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Jubilation, as Six CKC Kurudu Married Couples embrace Carmelites Order

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Rev Fr John-Cross Onyedikachi Ozor flanked by the six aspirants
By Ignatius Okorocha
Parishioners of Christ the King Catholic Church ( CKC) Kurudu celebrated the reception of six of their members into the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites on Sunday.
The aspirants comprised the following:
Sis  Rita  Izunwanne, Sis.Martina  Amen, Sister.Perpetual  Nnamdi, and  Sis. Eileon Ihuoma Uroawuchi.
Others include Bro. Cletus Nnamdi and Bro.Donald Ugwu.
By their reception into the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, the aspirants were expected to undergo initial two year intensify study on the lives of the Carmelites saints in addition to deeping their prayer life which is the core of Carmelites spiritually.
In this interview with the Publisher of Daily Echoes Media, Mr Ignatius Okorocha, the Spiritual Assistant of Our Lady, Mother and Queen of Carmel Community,Federal Capital Territory(FCT) Abuja, Rev Fr.John-Cross Onyedikachi Ozor (OCD) who was ordained a Catholic  Priest on 7th December, 2024 expressed joy over the reception of the new aspirants into the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS).
Speaking on the import of the admission of the six new members into the Carmelites Order,Rev Fr Ozor said, “Well, first of all, we thank God for inspiring these people (Men and Women) both young and old to dedicate their lives to bearing witness to Christ by way of special consecration to God.
“What happened in this Parish today is that six parishioners decided to join the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. And by this declaration to join the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites , they have become members of the Carmelites family, popularly known as, members of OCDS which is the third Order of the Carmelites family.
“What happened today is not actually a Promise. In other words, they did not actually make any Promise of Evangelical Council, neither did they make final Promise, instead they were formally received by the community into formation of the Discalced Order of Carmelites in this community of Our Lady, Mother and Queen of Carmel, Abuja community.
“Now, by this reception, they are going to begin formally their process of formation which is going to take  two years before they now take the promise of Evangelical Council and it is then that they become fully, members of  the Secular Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.”
Continuing he said,”Again, it’s a thing of joy to have people living in the world who want to bear witness to Christ despite their state of sacrament of matrimony (Married life)yet they want to consecrate themselves to God.
“It is also an invitation to other Catholics to join the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites knowing that it is not only Priests, Rev brothers and sisters that are called to live the life of consecration to God by taking the vow or Promise to live a life celibacy. This is what the six parishioners have expressed  before the church. So, we thank God for their decision to dedicate their lives to serve God as secular Carmelites.
Speaking on the Programme of formation for the aspirants in the Order, Rev Fr. Ozor explained,”After a period of their initial formation Programme, they will make their first Promise and they still have to live the life and be engaged in another level of formation for three years while renewing their promise each year and reflecting on the religious life they have been called to live .
“At the end of their three years formation, each of the aspirants will decide whether to continue to live the Carmelites life or not. If at the end of the threes formation and they decide to continue to embrace their vocation and the community finds them eligible to continue the life, the community will allow them to take the final Promise known as “Definitive Promise” of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites.
 “When they make that definitive promise, it means that they have now dedicated their lives perpetually to our Lady of Mount Carmel, ready to serve God and bearing witness to Christ in allegiance to  Jesus Christ,following the ways of Saint Theresa of Jesus Christ and St John of the Cross.”
On why the membership of the OCDS are mainly drawn from Christ the King Catholic Church (CKC) Kurudu, he said,”Well, because the Discalced
Carmelites are the ones serving in this Parish, it is easier for the priest serving in CKC to reach out to parishioners and that is why those that we have been able to reach out to in this parish, are the ones who have more awareness of what is going on but at the same time, we are making effort to spread the secular life of the Carmelites Order to the whole archdiocese of Abuja.
“Again it is also the responsibility of members of OCDS to tell their friends outside this parish and to spread the vocation to join the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites to other Catholics in the archdiocese of Abuja. I as the spiritual Assistant to this community have the intention to move to other parishes and to talk about the secular Order of Mount Carmel and I would ask all those who are already members to join in propagating the vocation to OCDS and  the Carmelites spirituality by calling married couples to come and join the life, and drink from the same source as we ourselves are doing.

