By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

Obosi is an ancient kingdom whose origin, though not lost in the mist of times, dates to centuries ago. It is a town whose rich cultural heritage and possession of distinguished personages have blended to give it a unique and captivating hue of communal identity. It is a town where intellectuals of international repute, politicians, and rich business men, who are members of the Igwe Chidubem Iweka’s ruling cabinet, acquiesce into the town’s mores and traditions, without sacrificing the tenets of modern governance, to place the town on the trajectory of rapid development.

Obosi town is, now, on the upswing of communal development, what with a school of health and the Metallurgical Training Institute sitting on Obosi land. Those schools supply our hospitals and industries with workers.

Again, Obosi, which adjoins to Onitsha, the commercial hub of the southeast states, is home to such markets as Old Motor Spare Parts Market, Electrical/Electronics Market, and other markets. So the entire Obosi landscape throbs and hums with commercial activities, which yield revenue to the Anambra state government. The Anambra state’s economic prosperity and sustainability owes partly to the huge revenue generated from markets in Obosi.

In addition to its economic importance to the Anambra state government, Obosi town’s dense population has made it the darling of politicians, who are vying for elective posts. It is the political bride that politicians vying for elective posts in Anambra state court. Their votes and support, if they choose a particular candidate, can tilt the balance in favour of that chosen candidate. The centrality of Obosi in determining the way which the political pendulum will swing in Anambra state is obvious to us, and cannot be controverted.

Obosi has notable politicians whose doings and actions have helped to shape our democratic culture and set the tone for politicking in Anambra state. They’re Chief Mike Ajegbo, who was a onetime senator of the federal republic of Nigeria; Chief Osita Chidoka, a former minister of aviation; Hon. Obinna Chidoka, a lawmaker, who represented Idemili North and South Federal Constituency in the National Assembly; Tony oneweek Muonagor; Engr. Ifeanyi Okoma, the Anambra state commissioner for works; and others.

But sadly, in the past, for all its possession of renowned personages, Obosi was riven apart by disunity caused by such sundry matters as tussle for the Obosi kingship and Obosi people’s political affiliations. And then, cultic activities gained a foothold in the town, causing deaths of young people. In that milieu of near anarchy, the town became a safe haven for kidnappers, armed robbers, fraudsters, and pickpockets.

But the ascendance of Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Eze Iweka III) to the throne of his fathers marked the beginning of a significant phase In the chequered history of Obosi. The people of Obosi have witnessed a turning point in their town’s affairs owing to his ascendance to the Igweship throne. A writer whose oeuvre teems with works spanning all genres of literature, Igwe Chidubem Iweka has proffered pragmatic solutions to Obosi town’s myriad of problems. And he has been working in synergy with the Obosi Development Union (ODU) to solve the town’s hydra-headed problems.

For example, the Obosi Development Union (ODU) led by Barr. Chimezie Obi has created many different ODU Committees to oversee diverse areas of life in the town. Those ODU Committees which cover areas like education, health and longevity, environmental cleanliness and protection, security of lives and property, skills acquisition and empowerment, and others have proved to be the game changer and magic wand as to addressing Obosi people’s myriad and hydra-headed problems. And, not unexpectedly, the Igwe Chidubem Iweka’s ruling cabinet has been supportive of them.

So, the Obosi town union government and the Obosi traditional ruling institution’s synergy has led to the extirpation of criminalities in the town. As a result, the town is no longer a safe haven and hiding place for internet fraudsters, pickpockets, armed robbers, kidnappers, and the like. So today, the people of Obosi sleep with their two eyes closed as the town is peaceful and safe.

And Obosi people who are estranged from one another over matters relating to kingship and politics have sunk their differences and become friends again. So an atmosphere of friendliness, conviviality, and peace pervades the Obosi town, now. But we owe the return of peace and unity to Obosi to the complementarity of roles played by the Obosi town union government and Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi.

More so, the Obosi Development Union came up with many developmental initiatives, one of which is the Obosi 1 household 2 skills programme (OBISEP). It is an adaptation of Gov. Soludo’s one youth two skills programme. With the support given to it by the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, OBISEP deployed 600 trainees and apprentices, who received training in diverse vocations and trades.

However, three hundred of those trainees and apprentices graduated from the OBISEP pilot and maiden programme. Those graduands, who are experts in diverse vocations and trades, are expecting financial assistance from well-heeled and public-spirited Obosi indigenes. They will soon become self-reliant and proud owners of their own businesses.

And the reviving of football activities in Obosi, which has taken a great dimension, has started yielding results. Obosi football team, which is called Obosi United FC, has started participating in football competitions, which are organized in Anambra state. Football talents discovered during the annual 2024 Obosi-inland football competition were drafted into the team. Those talented amateur footballers are keen on making footballing their career as well as earning their livelihoods from it.

In addition to all these, the Obosi Development Union and well-meaning Obosi indigenes are collaborating to raise fund for the building of the Obosi Central Palace. The proposition has got the seal of approval from Igwe Chidubem Iweka, who inaugurated a committee for the fundraising and building of the Obosi Central Palace on January 6, 2024.

The cooperation, whichh has existed between the Obosi monarchy and the Obosi town union government, has continued to yield fruits for both the indigenes and residents of the Obosi metropolis. The Obosi example, which exemplifies how communal efforts can lead to national development, lends itself for emulation by other towns.

•Chiedu Uche Okoye, a poet, writes from Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State. He can be reached via 08062220654 and 09125204141