By Emmy Young
The traditional ruler of Nnobi, HRM Igwe Engr Nick Obi, the President -General of the community, Barr. Dominic Okpala and other community stakeholders have expressed gratitude to High Chief Hamilton Ezeonu, Ikemba Nnobi for his contributions and commitments to infrastructure development of Nnobi.
Igwe Nick Obi, who had bestowed the prestigious title of Ikemba Nnobi on High Chief Ezeonu took the lead in the commendations for Chief Ezeonu’s numerous development initiatives in the community.
The Igwe commended High Chief Ezeonu shortly after attending this year’s Ashaolu festival of Ifite Ogbeadiji village described as very successful which was sponsored by Ikemba Nnobi himself.
The Igwe said he was glad for the success of the event.
He explained that Ashaolu was an ancient celebration of successful harvest and beginning of a new farming season which he said was a thing of joy for the people. He prayed for more blessings for Ikemba Nnobi to continue to develop the community.
He also prayed for other prominent sons and daughters of Nnobi who in various ways, he said, had contributed to the development of the community.
The traditional ruler said: “My prayer for Ikemba Nnobi is the prayer for all Nnobi people; peace, joy and prosperity in Nnobi and for all Nnobi people. My prayer is for God to bless him and all Nnobi people who contribute to the development of this community.”
He, however, debunked what he called an erroneous impression that Ashaolu is a form of idol worshiping, saying that it is not but only celebrated to remember what their ancestors did in the past during harvest and beginning of new farming season.
In his commendation, the President -General, Barr. Okpala, said Chief Ezeonu must be commended for his commitment to develop Nnobi in all facets.
He said the Ikemba Nnobi had built roads, renovated Nnobi general hospital to become a modern hospital, among other things he has done in the community.
The PG further expressed happiness that the community had settled their problems through the intervention of the Anambra State Government, saying that the State government had given them some directives to implement, which he said, the community was carrying out gradually.
The PG called on other wealthy and prominent sons and daughters of Nnobi to emulate the kind gesture of Chief Ezeonu by contributing their quotas no matter how little to the development of the community.
On his part, High Chief CJ Emma Nwosu,(Kpakpando Nnobi) was not left out in the commendation of Ikemba Nnobi for his commitment to development of the community, calling on all the people of Nnobi to emulate him.
He was impressed with the huge success of Ashaolu of Ifite Ogbeadiji village which was soley bankrolled by Chief Ezeonu, describing it as a “spectacular event.
He said that the community hoped for a better outing next time and greater height for the community.
“I pray for a better Nnobi. For those of us who are still around; Nnobi has changed greatly. But we pray that the community will continue to witness progress until it becomes like other progressive communities in the State.
Chief Nnaemeka Okwelume, Chairman of Awuda community joined in the commendation for Chief Ezeonu for the unprecedented development he has brought to Nnobi community in recent time.
He said the Ikemba Nnobi had taken giant strides in infrastructure development of the community, improved the health sector and empowered Okada riders in Nnobi by providing them with safety helmets, reflective jackets, women and youth empowerment, construction of potable water boreholes in three different locations in the community.
“It is this kind person that should be given honour in Nnobi community. Other Nnobi people in Diaspora should come to join in the development of the community since Chief Ezeonu has shown the way for others to follow, “Chief Okwelume added.
In her contribution, the Nnobi waman leader, Hon. Lady Ifeyinwa Nnekwelugo, said what Chief Ezeonu was doing in Nnobi was very glaring for all to see.
Odiuko N’ mba as she is fondly called by her many admirers, said he was the only person who had single -handedly attracted the Governor of the State, Prof. Charles Soludo to commission road project in the community.
“What he is doing in the community is enormous. And he does that out of his magnanimity.
“Nobody forces him to do it. He has the mind to give to the community. It is not because he has too much money that he doesn’t know what to do with money, but it is because of the love he has for his people. He likes helping people, “the woman leader said.
She noted that it was not only Ikemba who did charitable work for his community but his wife too, Dr Mrs Thelma Ezeonu, who she said did not look back while empowering people especially women and youth in Nnobi.
Praying for God to bless Ezeonu, his wife and the entire family, she advised other wealthy Nnobians to emulate the good gesture of Ikemba by thinking home and empowering their people.
Lady Nnekwelugo advised youth in the community to emulate High Chief Ezeonu by being focussed and resist living reckless lifestyle as that would not help them, saying that Chief Ezeonu made his money through genuine means.
In the same vein, she said Nnobi youth should work hard to earn their living through genuine ways by going to school or learning skills instead of roaming the community waiting for manner to fall from heaven.
She said that God always blesses cheerful givers who are the likes of Chief Ezeonu.
” I appeal to our youth to bend down. They should run away from hard drugs including “mkpurumiri”, cyber crime like “yahoo, yahoo” and other social vices.
“Our youth should rather go to school to study and dedicate time to skill acquisition to better their lot.
“A jobless person who went to school cannot be the same with a jobless person who didn’t go to school.
“They can’t be the same. An educated person whether he is employed or not is always better off. I appeal to our youth to bend down. People are ready to assist but the youth are not ready to bend down, “she noted.
Other stakeholders who commended Ikemba Nnobi include Ichie Basil Eruchalu; Hon Chief F.O Nwankwo; Chief Frank Iyke Ezeanya; and Chief Martin Adikiye Nwankwo who also prayed God to bless him abundantly for all his development initiatives.
