Ground breaking achievements of the All World Igbo Community in Cameroon

   How Eze Onyengubo Jonathan Thomas, Gburu Gburu 1, pushed the Igbos forward in 2015

The history of the Igbos, one of the largest Nigerian ethnic groups in Cameroon is as old as the Republic of Cameroon itself but at no other time in its history in Cameroon have they been as organised as in 2015. This observation about the Igbos in Cameroon is most true in the Southwest Region and to an extent the Littoral Region.

Many things contributed to this increased sense of cultural identity amongst them but the turning point came when the title of Eze Gburu Gburu 1of Ohana Eze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon was conferred on Onyengubor Jonathan Thomas on Sunday October 19, 2014. Apart from being crowned as the Eze Gburu Gburu one of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon he was also given the title of Ambassador for Peace. This title Gburu Gburu 1 which literally translates as the Nigerian Traditional Head of the All Igbo Community in Cameroon took place in Tiko in the Southwest Region of Cameroon.

The coronation proper which remains one of the highlights of 2015 was carried out by the Head of the Nigerian Community in the petroleum city of Limbe Chief Dr. Odirichukwu assisted by Chiefs from Fako Division under the watchful eyes of the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako Mr. Zang III. The colourful coronation which saw the ritualistic wearing of the traditional bangle as a sign of the power of hardwork, a necklace indicating royalty and success, a traditional royal fan as a sign of peace, a staff of office indicating firmness in decisions and duties as well as a royal cap was a demonstration of the beauty of African pageantry and pump.

 

 

“Eze Jonathan Gburu Gburu 1 Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon shortly after coronation flanked by royal bigwigs from Nigeria and Cameroon” 

 HRH Eze  Onyengubor Jonathan Thomas summed up the power of the event in the following manner. “Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo refers to the entire Igbo tribe. My responsibility from today is to protect and valorize the Igbo culture in Cameroon and to maintain  the chieftaincy title and be the chief maker of Ndi Igbo. As an Ambassador for peace I want Cameroonian Authorities to know that Africa is one. Cameroon and Nigeria are like brother and sister. I call on Nigerians here to be law abiding because when you respect the laws of a country you will live freely. 

Coronation proper: When power flows into a king.

Indications that this was the beginning of a new era in the unity among Igbos were seen through those who gathered for the occasion and what they said. Anene Christopher, the Public Relations Officer of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Limbe said they had come purposefully to support their brother who was taking a very important title. “I am so humbled with what I saw here today. I lack words to express my joy because this is what we want to be happening all over Cameroon to project the Ibgo culture which is rooted down from our ancestors. Once you are an Igbo man you belong to the Ohanaeze so it’s not something you got to think twice before joining. It is a forum where the igbo man celebrates his culture. This identifies them irrespective of where they find themselves on the globe. This forum helps our children to learn our dialect since they hardly go to Nigeria.”

Chief Ikeogy Anthony Anamaleze II from Anambra State intimated that “It is a very important occasion for Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and it guarantees the growth of this association which represents the sons and daughters of Igbo land. It’s in America, South Africa, London and everywhere.”

It equally marked a rapprochement between the Igbos and their Cameroonian brothers. Notable Ndifor from Akum on his part showered praises on the new leader saying that HRH Chief Eze Jonathan had done a lot in his village Akum and that he represented development and peace in everything that he did. ”I am very impressed with the importance that Nigerians attach to culture and royalty. The Chief actually merits what has been given to him today because he is a person who knows the value of people.”

The Senior Divisional Officer Zang III talked on the importance that should be given to the cordial and mutually beneficial relationship that Cameroonians and Nigerians are enjoying. He further said the ceremony of the coronation of Eze Jonathan Onyenagubor as Gburu Gburu 1 of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon was colorful and tranquil because of the importance the two countries attached to peaceful coexistence.”

In an admirable gesture, in his capacity as a cultural flagbearer of the all Igbo Community in Cameroon, Eze Onyengubo Jonathan Thomas at the beginning of 2015 extended a happy new year and best wish message which ran in the following manner:

“Onyengubo Thomas Jonathan, Eze Gburu Gburu 1 of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Cameroon and Amassador for Peace extends His best wishes for the Year 2015 to

-His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Paul Biya of the Republic of Cameroon,

-The Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon Philemon Yang,

-His Excellency Dan Wari Mwazim, the Nigerian Consul General for the Southwest and Northwest Regions in Cameroon.

-His Excellency the Governor of the Southwest Region, Benard Okalia Bilai,

-The Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Zang III,

-The Divisional Officer for the Tiko Sub Division, Che Patrick Ngwashi.

-The Presidents of the various Nigerian Communities in Cameroon and all the Nigerian Communities in Cameroon”
 

Less than four months after his coronation as the cultural flag bearer of the All World Igbo Community in Cameroon, Eze Onyengubo Jonathan Thomas was called in as a special guest during the inauguration of the Executive Committee of the Limbe Chapter of the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon. During this historic event which marked the official implantation of the Limbe Chapter of the All world Ibgo Community in Cameroon their intention to construct a FCFA 110 million Civic Center and school in Limbe was made known.The venue which was at the Bota Middle Farms field in Limbe was thronged with guests from all over the country and beyond.

