The good sons and daughters of Umuovo village Elu Elu Old Umuahia autonomous Community in Umuahia South local government Area of Abia state ,who based in North America have put smiles in the faces of the people of Umuovo village .
There were jubilation at the Umuovo village hall Old Umuahia as their people turned out en mass to participate in the sharing of the packages of palliatives provided to them by their sons and daughters in diaspora.
Some of the items distributed to the people were 23 bags of rice ,11 bags of beans ,12 cartons of tomatoes ,18 cartons of indomine , 4 bags of salt ,I bag of onion , one cow ,some multivitamin drugs and the materials for packaging.
Addressing Newsmen during the distribution of the palliatives, the traditional ruler of Elu Elu Old Umuahia autonomous Community, His Royal Majesty Eze Dr John Onwuzuruike ,the Eze Amara III of Elu Elu Old Umuahia, expressed delight over how the palliatives were shared , while commending the sons and daughters of Umuovo in North America for the show of great love to those in the village, adding that others will join slowly .
His words , ” I decided to come around to witness how it is being done ,atleast ,I will be a witness that my brothers in North America gave out palliatives to our people in the village.
” I am very much impressed . Almost everybody came out and there is no coerce , every body is looking forward and expecting to get their different bags of rice ,beans ,etc that will be given to them.
However answering question on those who are yet to extend this kind of love to the people in the village , Eze Onwuzuruike explained that, “
Things take time to develop slowly and sincerely they will turn around to come and join us , because last time people from UK participated and one or two countries in Europe did help too ,as time goes on, hopefully before December , I will not be surprised if one or two others from other countries will emulate in this and help us out in this part of the world”
Commending those in North America, Dr Onwuzuruike extolled them and urged them to continue with what they are doing, ” Let God strengthens them ,God will help us that are at home too .We are praying for God to protect all of us”
Speaking further, he noted that,
” The most important thing is peace.We are hopeful that many of these things will be coming , there is always going to be more good things that will come behind, when there is hope and peace , we expect and look forward to those things to materialize in future ” he concluded.
Contributing , the Representative of the North America based Umuovo people, Engr. Ikechukwu Asionye pointed out that, it is because of the leadership style of the traditional ruler Eze Onwuzuruike that they are witnessing peace and progress in the village, adding that they distributed palliatives last year and it was peaceful ,hence they decided to do another one this year.
In his words , ” Charity begins at home ,since he became the Eze ,there has been peace , wherever there is peace ,there is progress .
” We did this last year and it was peaceful,We decided to go this part again because last time we went the part ,it was very successful due to the Eze ‘s leadership style.He came here to grace the programme,so he likes what we are doing and we will continue to do it again.
” This hall here ,we are going to finish it ,not only palliatives ,we are ready to finish this hall and commission it for our village.
” The Eze ‘s leadership brings peace to our community and that is why we are doing all these.
” The Eze is one of us and USA citizen ,so his presence and leadership in the community is bringing us back home and we will continue to do what we are doing “
Expressing his observation during the sharing of the palliatives, ” I am very happy .It is very peaceful . People came out en mass .
“We are happy that they love what we are doing and that is why we will continue to do it and hopefully others in other parts of the world , will continue with us “
In their separate speeches, few members of the Umuovo village who spoke with Newsmen , expressed so much joy for the relief materials given to them by their sons and daughters who live in North America and prayed that God should continue to protect and provide for them .
The oldest man in Umuovo village council ,who described himself as chief Reuben Ukpala said , ” Last year our children provided us with food stuff , but this year’s one is different , they even provided a cow for us. God will bless these children ,God will give them peace.Let God touch others to remember us “
Another Elder ,Chief Christian Odoemelam said , ” we are happy for what our people in North America have done for us ,my prayers are for God to open their doors more “
The women leader Mrs Ndukwe Veronica ,noted that , ” it is because of the love our people have for us that made them to bring all these things.They did it during the peak of covid-19, because they didn’t want us to die of hunger ,we will continue to pray for them ,let others emulate them ” and the vice women leader ,Mrs Rose Samuel Aguiyi , described the event as gathering of good things,” they did the same last year and it is for every body .All of them that sponsor this ,God will give them long life “
For the leader of Nwadas of Umuovo village,Nwosu Nneoma ,she thank God and said , ” I am very happy that our brothers and sisters abroad called us again to come and carry food stuff .If you go to other places in Abia ,no Community is doing this .We are sharing it peaceful .The Nwadas are 31 in number and all of us have collected our shares .
” We are praying for them and hopefully next year,they will call us again for this show of love”
The youth leader , Anyanwu Chimuanya Godswill said, ” We are here to share the palliatives that our uncles brought to us .
And it has been fairly shared ,our people are happy and they are talking good about it.May God bless them .We the Youths are very happy and praying for them.We are very grateful “
Continuing , the chairman of Umuovo village council, chief Amugo Martins Alozie said, ” Our lovely brothers and sisters have been showing us love , especially we that are in the village.You can see that all of us are happy.They have concerns for us that is why they are helping us and they have done it before.
“The sharing pattern is for every household,the widows,the elders the women, the Nwadas ,the Youths .It is shared equally ,no sentiment attached ,we are praying for those that sponsored this as well as remembering others in prayers For God to help them to get good jobs and extend hands of love to us ” he said.
In similar vein , the Nurse who was incharge of checking peoples’ blood pressure, Emmanuela, revealed that many people were checked ,some were high ,others normal and one person low .
In his speech earlier, the Coordinator committee chairman of the palliatives ,Sir Steve Ogwumike ,presented the packages of palliatives to the people, explained to them those behind the palliatives, and after they people offered prayers to the sponsors, he directed them on how to get their different shares .
Speaking with Newsmen shortly after the distribution of the palliatives, Ogwumike stated that the event was hundred percent successful.
According to him , ” we have painstakingly had a market survey of what we want based on what the North America people guidelines .
” The thing is done openly ,there is nothing like hidden agenda that is why our people in North America are impressed with us .
” We have the results from the Nurse , which we are going to forward to our people in North America and we are praying for them.We are very proud of them.Last year ,they set the pace .Our people are happy . They are putting similes on the faces of the downtroddens “