[afro-nets] SLHAP Information Workshop - rescheduled

[Asaha Udom <okugod@yahoo.com>]

SLHAP Information Workshop - rescheduled
----------------------------------------


Dear friends and colleagues,

Sequel to the 2nd & 3rd Executive meeting of our organization
with the traditional rulers, government officials, Police and
State Security Service (SSS), we hereby postponed the SLHAP
TRAINING WORKSHOP scheduled for 10 ­ 16 October, 2005 to 21 ­ 26
November, 2005 due to the following reason:

1. Ekpo Cultural celebration/Masquerade traditional Rite in the
State.

2. New yam festivals by some traditional rulers that observed
this custom.

3. New increase in fuel price by the federal government.

4. Lack of Security.

5. The arrest of His Excellency, Chief Dicprieye Alamieyesiegha,
the Governor ­ General of ijaw Nation and. Niger Delta Voice.

6. The arrest of Alhaji Asaei Dokubo, the Leader of the Niger ­
Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) and the Leader of Ijaw Youth.

7. The withdrawal of Police Permit by the commissioner of Police
in the State earlier given to us that guaranteed our Security.

In reason 1&2 above ­ the Ekpo and New Yam festivities in the
State were banned for the past 3 years due to the brutal kill-
ings and sacrifices of innocent Souls that may come their ways
in every month of October to please their gods. During this pe-
riod every woman must be indoors and men from age nine (9) and
above who are non-initiates into this cult. This initiation al-
ways takes place in the ritual forest conduct by the Priest.

The government unbanned this group for their selfish Political
reason(s) come 2007 general election for their juju protection.
Therefore, this pose a serious State of in Security to our pro-
gramme.

However is 5&6 reason above about the unwarranted arrest of
those two persons there is a great atmosphere of national and
international in Security. Therefore the state government for
the interest of peace, Security of lives and properties stopped
all organization meetings in all levels and the withdrawal of
the police permit earlier granted us and a letter of apology was
tendered as a sign of good government.

So, we hereby and sincerely appeal to you all to understand with
us for the sake of your life. Meanwhile, this time is used by us
to prepare more for the programme which is now scheduled to hold
on 21 ­ 26 November, 2005. For all the inconveniences this post-
ponement may cause we sincerely and passionately apologies,
please.

More so, I would love to use this medium to answer some ques-
tions: This programme is not funded by anybody or organization
nationally or internationally. By God?s grace, it is my personal
effort to do so.

Even the members of HELIDEFI do not contribute anything. So, if
you can freely support it would be accepted. Anybody who can
sponsor himself/herself to the workshop is encouraged to do so.

Youth leaders are to send their topics that would be presented
to us either by hardcopies or e-mail. Those we need their photo-
graphs for identification should do so. Your hotel can be booked
earlier to avoid any inconvenience on that day (s).

Finally, I have received some workshop papers called for I would
like to suggest that participants should come with writing mate-
rials. Invitation letters would be sent to you all. If you don?t
receive it before 20th October, 2005 please notify us immedi-
ately.

On a very personal note and for the organisation?s interest I
should put you on notice that Pastor Etido (Winner), my brother,
a Computer Operator/Instructor and the General­Secretary of the
organization aged 27 years is dead. He would be let to rest on
1st October, 2005.

Thanks.

Best regards,

Evang. Asaha Udom
President / CEO
Health Life and Development Foundation International (HELIDEFI)
Box 927, Abak ­Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
mailto:okugod@yahoo.com