Late Eze Alphonsus Nwokedi, the Eze Okpoko 1 of Okpoko Ogbaru LGA, Anambra State, and His Outstanding Achievements

….As the 10th child of Okpoko 1, Eze Chika Nwokedi bears the mantle of kingship as Okpoko 1 of Obodoukwu.

By Onome Naomi

A comprehensive analysis on the Nwokedi family shows that the origin of their prominence emanated from late Eze Alphonsus Nwokedi, the Eze Okpoko 1 of Okpoko Ogbaru LGA, Anambra State. The ‘Okpoko’ community was named after the late king Eze Alphonsus due to his bearing and the development he brought into an unnamed area later called Okpoko community.

The comprehensive profile of the late king, Eze Alphonsus Onyebueke Utosu Nwokedi; Eze Okpoko 1 of Okpoko, Ogbaru, Local Government Area, Anambra State, shows that his astute leadership transcended into versatility before his death as he passes on the kingship mantle unto his 10th child, Eze Chika Nwokedi, amongst his 11 children, home and abroad.

Late Eze Alphonsus’ profile reads:

His Royal Highness, EZE ALPHONSUS ONYEBUEKE UTOSU NWOKEDI (aka Ogaranya, Okponku, Government, Atakata Agbuo, Mperekete Mpeke, Thanker, Thanker Aluo), was the great founder of the Okpoko community, currently called New Haven, a satellite town in the Ogbara local government area of Anambra state.

Eze A. O. U. N. Nwokedi had built a house at No. W. 15, Atani Road (now called No. 203, Obodoukwu Road), Okpoko, and settled there with his family for many years before the civil war properly broke out in 1967 and ended in 1970.

As the early settler in Okpoko, Eze A. O. U. N. N. Nwokedi, Eze Okpoko 1 of Okpoko, secured the leadership and rulership of the Okpoko community and became its royal father as Eze Okpoko 1 of Okpoko. He was instrumental as he initiated the fight against armed robbery attacks of residents of his community, especially those returning home after the day’s business through a track road called ‘No Man’s Land’ by Owarananya Azu Drainage, which was in those days the only source of good drinking water.

Eze A. O. U. Nwokedi was the first councilor of the Okpoko community; he assisted the Catholic and Anglican churches in securing some lands to establish churches, hence the building of St. Lwanga’s Catholic Church and St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Okpoko.

As the founder of the Okpoko community, he (Eze A. O. U. N. Nwokedi) had the collaboration of some important Obosi families and individuals, such as late Godwin Onyire (Akunne), late NWAKWOR of the Umuabua family, Ire family, and others…

He mapped out and allocated lands for the first primary schools, known as school 1 and school 2, in Okpoko. This was during the administration of Col. Anthony Ochefu, in the old Anambra State. He got the approval to establish a police station at Okpoko, purely to fight armed robbery attacks that were then ravaging the Okpoko community and its environs. Before the establishment of the police station, Eze Nwokedi was the local judge for all cases and disputes in his palace at No. W. 15, Atani Road (now Obodoukwu Road), Okpoko. All government officials specified for a particular outreach were directed to him for accommodation, direction, and security.

To foster unity in the community, Eze Okpoko founded the first Udo Dili Multi-purpose Co-operative Society in Okpoko. He also formed the Landlords Union when the community started expanding rapidly. He established security guards initially funded by him to protect lives and property of the inhabitants within the Okpoko community.

Eze Nwokedi was an institution in the Okpoko Community; to achieve recognizable feats by rulership didn’t come easy for him, for he had an opposition, namely Chief Ede of Obosi, a renowned Obosi man who vehemently opposed all of Eze Nwokedi’s moves for Okpoko to be established as a community. To firmly establish himself and his vision for Okpoko Community, Eze Nwokedi arranged with the then government in Enugu during Chief Ukpabi Asika’s administration for the first survey of Okpoko Layout. This survey ratified Okpoko as a layout in the then Onitsha Urban Council. That was when Okpoko community became Okpoko Layout.

On the welfare of residents of Okpoko community, Eze Okpoko 1, Eze A. O. U. Nwokedi, established the first maternity home, known as Ifeoma Homoeopathic Home. The maternity home created ease for pregnant women in the community and also enhanced safety. These pregnant women during delivery do not necessarily have to go through an empty passageway named ‘no man’s land,’ which was in-between Okpoko Layout and Fegge Layout if midnight labor occurs.

