Obodo: Tears with a Smile

By DrUgochukwu Ezeribe

Obodo was the dream paradise others prayed to inhabit at the end of their lives. It had become a Zanga. So as crisis married chaos, catastrophe was born

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716835643

Book preview

OBODO

…tears with a smile…

Published in January, 2020

ISBN; 978-978-979-608-3

By

De Prynce Industries ®

Isiama, Isiala Oboro, Ikwuano LGA Abia State

[phone]; [phone]

©All Rights Reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, magnetic, chemical, thermal, manual or otherwise, without the prior consent in writing of the author or publishers of this book i

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"Although a short novel, the story is powerful and FOREWORD

compelling, written in a unique and confident voice. The author's use of metaphor is interesting and original. A

By Prof. Chinua Achebe (RIP)

remarkable and thought-provoking story"

A copy of this work was submitted to late Prof. Chinua Achebe

……… Readers Report, London……..

for the purpose of writing a foreword. He acknowledged

"Reality marries creativity in this masterpiece. The novel is receipt and few months later he wrote;

exceptional. I smiled and shed tears simultaneously as the

"I am enjoying reading your work. It sounds so much like story unfolded. There is a lot more to the lyrics of this saga some of the thoughts in my head. I hope the world would

..…… Eye Witness, Nigeria…….

appreciate this painstaking effort of yours in preserving the Never has reality been so excellently disguised in such history of a nation for posterity sake. Keep the fire, burning.

classical fiction. A first class story and a timeless work of art I'm sending your foreword shortly".

indeed

….…..…. Anonymous, USA ………….

Achebe C.

While I waited for the foreword excitedly, news broke out…

'Obodo'

Prof, my mentor and hero was dead!!!

…Tears with a Smile…

Sir, this book not only preserves the history of a nation, but Dr. UGO EZERIBE

also eternalizes your memory for generations yet unborn.

(D'Prince)

Sleep well the guru.

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DEDICATION

Edited in the

This book is dedicated to the memory of my fallen United States of America by

Heroes and Heroines –

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (RIP),

Dr. Bruce Cook

Nelson Rohlihaha Mandela (RIP),

MD/CEO, Cook Communications/Publishing

Murtala Mohammed (RIP),

Michael Okpara (RIP),

Editor in Chief, Authorme.com

Chinua Achebe (RIP),

1407 Getzelman Drive Elgin

Ladoke Akintola (RIP)

USA

Ken Saro Wiwa (RIP),

Margaret Ekpo (RIP),

Dora Akunyili (RIP),

Reviewed in Nigeria

M.K.O Abiola (RIP),

Phillip Effiong (RIP)

By

Isaac Boro (RIP)

Martins Ugorji

Former GM Zenith Bank PLC, Nigeria

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I am particularly indebted to all Staff and members of the NYSC

cultural troupe in Jigawa State between 2006 and 2007 that supported me when I was their President; My Second Mother, Mrs J. Isu most especially. Although we have gone our separate ways, we remain bound by National service to the same Obodo...The same Zanga like the story will say. That short timeout with you all is the birth of this timeless piece of mine.

Special thanks to the books Things fall apart by Prof. Chinua Achebe and Animal Farm by George Orwell from which I draw my motivation for political literature.

APPRECIATION

Finally, but above all, to God Almighty who gave me the wit for writing, the endowment of creativity and the aptitude to master To all those who have played a part in my country's politics; from my combined art. I return all the Glory to him forever.

the freedom fighters, through the military down to the present custodians of our growing democracy along with my parents who Ugochukwu Victor Ezeribe (PhD)

are good storytellers, I say I am grateful to you all for giving me a

(D'Prince)

story to tell.

I appreciate all those who have supported me so far in the course of writing this book – My parents (HRH, Eze S.C Ezeribe and Ugoeze R.C Ezeribe, The Isioha of Isiama Autonomous Community), who account for part of the eyewitness version, my beloved wife - Princess Chidinma, Precious Ezeribe (Nkem), my mentors, my nephews and nieces, my colleagues, my fans, my friends, Abia State Government, Abia State House of Assembly, my 3

boss - Hon Stanley Nwabuisi, my children (U ) and generations yet unborn.

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This book is recommended to all good story tellers and listeners.

It is void of any explicit content making it acceptable to every class of reader to read and learn from. It also keeps a good chronicle of power tussle and transition in Obodo and thus it is a suggested history book for history students and an alternative literature book for literature students.

The conventional presentation of the book makes the story very interesting and even more captivating with its contemporary DISCLAIMER

disposition. Hence it is recommended to every book reader as a first class novel.

The chronicle contained in this book is likely based on true life story but the names of the characters are pseudonyms. The author would not accept any form of allegation or indictment based on the resemblance of the names of the characters or places contained therein to anybody whether dead or alive, existent or non-existent. The story is told without any reference to any source, but from the author's view based on unconfirmed reports and accounts of aggrieved eyewitnesses.

Nevertheless, the author apologizes for any inconveniences that may arise as a result of any coincidence. Although it is alleged that the setting is somewhere in the black dominated regions of the ancient civilization, the location - Obodo is geographically non-existent used in the representation of an unknown place thereby making the entire content of the book a product of pure imagination, classical fiction and literary ingenuity of the author.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Obodo was the dream Paradise others prayed to inhabit at the end of their lives...