A LETTER FROM THE GRAVE YARD BY EMMANUEL NWAFOR

A LETTER FROM THE GRAVE YARD BY EMMANUEL NWAFOR

A LETTER FROM THE GRAVEYARD
Over these years of toil
In a land of uncertainties
In a society loaded with turmoil
Full of unfavourable possibilities
My poetic thought just got terminated, I can’t simply continue. Why? I remembered an experience I had some years ago.
Oluchi was a 300 level medical student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka and a beautiful cum brilliant lady. Her beauty can simply ‘kidnap’ many men and control them without application of force. On Friday, 21st day of September, 2012, I was travelling to Enugu on a commuter bus - owned by “Ekwulobia Urban Mass Transit Company”- from Ekwulobia. It was a joyful journey that later became sour.
I boarded a bus and sat on the extreme end of the middle seat, left side facing the driver. She entered, looked around the bus and said “good morning all” in her ever adoring scintillating voice. I never responded and she came and sat close to me. ---- I never wanted the journey to come to an end even without starting a discussion. I wished we were travelling to Egypt on a bus that day. What was my problem? Nothing, but the wonders of nature. When we got to a police “check point” at Ugwuoba, she said; nawaooo for Nigeria, wetin dey happen to these policemen self? They dey collect green visa from people willy-nilly. That became a great opportunity to initiate a discussion and I utilized the medium immediately. The issue of policemen collecting “green visa” (N20) piqued my interest and I chipped in few words which she ignored and acted as if she never knew that I talked.
For the first time in that travel, I began losing interest on her because I felt she snubbed me, but I immediately remembered my philosophy of life –why multiply hate? It will be hate in perpetuity. Hence, I kept quiet and never wished to talk with her again but brought out a little pamphlet inside my bag and started reading it. She looked at me severally but I pretended as if I never saw her. Then, at “ninth mile”, she whispered “sorry” to my ear and asked what my name was? I immediately answered, I am Emmanuel. And you, I asked. She said, Oluchi. After about 5 minutes, she asked; where are you going to? To Timber Market Enugu I replied and you? I asked her. She never answered but I got the gist when after about three minutes I saw tears in her eyes. She must have been in pain I told myself.–Later, she said, I am going to Enugu State High court to bear witness on the death of my parents.---- Our bus was caught in a gridlock which lasted for about 30 minutes. However, I never felt the pain and discomfort of the traffic jam because there was a discussion which I never wanted to come to an end ----
----Oluchi is an only child of Prof. and Dr. Polycarp Nwafor who were assasinated on the 8th day of June, 2009 at their house in Ebeano Housing Estate Enugu by hired assassins. She knew the scenario surrounding her parents’ death and other antecedents that culminated in the massacre of her parents but kept it to herself until now. Barr. Okechukwu Okafor had just invited her as one of the witnesses to the murder charge against Hon. Onyedika Nwosu, who was a political bigwig of one of the leading political parties in Enugu state. After much discussion on that, I consoled her and gave her hope ----
Why was it easy for this girl to open up to a guy she was just seeing for the first time? What must have made this charming girl to suffer this great pain? These were the questions that I was asking myself when I had the driver said “onwere onye ‘New Market’.” When I heard this, I became confused. I never knew what happened to our car. Did it develop wings and reached ‘New Market Bus Stop within 5 minutes? However, when I looked at the faces of other travellers, they looked infuriated. One passenger simply said in Igbo language as he was going out of the car, “moto a na-akpu ka ejule” (This car moves like a snail). When he said that, I remembered my wrist watch. It was 10:00AM. Oh my God I shouted. I just imagined what could have happened to the car that it took almost four hours to reach Enugu from Ekwulobia even though it was caught by a traffic congestion which lasted for about 30 minutes. I never became aware of the slow pace of the car until then----
As the car was approaching All Saints Cathedral, through the FRSC road, I requested for her handset, dialled my number and gave it back to her. When she left the bus, her picture remained on my mind. I was thinking about her pain, fears, and beauty; the thought of which led me into a physical absence until I felt a tap on my back. The coarse voice said, Kedu ihe ino ebe a eme? Obu na-imaghi na Ogbuete bu last park anyi? (Why are you still here? Don’t you know that Ogbuete main market is our last bus stop?), Others have all gone and you are sleeping here; abi? Did I sleep? No, I told myself. But why was I still inside the bus when all others have left? The thought of Oluchi and her pathetic story made me think deep about suffering and why men have chosen to be the cause of pain to their follow men. The journey that started joyfully letter became sour.----
I left the bus and boarded a KEKE to Timber Market Enugu to meet Ichie Nnanyereugo Okonkwo. After a lengthy discussion with him concerning the scholarship scheme he wanted to introduce in my town, I took my leave and boarded another KEKE back to Ogbuete Main Market. As we were caught in a hold-up at Albertina Shopping Complex, I received a call. She called and I quickly pressed the receipt button and with Queen’s English said hello? I heard a strange voice which said, do you know the owner of this handset? I answered yes. What is your relationship to her? I saw my mouth opening and closing without uttering any word. But I mustered the gusto and asked; any problem? No, the voice responded but you are needed at UNTH Enugu as soon as possible and come to emergency unit. I boarded a cab immediately to UNTH Enugu. Why must I be called? She saved my contact with “my brother” ------
In front of the emergency unit were many persons, who seemed to be waiting for someone. As I approached the emergency unit, a nurse asked me, whom I was looking for? I told her that I received a call that I should come over to this place. Ok, I remembered she said and asked me to follow her. I was led to one of the emergency wards precisely number 8. I saw what I would never like to see again in my life. A man came to me at the same time and introduced himself as Barr. Okechukwu Okafor. I later knew that he was the prosecutor of the case. He said to me, she has been shot by assassins just near the entrance gate of Enugu State High Court. The court session has been adjourned till next week due to this ugly incident and the inability of the prosecuting counsel to present another witness for that day.
The nurse that led me in told me that she has gone on a hunting expedition. I did not understand her. I was thinking that the doctors have at least resuscitated her until I was told that she called my name before she died. A piece of paper was shown to me by Barr. Okechukwu as the last thing she put down before she went to the land beyond. What a poetic dexterity? The piece reads:
A letter from the underworld
A world filled with hatred and pain
A world filled with oppression and injustice
On my road to see justice, I saw men’s malice
Fight against this, and always be nice. Love from Oly. We shall meet again.
To whom did she address these words? How did she manage to put these words down before she gave up? I saw tears flowing from my eyes and was unable to control myself. But how did Oluchi and I, become friends easily? This is more than usual. It later became clear to me that Oluchi has gone to meet her ancestors.---- Late December that year, the barrister was also assassinated and the next is on the list is …. Your guess is as good as mine. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF MY STORY.
