From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

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An appeal has been made to prominent individuals in different communities to lend a helping hand and empower other people who are into productive ventures so as to fight poverty and crime, especially in Igbo land.
Ichie Emmanuel Ikechukwu Chukwuma, an Abidjan , Cote d’Ivoire , businessman made the appeal in his country home, Adazi Nnukwu  in  Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State during his recent empowerment programme.
Chukwuma, through his “Nwatayanachiya di na Mma Foundation” gave out cash prices ranging from N100,000 to N20,000 to 100 natives of his community to enable them firm up  their means of living while two lucky persons, a male and a female, also smiled home with brand new motorcycles after a lucky dip.
Oriental News learnt that the businessman instituted an annual empowerment programme of N15 million each which he has been dispensing yearly to members of the community for the past 10 years.
The Afor Nnukwu market square where the empowerment took place was filled with cheerful faces that thronged the venue to witness the ceremony.
Accompanied by family members and the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Neni Division, Ichie Chukwuma though presently enmeshed in a legal tussle he instituted against some members of his community over his wrongful disqualification from contesting the traditional rulership stool of the community was unruffled.
In a speech, he told the cheering crowd that there was no contest for the Igweship stool of the community because to him, it is God that crowns kings.
He reminded the people that the Bible urged them to say the truth and the truth shall set them free.
He urged his supporters who have been restive since the purported selection of a new monarch took place to remain calm and law abiding, saying that justice must surely prevail.
He dismissed insinuations in some quarters that he is empowering people because of his ambition of becoming the traditional ruler, reminding them that what he was doing presently started six years before the demise of their former traditional ruler, adding that he has no intention of stopping it whether as Igwe or not.
Chukwuma identified unemployment and poverty as the twin causes of criminality in any society just as he called on other wealthy individuals, especially those in Igbo land to lend a helping hand in creating wealth by empowering other people.
He disclosed that he is not the richest person in Adazi community, but has decided to use the little resources at his disposal to help others to grow.
While promising that he will take the lead in fighting oppression and intimidation in the community, he pledged to stand with the people at all times.
His elder brother, Chief Kenneth Chukwuma in his own remarks told the people to wake up from their docile nature as it was already dawn.
He frowned at the level of injustice and non-accountability going on in the community and told the people to be courageous and ask questions.
He condemned the manner some people at the helm of affairs in the town union issued indiscriminate levies on the poor villagers and feed fat from the proceeds while no one challenges them.
Kenneth who is the Igbo leader in Northern Cameroun called on Governor Willie Obiano to feel the pulse of the community before giving full government recognition to anybody purportedly fronted as the traditional ruler of Adazi Nnukwu.
He declared that the community has no Igwe yet while calling on the president of the town union whose tenure, he said, has expired to quit office so that democracy could take its roots in the town.
While thanking Nwata for his large heart in assisting the less privileged, he reminded the people of the community that he was the one who started charity works and empowerment in the family, saying that God told him to step down for his younger brother to take over and he quietly obeyed.
He said that because of that his younger brother has his full blessings and support always in what he is doing.
A community leader, Nze Christopher Mbanu and another stakeholder, Dr Theophilus Odukwe in their separate remarks, waxed spiritual when they reminded the people that any injustice meted on anyone would be addressed someday by God.
They noted that some members of the community have refused to stand by the truth because of certain interests they wanted to protect, but added that some voices like theirs have also made a resolution to say the truth at all costs.
While praying for continuous blessing on Ichie Nwata, they advised the beneficiaries to make the judicious use of the resources given to them so that the fund could generate further income and not for only merriment.
One of the committee members in the selection process of the beneficiaries, Amaechi Okwesili in a remark noted that Nwata has empowered the people in the past through cash, vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles, food items and other skill acquisition tools.
He reminded those who have not benefited to be patience because it would get to their turn someday.
The mother of the Chukwumas, Mrs Chikwelu Sussan Chukwuma who burst into songs of praise before her remarks, chided those who plot evil against her children to have a rethink.
She reminded them that it was her late husband who taught the children how to be givers because givers never lack.
She disclosed that her son, Ichie Nwata never bargained to be a traditional ruler, pointing out that it was his good deeds that prompted the people to pull him out from his comfort zone, adding that some who could not withstand his towering influence decided to frustrate him.
Some of the beneficiaries like a widow, Anarado Patricia and Ambrose Otewu, a bus driver testified that Nwata’s largesse changed their story in the past and the second phase of his cash empowerment which they have benefitted will change their story and stamp their feet on a sound financial backing.
Winners of the two brand new motorcycles, Ike Jesus Ebumnobi and Adaobi Enechukwu, were carried shoulder high by the cheering crowd after they both picked the winning yes numbers when nearly 100 people at the arena could not get the lucky free ticket.