His Royal Highness Eze Anthony Chukwunyere Anyiam Ohaeri, Awa-Ukwu II, has ascended the throne as the traditional ruler of the Umuawa Alaocha Autonomous Community,in Umuahia North LGA.
The Coronation Ceremony, which took place on Saturday 27th January 2024, marked a historic milestone history as Eze Ohaeri is the first hearing-impaired (deaf) person to assume the role of a traditional ruler in the community and Abia state at large.
Eze Anthony Ohaeri, born on October 10, 1960, is an accomplished individual who overcame challenges to achieve academic milestones in both Nigeria and the United States where he graduated as a Computer Scientist.
The traditional ruler who is the First son of the Late Eze Anyiam Ohaeri, Utuhutu I of Umuawa Alaocha Autonomous Community, is a family man, married to two wives and is a proud father of four children.
In his speech, during the Coronation Ceremony held at the Community Primary School Umuawa, Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti restated that his administration is committed to removing barriers mitigating against persons living with disabilities in the state, in order to give them a sense of belonging.
Persons living with disabilities at the event
Governor Otti who spoke through his Special Assistant on Persons With Disabilities, Mr David Anyaele, said that the government was desirous to ensure that its rebuilding agenda would be achieved.
He said that the state has evolved numerous programmes and policies that were aimed at improving the welfare of the citizenry.
In his address, Eze Ohaeri whose speech was read by an interpreter, expressed gratitude for the trust and confidence placed in him by the community and called for support for persons living with disability.
Eze Anthony Anyiam Ohaeri
The Traditional Ruler thanked the State Government for breaking the norm which saw his emergency as the first hearing-impaired person to assume the role of a traditional ruler in Abia state.
“It may interest you to know that this is the first time in the history of this community, state and nation that a hearing impaired (deaf) person has been made a traditional ruler. Also, I would like to add that even in the bible, no hearing impaired person became king, this is a first of its kind.
“My governor you have further proven the fact that you are indeed a jinx breaker”, he said
Eze Ohaeri while commending the Governor’s commitment to the rebuilding agenda, sought further cooperation for the community’s development and appealed to government for improved infrastructure development in the community.
Traditional Rulers of various communities at the event
He noted that enhanced infrastructure development would facilitate even spread of socioeconomic growth in the community and urged the government to build critical infrastructure that would address the infrastructure deficit in the community.
The traditional ruler requested Governor Otti’s intervention in retrofitting the Umuawa Alaocha Community Primary School and Primary Health Center and appealed for a water scheme, a skills acquisition center, and the reconstruction of the Umuawa Alaocha Road and other internal roads to enhance the community’s well-being and economic activities.
Eze Ohaeri who outlined his vision for a progressive community, emphasized rural economic stimulation for overall state development and pledged to work with well-meaning individuals and the state government to foster socio-economic growth.
He said; “Under my watch, I will ensure that Umuawa Alaocha Autonomous Community records growth and prosperity through evolving and implementing programmes that would protect the interest of my people, improve their well-being and give them a sense of belonging.
“My goal is to create platforms that would encourage the members of the community to explore their potentials and take advantage of the things that programmes and policies of the state government have to offer its citizenry.
“This is because when there is progress in the community it reduces the crime rate to the barest minimum and increased productivity as well as prosperity is recorded”.
Eze Ohaeri thanked the government for support for persons with disabilities adding that his emergence as a traditional ruler was an indication that government was determined to protect the interest of persons with disabilities.
In his remark, the Chairman of Umuahia North Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Innocent Nwaigwe, while commending the state government for supporting the emergence of a hearing impaired person as a traditional ruler, said the action has demonstrated government’s commitment to run an inclusive government.
Earlier, the Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities,Mr Wisdom Kalu, said that the emergence of Ohaeri as a traditional ruler has shown that every member of the society should be treated as equal and valuable.
Kalu described the event as historic and added that it has further strengthened the confidence of persons with disabilities in the state.
In separate interviews with Journalists, the siblings of the traditional ruler, Mrs Roseline Amuchie and Mr Augustine Ohaeri, thanked God for making it possible for their brother to become the traditional ruler of their community.
They expressed confidence that their brother would live up to expectation and that his reign would be successful and prosperous.
The Coronation Ceremony witnessed a diverse gathering, including members of the State Executive Council, Traditional Rulers, and well-wishers.
