Ogiri John Ogiri

General TY Danjuma's Allegation of Army Conspiracy:The Task Before the Government by  Ogiri John Ogiri. I have been following very closely the debates,uproars and condemnations that emerged in the aftermath of the recent statement made by General TY Danjuma, a former Nigerian army chief and defence minister, during a convocation ceremony at the Taraba State University, Jalingo, that Nigerians should defend themselves or die since the army could no longer be said to be neutral in the current farmers/Fulani herdsmen violent confrontations. According to the retired general and elder statesman  “I am not a politician and politics is one profession I don’t want to belong to because if I am a politician, I will not say what I am going to say to you now. “When I arrived in this arena, I saw rich cultural display and I was amazed at the rich cultural heritage of our people. Taraba is a mini Nigeria with diverse ethnic groups living together peacefully, but the pea...

Of Morality vs Religion by Ogiri John Ogiri. When love for religion becomes stronger than love for fellow humans, there is bound to be crises. But when love for morality is stronger than love for others, there can be no conflict since morality would ordinarily teach us the art of loving our neighbours better since it is the right thing to do. It is my conviction that all morally-disciplined persons can be religious but not all religious people can be moral or ethical in their dealings with fellow human. A man guided by a moral compass while on his earthly pilgrimage behaves better. Religion without morality is sterile. Religion without morality breeds rogues. Religion stripped of morality is an instrument of socio-economic and political slavery, exploitation (for personal aggrandizement), subjugation, mind control and impoverishment. For, to some,religion is merely a bow to convention, not a serious commitment to the spiritual transformation of the adherents in order that he or she ...

The Wonders of Books by Ogiri John Ogiri. Books form a part of the greatest legacies of human civilization bequeathed to man by successive generations of men and women with great intellectual endowment and writing artistry. Indeed,when books are opened, we discover we can fly to lands far away from ours. Through books, we get to have the best intellectual intercourse with great minds of yesterday. I am indeed humbled by books. A book is another world created by man, carefully carved by his pen, painted by ink, hidden in black and white amidst chapters, paragraphs and sentences but enclosed on two fronts by beautiful covers. It is a masterpiece of the human intellect. In books are found great repositories of indisputable solutions to man's problems as well as answers to his perplexing interrogatives about his own existence. The secrets behind shipbuilding, aircraft's manufacturing, automobile design and building and in fact, all other human technological inventions are hidd...

Who will defend the land? Who will protect Omusu, Okpolikpo, and Okpliho From the carriers of petals of blood? Who will rescue Edumoga-Ehaje From the marauding herdsmen? From those carriers of anything but good tidings? Who will save Idoma land from the harbingers of death? Who will defend Benue State Against the continued onslaught of modern conquerors of territories? Who will lead us to freedom in our own land? As Edumoga Ehaje mourns! Arise,oh sons and daughters of Benue! Arise! Oh you sons and daughters of Idoma Nations! Arise,oh fearless sons and daughters of Edumoga! Arise and defend your land! Arise and defend the women and children! Let our faces resist slipping into despondency! A common united front we need at this time. Let the light of hope be kindled in our minds. Let us keep basking in the certainty of our victorious freedom Taking solace in the hope that one day, our long night of weeping and painful ululations Will break into a refreshing and re...

Who Will Console The Bereaved? By Ogiri John Ogiri. From time immemorial, mother nature bequeathed a convivial climate of peace and tranquility on Edumoga Ehaje, in Okpokwu Local Government of Benue State. And for a very long time, the land basked in the benevolent congeniality of mother nature. The people wallowed in the security and sweetness of their communal life. Strong, determined and resilient, they pursued Agricultural practice of crop farming with pride. With fervour, they plied their occupation with the result that in seasons and out of seasons, they experienced bumper harvests, churning out huge quantities of grains,yams, cassava, rice etc.  Arguably, their staunch farming efforts contributed tremendously to the elevation of Benue State to such an enviable status as the FOOD BASKET OF THE NATION. Edumoga people are proudly peasant farmers. Their hospitality knows no bound as the people are intrinsically and inherently receptive as they welcome visitors or strangers wi...