Coronation

Igbos in Cameroon enthrone their torch-bearer
Eze Jonathan Onyenagubor was crowned as the Eze Gburu Gburu 1 of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon as well as the Ambassador for Peace. The coronation took place on Sunday October 19, 2014 in Tiko in the Southwest Region, with the new leader calling on Nigerians here to respect the laws of their host country Cameroon.
By Fen Lenjo in Tiko
The coronation proper was presided over by the Chief of the Nigerian Community in the petroleum city of Limbe, HRH Dr. Odirichukwu assisted by Chiefs from Fako Division under the watchful eyes of the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Zang III.
    The colourful coronation saw the ritualistic wearing on the Eze Gburu Gburu one of the traditional bangle as a sign of power, a necklace indicating royalty and success, and the handing of a traditional fan as a sign of peace, a staff indicating firmness in decisions and duties as well as a royal cap. It was in fact a veritable demonstration of the beauty of African traditions and customs.
    The crowned traditional head HRH Eze Jonathan Onyenagubor summed up the importance of the event in the following words: “Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo refers to the entire Igbo tribe. My responsibility from today will be to protect and valorize the Igbo culture in Cameroon and to maintain the chieftaincy title and be the king maker of Ndi Igbo. As an Ambassador for peace I want Cameroonian authorities to know that Africa is one. Cameroon and Nigeria are brotherly nations. I call on Nigerians here to be law-abiding because when you respect the laws of a country you will live freely. I want to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan before the 2015 Presidential Elections because he is going to win the elections.”

    According to a biography presented by Chief Esimone Benedict during the coronation ceremony, the newly crowned royalty was born in 1975 in the Lagwa Autonomous Community in Okwuato Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area in Imo State. Apart from the title that was being conferred upon him this day, Chief Esimone said the young chief had already received the title of Chief Nwakamma 1 of Obo Lagwa Okuato from his maternal kinsmen, the title of Chief Ikemba 1 of Mbaise and Ebonyi State conferred upon him by the Mbaise and Ebonyi State Union.
    Anene Christopher, the Public Relations Officer of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Limbe said they had come purposefully to support their brother who was taking a very important title. “I am so humbled with what I have seen here today. I lack words to express my joy because this is what we want to be happening all over Cameroon to project the Ibgo culture which is rooted down from our ancestors. Once you are an Igbo man you belong to the Ohanaeze so it’s not something you got to think twice before joining. It is a forum where the igbo man celebrates his culture. This identifies them irrespective of where they find themselves on the globe. This forum helps our children to learn our dialect since they hardly go to Nigeria.”
    Chief Ikeogy Anthony Anamaleze II from Anambra State intimated that it was an exceptionally special day since the title of Gburu Gburu 1 of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Tiko was being conferred on one of theirs.
    “It is a very important occasion for Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and it guarantees the growth of this association which represents the sons and daughters of Igbo land. It’s in America, South Africa, London and every where,” he said.
    Notable Ndifor from Akum in NW region of Cameroon on his part showered praises on the new leader saying that Chief Eze Jonathan had done a lot in his village Akum and that he represented development and peace in every thing that he did. ”I am very impressed with the importance that Nigerians attach to culture and royalty. The Chief actually merits what has been given to him today because he is a person who knows the value of people.”
    The Mafor Ndi of the Akum expressed her joy in the following words: “Humility will lead you to where ever you want to go. He is humble, calm and younger than 40 years and that’s why he is king today lording it over older men. I call on all his Nigerian and Cameroonian friends to support him.”
    The Senior Divisional Officer Zang III exhorted the Eze Gburu Gburu 1 to reinforce the cordial and mutually beneficial relationship that exists between Cameroonians and Nigerians here. He hailed the organizers of the ceremony for the color and tranquility that marked the coronation, saying that it depicted peaceful relations between the two brotherly countries.
    The landmark occasion assembled participants from all over Cameroon and beyond especially from Douala, Limbe, Yaounde, Bamenda, Nigeria, Europe and the United States of America.