posted
An Urgent Appeal for Sober Reflection and Self-Evaluation: An Open Letter to All Indigenes of the Obizi Autonomous Community, Ezinihitte L.G.A., Imo State, Nigeria.
From: Some Concerned Obizi Sons Washington, DC. U.S.A.
Date: December 15, 2006.
Our Fellow Indigenes of the Obizi Autonomous Community:
Re: An Urgent Appeal for Sober Reflection and Self-Evaluation: An Open Letter to All Indigenes of the Obizi Autonomous Community, Ezinihitte L.G.A., Imo State, Nigeria.
It behoves us to utilize the medium of this epistle to share some personal sentiments and address a broad spectrum of issues, which affect all of us who are bound by a common ancestral tie as members of the socio-cultural and geo-political entity known today as the Obizi Autonomous Community in the Ezinihitte Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. After a very serious and scrupulous reflection on both the status quo and the recent history of our beloved community, we have come to the conclusion that it is quite inevitable for us to utilize the medium of this communication to air our views about these burning issues which have, over the years, remained a source of grave concern and apprehension to us and many others.
First and foremost, you all will agree with us that the history of Obizi Autonomous Community cannot be comprehensively discussed without mentioning the name and contributions of our distinguished son and esteemed torchbearer, the Hon. Dr. Aaron Nwogu Ogbonna, a.k.a. �Honest to God.� Some of us who are fortunate enough to still be alive today would recall that, upon his qualification as a physician and subsequent return from England, Dr. Ogbonna made his homeward journey straight to Obizi and shunned all the comfort and joy of social amenities, facilities, and infrastructural development obtainable in the urban centers as well as all the ostentations and luxuries associated with urban living despite his ability to afford them. Instead, prior to his involvement in partisan politics, he preferred to settle and base his medical practice in his rural home community in order to make direct and personal contributions to the medical and social welfare of his people. Obviously, there is absolutely no doubt that the philosophy behind this noble decision was based on nothing else but his affection for his community and, especially, his keen interest in the health and well-being of his people.
Apart from settling in his rural community, a continual flow of imaginative ideas, formulated objectives, creative plans and the progressive implementation of those plans became Dr. Ogbonna�s hallmarks. As such, for several years, his concern for the health, education, and general economic well-being of his people kept his mind active with innovations and programs, which eventually became the survival sources for many Mbaise people, particularly of Obizi extraction. As a result, we are, as of today, still grappling with nostalgia and living under the canopy of his goodwill and community developments. Nevertheless, it is also very imperative to remember that, prior to Dr. Ogbonna�s return from his overseas sojourn, the Obizi community had attained the stature of a highly progressive community not only among all the autonomous communities in Mbaise, but also within the present Imo State. Hence, the community was popularly and humorously dubbed �Obii-zed, second to London.� This remarkable achievement was recorded as a result of nothing else but the patriotism, dedication, industry, and self-sacrifice of the community-conscious Obizi indigenes at home and abroad.
In the course of his heydays as a prominent statesman and Minister in the Government of the defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria, Dr. Ogbonna equally played the highly influential roles of community advocate and church leader. In these roles, he continuously and tirelessly championed the cause of the less privileged, and left no stone unturned in his efforts to accomplish his humanitarian goals. Specifically, during the pre-civil war era, he single-handedly pioneered a number of developmental projects not only within the Obizi community, but also in Mbaise as a whole. To cite some particular instances, he established a full-service community-based hospital, a comprehensive secondary school, and a number of public utility projects including the overhead giant water reservoir located at the "Ogwumabiri" market square in Obizi. Furthermore, he erected the parsonage on the premises of St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Obizi, and, with the overwhelming support and cooperation of the Obizi community, he single-handedly initiated and implemented the �Imashi Nkwu� program, a communal fund-raising effort and tuition assistance program, which enabled some brilliant indigent students from Obizi to proceed overseas to attain their educational goals. Without any equivocation, it must be stated that this distinguished community leader contributed, in no small measure, towards the upliftment of mankind in Obizi and its environs and, for doing so by his own volition, it is certainly not an exaggeration to describe him as the �Moses� personified, who led all of us, the Obizi indigenes, to the 'Promised Land.' Indeed, while Dr. Ogbonna's footprints will forever remain clearly visible in the sands of time, the mystique of patriotic leadership, coupled with the extraordinary charisma and unflappable personality, which were uniquely his, will also remain permanently indelible in the consciousness of the Obizi people.
