financial Secretary.