CAIRO: As protests in Sudan continue, with many hopeful that it could be the beginnings of a mass movement to oust the ruling authoritarian regime of Omar al-Bashir, the country’s top police chief on Saturday said his forces would end protests “firm and immediately.”
The statement has activists worried that it could mean more violence meted out to them by security forces in the country, which have already used what protesters say is “excessive” force and tear gas to disperse demonstrations across the capital, Khartoum.
Gen. Hashem Othman al-Hussein told his aides to confront the “riots … and the groups behind them,” the official SUNA news agency reported.
It was a rare acknowledgement by the state media of demonstrations that have been concentrated in Khartoum, but have now spread to a provincial capital.
According to reports from Khartoum, security forces broke up the demonstrations on Friday after activists gathered following the noon prayers.
Initially, the protests erupted over government spending cuts, but have now expanded and have begun to call for an end to authoritarian rule of the country.
There were at least 7 separate demonstrations across the Sudanese capital on Friday, news correspondents said, including in neighborhoods that had not seen protests previously.
About 400 to 500 protesters began chanting “the people want to overthrow the regime” as they left the Imam Abdel Rahman mosque in the suburb of Omdurman, activists and two witnesses told Reuters news agency.
As security forces gathered, the protesters called for the police to join them, chanting: “Oh police, oh police, how much is your salary and how much is a pound of sugar?”
The police fired tear gas and then used batons as they clashed with the protesters, who threw rocks. Witnesses said men in civilian clothes also attacked the demonstrators.
The United States government is concerned about the reports of widespread violence in Sudan by police and security forces.
“The United States is deeply concerned by the crackdown by the Sudanese authorities on peaceful demonstrators in Khartoum over the last three days,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Tuesday.
“We call on the Government of Sudan to respect the right of its citizens to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly in order to raise their grievances.
“In addition to the crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators, we are concerned that Sudanese authorities have increased pre-publication censorship of independent newspapers in recent weeks,” she added.
“We call on Sudan to respect freedom of expressing, including for members of the press, as guaranteed in the Interim National Constitution of 2005 and internationally recognized covenants to which the Government of Sudan is party.”
Sudanese activists said the security forces have dealt with protesters over the last few days with unprecedented violence, saying that Sunday was the bloodiest day in Sudanese street history.
Sudan has economically suffered since the oil rich south gained its independence in July of last year.
The government is facing a budget deficit and believes that canceling subsidies will save about two billion dollars annually.
The protest was met with massive violence from police, reported the pro-change group Change Sudan Now.
“We call for an immediate end to violence against peaceful protesters who are expressing legitimate demands,” the group said in statement released Monday online.
The group called on the media and non-governmental groups to document what they called “crimes against the protesters” in Sudan.
Activists reported that police opened fire on protesters, but no deaths have been reported to date.
Sudan, whose the Arab Spring wave of change seemed to pass without protests, is looking in the face of new challenges, with increasing food prices and soaring gas prices, and it is unlikely for protests to stop.
It was a shock for the congregation of pop star turned cleric, Pastor Kris Okotie when he announced the break-up in his marriage of four years to his second wife, Stephanie yesterday.
While Okotie is divorcing for the second time, Stephanie has now been married three times and has three children from her first two marriages.The break-up also puts an end to dream twins that Okotie expected her to deliver someday.
The news, which enveloped the Household of God Church, Oregun, Lagos stunned members, as they stood still and speechless for seconds after he dropped the bombshell shortly before the close of Sunday service.
The Sunday service which coincided with the June’s brethren’s’ birthday celebration had recorded soul lifting songs and dances interspersed with prayers, ministration and cutting of the cake. Okotie, in a sparkling white short-sleeve suit suddenly drew the attention of the churchwith the unexpected announcement.
“Stephanie and I are no longer married. We have separated. You can see she’s not in church today. It’s due to irreconcilable differences and you should please respect our wishes at this time because there is no going back.”
Justice Stephen Adah orders the government to stay action on the renaming of the university
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday granted an interim order restraining the Federal Government from renaming the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University. The order was granted by Justice Stephen Adah, who is hearing the case brought by the alumni association of the university.
Justice Adah also advised the litigants to harmonise all suits on the matter into one case and then adjourned further hearing till July 4. President Goodluck Jonathan had on May 29 announced the renaming of the university after the late businessman cum politician, Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, who won the annulled June 12, 1993 election. He died in government custody after he tried to validate his mandate.
The renaming of the university after him however provoked widespread condemnation and protests, including no fewer than three court cases. Speaking on the matter on Sunday night, Mr. Jonathan said he followed the right procedure in renaming the university before seeking the endorsement of the National Assembly.
