The meeting that took place at the victor’s dinner in Hammer brook saw the Igbozurume general secretary Germany (Ambassador Godson Nwosu) and the chairman of Igbozurume North (Mr. Chris Bernard) respectively giving detail explanation on the intention and objective of the organisation, to its teeming members.

It would be recalled that for sometime now Igbozurume Germany is engulfed in "Ezeship" controversy with different factions making counter claims. At the heart of the issue was the accusation by some group of people that a prominent and respected member of the socio-cultural organisation, Dr. Peter Godwin Onwukwe, "Ezeigbo Igbozurume" Germany failed to fulfil some financial promises which lead to disagreement with his former loyalist.

As a TopAfric Radio reporter, and by the then non- member of the organisation, I attended the meeting to get first hand information on what the organisation stands for and to access the pros and coins. Early I had the opportunity to attend another Igbozurume meeting led by Nze Afam Dike, who is the arrow head of the breakaway faction.

I was fascinated and honoured that (Igbozurume Convention) is about to take place in my backyard. At the gathering I found out what Igbozurume actually stands for.

Igbozurume was founded in Nigeria by Rtd. Colonel General Achuzia "The people’s General" and Igbo leader Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, notably to disavow the wrong long held view that Igbo’s of South Eastern Nigeria are people without recognition for their traditional Institutions." IGBO ENWEGHI EZE" Syndrome.

In broader perspective, Igbozurume is targeted at bringing together all the Igbo speaking people within and beyond the core five Igbo states, primarily to rekindle and reclaim back the lost grounds occasioned consequently as a direct fall out of the Nigerian/Biafran war (1967-1970) that ravaged its people mainly socially and politically.

In other words, Igbozurume , though a socio-cultural organisation and  non political in structure, yet has an overt/covert political lining with propensity to solicit for Nigerian presidency of Igbo extraction come 2015. This it wants to achieve by reuniting, reconnecting and reintegrating the Igbo nation with a clear mission to fight for her rights and aspiration within the Nigerian geo-political space.

In addition, Igbozurume by its original structure recognises the importance of traditional institution as a platform to garner support for its ambition. It equally encourages within its membership the idea of "Ezeship" stool, amongst Diasporas community to further build a rallying point for the Igbo community, find world wide. By that initiative, has symmetrically disclaim the ranting slogan from "IGBO ENWEIGH EZE“ to "IGBO NWERE-EZE".

For years now, Igbozurume has firmly being established in many countries world wide with branches in 36 states in Nigeria, GHANA, US, BRITAIN, FINLAND and other countries in Asia. The introduction of Igbozurume in Germany was chiefly to re-integrate many who are not updated as to developments back home.

Many at times governmental institutions in Nigeria has fend ignorance of our intellectual/organisation ability to partake in a schemes mapped out for Nigerians in Diaspora, who are mostly labelled as car and spare parts dealers, thus potentially limiting our chances of making positive contributions to our dear country Nigeria.

Since the return of democracy to Nigeria 1999, Governments, both state and national has recognised and recommended people in Diaspora for elective and appointment position without due consultation to Nigerian living in Germany.

Igbozurume by and large are disposed to make in-roads for German/Igbo community to be part of the relevant Diaspora community to reckon with, in Nigerian socio-political culture.
These and many more are some of the advantages the Igbozurume Germany stands to benefit, should we solidly and formidable put up a strong organisation in place the way our Diasporas counterparts in US and Britain are doing.

That includes electing the "Eze" throne as required by Igbozurume structure worldwide, irrespective of who becomes the beneficiary.

At this point having captured my mind on the true meaning and the intent of Igbozurume structure world wide, let me say the "Igbozurume World Convention" coming up soon would be a litmus test to all Igbo’s living in Germany whether we like it or not.

The important of this convention carry a burden that requires no rebellion or ifeajuna mentality. So, if we the marginalized Igbo’s think we are on the right track in restoring the lost grounds as all agreed, then there would be no need to divide Igbozurume in Germany in many factions.

This is the time to show some sense of ONYE AGHALA-NWANNE YA slogan in us. To whom honour is due lets give to him. If one of us has merited/crowned the Ezeship as the structures in principle advises, let us stop at nothing to crown/recognise that person hence the new slogan "IGBO-NWERE EZE"

Ezeship is not a taboo,and will never be; its numerous advantage are hinged on homage, relevancy, govt recongnition/patronage, ralying point and unity of purpose.

Igbozurume ! Igbozurume !! Igbozurume!!! Onyeaghala nwanne ! Onyeaghala-nwanne !!

Umuibe Ndewo

Adams, Kennedy Chidi

The conference attracted over 1,200 executives from the real estate industry, politics, media, entrepreneurs, diplomats and academicians. The motto of the conference was "New Tasks and Duties” “Neue Aufgaben und Abgaben”.
The Federal Minister of Building -/Construction of Germany, “Bundebauminister” Dr. Peter Ramsauer was the special guest of honor.

