The indigenes of Arochukwu in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State have called on the Federal Government to expedite action towards the completion of the Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal highway in the honor of their deceased monarch, Eze Ogbonnaya Okoro (Eze Aro).
The Chairman Aro National Rites of Passage Committee, Prof. Okoro Ijeoma, stated this on Monday, during an event marking the royal rites of passage of the late monarch.
He described the deseaed king
as a highly talented, educated, relaxed and very respectful king who sacrificed a lot for the peace of his community.
He said, "We have had a road which is in despair and it was one of those agonies that faced him when he was alive and we want as a lasting legacy for the road to be fixed to honour him, because that is how we can grow economically and socially."
Also speaking, a security expert, Chief Chikwe Udensi, described the late monarch as an epitome of Arochukwu culture and tradition.
He said his demise was a big blow to his subjects, adding that his people had only taken solace in the fact that he lived a life of service to his people.
He expressed the hope that the Federal Government would immortalize him for his contributions towards the peaceful coexistence of the Arochukwu Kingdom and Nigeria at large.
The convener of the New Nigeria Group, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, said the late Eze Aro loved his community and Nigeria at large.
He said, "Late Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro, preached peace and collective responsibility towards the development of his community while on the throne.
"Each time we visited him, he will tell us that the crown he was wearing was also on our heads, therefore we must work hard to protect it.
"He wanted all of us to be involved in seeking the peace, progress and development of the Arochukwu Kingdom.
"He never demanded anything from anyone, he was contented with what he had. He was an extraordinary king, one would have expected him to be more demanding but he wasn't.
"He did great during his rein, Aro is in peace, and progress is coming up all over the place because he promoted peace at all times".
Born on Monday, March 6, 1932, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro,
trained in the United Kingdom as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.
He returned to Nigeria in 1966 and began to work as a Laboratory Technologist, a research fellow and lecturer in a number of institutions including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he was involved in the production of Nigeria's first cholera vaccine in 1971 together with the renowned Professor of Virology and former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Augustine Njoku-Obi.
He was the pioneer head of the Department of Laboratory Technology at the University of Nigeria Teaching hospital, Enugu.
"He retired as the Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist at the UNN in 1988 to ascend the throne.
Eze Ogbonnaya Okoro ascended the famous Eze Aro throne in 1995 and his reign witnessed tremendous transformation of the kingdom and growth in inter-communal relations.
Among other positions, Eze Ogbonnaya Okoro, was a first-class traditional ruler and occupied one of the ancient traditional stools in Nigeria and was the custodian of the Aro heritage worldwide.
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