The father of the Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru and renowned farmer, Chief Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwamkpu has been coronated as the Traditional Ruler of Oferekpe Agbaja in the Izzi Local Goverment Area of the state.
Voice Of Nigeria reports that the new monarch, Ezeogo Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwamkpu is also a strong polygamist with nineteen wives and a total of one hundred and eight children.
In his words, one of his children, Mr. Felix Nwifuru who presentedh the biography of the new monarch before his final coronation said, “Ezeogo Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwamkpu’s is a renowned Ebonyi farmer who married nineteen wives but lives with, out them he lives with seventeen and today he has one hundred and eight children.”
It was gathered that before his official coronation as a monarch, Ezeogo Nwifuru Nwamkpu had earlier been decorated by his people, with the chieftaincy title of ‘Chibu-Ugo 1’ after which he was presented to the
stakeholders of the community, to be decorated as a monarch, at Oferekpe Agbaja primary school II, venue of the event.
In an address on the occasion, the state Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru described his father as a hard working man. He recalled that the monarch had over thirty wives, but said that the number got down nineteen, because some of them could not bear children in his name.
Governor Nwifuru lamented the ill treatment which he said the people of the community meted out to his father in the early stages of his life, which according to him led the monarch into polygamy.
Governor Nwifuru said, “if I continue to tell you the level of humiliation my father suffered in the hands of my people,
Everybody here will cry. Even this primary school that we choose as the venue of this event was our farm land, but they took it away from us and chased my father away from his farm, for doing nothing.
It even got to a point my father stopped us associating with any member of this community. It was this condition that actually led him into marrying many wives, for him to get many children.
He further described the monarch as a humane and hospitable character, whose love for his wives, children, relatives and neighbors, can not be equalled and advised him to continue to show generosity to his subjects, as he ascends the royal stool.
The governor presented a certificate of recognition and a staff of office to new monarch which he noted, was in accordance to the Law establishing Ebonyi State Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Cap 146, with the charge to also ensure that peace and unity reigned in his domain.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Godwin Ogbaga described the installation of the traditional ruler as most commendable, following his contributions to the societal development.
Ogbaga, a former Minister of power also attributed the success of the event to relentless efforts of Governor Francis Nwifuru, whom he said had created an enabling environment for the exercise by signing into law the document creating the communities as demanded by the people.
His words: “His Excellency encouraged the communities to take necessary steps and to select suitably qualified persons as their traditional rulers.
It is common knowledge that the community took necessary steps as advised and unanimously selected a man of great traditional experience, a man of honor and integrity and a man that possesses outstanding spirit of accommodation of people and anointed him for this position.”
Chief Ogbaga commended the people of Oferekpe Agbaja for their choice of the new monarch, pointing out that traditional rulers are not political appointees and would hold their positions for life, as custodians of customs and traditions.
He noted that the new monarch has all it takes to ascend the throne, and encouraged him to ensure rapid development of his community, while on the throne.
Victoria Ibanga
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