₦airaland Forum

spyder880: You are, my brotther I am waiting to see if anyone here can tell us the story in detail, if not I will refresh our minds on the monumental artwork.

The year was 1949. The place, Iva Valley Mine. Coal workers were being owed their wages and other entitlements, and then opted to strike. This, in addition to the mounting pressure for independence from Britain's exploitative rule across Africa, aggravated the savage colonialists. British policemen arrived the scene in minutes, opened fire on unarmed coal miners, and murdered 21. There was widespread public condemnation of that hideous act, and on the wings of that, Zik advanced the consciousness for self rule. He is pictured on that sculpture vociferously protesting the mindless killing.

Such brave men who died with all of that good music still in them.
"When we are poised the wounds of battle to heal
Then shall we remember those who died en masse
Then shall our trumpet peal the glorious song
Of victory scored over might and wrong"

I had this thread a year ago:
https://www.nairaland.com/1522701/iva-valley-enugu-state-massacre

centje: doc, happy new year! thanks a lot, I just dey explore small small...aiming for the peak

Methinks you're already there. That or you're only a footstep away.
Jide k'iji!
Happy New year too.

Wow, beautiful pieces, all of them!
Centje's got talent...

asha 80: http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/nvnews/133544/1/enugu-state-flags-off-n24bn-centenary-road-project.html

That road's twirls and turns sure make it adventurous.

[quote author=IGBO-SON]One more:[/quote][quote author=IGBO-SON]Some pics of rural Ebonyi (Ezzamgbo):[/quote]Such scenic beauty!
These lakes and surrounding lush vegetation will have to contend with Enugu's much-talked about soft green hills, and valleys. And I think Ebonyi will come out looking good.
See how the clear waters mirror the sky!
I really wish Elechi will infuse more funds into tourism.

cjrane: In 1995, i had a heated arguement in Yenagoa with a friend, he told me Igbos were jealous of Ijaw because the north preferred Ijaw to Igbo. My argument then was simple " The north is using divide and rule tactics to turn Ijaw against their Igbo brethren to conquer both". They would treat an Ijaw man exactly or even worse than they would an Igboman. I ran into him recently in Lagos last June, and now he now concurs the north just used them against Igbos! Those that fan the embers of unity in Igboland are truly blind!
I believe your comment was directed at me.I won't reply negatively, because i can see that your mind is already tuned negatively to have twisted my comments for development into your perceived anti-wawa rant.

Although this isn't relevant, I will have you know that I was actually born at the Mother of Christ hospital opposite Ogbete, Enugu and from your post, i can tell i must be older than you. I was also raised in New Haven, Enugu where i crossed the same Chime ave. thousands of time before it was dualized. I also went to university in Enugu!
Therefore, i consider myself from Enugu, even though my state of origin is Delta! I don't indulge in that senseless Wawa vs. others or Anambra vs. Imo thing. If you guys understood the dynamics of Nigeria deeply enough, you will have discovered the level of evil plot against YOU as an IGBOMAN in Nigeria, not as Anioma, Anambra,Wawa or Ikwerre man. Then, you will be going from door to door like me to weep and preach that Igbos should unite just to survive Nigeria. I will leave my sermon here for now.


Chime Avenue is showed in the video from 4:00 to 6:25.
My post was merely to encourage the transformation of that wide median into an aesthetic masterpiece just like the similar type of wide median you see in the pictures below from other Nigerian cities.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhnrHoNGwSc

CJ the man, I don't think he was referring to you at all. Everyone knows where you stand in this matter.

BTW Happy new year... Been a while.

ketoprofen: So is achi saying the truth?

Afam would be the last one to know!
BTW, isn't that where a bridge recently collapsed?(I thick that's what achi is referring to)
And, there's the road linking Eha-Amufu in Enugu to Nkalagu in Ebonyi, whose bridges are in need of upgrade.

asha 80: that thing overhead the akwatta road is it a pedestrian bridge.

