Obor Auto. Community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State went agog as Ugo (Dr.) Obi Ralph Ekezie was presented as Eze-elect of the community before the Interim Management Committee Chairman of the Orlu, Hon. Aloysius Oluigbo, penultimate week. At Mayor Eze hall, the venue of the colourful occasion, the Interim Management Committee chairman, Hon. Aloysius Oluigbo commended the people of Obor for their peaceful conduct during the selection of Ugo (Dr) Obi Ralph Ezezie as Eze-Elect. He charged them to support and respect their Eze-elect as a revered Institution in charging of their culture, tradition, identity and ancestral antiquities, adding that the way people revere their Eze will reflect on how outsiders would take him.

While congratulating the Eze-elect for his consensus selection, Hon. Oluigbo called on him to rule with wisdom and fear of God, saying that kings are made by God. Oluigbo reiterated the need to always comply and operate within the ambit of the rules and regulations governing the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, and to ensure that his community joins others in the state to propagate the programme and policies of government.

According to him, the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha administration in Imo State has come to re-build Imo State, Including giving the Traditional Institution the reverence due them as custodians of culture. Earlier in his address and citation on the Eze-elect, the President General Obor Town Union, Chief General Okwara, said Ugo Dr. Ekezie was selected on consensus opinio/i based on his unequalled efforts in the realization of Obor Autonomy in 2003. He averred “this is a new dawn for our community and the fulfillment of the common desire of the entire community, having succeeded in convincing our best, the progenitor of our autonomous community to accept to mount the throne of our traditional institution”.

Earlier in his address and citation on the Eze-elect, the President General Obor Town Union, Chief General Okwara, said Ugo Dr. Ekezie was selected on consensus opinio/i based on his unequalled efforts in the realization of Obor Autonomy in 2003. He averred “this is a new dawn for our community and the fulfillment of the common desire of the entire community, having succeeded in convincing our best, the progenitor of our autonomous community to accept to mount the throne of our traditional institution”.

Chief Okwara pleaded with the Interim Management Committee to expedite action on conveying their message to the state, promising that Obor Community will continue to work in tandem with state policies.

In their separate speeches at the occasion, the Director of Administrations, Orlu Local Government, Barr. I.N Anuebunwa, and the Treasurer Mr. Paulinus Ihezuruike noted that the glamour and high spirit of the people the Eze-e!ect, of Obor Community were tangential to the level of acceptance of the Eze-elect, and expressed no doubt that the monarch would deliver, while calling on the people to respect their Eze.

Contributing, the Interim Management Committee Member for Ohafor Okporo/Umutanze ward, and supervisor Works/Transport, Hon. (Mrs) Chinyere Okoro pledged readiness of the women wing to give the Ugoeze maximum co­operation maintaining that with the traditional stool, the Ugoeze Chief (Mrs) Victoria Adaku Ekezie, would be closer, and be a mother to all women and children of Obor Community.

Responding, the Eze-elect, Ugoeze (Dr) Obi Ralph Ekezie thanked his kinsmen for showing him such a great love and for rewarding his past service with revered Traditional Stool, saying “Now the Chicken have come home to rest”. In an interview, one time leader, Orlu Legislature Council, Hon. Gozie Maurice Nwagba, described the Eze-elect as an illustrious son of Obor, an accomplished jolly good fellow who has done a lot for his people. Hon. Nwagba maintained that Obor Community has well polished Traditional Council, Town Union Leadership and well groomed youth wing, hence the Eze-elect would operate in a serene environment, and that with the Eze-elect, development of Obor would be fast tracked.

Present at the Occasion were the Traditional prime Minister, Chief Sunday Nwaogu; Secretary General Mr. Romanus Achazie; the Sec. Council of Chief, Chief Longinus Oko-ro, VP Mr. Chinedu Dara; wife of the Late Eze, Ugo-eze Joy B.I Ekezie; Hon. C. Emeahuru, former leader, Orlu Legislature, PDP Chairman for Ohafor Okporo/Umutanze, Mr. Friday Dimozo. Present also was the Head of personnel management. Orlu, Lady C.U Ugbaja and many other personalities.

A 1972 first class graduate of Electrical Engineering Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Ugo. Dr. Ekezie worked with Schlumberge, rising from the rank of Trainee Field Engr to Managing Director, sources close to this man of the moment said. After retiring from Schlumberge, he floated an outfit in the oil and gas industry, the Drillog Petro-Dynamics. It was also gathered that the Eze-elect was once the Chairman PETAN, and also served Imo State in the capacity of Chairman Imo State Electerication Board, a position he used to connect many rural communities to the National Power system.

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