Youths Unemployment and Insecurity in Eleme

By High Chief Ollorwi Osaro

Introduction

Unemployment is a term referring to people who are employable and actively seeking jobs but are unable to find jobs. Included in this group are those people in the workforce who are working but do not have an appropriate job – underemployment. Usually measured by the unemployment rate, which is dividing the number of unemployed people by the total number of people in the workforce; unemployment serves as one of the indicators of a country’s economic status.

On the other hand insecurity is the state of being unsure. It is period of constantly expressing fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. It is a time of thinking, and some of these thoughts can be filled with doubt, hopelessness, fear and anxiety. When there are no jobs and the hope of meeting the basic human needs are far from realization frustration sets in; evil thoughts override reasoning, and the individual explores several avenues including criminal means to put body and soul together, and make ends meet.

The population of Eleme is estimated to be about 304, 608 as at 2020, out of which the youth population, (15 – 35 years of age) is said to be 75%. It is also estimated that about frightening 60% of Eleme youth population is either unemployed or underemployed, a situation that possess great danger to the society in terms of crimes and assorted social vices.

Such a large population of unemployed, unengaged, angry, sullen, unproductive youths in any society will constitute a menace and security risk because their lives appear hopeless and yet they are full of youthful energy.

For a long time probably since the creation of Eleme Local Government Area in December, 1996, the Eleme youths have been on bondage as a result of unemployment caused by faulty institutional structures, corruption, illiteracy and poor management of resources. Though unemployment is a national phenomenon, the situation in Eleme has reached the crises state,

Insecurity in Eleme is characterized by cultism, gangsterism, violence, kidnapping, assassinations, armed robbery, vandalism, theft, environmental insecurity and other vices in the area. Youths form the bulk of unemployed and are burden to the local government. Before now agriculture is the mainstay of Eleme people.  

Eleme has topography of flat plains netted in a marvellous web of rivers, creeks, streams and swamps including the Bonny River, Nololo Creek, Gberekpii Creek, Okulu Creek, Ochani Creek and Wamba Creek, among others. A good climate with many rivers and creeks and vast areas of arable land make the people of Eleme predominately farmers and fishermen. But the oppressive and forceful acquisition of their lands for multinational and national companies and oil exploration and production activities and mindless pollution of the environment has robbed the people of agricultural activities and afflicted them with severe pains including food insecurity and poverty.

Yes, unemployment is responsible for food insecurity and has caused majority of Eleme youths to develop the feeling of inadequacy and uncertainty; they see themselves as not good enough. Unemployment produces high degree of anxiety about ones goals, relationship, and ability to handle certain situations.

Youth unemployment have significantly contributed to the dramatic rise in criminal activities such as armed robbery (Salami, 2013), cultism, prostitution, theft, civil unrest, abductions and kidnapping of persons irrespective of status, religion or age. Youth unemployment is a major challenges facing Eleme today. Admittedly, the problem of youth unemployment is a national problem due to corruption and the high poverty levels requiring all of us to work in order to ensure not only survival but security.

Again, Eleme youths are linked to violence, cultism, kidnapping and sometimes robbery by unemployment. Unemployment in Eleme has given to rise street crimes such snatching of motorcycles, handsets and other valuables at gun point. We have witnessed slightest resistance resulting in shooting the victim to death and carting away the items. Really, the rate of youth unemployment in Eleme has reached crisis point requiring consistent government urgent action to create jobs and prosecute all individuals who have corruptly enriched themselves thereby denying Eleme youths the opportunities of being employed.

The Eleme youth has become more disillusioned by the day, especially with the strong feeling of frustration about his inability to be employed when he is capable, willing and qualified to work and especially the realization that active companies are dotted here and there around him and he sees vehicles railing thousands of people to and from work on daily basis.

Emphatically, the increasing rate of unemployment amongst Eleme youths has increased the wave of armed robbery, prostitution, kidnapping, cultism, illegal oil bunkery, and on-going abductions of citizens and residents with reckless abandon as well as the popular street crimes.

During the courtesy visit on the Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Hon. Obarilomate Ollor (JP) in his office at Ogale by the Executives of KAGOTE led by its President, Emmanuel Deeya the Council Chairman expressed displeasure over the attitude of multinationals operating in Eleme cosmopolitan area when it comes to employment of Eleme youths.. He observed that lack of job creation, skills and vocational training of the teeming youths of the land by these companies results in increase criminality and heightened the insecurities suffered in the area in recent past.

Again, during the courtesy visit by the leadership of Ogoni Ethnic Nationality to His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Friday, 22 October, 2021 it also re-echoed that the provision of gainful employment for our teeming youths will “check restiveness” in the area.

The impact of unemployment in Eleme is being felt by both the rich and the poor. In fact, unemployment has made it impossible for many couples in Eleme to face the challenge and crisis of marriage necessitating high level of divorce. The ripple effect of unemployment in Eleme can better be imagined than felt. It is a serious social and economic issue that results in a tremendous impact on everything but is often overlooked.

The presence of numerous multinational and national companies operating in Eleme, and the high level of unemployment among our youths in the area calls for concern by all.

A stronger system of assessing unemployment in Eleme should be put in place in order to determine its causes and how to address it better.

The problem of unemployment in Eleme is further compounded by some chiefs and leaders turn contractors who sell jobs openings and opportunities to strangers, and/or pay Eleme indigenes enslavement monthly salary of 20% or less of their total entitlement. This is demonic and acute wickedness. Instead of selling job opportunities to strangers, please declare them for sale to Eleme youths so that they can buy, work and grow on the job.

Similarly, the war against unemployment in Eleme cannot be won with the existing narrow, myopic and selfish definition of host community. Distinction has to be made between immediate landlords (landowners) and the community at large. The definition of host community needs to be broadened to encompass the whole of Eleme that suffer the impacts of environmental pollution and degradation arising from the operations of these companies. The impacts of pollution does not know Ebubu person neither does effects of environmental degradation recognize Ekporo person. All those within the radius suffer equally.

Also, efforts should be made by governments at all levels to create jobs and strengthen job market regulation in Eleme so that Eleme youths with education or skills can live a meaningfully and contribute to the development of the area.

Government and policy makers should strengthen the local content/host community regulations relating to employment of citizens of the host communities in order to give job chances our youth with the relevant skills and education.

Government should build strong economic institutions and those already in place, be strengthened to create jobs for the youths for Eleme youths.

The power sector in Eleme demands immediate attention for power is the heart-beat of the local informal and formal sector to drive the economy.

Efforts should be made to encourage vocational, technical and entrepreneurial education in Eleme for self-employment; while corruption and mismanagement of our resources ought to be dealt with vigour.

Eleme people in Diaspora with capital should be encouraged to come home and invest.

Education should be made free and compulsory in Eleme, at least to secondary school level. Heads of schools that levy pupils/students unnecessarily or make one illegal monetary demand or the other should be fished out and brought to book.

Finally, the Eleme Local Government Council should strengthen and empower the Eleme Employment Bureau (EEB) as an Agency of the Local Government, to update its Unemployment Data Base (UDB) and seriously scout for jobs from all the multinational and national companies operating in Eleme as well as Federal and State Governments establishments, ministries and agencies, etc. for the teeming unemployed youths of Eleme extraction.

As KAGOTE President, Emmanuel Deeya said, “Eleme is the hub of the petroleum industry in Nigeria…..People cannot do business in an unsecure environment” Of a truth, it is the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of organisations doing business in Eleme to employ Eleme citizens. The host community philosophy upholds that; the local contents legislation supports that. Even the much talk about immediate catchment area guideline adheres to that. Eleme has given more, Eleme deserves more! Eleme is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy!

If the employable Eleme youths are taken off the streets and properly engaged in gainful employment, and companies in Eleme regularly pay relevant revenues instead of hiding under Abuja cover, and execute their corporate social responsibility as demanded by law, the attention of the Eleme Local Government will not be diverted to insecurity, but concentrate and devote all its efforts and resources towards the development of the area, and in no distance time Eleme will see what is called real development and transformation.  

High Chief Ollorwi Osaro

E-mail: ollorwiosaro@gmail.com

Website: www.ollorwi.com.ng

Tel.: +234 8036694027 

MY RELATION DIED

The caption might have provoked several thoughts in you. Perhaps wondering who died, where the death occur and the cause of death, etc. Don’t panic! The issue under discussion here is not about who died but how we, the people of Eleme take care of our relations while living and how we cater for them when they died; i.e. how we provide for their lifeless body; corpse or dead body.

The phrase, “My Relation Died” is common in Eleme today not because of the negative impact of pollution necessitated by the activities of oil and gas exploration and exploitation companies but by the way and manner we provide for ourselves. Do we value the person or his corpse? Do we do everything humanly possible to give our relations comfortable/acceptable standard of living, just as we do when he died, to give him a befitting burial?

