… celebrates 75th birthday in grand style
Pa Unity Edionwe was on Saturday, June 1, 2024, installed as the fourth general Odionwere of Ogbebor, Obazee, and environs community located along Upper Mission Road, Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The occasion marked by rich cultural displays and traditional rites brought together community members, dignitaries, and traditional leaders to celebrate the ascension of a respected elder to a position of significant responsibility and honour.
The installation ceremony was a grand affair, reflecting the deep-rooted customs and traditions of the community. Attendees adorned in colourful regalia filled the air with songs, dances, and chants, creating an atmosphere of unity and festivity. The rhythmic beats of traditional drums and the harmonious melodies of local instruments set the tone for the day’s events.
The event commenced with a series of traditional rites, symbolising the community’s rich heritage and the sanctity of the office of the Odionwere. Elders of the community, along with the traditional council, performed these rites, ensuring that every step adhered to ancestral customs. These rituals included the blessing of Pa Unity Edionwe with sacred items and the invocation of the ancestors’ spirits to guide and protect the new Odionwere in his duties.
Pa Unity Edionwe, known for his wisdom, integrity, and dedication to the welfare of the community, was unanimously selected for this role. His extensive experience in community leadership and his unwavering commitment to upholding traditional values have earned him respect and admiration among his peers and the younger generation alike.
As the fourth general Odionwere of the community, Pa Edionwe holds a pivotal role in guiding the community’s social, cultural, and political affairs. He is entrusted with the responsibility of preserving the community’s heritage, mediating conflicts, and ensuring the well-being of the residents. His leadership is expected to foster unity, peace, and progress within Ogbebor, Obazee, and the neighbouring areas.
Similarly, born on June 2, 1949, Pa Edionwe celebrated his 75th birthday on Sunday, June 2, in grand style at his residence with family members, friends, elders and members of the community trooped out to celebrate the milestone of long life and sound health.
A very excited Pa Edionwe in his speech on the occasion of his installation as Odionwere and celebration of his 75th birthday expressed gratitude to God Almighty for his life thus far; the trust placed in him, and outlined his vision for the community. He emphasized the need for collective effort in addressing the challenges faced by the community, including economic development, education, healthcare, and more emphasis on security. He also called for greater involvement of the youth in community affairs, recognizing their potential to drive positive change.
In his words, “Well, it is the will of God for me to become the fourth General Odionwere of this community and I thank God for that. The community is made up of eight streets with sub-Odionweres. The streets include Ogbebor, Obazee, Obayuwana, Edokpolor, Oviasogie, Agbontaen, and Obaseki.
“I admonish everyone in the community to support me physically, spiritually, and otherwise so that we will change the narrative of this community to a better one. It is joyful being an Odionwere and also celebrating my birthday, it is the will of God. To become 75 years old is not a joke, I give God the glory.”
Pa Edionwe highlighted his plans to secure the community, he stated that he and all the landlords and landladies in the community will come together to build a security post for vigilante men to ensure adequate security in the community and also purchase sirens for security personnel manning the community, as well as provide CCTV cameras to checkmate hotspots in the community as times goes on.
In his opening remark, the chairman of the occasion, Johnson Idahor, commended His Excellency, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the Executive Governor of Edo State for his infrastructural development in the community and for ensuring that all the roads in the community have been constructed.
Idahor further appreciated the Governor for keeping to his campaign promises and demonstrating good leadership by bringing dividends of democracy to the community. He assured the governor that the entire community will queue behind the candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming September 21 governorship election, in the person of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and ensure victory for the PDP for there to be continuity of the good work Governor Obaseki is doing for the state.
A woman leader in the community, Mrs. Idahor, described Pa. Unity Edionwe was a man of the people, a man loved by everyone in the community. She further described the new Odionwere as a man full of empathy for others, wishing him more fruitful years in good health as he celebrated his 75th birthday.
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of Elderly Persons in Nigeria (EPN), Chief (Barr) Eddy Ogbomo JP, celebrated Pa Unity Edionwe on his installation as the 4th General Odionwere of the community and for clocking 75 years of age.
Chief Ogbomo described Pa Edionwe as a nice man and a father, stating, “I saw in him human qualities of life when he told me he was going to be installed as the Odionwere. I took all the time to be here because I wanted to be part of the ceremony”.
