The diasporan King and leader of the Igbo community in the Republic of Ghana, His Royal Majesty Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu (Ezeohazurume of Ghana, Global Peace Ambassador); had on Monday, January 8, 2024, paid a new year royal visit to His Royal Majesty, King Dr. Ateke Michael Tom (Amayanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, Seukro of Niger Delta ), alongside Engr. Chidimma Ihenetu and the publisher of 4th Estate Reporters, Njoku Macdonald Obinna; who serves as his Country Director and Media Co-ordinator in Nigeria.
A royal visit which afforded the two prominent traditional leaders and patriots; Eze Ihenetu and King Ateke Tom, the opportunity to deliberate on national issues bothering on leadership, peace, unity, economic resurgence, and the need to build bridge across religious, ethnic, and tribal lines; while eschewing all forms of division, rivarly, and restiveness, in the overall interest of the nation and for peaceful co-existence.
Commending his host , HRM Eze Dr. Ateke Michael Tom JP, (United Nations’ Peace Ambassador), for his prominent role in ensuring peace, and addressing youth restivness in the Niger Delta, while empowering a number of young people through functional skills acquisitions and award of educational scholarships both in Nigeria and overseas, Ezeigbo Ghana pledged to support his traditional leadership and royal throne in Okochiri community maintaining that it is a strategic partnership for the good of both kingdoms.
Giving a brief highlight of his ascension on the revered throne of ObiIgbo, Obiudo, Obieziokwu in Ghana, His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu informed that he marked his 11 years on the throne last September, 2023, during the Igbo new yam festival and has lived peacefully with his family in the same country for 29 uninterrupted years, married a Ghanaian woman, had all his children in Ghana, while exchanging business contacts and celebrating the rich cultural heritage and diversity of his most accommodating host nation; the good people of the Republic of Ghana.
On the need to sustain and strengthen the existing bilateral economic relationship and collaboration between Nigeria and Ghana, Eze Ihenetu maintained that Ghana is one of the most peaceful countries in West Africa with relative stable economy, and Nigeria’s closest neighbor that speaks English language thus, the need for sustainable economic collaboration as most Nigerians who are looking for greener pastures find it much easier to relocate to Ghana than any other African countries within the region.
During his vote of thanks, the obviously elated Media Director, Ezeigbo Ghana Foundation- Nigeria, Njoku Macdonald Obinna , commended the two leaders for such historical and strategic meeting which is targeted at strengthening socio-cultural relationship be between the two prominent traditional rulers in the areas of promoting their respective ethic cultures and African culture at large while hoping that such meeting also provides an economic avenue where their subjects are productively engaged for national productivity and social engagements.
The Media Director, Ezeigbo Ghana Foundation – Nigeria, Njoku Macdonald Obinna, also seized the opportunity to salute the leadership capacity and resilience of His Royal Majesty, King Dr. Ateke Michael Tom for empowering alots of Nollywood movie stars from the Niger Delta region and single-handedly sponsoring the Okochiri International Beach Fiesta over the years; while appreciating the powerful Monarch for according him warm reception at any giving time during his official assignments.
In his brief response, King Dr. Michael Ateke, JP (United Nations’ Peace Ambassador), thanked his special guest, HRM Eze Dr. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu (Ezeigbo Ghana), for finding time out of his busy schedules at this festive season to pay a courtsey call to him in Okochiri Kingdom, Okirika LGA, Rivers State. He also commended EzeIgbo Ghana for being a good patriot in promoting peace and unity, while also promoting the culture and tradition of the Igbo people living in faraway Ghana, which serves as a catalyst for making the younger generation not to forget their history ancestral roots. King Ateke Tom promised to collaborate with the Igbo diasporan leader in Ghana, Eze Ihenetu, in any productive venture that would help in strengthening the socio-cultural and economic relationship of the two kingdoms.
Author credit: Njoku Macdonald Obinna
