By Eche Nwaobasi- Onitsha
Traders of Building Materials Dealers Association Market, Ogbunike, Oyi L.G.A last weekend Saturday inside the market showered love and encomiums on their patron and former vice chairman Onowu Sir Silas Ikeh who celebrated his 69th birthday anniversary inside the market.
Onowu Sir Silas Ikeh who is the traditional prime minister of his community Nnerim Ndugba, Isu L.G.A of Imo State was the vice chairman of the market during the administration of the market executive that constructed the market in 2009 when the market reallocated from William Street, Onitsha to their present site. Before being installed Onowu of his community, he was a community leader in New haven estate, Nkwelle Ezunaka.
It is on record that he was the progenitor of the estate. He is also a prominent member of Old Orlu Leaders of Thought, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo as well as a human right activist and public affairs commentator.
Kicking off the birthday ceremony with showering of encomiums and praises on Onowu Ikeh immediately after representatives of all the five eastern states in the market, offered an opening prayer, High Chief Chidi Emmanuel Mbagwu the president general of the market while extolling the exceptional qualities of Onowu Ikeh, he remarked that the celebrant is a blessing to the market as well as an asset that it is an inspiration to young traders in the market.
Going down lane, he recalled the celebrant’s positive efforts to ensure that the market was founded when they reallocated from their old site at Williams street, Onitsha to this present site in Ogbunike in 2009, he described the celebrant as a go-getter, peacemaker, consummate leader and Godly man who he noted has remained an inspiration to traders of the market adding that he has been consistently in helping to ensure peace, unity and love among the traders of the market just as he wished him more blessing, good health and long life.
On his part, Nze Sir Stanley Ibekwe Ugochukwu (Ozodiebube), the chief security officer of Plywood market, Ogbunike a sister market expressed happiness on the life of Onowu Ikeh saying he is a godly man who is transparent, peacemaker and a philanthropist to the core even as he wish him long life and prosperity.
While going further to described him as a gentleman, a lover of peace, who love and trust God in all his endeavor as well as a leader per excellence, He recalled his roles during the construction of the market and stated that he has been at the forefront in promoting anything that will develop the market till now.
Said he, “If I continue to tell about the celebrant his story and achievements will be endless, my prayer for him is for God to give him good health and long life”.
Also speaking, Chief Ndubuisi Iheanaetu, a member of the executive of the market extolled the wonderful qualities of Onowu Ikeh, he stated that Onowu Ikeh is one of the prominent elders of the market who is an inspiration to upcoming and young traders of the market and wished him many more years of birthday celebration in good health.
Speaking also to newsmen after the ceremony, the celebrant Onowu Sir Silas Ikeh thanked God for giving him the grace to clocked 69th years adding that he is optimistic that God will also gave him the grace to clock 70 years next year. While attributing whatever he achieved so far to God’s grace, he stated that God is faithful to him and his family and advises everybody to always live a life of trust, obedient and faithfulness to God stressing that people should not loose hope on God as he is able.
Commenting on the state of Nigeria Nation, he described the current administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu as a disaster that has thrown Nigerians into abject poverty adding that God will not forgive APC for killing numerous Nigerians although he admonished Nigerians to have hope on God for a better future. Stressing again that all Nigerians should rise up and go and vote for whoever that will salvage the country.
Said he, “Tinubu government is a disaster, they have so much raise up poverty, killings, insecurity, corruption to an unimaginable level, am urging Nigerians to come out and vote them out, my appeal is for all of us to make use of our voter’s card and vote for who will address this before everybody dies”.
