By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

The traditional ruler of Obosi in Idemili North LGA of Anambra state, Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Eze Iweka III), has inaugurated a committee that would raise fund for the building of the Obosi Central Palace as well as overseeing its construction.

The landmark ceremony which marked the beginning of a significant chapter in the history of Obosi took place at Igwe Chidubem Iweka’s royal palace on January 6, 2025.

Igwe Iweka, who expressed immense joy at the idea of building an Obosi Central Palace that would befit future successive kings of Obosi, prayed for the reign of peace in Obosi and the successful completion of the project.

And in his own remarks, the President General of the Obosi Development Union(ODU), Barr. Chimezie Obi, went down memory lane, stating that the traditional ruling institution in Obosi has existed for centuries.

He said that for eon periods, spanning the ancient times and the modern period, no past kings of Obosi had lived in palaces that befitted their statuses as the kings of the ancient Obosi kingdom.

Barr. Obi said that the situation of not having a modern central palace for Obosi king(s), which is incongruous with existent realities and the people’s expectations, spurred them to moot the idea of raising fund for the building of the Obosi Central Palace.

And the Chairman of the Fund-Raising Committee For The Building Of The Obosi Central Palace, Engr. Eric Anyamene, promised that the money realized from the fund-raising would be used prudently for the execution of the building project.

He stated that honesty and transparency would undergird the committee’s financial dealings, saying that the committee would publish its financial updates/statement, monthly.

The proposed Obosi Central Palace and Iba-Adike would be built at a historical site where the five villages of the Obosi-inland town intersected, which is symbolic of Obosi people’s unity and oneness.

They would be situated in-between the Obosi township stadium and the Afor-adike market, and on the pieces of land adjoining them from the four cardinal points.

The sixteen-man committee has Engr. Eric Anyamene as its chairman while Barr. Chimezie Obi is the secretary.

And the committee is charged with raising fund for the building of the Obosi Central Palace and Iba-Adike as well as overseeing their execution so as to ensure their speedy and seamless completion.

The gargantuan building project, which is estimated to cost a whopping sum of 700 million naira, is expected to be completed within twenty-four months.

And the composition of the membership of the Obosi King’s Central Palace Committee was based on these factors, namely (1) Inclusivity (each village is represented) (2) Inclusion of practitioners of professions apposite to raising fund for the project and its execution (3) Inclusion of representatives of ODU and Igwe Chidubem Iweka’s royal cabinet.

•Okoye is an officer of the Anambra State Ministry of Information.