Despite all the threats by some persons in the community against the Installation/ Coronation of HRH Eze Christian Amadi Evekwuru (JP) as the Paramount Ruler of Rumuekpe Clan in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, the community went ahead and successfully organized a ceremony over the weekend to consolidate the historic event held over two months ago.
Speaking at the occasion which was graced by many dignitaries from all works of life, the council chairman, Hon. Chidi Julius Lloyd congratulated the clan for eventually installing a king to pilot their affairs, adding that the development has indeed denied them of certain opportunities.
Represented by his Vice, M/s Edna Nyeche, the chairman made it known that peace is a panacea to development and appealed to the stakeholders to join forces with the Paramount Ruler to move the clan forward.
The chairman of the occasion, HRH (Eze) Hon. Damian Ejiohuo, Esq, Nenwe Eli Rundele XII/Eze Rundele N’Ogbo II in his opening remarks commended the community for successfully electing and coronating a Paramount Ruler without any rancour. He recalled that the ancient community is significant to the development of the country as the second largest area housing oil wells but lamented its backwardness and under development due to disunity, self inflicted crisis and neglect.
The monarch used the opportunity to urge the Federal Government to have a synergy with the oil companies operating in the area to develop the community to her deserved status. He further advised those who are still kicking against the choice of the king to sheathe their swords and support him as there must only be one Paramount Ruler at a time, adding that with the support of everybody, the clan will cover lost grounds faster.
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of the Celebration Planning Committee, Comrade Onwuchekwa Thompson expressed the gratitude of the communities to the natural elders in council/kingmakers, the chief priest of Ogbakiri Eze and his team for their sincerity and sense of patriotism for pains-takingly finding HRH Eze Christian Amadi Evekwuru worthy, a man it noted, was generally accepted by the people of Rumuekpe Clan.
Represented by the Committee’s Secretary, Hon. Reason Wegbo, the committee noted that despite the efforts of some persons to induce and influence the decision of the king makers, they stood their grounds, stressing that posterity will be kind to all of them for being part of the process to install an acceptable leader who has a zero tolerance to embezzlement and corruption for the clan.
He used the opportunity to appeal to the royal father and Eze Chigwu Rumuekpe Clan to use his highly respected office and dignified personality to promote peace, unity and love in the clan.
In the citation read, HRH Eze Evekwuru was said to have retired as Chief Works Superintendent with professional certificates from courses/trainings.
He is a family man with three wives, six children and grand-children. He has many awards to his credit in recognition of his philanthropic and community contributions in the society.
The committee recalled that “as a young man whose parents were not financially stable, life itself was not a bed of roses, but today by the grace of God, Eze Evekwuru has been able to change the narrative of his family from where he started”, they said.
They further stated that in his effort to ensure that peace returns to Rumuekpe Clan after the crisis that ravaged the clan, the king was kidnapped on December 10, 2012 and was kept in the den of the kidnappers for thirty four days.
The youth leader, Godspower Odua and the Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman, Mr. Gospel Ebe in their respective interviews expressed happiness for the development and promised to mobilize support for the new king to succeed in the onerous task ahead.
The councillor representing Ward 8 in Emohua Legislative Assembly, Hon. Bright Obilor who led his colleagues to grace the occasion confirmed that the event has the backing of the government, adding that they will do all within their powers to ensure that the clan takes its rightful position in the comity of clans.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Rumuji Police Station, DSP Joseph promised maximum security in the area and urged the citizens on their part to cooperate with the police by supplying useful information to them for necessary action.
In a chat with newsmen at the Supreme Shrine of Ogbakiri Eze venue of the event, HRH Eze Evekwuru promised to reconcile all the aggrieved persons in course of his coronation, adding that every hands should be on deck to move the clan forward.
“All aggrieved persons should sheathe their swords, return home and join forces with us to move Rumuekpe forward. We have lost plenty opportunities already as a result of our crisis which also contributed to the long absence of a Paramount Ruler in the Clan.
My priority now is reconciliation, security of lives and property as well as development of the clan”, he declared.
