High Chief Christopher Ekeoba Adds A Feather To His Cap Honoured With A Prestigeous Title

For those of us who have the privilege of knowing Chief Christopher Akhuemokhan Ekeoba the Abumere of Esanland, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Ejaac and partners, the conferment of the prestigious chieftaincy title on him by the Onojie of Irrua, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji W. O Momodu II, JP, the Okaijesan of Esanland, is an opportunity to celebrate this thoroughbred philanthropist from Esan, and to say thank you. His persistent outstanding qualities made him worthy and deserving recipient of the title.

“I have not come to play politics, no; I have come to celebrate with my people, the people of EsanLand because God has eventually heard their prayers” – Chris Eke

Hail from Idumebo, a community in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, one of the most populous communities in Irrua that also raised the former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu in his blessed memory .

Esan people are blessed because of its varied occupation: traditionally agriculturalists, trado-medical practitioners, mercenary warriors and hunters. They cultivate yams, cassava, maize, rice, groundnut, bananas, oranges, plantains, and various vegetables

In recent times, due to the poor and inaccessible road to major farmlands, the sales of farm products were not commensurate to the labour cost, and most times the perishable farm produce did not have exit to the wider markets.

On the educational aspects, parents were not able to come up with children’s school fees or even those graduated from schools stayed idle, jobless for years due to lack of employment. The fortunate ones that qualify for bank loans couldn’t access it as a result of high interest rate.

Those that learnt hand work/semi skills lack the quality tools, and if they have, its in pitiable conditions.  However, all those were before the coming of Chris Ekeoba who has also had a sting of the poverty. He has now firmly put Esan people in the league of contemporary societies by launching a Foundation called “Chris Ekeoba Charity Foundation”. The primary objective of the foundation is to financially empower and aid entrepreneurial propagation and human development through socio economic assistance for business expansion of Esan people. The foundation is also for the enhancement of the welfare of the Esan people by empowering them through interest free credit for the expansion of their businesses and livelihood.

The anchor of the occasion, Dr Austine Aghemeno, a great son of the soil, read the citation of Christopher Akhuemokhan Ekeoba and that of his lovely wife Mrs Esther Ekeoba and formally iterated the reason why every one gathered on the faithful day.

The Okaijessan of Esanland, then declares; “we have come to acknowledge the good work you Chris Ekeoba is doing on the people of Idumebo which by extension has touched lives in Esanland, and to reaffirm our support and say thank you, I today confer on you and your lovely wife with the following tittles; The Abumere of Esanland and the Ehimen of Irrua Kingdom respectively”.

Since the Launch of the foundation, the word is on the lips of the old and young. He has also won hearts of the communities across Esanland through his focused rural transformation programmes, as he just build a multi-purpose hall for his community at Idumebo.

It was in appreciation of such quality representation that the Onojie of Irrua, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji W. O Momodu II, JP, the Okaijesan of Esanland and the elders of Idumebo felt it was necessary to honor this great man (Chris Ekeoba) with an Elder and a befitting tittle, (The Abumere of Esanland).

CONFIRMENT OF THE CHIEFTAINCY TITTLE

In fact, anyone who saw the little children, market women, old and the young line up from the entrance into the Onojie of Irrua’s palace, venue where the chieftaincy titles were conferred on them (Chris and his beautiful wife, Esther), would understand that Chris Ekeoba had touched lives the way no one had ever done.

People who saw the large number of traditional High chiefs with sea of guests that throng to the palace of the Onojie of Irrua to witness the conferment of chieftaincy titles on Chris Ekeoba and his beautiful wife by the Okaijesan of Esanland, would described the event as a carnival of sort. According to one of the traditional chiefs, “the traditional ruler decided to honour Chris Ekeoba with the glamorous title because of his developmental strides across Esanland in particular. The title ‘Abumere’ is a title bestowed on persons that brings development, progress and peace to the people”.

The anchor of the occasion, Dr Austine, a great son of the soil, read the citation of Christopher Akhuemokhan Ekeoba and that of his lovely wife Mrs Esther Ekeoba and formally iterated the reason why every one gathered on the faithful day.

The Okaijessan of Esanland, then declares; “we have come to acknowledge the good work you Chris Ekeoba is doing on the people of Idumebo which by extension has touched lives in Esanland, and to reaffirm our support and say thank you, I today confer on you and your lovely wife with the following tittles; The Abumere of Esanland and the Ehimen of Irrua Kingdom respectively”.

Chief Chris Ekeoba, in his response, says he is very overwhelmed and humbled by the decision of the traditional ruler the Okaijesan of Esanland for the conferment of the great title on him and his lovely wife. “This is not just another title. I have been offered different titles by different traditional rulers and for personal reasons I have not accepted them even though I appreciate them. But as your son, you deemed it fit that my wife and I should be honuor with these great titles and we accept them whole-heartedly,” he said. According to him, “as the Abumere of Esanland, I now have the duty to do more for my people. And to the high chiefs and well wishers he reiterated saying, I have not come to play politics, no; I have come to celebrate with my people, the people of EsanLand because God has eventually heard their prayers, if in the future I ask you for a vote for any politician please don’t listen to me. Chris certainly captured the whole essence of the day when he declared that he hadn’t any dubious intentions and emphasized that he came instead to rejoice with the people for God had heard their age-long wailing and is now using him and as a tool to wipe away their tears.

Chris and Chief Mrs Esther Okeoba entered the arena in a grand style with distinguished senators, members of House of Representatives, well over fifteen traditional rulers, LGA chairmen in Esanland and dignitaries of various categories were present to witness the launching of the Foundation.

That there was no drop of rain during the ceremony and that no one was stampeded to death in the mammoth crowd also show that even the heavens were happy with Chris Ekeoba. It was a triumph of spirit over flesh, love over hate, will over wickedness, and good over evil. It was serious down pour after the event.