JUSTICE! JUSTICE!! JUSTICE!!! HER BLOOD CRIES ANY DAY I REMEMBER HER.
From the Kafin-Chana town of Sokoto state, to Konduga of Borno state, down to Potiskum of Yobe state, extending towards Nsukka of Enugu state, to Onueke in Ebonyi state, stretching to Bonneykiri of Bayelsea state, to Ibokun of Osun state and finally to Idiroko of Ogun state, I see traces of injustice, oppression, slavery, rape, discrimination and many anti-human vices celebrating their prominence without fear.
I wish to tackle the issue of injustice in this write up as an anniversary love letter to all those who have been victims of this malady; especially to Oluchi and Barr. Okechukwu Okafor who were murdered in their pursuit for justice.
Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph. Adopting St. Augustine’s notion of evil, I wish to say that injustice is simply the privation of justice. Thus, to comprehend this discussion, I would discuss what injustice is not by saying what justice is.
My discourse of this topic of justice here will not be too elaborate; rather, it will be concise. The thrust of this work is not to make a philosophical appraisal of the word “justice” but the objective is to bring to our awareness the menace of injustice in our present day society and making a clarion call to all to join hands to flush out this malaise from our system.
What is Justice and is there any need for justice in human societies if I may ask?
Thomas Nixon Carver in his Essays on Social Justice maintained that “the need for justice grows out of the conflict of human interests. That is to say, if there were no conflict of interests among mankind, we should never have invented the word justice, nor conceived the idea for which it stands.” Some other persons like John Locke, John Rawls, Jean Jacque Rossseau, and Thomas Hobbes used this idea of conflict of interest to explain their notions of primitive society and social contract theories. It was as a result of conflict of interest that my friend, Oluchi, his parents and Barr. Okechukwu Okafor were murdered in cold blood.
The word "justice" is on everyone's lips nowadays, and may even signify almost anything. We hear the cry "Justice" from statesmen who would even destroy existing societies with fire and sword; a clear example is boko haram insurgents who decimate people in thousands weekly under the umbrella of fighting for a just cause. But is “justice” per se a principle/
virtue whose application is better achieved under personal assessment than communal appraisal? Your guess is as good as mine. Literally speaking, justice is giving everyone his due.
All confusion about the meaning of the word "justice" notwithstanding, some scholars have proffered some definitions of justice. I hope to borrow the definitions given by: Thomas Aquinas, Spinoza and John Rawls because there is a tinge of connectivity in their definitions. Then, I will establish a nexus between these definitions and Igbo conception of justice.
Thomas Aquinas defines justice as a “firm and constant will to give each one his due.” Similarly, Spinoza identifies justice with the “habitual rendering to everyman his lawful due”. John Rawls in his book, the theory of justice describes justice as “fairness”. In doing this, he propounded two principles of justice which are: Equal Liberty, (Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all) and Social Inequality, (Social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both (a) to the greatest expected benefit of the least advantaged and (b) attached to positions and offices open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity).
Now, the connection in these definitions is that each of them emphasizes the rights and dues of an individual and doing one’s best to accord those rights and dues to those worthy of them. Little wonder John Rawls sees justice as fairness.
Further, the Igbo conception of justice seems related to the aforementioned the definitions. One of the Igbo words for justice which I plead to employ here is “ikpenkwumoto”. Literally translated, it means “judgment that is straight or righteous.” This idea of straightness in relation to justice according to Ikenga Oraegbunam can refer to “an action or person. In the former sense, it means that one’s life is straight-forward, upright, honest, predictable and impartial. In the latter understanding, a just action is one that is not crooked, is performed as it should be, is done in a disinterested manner, or has followed a due process.” Encapsulated in this Igbo word “Ikpenkwumoto” is the English word “DUE”. This is because you cannot give someone his due without being a man of “ikpenkwumoto”. That’s why we hear elders consistently advise the younger ones with this Igbo cliché: “Nwa m kwuba aka gi oto” (My son keep your hand straight). This notion of “due” both in Igbo and Western conceptions of justice forms the relationship between the above conceptions of justice. Also, the above definitions and Igbo understanding of justice go further to make justice a moral attribute. Thus, justice seems to be a universal concept. Little wonder it forms the basis and foundation of the UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
Hence, it is pertinent to note that the Igbo understanding of justice is never bereft of moral undertone because in the traditional Igbo societies, justice is seen as conformity with the requirements of the custom and tradition. A man who keeps the injunctions of Omenala which contains the duties of a citizen in all its ramifications is regarded as a just man. In the same way, in Christendom, a man who keeps the commandments of God summarised by Jesus as love towards God and love towards neighbour is seen as a just man. This does not imply that love and justice are the same. It paramount to note that any concept of justice which makes a divide between justice and morality may not serve the holistic interest of humankind.
JUSTICE WILL MAKE NO MEANING IF THERE IS NO MORAL ATTACHMENT TO IT. IT IS THE MORAL DRIVE IN JUSTICE THAT SPURS PEOPLE TO STRIVE TOWARDS BEING JUST IN THEIR ACTIONS.
Who cares?
James Baldwin once said, “if one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or the protected members of the middle class. One goes to the unprotected--those, precisely, who need the law's protection most!--and listens to their testimony.
To combat injustices rearing their ugly heads in our societies with their uncounted manifestations, there is need for synergy of effort by all, provision of strong institutions and consolidation of our existing legal institutions to see that those who perpetuate injustice in our system are dealt with. There is need for the gentlemen of the bar to organise themselves and render free legal services to the less privileged. Most importantly, all men and women of this noble country, Nigeria, should strive with the best of his/her ability to ensure that those working with him/her do not suffer injustice whether in form of nepotism, favouritism, tribalism, racism and all other anti-human isms.
Finally, without strong administration of justice by the state, citizens, you and I, there will be so many Cains, every man's hand against every other man's. Such a world will be chaotic and unpleasant to live in as it is with the poor people and less privileged in our present day society. Let’s join hands to make the world a better place. It begins with you!!!
Farewell to the one who died on the road to justice
Farewell to she who suffered men’s avarice

