SAN Egbuna bags Chieftaincy title for restoring peace in Anambra community

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Ikenna Victor Egbuna, has bagged a Chieftaincy title of Ugwunyilionyeoso 1 of Abacha community, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra state for restoring peace in the community where peace once eluded the people 

The traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Godwin Nwabunwanne Odiegwu, conferred the honour on him during his 2nd Ofala annual cultural fiesta in true appreciation of all his efforts at restoring peace through legal means in the hitherto Igweship dispute infested community. 

Ugwunyilionyeoso in literary English language means (A warrior that cannot be conquered).

Egbuna, a Fellow of Chartered Accountants and also an associate of Chartered Insurance Institute (London and Nigeria) had in 2005, bagged his 1st chieftaincy title of Ogboro-Agha 1 of Uzii community in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo state. Ogboro-Agha literally means in English language as (Disputes Intervener).

In 2010, he bagged his 2nd Chieftancy title of Onatalu-Dike-Nma 1 of Aguleri community in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra state (The Hero of Aguleri). His 3rd Chieftaincy title of Ogbatulenyi 1 (Big Warrior) of Nanka community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra state in 2021 was preceded by the conferment of his 4th Chieftaincy title of Akajiugo 1 (Holder of Resources to Conquer Evil) of Ikem Ifite Nando community also in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra state in 2023.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after receiving the 5th chieftaincy title of Ugwunyilionyeoso 1 of Abacha community, Egbuna expressed the joy that Igwe Odiegwu and his executive chose to appreciate him from the bottom of their hearts for being able to solve all the legal challenges the community faced for over 20 years, particularly the Igweship aspect of their challenges.

According to the Senior Advocate, “the Abacha community decided to give me that title because of the things I have done for them. For over 20 years, all the legal challenges they faced were brought to me and by the Grace of God, I was able to solve them by securing judgements in their favour, with particular reference to the case of the present Igwe Odiegwu who faced a lot of legal battles arising from the removal of the former Igwe Mbakwe by the state government”.

“The former Igwe Mbakwe decided to go to court after his removal during the former Governor Willie Obiano regime and he headed to the court after the selection of the present Igwe Odiegwu and for over eight years we canvassed that case, at the end of the day, it was the choice of the Almighty God that Igwe Odiegwu, the present Igwe of the community, himself and his executive decided to confer on me this Chieftaincy title”.

“For that period of time, other people of the community who were supporting the former Igwe Mbakwe were fighting the incumbent Igwe Odiegwu in various sectors and they woefully lost the cases in various sectors”, said Egbuna.

“My heart is full of joy for them to have appreciated what I did for them. There are those who you will do something for and when you turn your back, they will mock you. But in this case, whether I turned my front or back, they will be hailing me, saying that it was God that used me to give them what they want”.

“The gathering of my family members, friends and well wishers here today to witness my conferment showed me that they really love me. Most of them were here from beginning till the end of my conference without minding the time spent. Some people came, stayed briefly and left but there are those who stayed from morning till the end”.

Conferring the title on Egbuna, Igwe Odiegwu who expressed deep appreciation for his doggedness throughout the period of legal fireworks, described him as the engine room through which the community won all its cases against the opposition parties and restored normalcy in the area.

In their separate speeches, President-General of Abacha town union, Ejike Okafor: traditional prime minister of the community, Onowu Paul Nzekwesi Omeofia and Chairman of the Ofala Steering Committee, Ambassador Jeffrey Uchenna Ubah who is also the Cabinet Secretary of Abacha Igwe-in-Council, said they were excited that the second Ofala festival attracted eminent personalities from within the community, Nigeria and in the diaspora.

According to Okafor, Omeofia and Ubah, “we just want to tell the whole world that this occasion calls for more cooperation, more love, more understanding and more development in Abacha and we are happy that all the chieftaincy titles we gave to some were considered on merit.

Junior lawyers in the law firm of Ikenna Egbuna SAN, Chuka Anataogu, Ifechuchukwu Malobi and Ifeanyi Egbuna described the Chieftaincy title conferred on their principal partner as a meritorious one and commended the community for appreciating his hard work.