Ezenwugo emerges new traditional ruler of Uga community

THE Governor of Anambra state, Chief  Willie Obiano, has issued a certificate of recognition and staff of office to the Igwe-elect of Uga community in Aguata Local Government Area of the state, Chidi Stephen Ezenwugo as the substantive traditional ruler of the area.

In a brief ceremony held at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Obiano declared that with the certificate and staff of office issued to Ezenwugo, by the power conferred on him as the state chief executive, under Section 7 of the traditional rulers law of 1981, Ezenwugo had transformed from Igwe-elect or Obi-elect of Uga to a substantive Igwe or Obi of Uga.

The governor noted that he was impressed with the maturity and peaceful processes with which Uga people selected Ezenwugo as their new monarch and urged other communities in the state which had not selected their own royal fathers to emulate the gesture.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Honourable Greg Obi, flanked by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Honourable Ikechukwu Onyeabo, had explained that having seen protracted Igweship tussles in many communities, government had come to a conclusion that Uga was a peace-loving community.

Obi, who disclosed that after all the rigorous screenings and test conducted on Ezennwugo by the government apparatus Igwe Ezenwugo came out with a distinction, however warned the new monarch against doing anything capable of leading to the withdrawal of his certificate and staff of office.

The Obi of Onitsha and state Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, flanked by the traditional  rulers of Ikenga and Mbaukwu communities, Igwe Alfred Onwuneme and Peter Anugwu, in his brief speech, said he was formally admitting Ezenwugo into the Traditional Rulers Council in the state, adding that he was now privileged to attend their meetings at the state, zonal and local government levels.

In their separate speeches, the President-General of Uga Improvement Union, UIU, Chief Chief James Umezulora (Egbe Igwe III) and Chairman of the Crowning Ceremony Planning Committee, Chief Emmanuel Onyeharam (Eze Udo), expressed satisfaction that the ceremony had marked the end of the struggle to get a new monarch for Uga community.

Honourable Ikem Uzoezie, Member,  representing Aguata II Constituency in the state House of Assembly and his Aguata I counterpart, Honourable Ikechukwu Ume, expressed optimism that the new monarch, Chidi Ezenuwgo, who inherited the throne from his late father, Igwe Felix Ezenwugo, would bring his positive youthful exuberance to bear on the throne for the overall interest of the community.