The Omu of Anioma, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu, has criticized the government of Nigeria, saying the government of the country at all levels has not been fair to the Nigerian people. She said the functionaries live in affluence while running governance at the expense of the people.
HRM Dunkwu made the remark in an address while being coronated as Nneoha (mother to all) by the Igwe 1 of Nsukka, HRM Igwe Dr. Patrick Okolo-Eze 1 of Nkpunanu ancient kingdom in Enugu state.
In her address, Omu Dunkwu frowned at the spate of corruption in Nigeria, saying President Muhammadu Buhari may not corrupt but his inability to make his appointees be on the same page with him would not allow him to fight the corruption in the country.
“President Buhari must do everything within his capacity in the remaining years of his tenure to change the narrative and leave a legacy of corruption-free-Nigeria. Of course that was his promise to Nigerians and Nigerians voted for him, believing he has the capacity to bring corruption low in our national life,” Omu Dunkwu noted.
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She said: “We do more of political jamboree in Nigeria, leaving good governance at the mercy of corruption and treasury looting. This must stop. Until political office holders begin to see politics as an avenue to serve, our journey will still be very far from where we are coming from.”
She decried the appalling security failure in Nigeria, noting: “Our constitution stipulates that the primary responsibility of government shall be the security and welfare of its citizens, but lamented that over the years Nigeria has got insurgency, terrorism, armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping and bandits in herders disguise.”
She is of the opinion that the constitution should give role to the traditional rulers and let them take hold of their communities and government can hold them accountable. She said the whole area of Anioma land in Delta state has been under siege of marauding herdsmen who are kidnapping people and killing victims.
She said Nigeria government has been deceiving youths with the lie of being future leaders. She said the government is using this cover for its inadequacies, failure and lack of leadership, insisting that such assertion by Nigerian leaders is deceptive.
“I want to caution all Nigerian youths not to be misled and carried away by such statement. If you, the youths, fail to acquire the necessary education, experience, exposure, good comportment, patriotism, strong moral inclination, fear of God, your hope of future leadership is futile.
“How can you be future leaders when armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, exam malpractice, rebellion, rape, vandalism, revolt and violence are the core values of life? Future leaders are must be receptive to new ideas. The youths of today are afraid and pessimistic. Government, parents and society have not created the enabling environment for them to thrive.
“The country is in a quagmire because the leaders have failed to maximize the potentials of the youths. The youth bracket remains the active life-wire of any economy. I, as the Omu, am the leader of the women and female youths in my community and I can tell you that we have over 90 percent of youths who are ready to run with targets if given the opportunity. It is the leaders that failed the youths in our nation, not youths failing themselves.
“The youths are victims of failed leadership, failure of motherhood and abandonment of womanhood. Those who are leaders today, got the opportunity while in their thirties but decided to continue to lead even in their eighties without allowing the present youths any opportunity. Except the leaders change their strategies, the future of the youths will remain bleak and our hope to rise above underdevelopment as a nation will continue to dash.”
She advised women against being in competition with men as God, from the beginning, created man to be above the woman. For her, “there was no equality yesterday, no equality today and there will be no equality tomorrow.”
She, however, said the greatest challenge of man is that “he wants to play the role of man and woman at the same time. He has made himself into a mini-god. That is against God’s intention. Woman, as the one who inculcates societal values in a male and female children holds the dice.”
She said women should be allowed to fulfil the purpose for God creating them. She said while she insists that man is first, woman should be allowed the space to actualise her God-given potentials. Women should also strive for the top and stop being used as cleaners, servers, dancers, cooks and clapping members at political functions.
She said: “If the woman decided to marry, she should be faithful to her husband, be a friend, confidant, a shoulder to lean on, a solid rock for the family. She should give unselfishly, help where help is needed. If she decides not to marry, she must live a decent unmarried life.”
The traditional ruler of Nkpunano Nsukka ancient kingdom, who coronated Omu as Nneoha, mother to all and mother without borders, HRH Igwe Dr. Patrick Okolo, described Omu as a great mother, a builder, a welfarist, a mentor, motivator, mother without borders and a woman with beauty.
He called on the Omu to display her much endowed philanthropic potentials to the Anioma nation, the South East, the Nigeria nation and the Nsukka people. He said the people of the South East and the nation have watched her impeccable activities and they are pleased to identify with her.
He acknowledged the fact that Omu has been conferred with many chieftaincy titles in Delta and Edo states over the decades, however, he felt the need “to also crown you mother to all and mother without borders (Nneoha) to enable us tap from your wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and enjoy your example of proper motherhood.
“We, in Nkpunano Nsukka kingdom are highly elated to have actualised the dream and desire to crown you Nneoha in Nsukka kingdom.”
In company of the Omu were HRM Obi Dr. Kikachukwu, the Obi of Ubulu-Uno, HRM Omu Onyebuchibe Okonkwo, Omu of Obior and Obi Adi Nwaokobia.