It is our desire to establish affordable buildings and energy efficient housing units throughout the country. This we believe could be achieved through perfect cooperation between politicians and entrepreneurs working hand in hand.

The president of the ZIA, Andreas Mattner in his welcome address, insists politicians’ remains strategic and critical partners of the real estate industry.

At the forum was the Malawian ambassador to Germany, His Excellency Prof. Dr. Isaac C. Lamba, accompanied by Mrs. Sylvaina Gerlich of Hamburg Integration Council. According to him, he was there practically to woe Investors to Malawi.

He emphatically said his country needs more investors in the areas of real estate development, road network, and he equally challenged the Europeans to have a rethink over their investment policies on Africa.

He also intensively discussed with Prof. Dr. Kay Poggensee from Institute of International Business Management (Kiel), as to how best to establish a partnership with the University of Malawi. He also had some pep talks with Mr. Oliver Herrmann (DTZ), seen by many as a global player in the real estate industry.
 
The Ger­man Pro­perty Fede­ra­tion or ZIA, is a regu­latory and eco­no­mic lobby group for policy in the pro­perty sec­tor, and remains one of the most influential institutions in Germany. At Euro­pean level the ZIA is rep­re­sen­ted in Brus­sels and is estab­lis­hed there as the Ger­man Pro­perty Fede­ra­tion. 

Other speakers at the occasion were, the finance minister Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble and Peer Steinbrück, Kanzler candidate of the SPD.

Desmond John Beddy
www.topafric.com

Many miles away from his birthplace in Senegal, the 51-year-old with a PhD in geo-ecology has made his home in Halle, a city in formerly communist East Germany, and now wants to represent it at the federal level.

"I am Senegalese, it's true, but firstly I am German," Diaby told news agency AFP in an interview.

Third on the Social Democratic Party's (SPD) list of candidates for the region of Saxony-Anhalt, his chances of winning the hotly-contested seat for Halle in Germany's Bundestag lower house of parliament are seen by his party as good.

German voters go to the polls on September 22 when the centre-left Social Democrats will seek to unseat conservative Angela Merkel at the Chancellery after two terms at the helm of Europe's top economy.

Halle, with its 230,000-strong population, is grappling with an unemployment rate that, at 13 percent, is twice the national average. It is also viewed as a hotbed of far-right extremism.

The married father-of-two took German nationality 12 years ago after finding himself "by chance" in East Germany in 1985 as a student, having won a coveted scholarship to learn German and study chemistry in Leipzig.

One of his first political victories came when the detested Berlin Wall fell in November 1989.

Then, as the spokesman for foreign students at his university, he pushed for the situation of exchange students facing deportation with the disappearance of East Germany to be shored up.

Well before joining the Social Democrats in 2008, Diaby, who previously was also a spokesman for striking students in Dakar, says he had always "made justice the fight of his life".

"I would like to be judged on my competence and my experience rather than on the colour of my skin," he said, describing his political journey as a "progression".

Though he was physically attacked in 1991 because of his origins, Diaby, who is also a former president of the Federal Council of Immigrants, believes that today xenophobia no longer poses as big a problem in Germany as 20 years ago.

"East Germany has changed a lot," he said.

Nevertheless the far-right National Democratic Party of Germany has lawmakers in the eastern state assemblies of Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and has secured a seat on Halle's city council.

Rüdiger Fikentscher, former head of the SPD's regional federation, said he recalled being won over by Diaby's experience which, he said, had always surmounted challenges "with flying colours".

"He has all the requisite qualities. He is kind, very intelligent, grasps things very quickly and above all, he's not looking to stand out," he said.

Diaby always walks around his home turf and is a well-known face locally.

"People stop me on every street corner and tell me their stories," he said. "That's part of my work."

His personable manner lends itself to campaigning as the Social Democrats gear up to try to win back the seat from the socialist The Left party which triumphantly took it in elections four years ago.

"Karamba's great strength is his easy contact with people," Thomas Stimpel, one of his campaign officials, said. "You put him in a room with people and 10 minutes later he knows everyone."

thelocal/AFP/mry

The real question to ask going forward is who had the responsibility for securing the needed Parliamentary approval.
Martin Amidu’s effort to set aside the “Isofoton” judgment debt may only have given the Government a brief reprieve. This is especially so if the main ground for setting aside the judgment is that the contract was not backed by Parliamentary approval. Obviously it is not the responsibility of “Isofoton” to obtain parliamentary approval and therefore the company should not be made to suffer for the failure of Ghanaian officials to do their job as required. It is therefore reasonable to expect the Ghana Government to reimburse Isofoton for any monies it refunds due to the Judgment.
If eventually any monies are paid to “Isofoton” this raises a clear cut case of causing financial loss to the state in that officials who failed to secure parliamentary approval for the Isofoton contract are the real cause of any loss which the nation Ghana might incur in this case

The lesson going forward is that judgment debts that are set aside solely on the ground of lack of parliamentary approval obviously and impliedly raise issues of official negligence and leave the door open for Government to be sued  in another case for recovery of any monies that companies are made to refund by the Supreme Court.

