The new Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, on Tuesday [today] donated a house to an indigent vulcanizer in his community.
Asadu, who is the traditional ruler of Edem-ani Ogwugwu Community in Nsukka, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, made the donation in the community.
Asadu in a remark in Nsukka, while handing over the room and parlour with bathroom and toilet facilities to Mr. Onyekachi Ozioko, a vulcaniser, said he would continue to use the wealth given to him by God to serve humanity.
He said it was the empathy he had for fellow human beings that always moves him to help the poor and build houses for indigent members of Edem-ani.
“I am not helping the poor or building houses for them because I am the richest but because of empathy and sympathy I have for my fellow human being.
“This house l am handing over today is the number eight house I have built and handed over to poor people in Edem-ani community, free of charge.
“Today’s own is unique because it is the first one since Thursday last week when Enugu State Government appointed me as the Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council,” he said.
He urged Ozioko to use the house to settle down and raise a family for himself.
“Having built this house for you, I expect you to start preparing for marriage, as age is no longer on your side. At your present age you are supposed to have been married with children. I will be happy to hear in due course that you are married,” he said.
Asadu appealed to Edem-ani people to help Ozioko furnish the house with bed, chairs, and cooking utensils, among other things he would need in the new house.
The appeal got immediate response from community members present who started making donations in cash to buy bed, mattress, cooking utensils, chairs, etc., for Ozioko.
Asadu’s wife, who accompanied the husband to the event, donated N200,000 on behalf of herself and her children to help in equipping the new house.
In a remark, Chief Gabriel Ezema, who spoke on behalf of title holders in the area, thanked the traditional ruler immensely for building a house for Ozioko.
“This house you built is not only a relief to Ozioko but to all of us in this area. This is not the first time you are building houses for indigent members of the community and I know it will not be the last. Our prayers is that God will reward you abundantly,” he said.
Ezema commended the wife of Asadu for being a good wife, supporting the husband as well as allowing him to use his wealth to help the community and poor people.
“Behind every successfully man, there is a good woman,” the royal father said.
Responding, Ozioko thanked Asadu and his royal family members for their benevolence in rescuing him from the valley of hopelessness with a beautiful roof over his head.
Ozioko said he had almost lost hope in life when, at 55 years old, he had no house of his own, adding, “With this house our traditional ruler has given me, I have hope and reason to live and be happy.
“I am humbled and speechless by Igwe’s gesture. This is so because my life, for the past four decades now, had been miserable, with nothing to show.
“Not that I am not hustling to be a better person as a vulcaniser, but the money I get, I don’t know how I spent it. I will reciprocate this gesture by avoiding excess intake of alcohol and completely avoid my old ways of life and look for a life partner to marry,” he said.
The vulcaniser expressed appreciation to Asadu’s wife and all who contributed money to enable him to equip his new house and prayed God to replenish their pockets.
Enugu State Government had, in a Press statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, last Thursday, announced the appointment of Igwe Asadu as the new Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council.
Highlights of the occasion was cutting of the house warming tape by Asadu and special prayer to bless the new house by the Parish Priest of St Paul’s Catholic Church Edem-ani, Rev Fr. Charles Nnaji. (NAN)