“After serious deliberations, the Kaduna State Security Council has reviewed the curfew hours as follows: for today, Monday 25, people can move freely from 12 noon to 4pm. From tomorrow, Tuesday 26, people in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Igabi and Chikun can move freely from 7am to 4pm, while for the 19 remaining Local Government Areas [LGAs] people can move freely from 6am to 6pm. All are advise to remain peaceful” stated the chief press secretary to the Kaduna state governor, Reuben Buhari, this afternoon as he addressed from 247ureports.com over the curfew situation in the State.
Kaduna had been the victim of religious violence that saw the deaths of over 100 people and addition 200 injured – as a result of multiple church bombings by the dreaded Islamic terrorist group, the boko haram – and the reprisal attacks with followed the bombings.
The state government of Kaduna State had made attempts at quelling the security unrest by putting in place security measures – that included 24hour curfew across the State – but the volatility of the irate youths proved insurmountable, at least briefly.
Again, Nigeria wept over another avoidable colossal waste of human lives. The crash of the Dana Air Flight 0092 was a direct consequence of disregard for safety standards in pursuit of profits by the management of Dana air coupled with the corruption in the government agencies that regulate the aviation industry. As in prior air disasters in Nigeria, the Nigerian government reacted. The president did the usual. He sent condolence messages to the families of the air crash victims, visited the site of the crash, promised a full investigation into the causes of the crash and declared a number of days of national mourning for the dead. And expectedly, the legislature, also, responded. It mouthed a number of traditional platitudes, and promised to conduct its own investigation on the air crash.
The objects of these investigations, governing officials said are “to make sure that this (air disaster) does not repeat itself in this country”; so that “lesson should be drawn from the incident to avoid a recurrence of such disaster”; etc. In addition, the legislators’ investigation will also “ascertain the air worthiness of all aircrafts operating in the country to ensure that they conform to global safety standards.” What did previous investigations into earlier air crashes in Nigeria reveal? What lessons were “drawn” from them and why did these lessons not ensure that avoidable “air disaster (did) not repeat itself in this country?”
Surprisingly, the Senate is demanding that “the Ministry of Aviation release, without further delay, the investigation reports on all previous air mishap in the country and prosecute all those indicted in the reports.” It then seems that the reports on earlier investigations into air crashes in Nigeria were never released and those indicted by them never punished? If that is the case, then, it is reasonable to think that the present flurry of promises and orders to investigate this last air mishap may just be mere playing to the gallery.
It should not take a plane crash and an investigation by the legislature to ascertain that airline companies in this country adhere to global safety standards. It is the routine duties of the Ministry of Aviation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure the safety of the Nigerian air space and the air worthiness of all the planes registered and permitted to fly in it.
Evidently, the Ministry of Aviation and the NCAA have routinely failed in their work to guarantee safe air travel in Nigeria. It is understandable that entrepreneurs, even in the most advanced and civilized countries of the world, may sometimes mortgage safety standards for profits. No wonder, even in those countries of the world populated by honorable and law abiding businessmen, governments still diligently labor to maintain quality and safety standards in the aviation industry. The need for such quality and safety controls is even most desperate in this vast scene of confusion that is our beloved country with an aviation industry replete with old, second hand and frayed planes.
The Nigerian aviation law prohibits the registration and operation of aircrafts more than 22 years old for ferrying air passengers. That airline companies in Nigeria continue to register and operate planes older than 22 years is an indictment of the Ministry of Aviation and NCAA. Airline passengers routinely lament the dangerous conditions of some of these old and decrepit aircrafts permitted to shuttle air passengers between the country’s airports. If passengers can notice the terrible conditions of these airplanes, including some owned by Dana Air, then their hazardous conditions must have been conspicuously evident to the aviation experts that suffuse the Aviation Ministry and NCAA,
It was one of these ramshackle aircrafts that air travelers previously complained about that crashed at Uju/Ishaga in Lagos State on June 3rd, 2012; killing all the 153 passengers on board. The crash of the Dana Flight 0992 would have been avoided if the officials of the Ministry of Aviation and NCAA have been committed to their responsibilities, and as such, conscientious in their duties. These two government agencies, that control the aviation industry, are culpable, more so than the profit maximizing management of the Dana Air, for the crash of the Dana Flight 0992. The Minister of Aviation, Stella Odua, and the Director General of NCAA, Harold Demuren, should take personal responsibilities for the crash of the Dana Flight 0992 and resign.
But they will not resign because the panjandrums that run this country are arrogant, lawless and notoriously contemptuous of the Nigerian masses. Sheltered in their cocoon of privileges, consumed by greed, giddy with power and flush with wealth, they trample the law and disregard the constitution. Consequently, they refuse to recognize that their legitimacy and moral authority derive solely from the trust reposed in their office by the people. And that once they betray this trust, they must resign.
The problem of Nigeria is not lack of the right verbal responses and display of emotions and show of concern for bereaved families in times of emergencies and disasters. It is not in the inability to order investigations or in the dearth of investigators and investigation report writers. Our problem is lack of accountability in public life. And this breeds corruption and undermines efficiency. It also imperils a sense of responsibility to the society.
