A new era of peace and development officially began in Ukwu-Oba Kingdom on Thursday as HRM, Obi Cletus Nkeakam Ochei I, was formally presented with Staff of Office by the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
The colorful and historic event was hailed as a day of celebration, reaffirming the crucial role of traditional institutions.
During the presentation ceremony, the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, emphasized the high value the administration places on traditional rulers as “custodians of our culture, agents of unity and partners in grassroots development.”
The Governor congratulated the new monarch on his ascension and commended the people of Ukwu-Oba for their maturity and resilience throughout the selection process, the first after the people dumped gerontocracy for Kingship.
”Though there were challenges, the community has emerged stronger, more united and ready to embrace peace and progress,” the Governor stated, assuring the gathered crowd that the administration holds traditional rulers in high esteem and will continue to provide platforms for their contributions to governance and security.
He acknowledged specific requests from Ukwu-Oba, an agrarian community, asserting that his administration is committed to the delivery of the MORE Agenda which is focused on advancing infrastructure and rural development across the State.
Governor Oborevwori emphasized that no community will be left behind in his developmental efforts.
He urged the people of Ukwu-Oba Kingdom, to rally behind their new monarch, stating that traditional rulers can only succeed with the full support, loyalty, respect, and cooperation of their people.
The Chairman, Aniocha South Local Government Area, Hon. Jude Chukwunwike in his address, noted that the local government will not relent in its duties to optimize the welfare of the new Obi and his colleagues within the limits of available resources.
He noted that, for meaningful development to be achieved in Ukwu-Oba community, the peace and security of the people should be of utmost importance to the newly installed Obi, disclosing that, “the journey to the presentation of Staff of Office, is a product of community’s resolution to transit from their old way of leadership where the leadership of the community was by the oldest man known as Okpala-Uku.
“It is pertinent to observe that the move for the transformation to a centralized monarchical system where the leadership is domiciled between two families on rotational basis was initiated by the community’s resolution after the demise of the last Okpala-Uku, that there should be a centralized rotational monarchy between Umuezeli and Umuogba families.”
Earlier, in a welcome address, the President General, Ukwu-Oba Development Association, Mr. Nwaebichi Mathias, appealed to the Governor for infrastructural intervention.
The event saw a large gathering of traditional rulers from Aniocha South and across Delta State, who were thanked for their steadfast role in maintaining peace and order in their Kingdoms.
Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of Staff of Office to Obi Cletus Nkeakam Ochei I of Ukwu-Oba Kingdom.
