Posted by In a ceremony held over the weekend, the Umuezeoka community in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State inaugurated Nweke Fidelis Ogodo, a retired captain of the Nigerian Army, as its new traditional ruler after a five-year absence of one.
Speaking at his coronation, the new monarch pledged to govern the community with integrity and fairness, underscoring his commitment to uphold the laws protecting the traditional institution.
He praised Governor Francis Nwifuru for granting indigenous groups in the state the freedom to choose their traditional leaders, characterizing him as a member of the Democratic party.
I shall govern them with a profound reverence for God, I shall govern them with integrity and fairness, I shall not let them down and I shall not succumb to temptations and vices. Through the benevolence of God, I shall use maximum effort to elevate Umuezeoka in every facet of life.
“I would like to express my gratitude to His Excellency for his transparency, his approach as the executive governor of the state, and his willingness to allow each community to choose their own representative.
I also want to thank him for all the projects he has granted in my community, including the construction of Akadoro bridge, road contracts, and the appointments he has made for my subjects. I am truly grateful and I am fully committed to the cultural initiative of His Excellency for the people of Ebonyi State,” he declared.
Ngozi Fidelis Ogodo, the wife of the deceased, claimed to have aided her husband in achieving his ascension to the presidency.
“I am extremely pleased with the events that transpired today.” As his wife, my responsibility is to provide him with unconditional support. I shall instruct him to consistently promote benevolence and govern with reverence for God. “I will provide valuable counsel that will enable him to govern effectively, as he serves as the traditional ruler for our people,” she pledged.
Prior to the ceremony, Dr. Williams Alo, the chairman of the organizing committee, provided a historical overview of the kingdom. He expressed the opinion that the Umuezeoka community established their first eze, Ezeogo Nicholas Chukwu, in 1979.
He clarified that the Ezeship has a rotational system among its kindred and currently shows preference for the Unwuenyi people. He urged the entire community to unite behind the new traditional ruler in order to facilitate his maximum performance.
The speaker advised the recently appointed traditional leader to consolidate the populace by eliminating their vulnerabilities, while expressing gratitude to the stakeholders, particularly the commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Engr Jude Okpo, for endorsing the people’s decision.
Jude Okpor, the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, outlined all the initiatives undertaken by the state governor in the community. He emphasized that the state government’s decision to support the people in electing their traditional ruler promotes peace and enhances communal trust in different communities within the state.
Uchenna Igwe, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, was represented at the event by Chukwuma Ujebe, the Special Assistant. This commissioner praised the peaceful attitude of the stakeholders of the Umuezeoka community and urged other communities who have not yet elected their traditional rulers to follow suit.
The state Commissioner for Rural Development, Ikeuwa Omebe, and his counterpart, Donatus Ilang, with the representation of the Head of Department, Ifeanyi Igurube, characterized the event as peaceful. They urged the community to maintain their support for the current administration, as development can only flourish in an environment characterized by peace and unity.