"OBORO: THE LAND OF OUR FOREFATHERS" `WRITTEN BY OKEY IROEGBU DEBUTS

It is no more a news that the above book has been launched, done and dusted.The book is a project of interest which took the author, on and off, a period of 43 years. The curiosity to write and publish this book stemmed on the fact that there were lots of misinformation on migrations and myth about Oboro, one of the of the four clans in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State of Nigeria. The book looked into these areas using appropriate research methodology to come to agreements on some facts. Like in all such projects, there may be some areas that still need to be worked on in the next edition. It is therefore subject to positive criticism. The book is intended to rest the issue of losing our unwritten history through mere story telling. The author

Chikezie Okey lroegbu (Turner) obtained his Higher National Diploma in Information Science from The Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri. After a successful one year mandatory National Youth Service at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, he worked briefly with DBN Television before venturing into freight forwarding as a management staff of Uzo and Sons Nigeria Limited. At the end of his transit in the maritime industry, he went back to his career by returning to the classroom to read a post-graduate Diploma on Print Journalism from the famous NIJ, Ogba Ikeja. He is the publisher of The Baggage, a Maritime Magazine with special attention on Marine Transportation, Nigeria Customs Services and Nigeria land borders. He is also a Post Graduate student in view of Lagos State University on International Relations. He holds a Diploma on Bible Ethics from Gateway Bible College, Benin City, Edo state. He is a passionate observer and critics of Nigerian politics and the political class. Okey is married and blessed with five children and grandchildren. In his welcoming address at the book presentation and launch at La Escape Hotel and Resorts Ltd., the author emphasized that "there is no doubt that the Federal Government of Nigeria tactically erased history from the academic curriculum of Nigeria Schools for an obvious reasons. We in our endeavour not violating any of the constitutional provisions considered it necessary to put together the history of our people which is generated from storytelling from one generation to the other. This is for the sake of posterity. "The next time I would be able to gather you like this, will be to unveil a book on the experience of a teenager in Biafran enclave where I became a bread winner, harvesting mushrooms, insects, rats and lizard at the age of eight for my family. Today, this book like the piece done by Mazi Friday Oguegbu in 1953 is a product of deep ambition to play a role at finding a lasting solution to the acquisition of a reference material for the people of Oboro. My first attempt at achieving this was in 1976 at Oboro Secondary School when a newly inaugurated Press Club delegated me as the PRO to source for such information for the maiden magazine of the club. This concept was also transferred to my village, Isiala Oboro within the same period as I sold the idea of producing a magazine for the Youth Association where I was the General Secretary. `"In all these experimental projects the only source of information was Oboro Isi-Ama Asoto, a book written by Mazi Friday Onwulirimba Oguegbu of Amaoba-Ime. I acknowledge the family and the entire community for producing such a great man. The assistance he prophesied in 1953 when he wrote “... and to assist where possible any Oboro citizen at any time” has come to past. I am indebted and grateful to him and his family as his research work remains the foundation to any research on Oboro history. "Oboro, the land of our forefathers evolved finally as a Thesis for the award of Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) on International Relations, Lagos State University but for some ambiguity I decided to put more efforts to make it a book. In the process I met many people who by accident or design are pillars to the making of this book. My numerous encounters with late Hon. Smart Onyirimba kick-started the project and his wide research on his book ‘Ikwuano Book of Records' made my further research easier. I am very grateful to him even at death. "The Royal Fathers in Oboro whom I consulted were very encouraging as they further directed me to important sources. HRH Eze Eyjirika who was by then the Chairman Ikwuano Council of Ndi Eze, HRH King Larry Agwu who was by then the Chairman Oboro council of Ndi Eze, HRH Eze (Prof) Ajiri, HRH Eze Jiaza and most importantly late HRH Eze Okeiyi who was an encyclopedia to this project. "On formal and informal consultation, I am grateful to Prince Kingsley Nkume, Chief Emeka Ebula, Hon. Udo Ndukwe, Elder Alfred Iroegbu, Mike Egwuibe the computer wizard of our time, the leadership of 2013 Federation of Ikwuano Students of

