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| FEATURE ARTICLE |
| Rev. Chima K. Ekeke, Ph.D | Wednesday September 13, 2006 |
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cfsnl@yahoo.com Atlanta, GA, USA 
|  ANNOUNCE THIS ARTICLE TO YOUR FRIENDS |
updated: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - LET US STOP KILLING OUR WIVES
IGERIAN MEN, HUSBANDS AND FATHERS, PLEASE LET US STOP KILLING OUR WIVES IN AMERICA. WE ARE DESTROYING THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND DESTINY OF OUR FAMILIES.
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Once again, violence has hit home and the culprit is a Nigerian man, a husband and father. Another beautiful Nigerian woman, wife and mother looses her precious life at the hands of her husband and father of their three children. This is indeed a sad, sordid and shameful tragedy.
Akwete community, USA is shocked and saddened to announce the untimely passing of dear daughter, sister and friend, Mrs. Gloria Onwuka. Mrs. Onwuka was mischievously stabbed to death on August 19, 2006 night at her home in Hampton, Virginia. Her estranged husband, Mr. John Ownuka who was apparently in bitter divorce proceedings has been charged with the crime of first-degree premeditated murder due to overwhelming evidence against him.
Mr. John Ownuka killed his wife of about twenty-five years. He stabbed a woman (14 stab wounds) in her most comfortable and safest place - in her master bedroom bathroom while she was getting ready to go to work. He killed a woman who assisted him through college where he obtained a degree in Physical Therapy. He killed a woman who shared her big and beautiful mansion and paid all the bills. Most importantly he killed a woman who bore him three beautiful children. Mr. John Onwuka killed a woman who loved, cared and sacrificed everything for him.
Mrs. Gloria Onwuka was a young, beautiful and loving mother. She gave all her attention and devotion to care for her family. She raised her children with care, courage and compassion. She was faithful and loved her husband unconditionally. She was caring, warm and loving person. She was full of life and energy. She had an unusually capacity for friendship and ability to love people. As a mother of three and hectic work schedule as a nurse manager, she engaged in community development and until her untimely death worked very hard to bridge the gap in our community. She was unassuming, unselfish and had a genuine interest in other people.
She was survived with four beautiful children, one daughter, three sons and a grandson born to her recently by her daughter.
Here is the link to the incredible news of Gloria's murder as reported by the local TV in Hampton, VA.
http://naijanet.com/news/source/2006/aug/29/1000.html
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The Akwete community in USA pledges your prayers and moral support.
Emeka M. Ekeke, MD, Chairman AAFS"
Dear Fellow human beings, I am very saddened by some of the comments that have been made by people totally uninformed or misinformed of the facts regarding the circumstances surrounding this senseless slaughter of another human being. It has happened (unfortunately) in every segment of our society and will continue to happen unless something is done about it. As deeply saddened as we feel for having been robbed of this very wonderful jewel of Ndoki land (by this prosecutor, judge, and executor), I am most disturbed by the potential stigma that this can unfairly put on the good people of Ohafia in Bende many of who are God-fearing, peace-loving, hard-working, kind, and industrious. I have been privileged to be friends with many people from Ohafia and surrounding virons (both personally and professionally) and I know that they are good people. We should (please) desist from any such stigma. Quite a few Ohafia citizens told about this have dissociated themselves from this heinous criminal. They have described the crime as being barbaric, cowardly and "un-ohiafia-like". The fact of the matter is that a precious life has been unjustifiably taken and along with it, the destiny of three innocent children, a sick father, a struggling mother, several siblings (at least eight) and numerous other people that depended on this mighty woman for sustenance. Adultery is not the issue here because that can never be the justification for a crime of murder of this magnitude. Civility calls for either reconciliation or dissolution of the union; NOT MURDER! For those of you out there condemning Rev. Chima as to the veracity of his article, I have tremendous sympathy and compassion for you. Those of us very closely informed about the case, will not be frivolous about judgment. The facts will eventually be exposed in the court of law and I will have nothing but compassion for this my fellow human being who just chose the wrong turn in life. This girl has been the recipient of physical abuse right from Nigeria in the hands of this man and with threats of physical harm and potential death if she ever left him. That continued into their marriage in the United States. She funded the building of a family house at Ohafia at a time when this husband of hers was in school and not working. She paid for the house they both lived in; she (until her death) was responsible for the school fees and other needs of the children. "If you want to be the defender of the flock against the invader, you'd better have the might, the strength, the wisdom, the wit, the courage and the sword with which to do it". You lead by example -- be a man in its true sense; do what a man is supposed to do; get a decent education good enough to feed and take care of your family. There is never a justification for anyone who calls himself a "man" to ever raise his hand against a woman. You have nothing but stupidity to prove. When physical abuse (like the one in this case) is left to continue and unchecked, the result is always fatal. How premeditated can a crime be when a man has just purchased a life insurance policy on a wife he just murdered? The man has no decent job but lives big. So my fellow readers always remember "It is better to remain silent and look stupid/foolish, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt". Let's not rush to judgment so as not to look foolish after the facts are exposed. Mr. John Onwuka deserves his day in court, but it won't be pretty. Some of our women also have their own fault and problems (especially when they get caught up in the confusion of the clash of cultures), but come on, that is no justification for this type of crime. We can do better folks, and why can't and why shouldn't we? Have we lost all sense of civility, decency and decor? I hope not and I pray not! God's speed and God bless and may the martyrdom suffered by Ms Gloria Renner Onwuka and others before her, be the impetus that propels and compels the need and reason to demand a change in the way all of us men and women of this world look at and treat each other. Thank you all for the time and privilege. Emeka M Ekeke, MD
"Rev. Dr. Chima K. Ekeke, cfsnl@yahoo.com wrote:
My article: "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - Let Stop Killing our Wives" generated a lot of interest and discussion. Many of you have called for more information about the story. Some wanted to know about the man. Even his friends and family members have written to ask about him. Others feel that something must have caused him to kill his wife. Many women naturally expressed their sympathy and wondered how the children will cope after loosing both parents.
