Chief Anyanwu
Longevity: community honours, celebrates oldest man aged 132, receives blessings from him
By Chinwe Nwacha, Onitsha
It was a roll call of creme de la creme at Apostolic church, Umutukulu, Nnachioma Umuariam Obowo community, Obowo local Government Area, Imo state, as the oldest man of the community, Ichie Ejigiri Nathaniel Anyanwu, aged 132, was conferred with a chieftaincy title of "Ugwunna 1 of Nnachioma," and celebrated to have attained such a unique longevity age.
Prominent individuals, captains of industries, politicians, titled men and women, youths and stakeholders, as well as friends and well wishers, all thronged the venue of the occasion mostly to have a glimpse of the oldest man and his blessing to enable them attain such unique longevity.
During the occasion, Ichie Anyanwu was capped and presented with the required traditional regalia and offor, (staff of office), as a full fledged title holder by the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Igwe Augustine Adiele.
Chief Anyanwu's son on white
The traditional ruler who was ably represented by the prime minister, Chief Edwin Ibeawuchi Obio, was flanked by chairman of Aladimma Umuariam, President General, PG, and chairman of all the chairmen of the four wards of Nnachioma Umuariam, High Chief Akujuobi Omenugwa, and other title holders present.
Speaking on the honour done to Chief Anyanwu, High Chief Omenugwa, said the beneficiary, Anyanwu, remains the oldest in both Nnachioma and the entire Umuariam communities.
"We are not talking about his age because when you look at him, he looks younger than his age, due to how God created him, giving him strength right from birth, he disassociated himself from all evils which helps to prolong his life.
From R-L: Chief Anyanwu's grandson and others
Our community was in crisis for about six years to seven years which prompted our traditional ruler, HRH. Igwe Augustine Adiele JP, to sanction us, (the four wards) as autonomous communities that include, Umuogbede, where the oldest man hails from, Amorji, the head of the four wards, Umutukulu and Umuatonti, being the last of the wards in Nnachioma, to be autonomous to avoid continuation of crisis.
"After my installation, I pleaded to my people both titled men and the Stakeholders that we get to the Monarch and plead for restoration of peace in the four wards of Nnachioma, which we did and the monarch nodded and peace returned and we became one United Community again.
“The next step was to look for the oldest man within us and honour him to bless us and that was how Anyanwu was picked as the oldest when a panel of enquiry was set up to fish out the oldest man and today we have honoured him and received his blessings. You can see people from all walks of life present to have a glimpse of him and receive his blessings for longevity.
“The oldest man was capped and installed by the prime minister on behalf of our monarch as our monarch was not within reach as at the time of this honour. He gave the prime minister, chairman Aladimma, Umuariam, President general and myself the go ahead to cap the oldest man on his behalf, with other tittled men who were present.
"By virtue of his age, he has been exempted from all manners of communal levies /taxes, labour, among others, as his duty for now is to pray for our progress and protection. Visitors or non-indigenes into our community will be first presented to him and receive his blessings prior to embarking on their mission.
"We shall recall that the oldest man, Anyanwu, was the person that capped the Monarch when he was enthroned as the monarch of the community. If he dies after his stay on earth it is we, the people of this community that we together accord him a befitting burial ceremony. This honour accorded him will be a continuous exercise that if eventually he joins his ancestors we look for a successor as part of moving the community forward.
"Prior to his installation, a panel of enquiry was set up to investigate him to know if he is worthy to be so honoured and the report from the panel was that he was more than fit to be accorded the honor as he has no blemishes or skeleton in his cupboard.
In his contribution, the prime minister of Umuariam autonomous community ancient kingdom, Chief Edwin Ibeawuchi Obio said, "I have not seen this kind of celebration since I was born, we honoured the oldest man in Umuariam today.
"Our greatest problem now is gulley erosion that has cut us off from our brothers and we plead to the three tiers of government to come to our rescue," he pleaded.
In his post installation speech, Ichie Anyanwu commended all and sundry for being in attendance and finding him worthy to be so honoured and prayed God to give them longevity, fertility and progress in their various fields of endeavor as he has done to him adding that to attain 132 years on earth was marvelous in his eyes and attributed it to living a faithful, loving and peaceful life devoid of much quest for earthly wealth.
Engr. Iyke Ogugua, President General, PG, Umuariam ancient kingdom, said it was a maiden and unprecedented occasion in Nnachioma, disclosing that the new leadership brainstormed on finding out the oldest person in Nnachioma, and discovered it was Ichie Nathaniel Anyanwu, and that was the honour that was accorded and celebrated, even as he prayed for more years on the beneficiary, Anyanwu.
He advised the youths to involve themselves in meaningful projects and eschew cultism and other vices to live a blessed life like Anyanwu who was into wine tapping business in his hay days and for them to make heaven.
He lamented that road to Anyanwu's house has been cut off by gulley erosion which prevented him from attending church service especially on Sundays and pleaded to the three tiers of government to come to the rescue of the Community.
An Onitsha based medical doctor, Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Nwacha, (a.k.a. Mayor), expressed satisfaction with the honour accorded to Chief Anyanwu adding that for one to attain such longevity means that God loves him.
"For him to have attained 123 years means God loves him and my prayer is that we will all attain such age and above with good health like Chief Anyanwu who even looks younger than his age," Dr Nwacha prayed.
From R-L: Prime Minister, Chairman of all chairman Nnachioma, Pastor and others
Mr. Ihemadu Anthony, chairman of Nnachioma, Aba branch, said that, "We are here to represent Aba branch on this occasion and I pray God to also prolong our lives like he has done to Anyanwu. The legacies he will keep behind include, truthfulness, love and peace," he stated.
Earlier in his contribution, one of the grand sons to the beneficiary, Uzoma Anyanwu, disclosed that his grand father was a palmwine tapper and singer who sings (Abigbo), during public functions.
"He advised me that to live a worthy and prolong life that I should have God first in all my endeavors and avoid being involve in criminal activities that include, killings, and forceful possession of one's belongings like piece of land, extra marrital affairs, among others as such People that indulge on them never progress in life.
"My grandmother is about 136 years as at last year I checked on him and to live longer life, we barred him from alcohol, snuff and other harmful food consumption.
"After his stay on earth his burial ceremony will be more than what happened during this his conferment and honour as the oldest man, because we will accord him a befitting burial ceremony. He told me that I will be the one to procure the cow to be slaughtered for his burial as first son to his son and that all first sons should be present.
"I pray God to give him more days, he warned me that even if my father is not present during his burial that I must be present no matter how engage I may be during his burial day" Uzoma further revealed.
Contributing, the last born of the children of Anyanwu, High Chief Ogwumba Raymond Anyanwu, corraborated the view of the grandson that Chief Anyanwu was a singer and member of the Abigbo.
"My father when he was sick I nursed him up to when he had surgery and I can recall that his laboratory results showed he was 100 per cent free from all diseases and free to consume what ever he wants without fear of being sick.
"He worships God in truth and practice, a revered man of God who is currently 121 years of age but still very sound in speech and thought. God gives longevity to us, Umuariam, all his mates have died.
"He made me to understand that once your hands are clean that you should have longevity, we are happy with him, he is living a legacy worthy of emulation," the last child disclosed further.
