To say that security of lives and property in our peaceful okpofe town has gone for the worst. Very recently, a prominent son of the town was sent to the great beyoun by armed robbers right in his house. It was reported that many gun shots were heard in different parts of the town, yet nothing there was no challenged either by the so-called security men in the town or by any other group.
It is quite unfortunate that one will struggle to get something and sent home, only for it to disppear even at the risk of one's life. In all the town union meetings, both at home and at the various branches, security levies are paid by members. But it appears that our authourities do not take the issue of security very seriously. If they do what do they do with such security money?
You will travel very distant kilometres to reach home only for you to have good rest at home becuase the jobless young men at work at nite. Dear brothers and sisters, time has come for a dicisve step to be taken towards providing adequate security in the town. Let leaders stop paying lip-service to the issue. President General of OIU and his executive members should live up to expectation in this regard. Home is our last bus stop, alive or dead. And where it becomes insecure then it doesn't worth the name - home.
I totally agree with Mr. Iwunna that security has become a big issue in okpofe today and thank you for bringing this up. Something has to be done and that something needs to be done NOW!!. We can't rely on the OIU "Home and Abroad" leadership to solve problems (they have failed over and over), Okpofe will solve Okpofe's problems. We can't wait on the OIU leadership to bring about change to Okpofe, it's about time Okpofe changed the OIU way of leadership. It's really unbelivable that with all the problems that have been facing Okpofe for some time now and security or lack of it being right on top, no one is raising this issue in the general meetings instead an individual court case against Okpofe is priority. I think it's time OIU branches come together and help solve some of Okpofe's problems. I think it's time OIU branches come up with solid ideas that will lift Okpofe up. The same way branches compete for funds in Okpofe Harvest, lets start to compete for ideas. We have to bear in mind that OIU branches no matter how small or far from home, is still stronger than both Home branch and the "Home and Abroad" gatherings of Easter, August and December. Do you know why there is no OIU home branch? Because the school teacher that lives in Itu secondary school doesn't even count himself as someone at home, whatever is happening in okpofe is not his problem, he's now an abroadian. Everyone needs to be involved because ENOUGH is ENOUGH. One branch could come up with an idea today that will wipe out this security problem once and for all, send their proposal to all the branches for discussion and ways for implementation, and then let me see who will be against a good idea, let me see who will fight against progress. Okpofe has been known for solving their own problems, they didn't rely on government for electricity, water, health center, etc. We will not start now to rely on any kind of government, state, local or town to solve our problems, we will do it ourselves and YES WE CAN!!!
In closing, I'm tired of hearing why dividing okpofe will be a good thing, lets all start thinking of ways to unite, build and secure Okpofe, not ways of dividing it. United we stand, divided we fall!!!!.
It is my wish to thank those who have contributed to this topic. Yes it is very sad to hear of the brutal elimination of the brother of Dee Vita, namely Edy, whose face we all well remember. He was a faithful manager of his brother's filling station. We never heard of any problem between him and his brother for whom he dutifully and dedicatedly served. A very humble and dedicated person indeed. What a sorrow for both the immediate family and for the peace loving people of Okpofe. It is really a pity. Our common and heartfelt sympathy to the whole family. Dee Vita has been very dedicated to the cause of Okpofe. He has shown through dedication that you can be somebody even while earning your living at home. He made us proud. His filling station, which ever had fuel and attracted motorists to our dear town, was a thing of pride to us all. So for this to happen to his brother, while the evil agents unleashed their deadly attack on the whole family is rather unfortunate and a blow to all well-meaning and peace-loving people of Okpofe.
Now how come this be? It is not an isolated case. This is a typical example of how our country as a whole has degenerated, has been debased and bastadized. It is part of the general insecurity in our dear country, and in one way or the other our politicians share a large aspect of the blame. The Nigerian police has been politicized and so on and so forth. One could have immagined that thanks to the mobile phones, one could ask for help from the police in such cases and at least hope to get a response. But it will never be. To continue to bemoan it would not help.
What remains to be done is for all of us to search our souls and be ready to make personal repentance in the true sense of it. Is there any way our action or inaction in our small community contributes to the insecurity in our town? Have we condoned such guys in our midst? Have we really done our best in respecting the values that really matter and so guide against the inordinate desire to get rich overnight? And have those who have honestly earned their wealth been prudent about their wealth? I hope we do not wish away such soul-searching questions and do not fall into the temptation of viewing them as remote in respect to the pressing matter.