I have also received hundreds of emails from Nigerians around the world accusing and insulting me of being biased in the story. Off course, I wrote that little piece out of emotional anger. However, nothing in this world can justify a man to kill his wife of over twenty years.
Many of you have also written to say that I insulted Igbo culture and belittled the dignity of Igbo man because I wrote that the deceased paid all the bills and assisted the husband through college. Personally I do not know which Igbo culture they are talking about. I also think that a lot of people who reacted to my article are misinformed about so-called Igbo culture and dignity of Igbo man. Sadly 99% of these killings are we, the Ibos. It's a shame!
Many of you have also hurled all kinds of insults and disrespected people unfamiliar to you, I advise you to desist from doing so next time. The beauty of this society in which we live is the freedom to express personal views through legitimate disagreement and debate rather than insinuations and verbal abuse.
I do want to apologize for saying Nigerian men, husband and fathers, please let us stop killing our wives in America. As I said, I wrote the piece with a lot of emotional anger. However incidences of domestic violence even leading to death have become very fashionable and rampant among the Nigerian community in USA. I do not disagree that there are a lot of excellent Nigerian men, husbands and fathers. Many of you are accomplished in various professions and careers and have great family and raising great children.
However, we must not negate that fact that there are still some among us who have borrowed the bad leaf. The incident I reported to you is one that is close to my family. This is an incident in which I have searched many places to find an answer. I have asked God million questions why He allowed this to happen. Even though I am a spiritual person and theologian, this is an instance in which I have questioned the relationship of death and destiny. Are people destined to die the time that some have departed this world? I have a big problem saying, "Yes." And "No" would not even justify it.
Oscar Wilde, an Anglo-Irish playwright, novelist, and poet, wrote in 1900's that, "Life is terribly deficient in form. Its catastrophes happen in the wrong way and to the wrong people." I agree with Oscar Wilde. The other being I agree with when catastrophes such as this happen is God (Himself). The Bible teaches that sin, alienates us from God. And when we are separated from the presence of God, we can be very destructive. Sin breaks and destroys everything. It kills relationships and creates jealousy, hatred, greed and all sorts of venomous vices. Sin alienates family members, separates friends, and destroys marriages. It is ONLY sin that can create wicked acts and disastrous effect among people.
I will be writing more on this story as we are allowed to do so. However, I want to say that everything I have written so far about this sad story is the truth. And there are even more poignant things about this sordid story that will make most you feel very indignant as men.
Many of you accused me of being biased, lopsided, immature and even unmarried. As a reverend, I should have written to encourage people about family values rather being biased, lopsided and immature. I humbly refer you to review just few papers and articles that I wrote on May/June this year on the Family, role of fathers and mothers in a civil and civilized society.
Here are a few links to read some of them.
I am currently writing another paper on the root causes of family breakdown and the rampant violence and killings going on among Nigerian community in USA, which will be published primarily on nigeriaworld.com and other magazines. It is criminal, unfair and uncivilized for a woman to loose her life in such a brutal and barbaric way in her most comfortable and safest place - her master bedroom bathroom.
I promise all of you, she will not die in vain. We will stay on it for months and even years to come. Justice must be done and millions of you will be freed and liberated from this satanic assault on the family.
Let me also use this medium to thank Akwete Community, USA, Nigerians in Tidewater (NITVA) and Nigerian Women's Association, Hampton Branch, Virginia who truly made the homecoming church service and wake-keeping of Late Mrs. Gloria Onwuka an unforgettable one.
God Bless all of you abundantly
Rev. (Dr.) C. K. Ekeke is the Spiritual Leader of Ramah House and Ctr. for Supernatural Leadership in Atlanta, Georgia