2019 Oru-Owerre: Gov.Ihedioha’s Assurance To Owerri People: Your Eke-Ukwu Market To Be Back ,Your Lands Also
Dan Opara
It was indeed a very pretty huge success last Saturday, 27th July, 2019,as the entire ancient five villages (autonomous communities) that made up “Owerre-Nshi-Ise”(the five villages that made-up Owerri Municipal) in Imo State, as a town, gathered and celebrated their annual cultural ( NewYam) festival known as “Oru-Owerre”
The epoch yearly traditional festival and it’s rituals, which according to them,is usually witnessed and believed to be generally regarded as the most happiest day in the lives of many indigenous sons,daughters and even those adopted as indigenes of Owerri,whereby many also described the festival as their own “Christmas celebration”.
The ceremony took place at the premises of Ugwu Ekwema Civil Centre,Owerri/Egbu Road Owerri.
The event which attracted the Imo Governor, Chief Emeka Ihedioha,was ably represented by the Owerri Municipal State House of Assembly Member, Hon.Solomon Anukam,as the Special Guest of Honour, alongside other respected sons and daughters of Owerri Municipal, which includes: the Transition Committee Chairman of Owerri Municipal, Hon.Chukwuemeka Ebere,aka
ABJ,and so many other revered sons,daughters,friends and well wishers of Owerri,the Imo seat of power Local Government.
The 2019 Oru-Owerre ceremony was however recorded a huge success under the Distinguished Chairmanship of the President General, “Owerri Community Assembly, OCA”,Chief Sir.Felix Ngoka.
In an address presented by the President General of OCA,Chief Ngoka, expressed delight for the huge successes so far recorded in Owerri under his mandate as the OCA PG.
The PG therefore, thanked Gov.Ihedioha for the appointment of some illustrious sons and daughters of Owerri,and further called on the Governor to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths of Owerri,who according to the PG are willing to be fully engaged with good employment offer.
Sir.Ngoka,more so,appealed to the Governor to return Eke-Ukwu and also construct a perimeter fence along the ever busy Douglas Road axis of the Owerri Main Market and that of the New Market in Owerri.
Speaking, the Imo Gov.Emeka Ihedioha,who was represented by the Owerri Municipal State House Member, Hon.Solomon Anukam,described the 2019 Oru-Owerre as a unique one,and therefore commended Ndi-Owerri in general for their collective support during and after the just concluded 2019 general polls that brought in PDP into power in Imo State,even as he promised never to let them down in his rebuild mission led administration.
Gov.Ihedioha,who commended the people of Owerri for their unity, assurred them his govt.shall restore to the Owerri people their ancestral Eke-Ukwu Owerri Market that was removed by the immediate past Imo govt.
” Remain peaceful, patience and calm,support the project of rebuilding Imo,but rest assured that all your lands that was forcefully grabbed and taken illegally, must be returned to you”,Ihedioha submitted.
Adding their voices,Prince Ikechukwu Njamanze,aka Okashi,Mr.Chijioke Nwaneri,from Umuodu Village, who is the Chairman, Owerri Chinyereaku Age Grade,collectively prayed for the continues unity, peaceful coexistence and progress of the entire Owerri people.
“All we want is oneness, no division”, Mr.Chijioke Nwaneri,submitted.
Also,in his voice, the Chairman of Ahumaraezenma Age Grade,Chief Okechukwu Ekwebelam,aka Ite-Eji-Eshi-Nkapi,expressed satisfaction with the height of turn out of the entire Owerri people for the 2019 Oru-Owerri Festival,which he described as the most peaceful.
” Some of our brothers in Owerri earlier said that the ceremony would not hold due to the demise of Eze Ihebom,of Umuodu,but only one village can not stop our annual festival. Though we did not recognised any other Traditional Ruler in Owerri-Nshi-Ise,apart from the Royal Family of Late Eze Dr. Emeyeonu Njamanze. Thank God,we are now more united. Chief Rochas Okorocha taught he can destroy our Traditional Royal Stole in Owerri. The Njamanze Royal Dynasty has come to stay. We are only recognizing the Royalty of Late Eze Njamanze,other Traditional Rulers in Owerri town are fake”,Chief Ekwebelam stated.
