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Josephine Anichukwu: And My Mother Departs in a Blaze of Glory
By Uche Anichukwu
O proud daughter of the Irokos,
Woman of no mean linage,
Cub of the tigers and tigresses,
The intoxicating beauty of her time,
Beauty that dizzied the heads of men,
Though thou art robbed by time and toil
And though no longer art thou
That tall, fresh, provocative frame,
Which we knew and heard of,
Your today reflects your yesterday,
For beyond that seemingly tired figure
Lies a tigress and man-woman
Strong of will, defiant and resilient,
That rather cows than be cowed by odds;
That stood against the windstorms of life,
But remained afloat on life’s ocean;
That sailed roughshod against tempests
On life’s ocean, and never sank;
That wrestled malevolent spirits and flesh
And always the victor became.
Lowly river that receives
Homage of a million mountain streams.
Thou art the pride of womanhood,
The mountain among the hills,
A rare, loving, sweet mother thou art.
What hath thou found too great to sacrifice?
Pleasure, time, sleep or cowries?
Thou art never wearied of finding and giving
And your knees always bruised in prayers
Thou art the sweetest of mothers born.
I did the above poem to celebrate my mother after my national youth service, for the greatest blessing God bestowed on me and my siblings is to be birthed and raised by our dear father, the late Rabbi (Chief) Gabriel Nworie Anichukwu (Nnabuenyi) and our mother, who both had illustrious careers as teachers, with our father retiring as a headmaster. Both brought their unique endowments to bear on our upbringing.
Mama was not just any mother, but a special one in all ramifications. I will remember her as that no-nonsense woman and a disciplinarian of the strictest order. The name and tone she called readily told you whether all was well or not. When you wailed that you were dying from her cane therapies, she would retort that it was better than turning out a reprobate adult. In fact, her disciplinary actions extended to whether you finished or did not finish your food.
Our mother loathed any appearance of weakness. To her, it was a taboo to be a weakling. Thus, she, together with her husband, tried to imbue in their children humility without timidity, planting a calm storm in each of us. It was an anathema to disrespect an elder or anyone for that matter. And you must not fight. But if you must, then you better ensure you emerged the victor. You dared not sob to the house. Even if a much older child tried to bully you, Mama believed that you should be able to defend yourself creditably in one way or the other. Otherwise, she would normally ask you if she had been feeding you with sand since she birthed you and you can be sure of getting the beating of your life.
While we were little children, our mother created a roaster for manning her shop located in front of her father’s compound at Amagu Ishienu, across the river. You closed between 9:30pm and 10pm and still toddled home. Holding a lantern, you would walk alone through the pathway with bushes on both sides, and past Ukwu Ofo (debarium elastica tree) where we were made to understand that the spirits (umu mmuo) lived and milled around. Then, you would cross the railway bridge over Nvuna River. At the peak of the rainy season, Nvuna usually overflowed its banks and roared against the pillars of the bridge. Flickers of lightening made it appear as if you were walking on an ocean as they landed on the vexed river. This, we later learnt, she did to drive away every iota of fear from our bodies.
Again, while we were children, when Nvuna River rose in volume, she would first swim past to drop our farm basket, then swim back again and again to cross each of us on her back. She would tell us that Nvuna would not drown an Amagu son or daughter (Amagu produces the chief priest of Nvuna) and that we were sons and daughters of Amagu by extension because, as the Igbo goes, ebe amulu nne mmadu ka a kara imu onye ahu (transliterated as: the birthplace of someone’s mother is also where the person could have as well been born). It is not unusual to shudder at such high risks now as an adult, but those were experiences that helped in grooming our mentality to never respect obstacles.
Senior Mother Anichukwu was hard work personified. She hated laziness. She was very enterprising and hardworking even till her last days. All our pleading that she should stop farming fell on deaf ears. Back in the days, she would normally wake us up between 4:30am and 5am, saying it was already midday. We normally set forth to farm quite early in the morning. Yet, we were among the last to leave the farm. Besides the fact that the proceeds from agriculture saw us through school, we gained a sense of industry and tenacity.