OCDS members with Fr John-Cross Onyedikachi Ozor

“I  wish to use this  opportunity to appeal to the priests of this archdiocese and the Archbishop himself to talk to the faithful on the need to embrace the life Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites to serve God through the Carmelites vocation.
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Lalong seeks Constitutional roles for traditional rulers, says it’s panacea for insecurity

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Senate in session

 

By George Mgbeleke

Senator Simon Bako Lalong representing Plateau South Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly has maintained that creating constitutional roles for traditional rulers would go a long way in arresting insecurity in the country. He made the remarks while fielding questions from journalists at the Senate Press Corps Centre at the National Assembly Complex, Thursday.

He butressed his claim; “As chairman of the Tinubu/Shettima APC Campaign Council, when we went around, we met traditional rulers who requested for solid roles in the Constitution…These are people who are ready to work to ensure the issue of insecurity (is curtailed) especially using non-kinetic approach…No constitutional roles for them but when there are killings, crisis, they say let’s hold our traditional rulers responsible.”

Regretting that the allocation of the 5% funds to the traditional rulers is hardly enough for them to fuel their vehicles, Lalong tasked the National Assembly to charge the monarchs with assigned responsibilities to enable them to contribute towards arresting the monster of insecurity in Nigeria.

Asked to comment on the relevance of the monarchs in the prevailing civil rule dispensation vis-a-viz what transpired during the first republic parliamentary system of government, the former minister of labour replied;

“We have a fusion (of political dispensations). I was part of the struggle for the approval of the autonomy of the legislature. With a democrat like Tinubu, we’ve had the autonomy of local governments passed by the Supreme Court…

“We continue to struggle… The issue has been trending since 2014 (National Confab) does not mean we lose steam…I hope that with you and me, it will all be over (approval for constitutional roles for traditional rulers) (some day) if it’s for the good of Nigeria… It does not mean we should lose steam.”

Earlier at plenary, Senator Simon Lalong had moved a Bill for an Act to establish the National Council of Traditional Rulers in order to accord them formal recognition.

The Nigerian Senate has passed it for Second Reading.

Lalong, who is the former governor of Plateau State, (2015 – 2023) expressed that traditional rulers are now well-educated, and their advice and opinions on insecurity and other national issues could help the government in meeting the yearnings of citizens.

Said he; “Their formal recognition would as well facilitate their roles and functions,” urging senators to support the bill to be passed into law.

Some senators who expressed reservations about potential conflicts of responsibility cautioned that the bill should clearly distinguish the role of traditional rulers from that of the government to avoid confusion.

Making remarks, Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio highlighted that the bill should clearly spell out the functions of traditional rulers, adding that a public hearing should be conducted to elicit opinions and perspectives before it is brought for a third reading.

Akpabio stated that traditional rulers have what it takes to offer counsel on a diversity of issues that would help the government before passing the bill for the second reading.

The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Establishment to report back in four weeks.

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NAPTIP Recommits To Fight Against Human Trafficking

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Officials of NAPTIP

 

By David Owei,Bayelsa

As part of its mission to protect all persons against human trafficking, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP has reiterated its call for the fight against the scourge of human trafficking.

Bayelsa State Commander, Mrs Abieyuwa Ikhidero made the call during a sensitization campaign with various stakeholders at Ekeki Park, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Mrs Ikhidero who strongly condemned the act and other related offences such as forced labour and exploitation of humans noted that these offences are punishable by law.

She urged residents of the state to be vigilant and cautious of human traffickers who come in the guise of offering employment or greener pastures outside the country.

” We are here again to speak about human trafficking, it is prevalent in Bayelsa State but we can all work together to stop them, if you see something, say something”

The NAPTIP State Commander emphasized that the agency would ensure that violence in public and private life is eliminated hence residents should report such cases.

Also speaking, Executive Director, WOMAN, Lady Eunice Nnachi appealed to parents and guardians to protect their children from human traffickers by ensuring that they are not deceived by fake promises of education and better welfare.

” Parents must be careful and not allow their children to be taken by just any person they do not trust, cases of maltreatment of children should also be reported”

On her part, Founder, DO Foundation, Dise Goddy Harry who expressed displeasure over human trafficking called on residents to always speak up inorder to reduce the scourge in the state.

Administrative Secretary, ENWAF, Ebizimo Agedah commended NAPTIP for their work by providing access to justice against offenders.

Former FIDA Chairperson, Barrister Deme Pamosoo emphasized the need for all persons to report suspected cases of human trafficking.

The campaign was attended by other Non governmental organizations such as Gender Response Initiative Team, Coalition of Women led Organizations and representatives of FIDA, Bayelsa State.

