An Interview with Chief (Hon). G. C. Nwabueze, JP

President, Ogbaru Development Association (ODA)

Chief (Hon) G.C. Nwabueze, J.P., is the current President of Ogbaru Development Association (ODA) in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. ODA is the apex body for the 15 autonomous communities in Ogbaru. Five (5) delegates from each of the communities represent their community by at the O.D.A. National Assembly. ODA is the body the oversee that political, socio-economic and development aspects of Ogbaru. It also looks into the other critical aspects of life and well being within Ogbaru communities.  ODA, which is now in its nineteenth year, shall be celebrating its twentieth Anniversary in 2004.  Some of these challenges facing the Ogbaru communities were highlighted in ODA’s report to the Ogbaru International Convention held in Atani on 28 December 2002.  The Ogbaru Home Page (OHP) spoke to Chief Nwabueze on pertinent issues and sought some clarification on the challenges facing the Ogbaru people. Here are the exchanges. 

Ogbaru Home Page (OHP): Thank you for agreeing to speak to us and through us Ogbaruans in the Diaspora. ODA, which you lead, is almost twenty years old, yet it seems not to have cut its teeth. Can ODA really claim to be relevant? 

G.C. Nwabueze: We have to thank you first of all for arranging this interview.  It is a golden opportunity for all of us.  Yes, it is true that ODA has been in existence for almost twenty years.  As you know, twenty years in the life of an organization as ODA is like twenty years in the life of a nation; the journey is just beginning.  Before we go into the question proper, may we inform you of our Corporate Mission Statement: 

“Feeding on co-operation of Ogbaruans worldwide, ODA will enthrone constant double-lane express communication mechanism with different zones and groupings, with a view to cross fertilizing and harnessing ideas that will make the association do a better of its mandate, and bringing joy to the hearts of all and to the motherland.” 

As to the issue of RELEVANCE of O.D.A., we would say that ODA is relevant in many ways.  As an aside, let us say that the question left us with no alternative than to break our resolve not to blow our trumpet.  It is a 'no-win' situation for us because, however much we would want to avoid sounding immodest, you will really end up finding yourself with a very big Trumpet in your hands.  Of course, this has to be so if most of the important events, which we went through, would be related. 

O.D.A. is the only neutral forum at home where the Communities can interact and interface on any issued unhindered.  To keep the interest of the fifteen autonomous communities running in one direction for twenty years is no mean feat. To really talk of O.D.A.'s relevance would mean going back to the very beginning to start narrating all that O.D.A. have done or mean to the people.  Apart from keeping the Communities constantly talking with each other over common problems, a few more samples would do: 

When some non-indigenous politicians in Ogbaru in the immediate past administration in Anambra State tried to short-change Ogbaru on a clear victory of one of our sons over his rivals from the other divide, on the Ogbaru Federal Constituency Primaries, O.D.A. rose in strength, with thunder in our hearts, and successfully challenged the falsification. We took a space in the Nigerian Guardian Newspaper at great financial cost (courtesy of Chief Sule Ugboma of Ossomala) to debunk the lie (see the attached), in addition to O.D.A.'s visit with documentary evidence to political power-points with the Political Party to lay bare the result.  The fight was not so much for the Ogbaru indigene involved as to the image of Ogbaru and the psyche of Ogbaruans worldwide.  O.D.A. rose in strength too, with a powerful communique to the Presidency through the Inspector General of Police, the National Chairman of INEC, the Chief National Security Adviser to the President, the Director General of SSS, among others, on the leaked stragegem of some disgruntled politicians from the other side who hired some roughnecks with a view to intimidating the electorates of Ogbaru extraction, come the just concluded General Elections.  We did not mail the Communique, we went to Abuja and other places and personally delivered the Communique to all concerned.  We reacted to one Festus Orjiakor's unwarranted and unauthorized Radio announcements on Ogbaru (see attached).  Our actions sent out very clear signals to the enemies of Ogbaru, that Ogbaru is now a "NO-GO" area.  For the first time in history, a record number of Ogbaru people came out to seek for political offices.  This is not without O.D.A's vanguard role in sensitizing our people, and showing them the way forward.  The hitherto infamous political apathy of Ogbaru people here at home has now been cast away, FOREVER. 