Until there is a modicum of accountability and a sense of responsibility to the people within the ranks of the Nigerian power elite, all the rhetoric, exhibition of concern and the bust of investigations and probes that attended this last air mishap are wonderful, but still, pointless. Because they will not put an end this repeated preventable waste of human lives by the Nigerian aviation industry, Ministry of Aviation, National Civil Aviation Authority, and sometimes, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
It is all de je vu. Nigeria has known a series of these air disasters. They were each followed by similar government responses. And temporarily, the airlines sat up and tried to improve their safety standards. With time, they relapsed to their old and sloppy ways. The officials of government regulatory agencies, because they are corrupt and can be compromised, tolerate this jettisoning of safety measures for profit maximization. And sooner or later, there is another air crash and the same sequence is replicated again, and again and again. This is so because the reprobates and sociopaths that rule this country are, in steady but imperceptible gradations, reducing her to something of a menagerie.
The imbroglio of internal squabbles within southeast based political parties appears to provide fertile grounds for the birth of new political parties. Information available to 247ureports.com through sources close to the organizers of the new party, the United Progressive Party [UPP] indicates that Chekwas Okorie and his political team has finalized the arrangements for the birth of the new political party.
It is recalled that Chekwas Okorie formed the now embattled All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] following the messy political battles of the People Democratic Party [PDP] in south east Nigeria. Following the formation of the party [APGA], Ikemba Nnewi was recruited into the party and crowned the father of the party. Ikemba Nnewi became its first presidential candidate in 2003. In 2003, APGA won its first political office – the gubernatorial seat in Anambra State – in the person of Mr. Peter Obi. But Mr. Peter Obi did not mount the seat till March of 2006 following a tribunal ruling that ousted the then PDP governor, Dr. Chris Ngige.
Through the mechanizations of political tussles within the APGA, the founder of the party, Chekwas Okorie found himself tossed out of the party for reasons that remain foggy till date. Chekwas Okorie fought vehemently to return to the realm of affairs at the party but the resources to wage the battle against the new structure within the party proved insurmountable. Chekwas Okorie lost out. In talking to 247ureports.com in a phone conversation, Chief Okorie stated that the “spirit that formed APGA has departed APGA” and that it has become “useless fighting for control of the party. The party has become adulterated”.
The founder of APGA noted that his earlier attempt to form United Progressive Peoples Alliance [UPGA] earlier in the year was scuttled by the chairman of APGA, Victor Umeh – through a petition to the INEC where a claim was put forth that the UPGA resembles APGA and would generate undue confusion among the citizenry. The petition also highlighted the logo of the party as being unpatriotic and near treason. The logo selected for the defunct attempt was that of a rising sun – depicting one of the striking emblems of the Biafran flag.
In this new effort, Chekwas Okorie noted that his team opted to do the ground work of launching a new party below the radar – to avoid likely obstructers. He disclosed that the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] has virtually completed registration of the new party – and that the INEC has visited their offices and has cleared them. The new logo, he adds, is “Isi Agu”. Isi Agu which means Tiger’s Head is reported to have deep historical connotations within the south east and south south in cultural context.
“We intend to present a gubernatorial candidate in the 2014 Anambra electoral exercise”, said the founder of the party.
Remy Ilona, Abuja based Igbo author, lawyer and activist some years
ago coined the term “the modern day George Basden“ for me. I never
completely agreed that I had earned that title since George T. Basden
– a Welsh-Anglican Missionary – had lived for 40 years amongst the
Igbo and I – after all – had just spent two weeks in Nigeria with
Ilona, touring newly established Igbo Jewish communities in Abuja and
visiting Nri priests at Agukwu-Nri- a group of people that had already
been compared to the Levites of the Israelites in the 19th century by
outside observers because of their position in matters of ritual
significance to the Igbo society.
Ilona’s book is written with the background that a very significant
part of the Igbos identify the origin of their customs as emanating
from the ancient Israelites, and that Jewish identification has been
part of the Igbo experience, as I have argued myself in my recent
publications and in my forthcoming book.
This identification intrigued Ilona more than a decade ago. This made
him to start his comparative research; studying what others have
written earlier on the subject and interviewing some of the eldest
priests and others at Nri, and other Igbo locations who all confirmed
the Israelite origin of the Igbos in oral interviews.
Make no mistake, it is unlikely that Igbo people before their contact
with Western societies were conscious Jews in a rabbinical Jewish
sense, and no clear-cut archeological evidence of a large scale
Israelite or Jewish migration into Igboland has been found so far.
However, there can be no doubt that the Igbo people have been in
existence long before the introduction of a Western type of nation
model and that indeed some of their traditions resemble the customs of
the Hebrew patriarchs as described in the Hebrew Bible.
In this inter-cultural study Remy Ilona presents a systematic
comparison of Igbo culture to Hebrew and Israelite culture.
