Osaiigwe Electronics Chief Executive Officer,Onyekwere crowned Ofekata-Orodo Traditional Prime Minister
By Kelechi Ugo
Umuoma- Ofekata-Orodo Autonomous Community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State was electrified on Sunday 12th April,2026 during the coronation of Chief Simon Onyekwere popularly called Osaiigwe(Uba Zuo Oke 1 of Ofekata) as the Traditional Prime Minister of the Community.
The coronation and thanksgiving service, which held at OSAIIGWE’s compound in Umuoma Ofekata, attracted traditional rulers, captains of industries among other dignitaries from all walks of life.
Cultural drummers, dancers, and masquerade groups heralded the arrival of guests, while canopies draped in white and green adorned the expansive compound of Chief Onyekwere. The ceremony, which blended rich Igbo tradition with Christian thanksgiving, marked a significant milestone in the leadership structure of Ofekata autonomous Community in Mbaitoli LGA.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after his installation, the new Traditional Prime Minister, Chief Simon Onyekwere, expressed profound gratitude to his people for the confidence reposed in him. “I am very grateful today as the people of my community chose me to be their Traditional Prime Minister. I am asking God to guide me and give me more wisdom to fulfil all my promises to my people. This is not by my power, but by the agreement of my people,” he said.
On his agenda for the Community, OSAIIGWE stated that peace remains the foundation for any meaningful development. “We will have a lot of agenda. When there is no peace, there will be no progress. First, we will look for peace. We will make sure there is peace in our community. We have a lot of packages, especially for the youths. We will make sure all our unemployed youths are employed. We will achieve that by the grace of God,” he declared.
The new TPM pledged total loyalty to the throne and the people, assuring that he would not betray the trust placed on him. “I thank God for the opportunity given to me to serve my people. I promise I will not disappoint the trust they have in me. I will deliver my duty diligently, work with our traditional ruler so as to move our community forward, and I will stand on the truth,” Chief Onyekwere affirmed.
Explaining the choice of OSAIIGWE as Traditional Prime Minister, the Traditional Ruler of Ofekata Orodo autonomous Community, HRH Eze Engr. Marcel Iheanacho Uzegbu JP, (Okata II of Ofekata Orodo), and Secretary of Ndi Eze Owerri Zone, said the decision was based on character, humility, and proven service. “When you choose somebody, you look at someone that has your characteristics. He is used to serving the community with selfless service, humility, and having the opportunity to think about what he will do for the community and not what the community will do for him,” Eze Uzegbu explained.
The monarch further described OSAIIGWE as “the best of the best among my illustrious sons”. He added, “OSAIIGWE is a very humble man. As you can see,if you see him on the road, you will not know he has anything. He is a very humble man. He understands that whatever we have is by His grace. So OSAIIGWE meets all these qualities and Ofekata is happy and I am happy too. I pray for good health upon his life, long life, and for the fact that he has accepted to serve Ofekata, I ask God to continue to give him good health and strength.”
Adding his voice, Very High Chief Onyebuchi Obi, (IGIRIGI OBI ORODO,) described the installation as an honour well deserved. “It’s a thing of honour as the people of Ofekata autonomous Community chose OSAIIGWE as their TPM. It is what we are thanking God for. He merited it. It’s a merit well deserved. He is a man to reckon with and a man of honour, so he deserves the honour given to him. I wish him good luck. He will live long to reap the fruit of his labour. More things will come his way,” he stated.
Also speaking, Amb. Chima Chidimma, (Akuna Etigbu Iro 1) , expressed joy at the installation, noting that the community had long anticipated the day. “We are all happy about the installation of OSAIIGWE as the new TPM of Ofekata. It has been a long time we have been expecting this. I pray God to give him wisdom because TPM is nearest to the monarch. I am asking God to give him more wisdom, knowledge so that he will be able to settle certain matters in the Community,” she said.
Hon. Engr. Uzegbu Gerald, a close friend of the new TPM, described the installation as “God’s plan” and a decision that enjoyed unanimous support. “When the community nominated him as TPM, there was no opposition. Everybody accepted him in good faith, no problem of any type. And we believe he can do the job. We know the qualities in him. He can handle it. I pray God to enlarge his coast more and more. This task is not an easy task, it requires wisdom. We pray that God will give him that wisdom to navigate the system,” he noted.
Chief Christogunus Onukwugha, (Udokamma 1 of Ofekata) , thanked God for the peaceful emergence of a new Traditional Prime Minister. “I thank God for today Ofekata has got the TPM. He is a man of peace. He is not a troublesome person. Thank God that peace has come to Ofekata. God has granted us our heart desire,” he said, adding that the community is now positioned for unity and progress.
On his part, Mr. Ikechukwu Okoro, the chairman of all chairmen in Ofekata autonomous community, described the installation as a welcome development. “Today the entire people of Ofekata are overwhelmed with joy for giving our illustrious son the opportunity to be the TPM. So we are highly happy. We ask God to give him wisdom,” he said.
Similarly, Ikechukwu Cyprian, (Obata Ulo Adi Mma 1 of Ofekata) , urged the new TPM to remain steadfast. “It is good to be here to witness the event, to appreciate and also to support. He is a good man. He must stand firm and make sure he always stands on the way of truth on the side of his people as their TPM.”
