…Promises consolidated gains, bright future for Ogidi kingdom
…..Says Achebe university on course
….Calls for release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
By Theo Rays
The ancient kingdom of Ogidi, the country home of late world renowned literary icon Professor Chinua Achebe came alive bubbling in high mood of joy and happiness during the Ofala festival of the traditional ruler of the town His Royal Majesty Igwe Pharm Alex Onyido. As expected Igwe Onyido a renowned industrialist lived up to the billings to showcase the sight and sound of Ogidi kingdom by bringing virtually everything about Ogidi to bear in service of the Ofala. Top of the bills were the cream of eminent people, peaceful nature of Ogidi, the friendliness of the people with passion to provide hospitality service at its utmost standard and the rich culture of the people demonstrated in decent and modern stream.
The Ofala which lasted for 4 days starting from Thursday down to Sunday started with various groups led by Ogidi town union trooping to the palace to pay homage to their king. Other groups that participated in the homage exercise including age grades, women groups, youth groups, business groups, associates, friends and well wishers. The second day featured the elevation and induction of 24men of track records who have made Ogidi proud in various ways into the class of Ogidi High Chiefs by Igwe Onyido. The third day was the Ofala proper where Igwe Onyido conferred chieftaincy titles to prominent people both within and outside Ogidi. Among the receipts of the title include the CEO Dozzy Oil & Gas Sir Daniel Chukwudozie and CEO JUHEL Pharmaceutical Dr Ifeanyi Okoye to mention but a few.
In his Ofala address, the pharmacist and industrialist turned king listed his achievements and vowed to consolidate on the gains he has so far made on the throne. He noted that Ogidi has made progress under his rein courtesy of the helping hands of his Prime Ministers who oversees the affairs of the four quarters of Ogidi before the palace which include High Engr Emeka Ken Nwabueze (Ajie Okpala Ogidi) for Aknano quarter High Chief Pharm Emeka Okwuosa (Owelle Ogidi) for Ezinkwo quarter High Chief Emeka Udeze (Ogene Ogidi) for Ikenga quarter and High Chief Maxwell Okudo (Akagu Ogidi) Uru quarter along with the cabinet chiefs, the people in general, the police, the vigilante and other security agents.
The monarch expressed excitement on the naming of Anambra International Cargo Airport after a son of the soil in the person of late Professor Chinua Achebe by Governor of Anambra State Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo adding that Ogidi community will ever remain grateful to the government of Anambra State for immortalizing Achebe with such a massive establishment like an Airport. He revealed that the decision of Ogidi community to immortalize Achebe with a university to be known and called Chinua Achebe university is on course adding that the land for the university project is already mapped out.
He called on the people of the Southeast and Nigerians in general to support the Achebe university project because according to him, the late world literacy giant was a social crusader working on the side of the people in protest against corruption and bad governance until he died. The Ogidi monarch recalled how Achebe while on the side of the commoners in protest against corruption and bad government rejected series of offer to be given national honors award from the federal government on the ground that he cannot receive national honors award from a corrupt and bad government that cannot provide the needs of the people.
He explained that the issue of youth restiveness which manifest in insurgency, kidnaping, robbery cultism and drug addict which is a general security challenge in the Southeast is being tackled head on in Ogidi with adequate vigilance by vigilante group in collaboration with the police and other security agents coupled with citizens self help initiative with sustainable palliative measures in finding ways to get the youth into more meaningful engagements. The monarch expressed gratitude to the sons and daughters of Ogidi who have continued to provide self help projects both in helping the poor with palliative measures like food stuff and cash, giving scholarship to indigent students, helping the youth to get something doing, providing water borehole and rehabilitation of rural roads among other things.
He said that the community set up security committee to supervise and control different challenges of security breach, adding that they were working with security agencies to organize youth convention where seasoned resource persons will be invited to address the youths on the current insurgency and dangers of cultism.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) saying “I am appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to the aid of the Southeast region and effect the release of Nnamdi Kanu. This singular gesture of Mr. President will no doubts, mitigate and reduce the incidents of insurgency and other criminal activities in the South East. There is no gainsaying that continued detention of Mazi Kanu is disrupting the development of the South region with youth restiveness as the by-product.
“Let it be known that, until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to ethnic nationality; until there are no more first class and second class citizens of our dear country and until the ethnic nationality of Nigerian citizens is of no more significance than their national citizenship, until that day the dream of lasting peace, rule of law and national integration will remain an oscillating illusion to be pursued but never attained” he said.
Many who spoke to our correspondent attested to the fact that Igwe Onyido has moved Ogidi to the next level in the areas of security of lives and property, peace, development and progress adding that the monarch is God’s sent to the people. In his words, the President General of Ogidi town union Chief Okoye Ikwua said that Ogidi people are very grateful to God for having somebody like Igwe Onyido on the throne adding that his rein has brought tremendous progress most especially in uniting the people to join hands together to move Ogidi forward. “Under Igwe Onyido Ogidi is calm, peaceful and progressive and we are happy. You can see it yourself in this Ofala, if Ogidi is not united, calm and peaceful you won’t see this kind of mammoth crowd here, so we are grateful to God and we are praying that God will continue to bless him and continue to protect him with good health so that he will continue to do the good work he is doing for us in Ogidi in particular and humanity in general.
Also speaking, the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Achebe who was represented by the traditional ruler of Omor, His Royal Majesty Igwe Chidubem Oranu described Ofala as a time when the traditional ruler and his subject come together to appreciate the goodness of God, count their blessings and showcase their culture and tradition to the world and that is what the good people of Ogidi have perfectly done. He urged the people of Ogidi to continue to rally behind their traditional ruler to ensure that his plans and programs for the development, peace and security of the town are always carried out without hitches.
As usual eminent personalities witnessed the Ofala. Among them were a host of traditional rulers, the Chairman/CEO United Nigeria Airline, Professor Obiora Okonkwo who is a son of the soil, the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Victor Umeh and his Anambra North counterpart Senator Tony Nwoye, Member representing Idemili North/South in Federal House of Representatives Hon. Uche Okonkwo, Member representing Idemili North in the Anambra State House of Assembly Hon Kingsley Udemezue who is a son of the soil, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Anambra State Hon Tony Collins Nwabunwanne and his Culture and Tourism counterpart Hon Don Onyenji, the President of Building Material International Market Ogidi, Chief Jude Nwankwo and host of others
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