By Daniel Obagha
It was a gathering of men and women of different status, royal fathers, top government officials, captains of industry at the last ofala festival ceremonies of late HRH Igwe Sylvester Udalor Nnose the traditional ruler of Ifite-Anam autonomous community on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, HRH Eze Dr Chukwuemeka Eri of Eri kingdom Enugwu-Aguleri described Igwe Nnose as “a truthful monarch. We related well. Although he was older than us but we were age mates based on our status as ndi Igwe. Hé did not hide his feelings. If you do good he will tell you. If you do bad he will also tell you “, Eze Eri said.
HRH Igwe Sir Joseph Ajodo of Ukwala kingdom described him as a good man.
Member representing Anambra West LGA at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Patrick Udoba described Igwe Nnose as a good family man who raised his children well.
Former SSA to the governor on political matters, Hon Fidel Okafor enjoined his children to emulate the footsteps of their father and preserve the good name he left for them.
On how the late Igwe reigned, Onowu Ifite-Anam Kingdom, Chief Francis Udoba, described it as “peaceful . According to him, his reign was peaceful. His kingdom was the largest in the whole of Anambra West. There was no war among the four component communities that made up the kingdom”, Onowu Udoba said.
Former Chairman of Umuenwelum Anam, Hon Hyacient Okoye said that the late Igwe ” was a very nice person to everybody that came across him. He imparted a lot of knowledge to so many of us”.
An elder states man in Ifite-Anam, and cabinet member , Chief Joseph Anikpeh, described the late Igwe as “a noble man”. He was a monarch with great personality. He reigned very well over the four communities and we are praying that his successor will do better than him”, Anikpeh prayed.
The CEO Melcon Link Nigeria Ltd, Chief Chris Okonkwo, said that the late Igwe reigned peacefully and welcomed everybody to himself.
Chairman of Umundeze and palace secretary, Hon Gabriel Okafor, said that the late Igwe was a teacher and former Chairman of Mmiata Anam Development Union, former Chairman of Anambra West council of traditional rulers, former Chairman of Anambra North council of traditional rulers among other things.
“He has produced a lot of great men in Ifite-Anam”, Okafor said .
CEO Afrakings Motors, Chief Francis Okechukwu, noted that the late Igwe was a great blessing to ndi Anam and Anambra West at large. “He was learned and courageous and was the next good thing that happened to us ndi Anam after the death of late Igwe JC Emeka”.
The prince of Ifite-Anam, Dr Sylvester Nnose, described his father as an enlightened monarch. “He was humble and peaceful and very accommodating.
“My father was a learned man. He was a teacher and former staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)”, he said.
Igwe Nnose was the traditional ruler of four communities comprising Umundez Mmiata Anam, Umuonuora Mmiata Anam, Umuoba Abegbu Anam and Iyiora Anam.
He was born in 1939 and died in 2022 at the age of 83.
- Obagha is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *
