22 years after, Rtd Major Nwofia emerges Inyimegu Oreke-ejeje Monarch

Retired Major Nwofia Mgbebu-Onwe has emerged as the newest traditional ruler of Inyimegu Oreke-ejeje Autonomous Community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State after twenty-two years without a monarch.

Nwofia, declared the winner of the election by the Assistant Secretary of the electoral committee, Dr. Uche Ogbe, noted that the Committee adopted the option A4 voting procedure to conduct the election, in which the Eze-elect received 140 votes to emerge victorious and was duly elected.

The election took place at Effemgbabu Inyimagu playground, the ancestral origin of the community.

In an interview with the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chief Moses Odunwa, who hails from the village, he expressed joy over the peaceful conduct of the election and the harmonious disposition of the Inyimagu people during the selection and election process.

Chief Odunwa stated that the institutionalization of Ezes in the State by Governor Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is a practical demonstration of his commitment to meeting the State’s real needs, in line with his political manifesto known as the People’s Charter of Needs. He encouraged them to sustain this momentum to gain more from the present administration in the State.

The Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Mr. Sunday Nwankwo, described the event as a government in action, and he commended the seamless approach taken by the Inyimagu people in the installation of their traditional ruler. This demonstrates their understanding, unity, and readiness to collaborate with the State government for their community’s development. He encouraged them to provide maximum support to their Eze-elect after confirmation.

The Commissioner for Local Government Development and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Uchenna Igwe, and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Chukwuma Ujebe, thanked Inyimegu for adhering to the guiding principles in selecting their traditional ruler. They highlighted Governor Nwifuru’s commitment to ensuring that peace and development are evenly distributed throughout the State and urged them to support Chief Nwifuru’s administration and unite for their community’s development.

In his acceptance speech, the Eze-elect of Inyimegu Autonomous Community Ikwo, retired Major Nwofia Mgbebu-Onwe, expressed his gratitude to God and the people for choosing him to serve in this capacity. He promised to fulfill his duties with a sense of justice, love, and fear of God towards everyone.