AirPeace Boss Gets Chieftaincy Title for his Selfless Service

 

On December 30th, 2014 , 82 traditional rulers from Anambra Sate and the South East region of Nigeria, gathered in Mbosi town in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State to honour one of their illustrious sons, Barrister Allen Ifechukwu Onyema with double chieftaincy Awards: " The IDE of Ihiala LGA and Obata Obie of Mbosi, in an event decked in glamour , elegance and glitz .

It took three years of reluctance and resistance, but after due consultations, the Chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Nigeria's newest airline, Barrister Allen Onyema last week honoured the clarion call of his community : Mbosi and all the 10 towns in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State to be decorated with two chieftaincy titles .

The high brow event attracted the cream of personalities from the world of business, diplomatic service, politics , entertainment and military as well as banking and aviation sectors to the ecstatic community.

The event had the trappings of royalty , as the lawyer cum businessman pulled who is who in Anambra State and beyond to his community on the day , where his contributions to community service was etched on the burner .

Decked in red george attire with other accoutrements of royalty : staff of office, a red cap decorated with feathers to match , Onyema with his beautiful wife Alice, marched to the palace of the traditional ruler of Mbosi to fulfil the chieftaincy rites .

They were welcomed by Ozo, title holders , who welcomed them with music emanating from flutes, traditional gun shots to herald their decoration as one of the most influential chiefs in the community .

Amid tight security, guests from all walks of life were welcomed into the Onyema's expansive abode, which is a study in architecture , as music supplied from different traditional and cultural dance bands rent the air .

The traditional rulers made up of all Igwes in Ihiala Local Government Area of the State gathered at the event, witnessed by over 70 other traditional rulers from the South East region, to decorate Onyema for his sterling contributions to the development of the community .

Speaking on behalf of the Igwes, The Ezeoha of Isseke, Igwe Emmanuel Nnabuife said Onyema deserved the honour for his many contributions to the socio - economic development of communities in the local government in areas of education, town hall construction, as well as contributions to the church . The Oluoha of Ihiala, Igwe Dr. C.I. Okechukwu also paid glowing tributes to the contributions IDE Allen Onyema to the peace and stability of our Nation, Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, Hon . Kingsley Kuku described the chieftaincy award to Onyema as one of the ways his community has decided to remind us of his many contributions to Nigeria that have not been acknowledged by Nigeria through national awards.

Waxing proverbially, Kuku said like the prophet who is not honoured by his people , the Ihiala community has reversed the trend by recognising one of their own.

Kuku urged Onyema to see the chieftaincy title as a clarion call to do more for his community, which will now look to him to intervene in many areas of development .

Kuku said :" Today is a happy day for my long time friend , Chief Allen Onyema, who is being honoured with double chieftaincy titles by his Mbosi community, a people who he is proud to be associated with .

This is good because, as the proverb goes a prophet is not honoured by his own people. But, today that trend is changing, Mbosi people and the entire Ihiala traditional rulers have decided to honour one of its illustrious sons .

This is a call to duty and another opportunity to urge Onyema to do more for this community that has given him this honour .

As we gratulate him, we urge him to continue to contribute to the development of his community ."

Also speaking, the special assistant on special duties to the chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Chief Henry Ugbolue described Onyema as a distinguished indigene any community would be proud to have and honour for his sterling contributions and good ambassadorship.

Ugbolue described Onyema as a worthy Nigerian who contributed immensely to the return of peace in the hitherto restive Niger Delta region in the demobilisation and reintegration of ex- agitators in the region .

He said Onyema is among stakeholders through his Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria ( FEHN), that was involved in the training of ex- agitators of the Niger Delta region at the orientation camp at Obubra in Cross River State in 2010.

He urged Onyema to continue to contribute to the development of his community as a worthy ambassador and illustrious indigene.

To demonstrate his detribalised attitude, the chieftaincy awards on Onyema drew the cream of personalities from other parts of the country including the former president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Dr .Chris Ekiyor and the President of Arewa Transformation and Empowerment Initiative, Alhaji Mohammed Danjuma , a long time friend of the celebrant .

Another demonstration of the handshake across the Niger at the event , was the massive representation from Kogi State, where Allen took his wife, Mrs Alice Onyema , many years ago .

A battery of elegantly dressed women from Igala land decked in white blouses and red wrappers with complementing jewelries and Middle aged men were very visible at the event to support their son - in law of many years.

Overwhelmed by the out pouring of emotions, Onyema in an interview expressed gratitude to the traditional rulers of Ihiala who deemed him fit to be honoured affirming that he will use the Ozo title to uphold justice in the community when called upon to assist in taking decisions .

He described the honour as evidence of community appreciation , which he has been carrying out in the past years .

He said it took three years to convince him to accept the chieftaincy on the grounds of humility , because he would like to assist his community in his own way without making noise in appreciation of the blessings God had bestowed on him.

He promised to use the Ozo title to uphold justice and truth in his Mbosi community , as he has weighed the commitment of the title with no infringement on his Christian faith .

Onyema said :" I am happy today that this Ozo chieftaincy on me by the entire igwes in Ihiala and my home town Mbosi has become reality .

It took three years of pressure before I decided to have it .

It is the combination of my chieftaincy titles wrapped into one .

I am grateful to the entire community for the honour . I am grateful to God for His blessings upon my life and how he has assisted me to give back to my community which truly appreciates .

I will use this opportunity to further strengthen the bond between me and my people as far as it does not infringe on my Christian faith .

I think by way of modesty , I have made contributions to the development of humanity through my engagement in peace and conflict resolution for the return of peace in the Niger Delta .

Through my foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria we have changed the orientation of Nigerians to settle issues without resorting to violence .

Even, in my foray into the aviation industry, with my airline, Air Peace, we have changed the face of the aviation industry .

Since Air Peace started operations in Nigeria , the aviation sector has witnessed a quiet revolution . These , I believe are a few of the things I have done for which I am being honoured today .

By the grace of God, we will do more to further the cause of humanity ."

In her remarks, Mrs Alice Onyema described the chieftaincy title on her husband as an honour deeply routed in service to community .

To add colour to the event, ace comedian Mr Okey Bakassi and Nolly Star , Mr Kanayo . O Kanayo were on hand to compere the event as guests were treated to the best of cuisines across the globe. Superstar musician, the Limpopo King, KCEE led an array of other musicians that performed at the event.

In attendance at the event were representatives of the United States Embassy led by Tom Heines, top executives of banks, officials of Air Peace led by the chief operating officer, Mrs Toyin Olajide as well as others .

Staff of the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria ( FEHN ) were also on hand at the event .

Former managing director of Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC), Mr Timi Aliabe , was represented .

The close friend of the celebrant , Chief Obi Kings , the Gburu Gbururu of Ihiala LGA was also present . Members of the religious community were not left out.