The Eleme man is proud to announce the dead of his relation and to broadcast the type of burial arrangements put in place for him to show how wealthy he is but never bother under the condition in which the man lived and died. However, when the person was living nobody helped him; he was like someone without relations. He was jobless, helpless and hopeless throughout his lifetime but have relations occupying managerial positions in various organisations; he lived a poor man with a dilapidated building that must be renovated and painted to make it look nice and lay him in state in the house that he never enjoyed while living. A well-furnished bed was provided for his corpse, his corpse is dressed nicely and a female relation sits closely to dry away flies. Worst still, the parcel/piece of land(s) he refused to sell and use the proceeds to rehabilitate the dilapidated house or build a new one and live comfortably with perhaps family, hoping that things will change for better will be sold at giveaway price just to raise money for his burial. What honour for the corpse.

His relations, paternal and maternal, (egbá nsĩ bãrã egbá nnwɛ) that neither helped him nor care for him during his lifetime now surfaces from all nook and craning of Eleme to put things in order to give him a befitting burial. They will end up singing his praise. After all, don’t talk bad of the dead!

During the burial of this man who probably was killed by severe frustration, hunger and lack of care, his rich relations will gather to provide enough food and drinks for the whole community and celebrate his death for at least seven days unending. What a people we have turned out to be. How did we get here? Elemes hitherto were their brother’s keeper, showing genuine love and hospitality. Help is given even without asking. Elemeness was uppermost in the mind of the Eleme Man.

What is Elemeness? Elemeness is the Eleme man concern for the good and welfare of fellow Eleme man. It involves brotherly love. It is Eleme man doing everything humanly possible to put smiles on the face of fellow Eleme man. Yesterday, building of house was through communal efforts, food was an element of hospitality. Owe nja was common; that is, invitation to eat food was a practice across Eleme. The rich helps the poor get rich. Friend encourage friend to take yam title. Ndele is a standard that all women aspire to reach in their lifetime. It is a title of fame and honour. Ndele is a requirement for the conferment of the prestigious title of Emere Owa. The people of Eleme rejoice together and mourn together. They share their feelings, hopes, and fears together. They keep each other’s back.

All these uniting factors have been eroded by the flood of distrust, disunity, hatred, individualism and greed. These factors have alienated us from our roots, culture and tradition; and alter our value system for the worse.

The fear that helping your relation get gainfully employed will jeopardize you at your place of work does not hold water. Again, the fear that extending golden opportunity to your relation will provide him avenue to gossip you or reveal your personal or family secrets are all fallacy. A tree can never make a forest.

Let us learn from the Ibos who have a universally acclaimed special way of empowering youths; or the Hausa-Fulani and Yoruba who understand how to plant their people here and there; or the Ogonis who know how build communities wherever they find themselves. In fact, once an Ogoni man enters a place and finds it good, he builds a community by planting his people all around there. Why can’t Eleme man help Eleme man instead of waiting for the day to say, “My Relation Died”

Importance of Childhood Life in Eleme Culture

Importance of Childhood Life Celebration in Eleme Culture

Introduction

Celebration is a special enjoyable event that people organize because something pleasant has happened or because it is someone’s birthday or anniversary. The celebration of something is praise and appreciation which is given to it. In Eleme culture, all of a child’s milestones and major accomplishments are celebrated and this gives the child a sense of achievement, and offers a widow for rewarding the child for a job well done. The life of the Eleme child is eventful. The Eleme culture have a process to carefully recognise each of the events, identify it, appreciate it, celebrate it and award it from cradle to grave. The people of Eleme celebrates birth, naming, sitting, crawling, talking, teething, dedication, walking, hunting, socialisation, graduation, marriage, coronation, conferment, promotion, anniversary, death, among others.  

The people of Eleme also celebrate and shower gifts on their family member and friend who join association (ogbo) and unveil/launch their group (chusɛ ogbo), song and dance, clothe, masquerade, and so on. This is captured in the adage, “Ɔnɛ Osila aka nyɛ nje rēɛ je Èkpété. Someone without mother’s first daughter will not dance Èkpété. Èkpété is a special musical presentation and energetic dance that brings people together from far and near. The style is exciting waist and footwork danced bear footed. It attracts presentation of different types of gifts to the celebrants (who are members of the group) by family members and friends.   The reason for this proverb is that if you have no relations no matter how good your dance steps are no one will be at the town square, venue of the celebration, to present you gift.   

In fact, since the beginning of time, the people of Eleme have given high priority towards the commemoration of special events in the life of the child. Every major events and achievements in the life of the Eleme Child is celebrated and is culturally designed to appreciate and reward the child. Each event or achievement offers the Eleme Child an opportunity to be treated to showers of gifts for accomplishing something challenging in life and it enables the adult family and friends to share in the joy of that accomplishment.

Special events like childbirth, naming, teething, walking and so on do lead up to/with great gusto. The Eleme culture and tradition developed its own unique ways of honouring special occasions in the life of the child from the beginning of time. These are direct products of our cultural background, history, and even religious beliefs. Few among these celebrations are discussed below:

1.     Childbirth Celebration

In Eleme culture the birth of a child is greeted with jubilation. Childbirth is considered the most important event in family life. Experienced traditional midwives are responsible for delivering babies. They help to deliver the baby. After delivery, the birth of the baby is celebrated. Family members, friends, well-wishers, men, women, boys and girls from far and near join in the ceremony that followed the birth of a baby, and the child’s father was expected to give a feast for all members of the clan in recognition of the powers of womanhood. This celebration is known as Birth Celebration (Agba Emásã). It entails drinking, singing and dancing. Some family have also added music and foods to solidify the birth celebration. Powder is also shared and rubbed freely by all. The women usually grace the day with the following song and dancing:

Seɛ onwi nje, amɛ ɛka nɛɛ (chɛrɛ) poida onwi?

This, when interpreted into English Language means:

If the child is not there, who will give (rub) child’s powder? 

Rubbing of the child’s powder is the climax of the childbirth celebration. This is usually extended to outside the immediate compound to include neighbourhoods.

2.     Naming Ceremony

Eleme tradition vests the responsibility of naming a child on the father. Where the father is deceased, his next-of-kin takes over the responsibility. Eleme father don’t just get up one morning to name his child. He contemplates for months, trying on different names to see which one will suit the child’s purpose, bundle and dreams. This is because the Eleme father knows that in traditional Eleme culture names have real meaning and power. Eleme names are not mere tags to distinguished one person from another or labels to define, classify, or compare persons or things but an expression of the nature of what the entity represents or stands for. They tell the family stories and exhibit the hopes and expectations of the parents concerning their children’s future. Every child in Eleme has at least a native and a Christian name.

Because it is generally believed that names are like spirits which would like to live out their meanings, parents do a thorough search before giving names to their children. Naming ceremonies are performed with the same meticulous care, generally by the father. Symbolic of the hopes, expectations and prayers of the parents for the new baby, drink (mmi), food (nja), water (mmu), palm oil (nnɔɔ Eleme), salt (nlό) each have a place and special meaning in the world-view of the people of Eleme. For instance, drink (mmi) represents celebration, and the prayer of the parents is that their baby’s life will be celebrated in the world and beyond. Drinks are usually served, singing and dancing rends the atmosphere as people from far and near are invited to participate in the naming ceremony. Some families are known to have brought life band to entertain guests; others use deejays (DJs) while others hire the services of local singers to grace the occasion. 

3.     Teething Ceremony

It is a time honoured tradition in Eleme culture to throw a party for your little ones as soon as they cut their first tooth. When the baby shows his first teeth, his parents, relations and well-wishers will gather around the baby as he sits in front well dressed to celebrate the milestone. Each person will struggle to see the baby’s teeth, enticing the child with gifts of all sorts so that he will smile for his teeth to be seen and admired. Hence, it is generally known in Eleme that “You cannot see the teeth of a child with an empty hand”. Baby will be encouraged to walk in front of someone who wants to see his teeth while holding baby’s hands. As the baby is cheered to laugh and expose his teeth there will be loud ovation and offer of lots of encouragement and praise.  

4.     Walking Ceremony

Walking is a major developmental leap for babies, and parents are often anxious about when it will happen. Every baby learns to walk at his own pace.  When the parents watch and see that the child has make few steps unaided, it is assumed that the child has walked and fit to be celebrated.  The parents will procure three or more heads of coconut, depending on the number of children invited, two big rackets of Awala and four or more sticks of dried Obĩi (Mudskipper). The coconut will be shelled and cut into small pieces. The Awala and Obĩi are cut into small pieces and mixed with the pieces of coconut. These will all be put into a basket. By this time the whole children in the neighbourhoods, as many as is possible, are assembled with the celebrant.

The elder of that compound who has been briefed beforehand will carry the basket with both hands and addressing the toddler who is standing in front of him, recites the following:

Èbé era nninini  chãa  ochɛyo tãmarũ.Ka chãrĩ wɛ oju obãrãrũ okuũ

Chã sigwã ɔka, chã sigwã echii. Ebo akɔrɔrũ ɔmɛ.

