Contact and Connection

Morning Reflection

Contact and Connection

It was April 2009.   I was returning from Delhi by flight with a monk of the RamaKrishna Mission sitting next to me and a journalist from the US sitting on the third seat . The journalist started
interviewing  the monk as planned earlier.

Journalist - Sir , in your last lecture, you  told us about Jogajog ( contact ) &  Sanjog (connection ). It's really confusing. Can you explain ?

The Monk smiled and apparently deviating from the question asked the journalist: Are you from New York?

Journalist - Yeah...

Monk - Who are there at home ?

The Journalist felt that the  Monk was trying to avoid answering his question since  this was a very personal and unwarranted question. Yet the  journalist  said:    "Mother has expired. Father is there. Three brothers and one sister. All married..."

The Monk, with a smile on his  face,   asked again: - "Do you talk to your father?"

The  journalist looked visibly annoyed...

The Monk  - "When did you talk to him last?"

The journalist, suppressing his annoyance said:  "May be a month ago."

The Monk:  "Do you brothers and sisters meet often ? When did you meet last as a family gathering?"

At this point, I saw  sweat on the forehead ok the journalist. I wondered who was conducting the interview, the Monk or the Journalist. It seemed that the   Monk was interviewing the Journalist.

With a sigh , the Journalist said: "We met last at Christmas two  years  ago."

The Monk: " How many days did you all stay together ?"

The Journalist (wiping the sweat on his brow) said : "Three days..."

Monk: "How much time did you  spend with your Father, sitting right  beside him ?"

I saw the journalist looking  perplexed and embarrassed and scribbling something on a paper...

The Monk:  "Did you have breakfast, lunch or dinner together ? Did you ask how he was? Did you ask how his days are passing after your mother's death?"

I saw drops of tears coming out from the eyes of the journalist.

The Monk held the hand of the journalist and said: "Don't be embrassed, upset or sad. I am sorry if I have hurt you unknowingly... But this is basically the answer to your question about "contact and connection" "( jogajog and Sanjog)".  You have 'contact'  with your father but you don't have 'connection' with him. You are not connected to him. Connection is between heart and heart... sitting together, sharing meals and caring for  each other; touching, shaking hands, having eye contact,  spending some time together...You  brothers and sisters have 'contact' but you have no  'connection' with each other...."

The journalist wiped his eyes and said : "Thanks for teaching me a fine and unforgettable lesson"

This is the reality today.  Whether at home or in the society everybody has lots of contacts but there is no connection. No communication .... Everybody is in his or her own world.

Let us not maintain just "contacts" but let us remain "connected"; caring, sharing and spending time with all our dear ones.
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PMB 2019 BUDGET

FULL SPEECH OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT THE 2019 BUDGET PRESENTATION.

December 19, 2018

This is my last Budget Speech to the 8th National Assembly.

“Today, we will review economic development over the last three-and-a-half years with emphasis on 2018. We will also highlight the budget for 2019.

“The last three-and-a-half years have been challenging both home and abroad. Both oil and non-oil markets have been volatile. There have been disruptions in oil production in the country.

President Buhari

However, we have cause to be optimistic about the future. The economy has recovered from recession. We have done more work with less resources in Agriculture, Social Development and Infrastructure.

We have intervened several times to support states in the payment of salaries. The Federal Government has also sustained its efforts to curb corruption through the comprehensive cooperation of the single treasury account.

We have also made efforts to end the insurgencies in affected areas of the country. We thank the Armed Forces and Security Agencies for their efforts and sacrifices in protecting the nation.

We have also made many efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in public service delivery. Inflation has declined from 18.2% in January to 11.28% in November. Foreign Capital Influence has also improved.

Trading is a significant contributor to our country’s economy. But we must strengthen other areas such as Information Technology and Entertainment; all hands must be on deck to ensure the country succeeds.

2019 Budget

In Agriculture, we are seeing increased investments in all areas of the sector. Indeed, we are on course to achieve good security in the nearest future.

We also prioritized the completion of already ongoing projects as opposed to starting new ones.

We have included the implementation for the National Minimum Wage. I will be sending a Bill to this National Assembly, on this.

To further support SME’s, we have set aside N15 billion, while the sum of N10 billion has been granted to BOI for this purpose.

We can all commit to the early passage of this Bill.

I thank you most sincerely for your attention. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

-Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR)

IGUE FESTIVAL IN EDO STATE

IGUE FESTIVAL IN EDO STATE OF NIGERIA

by Francis Omoruyi

The significance of IGUE festival/celebration to the Edo people in Nigeria (The descendants of Edo State). Christmas celebration coincides with Igue festival/celebration time, annually. Christmas is relatively recent in the Kingdom of Benin. The Igue festival started in the Kingdom of Benin by the great Oba (King) Ewuare (Ogidigan) meaning Oba (King) Ewuare the mystic, in 1440 AD.

Items used to celebrate igue festival

During king Ewuare's reign, there lived on the Benin-Ughoton road Ogieka (Chief of Eka Ward) who had three beautiful daughters Ubi, Ewere and Oyoyo. The news of these beautiful ladies reached the Oba (King) Ewuare in his palace. Ewuare asked Ogieka to marry his eldest daughter Ubi to him. Ogieka replied that Oba could not marry Ubi because she was too shrewish, disobedient and disrespectful. The chief would not be comfortable allowing Ubi to marry the Oba (king). He suggested that the second daughter Ewere would make a good wife and would earn respect that Queens deserve. The Oba (King) already had a number of queens in the palace.