In conducting such a comparative study, there exists a methodological
difficulty to reconstruct the traditions of a society – like the Igbo
– who had no written records – a major difference to Rabbinic Jewish
Societies. Cultures are not monolithic and are prone to change over
time (and that includes Jewish and Igbo cultures as well). Ilona
however, is well aware of those difficulties and he rightfully writes
that Igbo culture has interacted and was influenced by many of the
surrounding cultures as well and makes convincing arguments in this
regard.
A number of Igbo authors have in the last few years attempted to
explain the widespread notion of the Igbo that they are Jews, giving
linguistic, archeological, genetic and also cultural explanations.
However, the argument did not always seem to be based on a careful
comparison of the two entities.
Remy Ilona on the other hand has been following the project of
cultural comparison intensely for a decade. In addition to a careful
study of what earlier authors have written on this subject (a point
that I will relate to a bit further down) and his own research – by
way of oral interviews and observation – Ilona might be one of the few
Igbo authors with a profound knowledge of the Hebrew Bible and its
later Jewish commentaries. Ilona has devoured a body of literature on
Rabbinic Judaism and has interacted intensely with Western Jews in
order to compare the customs of contemporary Rabbinical Jews to those
of the Igbo, noting that many Jews – like the Igbo in their own
culture – no longer practice what is today defined as Rabbinical
Judaism. In addition Ilona highlights that Judaism has undergone
changes as well and that there are difficulties in comparing Igbo
culture to Rabbinical Judaism.
Judaism since the destruction of the second temple has slowly
developed from a sacrifice oriented cult and a life style – indeed
with many similarities to a reconstructed Igbo tradition – to a
religion of the Book. Rabbinical Judaism for a large part took its
present and dominant form in medieval Ashkenaz. Judaism needed a
response to the religions surrounding it (Christianity and Islam) in
order to survive. Ilona then rightly points out that the modern day
Igbo are not Rabbinical Jews (although there’s a growing number of
them) but that their customs rather resemble Israelite culture as
described in the five books of Moses.
Remy is well aware of the few cultural differences that existed and
still exist between different Igbo clans but presents those traditions
which are common to all Igbos, and which are most close to Israelite
culture, as capturing core concepts of Igbo culture best.
Thereby, Remy follows in the footsteps of authors that were central in
the definition of Igbo culture and I will only name here the works of
Olaudah Equiano, Chinua Achebe and George T. Basden. Especially the
latter who is repeatedly quoted in Ilona’s book.
And here some words need to be said about Basden not only because
Basden was one of the few longtime and early outside observers who
looked at the Igbos with the eye of an anthropologist, but also
because Basden arrived in Igboland at the turn to the 20th century
before Igbo culture began to change in a major way. Although Basden
was not the first to write on the similarities of Igbo customs to
those of the Israelites – several Igbo and non-Igbo had done it before
– Basden did it continuously and even more elaborately, as he became
more and more involved with the Igbo. One of Basden’s motivations to
publish his ethnographic work on the Igbo was to capture and document
the traditions of a world that was changing rapidly under the
influence of Christian missionaries – like Basden himself – and the
colonial regime that the British began to establish in Nigeria at the
beginning of the 20th century. Basden viewed it as important that
future generations of Igbo would know what the traditions of their
forefathers and mothers were. His influence on Igbo society as a
chronicler of Igbo traditions, as well as an educator and politician
cannot be overstated and his work is still well known even amongst
young Igbos.
Few Igbo during the time of Basden would wander around in Igboland
before the advent of colonization and think of themselves as Jews in
the sense that we understand it today, or at least we have no
indication for that. Only in the Igbo Diaspora were Igbo learnt about
the Israelites or Rabbinical Jews do we find earlier expressions of
such a thought. Being aware of this Remy however opens up the
conception of what a Jew is and shows a much more inclusive
understanding of Jewish people-hood, a model that is worthwhile to
give some thought in my opinion. I however, did not quite understand
why the Igbo are described to be the oldest Jewish Diaspora.
For me as an anthropologist who has studied the Igbos’ Jewish
identification from a historical perspective and from a perspective of
contemporary attempts of Igbo in Israel to be recognized as Jews, one
of the most interesting aspects of Ilona’s book was how an Igbo author
of Ilona’s standing, is looking at his own culture 70 years after
Basden published his Niger Ibos. It shows then that those Igbo
customs, as described by Basden in their relation to those of the
Israelites, have been solidified over time as central markers of Igbo
traditions.
