A Letter From Chief Momoh Obaro - Kogi State Gubernatorial Candidate

Posted by: Dr. Joseph Ozigis Akomodi

My dear President,

I have not visited this site for quite sometime now because as you know politics is heating up and that is taking a good chunk of my time. I came to the site yesterday and started reading the exchanges between you and the Mr. Chairman: Alfred Salami. As you will predict i am awfully disappointed. I was disappointed on several grounds. When EVI announced its debut some two years ago, the hopes of those of us at home were raised thinking that our sons and daughters in diaspora have risen to the occasion of intervening in our intractable problem. our hope was raised because we believed that our sons and daughters have overcome this jinx that Anebira cannot work or do somethings together. we believe that you have overcome the jinx because of your exposure and having left our land for such a long time you must have acquired new skill to hand human relationship.
So that when you invited us to London last year for the first EVI conference our hope was more heightened. one of the people who indicated the desire to participate liken the conference to the Nigerian conference of the 60s at the commomwealth office when Nigerian problem was discussed and resolved. The fellow said that was how the Ebira problem would be resolved at that conference. Needless to say that though the turnout was below expectation, a big progress was made. what we expect from the EVI was for the decision at the conference to be implemented but instead we are seeing some petty quarrels between the chairman and Mr. President. We must not allow this to happen.

what needs to be done now?
1. You need to spare us of these quarrels. Ebira nation is too traumatized to be given the gift of these quarrels. If you cannot help us do not add to our pains. whatever the differences between you please sort it out.
2. Make it your goal to make EVI a strong and virile body that can bring in all the Ebiras in diaspora. the organization first should meet the needs of its members in diaspora before delving into the problem at home. if i must mentioned it to you, the other groups in Kogi are having very functional group meetings that have annual conference. Please i beg you in the name of Ohiku anebira make EVI that kind of body
3. to run a global body is not easy by any stretch of the imagination. the key to make the organization effective is decentralization. the group in NEW YORK has been functioning by your monthly meeting but other areas must be made to function too. we should be concerned with what happens to EVI in Europe, Asia and Africa too. Even America is too big for just one group. because the cost of transportation to attend meeting will soon be too overbearing for people to be able to bear them. I still think while the power of on-line communication is very important, there is still an aspect of face to face meeting that cannot be replaced by the power of Internet. we need socialization too.
4. finally I offer to mediate between the President and the Chairman so that this matter can be laid to rest once and for all. if this is acceptable to members lets me know.
I thank everybody who has shown one concern or the other for our fatherland. I thank EVI for the $2000 you raised to solve a problem at home. Everybody contribution matters. If you send a dollar to your old parents at home it is contribution. If you pay a school fees for your cousins and brothers and sisters it is a contribution. Even when you offer to own a property at home you are contributing to development. if you help a relative to establish a business at home it is a contribution. this contribution from a wide perspective must be acknowledged. I thank all of you on behalf of our land who have even spare a thought for our father land.
May the good Lord bless you all. Amen.

Chief Momoh Obaro