I believe it is. Coal Camp is just overhead. Plus, I've seen people walk down that embankment, so a pedestrian bridge is necessary.

myhobbies: More of Akwata road

Nice. The pedestrian bridge's taking shape.
The engineers responsible for this road have solved the traffic issues for the foreseeable future.
But, work appears quite slow.

[quote author=IGBO-SON]An apt metaphor wouldn't you say?

The house looks hunted as well! [/quote]Heh heh heh

[quote author=me_for_you]what they speak in ebonyi is not a dialect. It's a language quite very different from igbo.
I'm from Imo. And when I go home I tune FM of different igbo states - abia , anambra, enugu and imo and I understand all they say. But once I made d mistake of tuning that of abakiliki and I regretted my life. Ebonyi people speak more of calabar than igbo. Ok state the ebonyi words for cup, plate, spoon, love-making, bottle and compare them with the ones of central igbo. Ebonyi people are bush men joor. Are they not the ones that litter my village and help us in farming and cutting palm kernel?[/quote]Dude, will you stop!
These are Nigerians trying to make a decent living, but to you manual labor is something to be ashamed of. That's disappointing.

Ebonyi is 100% Igbo. And, language is dynamic; centuries of trading with her CrossRiver neighbors might have influenced the dialect in much the same way as Akwa Ibom influenced the Igbos at Arochukwu , and Idoma/Igala influenced the Igbos at Nsukka. The influence goes both ways.

I believe the place Obuaku is a variant of Oboakpu.
The Imo river traverses Oboakpu.
For comparison, look at the tributary that's Onne--I think this project is do-able. Except T A Orji hasn't much history of doing.

This thread ought to be about Obi's vaunted achievements, but somehow, it has ended up a comparison with Chime. Regardless, there's a common notion that Chime has only focused in Enugu city, and I would like to know the details. What has Obi done in the rural communities? And please don't limit your response to roads. Chime built much more roads in Nsukka zone than in Enugu East (which comprises Enugu city, Nkanu and IsiUzo)
My verdict on Obi is that he's had a pretty easy pass. He did precious little and lucky for him, Anambrarians have sadly lowered their expectations.

Congratulations!!!

[quote author=IGBO-SON]^^^Thank you my brother! These were the figures i saw for the South East and my perception of the Ebonyi state governor changed; i didn't have his time before! He's tapping into the states agricultural potentials reasonably well, and i've noticed when he builds physical structures, he goes for good contractors and builds something Ebonyians in particular and Ndigbo in general can be proud of......like the state secretariat for instance.[/quote]Really, what Elechi is doing is quite commendable.
I used to perceive him as an under-performer because news from Ebonyi were often few and far between.
Now I know better.

[quote author=IGBO-SON]^^^Could you share any link/references that supports your claim that Ebonyi is 'one of the poorest states in Nigeria'? If we're looking for state governments that have performed below expectations, inspite of the massive human and natural resources their states are endowed with, i think we all know where to look!

A good starting point would be to compare Ebonyis' IGR (for say 2012) with that of any state you feel Ebonyi should emulate in the South East! If you're busy, just ask me to help you and i'd gladly oblige![/quote]Oh Lord, this is quite mind-boggling (Figures are per month and in Naira).
Ebonyi: 1.25bn
Enugu: 1bn
Imo: 800million
Anambra:450million
Abia: 300million
(These are figures gleaned from govt officials)

These figures are puzzling. Is million the new billion, or what!
Our 'super-states' Anambra and Abia with the industries and commerce are scratching the bottom of the pot.
It turns out Abia will have to be collapsed into Ebonyi, while Anambra is collapsed into Enugu.

Now I kinda understand why geeez appears on every thread citing IGR figures; there's some sense in his 'madness', after all.
A good number of SE leaders are having the easiest ride, and the citizens cheering them on.

Afolayinka: Ikaram akoko,ondo state

Ikare Akoko?
The land of rocky hills.
Plus, weather extremes.

Kevsman: lol, no be small thing oh, am from Eha-Amufu (Mgbuji) in Isi-Uzo LGA of Enugu State

Wow.
My grandmother (God bless her memory) was from Eha Amufu. We spent several Christmases at Ama-ede.