In essence cancellation of contracts by politicians on grounds that are not watertight eventually cost the nation needless and avoidable losses that result in unwarranted judgment debts. The NPP especially should refrain from throwing mud at the current Government for payment of Judgment debts, which debts arose from wrongful decisions that they have taken in the past.

Forward ever, backwards never.
God bless our Homeland Ghana.
Report By: Mensah Dekportor
(NDC- Germany Communication Director)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The labour court in the state of Hesse heard that the man was supposed to transfer just €62.40 from a bank account belonging to a retiree, but instead "fell asleep for an instant, while pushing onto the number 2 key on the keyboard" -- making it a huge €222,222,222.22 order.

The bank discovered the mistake shortly afterwards and corrected the error.

The case was taken to court by the man's 48-year-old colleague who was fired for letting the mistake slip through when verifying the order. The court ruled that the plaintiff should be reinstated in his job.

thelocal/AFP/mry

Truly, something was after these refugees. A thing bigger and monster like chased them away from their comfort zone, they escaped death by the whisker but still, it got them injured somehow. Crushed their hope and aspiration-That was why they scattered all over Europe wandering about and looking for just shelters to put theirs heads, even if worst than where they lived before in the small oil rich Arab "albeit" geographically African country.

A land formerly inhabited by different tribes, governed by an ex-Colonel many of these stranded refugees once regarded as their master and Saviour. That was before he the master was brutally crushed to death by the some allies-who now refuses to find a lasting solution to settle the people their actions affected most.

Suffice to say, before the former regime in Libya was ousted and the subsequently killing of Maummar Gaddafi August, 2011. by combined forces led by NATO allied forces.Libya used to be a beehive of black African immigrants with majority working and earning good money from the oil rich country. A land some of the refugees stranded in Hamburg now vowed to return back, if the security situation were to be improved and stable as it used to be,before the monster bomb began to rain down.

Muammar Gaddafi, though, a brutal dictator and an autocratic who held power swayed for more than 40yrs in Libya was known for his magnanimity and Pan Africanism and United Arab views. He had many times in the past provided financial assistance to many of his neighbouring poor African states i.e. Niger-Republic others. During his regime, He not only allowed immigrants but equally encouraged black Africans immigrants from other African countries to come and work in Libya unlike what is known in other oil rich gulf states.

Nonetheless, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say since the fall of that regime Africa continent has suffered much lost, In terms of displaced immigrants to economic hardship and a dying prospect of united African perspective. Let it be known from that time till date, Close to 40 thousand Africans immigrant dependent on Libya economy that time had been displaced, misplaced and scattered all over the Europe with attendant consequences of illegal imprisonment, Death in the high sea and misplacement of identities.

However with the refugees crises looming in Hamburg without an end in site, one tend to ask what actually are the SPD Government waiting before deciding on what to do with these suffering people who deplorably has been living conspicuously outside in the space for few months. Although it seems the dimension of the crises has changed from Humanitarian to EU politics, otherwise quite unlike Germany the impasse has lasted more than expected.

So far there has been allot of speculation as to what the authorities in Hamburg intend doing, some are of the opinion they are not happy given the fact and revelation that Italian authorities granted the refugees resident permits, induced them with €500 each and asked them to travel to other European countries hence their financial and economic hardship.

The trajectory of the crises is that Italy and Germany are both members of the European Union. Facts is, resident permit issued in one EU countries can only be allowed a 3 month stay in another EU country but cannot be allowed a working permit according to the EU laws which recognises refuge point of entry as a place to settle first,Unless where EU citizenship applies.

Based on that, the Germany Government has therefore legitimately refused the stranded African refugees a working permit thereby rendering their over stay in Germany territory void. Even that, they the refugees understands their chances to live and work in Germany are slim, Reports had it they are putting up resistance to go back to Italy.

As the debate and discussion on how to handle their plight rages on, some critical questions are begging for answers like; Should they refused to go back to Italy, What happens next ? Will they be deported?. And if such decision are considered by German authorities, where will they be deported, to-Italy or Libya? What about the resident permit they are holding? Is that a pointer EU state has ran into political murky water of blame games as supposed to strict compliance to their treaty?

In the next weeks, month or so,All eyes will be on Germany and the rest of EU states to provide a lasting solution to the Libya-African Refugees Crises in Europe which regrettably came about as a result of NATO & US unilateral decision to topple Gaddafi´s Government without putting adequate mechanism in place to accommodate the inevitable casualty of regime change.

The world is patiently watching and hoping the consequences of the crises created in time, could be amended on time before it’s too late.

Adams Kennedy Chidi