Top and revered royal fathers across Nigeria, amongst them, are the Obi of Onitsha, Nnemeka Alfred Achebe, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Entan Oguwusi, will converged at Ukwu Royal Palace in Ngwa Ukwu, Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia State on December 17, 2021 for the final rites of passage of their fallen colleague, late Ngwa Ukwu monarch, His Eminence, Eze (Dr) Bernard Onyenguzo Enweremadu.
Eze Enweremadu died on January 17, 2021 at the age of 77.
The funeral ceremony will also attract millions of Ukwa la Ngwa ethnic nationality living at home and in the Diaspora as the people are gearing to accord this late eminent traditional ruler and humanist befitting burial.
Governors of the Southeast region and their counterparts from other regions are also billed to attend the ceremony as Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of the Abia State, has directed that the fallen eminent traditional ruler in the the state be given a state burial with all the trappings of royalty accompanying the interment ceremonies.
In a joint press briefing on Wednesday at the house of his first son and chief mourner, Rt Hon Christopher Enweremadu, the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Prof Uche Eleazar Ikonne, said the late royal father was a consummate traditionalist and internationally acknowledged philanthropist and humanist who should be given a befitting burial.
“He exhibited the totality of the Igbo culture, he was a great custodian of the people’s customs and traditions, a specialist of note and crusader for justice and social rejuvenation”, Prof Ikonne observed.
The first son of the monarch, a former Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, disclosed that his father whom he revealed preserved and nurtured the cultural heritage of Igbos with pride and dignity, will no less be treated at death, adding that some of his cultural legacies like mysterious stream behind his Palace called “Iyi Ogbu Omuma” stream, Ihu Ala Ngwa, Eke-la-Afor amongst others may be made national heritage sites in future.
It will be recalled that Eze Enweremadu, the traditional ruler of Ngwa Ukwu Kingdom was the chairman of Abia State Traditional Rulers Council during the military era. He married 14 wives and had 66 surviving children. A colloquium is expected to be held in his honour at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia on December 12, 2021.
Born in November 23, 1943 of late Chief Finecountry Nwanganga and Chief (Mrs) Mary Ikpejumgbe of Umule Umumba family, Ahiaba Okpuala Ngwa in Ngwa Ukwu, isiala Ngwa North, young Bernard attended St Michael’s Primary School from 1951 to 1956, Donald Commercial Institute, Ahiaba from 1959 to 1964, Hind Homoeopathic College, India 1970 to 1974, Brantridge Forest School, Sussex England from 1975 to 1975 and London College of Applied Sciences, 1975 to 1976. He later obtained a PhD in Homoeopathic medicine from 1976 to 1077.
Late Eze Enweremadu established Bennwems Philanthropic organization as well as other ventures. The rich Ngwa cultural heritage, the planners say, will be in full swing during the eight-day event. Eze was dreaded while alive.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
