princeakino: But wait ooo, so na still this Airport ongoing project that Obi Cubana's men private jets landed on the day of his mother's funeral Is yes then " Money breaks Protocols" Money is Good
Incorrect, sir. Davido and co landed at Asaba which is kinda close, too.
Chikeluba25: Meet Anambra Diaspora Man of the year, The king of Six Nations
Jerome Ezeneche is the leader of Ndi Igbo in China, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. He recently won the Anambra Diaspora Person of the Year. In this Exclusive Interview with IGBERE TV, he talks about his early life and his status as Eze Ndi Igbo in six countries. Excerpts:
*WHAT WAS GROWING UP LIKE FOR YOU?*
I was born and bred at Onitsha. I lost my father Cyprian Ezeneche at a very young age. I was six , assisting my mother who ran a restaurant . I had other siblings but I was the first son and the responsibilities associated with that position are many. The death of my father made me grow up fast. I became a father figure to my younger ones, playing the role model while at the same time assisting my mother. Before his death, my father was a hardworking and successful man in his time, with houses in the village and at Onitsha where he was based. At his demise, his siblings who were his business partners kept the knowledge of my late father’s properties away from us because my mother was not literate enough to ask questions. I would later join my mother in her restaurant. I believe that contributed to the person I am today because the restaurant afforded me the opportunity to learn some culinary skills which rubbed off of what I do today.
My mother’s restaurant was located at Awada, a suburb in Onitsha and it was a very popular restaurant in those days. I was a boarder in school. During holidays, I would come back to help my mother. My experience in her restaurant and the cooking skill I learnt earned me a position as the school kitchen prefect at Abbot Boys College, Ihiala and I was in that position from class 4. It was from that class that my mother stopped paying my school fees and that was because of my position. Some parents were even paying me to help look after their wards in school and in turn took me as their own son.
Due to paucity of funds, I decided to quit further studies for business after my secondary school. I learnt baking materials trade under Mr Boniface Okwuolisa, from Ihiala. I was with Mr. Boniface before I met Cornel Tochukwu Kpajie, from Uke. Mr. Tochukwu’s boss was selling baking powder with the name ‘First Choice’ in those days. Tochukwu being an industrious fellow, learnt how to produce the baking powder and would later begin the production of his own brand and named it ‘Royal Baking Powder’. So since I was still learning the ropes in the baking materials business, Tochukwu made an offer to make me to assist in distributing the product and jumped on the offer. I did an excellent job of marketing the product.
After a while, I decided to change course and travel overseas for better opportunities. That was how we started producing Royal baking powder in China. We were also producing flavors, yeast, improver and all the baking materials. I discovered where they produce them in China and Indonesia. Today, the relationship between me and Tochukwu Kpajie is still strong. It is more like a father and son relationship. He is someone who wants me to succeed and he was instrumental to the success of my trip abroad. I was initially importing goods from China to Nigeria but when I started having challenges, I decided to set up my base outside the shores of Nigeria.
The first country I went to live in was Vietnam and from there, I moved to Thailand. I have also lived in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and China, I have visited all these countries and I have my network in those countries. The Igbo people in that region appreciate my person greatly and when they saw my leadership qualities, they decided to install me as their leader in these countries and that is the origin of the name “The King of Six Nations”. I also have my ’10-10’ restaurants in these six countries. It is adjudged one of the biggest in Asia. It was from there that I started my own farm where I cultivate our food and presently, there is no need for yam and bitter leaf importation in Thailand because we have the farm here. We also process garri and akpu. Palm fruit is here in Thailand but we process it to our taste. I am also a licensed BDC operator.
In those six Nations, our people were having too many issues. An example of such is that when our people come into the country without proper documentation, most of the times, they will be subjected to arbitrary arrest by the law enforcement agencies and they may enter another country in a bid to evade arrest and that may compound their problems. Some might have proper documentation but because of little misunderstanding between them and the Thai or Vietnamese people, the Thai people may use police to harass them. That brought about a lot of complaint, but my intervention helped to put some of these issues under control. There were times when our brother will die in a country like Laos ,but because Nigerians aren’t many there, I will have to plead with our people in China and Thailand to make contributions to send the corpse home .Our leadership has also introduced a reign of peace and curbed cult related killings in these six nations. I am also in good terms with the royal fathers in Nigeria. This is to keep them updated and also to report any issue concerning any of their persons, especially when such character proves difficult to handle.
