In recognition of his patriotism, humanitarian works and development strides in the South-East and other parts of the country, a frontline Presidential Aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2023 General Elections, Tein T.S. Jack-Rich has been conferred with a prestigious traditional title in Igbo-Land, “Ebubedike Ndigbo the First” by the Ohafia Traditional Rulers Council of Abia State, South-East, Nigeria.
Jack-Rich bagged the traditional title on Saturday 16th April 2022 at the Launch of the Comprehensive Map of Ohafia Local Government Area and Award Ceremony by the Ohafia Traditional Rulers Council at the Council Secretariat in Ebem Ohafia.
The Chairman, Ohafia Traditional Rulers Council, HRH, Eze Odum Amogu, who described Mr. Jack-Rich as a true Nationalist and a Unifying Factor said he was considered for the prestigious title based on his track record on humanitarian projects and programmes in local communities across Nigeria.
He said the recipient of the traditional title had over the years exemplified the true essence of Leadership by improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the people thereby uniting Nigerians of all tribes with people-oriented humanitarian projects such as the provision Potable Water Facilities, Road Construction, Award of Foreign and Local Scholarships to Nigerian Youth, Creation of Employment Opportunities and Economic Empowerment of women, youth and the less privileged.
Eze Amogu said beyond the conferment of the Chieftaincy title the occasion was a home coming of Tein T.S. Jack-Rich whom he described as a Brother.
He said both Rivers and Ohafia people are one united people as neither politics nor what he termed artificial boundaries can divide them.
“This not just about Chieftaincy, it is about welcoming our Brother home, it is about integrating, there is something very pivotal and important, you know what people do, using politics to divide and rule, we are the same people nothing can separate us, not politics, not even the artificial boundaries created. For us we know that you are our Brother and so we welcome you back home while assuring you that we will respond promptly to any invitation from you to honour you in order to show our oneness. We appreciate your coming and assure you that we are determined to see to the success of the current project we have embarked upon which aims at placing Ohafia on the global map in order to attract the desired development to the area”.
A former Spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF and National Coordinator of the South South Leaders Forum, His Highness Anabs Sara-Igbe who received the Chieftaincy title on behalf of the APC Presidential Hopeful Tein T.S. Jack-Rich, asserted that Ohafia has a historic background with the Niger Delta people under the old Eastern Nigerian.
“We are Niger Delta people, we trade and intermarry with the Ohafia people, and our history is not today”
“This is my community, we are part of the old Eastern Nigeria, we are still one despite the separation of Eastern Nigeria, we intermarry, we eat the same food, we live together, we have the same culture, so we are the same, nobody can separate us.
“When this invitation came we saw the need to identify with the Ohafia people because we are one united people”
The elder statesman Anabs Sara-Igbe decried the poor state of the Umuohia-Bende-Ohafia road riddled with dangerous potholes, curves and slopes which he said could claim lives.
He promised that when the APC Presidential Aspirant Tein T.S. Jack-Rich takes over the Leadership of the Country in 2023 by divine providence, he would insist that the road be given urgent attention to save lives, reduce travel time and cost.
“We know that you have great men but it is a pity that the Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia road is not properly done”
“We pray that God will help us to get to power, when this happen, this is one of the roads that I will personally insist that should be dualized”
“The great Igbo Nations are on this road, and if the historic communities are on this road, then why can’t they be given a dualized road”
“If you talk about the history of Nigeria, Ohafia is very important and other neighbouring communities like Aruchukwu and the rest of them and yet the road is bad”
“Look at the tiny bridge we drove through, it is funny to see that the great men from this part of the country cannot insist that a better road be provided to guarantee the safety of the people which is paramount”
“Look at the dangerous bends in the road coupled with its bad state, it takes motorists great difficulties to negotiate the dangerous curves, something can happen and lives could be loss”
“It is one of the projects we will give urgent attention to in Abia State when we come into power by divine providence”
Chief Sara-Igbe also assured the people of Ohafia that Mr. Jack-Rich would identify with them in future humanitarian projects and programmes through his Foundation, the Jack-Rich Tein Special Support Initiative and Belema Aid Foundation.
For his part, a renowned Wrestler and African Heavyweight Champion Ambassador Osita Offor who was also conferred with a Chieftaincy title, “the Ikenga Ohafia, by the Ohafia Traditional Rulers Council, expressed the willingness of Mr. Jack-Rich to identify with the people of Ohafia with projects that will have direct bearing on their lives.
He urged the Ohafia Traditional Rulers Council to identify their most pressing needs and priority projects as it affects the people with a view of being considered in the future by Mr. Jack-Rich through his Foundation, the Jack-Rich Tein Special Support Initiative and Belema Aid Foundation.
The highpoint of the Launch of the Ohafia Comprehensive Map and Award Ceremony by the Ohafia Traditional Rulers Council was the donation of N5Million by Tein T.S. Jack-Rich to support the Ohafia Map Project showing the 26 ancient Communities of Ohafia Kingdom.
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