Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu Bags Prestigious Chieftaincy Title at Ogbor Unity Day Celebration 2025
Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu Bags Prestigious Chieftaincy Title at Ogbor Unity Day Celebration 2025
All roads led to Ukaegbu Junction (Ama Ogbor) in Aba North local government area of Abia State on Thursday, January 30, 2025, when the people comprising six villages namely Umuagwa, Umu-Ogbuewu, Egbelu, Eziukwu, Umu Egege and Umu Nwankire rolled out the drums to celebrate their rich cultural heritage.
The great cultural event attracted the presence of prominent politicians, legislators, top government officials, captains of industry, the clergy, traditional rulers, in-laws, friends and well-wishers from far and near.
The traditional ruler of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom, HRM Eze Sylvanus Azu Ukaegbu Egege was accompanied by his wives and the Eze-in-Council to the venue with pomp.
In his opening prayer, HRM Eze Egege, the Ugwu 1 of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom thanked God for His numerous blessings in their lives and the community as well as for bringing them together to celebrate their cultural heritage in an atmosphere of love, unity and peace.
He said that culture is a unifying force in the community adding that the Ogbor Unity Day Celebration is aimed at showcasing their rich cultural heritage among other reasons.
He urged the people to continue to celebrate their cultural heritage so as to project the community as a cultural hub in Nigeria.
Thereafter, Prophet E. A. Victory, the General Overseer of Dwelling of God Among Men Mission, 7-9 Panams Street, Aba expressed delight to witness the occasion.
He noted that the popular aphorism, “A prophet is not recognized in his place” does not hold water in his own case because he is recognized by his own Ogbor people.
He thanked the traditional ruler of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom, HRM Eze Sylvanus Azu Ukaegbu Egege, members of the planning committee and the entire people of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom for coming together to showcase their culture, which he said has not been celebrated for quite some time now.
Preaching on the topic, “Izu ka Nma na Nne ji” (Reasoning together is best among brothers), the popular man of God harped on the need for them to understand its deep meaning in order to ensure the continued existence of love, peace, unity and progress in the community.
Quoting Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of the Christ”, he explained that reasoning means making use of the available knowledge to take decisions or evaluate realities around to know and to understand how to plan for the future.
He emphasized that reasoning together is best among brothers, communities and so on stressing that even the Most High God, Himself said, “Come now and let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
He averred that reasoning together is an important factor in the life of every family, community and society and warned the people not to engage in acts capable of causing trouble in the community stressing that wherever there is trouble, reasoning together among brothers becomes impossible “Izu ka Nma na Nne ji ala”.
He called on the people of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom to work together with love and unity adding that no one should take advantage of the other because they are one.
He urged them to make the Biblical counsel, “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for a time of trouble” (Ozu si wa isi enyi ka nwanne ala) their watchword so that brotherly love would remain paramount in the community.
In his speech, Elder Israel Aguwa, the President General of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom expressed profound gratitude to God for bringing them together to worship and thank Him for what He has done for them and their community.
He reiterated the unwavering commitment of their sons and daughters both at home and in the Diaspora towards the development of the community and called on those fanning the embers of discord in the community to sheathe their swords and allow peace to continue to reign in the community.
He maintained that they are one and indivisible entity under one traditional ruler and thanked God for helping them to resolve the rift that nearly split the community two years ago adding that they tagged the event, “Ogbor Unity Day 2025” to celebrate their oneness.
He appreciated God for granting their traditional ruler, HRM Eze Sylvanus Azu Ukaegbu Egege who fell sick last year full recovery and auded him for gracing the occasion.
He prayed for God to grant him the wisdom of Solomon and the longevity of Methuselah to continue to rule them well with the fear of God.
He assured that they would continue to celebrate their culture through acts that bring joy, peace, unity and progress to the community adding that it is going to be an annual or bi-annual event, which would serve not only as an avenue for them to come together but also to bring development to the community and enhance the lot of the people.
Highlights of the occasion were the presentation of awards to well deserving personalities and conferment of chieftaincy titles on Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu, the member representing the indomitable people of Aba Central State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly and others including the DPO of Azuka Police Station who bagged the chieftaincy title of Dike di Oha Nma 1 of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom.
Some of the awardees were Atlanta US-based Chief Chimeremeze Azuka who bagged the Exceptional Son of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom Award in recognition of his immense contributions to community and human development. He was represented by Dr. Ezinwa Azuka.
The Restorer of Ogbor Dignity Award was presented to Prophet E. A. Victory, the General Overseer of Dwelling of God Among Men Mission for his positive impact in the lives of the people and the community.
In his response, he expressed delight for the honour done him by his own people and thanked God that he is a prophet recognized in his place.
He promised to sustain his support towards the betterment of the people and development of the community.
Another awardee, Chief Engr. Egege Ukaegbu, the CEO, U-KE Engineering Services who received the Community Builder Award for his numerous contributions to the development of the community promised to continue to do more for the people and the community.
The conferment of the prestigious chieftaincy title of “Ugo Jere Mba” 1 of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom on Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu, the member representing Aba Central State Constituency and “Iru Ugo 1” of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom on his dear wife drew resounding ovation.