Though dead but your spirit remains strong
Sooner, the perpetrators will be proved wrong.

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SERIES ON VESSELS FOR THE MASTER'S USE

DAY 1 THOUGHT

Peculiarities of Vessels.

This implies the things that are common to vessels. It simply means that these are the things that are commonly happens to them, and may not happen to another. These peculiarities include:

It Carries It’s Shape at The Wet State When Sets and Dry.

This implies that if a vessel is being mould, the shape it will carry, or what it will look and be like forever is the shape it allowed the potter to make it look like. The shape it will carry or what it will look like depends upon the ease with which the potter finds the vessel in his hand as he moulds. If the vessel looks beautiful or ugly, the potter will determine but the vessel will be the cause of the potter’s final decision. If the potter is molding and the clay mar in his hands; he has two (2) options of what to do. He either breaks it into lump and remold again, or he keeps it like that to dry. Jeremaiah 18:4.-and the vessel that he made was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

But because the clay with which he molds vessel is an inanimate object, he can wrought any kind of work to any extent. But the vessels we talk about now is “man” with free will. How fast and the outcome of the finished product (man as a vessel) is dependent on how he/she yields his /her self to the potter or molder. For example, the molder may see a wrong shape (which could be a character) and say, you are marring in my hands by this character, let me scrape off this particular place or brake your this part to remold again. Do you know you as the man has the capacity to say no or ok, and endure the pains that will come upon you? Therefore as he is in God’s hands as a vessel is dependent on how he was when wet, which is dependent on his or her yielding.