In his book, Ilona focuses on Igbo rituals during life cycle events
(chapter one). Those include the rituals surrounding the birth of
children, eight-day circumcision of males, seclusion of newly
delivered mother, levirate marriage and so on. Remy also enters the
long debate about the Igbo conception of a supreme God, (chapter two);
Igbo rituals surrounding death (chapter three); feast and festivals
(chapter four); Igbo social organization (chapter five); Igbo
understanding of clean/unclean (chapter six); Igbo sacrifices and
offerings (chapter seven); Igbo classes (chapter eight);
socio-religious customs (chapter nine); Code of moral behavior
(chapter ten); Igbo code for crime and other offenses (chapter
eleven); sexual behavior (chapter twelve); the Igbo connection to the
land (thirteen); the importance of ritual cleanliness (chapter
fourteen); the distinction between clean and unclean food and ritual
slaughter (chapter fifteen); similarities between Igbo and Semitic
manner of dress, (chapter sixteen); parallels between the Igbo and the
Hebrew reckoning of time (chapter seventeen); joining the Igbo and
Jewish peoples and leaving them (chapter eighteen).
Every book of course has its flaws.
Not all comparisons might be equally convincing and some cultural
characteristics might be part of a human organization per se. Also,
the author has clearly put the emphasis on commonalities and not
differences that do exist.
The division of the book into eighteen chapters makes it at times a
bit heavy handed and leads to some repetitions. For someone not
knowledgeable in Igbo culture those repetitions might however be
helpful. Some parts of the book, like were prominent Igbo and non-Igbo
state that the Igbo are Jews; represent a repetition of parts of
earlier books that might have been omitted and simply referred to.
Coming to a close, I would say that the title of the “Modern Day
Basden” rather belongs to Remy Ilona and would recommend the book to
anyone interested in a Jewish interpretation of Igbo culture and –
speaking with Israeli sociologist Eliezer Ben-Rafael – as for an
important example of African Jewry that might well represent one of
engines of the Jewish reality in the years to come.
June 30, 2012 it will be one year that God Almighty, the creator of all mortals, separated from us our beloved Christiana Uduak Essien-Igbokwe. To say that one year away from us she will be remembered on this day is diminishing the reality of our lives.
We live with the full realization of her physical separation in our family as we feel the vacuum created by her absence in our everyday lives. But it is for me as her husband and our four sons; not a time for celebration.
It is rather for us a sober moment to reunite with her in faith and spirit as our family always did together while she was here with us, and time to glorify God who had admitted her into His place of Eternal Peace in Heaven. That is the path me and Christy’s (biological) four sons have thought we should rather go for the commemoration of her one year of transition to eternal glory.
The Igbokwe family therefore invites all our friends and well-wishers to join in the solemn remembrance of Christy, the woman you all used to adore as mother of all, the singer that you celebrated as “Lady of Songs” and philanthropist that you acclaimed as one that put shine on the face of mankind.
June 30, 2012 falls on a Saturday. But the family will be joining other people of good faith the following day July 1, 2012 for the memorial service at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral on Oba Akinjobi, G.R.A., Ikeja, Lagos. The church service shall start at 10a.m but the Igbokwe family and friends will be called to the Altar at about11.30a.m. We wish that you join us for the memorial thanksgiving service.
We want to use this occasion, once again, to thank all who identified with us during our moment of grief when my darling wife and mother departed us. We remain eternally grateful as your show of love and support for our family have continued to strengthen our faith that we are neither alone in our worlds nor abandoned to our fate.
We believe that even Christy is pleased and remains happy with you all.
Chief Edwin Chuks Igbokwe [Husband]
Late Christy Essien's husband, Chief Edwin Igbokwe performing the dust-to-dust rites at the burial
PROFILE OF THE LADY OF SONGS
NAME: Chief Dr (Mrs.) Christy Essien Igbokwe, MFR, FICA
STAGE NAMES: Christy Essien; Akpena; Lady of Songs
DATE OF BIRTH: November 11, 1960
ZODIAC SIGN: Scorpio
PLACE OF BIRTH: Okat, Onna LGA, Akwa Ibom State
FIRST MUSIC OUTING: Now Sound TV Programme on NTA, Aba (1976)
FIRST ACTING OUTING: New Masquerade TV Programme on NTA Aba (1976)
EARLY MUSICAL EFFORTS: At age 7; started dancing with drama groups in schools
MARITAL STATUS: Married at 19 to Chief Edwin Igbokwe (then General Manager of PUNCH newspapers). They have four children, all male.