This, when interpreted into English Language means:

“As from today you should walk steadfastly. Do not walk and relapse to creeping again.

Walk to the farm; walk to the market. Enjoy a long life.”

After this recitation, the elder will then turn towards all the children who are now standing expectedly and tell then to widen the circle and prepare to pick the contents of the basket. He will raise the basket up and down a number of times saying:

Ɔnɛ Ebu, abu chue!

(“Who struggles to pick, pick and take!”)

And the children will respond, “Aaye!” (Yesoo!)

After ensuring that the children attention has been obtained the elder finally throws out all the content high up so that when they fall, each child will struggle to pick as much of the contents as he can. The agile ones gather so much of the fish and coconut while the weaker ones pick whatever may be left on the floor. This ceremony is known as Obuenu O’o Onwi.

5.     First Market Ceremony

The first day that a child walks unaided to the village market unaided is celebrated. This ceremony is figuratively called, Oke Enu O’o Onwi. The Eleme culture acknowledges the significant of this milestone achievement of the child and celebrates it. 

When the child walks to the market unaided his mother makes him to sit at a comfortable in the market while she buys something for the child to eat. She buys a big fish like dried barracuda, catfish, snapper, or Tasty-Shynose and other ingredients which she hides.

At home, the fish will be brought out and showed to the child as his Prize for walking unaided to the market and back. The fish will be used to cook Loloo Mbalo and the entire head of the fish will be given to the child. Family and friends are given pieces of the fish and the Loloo Mbalo as they eat and drink to the child’s achievement.          

6.     Hunting Celebration

The Eleme child is taught the use of bow and arrow and latter catapult and animal traps.  He begins by shooting lizards and fixed targets like oranges and pawpaw fruits. He is taught fishing by his friends. When the male child kills his first bird or animal, it is cooked and cut into small pieces which are distributed to family and friends, distance relations and people far and near. They are informed that this is the bird or animal, he has killed. His parents will give him one piece of nice cloth each; while other persons will give him gifts of clothes, money and so on. The day is usually marked with singing and drinking to celebrate the attainment of the milestone.

7.     Food Celebration (Ogbo Nja)

The people of Eleme don’t just eat food for eating sake. Food must be of the right quality and quantity; it must result in a stable and adequate nutrition for proper growth and development. The Eleme culture has developed a system known as Ogbo Nja to build oneness among the Eleme people and promote proper feeding and ensure communality. Ogbo Nja is food carnival.  Most Eleme festivals revolved around foods because they are fulfilled farmers and they use food to build bridges of relationship, cement brotherliness, encourage socialisation, enhance cooperation and enhance communality among others.  Other prominent food celebrations in Eleme include but not limited to Agba Esaa Otɛbɛ Enu and,Okor Esaa..

When a child grows to the age of seven (7) years and beyond, he is encouraged to participate in the Ogbo Nja ceremony in which small groups of children from within and outside ones immediate community are brought together as friends that have to cooperate with one another as they grow up.

Ogbo Nja is one of the most popular festivals celebrated across Eleme. Although people of all ages, sex, social status, or religious inclination do participate; the festival is met for children and new brides. It is celebrated annually on Ͻkͻͻ between 13 and 17 July, depending on the position of the Moon. The feast is celebrated in two phases. Phase one is called Ͻkͻͻ Obibai Etoo and is celebrated by female.

The second phase which is marked by male the next day is known as Mma Agba Okundo.

In Eleme, yams, cocoyam and other foods items are reserved after planting for the Ogbo Nja festival. It is believed that only very good farmers can reserve the quantity and quality of yams, cocoyam, etc. that is required for Ogbo Nja at the time of the year. The fish used for preparing Ogbo Nja meal are those valued by people of Eleme for major entertainments and they include: Obui (Catfish), Nda (Tasty-Shynose), Njijoi (Snapper), Omεε (Barracuda), Ekoko (Stingray), among others.

Ogbo Nja is specifically dedicated to children and new brides. It is celebrated with friends in pair. Children arrange for their friends to visit them to participate in the annual celebration. New brides also seek for their partners to take active part in the occasion.

The occasion provides an avenue for clearing the house of old yams and cocoyam in anticipation of new ones. It also affords parents and in-laws opportunity to present gifts to children and new brides in appreciation of their assistance during planting and weeding. To be counted as good children and be presented with varieties of gifts and words of blessings, children exercise maximum obedience and discipline in anticipation Ogbo Nja festival.

In the morning of day one occasion, children usually wake as early as 4.30am to clear the compounds and town square in readiness for the celebration. The children will also fetch water into all available pots and containers. The atmosphere is usually charged as evidence of Ogbo Nja festive period.

Parents will assemble their children and present them with gifts of clothes and wrapper. Gifts will also be sent to children of extended relations and friends to commemorate the year’s Ogbo Nja.

The recipients of these new clothes would wear them and go visiting friends and relations to display their gifts across Eleme. As the children move from compound to compound and from community to community filled with happiness, they receive words of encouragement and praise for being obedient and hardworking; and promising them of greater gifts next year. The new brides are also presented with new dresses and wrappers by their husbands, father-in-law and mother-in-law, etc.

That evening the women will gather at the town square dressed in their best and newest attires to make a feast, singing and dancing to Egbe Mba music till night falls. By 6p.m. or thereabout, the women will return to their various houses to dish out food to their visiting guests and family members. The food for this day is cocoyam.

The celebration is designed in such a way that children move from compound to compound and from community to community, eating and rejoicing. At the end of the day, they will return home with wrapped fish as proof of participation in Ogbo Nja feast of that day. The new brides will also do the same.

The day two celebration starts with the same preparation. It is the men’s turn to present gifts to children and others who were loyal, obedient and hardworking during the year according to his assessments. The food for the second day celebration is yam, which will be cooked and eaten pounded and/or sliced. The women will continue their music, singing and dancing at the town square. Later in the evening, the men will gather at the town square to eat together in groups, thereby bringing the Ogbo Nja festival of that year to an end

These and many other childhood ceremonies which are celebrated on an individual or community basis reinforce and promote sense of community, love, joy, reverence, success, unity and brotherhood. It gives the child a sense of achievement and it is a great way of rewarding the child for a job well done. Besides, it is important that you celebrate your child’s milestones and accomplishments. Significantly too, because most of these celebrations involve almost all the children, their parents and other adult family members and friends in the community they are not just celebrated for the fun of celebrating but to:

1.     Cultivate/inculcate a Sense of Community

They offer opportune times to bond with our families and friends and well-wishers and a chance to connect with those we love and care about on a deeper and more profound level.

2.     Promote a sense of achievement and encourage exploit

These celebrations spur our children to greater achievements and propel them to make positive exploits; to accomplish those milestones worthy of celebration and praise. Then criminality and all forms of anti-social behaviours were frowned at and industry was cherished.

3.     Instil a sense of meaning and significance to our lives as a people

The unique practices that highlight important milestones such as childbirth, naming, walking etc. all serve an important purpose. Participating in the customary rites (rubbing of powder, singing, dancing, drinking or children struggling among themselves to get pieces of coconut and fish during Oken Enu O’o Onwi) connects us to the significance of the role that such occasion plays within the grand scheme of our lives. It instils a sense of appreciation for the gift of life.

4.     Create lasting fond memories 

The human mind tends to recall memories that carry a high emotional charge to them. When we commemorate a special occasion in the life of our baby, we are essentially placing a mental bookmark on the child’s experience, thereby making it easier to remember it in the future. The photos, videos and other forms of memorabilia from those occasions serve as triggers that children can use to re-live those pleasant experiences and achievements in the future.

5.     Add fun and excitement to our lives

TheseCelebrations can be incredibly fun and provides children and their parents with the perfect opportunity to engage in the joys of life such dance, song, food, play and laughter.

6.     Enables children take their place in the circle of life.

They are not only ushered into the world but celebrated at every point of achievement. Besides,when we take the time to celebrate these events that were cherish and celebrated by our ancestors in the yesteryearswe are essentially connecting with our humanity and the commonality that we share with all those who have been long gone before us.

The modern Eleme family’s carefree life of excluding themselves from participating in gatherings that pay homage to the important milestones in their children’s life is robbing Eleme  younger generation sense of achievement, community, love, peace, cooperation and fun that comes with these celebrations.

REVIEW OF THE BOOK TITLED “ELEME COUNTING SYSTEM” WRITTEN BY CHIEF OSARO M. OLLORWI, LAUNCHED TODAY SATURDAY 29TH JUNE, 2019 BY CHIEF (ELDER) ISRAEL E. GOMBA-ABBEY JP, PRESIDENT-GENERAL, O-E’LA OBOR ELEME.

Protocol.

I, Chief (Elder) Israel E. Gomba-Abbey JP, President-General of O-E’la Obor Eleme worldwide, am delighted to be nominated to review this book titled “Eleme Counting System”, written by our dear brother Chief Osaro Ollorwi, which is being launched today for use in Eleme and beyond her shores.

