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•Africa’s longest reigning monarch, Igwe Orizu III of Nnewi, blesses subjects at Ofala, seeks infrastructure in town
From Magnus Eze, Nnewi
The palace of the monarch of Nnewi Kingdom and its vicinity could easily pass for a stadium hosting major sporting activities, during the last days of December, last year. Any visitor to the industrial town in Anambra State would notice the preponderance of magnificent billboards especially about 200 metres to the palace.
•Igwe Orizu flanked by Prince Chinedu Orizu (left) and Afam Orizu
In fact, it was billboard war from the Eke Amaobi Market through the palace gate to the Ofala Arena as every available space was taken by leading brands especially companies owned by Nnewi indigenes to felicitate with the monarch and get visibility for their products and services.
Igwe Kenneth Onyemaeke Nnaji Orizu (Igwe Orizu III), arguably, Africa’s longest reigning monarch was celebrated by Nnewi people, their friends and well-wishers on his 98th birthday and 60 years on the throne. An Ofala festival was staged on December 28, 2023, to commemorate the events and several prominent sons and daughters of the town were conferred with chieftaincy titles by the king.
•One of the newly capped chiefs, Elias Okonkwo
Daily Sun observed that Nnewi was in festive mood following the programme, which also featured the commissioning of a N230million Igwe Orizu Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centre built by the palace for the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi. Other activities after the Ofala included masquerade displays for the youth and cultural extravaganza.
Celebration and merriment were in every corner of the town as people from the four quarters of Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim and Nnewichi who received chieftaincy titles, rolled out the drums, savouring the honour by the revered monarch.
•Chief Akalaka Nnewi being cheered
Eminent Nigerians such as the immediate past Governor of Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Gburugburu), former Governor of Anambra State, Lady Virgy Etiaba, an indigene of Nnewi; onetime federal legislator, Chudi Ofodile, and Chief George Muoghalu, attended the event. Former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani; Chief Chris Uba and many other dignitaries were sighted at the Ndimgbu, Otolo Nnewi country home of Chief Dan Ulasi, where they joined the Ulasis to rejoice over the conferment of chieftaincy by the Igwe on Prof. Ifeoma Ulasi.
It was, indeed, a period of thanksgiving for Nnewi people. As part of the tradition, different groups and institutions paid homage to the traditional ruler. They came with various gifts, including cows, goats and drinks. They took turn to pray for Igwe Orizu III, wishing the nonagenarian more years of good health on the throne. Nnewi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Ekwueme Social Club of Nigeria, Nnewi Youth League and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, were among those that presented gifts to the monarch.
•Masqurade performance
Two groups of widows showered encomium on the monarch whom they said was always there for them. Spokesperson of Chinedu Widows and Farmers Association said: “We are widows but we are farmers that’s why we have identified with the Igwe. Every year, he takes care of us, he is the Igwe n’eje Uka (True Christian monarch), he’s upright and impartial. We love him and pray that he remains strong even after 120 years.”
Also, Chibuike Widows (Jesus Wives) in their prayers said since Igwe Orizu made God his cornerstone, that Christ will continue to keep him in good health. Many people described Igwe Orizu III as a man that is what a monarch should be.
Addressing the large crowd at the Ofala Arena, the monarch described the day as their happiest hour in the highway of struggle and devotion to Nnewi cause. He acknowledged the roles played by several Nnewi patriots in the past six decades, noting that they did not arrive at this stage of Nnewi alone.
He said: “The Nnewi we met in 1963 was at best a hub of a few hawkers at the present post office area with one petrol station. There was only one tarred road from Onitsha to Owerri. There were four secondary schools. Under our watch, Nnewi developed to its present day with majority of the roads paved and tarred by philanthropic Nnewi businessmen. The government only came in later. We are proud to state that the Agbo Edo market is a product of community development extraordinary as it was established without government’s intervention.
“We played a role in encouraging our sons and daughters to establish industries in Nnewi. We negotiated the building of houses and infrastructure in the newly established Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital. By the way, it is a fact that the establishment of the Teaching Hospital at Nnewi was our effort and that of Nnewi people.
