25 years on the Throne: Deputy Speaker Kalu showers encomium on Eze Ifenwata, advocates for Traditional Rulers’ Institution to be made 4th Tier of Government

Making Traditional Rulers’ institution the 4th tier of government has been described as the most efficient way to drive development to the grassroots and to ensure that the people reap the dividends of democracy faster.

This was made known by the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives Rt, Hon. Benjamin Kalu at the 25th anniversary of His Royal Majesty Eze Sir Prof. Ezeudo. S. Ifenwata’s coronation as the Traditional Ruler of Ugwu Ibere Autonomous community Ikwuano LGA of Abia State as well as the 83rd birthday celebration of the revered Monarch.

Rt. Hon. Kalu who showered praises on the Ugwu 1 of Ugwu Ibere for ensuring peace and stability in the autonomous community for the past 25 years on the throne, maintained that the yardstick to measure socio-economic impact of government interventions should be from the grassroots hence the need for traditional institutions to be made a tier of government.

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Earlier, Governor Alex Otti represented by the Mayor of Ikwuano Anthony Nwaubani lauded the monarch stressing that he attained his present status on merit.

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Also speaking, the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District Colonel Austin Akobundu wished the monarch more years in good health, adding that he would collaborate with the relevant bodies to attract developmental projects to Ugwu Ibere autonomous community.

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In his remarks, the son-In-Law to Eze Ifenwata, and the Member representing South East on the Board of the North East Development Commission Rep Sam Onuigbo appreciated all the guests that graced the occasion as he noted that the people of Ibere, Abia and indeed humanity have in one way or the other been impacted positively by the Monarch.

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In his response, His Royal Majesty Eze Sir Prof. Ezeudo. S. Ifenwanta who appreciated all that graced the ceremony, more especially thanked Governor Otti for what he described as his pragmatic and effective leadership stressing that the reconstruction of Elemaga Itunta Bridge and the Amawom-Nkalunta road are a testament to the governor’s developmental strides in Abia.

The Ugwu 1 of Ugwu Ibere, however, noted that lack of neighborhood Secondary skill development institution inhibits societal growth as he called for the full restoration of the Ibere Technical College as well as the need for a tertiary technological institution to absorb graduands of several secondary Education Institutions stressing that the people of Ugwu Ibere Autonomous Community have decided to donate about 50 hectares of land for the Tertiary Education Project.

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Dailytrailnews reports that several other dignitaries graced the occasion including a former Commissioner for Trade and Investment in Abia Chief Charles ogbonnaya, Sir Engr Kelechi Ogbonnaya who was the Chairman of the Occasion, Traditional Rulers, amongst others.