First and foremost, let me commend the publisher, Chief Ollorwi for venturing into this virgin and unentered necessary area of our development. I want to also thank the organizers of the program for the reality of the launch of this book today. The book is so small in volume and therefore qualifies to be called PAMPHLET, is an interesting piece of work designed to put Eleme in its place amongst the comity of nations with well-developed system of counting. O-E’la Obor Eleme therefore identifies with this painstaking work designed to not only save our cultural identity from extinction, but has promoted and presented the Eleme as an entity with a well developed counting system to the outside world.

Against this backdrop therefore, I will like to review it chapter by chapter, beginning with chapter one. Chapter one of this pamphlet sought not only to define  Number as entity, as a mathematical object used in counting, measuring, labeling, ordering and coding, but dealt sufficiently with the importance of number in our daily lives  and its three dimensional uses in science, social and economic endeavours. For example, the daily budgeting and spending, the qualification of goods & services, labour hourly value, and measuring of weights quantities and amounts of money, solid, liquid and gases etc., are all denominated and represented in number. This chapter most importantly, brings to mind the often forgotten dispensable place of number in our daily life.

Chapter two is an integration of the fractional components of the whole to a whole or unit up to tens, hundreds, and thousands up to multiples of millions to quadrillion in Eleme counting system and style. This systematic and coherent development and presentation of the counting system in Eleme language and culture, not only offer possibilities of expressing both scientific, mathematical, trade and commerce equations and their solutions in Eleme language, but made it so effortless.

Chapter three offers a deeper insight into the counting of objects, liquids and gases that are presented or available or existing in their natural or technical form. For example, counting in piece, unit, bunch, bundle, cluster, pack, basin, box, jar, cylinder and basket etc., are presented in Eleme language, which validates the completeness of Eleme language and culture as an integral entity.

However, my observation is, part from one or two typographical errors observed, the work of the publisher is commendable. One other observation and concern is whether the work has received the nod and consensus of both the Eleme Language Centre and Authorities in custody of our values and tradition. Otherwise, I call on persons with the flare and skills for writing to come up with more literary work on our unique culture, history, and tradition and other areas begging for attention.

I also call on the Eleme Local Government Council to partner with the Eleme Language Centre in order to harness the plethora of work done so far, with a view to effecting the teaching, learning, reading and writing of Eleme language in our Primary and Secondary Schools. I call on the council to also partner to groom and encourage more of our young people into writing and publishing.

I use this opportunity to call on companies in Eleme to invest in the people of Eleme and Eleme culture through sponsorship and promotion of literary arts and writing amongst Eleme students and scholars as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to us as Host Community.

Finally, I wish to use this opportunity to thank HRH, Chief Dr. Appolus Chu and his Foundation, and Elano Investments Limited for their Investments in this area of our livelihood which is already counting millions. By your work, there is hope for Eleme and Eleme shall be free soon and very soon. God bless you all, and God bless Eleme Land.

Thank You.

AMƆƆ ƐMƐRƐ OSARO OLLORWI, ƆNƐ EBO ELEME LANGUAGE CENTER Ͻ’Ͻ OCHŨSƐ NSÃ “ELEME COUNTING SYSTEM”ALA ƆTƆϽ ELEME, ALODE ƐDƐRƐ ACHU-RE-ESIRA’O EGETA RƐ Ɔ’Ɛ Ɛ’ϽRϽ OSO AGBA 2019

 

Ɔwajuiye!

Niniini be ɛgbɛrɛ egeta nɛɛ oku Eleme. Ebe ɛbɛrɛ egeta tĩrũ enu re ka nasã ɔ’ɔni nnini.Ɔbari abere jiɛnsi wee sai egeta rii nnini bãrã bũrekeɛ ɔnanaa bai titɛ ebo olo wee puma nɛɛi. Anyɔ ana ɛdaamɔ ɛbai rɛ wa kukula ɔbɔ ɔ’ɔni. Mma wii owe ɛdaamɔ obaa. Ɔwajuiyɛ!

Nwi mga chu ntS nnɔɔ wimà owé Ɛmɛrɛ Gregory Ollor bãrã ɛdaamɔ oku rɛT kara jɔɛnwɛ bT ete. Mma wii owe! Mga chu ntS nnɔ wimà owe ɔnɛ re eka bT Eleme Lokal Gɔfámɛt, Hon. Barr. Philip Okparaji. Mma wii owe Ɛmɛrɛ Eleme King Dr Philip Osaro Obele. Mmawii owe ɛmɛrɛ ɔ’oɛ ɔ’chũsɛ nsã nnini, Ɛmɛrɛ Gomba Okanje; mma wii owe ɔnɛ ochurɛ O’E’La Obor Eleme,  Chief Elder Israel Abbey; mma wii owe Ɛgbɛrɛ Ɛmɛrɛ Okori Eleme, King Dr Amb. Appolus Chu; mma wii owe Ɛmɛrɛ Ͻwa Eleme HRM (Mrs) Evenly Ada Gokpa; mma wii owe ebũrɛkɛɛ ndo bãrã mba rɛT ojui ju nwɛi ɔkarũ ochũsɛ nsã nnɔɔ. Ͻwajuiyɛ!

Mga chu ntS nnɔɔ kama ɛdaamɔ oku ogbo Eleme Language Center re ke rã jijii tĩrũ be enaa kɔɔ ekã Eleme achã nɛɛ nsi. Mma ka ɛdaamɔ oku rɛ ɛnwɛsɛrĩi ɔbɔrũ be emɔɛ kɔɔ o’ĩntĩtɛ nnɔɔ abã ako. Mma kɔɔ, ɔwanaienu! Ɔbari akásɛiye!

Eleme jũjũ nwɛ oso ɛkarabee enu. Eleme tSa ajɛ ekarabee ɔnanàá rĩi nnyɛ naarĩ rɛT ɛdɔ akaa. Obui bãrã onu obui dɔrũ be echichia oso ebo bĩi nnyɛ kara chã nɛɛ nsĩ wee obui ka bãrirũ. Ogũrũ obui oku Eleme dɔrũ echichia jɔnwɛ be enu ka chãri.

RɛT sɛT nsã nnɔɔ, “Eleme Counting System” be emɔɛ kɔɔ oku Eleme naa gbo mpɛm-mpɛm onu obui rɛT ɛchuɛ nama ogũrũ enu tStS be ekèré ekèré ojui nnyɛ kara naã; jijima oku rɛT ɛchuari obui bErE onu obui namaa enu tɛmɛ odo enu, ofu echii ɔwa, ogbi enu, ɔchã ochira bãrã nnãrã nnãrã.

Ekã Eleme bãrã Eleme Language Center

Ekã Eleme be ekã rɛT Ɔbari chu nɛɛi ɛbai rɛT ke re be oku Eleme kɔɔ nnyɛ achuri nyamaansi, wee re chuɛ nama ɛdaamɔ enu. A’mmamarã agba 1970, Eleme Language Center dɔnsi bee ɛmɔɛ kɔɔ Ekã Eleme achã nɛɛ nsi wee chu o’ĩntĩtɛ nyɛ ajɛ ogũrũ ekã oso eNigeria bãrã oso ebo. RɛT wai na ajɔ ntito, wee ɔbɔ bai dɔdɔ ra rũ. RɛT wai sTɛ wee chusɛ M’I’A OSŨNA bãrã NNYIMƐSÕ bãrã ƐSÕ ELERA. Ogũrũ nsã nnɔɔ dɔri oso eChɔɔchi bai.Rida bai re ele bãrã rɛT ɔbɛrɛ dɔri oso eSukulu. Ewo eka eRida rɛT ke re wai sTɛi wee re ka lesɛ adT kɔɔ oka nwɛsɛi ɔbɔrũ bee ɛkTT chusɛ beri: Ekã Eleme, Nsã Ɔdama Ɔnɔɔnɔ Aa Bii, Nsã Ɔdama Elabi Abee Ogũrũ Enu bãrã ogũrũ nnãrã nsã rɛT ɔbɔ dɔrirũ ntito yaba.

Abɔrũ ɛnaa kɔɔ rɛT nyã kɔɔ Eleme Language Center rɛT gbogbo ɔtɔɔ ntito rɛT ɛwiiɛ ɔ’ɔ ntito (office), bãrã ogũrũ enu ntito tɛmɛ eTebulu, ɛgãrã, kSmputa bãrã ogũrũ nnãrã enu rɛT abɔrũ etSɛ ɔ’ɔ ntito. Soso, ɛgbɛrɛ ɛgbɛrɛ enwinwi Eleme nwɛsɛi ɔbɔrũ Eleme Language Center.

Nwi mga ka ɛdaamɔ obaa kɔɔ ɔwanaienu!

Ɔwajuiyɛ!