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Gbagyi Culture Under Threat as Elders Calls for Preservation

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Elder Peterson Kaura,

 

By Uthman Baba-Al-Naseer- Minna

The Gbagyi Forum has pledged to do everything possible to protect and preserve its culture for the development of its people across the entire country.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Gbagyi Elders Forum (GEF), Elder Peterson Kaura, stated this while presenting the communique of the forum’s meeting at Azzarh Hotel in Minna, the Niger State capital at the weekend.

Elder Peterson Kaura added that the Gbagyi people, known for their rich cultural heritage and significant contributions to Nigeria’s development, face growing threats from urbanization, economic challenges, and political marginalization.

He noted that despite their deep historical roots, there is very little documentation on Gbagyi history, with even fewer records written by the Gbagyi people themselves. This lack of documentation has contributed to the erosion of their cultural identity and historical recognition.

Peterson Kaura emphasized that the Gbagyi people have played a vital role in Nigeria’s development, particularly in the establishment of Northern Nigerian capitals, including Zungeru, Kaduna, and today’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Additionally, Minna, the capital of Niger State, is historically linked to the Gbagyi. Unfortunately, the cherished values of the Gbagyi accommodation, trust, hard work, and hospitality are being exploited. The ownership of ancestral lands in Abuja, Kaduna, and other parts of Nigeria remains a contentious issue.

The elder added that in the past, a significant leadership vacuum hindered Gbagyi unity and political participation, leaving the community vulnerable to socio-political marginalization. The absence of strong leadership allowed external influences to determine the political fate of the Gbagyi people.

He pointed out that economic hardships, lack of infrastructure, and high poverty levels continue to impede the full potential of the Gbagyi people. Without targeted economic empowerment programs, the community remains at a disadvantage compared to other ethnic groups in Nigeria.

He stressed the urgent need for initiatives that promote educational and economic advancement, particularly in the areas of Gbagyi history, cultural heritage, and economic empowerment. Strengthening these areas will ensure that future generations are equipped to preserve and promote Gbagyi traditions.

He, therefore, urged governments at all levels to collaborate and address the insecurity and banditry affecting Gbagyi ancestral lands, particularly in Kaduna, Niger, Kogi, and the FCT. He added that security concerns have displaced many Gbagyi communities, further threatening their cultural survival and economic stability.

The Gbagyi Elders Forum also appreciates President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for appointing Hon. Zephaniah Bitrus Jisalo to his cabinet, representing the Federal Capital Territory. This appointment is a significant step toward recognizing the contributions of the Gbagyi people and promoting inclusivity in governance.

The forum also acknowledges the Federal Government’s continued recognition of the late Ladi Kwali, a renowned Gbagyi potter, whose artistry remains a source of pride and inspiration. Such recognition highlights the need for more efforts to document and promote Gbagyi contributions to Nigeria’s cultural and economic landscape.

“The GEF will work towards fostering unity among Gbagyi communities, ensuring that religious and dialectical differences do not hinder progress,” Elder Peterson Kaura stated.

He added, “A Gbagyi Land Rights Committee will be constituted to engage policymakers and government authorities to address ancestral land ownership issues and secure compensation for displaced communities.”

He also announced that an Economic Development Initiative will be facilitated to promote skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and job creation.

Elder Peterson Kaura further urged the Federal Government to expedite the completion of the Sarkin-Pawa to Kaduna Road to enhance security and economic activities.

The Gbagyi Elders Forum remains committed to collaborating with all levels of government and other stakeholders to tackle the challenges facing the Gbagyi people. By fostering inclusivity, recognition, and representation, the GEF believes it can help build a more just, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria.

The GEF expresses deep appreciation to the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Comrade Yakubu Garba; Hon. Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Hon. Zephaniah B. Jisalo; and Senator Philip T. Aduda for their moral and material support in hosting the historic unveiling of the GEF. Special recognition is also given to Dr. Gaza Dogara Gomna and Lawrence Atafache Garki for their facilitation, technical services, and support.

The GEF extends gratitude to the numerous Gbagyi individuals who attended the event, reaffirming its commitment to working collaboratively to ensure cultural preservation, economic advancement, and political inclusion. The Board of Trustees of the Gbagyi Elders Forum has agreed to convene the First Annual Gbagyi Cultural Festival on February 5-8, 2026, with further details to be announced later.

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