We wrote to the Chief Judge of the State Judiciary on the issue of abandonment since its completion of the new and enlarged Magistrate Court building at Atani, and we are planning a visit to him through the Chief Registrar to ensure his co-operation.  For now, Ogbaruans from the fifteen communities travel long distances to Okpoko to attend court sessions.  This is unacceptable.  (See attached letter to the Chief Judge) 

We paid so many visits to the former Governor even if to no avail on the socio-political problems of Ogbaru.  We toured the fifteen indigenous autonomous communities to blacklist the councilors of Ogbaru origin who, after they legitimately cried wolf over Callista Nwachukwu's disastrous administration of the Ogbaru Local Government Council Area, and when the stage was well set to ousting Callista, stealthily crawled back to work hand-in-glove with the same Callista and leaving O.D.A. with the dirty bath water. We were, as the Americans would say, flabbergasted by the councilors' action. We would spare you the details. 

We visited the new Governor at his country-villa at Alor in Idemili South Local Government Area, and planned to visit him officially at the Government House, Awka, soon, to discuss issues with him.  We had what you may call, soul-to-soul contact with him during the visit.  We visited with our world-famous egwu-amala dance troupe, and an ox.  The delegation was bedecked in Ogbaru national attire.  Ogbaru actually took the centre-stage, as it were, at Alor on that day.  The governor-elect, as he then was, was deeply touched and was evidently very pleased.  At the event, we presented to him a Communique along with a letter of congratulations.  The communique was signed by a representative of the Traditional Rulers, Retired Justice F.O. Awogu, ODA President, and one other.  The visit was  by the ODA Executive, and led by our Representative at the National Assembly.  The idea of visiting in the style we did was to quicken the consciousness of the Governor Elect on issues that would affect Ogbaru in the new dispensation.  O.D.A. is all out to achieving results for the Motherland, OGBARU. 

These flash-points of achievements, you can also call them relevance, are not visible or tangible (cannot be seen with the naked eye!)  but they are there.  All these and more, including this Interview, are what make Ogbaru Development Association, RELEVANT. 

OHP: Next year, O.D.A. will celebrate its twentieth anniversary.  You and your colleagues have embarked on a gigantic project to build a N100 million ODA headquarters. Should this be the priority for a people who neither have roads, portable water or functional health clinics?

GCN: An ODA House is to create a corporate identity for all Ogbaruans: man, woman, and child. At present, we have no permanent base Ogbaruans can call their own as a corporate body.  We need an O.D.A. House where every Ogbaruan can readily call in any time of the day.  It would also provide us the much-needed permanent Secretariat 

OHP: Your justifications for the ODA House are plausible and laudable, but should the house a priority at this time? Really, what has ODA accomplished in twenty years?

GCN:  An ODA House would have so many other values.  It would, without a doubt, raise the morale of our people.  It is going to be our own Number 10 Downing Street, or The White House, or Aso Rock.  We cannot operate from the streets as it were, to run an organization as O.D.A.  Above all, it would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of O.D.A., and earn for Ogbaru People more respect from the public. 

The issues of the Road, Portable Water and functional clinics cannot be treated in isolation.  We have even written to the health authorities on state of our clinics.  The other day, we were invited by the State Health Authorities at Awka to discuss handing over of an outboard engine for 'fly-boat' to Health officials in Ogbaru, to help monitor its use. 

  Although the reconstruction of the road has been in the 2002 Budget of the Federal Government, we have scheduled to further discuss issues of the Road in particular with the Dr. Chris Ngige's administration at our planned visit to the Governor.  You would in due course be informed of the outcome of the visit.  We have also planned to visit the President of Nigeria on the issue of the road. Other desired infrastructure would be discussed. 

OHP: ODA was active in the National Voters Registration exercise for the just concluded elections. Its goal was to sensitize Ogbaru people on the importance and need of registering in order to be able to vote. Did the outcome of the election justify those efforts?

