Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Activities for the celebration of the 100th birthday of the traditional ruler of Asaba, Delta State, Obi (Prof) Chike Joseph Edozien, formally kicked off in Asaba yesterday with the symbolic planting of 1,000 trees and a grand reception held at the Ogwa-Ukwu Ahaba centre in the state capital.
The ceremony, which attracted sons and daughters of Asaba at home, across the country and in the Diaspora from the five clans of Asaba, was presided over by the Iyase of Asaba, Obi Patrick Onyeobi, the traditional prime minister of Asaba Kingdom, who stood in for the Asagba of Asaba.
Onyeobi, a renowned bureaucrat and former Head of Service of the defunct Bendel State (Edo and Delta States) performed the centenary tree-planting project at a ceremony witnessed by members of the Asagba of Asaba 100th birthday celebration committee, including the Chairman, Chief Ben Okonta; co-Chairmen, Chief Epiphany Azinge, and Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, the Isama-Ajie of Asaba, as well as the Chairman of Otu-Ihaza Council Asaba, Chief Ben Ibe Ugboko.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Director-General of Delta State Capital Development Agency, Chief Patrick Ukah; the House of Representatives member for Aniocha-Oshimili federal constituency, Hon Ngozi Okolie, and the member representing Oshimili South in the state House of Assembly, Ms. Bridget Anyafulu, and several chiefs of Asaba.
Prof Azinge noted that the decision by the people of Asaba to celebrate the centenary of Nigerian and African oldest professor of medicine and a global icon was not misplaced, as “100 years in the life any individual is worth celebrating by any standard,” adding that Asaba people were well informed on the importance of the celebration expected to draw invitees from across the world.
Similarly, Chief Nduka-Eze described the planting of 1,000 trees as part of the royal centenary celebration which is symbolic and significant, especially in the light of the killing of about 1,000 Asaba indigenes by the Nigerian troops in October 1967 in the heat of the country’s civil war.
He said the 1,000, made up 200 trees for each of the five traditional units or families that make up Asaba Kingdom, would be properly dressed and nurtured by the youths, called Onotu, and members of the local vigilance group.
Nduka-Eze said: “In future, when we would have all be gone, and questions are asked, the future generations of Asaba people would be told how our monarch and global icon clocked a century on earth and the trees were planted as a mark of honour and living memory of a major Asaba historical event.”
Also, the Chairman of the Asagba of Asaba Centenary Birthday, Chief Ben Okonta, while giving a rundown of the programme of events, which are expected to climax between July 28 (Obi Edozien’s birthday) and August, the 33rd coronation anniversary of Obi Edozien, urged all men and women of goodwill to join hands with the Asaba people to ensure peace throughout the celebration.
It was equally significant that the 1,000 tree planting was coming at a time the global community was rallying efforts and resources to combat the problem of global warming and related environmental challenges, pointing out that the state capital development agency was working tirelessly to enlist the cooperation of residents in its ongoing drive to ensure a cleaner, healthier capital territory.
