By Martin Opara
Eze Engr. (Dr) Franklyn Akakuru-Dabrinze (KSC) Duruaku IV of Uzoagba Ancient Kingdom, who was recently given a staff of office by the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, will be coronated on Friday 29th December 2017. The event which will commence with a church service at St. Andrew Anglican Church, Uzoagba, by 10:00am will hold under the distinguished chairmanship of Hon. Dr. Gab Onyekuru.
According to information on the invitation card, special guests of honour at the occasion are Senator Sam Daddy Anyanwu, representing Owerri senatorial zone, in the red chambers of the national assembly, the member representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Henry Nwawuba and Hon. Ifeanyi Opara (IFECO) MD/CEO of Titanic View Hotel group.
Other guests of honour expected at the occasion, include Major Gen. Owuama (Rtd), Hon. Dr. Joe Obi Njoku, former Imo State Commissioner for Health, Hon. Engr. George Irechukwu, Hon. Prince Charles Amadi (CHARLVOW) Hon. Barr. Teddy Oguwuike (PhD) member, representing Ikeduru state constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly and Hon. (Engr.) O. Nsirim, former T.C. Chairman of Ikeduru Local Government Area and one time Commissioner for Information in the state, while the mothers of the day are Evangelist (Mrs.) Evelyn Joshua, wife of the Founder and General Overseer of Synagogue Church of all nations, Pastor T.B. Joshua and Mrs. A. Maduwuike (Nnedinma Ikeduru). There will be reception immediately after the church service, in the church premises.
Some indigenes of the area, who spoke to this reporter, described Eze Dabrinze’s emergence on the throne, as a divine arrangement to liberate and salvage Uzoagba ancient kingdom from retrogression. According to them, “he has, in a very short time set the pace for infrastructural and socio-economic development of the community. For instance, when the principal of Uzoagba Secondary School drew the attention of the three traditional rulers in Uzoagba to the problem of inadequate number of teachers in the school, he single handedly told the principal to employ as many teachers as the school needed, and he paid their salaries for one year, at personal cost”. The old and dilapidated Afor Uzoagba market will soon be reconstructed to a modem market. The drawings have been prepared and the official foundation laying ceremony was performed on Tuesday 26th December 2017.
Messers Ebere Amarikwa and Chibuzo Obasi, (Crazy), indigenes of the area, amongst others, who spoke to this reporter, eulogized the monarch, whom they described as an embodiment of wisdom, humility, honesty, transparency, with an overwhelming capacity for selfless service. “Anybody working or speaking against Eze Dabrinze, is an enemy of the community because the man has come to develop Uzaagba and liberate us from darkness. In addition to empowering most of our youths, through gainful employment, he single handedly, reconstructed and furnished the St. Andrew Anglican Church, Uzoagba, among several other selfless services”.
When contacted, the soft spoken and unassuming traditional ruler, and Chief Executive Officer of FUNAC Consortium, who parades three Masters degrees, in Engineering, Information Technology and Business Administration respectively, said his emergence on the throne is a divine call to service. “With the cooperation of the people, the grace and benevolence of God, Uzoagba ancient kingdom will be taken to the next level, in all positive aspects and areas. I am passionate about, the development, welfare and overall interest of my people”.
He also commended the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, whom he said has performed excellently. “Our visionary and pragmatic governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has done very well, inspite of the global economic recession. I urge the people and entire Imolites to key in and support the state government’s programmes and policies”.
