As we ride through the 'ember months of 2008, and as we prepare to jump into 2009, I ask you my brothers and sisters, have we not had enough?
Eze Anyankah was laid to rest 3 years ago- precisely on August 20, 2005.
So let's try to translate the situation as it is- we are unable to find an able successor in 3 years. That is BAD.
During his funeral, many speakers stated that the Eze Oha was irreplaceable. Little did I know that it was literally so. But can't we just try? Why should Okpofe continue to make appearances without a crowned traditional leader at cultural events (I hope we are being represented)?
On the other hand, I think we should be very vigilant. If and when we decide to move forward, the Eze we elect or select - whichever process we use- must be an Eze by all standards. It must be somebody we can and will respect as our leader. I don't want to have an Eze whom I could ask to 'shut up'. Neither do I want a bully as an Eze. Above all, like one of the contributors here stated, and I quote- "Service to the community for the general good should be the catch phrase" That to me, should be the number one qualification.
Come on people!! We have to take back our beloved Okpofe. It is fast slipping away from us. We all grew up to see a very united Okpofe, an Okpofe that was the dream of other communities. Where is the Okpofe that built the secondary school? Where is the Okpofe that built the town hall, the health center, the post office, and the community bank? The Okpofe that pulled electrical wires across towns without electricity to bring light to its people.
What have we done lately? Is it the water project? It didn't work out after millions of Naira was invested.
What of transformer installation? I am not sure the debate is over.
You see, my point is that we have achieved nothing in the past many years since we started bickering. Something is wrong with this picture, but we can only address it if we are determined to face the truth. The truth is that our current way of doing things has not worked. Divide and conquer will never help us.
In contrast though, within the same period, Okpofe has seen a record number of (new) successful individual sons and daughters. Thanks to the hard work of our people, we are still a force to be reckoned with as individual citizens of the world.
Some of our people are the ‘ofuta obie’ in their different fields of endeavor.
We are senior managers and policy makers in cooperate Nigeria and around the world.
Some of our people are top professors in and outside Nigeria.
Success in business is no longer for Anambra people alone but for Okpofe people too. We have some of the best physicians the world has to offer among us. Our people have succeeded in engineering, law, economics, science and technology- you name it. Religious men and women from Okpofe are all over the world.
Whereas we have succeeded as individuals, statistics has shown that we have actually failed as a people. We have failed the unity that we once had. We have failed to maintain infrastructures that we erected. We have failed to produce a leader among us. We have failed to translate our individual successes into community success. And I ask, is it a problem that we got smarter and more prosperous?
How do we want to hand Okpofe over to the next generation? Let us stop trying to move backwards into the future.
It is a heart-break that uptill now we do not have an Eze and NOT EVEN CLOSE TO IT. I do not even see us having an Eze even in the year 2009 with size of disagreement, disunity and arrongance amongst our elders. It is very unfortunate.
Well written, Sir Inno Amaefule. I never envisioned this happening in our dear beloved Okpofe. I guess, there goes the saying "Never say never" . All well meaning Okpofe sons and daughters should come together, with due deligent, find a way to take Okpofe back.. I mean take it back and get things moving again. It's not go na be an easy task, but it's doable. The way things stands now, without an elected Eze by the people, I don't see us making any meaningful progress in Okpofe.
We can do it, lets starting talking on the modalities..
"Okpofe mara nma, obodo oma Chineke, Okpofe mara nma...."
I support what the moderator wrote because it was on point and it proves that all progress in okpofe stalled when some group of people thought they knew more now and are wiser than everyone else. Thank you.
Now for all those that are talking about changing the constitution so that people will stand in line and vote for an Eze because that is the only way there will be peace (This is far from being the problem), I am giving out a challenge; Attend an OIU Home and Abroad meeting and speak out where it really counts. It is good to express ideas here when someone else initiates a topic but if no one is able to attend meetings at home and express these concerns, then we're wasting our time because these ideas will never be put into action. So once again, here is my challenge to each and everyone of you; come out to the next home and abroad meeting at home which is this december, wherever you are, buy a ticket now to be home, get on the bus,jumb on the next okada, etc, let's all attend the meeting with a purpose, to take back the community from those that have held it hostage for too long because ENOUGH is ENOUGH.
It is not only heartbreaking, rather incredible that until now we don't have Eze. Very unbelievable because our elders have proven other communities wrong when they were saying, it would not take Okpofe long time to have new Eze because of the united heart in the Town, but the reverse is the case.
Since our Elders have find it so difficult in giving us Eze, then we have to find a way out. As l feel it is a deliberate act.
During the last August meeting, our Women went all out to finding a lasting solution to this problem. After their meetings with various group they came to the Town Hall during Men meeting and went on their kneels before all the Men present for a solution but the answer given to them was rather incredible, and such answer was not what we expect from the community that want to forge ahead, this has further proven their hiding agenda
I therefore suggest that during December meeting, let put every other thing behind and revisit the women request, and know if the answer given to them was an individual opinion or general opinion by Okpofe people
I wish to state that, whatever the problem is, we must ignored it and go ahead and look for an Eze, who is not just a man, but a man with reputation, so when he is presented to other communities, he can occupy a good position, and not an Eze who will go sharing drink when other Eze’s gather.
Okpofe is ahead of other communities in Mbaise, and should therefore, go for a quality man who have among other qualities high reputation
Inno, thanks for that piece. It's really very unfortunate that Okpofe finds it difficult to decide on who becomes the next Eze Oha. The irony of it is that the issues appears not be a priority to our leaders. No body even knows their thought pattern or their vision for the community. Who are these leaders by the way?
I wish to call on all responsible sons and daughters of okpofe to join their voices and impress on our leaders to do the right thing at the right time. we have come a very long way; and posterity will never forgive us for drifting after having achieved a lot in the past as a people.
Now is the time for all well-meaning indigenes of our town to join hands together to ensure that our town reclaims its exalted position among other towns in Mbaise.
It is obvious that our present leaders are not patriotic enough like our past leaders, who dedicated their time and resources to the development of Okpofe. Our present leaders are so selfish that they find it difficult to initiate issues that will be beneficial to the generality of the people.
It's really unfortunate that we cannot sustain development in our land.
I'd like to use this medium to wish the moderator, the contributors and entire Okpofe citizens a merry Christmas and prosperous new year. Enjoy responsibly.
I also pray that the LORD in His infinite mercy will grant our beloved community a traditional ruler after His own heart at His own time, in Jesus name. Amen
. All well meaning Okpofe sons and daughters should come together, with due deligent, find a way to take Okpofe back.. I mean take it back and get things moving again. It's not go na be an easy task, but it's doable. The way things stands now, without an elected Eze by the people, I don't see us making any meaningful progress in Okpofe.