Again, we could not have prayed for a more sacrificial mother. My mother gave it all. Yes, everything, just to make sure her children succeeded in life. For instance, when I passed my WAEC and JAMB examinations in 1993, ESUT had just increased the school fees to about N4,000 (Four thousand naira only). It was very tough raising such money at the time. Worse, our dad had just retired as a headmaster. A relation suggested that I could actually retake JAMB since I made it in my first attempt, a proposal my mother outrightly rejected. She said she would rather sell her entire wrappers than buy that suggestion. Both father and mother went to work, and ultimately, I was able to pay before the matriculation.
The most challenging period was after the death of our father in October 1995. I had just finished writing my second semester, first year examination in the university. There was just no hope. But my mother assured us that none of us would drop out of school. She literally overworked herself, ignoring her personal welfare. Till date, I am still unable to dislodge from my mind the image of my emaciated Mama wearing a small piece of white gown for the one whole year that she mourned our father – not because she could not afford full white wrappers from her salaries as planned, but because she prioritised our education and welfare above everything else.
Growing up partially in Calabar and Enugu under the tutelage of her late elder brother, Quantity Surveyor (Chief) Sonde’ Nwanvu Anyianuka, an illustrious son of Nkanuland and politician, my mother was a bit exposed to politics early in her life. Importantly, she was fearless. When I made known my intention to run for the Councillorship seat of Nomeh Ward in 2002, many relations besieged our home, expressing concerns over my safety. Her two elder sisters, Uzoamaka and Christiana (both late now), came crying and begging her to stop me. But she insisted that I was already a man, a graduate, and would not return to her womb.
I was in that race until our elders appealed to me to step down for people from another division of Nomeh. But that venture proved fortuitous both for me and Nomeh Unateze community, leading to a chain of events that lifted me and my community. Chief among them is the ongoing Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburumbu-Nara Road (with a spur to Oduma), a federal project facilitated by my former principal, His Excellency, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, CFR (Ikeoha Ndigbo) and which my current principal, the Disruptive Innovator, and Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, has already flagged-off for completion in line with his infrastructural transformation crusade across the state. The construction of road to Nomeh, with its far-reaching economic and social impact, is an eternal legacy to the memories of my parents, for without God’s grace and their sacrifices to see me through in life, perhaps I would not have had the opportunity to function at the level that made this happen. Till her death, Mama would usually dance and hype over the road.
I will forever cherish her fearlessness, even in the face of gravest danger. In fact, she did not even fear death. Before departing Nomeh for her medical care, she had the premonition that the hour had come, and she prepared herself for it.
It is, therefore, so heartwarming that friends and relations across the world, the Church, and His Excellency and my boss, Governor Peter Mbah, who was also in Nomeh in person, all rallied round us to ensure that she exited triumphantly and in a blaze of glory. My mother that I know could not have wished for more. Nature too was not left out in testing to the great woman that she was, as Nomeh Unateze experienced the first rain of the year 2025 that same evening, soon after she was sown back to mother earth.
Madam Energy, work was food to you;
Enterprise was in your bloodstream,
Teacher, disciplinarian par excellence.
My fearless Lion, woman of valour,
Braver than 10 lions.
My prayer warrior, the indefatigable fighter.
Cat with 10 lives
Death did not conquer you.
Even Death and evil spirits dreaded you.
You’ve only gone the way of all mortals.
Your time simply came and you went to be with the Lord.
Your legacies have immortalised you.
My sweet mother, you vanquished Death.
Surely, life will never be the same without you,
But you vowed to watch over us in life and in death.
Chibuzo, Chidera (you called her Ogbom) bid you farewell;
Mmaduabuchi (Chimuanya) and Osy Power bid you goodnight.
Mama, I wept uncontrollably since your demise,
But at your funerals, I chose to dance, not mourn you
As you overcame, and triumphantly you returned.
Rest in peace, Nnem
Ogwene, Ada Nwankwo Anuka Orji
Ada Anuka Enyi,
Ada Njoku Ekwe,
Atu egwu,
Agu Nwanyi,
Nkenke enyi na-achu igwe enyi oso,
Nwanyi na ibe ya ra bu n’onu.
Mama, I’ll love you till eternity.
Obodo gbara onwe, ochighi echi
Ya diba.