Also deserving special commendation and applause are the late Mr. Richard Nwankwo of Obokwu and the Reverend A. C. Njoku who, in their own humble ways, reached out and touched the lives of Obizi indigenes by the contributions they made in the areas of education and community development. As of today, the St. Augustine�s Secondary Commercial School, in Obizi, founded by Reverend Njoku in the 1963, has continued to serve the much-needed scholastic needs of not only our own Obizi children, but also those from the neighboring localities and beyond. Similarly, we must, at this point, mention that the recent donation and distribution of two hundred pieces of classroom forms to our local elementary schools, made by the Obizi Improvement Union in the Washington, DC metropolitan area of the United States of America, at the cost of over one million naira, was also a highly commendable and exemplary project. This singular gesture was simply a mere token to demonstrate that this group of Obizi sons and daughters based in Washington, DC metropolis, U.S.A. is, of course, aware of the adverse economic situation at home and is willing to participate in any bona fide efforts to find a lasting solution to the problems at home. However, please beware that they cannot tackle or solve all our community-related problems alone.
Through words alone, it is impossible for us to extol Dr. Ogbonna�s noble deeds in their entirety. Also, no speeches or pieces of literature can sufficiently convey the profound appreciation and deep sense of satisfaction that our noble son�s tangible and meritorious accomplishments have given us personally. Nevertheless, based on the concise overview above, we are quite convinced that nobody would gainsay the lucid fact that Dr. Ogbonna improved the quality of life among the Obizi people. Furthermore, with his dynamic and innovative approach to humanistic concerns, you all will agree with us that he paved the way for our posterity and all of us, and satisfactorily demonstrated the adage, which implies that - �a good leader opens up a path for others to trail.� In addition, it is indisputable that he left us a legacy of good deeds and good values and virtues that we were all expected to uphold and treat as our guiding principles. Figuratively, we would say that Dr. Ogbonna ignited a torch with a brilliant flame and passed it onto all of us prior to his earthly transition to heavenly rest in 1977. It is, therefore, our collective responsibility to sustain that brilliant flame from generation to generation. Indeed, the joint obligation we all owe him is to perpetuate that brilliantly burning flame.
Brothers and Sisters, while we consider it imperative to be quite frank and straightforward with you all in this message, please be advised that it is never our intention to point an accusing finger on any particular individual(s) or group(s). Nevertheless, as we already indicated in the beginning paragraph, we are constrained by our emotions to make this solemn declaration in the interest of humanity and community service. With particular reference to the lack of pipe-borne water supply in our community, we must confess that it is, indeed, very shameful, excruciating, disappointing, and discouraging to observe that the overhead water reservoir located at "Ogwumabiri" Obizi, a public utility project, which, as a Regional Minister, Dr. Ogbonna attracted to our community in his effort to provide us with regular water supply, has not been functional for over fifteen years now. We personally recall that, from the time it was erected in 1963 until the early 1990s, this giant water tank served as a regular source of water supply not only to the Obizi community, but also to other neighboring communities like Udo, Eziudo, and Onicha. Also, you all will agree with us that, Dr. Ogbonna, the benefactor of this water project, had the singular opportunity, influence, and resources to divert it to his private backyard, but he considered it unthinkable to do so. Likewise, he had the option of locating his private hospital in an urban or commercial center, where his practice would have surely flourished better, but he deliberately declined to do so. Nevertheless, it is quite understandable that, as human beings, our constant need for clean potable water cannot be questioned or overemphasized. Definitely, we are dependent on clean water not only for our direct personal consumption, but also for such domestic purposes as cooking, laundry, maintenance of good personal hygiene, etc. Furthermore, we also rely on clean water supply sanitation and healthcare delivery work and for agricultural activities like farming and livestock husbandry. In view of this fact, there is absolutely no doubt that, without the availability or regular supply of clean consumable water, our entire community will grapple with famine; our health will be jeopardized; and, of course, mortality rate will escalate dramatically.
Therefore, it is certainly with profound sadness, dismay, and teary eyes that we have, over the years, watched the giant water reservoir at "Ogwumabiri" as it continued to remain dormant and useless as result of a minor equipment failure and a complete collapse of its water distribution piping system. As you are all aware, this structure alone significantly represents a tangible evidence of Dr. Ogbonna's kind gift of a basic social amenity to the Obizi people. As such, we personally do not believe that it is appropriate and sensible for us to fold our arms and wait patiently and indefinitely for an insensitive and negligent State or Local Government authorities to come to our aid in terms of revamping this public water scheme. It is rather very unfortunate that, while this sad situation has continued to prevail up till today, the privileged class in the present day Obizi community has continued to perform marvelously well not only in terms of their pompous and arrogant display of affluence, but also in terms of their self-provision of basic amenities and ostentatious enjoyment of luxury. For example, the provision of privately drilled boreholes and heavy duty electricity generating sets in private backyards have become the order of the day or a social norm among this class, while the less privileged class or the needy has continued to languish and succumb to the agony of deprivation and destitution. Generally, our society has continuously, consistently, and increasingly glorified and glamourized ill-gotten gains. The affordability or possession of tangible material wealth has, in most cases, become the basic yardstick or credential for the award of chieftaincy honors in various communities, whereas very little or no public recognition is being bestowed on numerous deserving citizens who genuinely toiled for the betterment of their respective communities. On the other hand, it is also most regrettable and shameful to observe that, since the demise of Dr. Ogbonna about thirty years ago, some other Obizi indigenes, who were fortunate enough to have had or still have the privilege to serve as top government functionaries or in positions of power and influence similar to Dr. Ogbonna�s, have obviously proven to be self-serving by being shamelessly engrossed in nothing else but their personal aggrandizement. We must, at this point, revisit and reflect on the Obizi Community Bank of yesteryears, the only financial establishment that represented our trademark of economic progress and development. Evidently, this bank would have continued to facilitate business transactions within the autonomous community and other neighboring communities, but, regrettably, it suffered a premature death consequent to the gross mismanagement and abject inefficiency of some Obizi sons. Candidly, we think this is utterly ridiculous and absolutely preposterous!