HIT ALBUMS
1. Freedom – 1976
2. Patience – 1977
3. Time Waits For No One – 1978
4. One Understanding – 1979
5. Give Me A Chance – 1980
6. Ever Liked My Person – 1981
7. Taking My Time – 1986
8. It Is Time – 1988
9. Hear The Call – 1990
10. Mysteries Of Life – 1994
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
1. “Silver Prize” Winner at 6th Seoul Songs Festival, South Korea – 1983
2. “Grand Prix “ Winner at Neewollah Music Festival at Independence, Kansas, USA – 1983
3. “International Special Achievement”Award of MUSEXPO, Acapulco, Mexico, 1983
4. “Certificate of Merit” Award for Song writing and composing at the 10th Annual American Songs Festival, Los Angeles, USA – 1983
5. “Audience Favourite” Award of International Music Festival at Baker University, USA – 1983
6. “Silver Prize” Winner at Second International Music Festival of Oklahoma University, USA – 1983
7. “Outstanding Performance” Award at the World Song Festival, L.A. Arts Academy, USA – 1984
8. “Distant Accord” Award at the FIDOF Festival in Hollywood, L.A., USA, 1990
9. Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) Award in Business Management by Cornerstone University & Theological Seminary, Jerusalem, Israel – 2010
10. Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) Award in Literature-in-Africa by University of Berkley, Chicago, Illinois, USA – 2010
LOCAL AND NATIONAL AWARDS
1. “Lady of Songs” by Nigerian Entertainment Writers – 1980
2. “Star Performer” Award of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) – 1983
3. “Best Actress Runner-Up” Award for Excellence by silver Jubilee Committee of the Nigerian Television Organization of Nigeria (NTA) – 1984
4. “African Music Mother” Award by Music Extravaganza’84 in collaboration with African Music Development, New York, USA
5. “Adaha Onna” (Pillar of Onna LGA)
6. Akwa Ikwo Eket (The Greatest Singer from Eket Community) by Eket LGA Authority
7. Aha Nwanyi Ejiagamba 1 of Oru Ahiazu, Mbaise, Imo State
8. “Golden Voice of Africa” Award by music Students Association, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
9. “Gold Award” of 25 Nigerian Celebrities – 1988
10. “Certificate of Honour” by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Anambra State Council – 1990
11. “Certificate of Recognition” by National Film Festival – 1992
12. “Service to the Music Profession” Award by PMAN on platform of NIGERIAN MUSIC AWARD (to Christy Essien Igbokwe/Edwin Igbokwe) for their efforts in forming and creating PMAN – 1988
13. Special Musical Patents Decoration Award – 1994
14. “Merit Award for Excellence in the Field of Music Therapy” by Medical Association of Nigeria
15. “Award of Honour” by Nigeria Institute of Journalism Student’s Union, Ibadan Campus
16. “Certificate of Honour” in recognition of her role as a woman of substance and her excellent performance in musical entertainment by National Association of Akwa Ibom Students, University of Ibadan chapter.
17. “Grand Fellow of Nigerian Youths” by the Nigerian Youth Organization
18. “Queen of Music International” Award by the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, Lagos State and Degbola International Promotions –1996
19. “Outstanding Achievements Uplifting Female” Award by Youth Re-Orientation Movement – 1996
20. “Merit Award in Honour of Care for the Nigerian Child” by Broadway International School – 2000
21. “Award of Excellence and Outstanding Leadership Qualities” as PMAN first Female President -1998
22. “The Best Dressed Female Musician” Award in the Patriotic Dress category at the Nigeria Fashion Show – 1997
23. “Member of the Greatest Performers” Award in recognition of her immense contribution to the development and reformation of the world youths – 1996
24. “Award of Excellence” as Matron of the Great Eni-Njoku Hall (University of Lagos chapter – 2000
25. “Pacesetter Award” in recognition of her vision, initiator and organizer of the First ECOWAS Cultural and Musical Festival & the Entertainment Award– 1997
26. “Lover of Children” Award in recognition of her contribution towards child social and welfare development in the society – by legendary Page Boys Club (Socio-Cultural & Humanitarian Club)
27. “Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by Federal Government of Nigeria – 1999
28. “Defender of Children” Award by Interclassic Youth Forum (a non-governmental organization)
29. “Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Industry” Award by Top Celebrities Magazine -2010
30. “Merit Award for African Heritage” by The Gong African News Magazine -2010
31. “Honorary Fellowship Award” by Institute of Corporate & Business Affairs Management, Nigeria.
32. “Nigerian Woman of Valor” Award by National Centre for Women Development, Abuja – 2010.
MATRONSHIP/EXTRA CURRICULA POSITIONS
1. Matron; Eni-Njoku Hall, University of Lagos
2. Matron; Akwa Ibom Journalists Forum, Kaduna
3. Matron; National Association of Akwa Ibom Students, University of Port Harcourt
4. Matron; Nigerian Youth Tourist Organization
5. Matron; National Association of Akwa Ibom Students, University of Lagos
6. Matron; Association of Beauty Therapy& Cosmetology of Nigeria, Lagos
7. Matron; Worldwide Twins and Multiple Foundation
8. Deputy Vice President/Vice Chairman, Governing Council of Institute of Corporate and Business Affairs Management, Nigeria.
POSTHUMOUS AWARDS
1. “Entertainment Icon” by West African Women in Leadership Conference (in Ghana) – 2011
2. “Excellence in Outstanding Performance& Hard Work” by National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS)– University of Lagos Chapter – 2011
3. Top 100 Professionals 2012 – by International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, england
CHARITY PROGRAMMES
Her Charity programmes dated back to 1980 when she started championing the cause of the less privileged in our society especially the Nigerian Child. This is also evidenced in her works such as:
a. Show a Little Bit of Kindness
b. Do You Hear Me Children?
c. Seun Rere
d. Hear the Call
e. Onwegh Ihe Ka Nnwa Na Uwa (Nothing is greater than child)
In fact Royalty from the sales of her past albums remains directed towards charity projects and the needy in our society.