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Nwachukwu Udochukwu Chikezie who was my guide and my brother in-law Okechukwu Mbibi who did not live to see the final production. "Others are late Chief Sam Madubuike (Ugomba Akoli Imenyi, Bende) and Chief Kingsley Igbokwe (Nwachinemere and TPM of EgwuUkwu, Afougiri Umuahia) who invested seriously on this project as they have vested interest on Igbo tradition. My traditional ruler HRH Eze (Prof) Sunday Ezeribe kept kept reminding me of the need to finish the project. "I am grateful to the staff of Baggage Associates for their untiring efforts combining the herculean task of news hunting with this project. Special thanks to Lateef Ibrahim who procured the

ISBN and Solomon Semako Kuton who handled the typesetting and graphics. "On the domestic front, I am indebted to my siblings; Ucheoma, Ifeanyi and Ngozi, my children, despite their varying fields of study in their universities, they took interest in writing and finally my wife who understood the situations more especially when I would jumped out of bed in the midnight to jot down an inspiration on any available writing material in our bedroom. Most of all I am thankful to our Lord JESUS CHRIST for keeping hope alive in me to this day. "There may be one or two typographic errors in the book which we refer to in publications as "printer's devils." Many of them came up as a result of moving the manuscript from one computer to the other and the fonts were misbehaving. We look forward to doing a very serious amends from the feedback we would get after this presentation in our reviewed edition. "I thank everybody who made it possible to be here today. The book may not go round today to everybody as this occasion is not necessarily for sales but for the official presentation. The following outlets would serve now for distribution points; La Escape Hotels and Resorts Ltd., Chaise World Hotel, Umudike, opposite MOUAU and Emeka Okike Stores, Isiala Oboro. Outlets at other cities like Lagos, Kaduna, Aba and Onitsha would be revealed later as arrangements are at top gear," his address reads. Some autographed copies were made available to many of the guests at the launch while looking forward to good patronage supporting more prints by sponsorships and partnering. 

DC SHUAIBU: A SILENT ACHIEVER

At an unofficial interactions on the activities of the Joint Border Patron Team JBPT also known as Border Drill, the coordinator of the Western zone DC Shuaibu MS discussed on the synergy existing among the various commands of the Nigeria Customs Service. 

       This issue was in line with a question on why they drop their seizures at various warehouses andthe issue of visually little or no press briefings. In his words,

"Nigeria Customs Service remains the same no matter the various commands and units, their services and mandate remain the same. The bottomline is to facilitate trade in line with international procedures and the enforcement of laws guiding any breech in this trade facilitation like smuggling, concealment, wrong declarations of goods imported and so on.

       "On the issue of government warehouses, we should know with the appelation that the warehouses belong to the government and not a particular command. The JBPT by its mandate and statutory responsibility like the Federal Operations have the right to drop their seizures at the nearest warehouses to the seizures. You are aware of the volatile nature of these smugglers who are ready to attack the enforcement officers while returning these seizures to the warehouses. It is therefore adviseable for the officers to secure the seizures at the nearest available government warehouses.

       "Our work does not give pleasure to non compliant traders and the diehard smugglers. The Customs enforcement requires an altimum tactical approach because these smugglers are not happy when they make losses. We are therefore required to also let them know the dangers behind their naiferous activities through sensitization programmes like townhall lectures where they also participate.

       "That we are not frequently organising press briefing does not mean that we are not performing. JBPT is a distinct unit with various security operatives involved. One of the main purpose of the unit is to take serious care of the security of the nation by blocking all infiltrations through the nation's borders," DC Shuaibu said.

       On administration of the unit, he quickly responded that the officers and men of the unit are very cooperative in line of their duties. The unit has greatly provided a wonderful opportunity for the various security operatives in the nation to work together. 