GCN: Our primary purpose was to ensure that an Ogbaru indigene emerge victorious in any elective political office in Ogbaru Local Government Council area irrespective of party affiliations.  Our people trouped en masse and exercised their electoral rights.  The enthusiastic response was the first of its kind in Ogbaru. 

Ogbaru Constituency 2 comprising of the fifteen indigenous autonomous communities has a seat in the State House of Assembly.  Okpoko has its own seat at the State House of Assembly - so there is no 'common cake' to fight over with the non-ogbaruans in this regard.  The Ogbaru Federal Constituency for the House of Representatives has one seat for both Ogbaru Constituency One and Two.  An Ogbaruan won the Federal Seat by the huge turnout of Ogbaruans.  The Local Government Chairmanship election has been set aside by the Federal Government for what it said was to create room for restructuring of the entire Local Government system in Nigeria.  Until when the next Local Government Election would take place, we are keeping our gun powder dry.  Meanwhile, we are working round the clock to ensure that an Ogbaruan is appointed to head the Council in the interim. 

OHP: The last Ogbaru Local Government Administration under Mrs Callista Nwachukwu can best be described as a disaster. Now the candidates for the LGA chairmanship are all Ogbaruans. What are the prospects of getting a good leadership?

GCN: There were some aspirants from Okpoko.  However, majority of the aspirants were from the fifteen indigenous autonomous communities.  All the candidates cut across five political parties vying for chairmanship in Ogbaru.  O.D.A., as you are well aware, is non-political and non-partisan, even if we have interest on what goes on around us.  At the last count, before the suspension of the Local Government Election by the Federal Government, only Ogbaruans remained at the turf for the chairmanship.  So it would have been an all-indigenous Ogbaru affair. By our solidarity in fighting the common cause, Ogbaruans succeeded in taking the fight to Okpoko.  In consequence, we were able to break their ranks.  There was not any wonder, really, why only Ogbaruans remained at the turf at last count.  We worked hard for it.  

OHP: Kindly explain to Ogbaruans why ODA preaches unity but could not come up with a consensus candidate for the Local Government Chairmanship?

GCN: To have a consensus candidate presupposes that O.D.A. should declare for one of the political parties.  Consensus, to that extent would be counter-productive if not impossible for O.D.A. to show preference for any political party.  What we did in the circumstance was to ensure that many Ogbaruans vie through as many of the political parties as possible.  The result was that it became an Ogbaru affairs for the chairmanship through the three major parties in Ogbaru, namely, the ANPP, the APGA, and the PDP.  Before then, March 31, 2003, to be precise, we invited all the indigenous Ogbaru candidates who were seeking the peoples mandate for various categories of political office both on local, state, and national levels, to brainstorm together with O.D.A. with a view to unifying approach to political issues, re-engineering the compass for the individual political voyage, and to collectively chart the way forward.  The invitation was honored, and we had fruitful deliberations.  That was the nearest to reaching a pure state of consensus.  O.D.A. would sit down with any Ogbaruan that wins, and together chart courses of action.  We are committed to that extent 

OHP: We have a tendency to espouse and highlight Ogbaru’s long and collective history, unity and affinity to each other, yet on a daily basis we grow apart. What id the root cause of this tendency.

GCN: Basically, Ogbaru is now a united clan, and we are proud of it.  O.D.A., by dint of hard work has created an enabling environment and forum where every Ogbaruan and community can interact and interface on common issues.  We have dismantled the dichotomy in Ogbaru, and we now move and talk as one indivisible Clan, bound in One Destiny, our minor hiccups notwithstanding.  Ogbaruans have a common destiny and they know it and believe in it.  This can be inferred easily from the many unions and associations of Ogbaruans in the U.S.A., Great Britain and Ireland, and other Unions in diaspora, including of course those in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Owerri, Kano, Warri, etc.  Without a sense of the benefit of Unity, these unions could not have been formed.  We have to constantly highlight the benefits of, and dividends derivable from, Unity.  The disunity we talked about was more of intra-community, than inter-community.  We are not saying that O.D.A. cannot play a mediating role in intra-community cleavages.  That time must come when we have gotten an ODA HOUSE for a base and more respectability that would naturally flow from it.  However, if we must really talk of the ‘root cause of disunity’, it should be placed at the alter of illiteracy, poverty, and ignorance. 

