Traditional Ruler Urges Citizens To Develop Ogbona Community

By Simeon OSAJIE

The newly installed Ukpe-Ukpi (Village Head) of Ogbona Sub-clan in Etsako Central Local Government Area, His Royal Highness, (HRH), Edward Okhumode Umole has appealed to all sons and daughters of the Ogbona Community both within and outside the off shore of the country to join hands with him to bring the much needed peace, progress and development to the community, saying his headship will be apolitical.

The9JaTREND reports that the Ukpe-Ukpi who made the appeal while speaking during the coronation ceremony of his installation as the Ukpe-Ukpi of Ogbona Sub-clan said being the newly installed Ukpe-Ukpi (Village head), promised to serve the people with selflessly, honestly, just and fearlessly in passing his judgement accordingly irrespective of whose interest and involvement of person or persons.

HRH Umole thanked the Eragbhe’s family and the Ogbona Community for finding him worthy for the position and support for making the ceremony a huge success.

Paying tribute to his predecessor, late Chief William Uloko Idode whose reign was regrettably short-lived by divine providence, said his success was as a result of the cooperation he received from the people, hence, the Ukpe-Ukpi equally solicited for more robust cooperation from all in order to sustain or surpass his predecessor’s successes for the community.

Also mentioned some of the past heroes of the community such as Chief M. C. K. Orbih; Chief Vincent A. Omadimhe; Chief Patrick Oboarekpe; Chief Thomas Osigbemhe; Chief Odiah Ikhane; Dr. Jerome Umole among others, HRH Umole said no doubt that a sustained or soaring success through healthy growth and mutual cooperative is the only sure-best way to reciprocate those past heroes of the community that their labour is not and shall never be in vain.

He noted that true greatness of any society low and high places is determined by the quality of leadership which itself is dependent on the passion for a healthy cohabitational life-style, thirst for growth and godliness by the people.

He therefore called on the entire community to embrace peace and love, noted that progress and development involved concerted effort of everyone irrespective of old and young, man or woman, indigene and non-indigene as he said he is equipped with a large heart to tolerate, accommodate and endure the people for peace to reign.

The Ukpe-Ukpi equally appealed to the people to always be their own brother’s keeper irrespective of any provocation as every Avianwu fellow is born into the age long safety cultural beliefs which regards as an abomination for one to set eyes on the blood of a fellow Avianwu.

He assured the people that he harbour no intention whatsoever to perpetrate any inglorious acts to marginalized, malign, being vindictive or sectional in any form saying these are vices of elements subversive of peace, progress, justice and orderliness as they are destroyer of love, growth and development of a community.

According to him, “All members of the respective hierarchy of chiefs in the community right from late Chief William Idode still remain bonafide members whom we shall all carry on the traditional leadership duties together expect where one chooses to relinquish his position or being recalled by his kindred”.

HRH Umole promised to do everything possible as a traditional ruler to make a difference to all manner of persons particularly the needy and indigent in the society, deplored whatever may be internally available into productive and accountable use for the development of the community.

The occasion was well attended which included the Oghieavianwu of Avianwu, HRH Jackson Etokhana; the Ukpe-Ukpi of Iviarua, HRH Jerome Itepu; the Ukpe-Ukpi of Iroakhor, HRH T U. Ilogho; the Ukpe-Ukpi of Ivenone, HRH Best Igbanior, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe; Chief Richard Lamai.

Others are Barr. Pascal Ugbome; Chief Richard Okozi; Chief Lucky James; local government chairmen of Etsako Central, East and West; civil commissioners and others too numerous to mention.

Highpoints of the ceremony was the fund raising for the building of ultra-modern Ogbona Palace and cultural display.