       In a bid to combatting smuggling, irregular migration and other transnational organised crimes along the nation’s border coupled with the gradual reopening of the borders, Joint Border Patrol Team JBPT was launched in August 2019 as Operation Swift Response (OSR) and coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). With the reopening of the borders for commercial activities, items such as parboiled rice, frozen chicken, illicit drugs, among others remain prohibited. 

        These apart from arms and amminition formed the major area for the unit to keep in check. Meanwhile, a statement from the Nigeria Customs Service revealed that the unit came into operation, the smuggling of illicit drugs and proliferation of small arms and light weapons used to exacerbate violent extremism and

terrorism in some parts of the country have been significantly curbed.

       Finally as the discussion came to a partial end DC Shuaibu said that the “the priority remains to keep our borders safe from any inimical activity that will compromise our national interests. We therefore thank all Nigerians, especially the business community for their continuous support.” 

NIGERIA/BENIN CROSS-BORDER TRADE, READY FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION

At any information relating to bileteral discussion on trade facilitation between Benin Republic and Nigeria, the critical stakeholders at Seme Border are always excited. Yes, they have every reason to be excited. It could be realised that eight months past the feelings of these critical stakeholders, the importers through the West Coast and their Freight forwarders at Seme-Krake were aroused  over the rumour that President Bola Tinubu might soon reopen the Seme land border fully for importation of vehicles and movement of other goods and services including rice, in order to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians due to years of border partial closure.The

coming of Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR has shown some lights at the end of the tunnel. Speaking during his maiden working visit to the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service and Seme-Krake Border communities as soon as he was appointed in 2023, the Customs CG noted that national security is one of the major reason for the last administration to partially close the border.He said that the borders were closed for security purposes but not all of them were reopened. He assured that they have already started discussions along this line. Policies that are aimed at enhancing national security are supposed to be dynamic policies, at different times they would be reviewing them, he said.Speaking at a meeting with the business community, CGC Adeniyi also said that reopening of the borders fully, depends on the readiness of the local communities to corporate with the customs and other law enforcement agents in combating insecurity and smuggling.According to him, the security agencies need intelligence from the

communities on the nefarious activities of smugglers, and to properly protect the border areas against illicit importations.“It is going to be a symbiotic relationship that would be beneficial to all of us. By the time this is done, we can now start discussing about allowing vehicles to come in through the borders. We can now start considering allowing food to also come in through the borders if we cannot have enough capacity to feed ourselves.“These are conversations that would happen within us when we have gotten assurances from the communities that they would be ready to assist the agencies in doing their job,” the CGC said.In a recent development according to a report reaching this media from the Customs National Public Relations Officer, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, the continued efforts to get cross-border trade formalized by this regime of CGC Adeniyi MFR is highly commended. In an effort to strengthen the longstanding partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service  and its counterpart in the Republic of Benin, a high-powered delegation led by the CGC, embarked on a crucial mission to meet with the Director-General of the Customs Administration of Benin Republic on Thursday, 11 April, 2024. The primary focus of the meeting, as outlined by the CGC, was to deliberate on strategies aimed at amplifying trade activities between the two nations and ensuring the seamless implementation of recommendations previously discussed during their rendezvous in Cotonou. Highlighting the significance of the collaboration, the CGC underscored, "We are cognisant of the established framework for cooperation between our respective customs administrations. This framework was established at a higher level by the authorities of the heads of State, President Patrice Talon of Benin and His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, both expressing a desire to work together. It is upon this foundation that the customs of both countries are united in their efforts."

