Jubilation as Imo Community Confers Chieftaincy Title to 132 Year-Old Kinsman

By Praise Chinecherem

It was jubilation galore in Umutukulu, Nnachioma Umuariam Obowo community in Obowo local Government Area of Imo state following conferment of chieftaincy title of “Ugwunna 1” of Nnachioma on Ichie Ejigiri Nathaniel Anyanwu, the oldest man in the community.

Anyanwu was honored with the title having attained the age of 132 years, a unique and rare longevity age.

It was a roll call of creme de la creme as prominent individuals, captains of industries, politicians, titled men and women, youths and stakeholders, as well as friends and well wishers thronged the venue of the occasion, essentially to have a glimpse of the oldest man and receive his blessing to tap into such rare age.

Ichie Anyanwu, at the occasion was adorned and capped with the required traditional regalia and ofor, (staff of office), as a full fledged title holder by the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Augustine Adiele.

The traditional ruler who was ably represented by the prime minister, Chief Edwin Ibeawuchi was flanked by chairman of Aladimma Umuariam, President General and chairman of all chairmen of the four wards of Nnachioma Umuariam, Akujuobi Omenugwa, and other title holders present.

Speaking on the honour done to the celebrant, Omenugwa said he remains the oldest in both Nnachioma and the entire Umuariam communities.

“We are not talking about his age because when you look at him, he looks younger than his age, due to how God created him, giving him strength right from birth. He disassociated himself from all evils which helps to prolong his life.

“Our community was in crisis for about six to seven years which prompted our traditional ruler, Igwe Augustine Adiele to sanction us (the four wards) as autonomous communities that include, Umuogbede, where the oldest man hails from, Amorji, the head of the four wards, Umutukulu and Umuatonti, being the last of the wards in Nnachioma, to be autonomous to avoid continuation of crisis.

“After my installation, I pleaded to my people both titled men and stakeholders that we approach the Monarch and plead for restoration of peace in the four wards of Nnachioma, which we did and the monarch nodded which restored peace and unity in the community.

“The next step was to look for the oldest man within us and honour him to bless us and that was how Anyanwu was picked as the oldest when a panel of enquiry was set up to fish out the oldest man and today we have honoured him and received his blessings.

“You can see people from all walks of life present to have a glimpse of him and receive his blessings for longevity.

“The oldest man was capped and installed by the prime minister on behalf of our monarch as our monarch was not within reach as at the time of this honour.

“He gave the prime minister, chairman Aladimma, Umuariam, President General and myself the go ahead to cap the oldest man on his behalf, with other titled men who were present.

“By virtue of his age, he has been exempted from all manners of communal levies/taxes, labour, among others, as his duty for now is to pray for our progress and protection.

“Visitors or non-indigenes into our community will be first presented to him and receive his blessings prior to embarking on their mission.

“We shall recall that the oldest man, Anyanwu, was the person that capped the Monarch when he was enthroned as the monarch of the community. If he dies after his stay on earth, we, the people of this community will accord him befitting burial ceremony.

“This honour accorded him will be a continuous exercise that if eventually he joins his ancestors we look for a successor as part of moving the community forward.

“Prior to his installation, a panel of enquiry was set up to investigate him to know if he is worthy to be so honoured and the report from the panel was that he was more than fit to be accorded the honor as he has no blemishes or skeleton in his cupboard.

Reacting, Prime minister of Umuariam autonomous community ancient kingdom, Chief Edwin Ibeawuchi said, “I have not seen this kind of celebration since I was born, we honoured the oldest man in Umuariam today.

“Our greatest problem now is gully erosion that has cut us off from our brothers and we plead to the three tiers of government to come to our rescue,” he pleaded.

In his post installation speech, Ichie Anyanwu commended all and sundry for being in attendance and finding him worthy to be so honoured and prayed God to give them longevity, fertility and progress in their various fields of endeavor as they have done to him.

“I’m grateful to God for keeping me alive to attain 132 years on earth. I also attribute my longevity to living a faithful, loving and peaceful life devoid of much quest for earthly wealth,” he added.

President General, PG, Umuariam ancient kingdom, Engr. Iyke Ogugua described the occasion as maiden and unprecedented in Nnachioma, disclosing that the new leadership brainstormed on finding out the oldest person in Nnachioma, and discovered it was Anyanwu, praying for more years to him.

He advised the youths to involve themselves in meaningful projects and eschew cultism and other vices to live a blessed life like Anyanwu who was into wine tapping business in his hay days.

He lamented that road to Anyanwu’s house has been cut off by gulley erosion which prevented him from attending church service especially on Sundays and pleaded to the three tiers of government to come to the rescue of the Community.

Earlier, one of the grand sons to the beneficiary, Uzoma Anyanwu, disclosed that his grand father was a palmwine tapper and singer who sings (Abigbo), during public functions.

“He advised me that to live worthy and prolong life that I should have God first in all my endeavors and avoid criminal activities that include, killings, extra marital affairs and forceful possession of one’s belongings.

“We barred our grandpa from alcohol, snuff and other harmful food consumption. After his stay on earth his burial ceremony will be more than what happened during this his conferment and honour as the oldest man.

“We will accord him a befitting burial ceremony. He told me that I will be the one to procure the cow to be slaughtered for his burial as first son to his son and that all first sons should be present.

“I pray God to give him more days, he warned me that even if my father is not present during his burial that I must be present no matter how engage I may be during his burial day” he revealed.