The history of any given society is replete without events for it is events that make history. These events may be either positive or negative depending on natural circumstances or the charismatic ability of the political gladiators at the helm of affairs of such society at any passing phase. These events nevertheless dictate the evolutionary trend of such society vis-a-vis its struggle to modernization. The events of history often time not only serve as a parameter or yardstick to measure the success or failure of any society but also constitute a formidable factor in identifying what went wrong and how past mistakes can be corrected so that the society can forecast and project into the future for purpose of posterity.
This has been the case with the homogeneous entity known as Edda Clan, whose inhabitants have right from time immemorial shown positive adaptation to modernization. The H.D Waddington Report Published in 1930 by the Federal Ministry of Information described the Edda Clan as an ancient civilization, stressing that the peoples’ origin and migration pattern are synonymous with the famous people of Arochukwu and Ohafia who historically are their kith and kins. This was no wonder why notable personalities of Edda extraction such as Omezua Emea Udu Oji, Prince Anya Oji Egbeke, Chief Ukpai Nsi Agwu, HRH Ezeogo Okorie Oji Uzor, HRH Ezeogo Okoro Onuma. Eze Edda XXI, Chief Oko Emegha, Chief Oji Nnachi, Chief Ewa Oji Ama etc had played prominent roles during the nationalist struggle and some of them had occupied key positions in both colonial and post colonial era For instance, Sen Ezeogo Uka of Nguzu Edda was elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1959 representing Abakaliki/Ogoja Province – a position he held until. 1966 at a time HRH; Ezeogo, Ogbuagu Ekumankama was already the Registrar of Co-operative Society of the Federation.
The outbreak of the Nigerian civil war in 1966 unarguably truncated the visible political gains made by the Edda Clan at the center of national politics. This dark era of political doldrums continued until 1976 when Chief Francis Ama Oji – a product of Forabay College of Democratic Republic of Congo was appointed a Permanent Secretary by the Imo State Government. It is on record that he had in liaison with other compatriots of Edda extraction such as Osuu Sylvester Chima Oduko, Omezua Emea Udu Oji, Henry Ama, Ugorji and others attracted the establishment of Government College at Owutu Edda in 1984, Owutu Edda General Hospital in 1991. Oso Edda General Hospital in 1992, delineation of 10 political wards from Edda out of the existing 16 political wards in then Afikpo Local Government Area as well as the creation of Afikpo South Local Government in 1991 among other visible achievements.
The brilliant performance of Chief Francis Oji in the Civil Service as a seasoned technocrat earned him an appointment in 1988 as the Deputy Governor under the then Military Administration of Imo State, Navy Commander Anthony Oguguo and later the Babangida Military junta him as the Minister of Police Affairs in 1991 and he was appointed later in the same year appointed as the Special Adviser to the Military Administrator of Abia-State, Group Captain Frank Ajobina.
Furthermore, it is worthy to also mention here the immense contributions and noble role played by Osuu SO. Oduko to the growth and development of Edda. He was appointed as Permanent Secretary in 1988 and his first place of posting was Imo State Civil Service Commission. He happened to be the longest serving Permanent Secretary of Edda extraction who bowed out of service in 1999 after the attainment of 60 years of meritorious service to his fatherland. Undoubtedly, Osuu S.C. Oduko who joined the civil service in 1971 as an Administrative Officer has been adjudged as the first Ebonyian to secure a job in the Administrative Officers’ Cadre by direct employment whereas others who were recruited after. Him either rose from the rank and file or crossed over from a different profession. As a lerum in Administration, his oratory fearlessness and rigid inclination to civil service core values, ethics and doctrines had left him standing tall as a rare gem in his own right. Worthy of mention is the inestimable contribution of Prince Ugwuocha Kama Ugwuocha who founded Edda Street, Abakaliki in 1962 as the pioneer Chairman of Edda Welfare Association, Abakaliki Branch.
It was until 1995 that the Edda clan produced the first Commissioner following the appointment of Dr. Ekuma Oji Uzor as the Commissioner for Health by the Military Administrator of Abia State, Navy Commander Temi Ejoor – a position Oji Uzor retained in the Administration of Navy Commander Walter Feghabo after the creation of Ebonyi State in 1996.
Unequivocally, these pockets of appointments trickled to the Edda clan in piece-meal until in 2011 when Engr. David Nweze Umahi propped up Prince Ugorji Ama Oti to succeed him as the State Chairman of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). This opportunity opened the floodgate of other juicy positions which the Edda people graciously received with pride such as the post of senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone, Head of Service of Ebonyi State and Commissioner for Information and State Orientation to mention but few.