Some Are To Honour While Some Are To Dishonour

“but in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonor”. 2 Timothy 2:20

“In a great house”, the scripture starts with there are not only vessels of gold… showing that in hierarchy classification of superiors in a great house or kingdom, because gold is superior to silver, and the silver is superior than others, yet all of them are useful. Several of them, even that of wood is useful. Yet there are some of gold, some of silver, some of wood and some of earthen that are unto honour and unto dishonor respectively. This therefore became a good illustration to show what is going on in the house of God where God makes uses of vessels.

For example when you come into a fellowship, people have their pattern and ideology of classifying men. Take for example, the president of a fellowship or pastor of a church as a golden class or even some of the wing leaders as gold vessel (group of happenings). Then may be other leaders that are not strong as the pastor/president and others as the silver. Others as wood and the rest the earthen according to their superiority in the eyes of men. Now did you discover that irrespective of their superiority, there are some people in the lower class (may be just ordinary member that may not even have stayed up to one year in the church or fellowship) that is very useful than some people in the gold class. People see the leaders as the golden vessels because they are leaders, yet most and some of them are to dishonor than the wood vessel that is to honour. Did you get the picture? Okay!

Now, have you not seen a furniture vessel, or for instance the ceramics plates we use these days that are even breakable, People prefers it to glass plate now. Reason- because of its beauty, attractive nature, good looking and extremely beautiful, people dies for it, yet it is made of clay. This is as the result of the clay allowing the potter to bring out the best that is in it. But have you not seen some gold vessels that are shapeless and not well furnished? Nobody wants to celebrate and take that one home. Some can only manage it because of its colour. So this in tells that there are no material that is useless or that is not honourable. If clay yields to fire, it’s best will come out. If wood yields to scraping and chiseling, it’s best will appear, likewise gold and silver. For example, if silver refuses the taken away of the drosses, no man will take and use it for anything. So it is in the great house of God.

The office or the position one is given does not matter here.  What matters is how best the vessel has allowed the potter or the maker to bring out the best in him. It doesn’t matter being the pastor of a church or a president of a fellowship, secretary, bible study teacher etc. all those things are just title. Even an ordinary member or the usher in his/her clayish or woodish material can outshine the pastor/president. Thus some are to honour and some to dishonor.

There Is No Expansivity In Case of the Vessels Containing capacity/Volume

Another thing that makes vessel useful is the vessels ability to contain victuals. Its volume determines what it will contain or carry. How deep a man’s life is determines how much God can use that man. A flat plate cannot be used for every purpose. A deep plate can serve virtually all purpose, in serving food to people: and what God uses vessels to do is to serve his people and generations. So if a vessel is flat, the purpose it will serve is already limited than the purposes a deep plate will server.

Now the truth is this: every vessel with its containing ability depends upon its volume at the point of molding. The volume after molding and when set can not be expanded again. Although God himself chooses what to make every each of us, yet it is we that determines what the final and end results of our vessel (life) will be. This is because of our self will.

NB: If your volume content ability is not much, or it is flat as a vessel, then you have limited purpose to serve in the purpose of God and your generation. But if your (life) volume is as deep as God has designed/prescribe, then eyes have not seen, nor has it entered the ears of men, what God will use your life to accomplish.

Yielding to the potter is the only solution to what God is saying, and the potter is God.

 It is Unamendable/Unremoldable If Breakage Occurs After Setting in Takes Place

Whenever vessel dries, or setting in takes place, it’s material becomes strong, stiff, offsecure and un useable for molding. If crack appears on the vessel, parching it up may be the next solution but may not prevent leakage. Even though the crack may be patchable, it will not prevent the alteration in the appearance to disappear.

WE MUST JOIN HANDS TOGETHER TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY

Light Of The Nation
Following heavy vehicular activities at Onitsha-Engu Express way precisely at New Parts end of the road, the then government deemed it fit to construct a flyover in order to ease traffic.
The contract was handed to CCC and it took half a decade to complete.
During the construction, Anambraians suffered as a result of monumental traffic jams at the end of the road.
It takes hours to move from Ourline bustop to Tarzan Junction.
Succour came the way of the people after a long years of "one year one block" construction approach but it was short-lived
This is what the Flyover looks like today after nearly two years of completion despite calls on both state and Federal government when the gully erosion was encroaching the said road.
we are back to square one, thanks to Nigerian syndrome.
One step forward, a thousand backwards
It is indeed the desired change
This is a Feder

al Road indeed and FERMA is incorruptible and at the same time WORKING