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The Compromise Of Enugu Endsars Protest By Desperate Politicians.

Published

5 years ago

October 20, 2020

By Jeff Ejiofor

A great Russian philosopher, African Spir, said that when a man makes of his personal interests the mainspring of his life and he is greedy to make use of everything that can benefit him, he naturally enters into conflict with other persons, acting also in their interests, hence the disagreements that can become a hundred years old, and drive whole generations to mutual hate. This view captures what transpired in Enugu last week when, out of desperation, some selfish politicians, determined to undermine the goodwill of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, hijacked a peaceful protest by Enugu youths against police brutality and turned it into a political witchhunt.

These self-serving elements went as far as hiring popular musicians of other extractions to mock the government and the good people of Enugu State. It is on record that the current EndSARS protests across the country have goals that have been collectively articulated by the initiators which cannot be localized by any means. The sudden appearance of some popular igbo musicians believed to be working for fifth columnists in Enugu State at the protest venue to disrupt the peace is most regrettable and condemnable.

Apparently, there is a limit to everything life, and It is obvious most of us are frustrated because of the nation’s economic challenges, but the pertinent fact we have refused to realize is whether the limited resources available to states now are sufficient enough to address the various problems of our people.

Nobody wants to consider this obvious fact. What we do is to sit down with our smartphones and ignorantly abuse those in government with so much disdain.

In Enugu State, for instance, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi came into office when the country and the whole world were in an economic recession. Unlike his predecessor, Sullivan Chime, who enjoyed excess crude oil funds and huge federal allocations, he has been doing his best to pay the new minimum wage to state workers, which most states in Nigeria are yet to implement.

In spite of all that, he has carried out numerous developmental projects especially in the rural areas which are the primary focus of his administration. He has also continued to maintain existing facilities, service inherited debt, and keep the state peaceful and secure.

As a man with a conscience, Gov. Ugwuanyi ensured that those in the rural areas, who have the population strength of the state and are unfortunately not on social media to express their joy, were given a sense of belonging.

Despite doing all these, his administration has not borrowed loans to finance projects. Even the FG bailout funds given to the 36 states in 2015 were judiciously used in Enugu and the Senate confirmed it. Enugu under Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has refused to play to the gallery by mortgaging the future of the next generation as some states like Ebonyi are doing with white elephant projects. Ugwuanyi does not want to create a problem for the next generation in the name of borrowing to finance projects that may be of no immediate economic value. He works within the framework of the current economic realities and he is achieving results.

The past governments did little in the rural areas of Enugu State in terms of development and that is the gap Ugwuanyi is diligently trying to bridge.

In this COVID-19 era, Ugwuanyi has demonstrated quality leadership in responding to the challenges of protecting the health of Ndi Enugu.

Nobody here can deny that the evidence is glaring for all to see. Enugu was among the few states that did not lose souls to security agencies at the peak of lockdown when some state chief executives exposed their citizens to danger in a bid to enforce sit at home order. Enugu is getting its first-ever Infectious Disease Hospital, courtesy Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

His only sin is that he is concentrating development in rural areas where the population constitute the silent majority. Those that were abandoned for ages and had accepted their fate.

Even at that, the rural development policy of his administration has paid off and it reflected on his reelection victory last year, which he won with an overwhelming 95.54 percent of valid votes cast. However, this his good intention to remember the poor, long-neglected and lowly, did not go down well with the youth in Enugu city whose only hobby is to post and comment irresponsibly on social media, where they express their anger freely without knowing the socio-political implications.

Nonetheless, patriotic and well-meaning Enugu youths are aware of the gimmicks, and therefore urge our amiable governor not to be discouraged, but remain calm, undaunted, and focused in his determination to maintain peace and order in Enugu State. We implore him to continue providing dividends of democracy to Ndi Enugu irrespective of the provocation from any angle. We are with him, and we remain resolutely behind him.

For those selfish and desperate politicians bent on undermining the interest of Enugu people at any slightest opportunity, the time for reckoning is near. Phyno and Flavour, who allowed themselves to be used for such an inglorious dirty outing should also know that Nigerians are wiser and will pay them back in equal measures when the chips are down. Those seeking to politicize Peaceful protest designed by the youths of Nigeria to press home our collective grievances will not go unpunished, posterity will judge them someday. They should know that nothing is hidden under the sun, people are seeing them and all what they are doing in the name of activism. What a man sows, he reaps.

Enugu is in the hands of God Almighty

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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

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