Welcoming the delegation with open arms, Mrs Adidjatou Hassan Zanouvi, the Director-General of Benin Customs Administration, reiterated their steadfast commitment to executing the mutually agreed-upon measures, emphasising the importance of thorough monitoring to ensure effective implementation. The collaborative endeavours between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Benin Republic Customs Administration, according to her, serve as a testament to their shared commitment to facilitating seamless trade operations and ensuring the efficient management of cross-border activities for the mutual benefit of both nations. “In the meantime, during the visit, the CGC seized the opportunity to inspect ongoing projects within the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command. Accompanied by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, the CGC meticulously assessed the progress of the projects and received assurances of diligent oversight from the responsible authorities”, Maiwada stated.

OKEY IBEKE BURIES MOTHER IN GRAND STYLE

The burial ceremony of Ezinne Madam Eucharia Ibeke, the mother of Okey Ibeke, a veteran journalist at Ora-eri, Aguata LGA., Anambra has come and gone but we have to reflect on the event, before, during and after. Mr. Okey Ibeke is a known name in the maritime media domain due to his versatility, philantropy and social interactions among the who is who in the maritime industry. It was on this reason that his colleagues and friends in the industry gathered at, Ora Eri in Anambra state his country home to bid his mother a farewell as she journeys to rest in peace in the bossom of the Lord. As a

stakeholder with the League of Maritime Editors, the foremost maritime media Association in Lagos, the Association sent a powerful delegation led by her President, High Chief Timothy Okorocha to represent them and also cover the event. The event also had other notable personalities like Pius Mordi, Opara, Adekunle Adekoya, Innocent Orok, H.E. Peter Obi

and many others. The excited chief mourner, Mr. Ibeke was very grateful to his guests as he said in his appreciation speech while sincerely thanking all of them "for your

prayers, financial support and your highly cherished presence in my beloved mother’s burial ceremony. "May Almighty GOD reward you abundantly and may HE grant all us long life and in good health as HE did for my mother. "While thanking GOD for journey mercy to those that travelled all the way from Lagos to be with me. I’ll ever remain grateful for your show of love," Okey Ibeke said.

"OBORO: THE LAND OF OUR FOREFATHERS" `WRITTEN BY OKEY IROEGBU DEBUTS

It is no more a news that the above book has been launched, done and dusted.The book is a project of interest which took the author, on and off, a period of 43 years. The curiosity to write and publish this book stemmed on the fact that there were lots of misinformation on migrations and myth about Oboro, one of the of the four clans in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State of Nigeria. The book looked into these areas using appropriate research methodology to come to agreements on some facts. Like in all such projects, there may be some areas that still need to be worked on in the next edition. It is therefore subject to positive criticism. The book is intended to rest the issue of losing our unwritten history through mere story telling. The author Chikezie Okey lroegbu (Turner) obtained his Higher National Diploma in Information Science from The Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri. After a successful one year mandatory National Youth Service at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, he worked briefly with DBN Television before venturing into freight forwarding as a management staff of Uzo and Sons Nigeria Limited. At the end of his transit in the maritime industry, he went back to his career by returning to the classroom to read a post-graduate Diploma on Print Journalism from the famous NIJ, Ogba Ikeja. He is the publisher of The Baggage, a Maritime Magazine with special attention on Marine Transportation, Nigeria Customs Services and Nigeria land borders. He is also a Post Graduate student in view of Lagos State University on International Relations. He holds a Diploma on Bible Ethics from Gateway Bible College, Benin City, Edo state. He is a passionate observer and critics of Nigerian politics and the political class. Okey is married and blessed with five children and grandchildren. In his welcome address at the book presentation and launch at La Escape Hotel and Resorts Ltd., the author emphasized that "there is no doubt that the Federal Government of Nigeria tactically erased history from the academic curriculum of Nigeria Schools for obvious reasons. We in our endeavour not violating any of the constitutional provisions considered it necessary to put together the history of our people which is generated from storytelling from one generation to the other. This is for the sake of posterity. "The next time I would be able to gather you like this, will be to unveil a book on the experience of a teenager in Biafran enclave where I became a bread winner, harvesting mushrooms, insects, rats and lizard at the age of eight for my family. Today, this book like the piece done by Mazi Friday Oguegbu in 1953 is a product of deep ambition to play a role at finding a lasting solution to the acquisition of a reference material for the people of Oboro. My first attempt at achieving this was in 1976 at Oboro Secondary School when a newly inaugurated Press Club delegated me as the PRO to source for such information for the maiden magazine of

