Less than three years after the historic coronation of Eze (Prince) Uche Umejuru as the Eze Okwu-Onu-Ka-Oha of Idu Ogba, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, the princely king has counted and named his blessings, and like the proverbial lizard, nods happily and says his successes came from God.
Speaking in an interview with National Network at his palace in Idu Obosiukwu community on Saturday, the royal father said all glories must go to the almighty God whose grace, fuelled by consistent praying and fasting changed the fortunes of the once volatile community where he now superintended.
He emphasized that although he sits on his throne as the custodian of the customs and traditions of the people, he remained unwavering in his faith as Christian, holding firm to the belief that all powers come from God and only in pleasing him will he succeed as a ruler.
“For these few years of my reign, I have deployed the spiritual elements of prayer and fasting and being fair to every member of Idu-Ogba Community irrespective of economic and social status; religious or family background. And to the glory of God, He has rewarded me with peace and tranquility in the community”, he said.
“For over 20 years, the entire Idu Community has been bedeviled by a lingering chieftaincy and communal crisis which robbed it of the annual celebration of the Igbogwe Festival and the normal traditional wrestling competitions used to end the festivities.
“But to the glory of God, all the communities came together and on the 18th and 19th of October, 2018, the Igbogwe festival was celebrated and capped with the usual traditional wrestling competition”, he said, adding that the community also leveraged on the new peace amongst all communities to organize a football contest which was won by Umuenyike Family kindred.
The traditional ruler, an ardent footballer in his hey-day, said the football contest was used to test the unity in the communities, adding that a major football tournament would take place in December with mouth-watering prizes to be received by winner, second and third-placed.
Eze Umejuru said that another milestone in his achievements list lie in the fact that all 13 communities that constitute Idu Ogba have become more united than they were when he assumed the throne, adding that these communities have been given certificate of recognition by the State Ministry of Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, with four additional communities also recognized and certificated as affiliates.