Before presenting him and his beautiful wife to HRM Eze Sylvanus Azu Ukaegbu Egege for decoration, his ebullient, eloquent, versatile and indefatigable Chief of Staff, Hon. Agbai Osiri popularly known as Gentle Rabbi reeled out his impressive profile adlib to the admiration of all and sundry.
He described the amiable, debonair, hardworking and quintessential legislator as a tripartite personality – a banker, journalist and businessman-turned politician stressing that his diverse background has contributed immensely to his remarkable performance and monumental achievements within a very short time in office.
He said that Aba Central State Constituency is lucky to have Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu as their representative adding that he is a man of the people, an inimitable team-player and a very good listener who is ever ready to meet the yearnings of his constituents at all times.
He lauded Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu’s significant contributions on the Floor of Abia State House of Assembly stressing that apart from the several motions aimed at alleviating the plight of the masses in the state, he has done a lot other good things such as provision of more refuse bins to ensure that his constituency and the entire Aba – the commercial hub of Abia State is kept clean at all times, attraction of both federal and state government intervention in the gully erosion-ravaged areas at Ogbor Hill, Aba among others.
At the end of his superb presentation, he thanked HRM Eze Sylvanus Azu Ukaegbu Egege and the entire people of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom for finding Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu and his wife worthy of the honour.
Conferring the chieftaincy title of ‘Ugo Jere Mba 1’ of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom on Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu, HRM Eze Sylvanus Azu Ukaegbu Egege assisted by former chairman of Aba North Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Sunday Udodirim applauded him for his quality representation, commitment to the welfare of the people, development of the community and the entire Aba Central State Constituency.
He urged him not to relent in his good works and prayed God to continue to bless and protect him.
In his response, Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu thanked HRM Eze Sylvanus Azu Ukaegbu Egege and the entire people of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom for the great honour done him.
According to the elated legislator, the honour shows that he has been fully accepted in the community and he welcomed it with joy, humility and respect.
He appreciated all his constituents, party members, fellow lawmakers, friends and well-wishers for their overwhelming support.
He promised to do more than what he had done already in the community and beyond. He urged them to sustain their unalloyed support for Dr. Alex Chioma Otti’s quality administration of the state.
Hon. Ucheonye Stephen Akachukwu was accompanied to the occasion by a large entourage including Comrade Emeka Okeke, the Chairman, Ekeoha International Shopping Complex, Aba, Chief Alphonsus E. Udeigbo, the Chairman, Eziukwu Road Market, Aba/ASMATA President, Dr. Uchechukwu Anyanwu, the chairman, Ngwa Road Market, Aba, Hon. Prince Felix Chukwuemeka (Central Coordinator, Igwebuike Movement), Chief Iroegbu Ogbu (Chairman, Nsulu & Akwete, Etche, Dan Fodio and Mosque Market, Aba), Chief Sunday Anokwuru (chairman, Old Court Road Market, Aba), Okechukwu Onuh (Dutchman) among others.
In their separate speeches, the Traditional Prime Minister of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom, Chukwudi Ogbonna, the Palace Secretary, Chief Alozie Herbert and Hon. Godswill Ogbonnaya, the councillor representing Umuola Ward 8 described the Ogbor Unity Day Celebration as a welcome development aimed at promoting love, peace, unity and progress in the community and urged them to sustain it.
The event was a huge success. It featured a vibrant display of traditional dances, masquerades, local delicacies among others.
Notable personalities including Hon. Maxwell Nwadike, the Mayor of Obingwa LGA, former chairman, Aba North Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Sunday Udodirim, Barr. Geoffrey Ike (Nwaticha), Hon. Godswill Ogbonnaya (Councillor representing Umuola Ward 8), Hon. Obinna Egbulefu, Stanley Azuka, Hon. Chijioke Dick (MC of the day) among others graced the occasion.
In a chat with newsmen, the following personalities bared their minds on the event. Excerpts.
Hon. Chief Anaba Prince Ugwueze
(Eziukwu village head/Chairman, Planning Committee, Ogbor Unity Day Celebration 2025)
I am so happy today that we celebrated our cultural heritage, which has been in the cooler for some years now. It is very commendable and went beyond our expectations.
Before the coming of the white man to Nigeria, we had our culture, which we still celebrate till today.
Culture is a way of a people and I think we should sustain it so long as it is not fetish.
Hon. Obinna Egbulefu
I hail from Egbelu village, Ogbor Ancient Kingdom in Aba North LGA of Abia State. I am happy that we celebrated our cultural heritage today tagged, “Ogbor Unity Day Celebration 2025” after some years because of certain issues that cropped up in the community.
Ogbor Ancient Kingdom is a cosmopolitan community. Most times, people seem not to know that there are people that own the place. So the event is an avenue to show the world that the aborigines of Ogbor Ancient Kingdom have culture despite the rapid urbanization of the place.
Culture is a way of life of a people and when you fail to showcase your culture it would die, especially when you have a greater number of non-indigenes living in your community like ours.
So, we must not allow our culture to die because it is our identity and it says everything about us.
