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Nigerian Politicians

Idoma Colours

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The Relevance of the Idoma Traditional Colours By Ogiri John Ogiri Introduction Photo credit: crwflags.com Nigeria currently boasts of over 250 ethnic groups speaking over 400 languages. Everyone of ethnic/cultural group possesses certain symbols of identity unique to such group. These include music and dance, food, dress, architectural designs et cetera Through these symbols, people in a socio-cultural group become easily identifiable. One of such a group with a highly-defined cultural identity is the Idoma nation. Idoma is the name by which the people of Idoma ethnic group designate themselves, and are addressed as such by their neighbours. Idoma is also the name of the language of the group as well as their land.(Armstrong,1983) The Idoma as a people are currently inhabiting the southern end of the Benue valley or the River Benue. Others can be identified in Cross River(Yala and Ogoja), Nasarawa (Doma and Keana), Kogi and Enugu State. In Benue state where they a...
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Popularity and Capacity Not the Same.

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By Ogiri John Ogiri  Quite often, in our quest for credible leadership, we mistake popularity for capacity. Sometimes, our emotional attachment to an intending leader who is relatively popular, usually denies us the golden opportunity to scrutinise the individual and what he or she claims to represent. What are his intentions and interests? What are his credentials? What has he done before? What can he do? These are obvious questions we need to ask. However, we often do not interrogate these variables in the individual. We think his popularity is enough to help him or her win but forget to also think and remember that only capacity can keep him in power for long. When it comes to the issue of leadership, there is a huge difference between popularity and capacity. A leader can be popular without being capable. If he has the capacity, popularity will follow but capacity won't follow popularity. Our leadership predicament both as a people and as a country stems from our inability to c...
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You are Right

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By Ogiri John Ogiri. If you believe that you can die an untimely death, you are right because you will.  But, if you believe that you will live longer, you are equally right because you will. If you believe you will fail, you are right because you will.  But, if you believe you can succeed, you are equally right because you can. If you believe that someone is controlling or can control your destiny, you are right because they are.  But If you believe that your destiny is in your hands, you are right too because it is in your hands. If you believe that someone can kill you because of your success, you are right because he/she can. But, if you believe that no one can hurt you, you are right too because no one can do that. If you believe that you will never make it out of poverty, you are right because you will remain poor. But, if you believe that you will prosper, you are right too because you will. If you believe that your village people are responsible for all your pre...
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A Letter to Mr. President

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Dear Mr. President, I commend your leadership dexterity and wisdom for signing into law, yesterday and very speedily so, the bill seeking to make us revert to the old national anthem "Nigeria, We Hail Thee"  However, it is important that the following few points are urgently brought to your attention so that we do not end up taking residence in self-deception as a country. Mr President Sir,  In our churches today, hungry people no longer have the strength to answer "Hallelujah" to the shout of "praise the Lord!" In our mosques, shouting"Allahu Akbar" takes great effort because we are not sure if the imam calling people to pray has eaten well. Because they are hungry, it is difficult for them to keep praying for the same Nigeria others keep destroying.  In the same way, a hungry man cannot hail Nigeria. A man who can no longer afford the three square meals, thanks to your unfriendly economic policies, may never be proud to hail Nigeria...
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Categories of Women in Relationships

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Three categories of women are always identifiable:  1. Those who plan to make money from you,  2. Those who plan to make money with you. 3. Those who plan to make money for you. The first one sees every relationship as transactionary so that how much you get from them in love is directly proportional to how much money they can get from you. They can tax you without any consideration.They're interested in today, not tomorrow.  The second category sees relationship as a journey that requires a selfless commitment to each other, bearing and making personal sacrifices together with the man as they walk from grass to grace. They usually don't demand anything from you. Just be true to them. Be hardworking and focused. Once they identify the vision in you, they can pledge their everything. They're not fools but they can overlook your shortcomings when you falter. Hold women in this group very dearly and guard them jealously. Don't disappoint them when you finally succeed. Tho...
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Different Ways Men and Women View Sex.

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By Ogiri John Ogiri. Sex is a very interesting but special experience created by nature (God) for the enjoyment of His creatures so that both the human society and animal society can continue to create and recreate itself in an unfettered evolutionary process. In fact, God ended the creation of man and animals several centuries ago. Consequently, the over 7 billion people who occupy the earth today were not created by God's traditional means of moulding a clay and breathing air into it. They were conceived through man's recreative ability through sex and other means of having children.  In the same manner, several millions of different species of animals on earth today were created through their own God-given abilities in sexual evolution.  Sexual intercourse is so crucial that, despite the increasing technological sophistication in child-bearing, it is still the dominant and most preferred means of having children today. Aside procreation, sex is equally had for the pleasure ...
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Fundamentals of Power Play: How to Win Before the Election

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By Ogiri John Ogiri. In your pursuit of power, remember this: 1. Have what to say. Know when and where to say what you have to say. Do not speak to impress; speak to communicate. Use a variety of language options if you can.  2. Be humble: You can win the most recalcitrant people with this. 2. Be loyal but be as wise as a serpent. You can break into the minds of the most difficult kings. 3. Do not overlook too many people and things. Everyone is important. Attend functions in religious houses. Talk to people- intellectuals, religious leaders, market women, youth groups and associations among others. If you find a community with an electoral power indispensable to your future victory, court their king. If possible, take a wife from an influential family in that community.  4. Do not trust too many people. Be wary of the few ones you trust. 5. Keep to the basic principles of the game. Avoid scandals by all means. 6. Choose your enemy wisely. 7. Do not be anyone's fri...
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Critical Thinking: A Panacea for Personal and National Rebirth

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By Ogiri John Ogiri. I do not intend to provoke, by this piece , what philosophers would refer to as a conceptual crisis.Hence, I have decided to evade any academic attempt at a conceptual definition of the term "Critical Thinking" in order to focus on practical areas I think we should use it.  ( You can consult Silvano Borruso's The Art of Thinking published by Paulines Africa in 1998 for more on Critical thinking) Over the years, I have observed, of course, through personal interactions and pen contacts with some Africans particularly Nigerians, that Critical thinking is an area dreaded and avoided by many. Yes, critical thinking, the type that can dislodge and expunge from our minds, false religious beliefs and restore our minds to critical consciousness and bring about a fundamental change in what we believe, how we believe and the way we do things, is avoided by most Nigerians. Many believe that, there is nothing we can do, usually ending by saying "...
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