CHARITY AND TOURISM PROJECTS
The Lady of Songs has successfully and single-handedly pursued and executed charity projects in the following States in Nigeria
1. Adamawa State (then Gongola State); where she raised funds used by the State Government to fence, equip, renovate and provide drinkable water and main pump to the State’s only rehabilitation centre (at Jada) for the handicapped.
2. Rivers State; where she raised funds for the Catholic Children’s Home and Psychiatric School.
3. Enugu State (then old Anambra); where she fully equipped refectory for the School of the Blind, Deaf and Dumb, Ogbete, Enugu
4. Plateau Sate; where she raised funds through Command Performances to provide scholarship endowment fund for able-bodied and handicapped children of the State origin.
5. Dedication of all proceeds from her tenth album to Essential Childcare Foundation’s coffer.
6. She has scores of students under her scholarship studying in various institutions within the country (Nigeria).
7. Her Charity work does not stop in Nigeria
a. In Liberia before the civil war, she (considering how popular she was there) was the guest of that country’s government; to raise fund for improvement of the only television organization (then) during President Samuel Doe’s tenure.
b. In Ghana where she was invited to raise fund and also launch potential Tourism in Ghana that is still booming till today. This was in 1994.
ON-GOING CHARITY PROJECT PURSUIT
Christy is presently engaged in a Child care programme she tagged “Essential Childcare Foundation”. This project kicked off in 1992 with a National Dialogue involving Nigeria’s distinguished Speakers. Today she is tirelessly putting finishing touches towards the establishment of a“Half-Way-Home” – centre for missing and mentally retarded children. For these, a Trust Fund from the Essential Childcare Foundation has already been put in place. The Essential Childcare Foundation was legally registered and launched on April 30, 1994 with eminent personalities as members of the Board of Trustees. They are successful industrialists and professionals – Chief Abdulaziz C. Ude (Chairman), former Information Minister, Chief Tony Momoh (Vice-Chairman), late Dr. Simi Johnson (General Secretary), Dr. Muktar Bello (Auditor), Engineer (Mrs.) Comfort Ponnle (Treasurer), Mrs. Njideka Ezeife, Chief Austin Izagbo, former Chief (Mrs.) Helen Esuene and Chief (Mrs.) Christy Essien Igbokwe (Publicity/Welfare Officer).
SOME OF HER OTHER OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS
1. FORMATION OF PMAN: With her ideas and husband’s support, she recorded the feat as the brain behind the formation of the only recognized national (union) body for musicians in the country aptly called Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in 1982. It is meant to cater for the welfare and protection of Nigerian musicians and their rights, nationally and internationally. When the Union was heading for extinction, she was dragged to head it so as to revive her baby. This culminated in her serving as PMAN President for two terms and remains, till date, the only female so far to have headed a trade union in Nigeria.
2. FORMATION OF PMRS (now COSON): She is a founding member of the Performing and Mechanical Rights Society (PMRS) of Nigeria and was the Chairman of the Board for two consecutive terms; becoming the second female to head the Society – after Chief (Mrs.) Keji Okunowo. The society is majorly concerned with the general responsibility of negotiating, collecting and distributing royalties on behalf of musical copyright owners who are mostly its members.
3. ABROGATION OF OFFSHORE/ONSHORE OIL DICHOTOMY: It is on record that what the littoral State in Nigeria are enjoying today is as a result of the abrogation of the obnoxious onshore and offshore oil dichotomy which was made possible by God through Christy’s final push. She mounted campaign of persuasion that saw the regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida initiate and abrogate the dichotomy; thereby putting paid to the struggle that lasted decades.
4. SUSTAINED EXISTENCE OF THE FRSC: It was through her interventional effort that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) remains today as separate entity. When it was planned for scrapping or merging with the Nigeria Police Force, she brought pressure to bear on the federal government and thus the FRSC was spared till today. This again was during the tenure of Military President Ibrahim Babangida.
5. PRIVATE TELEPHONY: It is a fact that granting license for the private telephony started from the regime of late General Sani Abacha. Christy had to intervene by pushing forward the idea that the world is fast changing in telecommunication. The idea came to her when a private telephone company (EMIS) that had its equipment and staff ready approached her with their predicament as a result of license denial. She fought this and thus EMIS became the first privately licensed telecommunication company; others then followed with ease.
HER BUSINESS EMPIRE
This has spanned over years now. She is the Group Managing Director of her family’s group of Companies – Chuduak Limited, Sountrain Entertainment Limited, Chuduak Graphic Machinery Limited, Eagle Graphic Equipment Limited, Chuduak Properties, etc.
