Peace Returns to Nnentu Ngwa at Last
The people of Nnentu Ngwa in Okporoenyi-Ohazu autonomous community, Aba South local government area of Abia State have every reason to jubilate as they celebrated their unification in grand style after being apart for so many years.
The epoch-making occasion held at the newly-renovated Nnentu Ngwa Town Hall on Wednesday 9, 2024 under the distinguished chairmanship of one of their illustrious sons, Prince Akobundu Adiele.
The momentous occasion was also used to open the newly renovated ultra-modern Nnentu Ngwa Town Hall executed single-handedly by Prince Akobundu Adiele as well as the inauguration of members of the community council.
The occasion was well-attended by the people of Nnentu Ngwa both at home and in the Diaspora including the Special Guest of Honour, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa, the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly and his beautiful wife, Uchechi as well as other notable personalities from far and near.
The occasion commenced with an opening prayer by Joseph Ugboaja followed by presentation of kola nut.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion expressed profound gratitude to God for bringing them together again as one after so many years of bickering and disunity.
The renowned US-based business mogul commended the people for their decision to bury the hatchet and embrace peace after a very long time.
He disclosed that he was motivated to renovate the council hall as a way of giving back to the community adding that the befitting edifice would serve as a rendezvous for the people and continue to remain a symbol of their unity.
He emphasized that the restoration of peace in Nnentu would heal past wounds and accelerate development of the community and urged the people to join hands together in moving Nnentu to greater height.
He promised to sustain his philanthropic gestures in the community by giving scholarship awards to the people as well as building an ICT centre to ensure that youths of the community are computer literate so as to compete with others anywhere in the world.
Prince Akobundu Adiele called for the revival of their rich cultural heritage such as Ikoro dance, Ekpe, Okonko, wrestling competitions among others, which they are known for now they have come together so that their children, especially those residing abroad would know and appreciate their culture.
In his speech, the Special Guest of Honour, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa, an illustrious son of Nnentu Ngwa thanked God for what He has done for them and appreciated the people for coming together again after so many years of imbroglio.
He said that Nnentu Ngwa is a great community in Abia State adding that if East and West Germany reunited after so many years of separation because of World War 11 why would the people of Nnentu not reunite.
He appreciated all those who brokered peace, which eventually culminated in their reunion for their love and colossal sacrifice assuring that now that peace has been restored in the the community that they would join hands together to take Nnentu Ngwa to greater height.
In his address, the chairman of the planning committee, Hon. Chukwudi Dike, former TC Chairman of Aba South local area of Abia State expressed great happiness on the return of peace to their community-Nnentu after so many years of dispute.
He described the people as unique and peace-loving and commended them for controlling themselves and law-abiding while the problem lasted.
He extolled Prince Akobundu Adiele for his love and unprecedented generosity and urged other well-to-do sons and daughters of Nnentu Ngwa to emulate his uncommon gesture.
He disclosed that the Nnentu Ngwa Town Hall, which he renovated single-handedly would serve as a rallying point in the community.
He described it as a symbolic pillar of unification for the people of Nnentu adding that it would ever remain indelible in the annals of Nnentu.
Thereafter, members of the community council including the woman leader, Lolo Catherine Ihemeje were duly inaugurated by Prof. Solomon Iheonunnekwu.
He charged them to exhibit high sense of patriotism, professionalism and dedication in the discharge of their duty in order to achieve desired objectives.
Some of those inaugurated include Amaechi Egbulefu (chairman), Ubani Azu, Emeka Ogbonna, John Okezie, Emmanuel Ukaegbu among others.
In his acceptance speech, Amaechi Egbulefu thanked the people for choosing them to serve the community and promised not to disappoint the confidence reposed in them.
He described the return of peace to Nnentu Ngwa as a thing of joy adding that it would bring progress in the area.
On her part, the woman leader, Lolo Caroline Ihemeje thanked the people for finding her worthy to serve the community and assured them that they would work very hard to move the committee to the next level..
Highlights of the ceremony were the cutting of tape of the ultra-modern Nnentu Ngwa Town Hall by the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa, distribution of wrappers to Nnentu women by his beautiful wife, Mrs. Uchechi Emeruwa, distribution of palliative (rice), Ikoro Dance among others.
There was great merriment at the end and the people ate and drank to their satisfaction.
The unification ceremony climaxed with grand finale of the soccer tournament between Eziukwu Nnentu-the Speaker’s village and Okpuala Nnentu.
