By Magnus Aluma
The entire premises of Unwana Community Primary School in the ancient town of Afikpo, was almost filled with different types of posh cars, just as eminent personalities in the Community from within and outside the state thronged the venue for the civic reception of an astute administrator, Engr. Timothy Nwachi.
Saturday’s civic reception of Engr. Nwachi, the Executive Chairman of Afikpo Local Goverment Area, one whose “intimidating profile” cannot be exhausted in this piece, has become one in a plethora of events organised in recent times by the people of Unwana.
In truth, the event was carefully packaged to celebrate and further motivate outstanding sons and daughters of the soil who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour.
Some of the prominent personalities present at the event were the Ebonyi State Head of Service, Dr. RitaMary Okoro, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, the member representing Afikpo East State Constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Amari Omaka and the state’s Commissioner for Market Development and Parks, Prof. Ajuka Nwogo Obasi.
Others included the Commissioner for Skill Acquisition and Job Creation, Hon. Elijah Okwu Oko Udu, the State Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Barr. Liberty Ukeni, Commissioner III in the Ebonyi State Local Government Service Commission, Mr James Egwu Iro and a member of the Ebonyi State Scholarship Board, Barr Oby Oko Enyim.
The rest were a member of the Governing Council of the Ebonyi State University, Dr Donatus Aja, a Commissioner in the Ebonyi State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission, Barr Emmanuel Egwu, the Vice-chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Hon. Josephine Nwogo and a former Chairman of the Local Government Area, Hon. Anthony Ekoh, among others.
The reception was eventful as it compelled every reporter around to grab his pen to write a beautiful prose on it. Indeed, it was an honour well deserved and nullifies the age-long aphorism, “a prophet is without honour except in his own town.”
The President General of Nzuko Unwara General Assembly, Hon. Walter Ebeke, who spoke on behalf of the community, extolled Engr. Nwachi’s administrative ingenuity.
According to him, “the man, Timothy Nwachi is an unassuming character. His leadership charisma, administrative ingenuity and peaceful disposition has made him a rallying point for years. I thank Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for considering an Unwana son to serve as Afikpo Council Chairman in this political dispensation.”
Unwara further said, “I am optimistic that his tenure as chairman of this local government, will bring a lot of goodies to our people.”
In their goodwill messages, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, Prof Amari Omaka and Chief Tony Agha described Engr. Nwachi as a thorough bred administrator, whose tenure would be characterised by peace, unity and progress. They called on the people of the area, to support his administration, for him to translate his visions into reality for the overall development of the Local Government Area.
However, in his response, Engr. Nwachi thanked Governor Nwifuru, his wife, and the people of Afikpo, particularly the Unwana community for choosing him to serve as Chairman of the Local Government and assured that he would not disappoint them.
“I thank the entire people of Unwana, home and abroad, for organising this reception in my honour. I want to assure you that my administration will carry every community along in the scheme of things, and I will do my best to justify the confidence you have reposed in me, for the holistic development of our Local Government Area, ” he said.
