Nkechinyere Ewa-Okpara
Ezekiel Nwifuru Nwankpu, the father of Ebonyi State governor Francis Nwifuru, has been coronated as the traditional ruler of the Oferekpe Agbaja community in the Izzi local government area of the state.
Eze Nwifuru Nwankpu married over 30 wives with 108 children. 21 of the children, including Governor Nwifuru, are graduates.
Francis Nwifuru, Governor of Ebonyi State, while congratulating his father, said his father married over 30 wives because of the intimidation and humiliation he suffered in their community
According to the report, Nwankpu got married to over 30 wives, but only 17 of them are currently with him.
The governor said his father got rich unannounced through his hard work as a notable farmer in Oferekpe, which made members of his Agbaja community envy him, intimidate him, and humiliate him.
The coronation, which took place Saturday, attracted former governors of the state, Sam Egwu, Martin Elechi and David Umahi, as well as other stakeholders of the state and national assembly members, both past and present.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, Nwifuru described his father as a hard-working man.
He emphasised that his father was humiliated by his relatives, neighbourhoods, and the entire community as he was excelling above his equals.
The humiliation, according to the governor, kept his father lonely till he began to marry wives, to be his companions, and to help hands in pursuit of his dreams as a great farmer.
He further described his father as a hospitable man who loves his wives, children, relatives, and neighbours, adding that currently, 21 out of his children have become graduates.
“My father’s decision to marry many wives was influenced by the intimidation and humiliation he endured from villagers in his quest for greatness,” he said
He urged his father to use his position to foster peace, equity, and justice within the community and never to use his position to revolt against those who might have erred him in the past.
“Do not use this revered position to seek revenge or perpetuate injustice. Rather, let it be a symbol of unity, fairness, and service to humanity,” the governor advised.