• Anichukwu is media aide to the Governor of Enugu State
The United States of America has announced an updated deportation list featuring 124 Nigerians.
This was disclosed in a statement released on the website of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday.
The DHS claimed that these individuals have been placed on what it described as its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register.
While the names and photos have been made public, the timeline for deportations remains undisclosed.
However, the US immigration authorities explained that the deportations are part of ongoing immigration enforcement, stressing that those listed were convicted of serious crimes, but declined to provide details about the offences or when deportations would take place.
The statement read: “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst – including the illegal aliens you see here.”
The website then listed: “Sunday Adediora, Sunday Kunkushi, Mkpouto Etukudoh, Marcus Unigwe, Olaniyi Ojikutu, Boluwaji Akingunsoye, Ejike Asiegbunam, Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola, Bamidele Bolatiwa, Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh, Aderemi Akefe, Solomon Wilfred, Chibundu Anuebunwa, Joshua Ineh, Usman Momoh, Oluwole Odunowo, Bolarinwa Salau, Oriyomi Aloba.”
Others are Oludayo Adeagbo, Olaniyi Akintuyi, Talatu Dada, Olatunde Oladinni, Jelili Qudus, Abayomi Daramola, Toluwani Adebakin, Olamide Jolayemi, Isaiah Okere, Benji Macaulay, Joseph Ogbara, Olusegun Martins, Kingsley Ariegwe, Olugbenga Abass, Oyewole Balogun, Adeyinka Ademokunla, Christian Ogunghide, Christopher Ojuma, Olamide Adedipe, Patrick Onogwu, Olajide Olateru-Olagbegi and Omotayo Akinto.
There are also Kenneth Unanka, Jeremiah Ehis, Oluwafemi Orimolade, Ayibatonye Bienzigha, Uche Diuno, Akinwale Adaramaja, Boluwatife Afolabi, Chinonso Ochie, Olayinka A. Jones, Theophilus Anwana, Aishatu Umaru, Henry Idiagbonya, Okechukwu Okoronkwo, Daro Kosin, Sakiru Ambali, Kamaludeen Giwa, Cyril Odogwu, Ifeanyi Echigeme, Kingsley Ibhadore, Suraj Tairu, Peter Equere, Dasola Abdulraheem, Adewale Aladekoba, and Akeem Adeleke.
Also listed were Bernard Ogie Oretekor, Abiemwense Obanor, Olufemi Olufisayo Olutiola, Chukwuemeka Okorie, Abimbola Esan, Elizabeth Miller, Chima Orji, Adetunji Olofinlade, Abdul Akinsanya, Elizabeth Adeshewo, Dennis Ofuoma, Quazeem Adeyinka, Ifeanyi Okoro, Oluwaseun Kassim, Olumide Bankole Morakinyo, Abraham Ola Osoko, Oluchi Jennifer and Chibuzo Nwaonu.
The latest action is part of the sweeping immigration enforcement measures introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump after his return to office on January 20, 2025.
On his first day back in office, Trump signed a series of executive orders declaring illegal immigration a national emergency and directing federal agencies to intensify border security and accelerate the removal of undocumented migrants.
One of the orders, titled: “Protecting the American People Against Invasion, instructed immigration authorities to prioritise the arrest and deportation of removable migrants, particularly those considered threats to public safety and national security.”
Defending the policy, the DHS said the administration was delivering on Trump’s campaign promise to carry out mass deportations, beginning with what it described as the “worst of the worst” criminal offenders.
The department said officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had been directed to intensify operations nationwide against non-citizens convicted of serious crimes.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has also defended the crackdown, saying the administration remained committed to enforcing immigration laws and removing undocumented immigrants with criminal records in line with President Trump’s immigration agenda.Executive Branch
Official US immigration data indicate that Guatemala has recorded the highest number of deportees since the renewed crackdown began, followed by Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador, reflecting the administration’s focus on migrants from Latin America.
The US has also expanded deportation flights to countries across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean as enforcement operations continue.
Nigeria has also come under increased scrutiny by the Trump administration. In June, Washington imposed partial visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens, citing concerns over identity management, information sharing, visa overstay rates and security screening.Demographics.
The PUNCH
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to probe the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
The PFIPC has come under scrutiny over the N1.3 billion budgetary allocation made to the council in the 2026 budget.