Late Christy Essien Igbokwe's remains being lowered into the grave
President Goodluck Jonathan is hosting his third Presidential Media Chat since returning to office in May 2011. The first was in September 2011 and the last in January 2012, in the heat of the removal of subsidy on petroleum products.
The challenges confronting the country – insecurity, economy, corruption, fuel subsidy, dearth of infrastructural, among others – are still largely the same since his last media chat.
19:06 Gvernment ready to discuss with Boko Haram: President Joinathan says he is willing to dialogue with the Boko Haram sect, if they have a “face.” He said the sect’s members are Nigerians and he will like to transform their lives just like the Niger Delta millitants.
19:12 For now, there is no negotiation ongoing with Boko Haram, the president said.
19:16 President Jonathan said he has not visited Borno state, the center of Boko Haram attacks, because the airport there was not functional at the time he planned to visit. “And we did not want to land somewhere and fly in to Maiduguri with a helicopter for obvious reasons.” He promises to visit the state and other states in Nigeria.
19:19 The Brazil Trip: The president said if he hadn’t travelled to Brazil while Kaduna was boiling, it would have sent out a very wromg message to the world, and bolster the sect. “The day the international community gets to know that the president of Nigeria couldn’t travel because of Boko Haram, then we are finished,” the president said. “The Boko Haram and their sponsors cannot stop Nigeria.”
19:24 The Body Language on Corruption: The president said he is a calm person and gives people the latitude to do their job in reaction to question bothering on his percieved weak body language on the fight against corruption. “A lot of people misunderstand me,” he said.
Whoever says the president’s body language does not allow him to fight corruption, he’s incompetent
Asset Declaration: The presient says its a matter of principle and whether he is criticised from “head to toe” he will not declare his assets. “It is not right,” he said. “I didn’t want even want to declare my assets as VP” but was forced by the then president, Umara Musa Yar’Adua. He said asset declaration is “not the right thing to do.”
19:35 Oil Subsidy Probe: The president said he initiated the probe of the oil industry even before the Senate and the House of Reps began its probe of the sector.
The president just mentioned that “only yesterday,” he directed the EFCC to investigate Nigeria’s bank accounts in the United States, following a report on a newspaper.
The presidency said he dealing with the same businessmen former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua hobnobbed with. He speaks in defence of the businessmen, including Femi Otedola who is involved a bribery scandal with chairman of House of Reps Panel that probed the subsidy regime. He however said he did not initiate the sting operation that caught Mr. Lawan.
19:55 Electricity: “When we were campaiging, we didn’t know that BH will overtake the priorities of government,” the president says.
He adds that what the government is doing with the increased electricity tariff is too ensure that those who earn low income pay lower tariff. “What we are doing with electricity tariff is too ensure that those who earn low income pay lower tariff,” the president said.
20:07 Agriculture: The president said his government are revolutionizing agriculture in Nigeria.”We are giving cotton seeds free in the North” he said.
Third caller unable to get through to the program.
Nigeria is owing over N100 billion in judgement debts, the president reveals.
20:14 The fourth caller’s line fails after he introduced himself as calling from Ibadan.
The President said the government is doing very well in railway construction. “You may not know, but we are working,” he said. He added that his government has made a “significant progress” in railway construction. “You should commend us,” he adds.
20:19 Ogene Tega’s call from Delta state gets through, he introduces himself and the line goes dead again.
20:20 The prsident says they are managing the economy professionally, “It is not Jonathan that is managing it,” he said
20:22 The president begs to us first to use two years plus to see what he can do in terms of wealth creation, before talking about 2015. “It is too early to talk about 2015,” the president said. “When INEC opens the gate, we will know who will contest or who will not contest.”
20:27 Relationship with National Assembly: “I have a good relationship with the National assembly,” the president said. “It is not as if there are no issues.” He plans to do annual address to the National Assembly and says his being summoned to the National Assembly is not an issue.
“Whenever I travel, I go with atleast two members of the National Assembly,” the president reveals.
20:35 The president says he “thinks” Nigerians should still trust him. He blames his poor public perception on the dublicability of IT (social media).
He said Nigerians will begin to see the results of his government in 2013. “People (critics) will begin to change after one year,” the president said.
20:42 UNILAG name change: The president said what he did, in terms of law, was correct. You change the name first, then send the bill to the National Assembly later, he argues. “What we did, was the normal procedure,” he said.
He also insists that most of the students are too young to know the significance of Moshood Abiola in Nigeria’s democracy.
20:46 Call from Victor in Markurdi gets through as the first successful call in for the day. Victor is asking for equitable distribution of You Win grants. He is asking the president to ensure that the grant is not given to only those who know people in government.
20:52 Crude Oil Tefth: “The stealing of crude oil is a Nigerian phenomenon,” the president said. He adds that it has gone cancerous. “We will stop it, but it is like allowing a cancerous cell to grow into a major tumor.”