the club. This concept was also transferred to my village, Isiala Oboro within the same period as I sold the idea of producing a magazine for the Youth Association where I was the General Secretary. "In all these experimental projects the only source of information was Oboro Isi-Ama Asoto, a book written by Mazi Friday Onwulirimba Oguegbu of Amaoba-Ime. I acknowledge the family and the entire community for producing such a great man. The assistance he prophesied in 1953 when he wrote “... and to assist where possible any Oboro citizen at any time” has come to past. I am indebted and grateful to him and his family as his research work remains the foundation to any research on Oboro history. "Oboro, the land of our forefathers evolved finally as a Thesis for the award of Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) on International Relations, Lagos State University but for some ambiguity I decided to put more efforts to make it a book. In the process I met many people who by accident or design are pillars to the making of this book. My numerous encounters with late Hon. Smart Onyirimba kick-started the project and his wide research on his book ‘Ikwuano Book of Records' made my further research easier. I am very grateful to him even at death. "The Royal Fathers in Oboro whom I consulted were very encouraging as they further directed me to important sources. HRH Eze Ejirika who was by then the Chairman Ikwuano Council of Ndi Eze, HRH King Larry Agwu who was by then the Chairman Oboro council of Ndi Eze, HRH Eze (Prof) Ajiri, HRH Eze Jiaza and most importantly late HRH Eze Okeiyi who was an

encyclopedia to this project. "On formal and informal consultation, I am grateful to Prince Kingsley Nkume, Chief Emeka Ebula, Hon. Udo Ndukwe, Elder Alfred Iroegbu, Mike Egwuibe the computer wizard of our time, the leadership of 2013 Federation of Ikwuano Students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Nwachukwu Udochukwu Chikezie who was my guide and my brother in-law Okechukwu Mbibi who did not live to see the final production. "Others are late Chief Sam Madubuike (Ugomba Akoli Imenyi, Bende)

and Chief Kingsley Igbokwe (Nwachinemere and TPM of Egwu-Ukwu, Afougiri Umuahia) who invested seriously on this project as they have vested interest on Igbo tradition. My traditional ruler HRH Eze (Prof) Sunday Ezeribe who kept reminding me of the need to finish the project. "I am grateful to the staff of Baggage Associates for their untiring efforts combining the herculean task of news hunting with this project. Special thanks to Lateef Ibrahim who procured the ISBN and Solomon Semako Kuton who handled the typesetting and graphics. "On the domestic front, I am indebted to my siblings; Ucheoma, Ifeanyi and Ngozi, my children, despite their varying fields of study in their universities, they took interest in writing and finally my wife who understood the situations more especially when I would jumped out of bed in the midnight to jot down an inspiration on any available writing material in our bedroom. Most of all I am thankful to our Lord JESUS CHRIST for keeping hope alive in me to this day. "There may be one or two typographic errors in the book which we refer to in publications as "printer's devil." Many of them came up as a result of moving the manuscript from one computer to the other and the fonts were misbehaving. We look forward to doing a very serious amends from the feedback we would get after this presentation in our reviewed edition. "I thank everybody who made it possible to be here today. The book may not go round today to everybody as this occasion is not necessarily for sales but for the official presentation. The following outlets would serve now for distribution points; La Escape Hotels and Resorts Ltd., Chaise World Hotel, Umudike, opposite MOUAU and Emeka Okike Stores, Isiala Oboro. Outlets at other cities like Lagos, Kaduna, Aba and Onitsha would be

revealed later as arrangements are at top gear," his address reads. Some autographed copies were made available to many of the guests at the launch while looking forward to good patronage supporting

more prints by sponsorships and partnering.