OHP: Speak to the dearth of a pool of skilled labor among Ogbaru youths. Our youths favor the quick but short-term affluence that comes for being motor park touts than the long tern guarantees that come from good education. What is responsible for this shift and what is the solution?

GCN: Your observation is quite correct on the lack of skilled labour among our youths at home.  The dearth is actually fallout from the negative cultural transmission to Ogbaru youths from our neighbours who lay much emphasis on ‘quick money’, rather on good education.  Again, Ogbaru has little or no power bases in Government or corporations that would have provided avenues for recruitment of Ogbaru youths who have education at all.  Many Ogbaru parents appreciate the value of education, but most of them too are subsistence farmers.  The proceeds they eke from farming can hardly feed their families.  Most of their children see motor park jobs as apex attainment.  The solution, albeit long term, lie in the establishment of such projects as Education Endowment Foundation, in addition to micro credits to farmers to improve on their farming activity.  A good education can make one to be self reliant without hoping on employment from Government or corporations.  We should all rise to the intensity of providing the much needed empowerment to our youths.  Skilled labour can only come from good education.   Education is the key to making Ogbaru strong. 

OHP: Ogbaru is basically a rural farming and fishing community. There are neither second-generation fishermen nor farmers in Ogbaru, hence both trades are gradually dying out.  How is ODA addressing this rut?

GCN: We have earlier said that in thirty years from now, there may not be anything like farming in Ogbaru, because of migration of our youths to urban centers.  That would really be The Day.  It is grim to contemplate.  Farming, or agriculture generally, is a noble profession.  The task is on how to make our youths to realize that.  The vocation should be made attractive by our helping the first generation farmers of Ogbaru to make good through micro credits.  The micro credit should be timely to be useful.  Such NGOs as the Ogbaru Agricultural Development Foundation (ogbarufarmers@yahoo.com) can be aided to reach out more effectively to the farmers and would-farmers.  Part of the solution is in ensuring that those who are into farming are helped to farm well and big.  With that, all those who are sitting on the fence and have no other occupation would be motivated into farming through the NGOs O.D.A.  shall encourage NGOs in this regard. 

OHP: Let’s revisit the most topical issue among Ogbaruans –our bad road. What is the state of play? Is there any concrete discussion with the Chris Ngige administration now that it is clear that it is not a Federal Government Road?

GCN: On Tuesday, August 19, 2003, we visited the Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, officially to present our list of socio-political problems, which have been nagging issues in Ogbaru, chief of which is the state of the Ogbaru Road.  This visit was made by the ODA executive and the available Royal Highnesses of Ogbaru who represented the Ogbaru Traditional Rulers council.  They were: Eze VBC Onyema of Ogwu Ikpele, Igwe Obi Ogene of Amiyi and the Regent of Ossomala, Prof. E.G. Olisa, and some youths.  The visit was very fulfilling. 

We presented an address to the Governor.  In the address we dwelt on the Road, and touched on appointments, and exploitation of crude oil reserves in Ogbaru .  On the issue of the Road, we requested the Governor to source for solidarity from the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, himself an Ogbaru indigene, on some of his contacts with the Federal Government on early reconstruction of the Road.  On our own, we have scheduled a visit to the Rivers State Governor as a brother Ogbaruan, to ensure that this much desired linkage with Dr. Chris Ngige is put into effect as expeditiously as possible.  The road has passed the realm of speculation and uncertainties on whose responsibility it is to reconstruct the Road. 

The road is in the Master list of the Federal Government Budget on Road Reconstructions as SPECIAL PROJECT.  The bill of Quantities with a compendium of the linear survey of the Road is now out, and copies are with us now.  The Federal Government has without a doubt taken over responsibility on the Road.  The reconstruction is billed to start from Uga Junction, and to end at Ndoni in the Rivers State.  We have no reason whatsoever to doubt the resolve of the Federal Government to reconstruct the Road.  However, we asked Dr. Chris Ngige to rehabilitate the road while we wait on the Federal Government. 

