BREAKING: PROF. SIDNEY IKENNA OMEJE BECOMES THE IGWE OF EDEMANI AMEBO IBAGWA-AKA TRADITIONAL RULER

By Nkem Ossai

It is yet another history making in the ancient community of Ibagwa-Aka, Igbo-Eze South LGA of Enugu State as a retired university don, Prof. Ikenna Omeje, today, 17th June 2023, was crowned the 1st traditional ruler of Edemani Amebo Ibagwa-Aka Autonomous Community as “Ezeobule the 2nd”. Last week it was Ndioke Ibagwa-Aka performing there coronation.

The ceremony was jointly performed by Onyishi Amebo Ibagwa-Aka, Rev. Canon Simon Okolo, and Rev. Fr. Dr. Jude Odo, the Dean and Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ibagwa-Aka Deanery in the presence of several traditional rulers from Igbo-Eze South LGA. Among whom were the Onowu of Edemani Amebo Ibagwa-Aka, Ede Sunday Omeke (Ugonabo), Igwe Okechukwu Oke of Itchi Agụ who is the Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Hyacinth Eze of Ibagwa-Aka, Igwe C.C. Nnamani of Iheaka and Igwe Emmanuel Urama of Ndioke Ibagwa-Aka Autonomous Community.

Also present at the ceremony were the immediate past Hon. Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Peter Andy Omeje, Dr. Felix Asogwa, Engineer James Ajibo, Dr. Festus Omeje, Prof. Joachim Omeje, Hon. Dominic Ezema, Chief Chidi Omeje, Comrade Nkem Ossai (Odenamuo), the President General, Ibagwa-Aka Town Union, Dr. Patrick Onah and his Secretary, Chief Samson Eze, Attah Mike Ezema, Sir Cosmas Ede and Hon. Jude Mary Ugwu, the Education Secretary of Igbo-Eze South LGA who incidentally served as the Master of Ceremony.

Others were Igwe-elect, Attah Sylvester Eze of Echara Ibagwa, Igwe-elect, Edeoga Danjuma Ukwuaba of Ezema Ibagwa, Ashua Sabastine Aleke and several other distinguished personalities from Ibagwa-Aka and beyond, too numerous to mention here.

The Chief celebrant, Prof. Omeje thanked God, for his mercies and in a special way, praised the immediate past Governor of Enugu State His Excellency Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi whom he noted, fulfilled the promise he made to Ibagwa-Aka by giving them two community autonomies. He also thanked the current governor of the state, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah and the immediate past Hon. Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Barr. C.O.C. Egumgbe.

Asked to comment on the significance of today’s ceremony, a reknowned physician, Dr. Felix Asogwa expressed profound joy and added that today’s ceremony was God-ordained. He thanked God and noted that it is a dream come true.

Adding his voice to today’s events, another member of the family and a media guru, Chief Chidi Omeje noted that he is excited about today’s ceremony. He opined that the whole idea of community autonomy is to deepen development and bring development to the doorstop of the rather forgotten mass – the grassroot. When asked to say something about this great progenitor named Ezeobule the First, Chief Chidi said that he was probably the first king of Ibagwa-Aka adding that the now Ezeobule the Second is a direct descendant of Ezeobule the First pointing out that he was a tough king who started the “Kings Ceremony of Agbeze Ibagwa-Aka.” He said that Igwe Prof. Omeje took his name to preserve his history being a descendant of Ezeobule the First.

The newly crowned Igwe, who retired a year ago, is a reknowned Prof. of Animal Science who served in two universities for 40 years. Asked to comment on today’s honour being bestowed on him by his people, Prof. Ikenna said that it is a special day for him and his community noting that it brings to a conclusive end the near endless anxiety over the autonomy. He thanked God, pointing out that the people of Edemani Amebo were remembered at the dying minute of the administration saying, “God’s time is the best.”

Thanking the entire people of Ibagwa-Aka, he emphasized, “the autonomy is for the entire Ibagwa-Aka people.” He promised that whatever benefits that comes the way of Edemani will affect the entire community. He further said that there’s ample hope that in no distant future, both Echara, Ezema, Eburumiri Ibagwa etc. will be blessed with their own autonomies.

Talking about Ezeobule the First, Prof. Ikenna said he was a descendant of Ozuzuikoko who is said to be the progenitor of Ibagwa-Aka people. He noted that Ezeobule made what he can call a spiritual journey to the Igala kingdom to understudy their ways. At that time, Igala kingdom ruled over several other kingdoms in Igbo land. At the end of his stay there,, he was crowned a king. This, he pointed out, happened around 150 years ago.

Prof. Omeje further added that when he returned from Igala land, he was well received and accepted as the king of Ibagwa-Aka. He concluded that before Ezeobule, several other Kings may have come and gone.

Highlights of the occasion was the performance of the traditional dance to the Ekwa Amebo Ezeobule music by Prof. Ikenna Omeje and some members of his family including friends. Also Eke Echezema was on ground to entertain guests and made the occasion a remarkable one.