Countless books have been written and published already by numerous authors, more books are being written and published presently somewhere and many more books will be written and published subsequently. As a matter of fact, Bill Gates has written and published insightful books, as well John C. Maxwell has written and published many worth reading books, Og Mandino wrote and published inspirational books, Les Brown has written and published motivational books, Zig Ziglar wrote and published many profound books, Maya Angelou wrote and published life-changing books, Chidi Okoroafor has equally written and published several books of wisdom, also Enoch Adeboye has written and published wonderful books, Uma Ukpai has written and published inspiring books, undoubtedly David Oyedepo has written and published great books, W.F Kumuyi has written and published mind-blowing books, Chris Oyakhilome has written and published thoughtful books, similarly Myles Munroe wrote and published amazing books, Chinua Achebe wrote and published sagacious books, Wole Soyinka has written and published interesting books just like David Abioye who has also written and published thought-provoking books among other enormous books and their authors who are numerous for me to mention their names right here and right now. But above all, the scripture (Bible) is the greatest book of wisdom and knowledge ever written and published. And mark my words, it will ever remain the greatest book of all time. Yes! because unlike every other book, the scripture (Bible) is God-breathed (it is given or written by divine inspiration) Scripture Reference 2nd Timothy 3:16. Besides that, it is historic, historical, mystical (it has spiritual significance) and authoritative in nature, it equally contains incomparable guidelines for moral behaviour and belief (it is an embodiment of past or ancient wars and (the aftermaths), histories, cultures, norms, traditions, values, lifestyles and genealogical records). Moreover, it is a collection of books that encompasses past or ancient stories, chronicles, teachings, laws, parables, proverbs, psalms, teachers, preachers, heroes, heroines, saints, kings, queens, prophecies, prophets, prophetesses, miracles, warnings, signs, wonders, mysteries, revelations (the past, present and future events collectively) and much more than that, including extraordinary insights or words of wisdom (encouragement) from Jesus Christ himself (the greatest teacher and inspirator of all time), king Solomon, king David, saint Paul among other ancient wise men and women. In other words, the scripture (Bible) is nothing else but a typical and perfect example of a book saturated with uncommon and unprecedented inspirations, motivations, wisdom, knowledge, encouragement and hope for the hopeless. Now, that's why the scripture (Bible) is ever worth reading over and over again, regardless of one's religion. Most interestingly, the scripture (Bible) has been written and published already in nearly all the languages of the world. That is to say, billions of copies have been published and sold globally already, more copies are being published and sold presently and many more copies will be published and sold sooner or later. In fact, unimpeachably (beyond doubt and criticism) the scripture (Bible) has been read by the world as a whole and you can bet your bottom dollar, it (the Bible) will surely be read by the posterity ahead (all future generations ahead). Anyway, at this juncture I guess you should concur with me that the scripture (Bible) is and will ever remain the greatest book of all time. However, if you still don't concur with me, then it is obvious or rather I put it to you that you have not yet taken your time to read the scriptures (Bible) thoroughly. Nevertheless, you have to take your time in order to thoroughly read and discover the uniqueness and extraordinariness of the scriptures (Bible). For, once you have done just that, you will surely and eventually concur with me that the scripture (Bible) is and will ever remain the greatest book of all time, QED. ~Emeasoba George
–
Emeasoba George
|
"Our Governor Sir, hardly does any day pass in Nigeria, without a report of a massacre of Nigerians by Nigerians or at least, coordinated by Nigerians. Hardly does a day pass, without the report of a major violent crime committed against Nigerians by Nigerians. Hardly does a day pass, without the story of how large sums of money are stolen by Nigerians who are in positions of trust. The revelations at the various probes by the National Assembly are heart breaking as billions of Naira meant for the improvement in the welfare and condition of living of ordinary Nigerians are brazenly stolen by those who they are entrusted in their care. All these are examples of violence against the people of Nigeria. The killings and maiming of Nigerians, whether by Boko Haram, Militants, cult groups, kidnappers, armed robbers, misguided youths, political thugs and other forms of societal vices by deviant groups under whatever guise, are all examples of direct violence. There is also structural violence, which is the violence that does not hurt or kill through fists or guns or bombs, but through social structures that produce poverty, death and enormous suffering such as: corruption, injustice and bad governance. The truth is that, no one will be able to properly address the problems of direct violence especially, those with ideological inclination without understanding the relationship between direct violence and structural violence. For instance, take a hypothetical example of a man who loses his land or fishing port to oil /gas exploitation because of unjust laws. His son loses her mother because of poverty and crumbling social infrastructure in the Niger Delta, his daughter cannot further her education because the surviving parent is poor. Yet, they live closer oil pipelines When she manages to go to school through community effort. She is told that there is no job for her. She becomes unemployed and frustrated. The community also becomes frustrated, and unable to sponsor others like her. They become abandoned and trapped in the heinous poverty circle while their God-given resources are carted away and used to fund a system of fiscal federalism that is a misnomer and unbecoming of any true federation. The fund is used to pay for the construction of the expensive city of Abuja, fund the huge corruption that we read daily in the newspapers, finance expatriate workers in the Oil and Gas Industry who enjoy highest condition of service, incomparable to any of their equivalent in the world, fund one of the most expensive National Assemblies in the world and provide for the lavish and hedonistic lifestyle of the privileged few Nigerians . Our Governor Sir, you will agree with us that hunger, neglect, frustration and deprivation of this magnitude IN THE MIDST OF PLENTY is a serious form of violence, capable of pushing ( indeed has pushed) the man and his community into direct violence. The story is also not different in Northern Nigeria, where years of deprivation, neglect, corruption and misrule by the ruling elites have led to the emergence and establishment of dynasties of poverty in the form of ‘Almajiris’, and now we all cry over the terror in the land, occasioned by the ‘Boko Haram’ insurgence. Let me quickly add that I am not by any chance providing any justification for criminal activities, I am only showing how one crime, for example corruption, leads to another. For example, the killings by ‘Boko Haram’ or militant/cult groups in the Niger Delta. This analysis in my view, is important if we must address the unacceptable violence, insecurity and wanton killings in Nigeria that is fast becoming a way of life in our beloved country." Exerpt from AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY COMRADE HYGINUS CHIKA ONUEGBU (JP, FCA) STATE CHAIRMAN TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC) RIVERS STATE COUNCIL ON THE OCCASION OF 2012 MAY DAY CELEBRATION IN RIVERS STATE NIGERIA.
–
Chika Onuegbu
|