Ɛmɛrɛ Osaro Ollorwi

Write

Chairman, Eleme Language Center

www.ollorwi.com.ng

08036694027

Government Position on Eleme Language

Government on all levels have expressed concern for the near extinction of Eleme Language and are determine to revive Eleme Language and encourage the teaching and learning of the Language.

Federal Government Position on Eleme Language

The National Policy on Education explicitly states that the medium of instruction in Pre-Primary, Primary and Junior Secondary Schools will be “principally the mother-tongue or the language or the immediate community”, emphasis mine.

Also, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Council on Education has approved the Orthography of Eleme Language as standardize system of writing Eleme Language with the ultimate aim of stimulating the production of materials to be used in Schools for reading, writing, literature and learning Eleme Language.

Rivers State Government Position on Eleme Language

The Rivers State Education (Teaching of Indigenous Languages) Law 2003 provides for the compulsory teaching of indigenous languages in all Pre-Primary, Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Rivers State, Eleme Language inclusive.

The Eleme Local Government recently, during the widely attended Education Stakeholders’ Meeting directed Schools in Eleme Local Government to include Eleme Language in their curriculum as a compulsory subject for all pupils/students.

Materials for Teaching and Learning of Eleme Language

The Orthography of Eleme Language has been written, approved and gazetted by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the ORTHOGRAPHIES OF NIGERIAN LANGUAGES MANUAL X, 2011. The Curriculum of Eleme Language has also passed through the rigorous process of writing, review and assessment. Today, Eleme Language has to its credit some published books to aid teaching and learning in Schools.

Presently, five other books in Eleme Language have been written, reviewed and are begging for publishing sponsorship. The Eleme Research Foundation in collaboration with Eleme Language Center and Inside Eleme Newspaper has opened a Widow for the formal Study of Eleme Language. The opportunity is here. What are you waiting for? Register Now. Registration is on-going.

For Sponsorship, Donations and Assistance or Details Contact:

Chief Osaro Ollorwi

Chairman,

Eleme Language Center

+234 (0) 8036694027, +234 (0) 8096811012, +234 (0) 8081014515

e-mail: ollorwiosaro@gmail.com

REPORT OF THE ELEME CULTURE AND TRADITION COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE O-E’LA OBOR ELEME (THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ELEME PEOPLE) ON MONDAY 2ND OCTOBER, 2017

 

Introduction

On Monday 2^nd October, 2017, O-E’la Obor Eleme, the apex social cultural organization of Eleme People worldwide, held a stakeholders’ meeting at the Eleme Civic Center, Ogale wherein the Eleme Culture and Tradition Committee was appointed.

Constitution of the Eleme Culture and Tradition Committee

The Committee was constituted as follows:

1. High Chief Osaro M. Ollorwi                                     –           Chairman
2. Rev. Canon Ransom G. O. Ngoke, JP                        –           Secretary
3. Chief Obarijima Osaronu                                            –           Member
4. Chief Evang. Jonathan Lekwa                               –           Member
5. Rev. Samuel O. Nwafor                                            –           Member
6. Mr Nwafor John                                                        –           Member
7. Chief Mrs Martha       Egbe                                      –           Member
8. Mr Sampson Onungwe Eppie                                  –           Member
9. Evang. Obele Nwoke Samuel                                   –           Member
10. Evang. Sunday Anasemi Obele                                –           Member
11. Chief Mrs Roseline E. Ngobe                                    –           Member
12. Rev. Prof. Raphael Ngochindo                                 –           Member

Term of Reference

The terms of reference of the Committee include the following:

1. To identify the causes of the neglect and abuse of Eleme culture and tradition and consequent social decay.
2. To draw up modalities for social reorientation and cultural revival.
3. To harmonise and streamline the functions, powers and jurisdictions of traditional leadership institutions in Eleme.
4. To make recommendations in the light of its findings in order to turn Eleme around to take her place in the comity of culturally endowed ethnic nationalities.

Consequently, the Committee swung into action. The deliberation and consultation were elaborate and far reaching.

Findings

The Committee observes that culture is a society’s shared and socially transmitted ideas, values and perceptions, which are used to make sense of experience and generate behaviour and are reflected in that behaviour.

In view of the above, the Eleme Culture and Tradition Committee make the following findings.

1. The Committee notes that the major causes of social decay in Eleme is the neglect of Eleme Culture and tradition.
2. The Committee observes that Eleme Language, the medium through which Eleme Culture is to be upheld, preserved, communicated and transmitted from one generation to another is at the verge of extinction.
3. The Committee detects that rapid industrialisation and modernization have painfully tore Eleme people from established cultural values.
4. The Committee identifies that the loss of virtually all the good in our heritage, the rape of Eleme culture, and promotion of cultural dislocation in Eleme is responsible for the basterdization of our traditional institutions and the visible abuse of the process of selection, installation and dethronement of Traditional Rulers in Eleme.
5. Finally, the Committee ascertains that Eleme traditional marriage process, sports, recreation activities, social cohesion and values that once sustain and promote love, unity and cooperation among Eleme people have come under persistent attacks by both our surrounding neighbours and stranger elements in our midst who are bent on making us to lose touch with our identity and indigenous Eleme system of thoughts and values.

Recommendations

Culture as a society’s shared and socially transmitted ideas, values and perceptions can be observed through language, ancestral origin, occupation, marriage, social classes, burials, music, nutrition, gender bias, and other factors. Because culture is shared and transmitted through learning and helps shape behaviours and beliefs, we make bold to recommend the following as way forward for E;leme:

1.     Eleme Language

1. The Eleme Local Government Council should through appropriate legislation put up a framework to encourage the development of Eleme Language; and make it compulsory for our children by firmly adopting it as a medium of instruction throughout the Pre-Primary, Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Eleme.
2. Parents should be encouraged to speak and teach their children Eleme Language.
3. Eleme Local Government Council, O-E’la Obor Eleme, Corporate Organizations and Wealthy Individuals in Eleme to organize and/or sponsor debates, essay competitions in Eleme Language as well as donate trophies and prizes for competition in Eleme Traditional Sports.
4. Eleme Language to be adopted and enforced as medium of communication in all gatherings of Eleme people such as meetings, marriage ceremonies, chieftaincy ceremonies, burials and so on. The Eleme Legislative Assembly should be encouraged to adopt Eleme Language as official language for transaction of business at the floor of the house.
5. The Eleme Language Center should be encouraged and empowered financially to write and publish books in Eleme Language, train both teachers and learners of Eleme Language and develop the language in keeping with changing times.
6. The Committee rejects the suggestion of adopting the Latin Alphabets for writing Eleme Language and recommends the continuous use of the Eleme Orthography which has been approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria and gazetted.

2.     Sport

Sport is a strong unifying factor and builder of both the human mind and body. Eleme culture recognises the importance of sport and promotes several sports to unite the people, establish love and cooperation amongst the people. Eleme sports also test endurance and sustain healthy body. The Committee notes that there is urgent need to resuscitate the following dying traditional sports:

1. Aken – This is an outdoor sport for men. The Committee recommends the introduction of female version and suggest the introduction of prizes to replace killing of goat and other rituals.
2. Ngoro – This is an indoor sport for men.
3. Ngo – This is both indoor and outdoor sport for men and women.
4. Katanka – This is an outdoor sport for able bodied men. The Committee recommends the introduction of women version in terms of competition for prizes.

3.     Recreation

In addition to the above sporting activities, the Eleme culture recognises and promotes the following recreational events among others:

1. Eloi – Stories and songs are instrumental in retaining languages and culture. Folktales and stories are usually told in the evening to entertain adults and children alike.
2. Owu – Masks and masquerades are important elements of culture.
3. Ogbo – Adults and Youths should be encouraged to form cultural groups (drama, dance, musical troupes, etc.) to entertain. They can also make a living by so doing.
4. Ogbo Nja, etc.

4.     Ogbo Nja

The Committee observes the lack of love, unity and cooperation among Eleme people and recommends the restoration of Ogbo Nja Festival to promote brotherly love, unity, cooperation and relationship among Eleme people. Ogbo Nja can be celebrated as part of Christmas or New Year activities on 25^th and 26^th December or as part of the Eleme Cultural Week Celebration in October.

5.     Eje

The Committee notes that Eleme dance such as Eje Ekpete, Eje Piopiopioo, Eje Alikirija, Eje Agala, Ngelem, Tamkpe Eje, etc. teaches social patterns and values, and help people work, mature, praise, or criticise while celebrating festivals, funerals, competing, reciting history, proverbs and poetry.

6.     Eleme Cultural Week

The Committee recommends Eleme Cultural Week to be held annually in the third week of October where communities and individuals can compete for various prizes in sports like Aken, Katanka, Ngoro, Ngo, O’ū Okãi, Ofe Mbo Eta ei among others. The Committee also recommends Debate and Essay Competitions in Eleme Language to be included in the weeklong competition. The Committee further recommend the creation of a body to be known as Eleme Kultural Organization (EKO) to champion the rebirth of all aspects of Eleme Culture.

