Governor Francis Nwifuru's father, Chief Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwankpu yesterday was coronated as the traditional ruler of Oferekpe Agbaja Autonomous Community.
Eze Nwankpu, according to one of his sons, Felix Nwifuru, is an Ebonyi-born farmer who married 19 wives but only lives with 17 of them and 108 children today.
Nwankpu's community comprised 17 villages decorated him as the Chibu-Ugo 1 of Oferekpe Agbaja Autonomous Community.
He was presented to the Oferekpe Agbaja people by their community town union leadership before his decoration as a monarch.
The event took place at Oferekpe Agbaja Primary School II in the Izzi local government area of the state.
Speaking during the occasion, the state Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, described his father as a hard-working man, noting that he got married to over 30 wives, but some of them were delisted because they could not bear any child in the family.
Governor Nwifuru said his father was once humiliated by his relatives, neighborhoods, and the entire community as he was excelling above his equals.
This, according to the governor, earned his father loneliness till he began to marry wives, to be his companions and helping hands in pursuit of his dreams.
He described his father as a hospitable man who loves his wives, children, relatives, and neighbors, adding that currently, 21 out of his children have become graduates.
The governor advised his father as he ascended the royal stool, to be generous with his subjects, ensuring peace and unity in the community.
He presented a certificate and staff of office to Eze Nwankpu, saying the presentation was done in line with the Law establishing Ebonyi State Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Cap 146.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Godwin Ogbaga, described the installation of Nwifuru Nwankpu as the traditional ruler of the community as most commendable in considering his contributions to societal development, particularly in the Izhi clan.
Ogbaga, the former Nigerian Minister, said the credit for Eze Nwankpu's coronation goes to his son, who is currently the state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, whom he said had created an enabling environment for the exercise by signing into law the document creating the communities as demanded and approved.
"His Excellency encouraged the communities to take necessary steps and to select suitably qualified persons as their traditional rulers. It is common knowledge that the community took necessary steps as advised and unanimously selected a man of great traditional experience, a man of honor and integrity, and a man that possesses an outstanding spirit of accommodation of people and anointed for the coronation," he said.
Ogbaga commended the decision of the Oferkpe Agbaja community to select Nwankpu to be their monarch.
He noted that traditional rulers are not political appointees and would hold their positions for life, as the custodian of customs and traditions. He affirmed that Nwankpu possessed good qualities to be a monarch and encouraged him to continue with his peaceful disposition while on the throne to foster rapid development in his community.
