Chief Obiefuna Leonard Onyekachi on 8th April 2018 wrote as seen below;
On this day 15 years ago, the pillar of peace and progress in Nnobi, Igwe #Ezeokoli II, joined his ancestors...
The commercial news commentary below was aired on Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) Radio & TV towards the end of his burial ceremonies that took place in December 2003. He will be forever missed!
THE LAST OFALA FESTIVAL OF IGWE EDMOND CHUKWUEMEKA EZEOKOLI THE SECOND OF NNOBI.
Few dates stand memorable in the contemporary history of Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra Stale. In chronological order, the second day of November 1912 heralded the arrival of an infant, Edmond Chukwuemeka Ezeokoli, to the family of Igwe Solomon Ezebube Ezeokoli, while the 30th day of July 1957 was the date of his installation as Igwe Nnobi to succeed his father.
Another date was 8th April, 2003 when at about 4:45 pm , the traditional ruler quietly and peacefully joined his ancestors at the age of ninety-one years. But the greatest was the 31st day of December 2003, when the royal father celebrated his last Ofala festival in his palace at Nnobi.
As the son of a well-informed paramount chief, Edmond had the opportunity to attend the best educational institutions available. After his primary education, he gained admission into Hope Waddel Training Institute Calabar. He was however withdrawn after the first year and sent to the famous Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha.
As a man of immense influence and authority, Edmond’s father, Igwe Solomon Ezeokoli, wanted his children to take part in national competitions. Young Edmond was therefore made to sit for a national competitive admission examination into King’s College Lagos after his second year at DMGS Onitsha. Having passed the examination, he was admitted to Kings College where he eventually completed his secondary education in flying colours.
Edmond began his public service career as a second-class clerk in the office of the Commissioner for Colonies, Lagos. With the formation of the Zikist Movement at that time, he was appointed secretary to the movement, an office that prepared him for higher responsibility. He was later appointed the first chairman, Local Education Authority, Asaba Divisional Council.
It is often said that great minds discuss events while small minds discuss personalities. The young Edmond, right from his childhood always discussed events that made history. He nursed the ambition of making history and worked hard to distinguish himself among his equals. With his enviable record in the public service, coupled with his exemplary military performance during the second world war which earned him the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Two), there was no doubt in the minds of all Nnobi indigenes that Edmond was a highly eligible candidate for the position of traditional ruler of Nnobi.
The demise of Igwe Solomon Ezeokoli paved way for the search for a worthy successor to the Igweship stool of Nnobi. Like the biblical King David, Edmond was sought out in the distant town of Agbor in the then Midwest in preference to his other brothers and was crowned Igwe Nnobi on July 30, 1957 at the age of forty-five.
Igwe Edmond Ezeokoli the Second distinguished himself as a royal father soon after installation by being appointed chairman Idemili Traditional Rulers Council and member of the Anambra State Council of Chiefs.
In recognition of his vast knowledge of igbo customs and tradition, the old Anambra State Government appointed him a member of the State Customary Law Manual Drafting Committee in 1977. In the same year, he was appointed President of Nnobi Customary Court.
His long reign as Igwe Nnobi witnessed giant strides in community development culminating in the establishment of two secondary schools, a modern market, a post office, a general hospital and a magistrate court. He was also credited with the successful abolition of the Osu caste system in Nnobi in 1971 and the reconciliation of all warring factions in the town to achieve lasting peace after six years of turbulent communal crisis.
It is worthy of note that Igwe Ezeokoli was a traditional ruler of immense reputation and also a courageous soldier of Christ. He was a devout Christian who worked tirelessly in the Lord’s vineyard as an organist at Saint Simon’s Anglican Church Nnobi and the moving force behind the elevation of Nnobi parish to an Archdeaconry headquarters.
The departed traditional ruler was diocesan merit award winner, a recipient of many other awards and a member of many professional bodies.
This giant, hero and soldier has translated into eternal glory. Fare thee well, Igwe.