7.     Economic Empowerment/Wealth Transfer

The Committee notes that Eleme Culture has an established process of economic empowerment and wealth transfer known as Ndele which has hitherto transformed the lives of many families and recommends its revival as an attainment for social recognition and status conferment among our female folks. By this, no one can assume the title of Emere Owa overnight without being formally confer with it, after due process and especially meeting the minimum requirements.

8.     Traditional Rulers

The Committee observes that one of the institutions that have been subjected to abuse in Eleme is the traditional institution. It is disheartening to point out that Traditional Rulers are selected, installed and dethroned frequently without regard to the custom and tradition of Eleme people. Worse still, those prohibited from taking chieftaincy titles do so with severe consequences for the people and land of Eleme.

• Offices of Oneh Nkiken Eleme and Oneh Nkporon Eleme 

 

1. 1. Those to be selected and appointed into these offices must be vast in Eleme culture and tradition, literate with good background and must be members of Ogbo Nkporon Eleme in good standing.
   2. The Committee discovers that the reverend offices of Oneh Nkiken Eleme and Oneh Nkporon Eleme are non-existence or dormant and therefore recommends that these offices, which are vital for the effective functioning of Ogbo Nkporon Eleme be constituted and made functional by Ogbo Nkporon Eleme.
   3. The Committee also recommends the same arrangement for Nchia and Odido Districts of Eleme.
   4. Ebubu and Onne Clans should also consider having functional Oneh Nkiken Ebubu and Oneh Nkporon Ebubu as well as Oneh Nkiken Onne and Oneh Nkporon Onne.

9.     Qualification for Selection and Installation of Traditional Ruler

The Committee recommends that the person to be selected and installed as   Traditional Ruler must have the following qualifications:

1. Must possess a minimum of WASC or its equivalent.
2. Must demonstrate relevant knowledge of the custom and tradition of Eleme people.
3. Must be a Member of Ogbo Nkporon of the Community, Clan, District or Eleme.
4. Must not be somebody found guilty by Ogbo Nkporon for witchcraft.
5. Must not be somebody who had been convicted for felony.
6. Must not be somebody found guilty by competent court or Ogbo Nkporon for stealing or misappropriation of public fund and had been properly dethroned or expelled by the appropriate Council of Chiefs.
7. Must not be someone who had been found guilty by Ogbo Nkporon for betrayal of the people of Eleme or any part thereof.

10.Dethronement of Traditional Ruler

The Committee finds that in all communities and clans of Eleme if the Traditional Ruler commits an offence, he is suspended from office and his function delegated to Oneh Nkiken (Land Priest and Traditional Prime Minister). The Traditional Ruler is then tried and if found guilty, a fine is imposed on him. He is expected to pay the fine within a time limit, normally three to four months. Once the fine is paid, the Traditional Ruler is reinstated; failure to comply leads to deposition.

The Committee notes that the following offences are viewed seriously in Eleme and can lead to deposition of a Traditional Ruler without suspension.

1. Witchcraft
2. Stealing
3. Murder

The Committee also observes that these crimes are heinous in nature and can warrant the dethronement of a Traditional Ruler where he has been found guilty by a court of law or Ogbo Nkporon on appeal.

11.Marriage

The Committee discovers that the marriage tradition of Eleme people had   been grossly abused and is in total disarray with foreign traditions and behaviours infiltrating every aspects of the system making it difficult for our boys and girls to marry as at when due; our boys inability to marry in Eleme and rising sexual immorality are also traceable to high cost of marriage.

The Committee condemns in strong terms an emerging practice of monetizing Ofe Mbo Eta ei and accompanying drinks and stresses that Ofe Mbo Eta ei is very significant in Eleme marriage culture as it symbolises the beginning of a life-long relationship between two families; the official union of a man and the woman; and importantly, breaking of covenant, a disconnection with the bride’s family and a connection with the husband’s family – her new home. Such goat is killed in the bride’s ancestral shrine to placate or pacify her ancestors and with the drink offer libations and prayers for freedom from problems, barrenness or mishap in her new home, especially in procreation and good fortune and therefore forbidden to be monetized.

The Committee concludes that the Eleme People recognises etaale ekpii oja 4 manilas, equivalent of N100.00k, a she-goat, one big tripod-stand pot of palm wine known as mmi oso ofooro , another one jar of palm wine called akpirikpa mmi nsi opee, a bottle of gin (kaikai) and a token of 1,340 manilas for first daughter and 1,200 manilas for others, equivalent of Thirty-Three Thousand Five Hundred Naira (N33,500.00k) and Thirty Thousand Naira (N30,000.00k) respectively, as pre-requisite for contracting marriage in Eleme.

The Committee therefore observes that the waste known as modern Oja Onu (mutual feeding which has been wrongly construed as “Buying of Mouth”), financial imposition on goat (no matter its size) and unnecessary fines associated with Ofe Mbo Eta ei as well as expensive bride price which are strange to Eleme be eliminated to make our marriage affordable and pocket-friendly.

The Committee recommends that Ogbo Nkporon Eleme, O-E’la Obor Eleme    and Churches in Eleme work out modalities to regulate the cost of marriage in Eleme; delete wasteful activities like elaborate Oja Onu involving setting of canopies, sharing of wrappers to hundreds of people, bridal trains and dance, and cumbersome procedure that increase costs from the system.

Still on marriage, the Committee further recommends for consideration the possibility of Ochu Owa ceremony proceeding Ofe Mbo Eta ei in the evening of the same day to reduce expenses.

Conclusion

We, Members of the Eleme Culture and Tradition Committee wish to express our profound gratitude to the People of Eleme for finding us worthy to serve in the Eleme Culture and Tradition Committee and assure our willingness to be of further service for the peace and development of Eleme should we be called upon to serve again.

 

High Chief Osaro Ollorwi

Chairman

Rev. Canon Ransom G. O. Ngoke, JP

Secretary

WHO ARE YOU

A Paper Presented By High Chief Osaro Ollorwi on the Occasion of Egbalor Cultural Day Celebration on Sunday 1^st October, 2017 at Egbalor Civic Center, Egbalor Ebubu Eleme

“In vain do we build the city if we do not first build the man”, Edwin Markham.

You Are Not A Name But Divine Personality

Mastering who we are has been one of the most difficult tasks facing mankind. In battling to find out who and what we are, many have been misled, destroyed and even killed. Knowing who you are begins with knowing the difference and similarity between your physical body and spiritual you; it means knowing the composition of your body, soul and spirit; the trinity you and properly applying this knowledge for the betterment of humanity. It enables you to distinguish between your NAME (the mere means of physical identification) and your Divine PERSONALITY (the totality of your INNER SELF, the spirit of man which is the lamp of God that searches all the inner depths of his heart).

In attempting to find out who you are, it is necessary you first and foremost KNOW YOUR SELF. You must master, explore and utilize your MIND POWERS in a manner that pleases God. God expects each and every one of us to use the powers of his mind to advance the frontier of creation, add to human comfort and pleasure. Think what the world would have been like in the absence of Light, Motor Vehicles, Aeroplanes, Ships, Information and Communication Technology and other notable discoveries that have dismantle space, subdue distance, overcome time and made the world a global village, advance the frontier of civilization and make life more lovely, enjoyable and pleasurable. It is the human mind that drives those great achievements and breakthroughs. The human mind still holds great opportunities and possibilities for mankind. Join the train! You can be next to be admitted into the Hall of Fame and celebrated!

Dominate Your World

Moses in his narration of creation said rightly that God directed man to fill the earth and subdue it, have dominion over everything .Solomon was emphatic when he held that God takes glory in concealing things but it is to our own glory to search things out. A man’s mind plans his way and God directs his steps. Therefore the mastering of our mind is the first step towards knowing our SELF.

The Human Mind

The Mind is the greatest storehouse and workshop of all discoveries and development of man. Yet the human mind remains one of the greatest challenges facing man as he sojourn through life searching for who he is. This quest had led to the discovery of several religions, believes and what is popularly known now as “path”. From the cave of the early man in prehistoric age, through the Greek world, Egyptian civilisation, Babylon, Rome, the Moors, Athens, Ancient Ebubu Kingdom, the Judea-Christian tradition, and down to the present information and communication technology age the urge to Know Thyself had been on.

Know Your Self

As an individual, have you ever ask yourself who you are? Have you ever ponder who people say you are? How do the society, your friends, parents and siblings see you? Above all, who does God say you are? Have you ever taken the time and necessary efforts to synchronize all these views and perceptions to arrive at who really you are? Are you comfortable with your concept of you? Are you happy with your present state of life? Time may not permit us to answer all these questions, but we will endeavour to deliberate on one or two of them.

To know yourself means to discover your inner self, the God Within You, through reprogramming your consciousness for excellence and success in life. It refers to listening to your innermost vibrations that can help you discover your potentials. It is what David Oyedepo described as “Productive engagements that excite you and pointers to the kind of divine deposits that are on your inside”.   Every man and woman is naturally endowed by God. He did not create any one without a natural talent. Everyone has been provided for. Right from inception man has been given all he would need to succeed in life. No wonder the Scripture says, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat”. The Scripture equally enjoined “That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. That you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing”.