I'm from Ikem anyway.
Ala! Deeje!

Nzecorneboy: am 4rm enugu state. Isi-uzo l.g.a. Ikem is my home town OGORLEGWU is my clan

Unu-na-ayeee!
Biakadu huma wanem.
Ala!
Deeje!
I'm also from Ikem, Ogor Village.

I'm from the northernmost part of Igboland, Umuezutu village, Ogor, Ikem Asokwa in Isi Uzo LGA of Enugu State, a place still as pristine as it was on the day God created it.

Preamble:
Iva Valley is a locality located in the Nigerian city of Enugu in Enugu State. The Iva Valley is named after a valley in the area which bears the same name. The locality is the site of the Iva Valley Coal Mine. The Iva Valley is famed in Enugu for the events of November 18, 1949 when 21 miners were shot dead by policemen while striking.[1] The Iva Valley Coal Mine was opened in 1917 by the British colonial government of Nigeria after the Udi Mine in 1915, making it the second ever coal mine established in the city.[2]

It is exactly 64 years today November 18, 2013 when armed British colonial policemen opened fire on defenceless coal miners in the Iva Valley mine in Enugu. In those moments of collective colonial insanity, the colonialists within minutes murdered 21 Nigerian workers and injured 51.

The workers' crime was that they dared to go on a strike which the colonial authorities interpreted as a political strike designed to pressurise them to quit the country and let Nigeria join other nations free from colonial misrule and exploitation.
The political scientist, Richard L Sklar wrote on the significance of their sacrifice : “ Historians may conclude that the slaying of the coal miners by police at Enugu first proved the subjective reality of a Nigerian nation. No previous event ever evoked a manifestation of national consciousness comparable to the indignation generated by this tragedy”.
The coal mine managers were British racists who had a sense of superiority over Nigerians. There were cases of physical abuse. In one case, a Briton T. Yates on September 2, 1945 slapped a worker, Okwudili Ojiyi who had the courage to bring up an assault case and Mr Yates was prosecuted and fined.
On November 1, 1949 matters between the workers and management reached a head when the latter rejected demands for the payment of rostering, the upgrading of the mine hewers to artisans and the payment of housing and travelling allowances. The workers then began a “go slow” strike.
The management’s reaction was to sack over 50 of them. Fearing that the strike was part of the growing nationalist agitations for self- rule, the management also decided to move out explosives from the mines on November 18, 1949.
Those of the Obwetti mines were easily removed, but that of Iva Valley was not because the workers refused to assist the management to do so.
The Fitzgerald Commission which the colonialists were forced to set up to investigate the massacre, found that “the reason why the miners objected to the removal of the explosives was because they feared that once the explosives were removed, nothing stood in the way of the management closing the mine and thus effecting a lock – out”.
Senior Superintendent of Police, F.S.Philip came to the mine to assist in the removal. He had two other officers and75 armed policemen. At a point there was a struggle between three of the policemen and the workers, and Philip without any hesitation ordered his men to shoot.
There were mass protests in places like Port Harcourt, Aba and Onitsha and 18 prominent Nigerians set up the National Emergency Committee (NEC) to coordinate a national response to this crime against humanity. It was chaired by Dr Akinola Maja with Mbonu Ojike as secretary.
The colonial government issued a statement that the workers were armed, had tried to disarm the policemen and had attempted to seize the explosives. The Commission found all these to be lies. The Commission which partly blamed the union and said Superintendent Philip committed an error of judgement, found that: “ Not one policeman was injured, not one missile was thrown at them (and that) if the crowd was bent on using force against the police nothing could have saved these policemen from grave injury, whereas in fact they were not injured at all”. Such are the bloody legacy of British colonial rule and repression and the peoples struggle for emancipation.


Today, on this 64th commemoration, may the courage, patriotism and selflessness of the martyred Iva Valley miners and those of the true nationalists continue to inspire us in these neo-colonial times.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/11/iva-valley-massacre-sixty-years-of-struggle/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iva_Valley

shaqoloye: molest not molestation my friend.

