His Royal Majesty, Eze Leslie Eke, Eze Oha Evo, Eze Gbakagbaka III of Evo Kingdom has underscored the need to revive and sustain at the grassroots time-tested traditional norms and values that bind Nigerians together, in order to build a better society.
Eze Gbakagbaka said this on Friday during the coronation ceremony of the Nye Udu Ede Upata I, HRH Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo.
Eze Eke noted that the Upata Kingdom has remained largely peaceful on account of King Otuwarikpo’s leadership since he ascended the throne.
He noted that the traditional institutions are the custodians of values and norms as they play important roles, especially at the grassroots.
He however urged parents to cultivate the habit of teaching their children the values, norms and language of their people to enable them appreciate the rich culture handed down by their forefathers.
The Evo Monarch who was the chairman of the occasion, described the native language as the life wire of any society, stressing that the poor state of affairs in relation to the relegation of the native language and culture must be urgently addressed.
While he addressed his people, Eze Otuwarikpo enjoined them to shun crime because “some persons can carry gun and become millionaires in other Ethnic Nationality but the gods of Ekpeye abhors it. Those who carry gun in Ekpeye for crime remain poor and they don’t make progress.”
He called on those bearing arms to hand them over to government and warned against acts that could plunge the society into crisis, advising Eze Anugwo to commit himself to carry his subjects along to a new era of peace, stability and progress in Upata Kingdom.
Noting that the historical relevance of the stool of Ede people span decades, Eze Otuwarikpo assured that he has dedicated himself to building on and surpassing the worthy legacies of his much acclaimed predecessor, Eze Clifford Cheta Nwuche.
Eze Otuwarikpo who eulogies Eze Anugwo as an employer of labour, assured that the Upata people will key into the developmental vision of Governor Nyesom Wike, stressing passionately that the Upata vision “does not permit jealousy, it does not permit greed and it doesn’t permit blackmails.”
In his goodwill message to the Ede Upata people, Barr. Ben Eke, Executive Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government congratulated the Nye Udu Ede and urged him to uphold the values of his people and those of the Upata Kingdom.
The event which was graced with traditional dances, attracted dignitaries from far and near including HRM Eze Joshua Eyiba, Eze Igbu Igbuduya II; Alhaji Abba Goji, Wakili of Fika and Professor Dulu Appah, President General of Uzugbani Ekpeye.
Others are Hon. Barr. Bob Solomon, Federal House of Representatives Member-Elect, Abua/Odual and Ahoada East Federal Constituency, High Chief Grant Orugbani, Hon. Stephen Ihua – Maduenyi, Rivers State Commissioner for Local Government Service Commission; Rt. Hon. Stephen Ezekwem, former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly among other top traditional rulers, politicians and captains of industries.
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