In his book, “In Search Of Ancient Gods”, Erich Von Daniken said, “When a man has a brilliant idea today he has not discovered or invented it himself. He has dredged up basic information from the primordial memory to the surface of consciousness. The creative man of today must summon up knowledge from the punched holes of the remote past at the right moment. Past, present and future are united in an exhilarating way in the memory and mind of man”.

 

Learn from Others

The struggle to discover who you are is a tedious one. Many have been lured into crimes and life of deception and make-believe all in the name of finding meaning to life. Learn from the mistakes of others. When you learn from the mistakes of others and avoid it; you are wise.

Many have renewed their lives and become great achievers that the world not only celebrate but adored. A glance at the story of the Phoenix, the bird in Greek Mythology will suffice here.

According to the tale, it was a rare species, only one of its kind. After living for about half a millennium, the bird set itself ablaze and got burnt to ashes. And from the ashes it emerged again, younger and renewed. It flew away.

This story ought to stir something in the depth of your consciousness. There is an inexplicable affinity between you and the bird. Let us briefly analyse the story. The bird is like to you. The ashes are the pains, loss, defeat, sadness and failure you have or are going through. Many people undergo this phase of life once in a while.

One experiences the ash phase of life when he begins to experience some reverse of fortune. That is when the world seems cruel and lonely. It never rains but pours. At one time or the other, one faces a reverse of fortunes. Problems, challenges and other woes don’t leave in a hurry. They come like interminable down pours. Everything you clutch at to get out of the drowning pool turns out to be a straw. It is like falling down from a mountain peak; every boulder you clutch at gives way, leaving you crashing further down. Every foothold gives way, and you continue to crash down. And the sky is far away, seeming indifferent and mocking at your efforts.

When things get really bad, the first casualty is your ego and personality. Nothing hurts a man’s image and self-pride more than serious reverse of fortunes that leaves him feeling down and out. Everything seems to be squeezing and snuffing out your life. Are you currently passing through such situation? You feel the world is against you, snuffing life out of you? You feel like you are taking a lonely walk through the valley of the shadow of death? Thank God, it is only a shadow, and not death itself. Robert Schuller observed that, “Every valley has its low point. Reach it and there’s only one way to go from that point, and that’s upwards”. You can always use that fall to gather momentum to bounce up again. Let your desire to be a great achiever be spiced with work. Avoid the desire of the lazy man that kills him because his hands refuse to labour.

In You Lies Latent Powers

In you lies a latent power capable of propelling you to achieve what you hitherto termed difficult or impossible. The inner self provides the freshness in our journey through life in a manner that brings success and great achievements to the doorsteps of every person who discovers its potentials and utilises it. This power has been variously described. The Mystics call it “Cosmic Consciousness”, the Psychics and Metaphysicians refer to it as the “Great Within” or the “Inner Being”. Moses knows it as “Breath of Life”. Elijah denotes it as “A Still Small Voice”. Prophet Isaiah terms it “My Spirit”. In one place Jesus Christ described this POWER as “Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven”, in another he refers to it as the “Gift of God” and yet in another as the “Wisdom of God”. Apostle James defines it as “Spirit Who Dwells in Us”. Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Colossians describes it as “Christ in You”. Harold Sherman names it “God Consciousness”, and says, “You can, through intelligently directed meditation awaken higher sensory powers within you which will make it increasingly possible for the God Power within to offer guidance and protection to you through the faculty of your intuition”.

David Oyedepo recognises it as “The Supernatural” and stressed in the introduction to his book, “Releasing The Supernatural” that his aim is “to provoke you to a rediscovery of your roots in God and how you can unlock the vast potential of the supernatural for your welfare in life. From the days of the patriarchs until now, those who have ‘reigned in life’ have been those who were adept at harnessing the forces of the supernatural”. We live in a world of choices and not chances. Your lot in life is determined by your choice. God reaffirmed that you and I are in His class of Being. ‘I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High”’. You are spirit and you belong to the class of God. One of the greatest discoveries you can make about yourself is to know that you are a SPIRIT after the order of God.

Problem Confronting Youths Today

The greatest problems confronting our youths today is not unemployment, poverty or illiteracy, as many of us would want to postulate, but mind-set that turns our youths into mediocre and failures, or into monsters and makes their dream success like Hitler’s, become nightmare to others. “Down the ages”, says Etin-osa S. Omuemu, “this has become the root cause of man’s chaos, oppression and wars”. In her book, “Battlefield of the Mind”, Joyce Meyer cautioned that “People living in the vanity of their own mind not only destroy themselves, but far too often, they bring destruction to others around them”. She urged us to gain control over our mind and you will find freedom and peace.

You Are What You Think and Do

No identical twins have identical “self”. It is the “Self” that makes us individual and unique and relates us to God. The Inner Self or Spirit is the SPARK of God that takes up the case which we call body to express the Self that either redefines the world, advance the frontier of creations and makes life comfortable for all; or brings about war to destroy, enslave, exploit or take that which is the possession of other men.

The expression “image and likeness of God” doesn’t refer to your physical body but that “breathe” of God or the “Christ” in you which has the capacity to lift you from nothingness to significance. That accounts for why a little child, a blind, lame, deaf or any physically or mentally challenged person can express and demonstrate God to the surprise of many.

This is the time for you to have a change of mind-set, to receive mind empowerment to live and overcome to become who God wants you to become, a great achiever with all the powers to explore and dominate the universe, subdue and overcome all obstacles and hindrances.

Challenges Are the Flavours of Life

In every man and woman’s life there comes a time of ultimate challenge, a time when every resources you have is tested; a time when your faith, your values, patient, ability to persist and persevere are all pushed to the limit and beyond. Some people use such tests as opportunities to become better people; others allow these experiences of life to destroy them.

Instances abound in the Bible where challenges made people to revert to the Inner Self to bring out the best. Joseph who dreamt of the Moon and Stars and rose to become a Prime Minister in Egypt discovered the secret of his success inside the pit where his brother threw him. Moses was one of the most remarkable characters in the Bible. He had a mandate from God to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. Trapped between the Egyptian Army and the Red Sea the secret was revealed to him.

Abraham had a great assignment to bring out a Covenant Child through whom the whole would be blessed. But the fact on ground was bad enough. The wife was too old and so was Abraham. Yet he has expected to be a father of many nations. When God asked him to count the stars, there was something Abraham saw in those stars. That was the secret. It still remains till this day as one of the principles of success if you apply it.

Love Transforms Fortunes

When hunger made Esau to sell his birth-right to his brother Jacob, he did not dwell on his mistakes for too long, but rather, he pardoned himself, reprogrammed his mind, changed his attitude, launched himself on the path of success and became a great achiever. There reunification was famous. Their successes were celebrated. Esau showed love to Jacob not hatred. He embraced and kissed him and they expressed joy of brotherhood. Jacob confession that he had seen the face of Esau as though he had “seen the face of God” also reveals the power of love in transforming fortunes.   Success is never in isolation of the will of God and the general welfare of every other man. Esau did not look at the shadows. He knew that there is no substance there.

You Are Solution to the World

There is a potential in you which represents a solution to the world. The proper exercise and channelling of this potential is what makes a man rise from obscurity to prominence. You are limited by your mind. Believe you can win all the time. Focus on victory in your mind ahead of time. Your level of consciousness, your character, attitude, and behavioural pattern determine what you attract to yourself. Consequently, let all your thinking, feelings, gestures, expressions and actions reflect positive attitude, and you will go on winning and succeeding.

Any battle can be won in the mind. Edward Hilary said, “It’s not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves”. You have a responsibility to break away from that self-limitation. Unchain the imagination and let it breath with vibrant colours of multiple opportunities, break loose from the fetters of limited experience and unproductivity. The earlier the better! There is danger in delay because the more you continue seeing things from the wrong attitudinal point, the more you get to firmly accepting it as the right way.

Don’t Underestimate the Potency of Your Mind

Do not underestimate the power of your mind. Dr. Lao Russell declared that, “There is nothing else to know for the mind is the seed of creation from which all things unfold from invisibility”. Stair up your faith and pursue your set goal today; search your life, explore your mind, harness your supernatural resources to solve life problems. Trace out what you must do and go into it with boldness. Release the supernatural and live life to the fullest. “The supernatural is not reserve for us till we get to heaven. It is to be manifested here on earth”, David Oyedepo pointed out. Walter and Lao Russell observe in their book, Atomic Suicide, that there is height you reach and you will comprehend your omnipotence and work knowingly with the divine Mind-power which is within you”. The wealth and power of the world lies inside you. Stop REMEMBERING and REPEATING and begin to THINK and KNOW.

