By Uzo Ugwunze
After seven years of countless petitions, counter petitions, litigations and feuding among brothers, inlaws, friends and well wishers the Eagle or in this scenario Okpoko has finally landed as the people of Oba community, Idemili South LGA in Anambra State came out en masse to vote for Engr. Augustine Chinedu Emelobe as their traditional ruler and EzeOkpoko II.
March 15, 2025 has gone into the anals of history as a day when Oba people came together as brothers to dwell and speak in unity. What the devil intended to cost human life eventually ended amicable with almost every adult in town from all the kindreds that make up the Nine(9) villages eventually coming out to give their mandate to an Okuzu Oba born Engr A. C. Emelobe.
Moreover, the election process was hitch free because the only co contestant of the revered EzeOkpoko stool, Chief Barr. Sir Vincent Ananti (Ananepungwu Oba) withdrew from the race few days to the election and came in person at the election venue, Merchants of Light School Oba to declared that he was no longer contesting urging everyone present to vote for Chief Engr. A. C. Emelobe.
According to Ananti, Enough is Enough, I have been in the Igweship contest since 2021 and I am happy for what is happening today because my own people, my zone resolved to present one person being Chief Engr A. C. Emelobe and I stood by the decision of my zone for peace, progress, development and unity of Oba.We are all brothers. Let everyone vote for Engr Augustine. C. Emelobe.I congratulate him and we shall support him to move Oba forward.
However, the Returning Officer/Electoral Committee Chairman, Pastor Onochie Emekaekwue announced that Chief Engr. Augustine Chinedu Emelobe won the Igweship selection/election having polled 1,481 votes.
“Votes from the Nine villages include:: Urueze 48, Umuogali 344, Abime 21, Okuzu 395, Isu 203, Aboji 326, Ogboenwe 21, Ogwugwu 50, Ezele 73,” he stated.
In his acceptance speech, Igwe Elect and EzeOkpoko II, Engr. Augustine Chinedu Emelobe thanked everyone that contributed or participated in the Igweship selection/election process that saw his emergence as the Traditional Ruler of Oba begining from his immediate family, Oba people, Mayor of Idemili South Hon Amaka Obi, The Perm Sec Anambra State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Chief Nwabufor Nwankwo, and His Excellency Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
The Igwe elect who warned criminals and hoodlums engaged in illegal business to vacate Oba community within 48 hours pledged to abide by the constitution of Oba promising to foster peace, attract meaningful development to Oba community and create employment cum business opportunities for Oba youths and residents.
“Freedom has come to Oba! Today, you have chosen me yet again to be your Igwe and EzeOkpoko II. I am grateful to Almighty God. I appreciate everyone. I will protect and preserve the culture and traditions of our people. I will neither extort homage, demand tribute from any citizen of Oba nor use my position as Igwe to oppress, dispossess any Oba citizen of his property.
“Every criminal in Oba should vacate. Every trouble maker should vacate. If you are doing legitimate business we welcome you to Oba, if you are not doing legitimate business leave, prepare to pack out before Monday 6am,” said the monarch.
Earlier, the President General Oba Patriotic Union (OPU), Engr. Anthony Uzo Ejiofor thanked Oba people for deciding to forget their grievances and personal interests and to allow peace to reign as Oba people made their choice without fear or favor.
Also, OPU 2nd Vice President, Hon Ogonna Ndozie said that the emergence of Engr AC Emelobe as the Igwe EzeOkpoko II was an answer to seven years prayers from God. “It is well with Oba people. Igwe Emelobe is the choice of the people. He is a first class Igwe and has the capacity. Every evil person must start packing to leave Oba community tonight.
A major Oba Stakeholder and Leader of Thought, Elder Onyema Ugwunze stated: Glory be to God, Today everybody is a winner and victorious. Both of the qualified candidates are my brothers. It could have been a different story if not that one of them, Barr. Vincent Ananti said that Enough is Enough and came personally to declare his withdrawal from the contest.
“With Engr. A. C. Emelobe as Igwe EzeOkpoko II, a New Oba has come. Igwe Emelobe assisted by some good and beautiful minds we have both at home and in diaspora excelling in different fields of endeavors who are willing to show case Oba in the right perspective, Oba community is going to be a model that would beat our neighbors, Nnewi, Ichie, Ojoto. We are going to bring home what we have to develop and make Oba community a destination where people will come and emulate good things,” said Elder Ugwunze.
Contributing, Chief Barr. Sir Felix Uzor(Ichie Enyi II) said: “Oba is so blessed with so many qualified persons but it is only one of them is to be chosen for the position of the town’s new traditional ruler – Igwe and Ezeokpoko II. And that is what God today made possible and most successful. We did it most exemplary because we strictly followed the town’s Constitution as amended by the recent High Court consent Judgement. Emelobe is qualified all round and most importantly God fearing. He will carry all along for the overall interest and faster development of Oba”.
The Mayor, Idemili South Local Government Area, Hon Amaka Obi( Iyom Ifeabata Idemili), Hon Ikenna Iyiegbu,
Permanent Secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Nwabufor Nwankwo, Former Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Emeka Anyaenetu, Former Member Anambra State House of Assembly, Barr. Chuba Oranusi, Obosi Oba Chief Boniface Onyeka Okom II and Ichies and Chiefs, Oba Stakeholders both at home and in diaspora, the Police, DSS, Army, Operation Udo Ga-Achi, Vigilante were all present to observe and ensure that Oba community got it right this time since the election that held on 21st December 2024 was faulted by State actors.