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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
He was born with disability; he had hearing impairment right from birth. That means he was born deaf. But he never allowed this to shape his future awkwardly. Instead, he roundly conquered this debilitating anomaly to make history as the first person with such disability in Abia State and Nigeria to be crowned king.
Anthony Chukwunyerem Anyiam Ohaeri was born on October 10, 1960, into the family of the late Eze Anyiam Ohaeri, Utuhutu I of Umuawa Alaocha autonomous community, in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State.
The first in a family of 15, Anthony began the journey to dust the negative effect of his disability and create a niche for himself in life when he travelled to the United States of America to study computer programming. Upon completion of his studies, he became a computer scientist.
Anthony, according to his people, was born with the blue blood of royalty. His father and grandfather had been traditional rulers of their community at various times.
Nonetheless, since the traditional institution of most communities in Igbo land is rotational and not hereditary, then, that royal blood couldn’t alone have guaranteed him ascendancy to the throne of his ancestors.
However, after 20 years sojourn in USA, and upon his father’s death, his people asked him to come back and be their traditional ruler.
So, on January 27, history was truly made in Abia State when Anthony Ohaeri was crowned the king of Umuawa Alaocha kingdom with pomp and pageantry.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State was so fascinated by the feat achieved by the traditional ruler that he deeply eulogized Ohaeri while speaking at the event as the guest of honour.
Represented by his Special Assistant on Persons with Disabilities, David Anyaele, Otti informed the audience that the state government had evolved numerous programmes and policies that were aimed at improving the welfare of the citizenry, including the disabled. Otti restated his government’s resolve to remove barriers mitigating against persons with disabilities in the state, in order to give them a sense of belonging. Chairman of Umuahia North Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Innocent Nwaigwe was of praises for Abia government for supporting the emergence of a hearing impaired person as a traditional ruler.
According to him, the action had demonstrated that the present administration’s commitment to run an inclusive government. Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities was emboldened by Ohaeri’s ascendency to the throne of his ancestors. Its national chairman, Wisdom Kalu, has this to say: “The emergence of Ohaeri as a traditional ruler had demonstrated that every member of the society should be treated as valuable.”
Describing the event as historic and a first of its kind, Kalu added that it was worthy of note that this development had further strengthened the confidence of persons with disabilities in the state. The man of the moment, Eze Ohaeri, while addressing his people and guests after the coronation, pledged to adopt an inclusive leadership style to give everyone a sense of belonging and for sustained socioeconomic growth of the community.
Hear him: “I am an enthusiast of building progressive communities and systems that would stimulate rural economy. This is because I believe when there is prosperity in the rural communities, it positively impacts on the socioeconomic growth of the state and makes the job of the state government easier.” Speaking through an interpreter, Eze Ohaeri further stated: “As l take up the mantle of leadership entrusted upon me by the people of Umuawa Alaocha Autonomous Community, I am conscious of the enormous responsibility that comes with it and I assure you that I will live up to expectation.
“Under my watch, I will ensure that Umuawa Alaocha Autonomous Community records growth and prosperity through evolving and implementing programmes that would protect the interest of my people, improve their well-being and give them a sense of belonging.” The traditional ruler was full of praises to the state government for deviating from the norm which saw his emergence as the first hearing-impaired person to assume the role of a traditional ruler in the state. He thanked the government for its support for persons with disabilities, adding that his emergence as a traditional ruler was an indication that government was determined to protect the interest of persons with disabilities. “It may interest you to know that this is the first time in the history of this community, state and nation that a hearing impaired (deaf) person has been made a traditional ruler. Also, I would like to add that even in the Bible, no hearing impaired person became king. This is a first of its kind. My governor, you have further proven the fact that you are indeed a jinx breaker,” he stated.
Eze Ohaeri while commending the governor’s commitment to the rebuilding agenda, sought further cooperation for the community’s development and appealed to government for improved infrastructure development in the community.
He noted that enhanced infrastructure development would facilitate even spread of socioeconomic growth in the community and urged the government to build critical infrastructure that would address the infrastructure deficit in the community. The traditional ruler appealed for Governor Otti’s intervention in rebuilding the Umuawa Alaocha Community Primary School and Primary Health Centre as well as the rehabilitation of roads in the area.
Elated people of the community expressed their joy over Ohaeri’s coronation. Chief (Mrs) Roseline Amuchie thanked God for making it possible for the computer scientist to become the traditional ruler of their community. She said every individual has been blessed by God and had the capacity to handle any responsibility entrusted on him or her. “We believe that God created us equal and whatever challenge you have is surmountable, you have to figure out a way to navigate your way,” she said.
Also, the brother of the traditional ruler, Elder Augustine Ohaeri, said that their grandfather and father served as traditional rulers of their community until their demise and expressed delight that his brother had followed in the same path as their father.
Elder Augustine also from the area, expressed confidence that the traditional ruler would live up to expectations and that his reign would bring so many goodies to the community.
