YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNUTY TO TOUCH ME!

                                                                                                                                 James C. Onyebuchi.

The epilepsy of power distribution in this remote ‘loco’ – Ekosodin - has climaxed to almost everything not working. Everyone is complaining! The pacific atmosphere that nature ordinarily affords in wee, near-end and nocturnal hours is exchanged for uninteresting and inharmonious noise mixed with pungent smells of fumes produced by petrol engines. The fans are practicably not working. Charging of mobile phones becomes ‘wahala’ for those of us, short of ‘personal-power-supplying’ machine. These add up against palatable and tranquilized rest. Ironing of wears will be left for another story in days to come. Let’s leave it there!

SASSI, HOME ALWAYS

The Shakespearean writings were one of the best writings in his time and whose relevance is non - diminished till this moment. It is even becoming a very difficult thing for people of the new age to get to understand fully what Shakespeare wrote in his books.

"There is a tide in the affairs of men" This was one of the many remarkable lines found in the works of Shakespeare. Really, there was, is, and shall continue to be a tide in the affairs of men. As I think of it now, I remember that day of September precisely 7th, 2012. It was a day that set the tone for a tidal shift in my affairs as an individual.

The tide having set a different course, and with pressure on every side, I had to leave home, to calm my nerves and to forge ahead. I do not know if I should subscribe fully to Hard determinism; maybe not. For once, I came to know that there are other place that can be home. That was SASSI!

Arriving at Ikenga that Friday afternoon, I met one of the best of God's creatures: Rev. Fr. Evaristus Ibenegbu. His acceptance of my having to come by, the circumstances not withstanding, was most humane. I was set to arrive the next week Friday.

My arrival on that day was in the afternoon, I remember the joke, what I would like to call 'snake joke' made by Fr. Eva( he must have forgotten). Not so long after that, I was already entrusted with responsibilities, even before my official introduction. I remember it was on 4th October and the teachers received their salaries on that day.

At first, it was like being in another world, not on the part of having to be a teacher or an administrator, but on the part of the conditions and with whom the work had to be done. But, I had to assure myself that it is one task that cannot be ran away from.

The new hostel system was on stream, there was no such thing as hostel system before then, it was as such a very daunting task, one which was energy sapping and intellectually tasking. Wasn't my first time having to look after young people, but in that case, it wasn't in a very ordered ecclesiastical abode of learning cum training. It was in a very free world!

I had to adapt my way through a very strong resolve to make my own fair contributions to the success story of young people, and because of what I had passion for - teaching and learning. The Manager was of a very great help. He would say, "Nnaa, I know you're still a very young boy, but you can do this; gi na ya nuba". That assurance of one who has faith in you, your weaknesses not withstanding kept me going.

At first, it was only three teachers leaving inside the school, Mrs. Chinazo Nwizu, Mrs. Kenechi Kanu and me. They were very supportive and we made a wonderful team. With time, others came by and I must apologise if I omit a name, wasn't deliberate: Mr. Nnanyelu Egbe, Mr.Adewale Adebayo, Mr. Izunna Aniekwe, Mr. Philip Nwude, Mrs. Okeke Angela Onyeka, and others. The support of other staff notably Nze Raph, the Principal, Mrs. Chinyere Ezeobi, Mrs. Ebere Azike, Madam bursar, the cook, the driver, the gateman and the security man was overwhelming. The respect accorded me was worth appraising.

The daunting task of forming young minds was one very challenging thing I have got to do. Thank God we did it as we had to.

I was privileged to be a very inner part of the administration, management and organization of the school even in my inexperience. I got to become the Auxiliary One. Sassi, became my home!

The support I got from SASSI when a turbulent and emotionally disturbing period of my life - My Dad's death - was one I would never forget. SASSI has remained a home to me till this day. I was always welcomed each time I showed up, even at the slightest of notice.

The parents and the students were awesome. The respect they accorded me, and still do accord me humbled and humbles me. It was always home! Fr. Eva would always forget my time with the school as a permanent staff was over and each time I came he would always try to get me involved.

I guess that was because I was involved. I remember having to become the master of ceremony during the Christmas party. Before that time, I was yet to pick up a Mic in the name of an MC, I wasn't even sure I could be funny as an experienced MC, but Fr. Eva would not heed my excuses. "Anakwa m akwu onye obula one naira maka MC, GI na ya luba", he said. I thank him for seeing through me, the inert qualities and talents and helping me bring them to the fore. I also thank him for making SASSI a home, my home.

I promised myself I would always seek to do my best for the growth of this home. I also enjoin all persons here to see SASSI as home, home always and what we do to a home is to make it a better home. MAKE SASSI ONE IN ANY WAY YOU CAN!!!

Callistus Agozie Ifedi
Sunday June 21, 2015
Benin.

NDIGBO; THE WAY FORWARD By James Onyebuchi, C.

ABSTRACT:
When it comes to marginalization in our country Nigeria, the Igbos, unarguably, are at the receiving end. This is further brought to light and greatly convinced by the little or few juicy projects executed by Government at the federal and the sheer starvation of key political office suffered greatly by Ndigbo after 45 years the war of Biafra came to a halt.  Amidst these, the persons of Igbo race, tongue and blood appear to be unmoved by the injustice. One wonders about the wherefore of the above assertion, as such, matter of facts. This Essay tries to study and cover the problems contributing to the political decline and lacuna suffered by Igbos and examines if there is any hope and way out. Though the approach is one sided – political to be sure- it yet covers the general interest of Ndigbo.

INTRODUCTION:
It is common-place knowledge that Ndigbo are people of the Southeastern states of Nigeria. The states include Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states. Ibo becomes a unifying language. Of the partiality suffered by Igbos, disturbing questions overtake my thoughts, suchlike: Are the Igbos generally unwilling to participate in matters of politics or is their unwillingness a matter of determinism? Are we bound by fetters of continuously supporting other regions or mainly guided by our conscience? Are there internal wrangling and discord that militate against the general interest of Ndigbo? Do Ndigbo lack the heavyweights and voices that could turnaround the fate that already lives with us? Does the 'fear of the unknown' from the Northern man overshadow and at the same time assault the Igbo man's interest politically? Have all our politicians adopted the philosophy of 'sit-don-dey-look'? What actually went and is going wrong? Do we continue this way? Are Igbos 'ofekes' and 'efulefus' that never knew when the wood of 'Ukwa' tree was shared, who will consequently be and always be 'ndi na amaghi ihe ana eme, ewere ha na eme ihe ana eme'. Are Igbos just spectators in the field of politics? Thanks to the thoughtful brain that gave birth to this wonderful topic as the next question continuously mocking my Igbo origin is perfectly couched in the topic. Thus, Ndigbo ibem, which way foreward?

“CHIMA EYIKWAM SHAA” – Chima I’m Wearing Nothing

Today, I recall with intense amusement my experience years ago, sometime in 2004; to be closer to precision. 

I was an altar Boy, this some persons still call wrongly, “man servers”, the correct thing being Mass Servers. I joined late in 2013, August 16^th to be exact. In my own local Parish, there was a very strict methodology of ascent through the rank and file of the Altar Servers, and as with other ecclesiastical associations and institutions, there was a very strict discipline and in our own case, this discipline can be very ‘hot’.

Someone who wishes to join the Altar Servers must first be a communicant and a devout Christian. The discipline in the Association was thus that parents, whose children were ‘thick-headed’, would send such children to join the Altar Servers in order to be disciplined. There exist, even now, a perceived consensus among many that Altar Servers would always become priests, partly because of their closeness to priests and to the Altar.