Speaking during this occasion in a keynote address presented by Chief Ikeogu Nwafor Anthony the event was referred to as an inaugural celebration of the culture and heritage of Ndi Igbo in Limbe, Cameroon. Chief Ikeogu Nwafor Anthony said the idea of forming an umbrella cultural organisation that brings together all the Igbo people was hatched in 1997 and that the brain behind it in Limbe was Mazi Gordon Okoronkwo. This initial attempt which did not work was followed by another failed attempt in 2000, this time under the name Igbo Union. Chief Anthony explained that the idea finally caught the interest of the people in March 2008.He said while Okoronkwo doggedly presented the idea; Chief Everest Nwaneri made available space for the cultural association to gain the acceptability of youths. Chief Paul Mbanua, he explained finally consolidated the association by making available the grounds for enlarged meetings.

In the heart of the event that marked the inauguration exercise. Eze Gburu Gburu 1 seen here in greeting with dignitaries on arriving the ceremonial grounds.

In a press briefing at the end of the occasion, Onyengubo Thomas Jonathan, Eze Gburu Gburu 1 of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon and Ambassador for Peace said “as you can see, the whole issue is to promote our culture and let our people know that we come from somewhere. They should know that we have a culture. This forum will equally help them know our language; the Igbo language and to know that we have brothers all over Cameroon that speak one language. The executive that we put here in Limbe was simply a foundation stone for something that has been there for some years.”

The high lights of the occasion included the raising of funds for Ndi Igbo projects in Limbe which saw Onyengubo Thomas Jonathan Eze Gburu Gburu 1 and Ambassador for Peace chipping in FCFA 500.000 and Dr John Ndukwe and friends jointly also chipping in a similar sum of money for a starter. This encouraging start successfully raised millions for a fund raising exercise which still remains open.

Another ingredient of the day was the putting in place of the executive which saw the active participation of the traditional touch bearer the Eze Gburu Gburu 1 who eventually conferred traditional titles to three European sympathisers and friends of the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon. Speaking to one of the three who was honoured with a title, he said ” I am Joe from Portugal. I am a business man and a partner of Gburu Gburu 1. I have a chain of Cafés in Portugal. The African Culture is very beautiful. It is a great culture and should be preserved.”

The occasion was graced by colourful dancing and saw the participation of the First Deputy Senior Divisional Officer for Fako Division, Nafongo Vincent Lokombe, the Lord Mayor of the Limbe I Municipality, Rodanny Mbua, representatives of the Nigerian High Commission in Yaounde, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Religious personalities and traditional rulers among others.

The next stage in the 2015 story of Ohana Eze Ndi Igbo Cameroon was ushered in by the visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria H.E. Muhammadu Buhari. During this visit, he called on Nigerians resident in Cameroon to be persevering and resolute in everything they do. During this visit, he took out time to commune with the cream of the Nigerian Community in Cameroon.

His brush with representatives of the Nigerian Community was characterised by a question answer session which permitted the president to have a general picture of the state of Nigerians living in Cameroon and equally permitted these Nigerians to understand the views of the newly elected Head of State on issues that directly affect the smooth functioning of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Among the movers and shakers of the Nigerian Community who were privileged to meet the President was Eze Onyengubo Jonathan Thomas, Gburu Gburu 1 of the All World Igbo Assembly in Cameroon referred to as “Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Cameroon” among many other very important personalities. Attention was however drawn to Eze Onyengubo Jonathan Thomas as a result of the pertinent question that he put to the Nigerian Head of State which ran thus;” In your trip to the United States, you admonished Nigerians to remain resolute and be dedicated, using yourself as an example or a testament of perseverance and determination before you finally won the 2015 election. My question is, why did you persevere so much and what exactly do you want to change?
It is in answering this question that the Head of state prescribed the virtues of resoluteness and perseverance as the main tools of success in everything they do. Referring to the life of the one who asked the question the President said if Onyengubo Jonathan Thomas was not full of perseverance, he wouldn’t be the head of the Cameroon Chapter of the All World Igbo Community referred to in the Igbo Language as Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Cameroon. Turning to his own political life, H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari said his success came as a result of perseverance after losing out in presidential elections three times. It is perseverance that made him stand for the fourth time. This same spirit he said should be applied in Nigeria as a nation. This principle is the best approach to face all the challenges that Nigeria is passing through the President said. The change that Nigeria needs the President said is that of attitude in the way they face the challenges ahead of them.

Onyengubo Jonathan Thomas, Eze Gburu Gburu 1 During meeting with President Buhari at Yaounde Hilton Hotel.

Eze Onyengubo Jonathan Thomas, has equally thrown his weight behind the Annual Cultural Festival of the Oru Community in Muyuka, Fako Division in the Southwest Region. This was made evident on Sunday, December 6, 2014 during the Annual Cultural Festival and the launching of the uniform of the women’s wing of the community. The cultural flag bearer supported the festival and the uniform launch financially and also promised to provide scholarships to deserving students and support initiatives of the community among other things.

