Chief Emmanuel Ikechukwu Jonathan, JP, Esq, a Senior Editor with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was on Friday installed as the Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu Kingdom, in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The installation ceremony took place at the palace of the eldest man (Onyishi) of Owereze Alor-Agu Clan, in the presence of Eze Agu of Alor-Agu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Chief Berthrand Duke Eze, other elders, dignitaries and youths of Owereze Alor-Agu Kingdom.
It will be recalled that the Edeh-Owereze stool has been vacant for over 14 years after the demise of Chief Ngwu Ameh Itodo, the last occupant of the stool, due to search for a qualified hand.
The eldest man (Onyishi) of Owereze Alor-Agu, Chief Emmanuel Mark Onah, while performing the installation ceremony, urged Jonathan to be a good ambassador of the Owereze clan and the entire Alor-Agu community in his new position.
Chief Onah said that by virtue of the installation of Emmanuel Ikechukwu Jonathan as the Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu, he automatically becomes the Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu title holder in Alor-Agu community and a member of the OHA-ALOR decision making body of the Alor-Agu community.
Speaking also, Eze Agu, His Royal Majesty, Chief Berthrand Duke Eze, said that the Owereze clan had been in search for a qualified hand to be crowned as Edeh-Owereze for the past 14 years.
He said, “it is now over 14 years that this stool has been vacant. We have had many members of Owereze Alor-Agu clan indicate interest to occupy the Edeh-Owereze stool but we did not give a node to their request.
“We did not give the expected node because we wanted a more qualified hand who has a proven integrity, character and has sacrificed for the growth of our clan and community at large.
“We found these qualities in our dear son, Emmanuel Ikechukwu Jonathan, and we wholeheartedly and unanimously recommended him to the eldest man (Onyishi) of our clan, to be installed and crowned as the Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu.”
Eze Agu of Alor-Agu explained that Edeh-Owereze is a revered stool in Owereze Alor-Agu clan that is saddled with the responsibilities of representing the Owereze clan in OHA-ALOR which is the highest decision making body of the community.
He said that Edeh-Owereze is equally the spokesperson of the King among other cultural functions as regards the protection of the interest and welfare of the Owereze clan and Alor-Agu Kingdom in general.
He however urged Chief Jonathan to live up to the expectations of the clan who found him worthy of occupying the revered Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu stool.
Also speaking, Chief Williams Eze, said that the entire Owereze Alor-Agu clan decided to reward their son Jonathan with the Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu stool because of his unequaled service and generosity to the community.
Eze, a retired Head Teacher, said that the reward of hard work is more work, adding, “Jonathan is our dear son in whom we are well pleased. He derives joy in putting smiles on the faces of the people and this is our little way of appreciating and encouraging his kind gestures and philanthropism.
“Through Jonathan, many of our children have been employed and empowered with skills. Through Jonathan many of our people enjoy free medical treatment. Through Jonathan many children’s school fees are paid. The list of his benevolence is endless.
“This is our own little way of encouraging him to continue with his good works and service to humanity.”
Supol Benjamin Mark Onah, in his remark, said that the Owereze Alor-Agu clan was proud of Emmanuel Ikechukwu Jonathan their son.
Onah, a retired Chief Fire Officer with Enugu State Government, said that the Owereze Alor-Agu clan have no doubt in Jonathan’s ability to represent them well in his new position as Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu.
Reacting to the development, Mrs. Caro Mark Onah, said that the women folk of Owereze Alor-Agu Kingdom were very happy with the choice of Chief Jonathan as Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu.
She said that the women of Owereze and Alor-Agu at large do not take anything that has to do with Chief Jonathan for granted because of his humane character.
Mrs Onah explained that the poor and less privileged people in the community have benefited so much from his philanthropic gestures.
“Jonathan has been there for the people. He empowers the downtrodden with employment and empowerment. He provides free medical treatment for the sick among other gestures. He supports our children in all ways.
Reacting to the Chieftaincy Title conferred on him, Emmanuel Ikechukwu Jonathan, JP, Esq, said that he was highly grateful to his clan for the honour of finding him worthy to be crowned as the Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu.
Jonathan, a former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Enugu State, promised to carryout the responsibilities of his new position of Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu, with diligence and seriousness.
Jonathan who is also the Secretary of Nkpokote Nsukka Project, a sociocultural organization advocating the unity and progress of Nsukka cultural zone, assured that he will replicate the Nkpokote Philosophy in Alor-Agu so that the community will attain it’s full potentials.
Representatives of OHA-ALOR in the persons of Chief Barr. Cosmas Ugwu, Mkpozu Ovoko, Chief John Eze, Mkpozu Amebo, and Chief Enuwa Audu, (Okomanyi) Ozioko Eshiakpo, were all present to witness the installation of Emmanuel Ikechukwu Jonathan as Edeh-Owereze.
The most popular and widely accepted candidate for the Igweship stool of Alor-Agu Kingdom, Chief Christian Ugwuanyi who equally graced the occasion with his entourage, described Chief Jonathan as a man with enormous capacity of representing and taking Alor-Agu to greater heights.
Alhaji Suleman Ayogu, the immediate past Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party Alor-Agu Ward, the Chairman of Labour Party Alor-Agu Ward, Chief Chidi Onah, Prophetess Uzo Elias, Prophetess Nkechi Ugwoke and other well meaning sons and daughters of Alor-Agu Kingdom were present to witness the ceremony.
The Treasurer of the Peoples Democratic Party in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, Chief Darlington Chukwuma and other well wishers from the neighboring Unadu community were equally present at the epoch event.
The crowning ceremony will be conducted in the later part of the year where Chief Jonathan will be decorated in his full regalia as the Edeh-Owereze Alor-Agu Kingdom.
