The people of Azia now have a new king and traditional ruler in His Royal Highness, Prof. Titus Iloduba Eze, former Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State and one-time Federal INEC and ANSIEC Commissioner.
The newly installed Igwe of Azia, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra, prior to ascending the throne of his forefathers, was the Onowu (Traditional Prime Minister) of the town and a Professor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. His predecessor, Igwe P.M.C Ojuro, passed on after over three decades on the throne.
Eze was coronated at Nkwo Ukpaka, the ancestral meeting point of Azia people, weeks back. And no sooner was this concluded than he went to work. Besides promising to take Azia to the next level and transforming it massively, he has already constituted his cabinet and they are now rearing to go.
Made up of eminent sons of Azia, among them are Ichie Godwin Okpalaeke, the Chairman of the popular Ginpat Aluminium, who is the new Onowu; Ichie Chike Muoghalu, an Onitsha-based business tycoon, who is the new Owelle; Ichie Bestman Obi-Onyedi, a Lagos businessman, who is the Ajie Ukwu; Ichie (Sir) Augustine Udensi, Registrar, Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, who is the Asama; Ichie Benneth Abaniwu, a renowned hotelier, who is the new Odu; Ichie (Barrister) Uzama Okpalaeke, ex-member of Anambra State House of Assembly, who is the Ikenga; Ichie (Dr.) Ben Eze of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, who is the new Oboli; Ichie Gabriel Obi-Okafor, a traditionalist and orator par excellence, who is the Ogene; Ichie (Engr.) Lawrence Uzoeto of Lacotronics fame, who is the Ikemba and Ichie Hyginus Ifenatuora, an Onitsha-based businessman, who is the Ojiudo.
Others are Ichie (Sir) Azuh Arinze, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Yes International! Magazine (Odenigbo), Ichie Chuka Onwuchekwa, CEO, Acquila Capital (Ide), Ichie (Sir) Patrick Okpalaeke, also of Ginpat Aluminium (Omeziribe), Ichie Ugo Martins Okoli, former PDP Chairman in Ebonyi State (Ofiafuluagu), Ichie (Dr.) Kenneth Muoghalu, Chief Medical Director, St. Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha (Ugochinyere), Ichie Callistus Nwosu, CEO, Jocallys Aluminium (Nwajiobi) and Ichie Emeka Uzoeto (Ede).
Equally part of the Igwe’s cabinet are Ichie Titus Nwosu (Odumodu), Ichie Titus Orji (Uduakommiri), Ichie Cyril Orajiaka (Orimili), Ichie Emma Okeke (Obodoekwelugo), Ichie Obiora Eze (Madukaejiaka), Ichie Onyeka Okoli (Ichie Ukwu), Ichie (Barrister) Okoh Nsidinanya (Oga) and Ichie Jerome Ojimba (Chukwudalu).
Witnessed by the who is who in Ihiala LGA and even beyond, the five Obis administering the town were all there to give their support and approval. From Obi Christopher Okoli of Umudiokpara to Obi R.N Ezike of Abam, Obi Patrick Emordi of Ihite to Obi Ambrose Ucheagwu of Ukwakwa, to even the Obi of Umudansu, who was ably represented by Remigus Igu-Uwa. Same with some of the Catholic priests produced by the town – Rev. Fr. Titus Nnabugwu, Rev. Fr. Basil Agba, Rev. Fr. Hyginus Aghaunor, Rev. Fr. Ifechukwu Nwabueze, etc. And not forgetting Hon. Paschal Agbodike, representing Ihiala 2 at Anambra State House of Assembly and Chief Evergreen Onyedum, Onwa Mbosi and CEO, Bravo Foams Ltd.
Before being accompanied to his palace in Umudiokpara, by sons and daughters of Azia, amidst singing and dancing and rejoicing, the new Igwe, a cerebral and widely travelled man, promised to plant smiles on all faces in Azia, attract massive development with his contacts and also ensure that peace reigns.
His Traditional Prime Minister, the charismatic Onowu, Ichie Godwin Okpaleke, added that ‘Azia will never be the same again in terms of everything good’.
Finally, Ikenga Azia and the Chief of Staff cum Legal Adviser, Ichie Uzama Okpalaeke, summed up everything that transpired that day as “excellent as well as the beginning of a new dawn in Azia.”