On June 11, Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, issued a public disclaimer disowning the appointment of Adeniyi Adeyemi as the head of the council.
The former speaker of the house of representatives said such an office “does not exist” under Tinubu’s government, and no appointment has been made in that regard.
But Adeyemi rejected Gbajabiamila’s claim, describing it as a contradiction in official government records.
The presidency would later accuse Adeyemi of forging documents, including an appointment letter, to present himself as the head of the alleged non-existent government agency.
On Tuesday, Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a “thorough investigation” into the PFIPC controversy.
‘FG MUST SET UP AN INDEPENDENT PANEL’
In a statement issued on Wednesday through Phrank Shaibu, his senior special assistant on public communication, Atiku said Tinubu’s directive to the ICPC to investigate the matter was a response to the seven-day ultimatum he had earlier issued demanding a transparent probe.
He said Tinubu’s directive to the ICPC exposed contradictions in the presidency’s previous position that the matter had already been comprehensively investigated by the police, with a suspect arrested and criminal charges filed.
“If all of that is true, what exactly is the ICPC expected to spend another 30 days investigating?” Atiku asked.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said if the police probe was indeed comprehensive, another investigation by a government agency would be unnecessary.
“What Nigerians demanded was never another internal government investigation. We demanded an independent investigation,” he said.
Atiku proposed the immediate establishment of a special independent commission of inquiry comprising 10 eminent Nigerians nominated by the federal government, the ADC, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), civil society organisations (CSOs), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and retired judicial officers.Politics (Left)
He said the proposed panel should be empowered to conduct a comprehensive investigation into every aspect of the PFIPC affair, review investigative records compiled by the police and other security agencies, summon serving and former public officials where necessary, publish a white paper containing its findings and recommendations, and conclude its assignment within one month.
Atiku said only an independent commission, with representation from the government, opposition parties and CSOs, would command public confidence and restore trust in the outcome of the investigation.
Justice Peter Kekemeke of the FCT High Court on Wednesday awarded N10 million in damages against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for defaming the reputation of former Minister of Power, Dr Olu Agunloye.
The judge found the commission guilty of defamation while delivering judgment in a N10billion suit filed against the EFCC by Agunloye.
Agunloye claimed that the publication on the commission’s Website and X (formerly Twitter) handle, entitled “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6billion fraud”, damaged his reputation.
Agunloye had, through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe SAN, suit marked FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024, claimed that the EFCC caused harmed his reputation.
He added that he (Agunloye) was said to be a corrupt and fraudulent individual through a post published on its official website and other allied online platforms, with the caption, “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6billion fraud”.
Delivering judgment , Justice Kekemeke held that there were elements of defamation in the posts.
The judge held that in the instant case, the contentious publication is in permanent form, adding that Agunloye’s name was mentioned.
The court further held that EFCC’s sole witness in the case, Assistant Commissioner of Police Umar Babangida, inspite of the fact that he initially denied knowledge of the said publication, later owned up and admitted that it was from the defendant’s media department.
He held that the case before him does not challenge EFCC’s power to investigate economic and financial crime as claimed by the defendant.
“Having gone through the charge in the criminal case against the claimant before a FCT high court in Apo, there is no where in it that claimed fraud, contrary to the EFCC publication.
“The issue of fraud is not in any of the exhibits tendered before the court in the course of hearing the case.
”The EFCC failed to prove the truth in the said publication. That is not fair and does not represent the court’s proceedings,” the judge held.
He held that the EFCC was not a news agency but an investigative agency.
Justice Kekemeke held that the commission knew that Agunloye was not involved in a fraud of six billion Naira.
The court declared that the contentious publication on EFCC official website and X handle as false and defamatory.
The judge ordered the commission to retract the publication and offer public apology on its website and two other national dailies.
The court further ordered a perpetual injunction restraining EFCC from defaming the former minister.
Reacting to the judgment in an interview with newsmen, counsel for the EFCC, Dr Wahab Shittu SAN, declared the commission will appeal the judgment.
“Though the court has made it pronouncement, the case is premature as the claimant’s criminal charge is yet to be concluded and judgment delivered,” he said.(NAN)
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