Presidential Address - Awka Union Baltimore Washington Gala Night April 23, 2013. Welcome Message from the President “RESPECT” Mr. Chairman (Chief Dr. Samuel Onyilofor - Azubueze) Chief Emeke Oguejiofor (Iferiene Oba-Egwu), representative and Chief Cabinet member of Obi of Awka Eze-Uzu II, Co-Chairmen, Special Guests, friends and well wishers of Awka Union Baltimore Washington and Awka town; fellow Awka men and women; distinguished ladies and gentlemen; good evening and thank you for honoring our invitation. It is a privilege and honor to have you here tonight. On behalf of Awka Union Baltimore Washington members, I welcome you all to our twentieth year anniversary and fundraising gala. We are using this anniversary to raise funds for hospitals in Awka. Our plan is to use the funds we will raise tonight to purchase CT scan machines and donates them to Amaku hospital. As you know, accurate diagnoses are keys to successful treatments; Our Doctors are working without proper equipment. In 2009, Awka Union Baltimore Washington was on the verge of disintegration. Some honest and respectable members of this union quickly came together and fought to restore peace. Today, we are proud to report that Awka Union Baltimore Washington is still going strong and will remain strong for years to come. We are now moving forward with the objective of getting our members together and building a formidable union where respect for all members are paramount and where understanding and love of each other are the overriding principles of our mission. For us to achieve our mission, we have to remember the tree that holds us together; Oka now spelt “AWKA” – the change in spelling was made by the British Colonial Office in 1908, by the Colonial Secretary, Mr. F.S. James, based on the research of Dr. Nwibe Onejeme” Barrister-at-Law, of Umuokpu Village Awka, as documented by Amanke Okafor in his book “The Awka People.” History has it that Oka was discovered by one of the two sons of Noshe (Ugwuoba Noshe, and Oka Noshe), both first settled at Ugwuoba. Oka was a hunter; he hunted elephants at Amenyi. Oka later left Ugwuoba to settle at Amenyi - the rest is now history. Amenyi might as well claim to be the first organized Oka Village based on the arrival of Oka Noshe. Prior to 1970, Oka people were free people with no one king ruling over them. Oka was ruled by their laws then – every citizen of Oka participated in this system of Oka government through the meeting or consultative assembly of Oka people called “Izu-Oka” held at the home of the eldest Oka man called “Otochalu Oka”, to which every Oka indigenes has the right to attend. Izu-Oka congregates only in Oka town, only at the home of Otochalu Oka and cannot, has never, and will never congregate outside Oka. It is important for us to understand that the consultative assembly of Oka people called “Izu-Oka” has never congregated outside the “Obu” of Otochalu Oka without his permission. No Izu-Oka meeting, to the best knowledge of any Oka man alive, has ever been held outside the Obu of Otochalu Oka, not even when Awka was deserted during the Nigerian civil war. AWKA – the tree of togetherness, a Nation of people with its own unique Igbo language sounds that is not found in any other Igbo dialects. A town rich in culture and tradition; love and respect for its elders, titled men and women. A town governed by titled Ozo men, and Ndichie, which was democracy then and even now. The first Awka Traditional Leader or Eze Awka came after the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1970 and the honor went to H.R.H Late, Chief C.O. Nnebe, the Ichie of Awka. The second Awka Traditional Ruler was crowned with a new title called “Obi, Eze-Uzu 1 of Awka”. Awka traditional rulers are not hereditary, but rotational. Today, Awka is in her third tier of Traditional ruler under the watchful eyes of His Majesty Obi of Awka, Eze Uzu II. Dr. Gibson Nwosu. AWKA; a town known for her traditional festivities, such as; Iru-Otitie, Chi; (Chi in Awka serves as a feast and also as a title); Chi feast is for the celebration of Mothers. Oka people observe and celebrate Mother’s day long before they were colonized. Our Mothers need to be honored and respected for they housed, and nurtured us for nine months. Awka festivities, including Akputakpu and the all mighty Egwu-imoka, with its associated feasts like Ede-nmuo; Egwu-ofufe and Egwu Opu-eke, to name a few. This goes to show how close Awka people were then and still are to one another. Most of these feasts are celebrated on Afor market days except “Chi” which was on “Oye” market days. Not only that our fore-fathers ear-marked a day to celebrate Mothers, but they also placed its celebration on a special market day. Oka’s love and respect for women also extended to our festivities. Oka has almost equivalent feasts for men and women. Egwu Imoka is mainly for young men while Ukwu is for young females. Men have Egwu-ofufe, and Chi is for women. Agbala-Imoka and Ntakwu-Imoka are for men and women respectively. Today Egwu- Imoka is the only feast Awka people celebrates with full pageants around the month of May at Nkwo Amenyi. Nkwo Amenyi was originally located at Umuoranma Village. Fortunately, my soul mate, my ever enduring better half, my wife, Ifeyinwa Cathy Onyeaka comes from Umuoranma Village, – she wouldn’t mind being addressed as “Okpulu-nana Ada- Oka” (Daughter of the soil) for her village, was the first village to host Awka famous market “Nkwo Amenyi” which is now the home of olulu Imoka. Imoka itself was brought to Awka as a medicine from