In any case, we are, indeed, very fortunate to have recently been offered the opportunity to demonstrate the same public-spiritedness that made Dr. Ogbonna not only the toast of Obizi, but also a political and social icon in the entire Mbaise clan. As you are all aware, the Obizi community was required to contribute a counter fund to a proposed World Bank project, geared towards the renovation and resuscitation of our Water Scheme. It is, of course, needless to mention or emphasize the immense benefit of regular supply of clean potable water, which this project will serve all of us. We are definitely very delighted and appreciative of the efforts made by Obizi indigenes to ensure that we did not forfeit this rare, God-given opportunity to improve our own well-being. By financially contributing our own quota to this worthy project, we have surely demonstrated our collective desire to improve the quality of life in our beloved community. Therefore, while we remain eternally grateful to all Obizi indigenes for going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that we did not continue to languish in deprivation and depression, we hope that this singular act of unfettered patriotism will not only encourage more result-oriented communal actions, but also will perpetually remain an example worthy of emulation in the future.
Finally, in specific regard to the �Imashi Nkwu� exercise, it was certain that Dr. Ogbonna had a burning passion for the idea of human development and, as such, used his intellectual brilliance and political acumen to turn this idea into a crusade with an outreach that eventually extended beyond the Obizi community. Apparently, he championed this crusade in conformity with the philosophical statement of the renowned American civil rights advocate, Dr. W.E.B. DuBois that - �A mind is a terrible thing to waste.� As far as we are concerned, such philanthropic gestures not only deserve special public recognition, but it is also truly customary or obligatory for the direct beneficiaries of such communal programs and/or their posterity to make it a point of duty to demonstrate their appreciation by reciprocating such acts of communal benevolence. They should give back to the community that sacrificed to give them! We are, indeed, highly disappointed and disgusted that, as of today, we are yet to see the tangible and transparent proof of this reciprocation.
As a result of this ugly and pathetic trend in our community, it has definitely become obvious to us that, as a collective entity, we are seriously and dangerously lagging behind in following Dr. Ogbonna�s footsteps and upholding his ideals and legacies. Unfortunately and regrettably, we are apparently failing woefully and shamefully in sustaining the brilliant flame of the torch passed onto us by this legendary philanthropist and patriotic son of Obizi. But, rather, we are gradually succeeding in extinguishing that brilliant flame as a result of sheer apathy, self-centeredness, and complete negligence of duty on our part. Therefore, by means of this communication, we criticize and condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the tendency of self-centeredness, abject apathy, and non-chalant disposition of Obizi indigenes towards the welfare or progress of their community! In our humble opinion, the magnanimity and public-spiritedness demonstrated by Dr. Ogbonna during his lifetime call for a period of sober reflections among the indigenes of Obizi, and we implore all and sundry to search his or her conscience and submit to a moment of such sober reflections. With this in mind, we also wish to issue a wake-up call to all community-spirited sons and daughters of Obizi Autonomous Community! We openly challenge all Obizi indigenes to rise above self-centeredness and remember to live by the ever-shining examples of Dr. Aaron Ogbonna! In addition, we challenge all our sons and daughters in positions of high calling and/or positions of high authority and influence in the government to revisit Dr. Ogbonna�s legacies and emulate his benevolent and philanthropic gestures! We, as a community of responsible citizens, ought to accept or embrace his legacies as a guide to our future! We should make a more serious and genuine attempt to transpose Dr. Ogbonna�s legacies and values into a modern potential in the context of our present day Obizi community!
In conclusion, our fellow Obizi indigenes, we are hopeful that the message of this epistle will be of immense value and benefit to each and every one of us. May this piece of communication reach you all in perfect health and good cheer. Best Wishes, Peace, and Showers of God�s Blessings to each and every Obizi indigene.
Very truly yours,
(1.) Mr. Chidiadi J. M. Ugorji, Patron, Obizi Improvement Union, Washington, DC, U.S.A.
(2.) Sir Dave Osuagwu, Secretary-General, Obizi Home and Abroad Union, Obizi, Ezinihitte L.G.A., Imo State, Nigeria.
Posts: 3 | From: Washington, DC | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