I would want to call our attention as a community to one fact which in my humble opinion could be part of the problem in finding a solution to insecurity in our town. Calling names and apportioning blames would not help any of us. To call OIU into question would still not touch the basement. Fundamentally we have to ask ourselves, if we want to unravel the true cause of non-performance of our security apparatus, if ever they could match the lethal power of these men of the underworld, whether we have paid enough respect to elders at home? Have we appreciated the input of those elders, who in the past were active and responsibly managed the affairs of our town? As the good days lasted did we appreciate what enormous sacrifice made to have Okpofe in good records? What ever must have gone wrong now cannot be dissociated from our attitude to former leaders of Okpofe. And for sometime now, what has been happening to choosing our rulers? Have we not looked the other way while things went wrong in our midst? Respect for our elders and our values of honesty and service, of truth and peace must again regain the upper hand in the minds and actions of all of us. Abroadians have a big stake in the fate of our community, take it or leave it, it remains the truth. So to hold people living in the town, at home responsible for such an evil might miss the point. We all, if at all, must bear the common responsibility for things falling apart in our midst. Period. Therefore to achieve success, to restore the peace that Okpofe came to be known for, to restore some security amidst the great insecurity in our nation as a whole, demands a contribution from us all. It presupposes an acceptance of the long running wisdom, that a society that respects its elders and thus safeguards its values will know peace and progress. Let us get back to the root of the problem by reappreciating and re-evaluating how security worked before, who were those who made it function, how did it really function, and what has gone wrong? Often it is the unknown factor about the security outfit that makes it effective. So to this effect I would rather point out one fact, which forms my positive contribution: Security is not discussed in a very public forum! Security in OKpofe can never be what it used to be if the whole OIU handles it. A group of tested elders must be tasked with this. And we must be able to give them the utmost backing they need. But this can only work if the culture of lies and measurement of one's worth depends on his wealth. A soul searching and sober reflection is indeed needed. If the death of Edy Adiele would rally our town together to fight a common cause, if his brutal murder and mutilation would be a sacrifice paid to bring Okpofe back to its glory, then we say adieu to him, salute him, and be convinced that he did not die in vain. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. May the good Lord console and strengthen his immediately family, his wife and friends. Edy, you were a gentle soul, peace loving, humble, unassuming and dedicated. You may have gone early at the wicked hands of heartless people, but you will remain evergreen in our minds. Your gentle nature makes you a prominent person, not wealth or big material things that perish. Forgive these brutal fellows and pray they abandon their bad ways, confess this monumental evil they have perpetrated, pray too for our town Okpofe.
Thank you Mr. Iwunna for bringing this topic to the floor.
Those are also very eloquent contributions from the two gentlemen who have responded. All will agree that the attack at Vita's home and consequent loss of his brother, Eddy is a very big price to be paid for the security of Okpofe. I hope our people will seize this moment and ensure that Okpofe will never be found vulnerable again.
Eddy and the entire Adiele have paid the ultimate price.
My people, i really thank Mr. Tony Ngumah, Mr. Iwunna and our brother, Ihuoma and our secretary (ODA), for their contributions and or ideas. God bless you all.We should remember that Okpofe is a great town where one can see people who love one another."OKPOFE MARA NMA, OBODO OMA CHINEKE, OKPOFE MARA NMA".Let us use that wonderful knowledge that God has given to all the Okpofe citizens, to handle the issue of security.Security is something very vital in any community country or place.
Referring to what our brother has written, i hope that those organizers of the then security tried a lot. Men employed then to do the job did their best.There is one thing i will like us to understand and the difference between the security then and now and also the difference between the criminals then and now. When we look at or think back to the nature of security we have then, most of them did it with knives and others with what we call "CHAKAKPOM".That is, what i am saying is, are those men ready to go back to the field, even-if they are ready, with what? Who were those organizers then, are they ready to go out in the night to monitor or check on how they are doing as they were doing then? I think, we suppose to consider these before calling on the former organizers. Okpofe is filled with a lot of intellectuals who can originate and execute ideas. Let us come together and use what God has given to us.
Also,to anybody who is talking about dividing Okpofe, if the "AMA" of your own village did not come out in Afoekiri, then, we can separate you from Okpofe. Okpofe is united for peace and has been progressing in peace and will continue in peace. If you think about those towns that has separated, their village streets did not end at their market square. Once more, God bless us all amen.
Inno. Ekwonye,
New York, USA.
The security situation at Okpofe right now should remain a source of worry to all the people of Okpofe.
However, it beholds one to say that the don'ts of all the past and presentleaders of Okpofe to eliminate all identified bad guys in the community left much to be desired. Unless all these bad boys in all the villages are removed the problem of insecurity will be persistence.
In a situation where security men are only placed at Afore-ekiri is a hick-up. The presence of security men are needed in all the villages of okpofe, anything less than this is unaccepted. Please tell those concern to breast up. We should not let any other blood before we realize our mistakes.