Ogbakor Etche, the socio-cultural organization of Etche people at home and in the diaspora has acknowledged the contributions of one of its illustrious sons.
Machy Nwodim, President General of Ogbakor Etche paid glowing tribute to Chief J.H.E Nwuke, Ogbuzor II of Okomoko and the Onye-Ishi-Etche who lost his life at the tail end of the Biafran war.
Speaking at Afara, Nwodim described the First Republic Minister and parliamentarian as one of the driving forces behind the formation of Ogbakor Etche.
He said Nwuke served as the first Secretary General of Ogbakor Etche and contributed immensely to the unification, evolution and development of the Etche nation.
Travelling down memory lane, Sir Machy as he is popularly known Sir, Machy Nwodim commended the efforts of “ son, father and first secretary general and founder of Ogbako Etche, late Chief Hon JHE Nwuke, MP, who was the Chairman of Ahoada District Council in the fifties.”
He said Nwuke was “the first black Provisional Commissioner for Port Harcourt Province; a parliamentarian in the fifties” who was “one of the few Rivers people to become a Minister” in the First Republic under Eastern Nigeria Regional Government.
Nwodim noted that Nwuke’s fight to ensure the integration of the people of Etche and Omuma Local Government Areas would never be forgotten.
The President General recalled the brutal killing of some Etche youths last year at Okomoko in the Etche Local Government Area by a group of assassins whose identity has remained shrouded in mystery.
While commiserating with the parents and relations of the fallen youths, he commended one of the sons of Chief JHE Nwuke, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke referred to in Etche political circles as “the Doyen” and the First Class Traditional Ruler of Igbo Kingdom, Eze Samuel Amaechi for their roles in preventing the escalation of tension created by the unwarranted assault on a peaceful communities launched by equally faceless persons.
Five persons and a non-indigene from the South West resident in Etche had their lives cut short.
Describing the incident, which took place at Okomoko on the night of Saturday December 7th, 2019, as callous and gruesome, Nwodim called for calm among the Etche people.
source: PHC Telegrapgh