In his response, the Governor Chris Ngige thanked the delegation for the visit and promised to start what he called palliative measures on the road immediately the rains are over in October/November 2003.  He said he would contact our Federal House Representative any time he visits Abuja to go with him to the relevant Ministry and government officials to push the issue of the early reconstruction of the road. He promised to enlist the support of his brother-governor, Dr. Peter Odili on the Road issue. 

On Appointments, the Governor said he would spread appointments evenly among the geo-political zones in Anambra State.  He urged that we should not habour any doubts on his Government’s stance on equity. 

On Crude Oil exploitation in Ogbaru, the Governor said that the Orient Oil Company Limited (a parastatal of the Anambra State Government,) would do all that would be needed in all circumstances regarding exploitation of the commodity with special regard for the community-of-resource.  For the Address to the Governor, see Attached. 

OHP: Ogbaru’s revenue base ought to be its farms, but the Ogbaru Market at Okpoko, also should produce a substantial portion of the Local Government revenue. Has ODA ever made an attempt to determine how much the Ogbaru market yield annually and what is done with the monies?

GCN: We can only know about the extent of the annual yield from the Ogbaru Main Market when an Ogbaruan assumes the chairmanship of the Ogbaru Local Government Council, whether by appointment or election, hopefully.  Monies already collected by the Local Government from the Market were not used on Ogbaru.  There is no development of any kind in Ogbaru by the Ogbaru Local  Government Council for the past four years. 

OHP: We have noticed that the firm building the Onitsha-Owerri road is excavating sand from Akili Ozizor, at great risk to our ecosystem. Did they pay anything to the community and are they making any payment to the Local Government for exporting Ogbaru natural resources? 

GCN: There are two co-operative societies of Ogbaru extraction, routinely excavating sand from October to June every dry season.  The activity stops during the flood.  One of the groups ceded for an alleged fee of N500,000 on seasonal basis a portion of their beach to the firm building Onitsha-Owerri Road.   The Community (Atani, not Akili Ozizor) was not involved, and did not receive any royalty.  This matter would be revisited when an Ogbaruan assumes the chairmanship of the Ogbaru Local Government Council. 

OHP: Let’s turn to some hard talk. Whatever happened to the N100 million Ogbaru Federal Constituency Project fund? ODA report in 2002 mention that N80 million of the should have gone to the Ogbaru Road and the remaining N20 million to provide water for Okpoko, Ossomala, Atani and Umunakwo. Has our Federal Representative indicated to ODA what happened to the Money?

GCN: Our Federal Representative at the House of Representatives told us that the Presidency did not release the fund to any member of the House of Representatives, up to when they all vacated office in their first term.  Our planned visit to the Presidency has not materialized because of ODA’s financial handicap in doing things or going where our faculty directs us.  The visit would give us insight into this and other issues. See attached letter dated in year 2000 on the issue on the Project.

 OHP: There was also the N5 million Anambra State Statutory Constituency Allocation for 1999-2002.  What was ODA’s follow up on the issue?

 GCN: The member representing Ogbaru Constituency 2 in the Anambra State House of Assembly did not answser to our invitation to the last Ogbaru International Convention where we hoped he would have had a good opportunity to clear the air on the allocations.  The member has not answered to any of our invitations, but we are individually working on him to tow the path of accountability. 

OHP: There is a commonplace believe that AAPGA won the last elections in every sphere in Anambra State, yet it seems that PDP managed to reverse the will of the people, even her in Ogbaru? What is your assessment, with the benefit of hindsight?

GCN: There were inter-party recriminations over who won or lost the last Gubernatorial elections in Anambra State.  At the end, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared PDP as the victorious party.  The flag bearer for APGA has gone to court to challenge the declaration of INEC, and the matter is still in court.  It would really be subjudice to make any further comments on the issue until the matter is finally adjudicated upon.  As you know, the world is now a global village, and anything said even in the Internet may reverberate at home. 