#IgweNnobi #IgweEzeokoli
(ONYEKACHI OBIEFUNA).
Source: Facebook.
The commercial news commentary below was aired on Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) Radio & TV towards the end of his burial ceremonies that took place in December 2003. He will be forever missed!
THE LAST OFALA FESTIVAL OF IGWE EDMOND CHUKWUEMEKA EZEOKOLI THE SECOND OF NNOBI.
Few dates stand memorable in the contemporary history of Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra Stale. In chronological order, the second day of November 1912 heralded the arrival of an infant, Edmond Chukwuemeka Ezeokoli, to the family of Igwe Solomon Ezebube Ezeokoli, while the 30th day of July 1957 was the date of his installation as Igwe Nnobi to succeed his father.
Another date was 8th April, 2003 when at about 4:45 pm , the traditional ruler quietly and peacefully joined his ancestors at the age of ninety-one years. But the greatest was the 31st day of December 2003, when the royal father celebrated his last Ofala festival in his palace at Nnobi.
As the son of a well-informed paramount chief, Edmond had the opportunity to attend the best educational institutions available. After his primary education, he gained admission into Hope Waddel Training Institute Calabar. He was however withdrawn after the first year and sent to the famous Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) Onitsha.
As a man of immense influence and authority, Edmond’s father, Igwe Solomon Ezeokoli, wanted his children to take part in national competitions. Young Edmond was therefore made to sit for a national competitive admission examination into King’s College Lagos after his second year at DMGS Onitsha. Having passed the examination, he was admitted to Kings College where he eventually completed his secondary education in flying colours.
Edmond began his public service career as a second-class clerk in the office of the Commissioner for Colonies, Lagos. With the formation of the Zikist Movement at that time, he was appointed secretary to the movement, an office that prepared him for higher responsibility. He was later appointed the first chairman, Local Education Authority, Asaba Divisional Council.
It is often said that great minds discuss events while small minds discuss personalities. The young Edmond, right from his childhood always discussed events that made history. He nursed the ambition of making history and worked hard to distinguish himself among his equals. With his enviable record in the public service, coupled with his exemplary military performance during the second world war which earned him the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Two), there was no doubt in the minds of all Nnobi indigenes that Edmond was a highly eligible candidate for the position of traditional ruler of Nnobi.
The demise of Igwe Solomon Ezeokoli paved way for the search for a worthy successor to the Igweship stool of Nnobi. Like the biblical King David, Edmond was sought out in the distant town of Agbor in the then Midwest in preference to his other brothers and was crowned Igwe Nnobi on July 30, 1957 at the age of forty-five.
Igwe Edmond Ezeokoli the Second distinguished himself as a royal father soon after installation by being appointed chairman Idemili Traditional Rulers Council and member of the Anambra State Council of Chiefs.
In recognition of his vast knowledge of igbo customs and tradition, the old Anambra State Government appointed him a member of the State Customary Law Manual Drafting Committee in 1977. In the same year, he was appointed President of Nnobi Customary Court.
His long reign as Igwe Nnobi witnessed giant strides in community development culminating in the establishment of two secondary schools, a modern market, a post office, a general hospital and a magistrate court. He was also credited with the successful abolition of the Osu caste system in Nnobi in 1971 and the reconciliation of all warring factions in the town to achieve lasting peace after six years of turbulent communal crisis.
It is worthy of note that Igwe Ezeokoli was a traditional ruler of immense reputation and also a courageous soldier of Christ. He was a devout Christian who worked tirelessly in the Lord’s vineyard as an organist at Saint Simon’s Anglican Church Nnobi and the moving force behind the elevation of Nnobi parish to an Archdeaconry headquarters.
The departed traditional ruler was diocesan merit award winner, a recipient of many other awards and a member of many professional bodies.
This giant, hero and soldier has translated into eternal glory. Fare thee well, Igwe.
#IgweNnobi #IgweEzeokoli
(ONYEKACHI OBIEFUNA).
Source: Facebook.
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