Another thing we do is to bring our culture close to our people in the diaspora and make them have a feel of home. Cultural identity is very vital in our everyday living particularly for most of us who live abroad . And so when we come home, we learn the culture and the way things are done and then go back to teach our people in these nations our cultural practices and traditions. We also work together to help one another and lift one another up. If one of us has a problem, we all contribute to help provide solution to the person's problem. The ancient Igbo Philosophy ‘ibu anyi Danda’ and ‘nwanne di na mba’ forms the core of our activities and shapes our actions. The Igbo in those six nations have decided that they will have a caretaker administrator in each country but they will all report to me. With time, China, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia etc will have their caretaker administrators that will be in charge and they will work with me in order to pilot the affairs of our people.
*COULD YOU THROW MORE LIGHT ON 10-10 RESTAURANT?*
If you come to Asia, 10-10 restaurant is rated among the best African restaurants. When we started, we only had Nigerian customers but now we have customers from different races. When the wife of immediate past President of Nigeria, Mrs Patience Jonathan came to Thailand for an event, 10-10 restaurant was the official caterer. That event announced us and others started patronizing 10-10 restaurant for indoor and outdoor events.
*SOME NIGERIANS ARE KNOWN TO TRAVEL ABROAD AND ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DRUG TRAFFICKING AND INTERNET FRAUD. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR THOSE HOPING TO GO ABROAD?*
The standard practice for anybody with the intention of relocating to a foreign country is to have a contact person that can help him or her settle down. I usually advice our brothers who intend to travel to ensure that they have such contacts. In cases where such is unavailable, most of them will become stranded and some get tempted to go into crime .
Though it is very wrong and condemnable, I don’t think we Nigerians are the only people that engage in criminal activities. But instead of crime,there are a lot immigrants can learn in a foreign country. Many are engaged in honest labour. Some teach or get engaged in sporting activities like football and boxing. If you travel to Asia, you will notice that there are a lot of Nigerian teachers and it is a lucrative job. A teacher can earn as much as 50 dollars per hour. I'm not saying we are saints but the story of few who are into crime can never be allowed to dominate the great stories of many of us who are working extremely hard to make a decent living and contribute to the economy of our host country.
*YOU WERE GIVEN THE AWARD AS ANAMBRA DIASPORAN 2020, WHICH SHOWS YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WELL-BEING OF EASTERNERS OVERSEAS. WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS YOU WOULD SAY YOU HAVE DONE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR WELLBEING?*
First is what I call prison ministry. I visit our brothers in prison, help them with legal aid if need be and also help relay messages to their various families in a bid to help get them out of incarceration. I have been doing this even before I was crowned the Igwe. Going to visit prisoners is not really easy as you might get arrested too for no just cause. Whenever any of our brothers gets arrested, I am the first person the police will contact before they charge the person to court. I also make sure that children whose fathers were deported are well taken care of. So it is like a gospel outreach for me.
Again, the goodwill I have built over the years across several countries has positioned me to become an unofficial ambassador of some sort for our people, a bridge between the authorities of the host countries and our people, as well as a conflict resolution professional for transactions among our people. I have resolved several business disputes that would have degenerated to ugly situations. I have also provided references and guarantees for our people who want to do business with foreign companies, especially when such persons require credit facilities. So essentially, I put my integrity on the line, making it possible for our people in these nations where I have enormous influence to thrive.
I hate that Ezendigbo nonsense with passion! He looks like a clown. And nobody crowned him. It's utterly embarrassing. Time will come when if you didn't go through the nze na ozo rituals process and you wear a red cap you will be openly disgraced. I am speaking for Ndi Anambra specifically.
aribisala0: Actually they do forget their culture Millions were taken to the Americas as slaves Did they keep their culture alive? Today they have abandoned their religion totally Where are the Igbo movies Where is the Igbo Music
The display we saw this week was OMATA culture not Igbo culture Okonjo Iweala Chimamanda Adichie Achebe Ojukwu are Igbo families we know they would never indulge in such vulgarity
Stop the unnecessary rewriting of history
Spraying money at burials is a culture some Igbos copied from their neighbours without understanding what it is about. Why stone each other with money . That is adolescent behaviour and anyone telling me that is Igbo culture is deluded
No matter how hard you try what comes out is that your people have lost their way No class, No culture. Anyone who comes at me with abusive language better start preparing to bury his mother
Why are you so paranoid ?? Lol By the way, Igbo people still have their culture. Not every Igbo person sprays money.
Ofodirinwa: They are traditionally smiths and carvers (wa = to cut). So some of the groups in Enugu and Ebonyi are called that even if they're not themselves because that's where smithing came from (check Lejja, and Opi Iron sites from the time of the Egyptians).
