Infrastructural Development: Enugu Monarch, Igwe Okwesili Makes Case For Udi North As He Holds First Ofala
The Traditional Ruler of Ibute Egede Community in Udi LGA; Igwe Dr. Peter Okwesili has urged the Enugu state government to extend more development projects to Udi North in its quest to spread infrastructural developments across the state. The royal father made this known to newsmen during the celebration of his first Ofala Festival. Igwe Okwesili maintained that Gov. Ugwuanyi can commence with assisting the community in asphalting the graded Egede roads.
The Ofala which took place in an electric atmosphere and presence of several dignitaries was to honour the community’s monarch; His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr. Peter Ikenna Okwesili, a seasoned leader who has contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of his people.
It was a time to celebrate the heroics of an exemplary leader. As the revered monarch, the ‘Mmilinezolu oha’ 1 of Ibute-Egede stepped out with his lovely wife, Lolo Jacinta Okwesili, clad in flamboyant royal attires, the atmosphere was heavy with cheers of ‘Igwe’ from the excited crowd.
The Ibute-Egede royal head has had a fair share of academic and professional accomplishments. For instance, the monarch has numerous Masters’ degrees and a doctorate degree from different institutions in Nigeria and America. Some of the foreign institutions attended by the Monarch include Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Boston, USA; Suffolk University, Boston and University of Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a Pharmacist by training, Igwe Okwesili has had a work experience stretching to over 37 years from 1984 till date in USA. He is also a member of numerous professional and religious bodies, both in USA and in Nigeria. He is happily married with four enterprising children – two males and two females – who are all medical practitioners, apart from Ikenna Okwesili, the first son, who treaded his father’s footpath in Pharmacy.
Beyond the Ofala festival, Igwe Pharmacist Okwesili also used the occasion to bestow Chieftaincy titles and awards to deserving individuals who have made landmark contributions to the development of the community and state.
In his address during the occasion, the royal father thanked Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state for the love he has for the community which was clearly demonstrated when the governor yielded to the community’s quest for an autonomy culminating in Okwesili’s emergence as the first traditional ruler of the community.
In an apparent show of love and support for the Monarch, various groups, associates and private individuals – who had benefited from the monarch’s philanthropic gesture – presented various gift items to Igwe Okwesili. There was an avalanche of gifts! Some of the gift items included cows, rams, brands of drinks among numerous others.
The royal father said his greatest happiness was that the Ofala festival went without trouble stressing that everybody was happy. Igwe Okwesili took time to appreciate numerous guests who he said deferred others engagements to grace the occasion and prayed God to grant them safe trips to their various destinations. He equally commended security agencies for ensuring security during the event.
He urged political leaders, particularly in Enugu state and his community, to ensure that they invest funds in community development when they receive such allocations assuring that the act would move the community forward. He added that those in government positions ought to remember his relations and the needy in the society.
On his secret of success, Igwe Okwesili hinted that God had been with him attributing his success stories to the fact that he had kept himself away from evil. He said he had not asked anybody to follow the path of evil but has always helped many people who have even travelled abroad. The monarch said some of the people he helped to travel abroad sent live cows to support him in the Ofala festival.
He, however, urged community members to imbibe the virtue of patience and desist from making hasty remarks especially against developmental plans and decisions.
The royal father challenged the Chieftaincy Title and Award recipients to use the crown and recognitions accorded them to drive the needed change especially in other communities and endeavor to assist people in need.
Speaking with journalists, a former Accountant-general of Enugu state, Hon. Chief Dr. Paschal Okolie, who received the chieftaincy title of ‘Nwanne Di Mba’ of Ibute-Egede community along with his wife; Lady Stella Okolie who received the Chieftaincy Title of Ugo di na Mba of Ibute Egede Community, also thanked the monarch for holding his first Ofala festival. He further urged the people of Ibute Egede to give their maximum support to Igwe Okwesili so as to encourage him to do more for them. Dr. Okolie who is presently the Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Financial Matters stated his commitment to the development of Ibute Egede Community in any way he could owing to the Chieftaincy title bestowed on him.
In his goodwill message, a lawmaker representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dennis Amadi eulogized Igwe Okwesili for his numerous accomplishments in the community.
Other dignitaries who attended the event include the former Deputy Senate President of Nigeria and current senator representing Enugu west Senatorial district, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, several traditional rulers, clergies, past and serving commissioners in the state among others.