Akpoto - land of the Idoma people who were famed native doctors in Benue State, by a male member of Umueleke family from Amachalla. AWKA - the land of the Blacksmiths – in 1925 Awka smiths were taken to Wembley, England, in an exhibition to show case to the colonial masters how Awka smiths worked. Some of us may remember the famous Ozo Gbulu-enyi Nwokoye Nweji work shop at Eke Nwida in Awka, where some of the Biafra guns where manufactured before Awka was captured by Nigerian troops in 1967. Awka craft does not end with metal forging; it extended to wood carving, for which a wood carving Center was established at Amawbia Awka before the war. AWKA no aso-enwe; the ribbon that hold the beads together, Late Chinue Achebe, an African literature icon, one of the World greatest writers, Nigerian most humbled gentleman, the Chief exporter of African Ancient Tradition once said; it takes a village to raise a child, but it takes enwe (African brown monkeys) to save Oka Nation. It may interest you to know about the name, Oka no aso-enwe. When Okoli Ijeoma (an outcast from Umuanaga Village Oka) and his armies from Ndikelionwu, matched towards Oka through ofia Imoka (the forest of Imoka), they startled the brown African monkeys that resided there; the monkeys alarm alerted Oka people of an imminent invasion. Oka people came out and Okoli Ijeoma’s armies were defeated. In appreciation to the brown monkeys act, Oka people offered the monkeys to Imoka shrine, and they called them “Enwe-Imoka”. Ladies and Gentlemen, that is why Oka ji-aso enwe. Now you know the rest of the story. These are the extra strength cement, the powerful ribbon that bounded Awka men and women together. Knowing how close Awka people are to one another and our love to Awka town, I am therefore calling on all Awka people in Diaspora, the President and the Executive members of Awka Union USA and Canada to remember this and focus on keeping all Awka people together and avoid the politics of divide and rule to satisfy some interest groups. Awka USA and Canada needs every one of us leaving within North America to be able to stand strong. A house that is divided against itself can never stand. Awka Union Baltimore Washington was inaugurated in August 1993 and today we are celebrating its twentieth (20th) years of existence. We are happy to celebrate it with all of you present here tonight. Thank you for coming. My thanks also goes to all the former Presidents of this great union, for keeping the lights on since 1993 - Mr. Chukwuemeka Ifejiaka Jr., (Oba), Dr. C.C Onejeme, Ozo Otuo-Omee; the only Ozo Awka in north eastern states of USA, Mr. Mark Onwuka (Omelukokwulu) and Mr. Ike Ezeji-Okoye (Oranyelugo) and their executives. Their leaderships produced what is today one of the strongest union of Igbo organization within the State of Maryland and its vicinity. My thanks also go to our members that have kept the union going all these years, their understanding of what it takes to be an Awka indigenes and their loyalty to the Union. I wish to use this opportunity to remember some of our members that had lost someone very dear to them; I wish you all well and pray that the souls of our departed loved ones shall RIP. The Lord shall give you the fortitude to move on without your loved ones. And for those involved in road mishaps and/or other sicknesses, our prayers are always with you all. My speech will not be complete tonight without extending my appreciation to the Secretary of the union; Mr. Mike Iloanya (Nwawenete-Ugo) for his un-relented efforts and contributions to the success of this union. Thank you for your loyalty and dedication to the affairs of this union for the past three years. My thanks also go to the Executives, and all members of the Union, for your dedications and contributions all these years. I am humbled to serve you and I hope I meet the standard you expected from your president. I sincerely thank our president emeritus and one of the founding fathers of this union (Ozo Otuo-Omee), Dr. C.C. Onejeme, the Treasury, Mrs. Nma Onyilofor (Lady Diamond) and the Financial Secretary Mr. Osita Okafor (Onyenwaku) for their steadfastness even when their names were being dragged through the mud. You kept your heads up and your spirit high. Thank you all for your support and contributions. We have walked a long way to get here; we shall not retreat now. Inspiration doesn’t favor those that stand still. An American war General (Patton) once said “I do not want to hear we are holding on our positions, but we are advancing”. I am indebted to our guests, the Chairman (Chief Dr. Sam Onyilofor (Azubueze), Chief Emeke Oguejiofor (Iferiene Oba-egwu) for his support and the production of to-night’s President Special, our special guests; supporters, and advertisers, as well as the hotel management for availing us their staffs and facility and all others whose contributions made this gala night possible. My thanks to Chief Dr. Sam Okereke (Akalaka 1 of Mbaise) & his wife, Chief Dr. Nene (Adadioranma of Mbaise), Chief Law Dibor (Nzeabata-Omelora) Dr. & Mrs. Felix Nwaokafor, Dr. & Mrs. Keji Oke, Nze Dr. Dominic Amaechi Okpukpu nyiri Agu 1 of Amaigbo Orlu, Steven Igwebuike (Akujachaafa of Nri) an ex-Enugu Rangers football player and who also happened to be an ex Miami Dauphin kicker, thank you for coming. Please sit back, relax and enjoy the night and dance, dance, dance. May the Lord Our God be with you and lead you home safely? Thank you.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 02:16:53 +0000
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