Families who could not afford maternity bills after child delivery were discharged free of charge but at Eze Alphonsus’ expense.

Eze A. O. U. Nwokedi was a great philanthropist, an excellent community leader, a great achiever, and a strong and pioneering member of the Obodoukwu Town Union. A sociable, kind, and friendly person; many didn’t know he was a king due to his humble demeanor; he sees everyone as equals; he was very accommodating too, a peacemaker and judge. His cabinet members included Late Chief Joseph Aniche, Late Ogbudike, Late Daniel Awalite, Late Marcell Onyejekwe, Late Emesinwa, Late Ukachi, Late Ezeala, and Late Umenwekwe, to mention but a few.

The feat late EZE A. OU. NWOKEDI The Eze Okpoko I of Okpoko achieved in Okpoko Community earned him the nickname ‘Government,’ as it is fondly called.

He was married to Lolo Mercy Akuba Nwokedi and blessed with 11 children, and they are:

Lolo Anthonia Uzoamaka Osondu (nee Nwokedi, retired banker;Senior Evang. Anthony V. O. Nwokedi (CEO Anovin Chemical Industries Ltd., Aco Block Industry Ltd., Anovin Commercial Agencies W. A. Ltd., AL-AKUBA STORES, ABUJA);John Nwokedi (Omenife gburugburu 1 of Obodoukwu, based in Europe);Mrs. Ngozi Justina (retired clerk at NASS);Mrs. Ifeoma Pepetua Anaezionwu (nee Nwokedi);Chief Moses Nwokedi (Ezeudo, businessman);Mrs. Ekwu Bridget Thejirika (nee Nwokedi, caterer);Chief Alphonsus Uchenna Nwokedi (Onowu Pegi, Kuje Area Council, F. C.T Abuja, businessman);Toochukwu Thedeus Nwokedi (Business) man, late);HRH Eze C. C. Nwokedi, The Eze Okpoko I of Ijegun Ijedodo Community, Lagos State; Michael Nwadinigwe Nwokedi (Businessman, Abuja).

This great founder and achiever, His Royal Highness, Eze A. O. U Nwokedi, Eze Okpoko 1 of Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, died in the early hours of the 29th day of July, 1981.

According to his 10th child, who bears the mantle of Kingship, HRH Eze Chika Nwokedi Ezendigbo Ijegun Ijeododo, Chairman of the Council of Ndieze Igbo Lagos, he noted that the honor for a posthumous award granted by the Obodoukwu community to his late father, Eze Alphonsus Onyebueke Utosu Nwokedi, brings to light the similarity in the services he renders in this dispensation as Eze of his community (Ijegun Ijeododo).

Eze Chika further stated that he is mandated to continue from where his late father had stopped, having achieved the same grace bestowed by his father through inspiration to give charity as well as bear the burdens of the people under his reign.

Eze Chika is the Okpoko 1 of the Obodoukwu community after the death of his father and must continue in his father’s legacy to lead the people using the exacting methods used by his late father. In his hometown in Obodoukwu, Eze Chika Nwokedi gave shelter to the homeless by building houses as he also gives alms to less privileged persons, including the widows and widowers.

Eze Dr. (Amb.) Chika C. Nwokedi Eze Okpoko 1 and Okpoko 1 of Obodoukwu, founder President of the Ndi Igbo Buru Otu Association of Nigeria, and former President of Ladipo Market, Mushin, Lagos, Chairman of the Council of Ndi Eze Igbo, Lagos State, the son of the late HRH Igwe A.O.U. Nwokedi Eze Okpoko 1 of Okpoko, heartily remembered his dear parents, HRH Eze Alphonsus Nwokedi and Lolo Mercy Akuba Nwokedi, on the occasion of the Maiden Umeonyiriegbe Day Celebration, where he was awarded for his immense contribution in carrying on his late father’s legacy by developing Obodoukwu; his late father was also granted a posthumous award.

Photo of Mr Oganihu John Nwokedi and wife, the organisers of Maiden Umeonyiriegbe Day Celebration.

 

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