South East breaking News
By Sam Obinna Ibe
The traditional ruler of Afarata Mbom Ibeku ,HRM Eze Felix Osquared onwukwe has provided free medical services to over one thousand indigent persons in his autonomous community to mark his one year in office as the new king of the people.
The monarch disclosed this in his palace to our Correspondent at Methodist church field,Umuana Mbom Ibeku, Umuahia, during the celebration of his one year anniversary as the newly enthroned
traditional ruler of Afarata Ibeku as well as conferment of chieftaincy titles to deserving sons of the community who excelled in their various chosen careers.
Eze Onwukwe added that he used that singular occasion to present trophy and cash award to the winning team in a football competition that took place between Christmas and new year celebration.
The Ata the 2nd noted that the essence of the celebration is to appreciate God for seeing him as the newly enthroned traditional ruler of his people,what God has done for his family and that of the autonomous community within one year in office.
Eze Felix Osquared Onwukwe revealed in appreciating God’s grace towards his life, family and community,he decided to invite his friends to extend the medical outreach to have nots in his autonomous community while expressing optimism that many indigent persons benefitted from the free medical exercise.
He further explained that he used his one year anniversary to also confer chieftaincy titles to Hon Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Abia State,Dr Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu who sponsored the football competition, scholarship to indigent and brilliant students, other things he has been doing to uplift the community along side eight others who were also conferred with chieftaincy titles.
On challenges affecting his community,the respected traditional ruler however appealed to the Abia State Government led by Dr Alex Otti to consider fixing of the deplorable nature of his community road being in the heart of the state capital
According to the royal father,”we are begging our governor who is doing well to remember us in his road projects, the contractor that worked on the road leading to my community years back should be summoned to see the shoddy job he did because not too long after the road was constructed, it collapsed, if nothing urgently is done, it will be worst in this raining season.
Eze Onwukwe also pointed out that Ubani market is very close to my community but is not accessible because of the poor nature of the road.
Earlier,the Chairman of the occasion, the Traditional Prime Minister (TPM) of Ibeku ancient kingdom, High Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu commended the monarch for the free medical outreach he provided for indigents members of his community, the football competition which brought various clans together to compete for honours and the conferment of chieftaincy titles to those who deserved it.
In a vote of thanks, the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr Chimezie Isaac Ukeagbu shortly after his conferment as Nwakaibeya meaning (one who is greater than his equals) said he had received so many awards both home and abroad before but this one coming from his home front,Afarata,is most cherished.
He however promised they will
not fail the community assuring that the chieftaincy installation will spur them to do more., adding that are already playing pivotal role in the community.
He said the football competition was necessary because he is aware that football fosters unity while he called on everyone to be involved and to support.
On his part shortly after his conferment as Ugodiohanma of Afarata, Barr. Ugochukwu Roland Ndubuka said this is not his first chieftaincy title as he has been a chief for almost 14 years.
He said Afarata had always been blessed with good traditional rulers and happy that Eze Onwukwe deemed it necessary to recognized some of them.
He commended their king for went free medical scheme for his subjects and also approved the football competition which brought the community together during the festive period.
“We have implicit trust in our Eze, he was well accepted and that is why after the coronation,there was no litigation and there is peace everywhere in the community. We have started the development strides expected of us through empowerment, scholarship and we shall do more for the community”. Ndukuba reiterated