“Nnewi, including us, donated land for the establishment of the present College of Medicine at Okofia Otolo Nnewi. Thereafter, the Federal Government developed the new Teaching Hospital at Akamili Umudim. We recognise the establishment of hospitals, pharmacies and laboratories at Nnewi, by Nnewi people.
“We now have a private MRI laboratory at Nnewi, thereby stopping our people and patients from travelling to Enugu to use MRI facilities. There are government clinics at every nook and cranny of the town. Indeed, Nnewi is now a centre of excellence in medicare, not only for Nnewi but for all neighbouring states and towns.”
The monarch also paid special tributes to industrialists, businessmen and traders, saying that their efforts made the town an industrial hub. He noted that the Nnewi industrialists manufacture batteries, motor spare parts, brake pads, vegetable oil and other products related to motor and motorcycle spare parts.
“At the end of the Nigerian civil war, Nnewi market was the centre for motor spare parts. Today, the motorcycle market at Nnewi is one of the largest in the country. It is a fact that Dr Okonjo Iweala as coordinating minister of the Economy in mentioning the foremost Nigerian industrialists listed Innoson, Cletus Ibeto and Chicason among the first five in Nigeria.
“Is it not true that Innoson vehicle industry is the largest of its type in the south-east and one of the largest in Nigeria. It is at Nnewi and owned by Nnewi person. Conclusively, Nnewi as a town is the biggest industrial town in Anambra State. The development at Nnewi made Nnewi to be named “The Japan of Africa,” the Igwe stated.
Igwe Orizu further noted that within the period, Nnewi became a centre of learning with several educationists establishing secondary and technical schools. The Igwe said: “Earlier in time, Nnewi was under Onitsha Province, then Nnewi Division with other towns. Today, Nnewi is the only one town local government area in Anambra State. Indeed, Nnewi has moved from Third world to First World in Nigerian terms. A look around Nnewi after 60 years of our reign is a story of glorious achievements that can only be possible by the grace of God.”
He mentioned the likes of Chief Cletus Ibeto, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Chief Chika Okafornand Nzuko Ora Nnewi for their contributions towards the development of the town. He described the introduction and establishment of the Nnewi Vigilante Group by the Nzuko Ora Nnewi and the encouragement by Senator Ubah, as phenomenal.
He prayed for all those involved in community development of Nnewi through selfless service, saying that they should live longer than the Igwe in their lifetime. “The God of Nnewi will bless you. We thank all those who through their finances and other contributions have sustained us and Nnewi, God will continue to bless you,” he said.
Igwe Orizu specially noted the support of Godswill Akpabio, who he said had long before becoming the President of the Senate, through the facilitation of Prince Chinedu Orizu, built the Nnewi Museum.
The palace urged Nnewi people to continue in their commercial endeavours anywhere they found themselves, and also be law abiding, adding that the town will not relent in accepting non-indigenes.
“Nnewi now and after will continue to be a land of gold and peaceful community. May we specifically thank all Nnewi people for their loyalty to us. We urge them to continue to extend the same loyalty to the other three Obis and our heirs for continuity.
“We must encourage our children to go to school. Nnewi people should endeavour to join the public service and the uniformed forces. The Nnewi of today should have a stadium and a public cemetery,” he said.
True to expectation, the conferment of chieftaincy titles was the highlight of the occasion. Some of the chieftaincy recipients are Ebubedike George Obi (Okaa Omee Nnewi), a Professor of Medicine and Nephology, Ifeoma Isabella Ulasi (Ada Chidiazondu Nnewi), Managing Director, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Dr. Emeka Agbasi, who inherited his late father’s title of Omenka Nnewi; and Mrs. Favour Chika Okafor, wife of billionaire industrialist and Chairman of Chicason Group, Chief Chika Okafor, who was conferred with the title of Chibugo Nnewi.
As he conferred them with the titles, the Igwe charged them to do more for the society, especially by building structures at the permanent site of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.
He stressed that the conferment of the chieftaincy titles on the individuals was borne out of the fact that they had distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour.
Chief Elias Okonkwo, honoured with the chieftaincy title of Ugwumba Nnewi (the Pride of Nnewi), applauded Igwe Orizu for finding him worthy of the honour and promised to do much for Nnewi town by setting up a charity foundation for the empowerment of widows in his community, Ndiakwu Otolo Nnewi.