Actually he typed 'r.ape', but that word is censored on NL, so the computer replaced it with 'molestation'.

CFCfan: Southern Cameroon. But for such a merger to work, a plebiscite would have to be conducted in both S. Caneroon and SE Nigeria. The same would have to be done in Benin and SW, NW Nigeria.

So what happens to Northern Cameroon?

My question is so that you realise you're (hypothetically of course) tilting Nigeria towards a regional hegemony. As yet, we haven't sufficiently addressed our internal squabbles and fear of domination, let alone attempt to form a West African power bloc.

Our leaders only need to make Nigeria attractive, and the rest will happen naturally.

^
Heh heh heh
This is quite an interesting thread. I'm learning a lot too.

Cathaliya: Mister, does 'a' go before a word like 'ubiquitous'..?


last I checked 'a' goes with a consonant sha



correct me if I am wrong

Though spelt with an initial 'u', the word is actually pronounced You-be-kwee-tus.
So, it goes with'a' rather than 'an'

The cockroach is a ubiquitous insect.

[quote author=babe_online]Why not go and carry out your research since there is nothing scientific about this one?

At least, someone has done his.

And by the way I wont be surprised if this research is being replicated many times and the same result is gotten![/quote]Please, do not refer to that jumbled-up article as a research finding--No, not even as a joke!!!
Even if that's the kind of research they do in SW universities (by dint of the UNILAG graduate student who conclusively proved that like poles of magnets repel, thus homosexuality is wrong), don't embarrass the rest of us who are actually doing worthy research. Eg:

From UNN:
https://www.nairaland.com/1501161/unn-researcher-secures-patent-development

A researcher in the Department of pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry,
University of Nigeria Nsukka, Justus Nwaoga, has been granted the patent right
for the sole use and advantage of inventing the development of Mimosa
Pudica, locally known as “touch and die weed” into solar cells.

UNN Alumnus breaks new grounds in Chlamydia research:

http://unn.edu.ng/news/unn-alumnus-breaks-new-grounds-chlamydia-research

UNN Student develops amateur rocket propellant

http://unn.edu.ng/news/unn-student-develops-amateur-rocket-propellant

United Nations agency enrolls UNN member

http://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=1363


Lesson you need to learn: you can't just slap 'research' in front of anything and expect to get away with it!

You call this a 'scientific analysis'

Smh.

Just in case you're unaware what a research should be, check out these links:

https://www.nairaland.com/1488648/southwest-kidnap-capital-nigeria

Interesting revelations emerged from a crime study by the National Crime and Victimization Survey, 2013:

1. You're Four (4) times more likely to be r.aped in the SW than in the SE

2. You're Three (3) times more likely to be robbed in Ondo, than in Ebonyi

3. You're more likely to be kidnapped in the SW than anywhere else in Southern Nigeria.

4. You're Three (3) times more likely to be murdered in the SW than in the SE

5.Your phone is twice (2) at risk of being stolen in Ekiti than in Ebonyi

6. Your car is 2.5 times more at risk of being stolen in Lagos than in the SE.

7. You're twice at risk of being the victim of armed violence (other than robbery) in Lagos than in the SE

8. If you reside in Ogun or Ondo, you're much more likely to live in fear of crime than if you reside in Enugu or Ebonyi

The South East is certainly one of the safest place in Nigeria. The figures are verifiable, numbers don't lie.

Here's the link to the study:

http://www.cleen.org/Text%20Report%20of%202013%20NCVS%20Findings.pdf

https://www.nairaland.com/1490847/south-west-nigeria-kidnap-capital

@gozievisua:

This thread is strictly for Politics in Enugu state, Nigeria. Let's not give the mods reason to move this thread (It's merely being tolerated as it is). You might create a new thread for the article, and we'll comment over there. Cheers.

Aregbesola and his Culture of misplaced priorities.
The Airports in Akure and Ibadan are barely functional, so what's going to change this time?
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results = INSANITY.

Mutab4u: What we need is effective management of the stadium.

Way ahead of you.
I've no doubt Chime will deliver.
Infrastructure is his forte.