Eziukwu Nnentu won at the end of the gruelling encounter and smiled home with the much-coveted trophy.
In his speech, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa promised to build a mini-stadium in the community as part of his contribution to sports development in the state as well as organizing a football competition in all the constituencies in Abia South.
The ceremony was a huge success and attracted the presence of so many notable personalities including Paul Emeruwa, His Honour, Chief Gabriel Nwaobilor, Chief Peter Nwankama and his wife, Lolo Evelyn Nwankama (former education secretary of Aba South LGEA), Comrade Joseph Ugboaja, Elder Bekee Nkoro, Chief Okpulor Onyembi, Chief Pius Ezere, HRH Eze Franklin Nwosu among others.
In a chat with Jideofor Ugwanyi, Signal Publisher, His Honour, Chief Gabriel Nwaobilor expressed great delight on the return of peace to their community adding that there is no victor, no vanquished.
He extolled Prince Akobundu Adiele for his unprecedented magnanimity adding that the Nnentu Ngwa Town Hall, which he renovated single-handedly would remain an unforgettable milestone in Nnentu.
He wished him well in all his endeavours and prayed God to continue to bless and protect him wherever he may be.
He also eulogized the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa for his pivotal role in restoring peace in Nnentu and so many other good things he has done in the community and Abia State at large stressing that with the return of peace, Nnentu would begin to witness so many good things henceforth.
He prayed God to bless him and grant him more wisdom as he pilots the affairs of Abia State House of Assembly to greater height.
On his part, Ubani Azu, the Chief Commander, Community Policing in Okporoenyi-Ohazu and President, Council of Community Youths, Aba South thanked God for restoring peace in Nnentu after so many years.
He assured the people that Nnentu is on course for greatness with the attainment of peace and urged all hands to be on deck so as to fill the vacuum created by the long years of disunity.
He commended Prince Akobundu Adiele for renovating their Hall single-handedly and prayed God to bless him more and more.
He appreciated Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa, the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly for his giant strides in Nnentu and the state at large and prayed God to give him more wisdom to discharge his duties creditably.
We thank God for our Unification
-Hon. Chukwudi Dike
(Chairman, Planning Committee/former TC Chairman, Aba South LGA)
The grand opening of the newly-renovated Nnentu Ngwa Town Hall is now the talk of the town.
In this chat with Jideofor Ugwanyi, Hon. Chukwudi Dike, former TC Chairman of Aba South local government area and chairman of the planning committee bared his mind on their unification ceremony, the befitting edifice renovated by Prince Akobundu Adiele and other sundry issues. Excerpts.
Sir, let us meet you.
I am Hon. Chukwudi Dike, former TC Chairman of Aba South local government area and the chairman, planning committee of today’s epoch-making occasion.
Can you tell us why you are so happy today?
For a very long time now, there had been serious misunderstanding in our community. So today, the commissioning of Nnentu Ngwa Town Hall renovated by our brother, Prince Akobundu Adiele has brought all of us together as one family as we used to be. So we are happy that we have reconciled among ourselves and we have decided to be on one page in anything that is happening in our community henceforth. We also inaugurated members of our community council today. So the entire people of Nnentu are here today for the purpose of commissioning Nnentu Ngwa Town Hall and unification of all the members of the six villages in Nnentu.
What are your best wishes for him?
Our prayer for our brother, Prince Akobundu Adiele who renovated our town hall is that God would replenish his pocket and bless him more and more. As you can see this is not a small project. Millions of naira have been spent. And from what we read from the Bible we are aware that givers do not lack. For the fact that he has done this today coupled with the fact that he has been doing it over the years I am sure that he would never lack. So we wish him well and our prayer for him is that God will continue to protect him and his family and also give him the mind to do more for us. We are indeed happy and proud of him.
What is your charge to members of the community council inaugurated today?
Yes, my charge to them is very, very simple. They say to whom much is given much is also expected. We entrust everything including the peace we have made today and the administration of our community into their hand. The Bible says that when the righteous are on the throne the people rejoice. My prayer is that God will give them understanding, wisdom and the enablement to carry out the affairs of the community with the fear of God.
How do you feel that the Number Three citizen of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa hails from the same community with you?
We are happy and he equally contributed to the reconciliation we have just achieved. Our prayer for him is that God will continue to guide him as he occupies that exalted position and grant him more wisdom on the best way to pilot the affairs of Abia State House of Assembly and relate well with his colleagues because without unity you can hardly achieve success anywhere. So we wish our brother and the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa well and pray that God will grant him all the desires of his heart.
