Ogidi: The Obiano's chieftaincy title and the water swamp/ditch Flood, By Tobenna Obiano

As written by Tobenna Obiano

Yesterday, Ogidi people celebrated their New Yam festival as well as one year of installment on the throne of their Igwe. I have followed the festivities and celebrations. I saw beautiful photos and updates about the event.

May I respectfully congratulate the Igwe of Ogidi kingdom, firstly on his one year anniversary on the throne, may God bless the king and may your days be long on the throne. I also congratulate His Majesty and the good people of Ogidi on their new Yam festival, a rich cultural heritage and celebration of ndi-Igbo.

His. Excellency, Chief. Willie Obiano, the Executive Governor of Anambra State was also honoured at the event, and installed as a chief of the community, the "Dike eji eje mba" of Ogidi Kingdom, to him I say Congratulations.

Ogidi is home of many great minds, but let me not draw up the history of the town, let us dwell on their most populous son, a pen pusher of source, an enigma and perhaps, a fearless, honest, sound and polished fellow who holds dear his integrity, I speak of no less a man but our own, Chinua Achebe, Africa's most read and populous author of all time.

What's my business with Ogidi? Achebe as an individual and in his works influenced me so much. I was amongst the very few who were allowed into his final respecting place. It was actually a miracle that I was allowed in. I stood next to the former Secretary General of British Commonwealth, Chief. Emeka Anyaoku and the other way was the former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige who had my friend, Barr. Obinna Agazie in his entourage. It was for me therefore, an honour to stand and watch as my literary mentor was lowered down. I love Achebe and also, I love his community.

If Achebe were to be alive today, he would have been perplexed by the continual failure of Nigeria's political class and her leadership. The mess going on in Abuja under Buhari's watch would have broken him down, and trust Achebe, in his style, he would have spoken up truth to power and damned the no consequences.

About this time last year or maybe earlier, I wrote an article about the town of Ogidi. I had watched the quite avoidable menace, the ditch and flooding brought about by stupid and ignorant acts of road construction workers. I saw what people were going through and I decided to speak up.

I felt for those who live by that swamp/ditch area. I felt for those who have their farmlands there already waterlogged or wholly overtaken by flood. I felt for road users, especially public transporters who must drive through same root where the road is wholly flooded and often times, their vehicles break down. I was writing about those because I have used my car drive through the road where water have covered the road. The flooded road had water cover up nearly above my burnet. It was a strange and sad sight to behold.

While it is true that the past administration, be it Federal or State who worked on the road allowed an ignorant Engineer and clearly unintelligent construction company to channel waterways into people's farmland, surrounded by homes, no one can exonerate them of any wrong doing. They are guilty and should have thought about the long term effect of such foolish decision. They failed in that regards and that must be made clear.

Now, while I wrote my last article about the state of Ogidi town, the sufferage people who live around the ditch and those who own farmlands there and motorists go through, I had to even question if they, as a community have representatives at all, and if yes, what have they been doing as regards that.

I queried about who represents their constituency as a member in the State House of Assembly and what he has done to manage the damages taking place there. Someone needed to speak and write. As an Anambrain, I took it upon myself to do so, not because I am from Ogidi or anything, I wrote because I had to.

Later that year or was it early this year, I met the member representing them in the State House of Assembly. We met here in the Caribbean when he came on a visit. I told him pointblank how disappointed I was. I had to be honest. I told him that he should have pushed for proper drainage channel and that the ditch be opened up to lessen the suffering of the people and destructions brought about by that swamp. He took time to tell me about the efforts he has made and how he would continue to push until something good comes out of it.

I later ran a background check on him and was informed he is a good man and has remained a progressive mind, having led his community as President General and has been successful as an individual before venturing into politics. He applauded my tenacity and patriotism and wasn't saddened by my kind criticism. We went ahead to become friends. Mid-August, this very good man, Chief. Udenze joined the church triumphant in heaven. On the reception of the news of his demise, I was broken down. May the Lord repose his soul.

I'm particurly saddened that a year after I wrote that very article and after series of push by Hon. Mmegbuanaeze, nothing has been down to reduce or open up channels to clear that ditch or swamp. It's heartbreaking.

While it's not of me to decide who gets what or why it happens. Who am I to question a community's stand on who to install chief? Even so, we must be open to speak or write. I only had expected that Ogidi commmunity should have followed up on the Government that this swamp be cleared, but no, they didn't, elections is by the corner and "all" must show love for the Governors' reelection bid, we must show we stand with him, even in our troubles and dying self, we must invite him and honor him.

To me, honoring the Governor with a Chieftaincy title is a welcome development. Infact, it may be richly merited or deserving, but inbetween, both parties, the honored and they that honored him should have done better.

As a Governor, he must have known about that swamp and the suffering of the masses, he ought to first have began work there before proceeding to receive such honor or else, finish work first there before receiving same. Also, the community cannot be honoring the Governor when they have such level of sufferage in their land occasioned by the flood caused by that swamp. To me, this isn't right.

Now, if you think that it doesn't matter or that I wanna play political gimmicks to score cheap points or mop up sentiments for ndi-Ogidi or that it's not worse off yet, or that it can be done later, know it now that you are ridiculously ignorant, foolish and stupid, all intertwined into one. I said so, and I'm unapologetic about that.

It may hurt a divide for my stand, but then, if we all continue to sit on the fence, only singing praises without criticizing respectfully where and when we should, we may never make progress.

Leaders should be open to criticisms and the led, should do so with love and all honesty.

As it has been, Congratulations ndi Ogid, also Igwe Ogidi and as they have installed the Governor, Congrats Dike eji eje mba!