Nevertheless the Oba (King) insisted that he would marry Ubi because she was the senior daughter and also she was very beautiful. Ubi was relunctant but had no choice. Willing or unwilling the chief of Eka (Ogieka) sent her to the palace to marry the Oba (King).

When she got to the harem in the palace, Ubi refused to cooperate with any one in the palace. She went on hunger strike and would not speak to anyone. The Oba (King) tried to encourage her. Ubi could not be tamed. The Oba (king) angrily ordered her to be sent out by the maids who struck her with burning pieces of firewood from under the cooking pot.

While they were pushing her out of the palace the maids were shouting (Ubi rie, Ubi rie) meaning Ubi leave, Ubi leave the palace.

A few months latter, Oba (King) Ewuare asked Ogieka to marry his second daughter Ewere to him because Ubi was not good to be his Queen. Ogieka agreed. According to the advice of an oracle, on the day Ewere was being escorted to the harem in the palace, the Oba (King) ordered the Ihogbe (the ward next to the palace) to join to escort her and the Osama (the high priests) to wait on her and honour her entry into the palace.

Ewere was led by the Ihogbe, dancing and singing. On entering the palace they sang the following song:-

Ewere de, kie n'Ewere

Ewere de, kie n'Ewere

Ewere de, kie n'Ewere

meaning; Ewere is coming open for Ewere with joy and celebration.

Gha kie o, Odibo gha kia aza

Gha kie o, Odibo gha kia aza

Gha kie o, Odibo gha kia aza

meaning; Who is opening the store? The steward is going to open the store house of gold for the queen

Food use to celebrate igue festival

The women in the harem danced for joy and the whole city was in festive mood. Gifts of all kinds were poured on Queen Ewere from all the chiefs and from all parts of the city. A lot of valuable gifts were sent to the Oba (King) from all parts of the kingdom the weeks following the marriage. This was about the end of harvest of new yams and the farmers and the entire kingdom were already in festive mood.

Unlike Ubi, Ewere acted humbly, respectfully and honourably. Peace, love, good health and prosperity prevailed in the harem and in the palace. The Oba (King), the women and the maids in the harem loved Ewere.

Throughout the reign of Oba (King) Ewuare the mystic and the great, every year, he celebrated the anniversary of happy and prosperous marriage to Ewere at the IGUE festival, by inviting people from all walks of life in his kingdom. Sacrificing goats, cows, leopards and few other animals offering kolanuts and coconuts to his head, wishing himself and his kingdom good luck for the following year.

In this celebration the chiefs and the people of Benin take part. Four days after the Oba's (King's) Igue festival everyone would celebrate Igue in individual house hold and collectively by ward.

Ugie-Ewere would take place on the fifth day at the palace. Food of all kinds are cooked and some display of supernatural powers are displayed by the high chief to command respect of the people and to show the Oba (king) that they were ready for any eventuality to defend the Benin Kingdom.

Ugie-Ewere, people dance with Ebe-Ewere ( lucky leaves). And since 1440 AD it had been a prayer of the Edos not to go on a journey on Ubi's day, only on Ewere's day. Ubi's day was the day of the week that Ubi was forced out of the palace. It was marked a bad day. Ewere's day was the day Ewere was escorted into the palace, it was marked a good and happy day. Hence the Edo people would like to travel on Ewere's day and hopefully travel as Ewere did, flawless and happy (Okhien-Ewere O).

Ugie-Ewere is still one of the most important celebration that the Oba (King) of Benin celebrates annually. The actual date is not fixed. The Oba (King) sets the date and is usually in late December of each year. But it starts on the day of the week when Ewere was escorted to the palace about 1440 AD.

• If you wish to enjoy this traditional ritual of 1440 AD, visit Benin City in the month of December.

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Civic Leaders Christmas Beach Hangout 3.0

IMPACT CREATOR PRESENT

                     
  Civic Leaders Christmas Beach Hangout 3.0

Civic Leaders Beach Hangout is a fun Hangout in which individuals who has working towards contributing to the development of the nation come together to mingle and share fun moments.

The Hangout also will foster a gist between NGO founders,  Civic leaders, social enterprise professionals with participants.

Impact Creator

THE AIM 

The aim is for participants to connect with all these professionals 2019 forthcoming projects and initiatives.

WHAT TO EXPECT

✔ Volleyball Competition
✔ Football Competition
✔ Mingle with NGO founders and social enterprise professionals
✔ Good Item7
✔ Boat Cruise
✔ Lot of Games.
✔ Match up / Hookup
✔ Get Connected to 2019 social impact initiatives
✔ music and many more.........

It promise to be fun

Date :  December 22nd (Saturday)
Venue : Tarkwa Bay
Time.  : 10:30am

Team WeVo

To be part of send a WhatsApp message to 07084763184

Work is work, Play is play #WePlay

Concept by wevo
Facebook : @teamwevo
IG and Twitter : @wevo_5