Last Tuesday, the 3rd of January, 2023, the Mbom community of Afarata-Ibeku Autonomous Community was agog with the installation and coronation of a new traditional ruler and the Atta II of the autonomous community, His Royal Majesty, Eze Felix Osquared Onwukwe.
The festive mood of the tiny village was at its highest peak as Ibeku people and traditional rulers, Ibeku clergies, friends and associates converged at the Methodist Church field at Umuana Mbom to give legitimacy to their new royal father, who replaced the late Atta I, and a former Cooperative and Commerce Bank staff, HRM Eze Uzo Onwuasoanya.
In a devotion led by the spiritual father of the day and the Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, His Grace, most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo Raphael Opoko informed that culture is not fetish, pointing out that regalia, uniforms, drums and playing of traditional instruments is not satanic.
“But what is bad about anything is bowing to Satan. What we are doing today is culture” he said and blessed the royal father, praying further for peace in Mbom community which is his maternal home.
Flagging of the ceremony, the chairman of the occasion and the Traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku Ancient Kingdom, Chief Sir Jamer Uche Akwukwaegbu said the Afarata Kingdom is great and paramount in the history of Ibeku land, while describing Eze Onwukwe as one that is up and doing, even in Houston, USA where he also organized and is leading the Ibeku people living there.
In his speech, the Chief guest of Hounour who is also the immediate-past governor of the state and now senator representing Abia Central at the National assembly, Theodore Ahamefule Orji recalled how the Afarata Autonomous Community was created, stating “it was created by God”.
He advised Eze Onwukwe that only death can stop him from being the traditional ruler, “or when you provoke the government that the throne will be removed”.
In his speech, the President, Afarata-Ibeku Development Association, Chief Chidiebere Mbanaso expressed the excitement of the community, stating that the community “is bestowed by nature with a lot of resources, particularly quality human resources in all fields of endeavour”.
In his maiden royal address, Eze Onwukwe traced how he was selected as the Atta II, stating “The road to this day was not easy”.
He described his community as peace-loving and pleaded with God for wisdom like that of Solomon and with his community for assistance to enable him “bring on love and development”.
He further urged his subjects to draw his attention to where hia going wrong, promising he will amend.
Fielding questions from newsmen afterwards, Eze Onwukwe confessed, “I stepped into it and started seeing what is involved”.
Afarata-Ibeku was created out of opd Ibeku Autonomous Community in 1996 with late Eze Uzo Onwuasoanya as the first traditional ruler and was made up of six villages, Amuzukwu, Mbom, Ugba, Isiadu, Nkata, and Ameke.
Later, Amuzukwu and Ugba were granted autonomy.
The stool became vacant in 2012 following the death of Eze Onwuasoanya.