Awka people are also wawa, but there are many Awka people on this website calling ppl wawa as an insult because they're not raised at home and are effectively not even Igbo people anymore.
Awka has migration from Wawa areas but they aren't Wawa. Not even close
We don't need anymore CDM/CM. We are very shorthanded in the AM position. Why are we stacking the team with DM,CM , CDM ? We need a highly technical AM!
mktinsight: Another deluded fellow. Prove where J wrote where I am from Imo otherwise you are full of shyt.
In many occasions people 'd speak to you in disparaging language and 'd thought they were being unnecessarily harsh , but for you to call me deluded shows how irredeemable pathetic you are. Out of all the Omanbalas here ,I am only the few ones who have shown you some grace and civility.
During the heat of UGM you and I were constantly at loggerheads with Ndi Yoruba/Ijaw and you made bold in one of the threads you are actually from Imo. But , this revelation would be immaterial if you could be more tact and constructive in your approach, when criticizing some persons.
By the way , I bookmarked that thread where you informed you are from Imo and I will look for it in my spare time.
Furthermore , visit the Imo threads more often and contribute this unmatched wisdom to your own people.
mktinsight: I am not from imo nor does it matter but it shows you that those trumpeting Anambra are paid government agents like the village idiot with 50 moniker, the fellow whose daily bread comes from ANSG and the rest who claim to be more Anambra than the real sons of the soil.
Again, I maintain that Anambra does not need an airport now. Not with Owerri, Asaba, Enugu airports all built by FGN in a 200 mile radius and all losing money. Not when its cities look like shyt with dirt roads everywhere.Thats one.
Two is that if we are to build an airport its not this rubbish Obiano and friends are promoting. This is not the third best airport in Nigeria promoted by the empty vessel and nothing upstairs fellow. It is a white elephant that will be like Asaba airport a vanity project that soaks in money and a sure money loser.
Insulting me will not change the facts on ground that Obiano is probably the worst governor of the state since Mbadinuju. Anambra has regressed under this man. Its cities look like primordial shytholes once again.
You wrote on a Yoruba thread you were from Imo. I saw it and I have no reason to lie; which puts your constant criticisms of Obiano's administration and mockery of his projects in question ,as whether your concerns are truly genuine.
You are not from Anambra but you are alwsys here to critisize and condenm everything we do. Wetin be ya own sef ?
mktinsight: You flatter yourself. I hope and pray for progress in Anambra but Obiano is a big disappointment. His airport IS MEDIOCRE. Looks like a poultry shed. Sorry for villagers like you used to poverty. I have travelled through over 60 airports worldwide and know what quality looks like.
Nwokem , stop doing this. That airport may not be the most beautiful but calling it mediocre is not in order. By the way , you said yourself you are from Imo but you never visit that thread to contribute to your home land ,out of the plentiful of your knowledge. You are beginning to irritate me.
Like I said before, I was not of the opinion Anambra needed an airport immediately, but Obiano has delivered a project we can be proud of. Let's move on, diokpa!
AndSunGorilla: I hope he paid for flight and hotel with his own money.
This is savage! I never liked that fake tactician and i made it known long ago and received insults for dissenting. I have dealt with Oyibo for a very long time and I can tell you when they look down on you. Rohr treat us like slaves in our own country but he do it with so much stealthy. He snicker at our journalist and make derogatory smirks. Most Nigerians cant see these things because they are timid.
Sufferingboy: Here is Ika people discussing,IPOB propaganda about GEN Irabor.......
This is not the material you made promise to post. You claimed Igbo denied Irabor ! You posted a video of two Ika talking about some gossip they heard. Now , we want you to tell us who made those statements about Irabor being Fulani. Refer us to that article
Sufferingboy: Let me ask you,na Ika people stop Igbos from leaving? They should settle their wahala with their fulani brothers.
Oga, Ika is not important in this discourse. We have said it a million time that we are only concerned with Enuani! You know this but you continue to write these trash....ENUANI we want NOT Ika. Go with your Bini lords...onye mgbu!
If you didn't start this thread by mocking and insulting Igbo that guy would not have fired back. But, after getting checked today you will open another thread blaming Igbo for all your sufferings.....cant you see how senseless you sound.
