By Chidipeters Okorie
From a corner of the Earth, an esteemed King, a beloved beacon of peace, is now in the company of angles in a distant heaven. For nearly six decades, His Royal Majesty Igwe Emmanuel Mmuonyelu Ogbuzulu Eze JP, Igwe Ozulumba 1 of Mburubu Kingdom was Nkanuland’s guiding light. He was a monarch, regarded far and wide as a Father, who took his kingdom out of several deadly turns with his wise counsels. His fortitude and devotion to human development were an inspiration to all.
Regardless of the differences and disparities across Nkanuland, His Majesty was a solitary constant, a beacon of hope for Nkanu people – rich and poor, young and old, rural farmers and urban residents alike.
Though his lengthy stay on the throne, His Majesty never monopolized power or hegemony of royalty in his kingship, rather the King was embodiment of down-to-earth simplicity, possessed high diligence, ingenuity, and exceptional vision, and audacity.
In a world imperfect, he knew well what it meant to listen, to be informed, to understand and, above all, to be a fellow human being, on a planet tiny and a universe infinite. He taught us what it meant to love our own people in all times.
Though with a commanding presence, humble was he; kind was his face; volleying of strokes of funny jokes were part of the King’s daily live in five decades of kingship. Wherever he went, he brought a smile on our faces; wherever he was, he made it a nice place to be.
Comforting was his presence; enviable was his composure; unflappable was he, like an intrepid mariner in high seas.
Formidable was his intellect. In him, we saw a visionary, a King with a disciplined mind ready to cultivate the art of the possible. In him, we saw a decent man with an admirable sense of responsibility; our concerns were his concerns. In him, we saw a consummate peacemaker, seeking no glory.
In him, equity mattered, justice mattered, transparency mattered, and openness mattered. Open was his doors, open to a palace abound with honors, peace and succor where knowledge reigned, where wisdom prevailed.
With a straightforward manner, a credo of his own, and a mission sublime, welcome he would say, welcome, but please leave any gloom, pretense, or mendacity at my doorstep.
Glorious was his time to the young and to the old; an inspiration to all
His Majesty was variously referred to as “the King of Peace” and “the King that goes to Church”. He placed his community as a whole limelight.
With faith that dusk will always be followed by dawn, and an existential covenant that we shall all be comrades-in-peace, our king, with his gentle smile, is resting in peace.
Burial arrangement:
20th April, 2022
Night of tribute/wake
21st April, 2022
Interdenominational funeral service/
Interment at Mburubu, Nkanu East LGA,
Enugu State –Nigeria
Goodnight, MY DEAREST UNCLE, His Royal Majesty Igwe Emmanuel Mmuonyelu Ogbuzulu Eze JP, Igwe Ozulumba 1 of Mburubu Kingdom
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