OHP: Ogbaru Associations in the Diaspora were levied $30,000.00 towards the building of the ODA House. There has been some quiet grumbling that the amount was not based on consultations and that there were not indication of that the total sum was based on a quantifiable estimate. How do you respond to this skepticism?

GCN: As a matter of fact the thirty thousand dollars is annual levy on O.N.A by O.D.A.  and not for ODA HOUSE.  The ODA HOUSE Project would be officially launched at our next Convention, December 26, 2003, by Ogbaruans from all over the world.  A good balance sheet would insulate O.D.A from any untoward political influences.  

 May we at this juncture, plead with all Ogbaruans in U.S.A. to look at their group total annual levy, kindly.  There are many things to be done for Ogbaru by O.D.A.  We need to feature in electronic and print media to sensitize the governments of the State and of the Federation, on Ogbaru on issues affecting Ogbaru as and when due.  We need to have, and service our own corporate means of transportation, to be able to make quick visit to, and discuss with, the government and agencies, issues that demand urgency.  Most of our movements are imposed from without, either by events in Government or by our communities.  We need to have a well-appointed Secretariat and be able to pay a staff or two, at the Secretariat.  We need to be party to the making of history in the State, not just readers of it.  All these can only be achieved if we are well funded.  For now, we are literally going cap-in-hand begging for money to run the affairs of Ogbaru.  Some Ogbaruans who were home at Ogbaru for the Christmas of 2002, saw our travails and were moved to make some tentative donations to O.D.A.  The said Ogbaruans who donated to aid O.D.A. fight some of the issues at the time were:                          

                           Chief Sule Nduka Ugboma (Ossomala/Port Harcourt)

                           Azuka Ngoddy (Atani/USA)

                           Dr. Nzemeka Oduah (Akili Ozizor)

                           Emma Odunze (Atani/Awka)

                           Frank Mesiobi (Atani)

                          Ifeanyi Nwankwo (Odekpe/Gabon)

                          Tony Mbanefo (Ossomala/Ondo State)

                          Sunday Mbanefo (Amiyi/USA)

                          Emma Onyia (Odekpe/Lagos) 

They promised to help tell other Ogbaruans back at their stations, of our efforts and plight.  Wherever you are, or wherever you may go, Ogbaru is our last refuge.  On hands therefore must be on deck to build Ogbaru the way we shall all be proud of.  There is the need to have O.D.A. well equipped in all ramifications for the battle ahead. 

OHP: Your 2002 report mentioned the intent to come up with an Ogbaru anthem. ODA has a motto, should it not have a common logo and flag reflecting our common heritage?

 GCN: We are happy to observe that you have accepted in principle the concept of an Ogbaru Anthem.  Our logo depicts a farmer working over a mound, juxtaposed on a big fish.  Our Flag would have navy blue and green background with the farmer and the mound (under sunshine) at the center of the flag.  The blue would reflect the riverrine nature of our communities and the fishing industry, and the green would reflect agriculture.  Everybody is free to send in an entry on the Anthem and the flag.  The Anthem should be simple and comprising of a stanza or two, of not more than ten lines on the whole.  The theme should be unity, and the benefits of Unity.  Or what do you think? 

OHP: Another critical issue of concern is the selling off of Ogbaru farming and housing lands to non-Ogbaruans. Has ODA devised or though of a policy to forestall such sell off which will in the long-run place Ogbaru inn the same position Onitsha finds itself now?

GCN: A sell-off of a portion of Ogbaru Local Government land to a non-indigene was stopped at the start of construction on the land by Ogbaruans at home.  Nobody knew of the sell-off until the buyer started to dump sand and stones at the site.  The deal was cloaked in secrecy between the former transition chairman of the Ogbaru Local Government, Mr. Festus Orjiakor and the  buyer who is from the same Uli with him.  You will remember that the former Governor (Mbadinuju) is also from Uli.  Our youths are on the look-out for any such future development or trespassers. Ogbaru know very much about the benefit in selling of land, before they gave some free to the Ogbaru Local Government Council.  If the Council have no need of the land, the community should take it back.  There is no cause for alarm.  Every Ogbaruan is resolved, and is now saying: NEVER, EVER.  (See attached for ODA’s reactions.)