Approached by this reporter, he expressed the way he felt in the following manner: “I am a very happy person. You see, Oru is a part of the Igbo Community in Cameroon and as such constitutes part of the community that I take care of. They are part of the people I take care of and I appreciate the honour they gave to me. I talk of scholarships and I never really say things and don’t do them so I must do it the way I say it. I told them especially the women that if they remain the Law abiding people that they’ve always been, then I will do whatever thing that I promise them. I am a man who stands by his words. I therefore call on them to be law abiding citizens and not to look for problems. However, if problems come, we will know how to handle them.”
Chief Dominic Emejuru Ekwueme 1 of Oru and President of Oru Community in Muyuka on his part said the occasion served to give value to the culture of Oru and helped to motivate it. Hear him; “actually I am very impressed but we learn from each occasion so as to make future events better. This occasion has once more shown that where ever the Igbos are, they always go on with their culture. I use this opportunity to tell the Igbo Community to make sure that Igbo Culture is preserved. I call on the Igbos to remember and showcase their culture where ever they find themselves. Africans in general are now hammering on their culture. Without our culture we will not have where to source from.

Nnamdi Ekwebulem of the Oru Community in Muyuka opined that the occasion moved on marvelously and said he was glad. He equally hoped that the present spirit is maintained so that next year’s occasion turns out even better than this one.

Ibe Evans, the Public Relations Officer of the Oru Community in Muyuka summed it up in the following manner; “this occasion serves as a mile stone for Ndi Igbo Cameroon and I think Gburu Gburu 1 is doing a great job at it. I think it should be created here so as to maintain our culture. We are also waxing up strong to make sure that things go the right way. That’s why when somebody like Eze Onyengubo Thomas Jonathan, the Gburu Gburu 1 of Ohana Eze Ndi Igbo Cameroon came here today, I was very happy because it will go a long way in achieving the dream of creating that body that will sustain our culture. So I am solidly behind him.”

The organizing Secretary Uzofoh Sebastian on his part said “the main challenge we had was the lateness of some of our members. This discouraged some invitees who had come with an intention of supporting us. God helped and the occasion went well with the help of Eze Gburu Gburu 1. The aim of this event was to showcase the Oru Cultural heritage. The idea of an Oru Community started in Cameroon in Muyuka. Some of the people who started it are either dead or have traveled. More recently this community organisation was created about 5 years ago and election of the executive was democratically done.

We equally acknowledge the importance of the All Igbo Movement in Cameroon and would like it to be implanted in Muyuka. We call this movement in the Igbo Language Ohana Eze Ndi Igbo and we look forward to becoming part of it with the help of the King Eze Gburu Gburu and we call on all the Igbos to become part of this movement.”

This reporter took out time to interview Eze Onyengubo Jonathan Thomas on the recent Independence Day celebrations in which he got decorated by the representative of the Consul General for his relentless contribution to development initiatives of the Nigerian Community in Cameroon.

Today the Nigerian Community which you are its strongest Cultural Head carried out celebrations commemorating the Independence Day today in Tiko, a week after the real occasion. What message do you have on this historic day?

The message I am sending out as President Buhari already did is that Nigerians should remain resolute and determined because with determination and patience, we can achieve the rest. I also ask the Nigerian Community to be law abiding in Cameroon so that we can be able to achieve what we want in this country.

Today, a couple of people were recognised by the Consular Office of Nigeria in Buea, Cameroon with regards to  how hardworking they have been. You certainly have something to say about this.

It’s not a surprise to me because last time on the Nigerian Independence Day I received an Award given to me as an Ambassador of Peace. This time the award recognised me as the most generous patron. I know that the reward of good work is a direct measure of success. I thank the authorities who deemed it pertinent to give me this certificate of merit. We will continue doing our best to enhance the development and growth of the Nigerian Community in Cameroon.

Channel a message to Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo all over the world your Highness.

As the Eze Gburu Gburu 1 of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon, I must tell them that Igbos are one all over the world. They must be hard working as they are known to be the world over. The Igbos in Cameroon are also very hardworking but my advice to them is that they should be law abiding where ever they find themselves in the world. In less than three months we will have an Igbo event here in Cameroon to which Igbos all over the world will be invited. This will permit them to come and patronise our own event here in Cameroon.

Do you have a message to the Cameroonian and Nigerian authorities?

My message first goes to President Paul Biya and I must congratulate him for his effort to maintain peace and unity in this country. I equally congratulate President Buhari for all he has been doing in the fight against the terrorist group Boko Haram. May be in less than no time, both countries will have peace. More grease to their elbows. I call on their respective populations and citizens to be patient and place more confidence in their leaders as they travel the difficult road towards eradicating Boko Haram. Cameroonians and Nigerians should place more confidence in their leaders as they fight to eradicate Boko Haram.

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