In other words, it is an in controvertible fact that while the tenure of office of Engr. David Nweze Umahi as the former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State between 2011 and 2015 turned out to be a season of harvest of political appointments by the Edda Clan, his eventual emergence as the Executive Governor by divine providence signaled an unprecedented recognition and apparent avalanche of more of these appointments in major Ministry and key sectors as follows:
1. Dr. Dermis Ude Ekumankama – Hon. Commissioner for Finance
and Economic Development.
2. Prince Sunday Ugwuocha – Senor Special Assistant the Governor
on Salt and Cement Production
3. Barr Joseph Ekumankama – SSA to the Gov. on Abuja Liaison office
4. Hon (Mrs.) Emerald Akaji – SSA to the Gov. on Women
Mobilization, Ebonyi South Zone.
5. Prince Ugorji Ama Oti – Chairman, Ebonyi State Internal
Revenue Board.
6. Barr. George N. Ukpai – State Auditor General for Local Government
7. Chie Abia Onyike – General Management Ebonyi
Government Printing Press
8. Dr. Nnachi Okoro – Commissioner III, Ebonyi State
Independent Electoral Commission
(EBSIEC)
9. Mrs. Ijeoma Oji Uzor – Secretary, Fiscal Responsibility Commission
10. Mrs. Maria okechukwu Ama – Secretary, Women Development
Commission, Abakaliki.
11. Dr. Uchenna Okoro – Chairman, Primary Healthcare Agency
Development Board.
12. Prince Anya Okorie – Member, Primary Healthcare Board
13. Mr. Paul Nkama – Member, Primary healthcare Board.
14. Mr. Osita Ugo – Technical Assistant to the Governor
on Media.
The catalogue of positions occupied by illustrious sons and daughters of Edda will be incomplete without mentioning the likes of Sen. Sonni Ogbuorji – Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, whose wealth of experience and political sagacity has made him indispensable in the Senate. He appears to be the longest serving senator, representing Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone, being the first senator from the zone to enjoy re-election to the senate for two consecutive terms – courtesy of Engr. David Nweze Umahi.
At this juncture, it is imperative to also give special kudos to the two law makers of Edda extraction in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly for their ingenuity and level headedness. The law makers in question made their constituents proud by joining forces with their colleagues in making effective legislations aimed at improving the social well-being of Ebonyians. The effected two law makers are namely; Hon. (Engr.) Chidi Emerole Ejem representing Afikpo South East Constituency and his Counterpart, Hon. Nkemka Okoro Onuma representing Afikpo South West constituency. They have no doubt distinguished themselves as tasted and trusted confidants who are responsible and responsive not only to the electorate but also to their political mentors.
While Engr. David Nweze Umahi must be commended for balancing political appointments to reflect the geographical spread in the state, the infrastructural development effort of his Administration especially in Edda is exemplary. It is gratifying to note that work on the construction of Amasin/Amangwu/Owutu/Ebunwana/ Ekoli/Nguzu Road is in progress Hopefully, the construction of the three bridges at Amangwu Edda has reached 70% completion. The reactivation of the Rice clusters at Oso Edda and the adoption of the large expanse of land at Akaeze/Oso Edda Rice Farm Land by the State Government as pilot / demonstration farm for massive rice production are measures aimed at repositioning Edda as the food basket of Nigeria.
The Edda Youths and Women are not left out in the Youth and Women Empowerment Programme of the Ebonyi State Government as substantial number of Edda Youths have already been short-listed as potential beneficiaries of the sum of N600 million approved by the State House of Assembly for the first phase of the youth empowerment programme in vogue. Be that as it may, it is worthy to mention here that the fact the people of Edda voted m a s s i v e l y f o r G o v. David Nweze Umahi was because of the ingenuity of the Afikpo South LGA Chairman, Chief Julius Ama Oji (Ochiri Edda) whose unwavering commitment to the struggle was not only exemplary but also worthy of commendation.
To whom much is given much is expected. Therefore, it is not out of place that during the April. 11 2015 Generational Election, the People of
Afikpo South Local Government Area in their quest for power shift to Ebonyi South Zone, ranked third among the LGAs that gave Engr. David Nweze Umahi the highest number of votes in the State. Governor Umahi has in turn demonstrated his magnanimity, benevolence and love for the Edda Clan through his extra-ordinary welfare package to the people. Since one good turn deserves another, the people of Edda would always rally round the Umahi Administration in its dogged determination to transform Ebonyi State to an enviable height.
. Emegha is a member of Advisory Committee on LG Projects Monitoring , Ebonyi State.