Obiano’s glorious homecoming

When on March 17 last year, their son was sworn in as the governor of Anambra State, the people of Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area were excited and have since been looking for an auspicious time to celebrate him. And they found one on the last Easter Monday when they returned from far and near to celebrate their warrior and pride, Governor Willie Maduabuchukwu Obiano (Akpokuedike Aguleri).

On that day, the joy of the people knew no bound as they came out in their best cultural troupes, jubilating and dancing round the town.
The carnival-like event saw the three quarters of Aguleri- Ivite, Igboezunu and Ugwunadegbe- in their best dances just as the Tiv community also added colour to the day with their cultural dance.
The Aguleri people used the occasion to showcase their age-long tradition of an organized community as the people sat according to their groups and in their beautiful attire with the Uvio dance played and danced by only titled men adding glamour to the ceremony.
The entrance of Governor Obiano and his wife, Ebelechukwu, who happened to be the first and only female member of the revered Aguleri Royal Cabinet was heralded with 21 gunshot salute which followed an electrified noise as the people hailed the governor.
The event which opened with an inter-denominational thanksgiving service, had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke and his wife; state commissioners and advisers; local government chairmen and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftains and the Anglican Bishop of Afikpo Diocese and a native of Aguleri, Rt. Rev. Paul Udogu, who delivered the sermon.
Bishop Udogu likened Obiano to the biblical David who was not in the list of prophets for kingship of Israel but was God’s choice hence he was sought from where he was in the bush tending his father’s flock and was anointed king.
He noted that Obiano was not in the list of those considered for the governorship of the state by APGA or any other party but because he was God’s choice for Anambra State, he was invited from abroad where he was residing to come and salvage the state.
He said that in facing the challenge of his office, Obiano like David has to first of all take care of the worst enemy of the state and by God’s grace has now killed the Goliath of insecurity in the state.
Describing Aguleri as a blessed community, the bishop went down memory lane to show how the community has become a pilgrimage for both religious and cultural matters, giving example of the late Rev. Fr. Iwene Tansi who would be the first African that would be proclaimed a Saint. Udogu said the blessing of producing a governor has put upon Aguleri some challenges which include living entirely for God, saying no to crisis, wars and idolatry and to be united...post by expdonaloaded.blogspot.com
He urged them to realize that Obiano was the governor of Anambra State and not Aguleri, saying they should pray and support his administration.
He also urged the state to behold their God-given governor, hear him and follow his leadership while advising Obiano to trust in God always and keep his eyes on the ball.
Earlier in his address, the President General of Aguleri Community Assembly, Chinyelugo Mike Ejoh, said the people of Aguleri were happy and proud of their son for doing a wonderful work in the state.
He said: “In your inaugural speech of 17th March, 2014, you promised Ndi-Anambra that besides launching Anambra into an enviable economic phase through the development pillars of aggressive mechanized agriculture, oil and gas, trade and commerce and industrialisation, you will ‘re-design and remodel Awka to meet the structural and aesthetic requirements of a 21st Century city’ as well as implement the master plans for Onitsha and Nnewi.
“It is indisputable that you have substantially fulfilled this promise and crowned it up with fool-proof security arrangements that instantly checkmate the essence of hoodlums, armed robbers and kidnappers in the state.”
Ejoh reeled out numerous achievements of the governor in one year in office and noted that it was for that reason that the Aguleri people decided to organize the reception in his honour as a way of appreciating his good work and to remind him that they were solidly behind him.
Obiano who had years back been conferred with the title of Akpokuedike Aguleri was decorated with a staff of consolidation which he promised to hold firmly for Aguleri and the entire Anambra State.
Governor Obiano who was given the symbol of authority of the land (Ofor) by the first son (Diokpala Aguleri) promised to raise his community and neighbouring communities up like cities abroad within eight years.
“I thank all of you and promise you my people of Aguleri and our neighbours Umuleri and Anam that, I will make all these places before eight years to look like cities abroad,” he said.
Obiano later told newsmen that the honour from his kinsmen had re-energized him to face his duties with more vigour, stressing that having the assurance of his people that they were behind him was the tonic he needed to put the state in the map of the best states in the country.
Speaking to Oriental News, the traditional ruler of Aguleri, His Royal Highness Eze Christopher Idigo, said the election of Obiano re-enacted the irrepressible spirit of oneness and togetherness of the people of Aguleri in pursuit of a common worthy goal, irrespective of political or any other differences just as his victory at the polls engendered a strong sense of fulfillment in the people of the community.
The traditional ruler of Nteje, Igwe Rowland Odegbo, described it as worthy, noting that by being recognized and received by his people it has further shown that the governor is a worthy son and that he was doing very well in the governance of the state.