Carnival as Nanka community gets new King

It was fanfare and carnival of sorts as the new Obu of Nanka community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State received certificate of recognition from Governor Willie Obiano of the State penultimate week.

As early as 8 am, the open space at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, had started witnessing visitors from Nanka who came to be part of the momentous occasion and by 11 am when the occasion was billed to take-off, the new traditional ruler had arrived with prominent sons and daughters of the town as well as musical troupes which entertained both at Governor’s Lodge and Nanka Civic Centre.

And to show the importance Governor Obiano attached to the occasion, he did not waste time to join the over joyous people of Nanka accompanied by the chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe and the Obi of Onitsha and the traditional ruler of Ifite Dunu, Igwe Iluno, who is the Chairman, Anambra Central of State Traditional Rulers Council.

Governor Obiano in his brief but pungent speech at the event reminded Igwe Godwin Ezeilo of Nanka that although he was unanimously elected, he still has the onerous challenge of bringing the other remaining few to his fold, urging him to extend his hand of fellowship to the few who are still dissenting.

He charged Igwe Ezeilo to properly organise the youths of his community, noting that when some miscreants in the community caused trouble in the community, he handled them and the town returned to normalcy again, promising to support the new traditional ruler in his move to ensure absolute peace and tranquility in the community.

He said: “As Igwe, you cannot go to the Police Station. If there is anything they want from you, the Police should come to your Palace. It is not for you to go to Police station”.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Greg Obi, said that the occasion came into being due to series of efforts by both prominent and committed citizens of the community as well the State Government officials.

He also noted that the new traditional ruler was supported by majority of the members of the community and this placed greater burden on him to ensure justice and peace in the community, noting that if he oppresses the people, they would rise against him.

The Obi of Onitsha in his brief speech said God makes king and it is their duty to rule well to justify the huge confidence both God and the people placed on them.

He charged the new king and his colleagues that for the “good of their communities and the entire Anambra State, they must rule well”.
Igwe Achebe commended Governor Obiano for the dispatch in addressing issues bordering on traditional institutions in the state, saying with his brief stint as the Governor of the state, he has issued 23 certificates, which was more than all the certificates given by the former Governors of the state put together.

He then called for support for the Governor for the second term in office by the new traditional ruler and other monarchs in the state, so that after him the Anambra South Senatorial Zone can take over the mantle of leadership of the state.

The Igwe in his appreciation commended Governor Obiano for the co-operation extended to Nanka community in his choice as the new Obu of Nanka.

He extolled the virtues and achievements of Obiano especially in the area of security of lives and property of the people of the state, which has resulted in automatic stoppage of kidnapping in the state.

Assuring the Governor of his support and that of his community, for his second term bid, Igwe Ezeilo said that God will defeat all Obiano’s opponents.

He promised to rule the people with the fear of God and in justice to usher in and encourage rapid development of the community.
The Obu Nanka commended the Governor for appointing his people into Government positions and urged for more of such appointments and provision of social amenities such as roads to the community.

Chief Okwudlili Ezwnwankwo, the President- General of the Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATAS) and a prominent son of the community, called on everybody to support the new Obu, saying that almost 99 percent of the community were behind the new king but stated that they still need remaining one percent.

Ezewnanwkwo, who played prominent role in the enthronement of the new Obu as the Chairman of Selection Committee, Electoral Committee, Installation Committee, said he was not in doubt that the new traditional ruler will do well because he is a man of God.
He commended Governor Willie Obaino for helping the Nanka people get a new traditional ruler without hitch, saying that was a clear signal of how he rules the state, with fear of God.

The Anambra Market boss said for this singular deed the Governor Obaiano did for Nanka people, they will support him 100 percent in the coming election.

For the few who are still kicking against the emergence of Igwe Ezeilo, Ezenwankwo advised them to swallow their pride and join forces with their kith and kin, he stated, noting that the traditional ruler has emerged and what all have to do was to support him.

The Managing Director of Chipet Petroluem, Chief Peter Chinedu, expressed joy over the emergence of the new traditional ruler, especially the support the Governor gave them in the choice of this traditional ruler.

“The new Igwe was a consensus candidate. There was no dissenting voice. The dissenting voice is very insignificant and we are talking. We are peaceful people. Nanka is peace loving. We are talking. We are not fighting. Those in opposition are in minority. From today, absolute peace has returned to this community. When there is justice, there will be peace and when there is peace, there will be development. The town will continue to grow”, he said.

To Governor Obiano, the business mogul, said “when the righteous is in authority, the people rejoice. We are happy in Anambra State since this man came in as the Governor. He has sanitised Onitsha, the entire state, including Nanka”.

In his own contribution, the chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Aguata branch, Mr Clifford Iloebunam Okoye, said the Governor in issuing the Certificate of Recognition in a record time, has shown he was God fearing.

Tracing brief history of the emergence of Ezeilo on January 4, 2017, Okoye said it followed a constitutional amendment which adopted rotational kingship in the community.

He said out of the lots who indicated their interests, three were selected out of which, Ezeilo was unanimously elected as the new Obu of Nanka, urging those who felt aggrieved to join their hand with new traditional ruler to move the community forward.

The President-General of Nanka Patriotic Union, Chief Bernard Onyekwelu, said he was happy that within one year their late king died, they were able to get a new king, saying that out the three candidates selected, Ezeilo got 181 votes, the second person got 31 votes and 18 votes for third runners-up.