OHP: Recently, some Ogbaruan in America have been reaching out to their home community through self-help projects. The Ogbaru-USA Association in New Jersey and New York spent N500,000.00 on the Atani Public Library. How does ODA fit into these programs?

GCN: We are grateful to the Ogbaru USA Association Inc. for donating N500, 000  for the improvement of the Public Library at Atani.  We shall encourage reading culture by visiting and having discussions with the Education Authorities in Ogbaru Local Government Area, to ensure that Ogbaru school children can have Excursions to the Library from time to time.  Our children should be made to know that they can on their own go to the Library to read.  May we hereby appeal to good spirited individuals and organizations to donate children’s books on various subjects to the Library for the well being of Ogbaru children.

We would not have known of your patriotic gesture, if you did not react to our e-mail to projectteam on scholarship offered by Princess Stella Oduah to thirty-three (33) school children of Ogbaru, and the donation of desks and laboratory equipment to schools in Ogbaru through  Mr. Joseph Ndubueze Odunze.  It would be appreciated if all and sundry abide by the tenets of our Mission Statement by nurturing information and communication channels with O.D.A.  Let every Chapter in the diaspora send to O.D.A. their e-mail address.  It will help all of us.  We would like to seize this opportunity to make an observation on an error of omission in your donation to the five churches in five Communities of Ogbaru.  All the Five Hundred Thousand Naira donation to the churches went to one particular Christian denomination.  Since your Chapter is legally incorporated, it is open, we believe, to membership of Ogbaruans of different denominations.  The reason adduced for your donation is also pertinent to the other main denomination in Ogbaru.  The two denominations are doing wonderful jobs in Ogbaru and should be encouraged alike.  If your donation had gone to the other only, we would have made the same observation.  At O.D.A. we are ONE PEOPLE, and are above denominations.  All Ogbaru Chapters, the world over, are advised to reason along the O.D.A. line in this regard. 

OHP: We thank you for your time and views. Do you have any general message you wish to  convey to Ogbaruans the world over through this forum?

GCN: We are grateful for this interview.  All the questions you posed showed that you are interested in and concerned about what happens down here at home.  It is obvious that you read our Report to the Ogbaru International Convention of 2002 with a toothcomb.  We do appreciate your concern and desire to ensure that together we build the Ogbaru of our Dream.  It is very thoughtful of you, along with the New York chapter, too, to donate to the Ogbaru Public Library, Atani, and the churches.  We pray you to keep up the good work. 

A symposium can be organized at your end to brainstorm on the proposed Ogbaru Educational Endowment Foundation.  The Project is a Way Forward for Ogbaru.  Let us know what you think of the Project and the dynamics of affecting it. 

We call all Ogbaruans to remember HOME always, and kindly.  Let every one of you feel very proud of O.D.A. and rally round the Association financially, so that we would be able to place Ogbaru strongly in the Nigerian political, and socio-economic map. 

Let every one of you be his brother’s keeper.  That is the essence of forming and belonging to Unions, and belonging to ONE CLAN.   

It is always very helpful for one to laugh at himself (and herself too!); to admit one’s imperfections, and be at peace with one another.  Give and take banters in good spirit.  It is part of Ogbaru culture.  Cultivate a healthy sense of humour.  It helps. 

O.D.A. is run by human beings, and therefore we may have made mistakes along the line.  We crave your indulgence to overlook whatever might have constituted our shortcomings from the Answers in the Interview.  The answers came straight from the heart, calling Paul, Paul and Peter, Peter. 

Our next Convention is scheduled for December 26, 2003, at the premises of the Ogbaru Local Government Council Headquarters, Atani.  Please get ready for the launching of the ODA HOUSE.  Without your Union and other Chapters in the USA in particular, we can do nothing in this regard. 

Every Ogbaru Union all over the world is hereby urged to regularly get in touch with O.D.A. directly, on any issues, whatsoever, that concern Ogbaru and our corporate well-being, for immediate attention. Ladies and gentlemen, lets get to work!  We love you all.

Thank you, and God bless you all. [OHP]