You fetched ant infested woods and attracted lizards!
mancoconut: The irony and melancholy of it all is that you claim to be Ika, bros you come from a tribe who are so stupid and uncivilized that they couldn't even evolve a language, culture, and name for themselves but had to appropriate everything IGBO in language and culture yet deny been Igbos... who even sabi Ika people on the global map of relevance? your people are eternally stuck in the quagmire of identity crisis because you have no authentic identity of your own worth celebrating. Ika stole their language and culture from Igbos (predominantly) , Benins, Igalas etc because una ancestors no get the brains to forge their own identity without borrowing from others. Kanu is one man and the Igbos are a proud nation of 40 million or more people, yet a complete nonentity like you has the fallacious guts to insult a whole nation who gave your tiny and irrelevant tribe their identity on the account of one man's ideology? Igbos don suffer for this Naija sha
This is not a cultural discussion but a political one. Address him directly and leave Ika alone. The guy is a bit irritating but we can handle the little pest, maturely. He is not speaking for Ika, here.
DMerciful: I'm Ika myself but you're insulting an entire tribe because of one man. Even if it's because of several people, you shouldn't do that. I see hidden celebration in your intonation as though Nigeria will become better due to this arrest.
We're too divided in the South!
@Sufferingboy , read the above post and see the ability of a sane human to make distinction between tribal affiliations and political affiliation. This guy is proud to be Ika but also understands that the struggle for secession is right and just.
You make it very hard for people to believe you are Ika. You think only Igbo are being marginalized ? If a crisis breaks out in the north Ika will not be spared because the north don't even know you exist. You are grouped as Igbo.
Sufferingboy: I hate Igbo right? Oh Igbos don't hate Ika people right?
Continue to dey deceive urself.
Why would you think Igbo hate Ika while all we have been trying to prove is simply the strong cultural connections that prove Ika are Igboid people. What you understand as hate is Igbo distancing themselves since you not only deny any relationship with Igbo but takes it a step further to call us names like "Igbon/slaves" and "criminals" not to ward off debates that you will lose. We extended a hand of brotherhood but instead of you to come with facts you resort to insults.....the Igbo you are calling slaves you have not a single fact to prove that....you are scared of intellectual discussions. Example is the original post on this thread, it's filled with insult , propaganda and hate. You can't possibly convince anybody with your post here that you are mentally astute. Read your post ,again.
candidtalk: This is very true. Even their governors refused to openly condemn Kanu and IPOB until recently when it had totally gone 'red' for ala Igbo and damaging the ability of people to go about their lives and businesses.
Show me one Igbo Nairaland poster that was not insulting Yorubas with Iskaba wakili, or whatever his name is, and Republic of Benin IDP camp and I will show you a liar for sure
They all engaged in it bar non. They all bragged that IPOB ESN and UGM should come and teach Yoruba "Cowards" how to secure their land and women.
Pride goes before a fall and the moment of himiliation is now upon Igbo. All Igbos better all take up arms to free their messiah from captivity or they will never hear the end about their cowardice given how they have insultingly trolled others. Lol
I am Igbo and I rarely open Yoruba threads and so are many Igbo like Aro-okigbo, Pazienza etc..
There is a difference between being sympathetic to a course and being and being a member of a secessionist group.
I am sympathetic to the IPOB course but I am not a member because we go through the same marginalization.
Sufferingboy: If you say so then,It was caused by an oshimili man not an Ika man.(Nzeguo Kaduna from Okpanam town)
So don't beleive the innocent Ika people....Blame your fellow Igbos(oshimili people).......
So, you are suddenly no longer the spokesman of Anioma This is getting interesting. If my memory serves me right there were Ika soldiers involved in the coup.
Sufferingboy: Yes,not all Igbos are in Ipob but all Igbos secretly support the insult and blackmailing of other southern tribes by Ipobs?
Dey deceive urselve.
Please , keep quiet or say what is truly eating you up.. Your problems didn't start with Nnamdi Kanu , you have always hated Igbo whether they chest beat or not.
Sarduana also hated Igbo simply because of our enterprising nature...nobody had to chest beat rile up a man with a low self esteem like you. You were simply born with inferior genes that's why you spend most of your time attacking Ndigbo and claiming Ika.
The marginalization we Ndigbo are suffering today's were caused by western Igbo#
This thread was simply opened to gloat and mock NK/IPOB/Igbo and had nothing to do with how Nnamdi Kanu spoke of minorities. He was even advocating for a united south.
Oga, be a man and attack Igbo if you have the balls and hiding behind some nonsensical pretense like they are "chest beaters" , "Nnamdi Kanu is insulting southerners" , "Tompolo is smart" etc. You have a very sordid record here!
Travel › Re: Anambra International Cargo and passenger Airport Almost Ready(photos) by IDENNAA(m): 5:15pm On Jul 21, 2021
This is getting interesting. If my memory serves me right there were Ika soldiers involved in the coup.