Connect With the Universe

Avoid selfishness and self-centeredness. Give to the services of mankind and the world will reward you abundantly. Self-centeredness is an attitude of the mind, and like love, it is an emotion. Neither can be seen, but both are demonstrated by our actions. Self-indulgence can be overcome and replaced by love. The table below is a description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. It also contrasts love and selfishness.

Table 1: Characteristics of Selfishness and Love

SELFISHNESS                                LOVE Impatient                                                         Patient Unkind                                                            Kind Proud                                                              Sincere Suspicious                                                       Generous Self-seeking                                                    Polite Inconsiderate                                                  Trusting Demanding                                                     Gracious Unselfish

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advice

1. There is potential in you which represent a solution to the world.
2. Picture what you want and you capture it. Desire and visualization are forces that drive the ether. You cannot go beyond what your mind (inner self) can see.
3. Rise from your ashes and fly. Like our story of Esau reprogramme your mind, change your attitude, launch yourself on the path of success and became a great achiever.
4. See problems as opportunity for growth and self-mastery. Know that you will find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer, goals to achieve, and a purpose to accomplish. Challenges leave us better and richer in experience. If you look at problems with the possibility attitude you will benefit from it.
5. Value the powers of your mind. Do not underestimate the powers of your mind. Your mind or Inner Self is the God or Christ in you. You can be confident about the future if you walk with God in the present.
6. Your dreams can be likening to a wheel barrow, if you don’t move it forward; it remains on the same spot. Take the first step and doors all over begins to open. You can’t watch destiny come through to you, you have to work it out! Destiny does not fall down from the sky, rather it starts from that thing you are meditating over and appreciating always concerning your life and future. Solve a problem for the world and the world will reward you for it.
7. Concentration and focus entail the coordination of all the energy of thought, action, and purpose to one point of vision. “To finish the race, stay on the track”, says John Mason.
8. Change does not start from the outside unless it comes from the inside. If you can change your attitude, then you can change your life.
9. What you SEE is what you GET and is also what you will BE. See yourself a failure and you will be one. See yourself a success and you are one. The power of your imagination is your most precious gift. It is what you choose to see that matters not the resources and life experiences.
10. Success is being in position to help others. “If you eat all your food and drink all your waters alone, it will soon dry up. But if it flows out to others you will stay refreshed. Stagnant water stinks”, posited David Oyedepo. Solomon also admonishes that, “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty”.
11. Clarify your desire and you will discover your destiny. What are the things you want? Desire is a positive power. Desire when released into the universe links you to your destiny.
12. Love attracts good; love propels desire and desire fires imagination, the audio and visual channel that God uses to communicate His dream to your consciousness. Love revitalises and recreates the universe. Love what you do, do what you love. Passion kindles enthusiasm and ecstasy. Love recognises no barrier or obstacle on its way to success.

Conclusion

From the foregoing it is clear that we think in mental pictures, not words. Associated with every mental image of a life experience is the feeling you had at the time. Today, you are the sum total of your mental and emotional reactions to whatever has happened to you, up to the present moment. What you are is represented by the mental image you have of yourself and your attitude toward life and others. You are dominated, at any given moment, by what you think and how you feel. If you think good thoughts, you will eventually attract good things and vice versa.

You are a far greater and better person than you have ever thought yourself to be. Irrespective of your time in life, the kind of body or mind with which you came into this world or have developed, the experiences you have had to date, you possess unlimited possibilities for development.

 

Finally, if you haven’t known your SELF, then you haven’t started living. The supernatural is not reserve for us till we get to heaven. It is to be manifested here on earth. Arise and shine!

 

High Chief Osaro Ollorwi

ELEME, SPEAK OUT

Are Eleme People really singing their problems loud and clear enough? Are they actually telling the world their sufferings, deprivations, and other challenges? Speaking out or dramatizing a problem through writings, speeches, acts, etc. is a sure way of bringing same to the forefront. What many term “mere song” has proved to be an effective strategy for dismantling barriers and solving problems.

 

All over the world organized people have sang their problems into solutions. Repeated song is a powerful weapon. The blacks in former Apartheid South Africa dismantled the bricks of oppression through the instrumentality of “song”. They attracted the attention of the international community by effective songs – music, dance-drama, literature, protest and so on to drag home their demands. They were consistent, focused and determined to be liberated and they attained that lofty goal.

 

The economic, social, environmental and health situations in Eleme should be of concern to the average Eleme man and woman, boy and girl. The armies of unemployed youths on our streets, lack of infrastructural facilities, the social decay in the land, the environmental challenges, rising health issues, the rapidly decreasing populations are enough to propel us to saturate the mass media (print and electronics), social media and the entire universe with the “Eleme Song” when well-defined and articulated.

 

People are attracted by what they see and/or hear. Our oppressors want to extinct us by inflicting pains and environmental atrocity on us and hiding our predicaments from the world. Let us expose their evils by speaking out. Help only comes to those who seek it! We cannot fight our oppressors because they have the wherewithal to exterminate us. But, with help of our immediate and remote neighbours and the international community, we can appeal to their conscience and ask for a better deal. Besides, if telling the world our ordeal is song let us sing on. Speaking out is no sin, telling your story is no crime, and narrating your experiences is no hate speech. Fear not, be courageous, and be strong!

 

In fact, one of the responses to my write up “Facilities of Death” on the wall of Nneka that has attracted my interest and that should be of great concern to the leaders of Eleme is that of Ibim Semenitari who wrote, “Many years ago while in Tell magazine, I did a story on the situation in Eleme and some other impacted communities. The story was borne out of research conducted by my late uncle Prof Difini Datubo Brown. He was a professor of plastic surgery and long before reparative surgeries for cleft upper lips and other congenital malformations became known he had done a lot of these at UPTH and he discovered that most of his patients who came in with congenital malformations were from communities with high levels of pollution. He went ahead and took samples from Eleme, then NAFCON was in full operation and his findings were troubling”.

 

Are you aware that most of Eleme people today have one congenital challenge or the other? Are you also aware that while the populations of other ethnic nationalities are increasing ours is declining? Let us all sing the “Eleme Song” until things change for better.

 

Semenitari concluded by calling on “Corporations and agencies in the Niger Delta … to look critically at the environment and issues around the health of our people. Truly Eleme has taken a lot of beating”.

 

A friend of Eleme singing the “Eleme Song” (if you like) while, Eleme people watch in fear and silence, expecting miracle. It is the repeated song of the Hebrews, cry of the oppressed Israelites, which moved God to raise Moses to lead them out of Egypt, not fear and silence. Moses started fighting for the Hebrews long before God supported him with miracles. Every Eleme person is a child of miracle. Let us take the first step and God will do the rest. Today, the Ibos are singing the Biafra Song, the Yoruba are singing the Oduduwa Song, and the Hausas are singing the Arewa Song. The Ijaws are drumming for Niger Delta Republic? Even the Ogonis are asking for Ogoni Nation. Where is Eleme? What is the Eleme Song? Let us stop being one of the crowds and be what God wants us to be.

 

The Queen of Great Britain and Ireland Express of India usurped our independence from us on 19^th and 20^th of April, 1898 with the promise to offer us protection which they never did but rather turned around to fraudulently mortgaged us without our consent to Nigeria that is not only robbing us of our wealth but decimating us. What do we want from Nigeria? Say it, write it, act it! The world is listening to true cries. The universe has ways of responding to true complains.

 

There are people outside Eleme who are willing to sing the “Eleme Song” more than we do now because we are suffering from overdose of our problems. These friends and well-wishers of Eleme are only waiting for us to start singing and they will join. What are we waiting for? It is time to speak out! What do Eleme want from Nigeria that British married her illegally to?

What Drives Eleme Is Beyond Eleme

What Drives Eleme is Beyond Eleme

Depending on the level of one’s “intellectual” achievements, he should know that whatever his religious inclination, if he be steadfast, he ought to transcend from primary level of belief to the advanced level of knowingness. The journey to consciously developing a purity of creative heart calls for the highest ideal in man as it reflects in his daily life. In the elevated state of perception and existence, which only true religion offers, man should be progressively anchoring tolerance, dissolving attachments to material things and replacing love where anger and hatred previously held sway. When these realizations are absent, then such individual is not religious but a blind-aggressive-fanatic in the endless universe.

 

Besides, the nature of activities or endeavours a people delve into tells more about the expectations of that people. Are Politics, Church, School really businesses? If yes how lucrative are they? This is where so many got it wrong in Eleme. Methinks, one can only dabble into these activities as social services and not profit making ventures. When you expect to make profits from social services like politics, church, and school you end up being frustrated or becoming a celebrated crook. Besides, no one has ever become rich by being a mere salary earner. Although, the system do not favour us, we are responsible for the situation we find ourselves. Establishing a fertilizer plant, petroleum refinery, or any giant manufacturing concerns are capital intensive project, usually beyond the financial strength of a single individual. Can two or more Eleme indigenes come together to finance such a project? Definitely, not. Why? Your guess is as good as mine