We’ll Work with Traditional Rulers in Umuopara
– Chief Dr. Smart Nwokorie (Eziokwu bu Ndu)
The new executive chairman of Umuopara Council of Chiefs, Chief Dr. Smart Onyekachi Nwokorie (Eziokwu bu Ndu) says that his administration would work with all the traditional rulers in Umuopara to achieve set goals.
He disclosed this as part of his agenda in a chat with newsmen after his historic swearing-in as the first elected chairman of Umuopara Council of Chiefs in Umuahia South local government area of Abia State.
According to the renowned Pillar of Culture in Abia State, quintessential educationist and philanthropist extraordinaire his emergence is divine and a call to serve.
He appreciated all for their overwhelming support and promised not to disappoint them.
He likened the relationship between traditional rulers and chiefs to that of father and son stressing that they would work with them for the betterment of the people.
He described chiefs as the royal strength of traditional rulers and appealed to the traditional rulers of Umuopara to carefully scrutinize the profile or scorecard of those they want to confer chieftaincy titles on stressing that not all of them are eminently qualified or have the capacity or integrity to receive chieftaincy titles.
He averred that there should be parameters for conferment of chieftaincy titles on individuals in Umuopara.
According to him, chieftaincy is an institution of honour, integrity and high moral standards and should not be allowed to fall into disrepute.
He maintained that the traditional institution is an exalted office and appealed to traditional rulers to be going out with members of their cabinet during official assignments so that people would appreciate the dignity and splendour of the traditional stool.
He expressed profound gratitude to HRM Eze Engr. Wisdom Ekueku, the traditional ruler of Dim na Opara autonomous community, Chairman, Umuopara Council of Traditional Rulers and Vice Chairman, Umuahia South Council of Traditional Rulers for his immense support towards their successful inauguration as well as royal blessings.
He promised that he would remain loyal to all the traditional rulers in Umuopara and discharge his duties creditably for the betterment of the people. Excerpts.
Can you tell us briefly about yourself?
I am Chief Dr. Smart Onyekachi Nwokorie (Eziokwu bu Ndu). I hail from Dim na Opara autonomous community, Ogbodiukwu Umuopara in Umuahia South local government area of Abia State. I am the Proprietor of Standard Group of Schools and the progenitor of Super New Yam Festival in Igbo Land. I am the Pillar of Culture in Abia State. I have served my community in various capacities. I am also the patron of so many age grades in Ogbodiukwu Umuopara before my emergence as the first elected chairman of Umuopara Council of Chiefs. In terms of human capital development, I have also made significant contributions to the betterment of the people. I have awarded scholarships to many indigent students across the length and breadth of Umuahia. During COVID-19 pandemic, I doled out the sum of N5.4million Palliative Intervention Fund for Students’ School Fees. I have empowered widows in my community and also raised N20million for fifty farmers.
How would you describe the relationship between traditional rulers and chiefs in Umuopara?
As far as traditional rulership is concerned, there is no need emphasizing the fact that traditional rulers confer chieftaincy titles on well-deserving individuals. There is no chief in Igbo Land that became a chief of his own accord. A traditional ruler is the one that confers chieftaincy titles on well-deserving individuals. So what it simply means is that traditional rulers are royal fathers while chiefs are their royal strength. By virtue of that there should be a synergy between traditional rulers and chiefs. There should be a mutualistic or inseparable relationship between traditional rulers and chiefs. In essence, a traditional ruler should be proud of chiefs because chiefs make up his cabinet. Traditional Rulers are custodians of culture while chiefs help them to sustain it because if traditional rulers are left to do it alone they would definitely be overwhelmed. So they need people that would help them to sustain our culture and that is why I said that a traditional ruler cannot do without chiefs. So also chiefs cannot do without traditional rulers because it is like father-son relationship and father-son relationship is very strong. As a matter of fact, I want to use this opportunity to thank HRM Eze Engr. Wisdom Ekueku, the traditional ruler of Dim na Opara autonomous community, Chairman, Umuopara Council of Traditional Rulers and Vice Chairman, Umuahia South Council of Traditional Rulers for his royal understanding and blessings. Even though he was not around during our inauguration as the new executive of Umuopara Council of Chiefs but he did something far better than those who were around. In fact, if he could do that while he was away, I wonder what he would have done if he was around. His network is second to none. He sent high-powered delegation of notable traditional rulers to represent him during our inauguration. One of them represented him as chairman and the other as secretary. What it simply means is that the entire Umuopara Council of Traditional Rulers is solidly behind us. So I want to thank him immensely for his support and royal blessings. I urge him to continue to support us and I assure him that we would be closer to him this time so that at the end of the day, his palace would be culturally rooted, busy and alive. And as long as it is culturally fortified, definitely government would understand that he is truly a custodian of culture.
What is your immediate plan for Umuopara Council of Chiefs?
Well, as a way of restoring the dignity of chieftaincy in Umuopara clan, myself and the entire executive would embark on familiarization visit to all the traditional rulers in Umuopara as a way of strengthening the synergy between us starting from Saturday, February 24, 2024.
