CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
World boxing champion title holder, Obisia Nwankpa, has paid a courtesy visit to the Ezendigbo In Mushin land, HRM, Eze John Nwosu, in his palace in preparation for the conferment of his chieftaincy title coming up on the Igbo Cultural day slated for 7th December, 2019. P.M.EXPRESS confirmed Nwankpa’s visit to the palace with his wife, Franca, his son, Gabriel and his manager, Bishop Mike Nwosu.
The visit was to show appreciation and thank Eze Nwosu and his Council of Obi Eziokwu and the Igbo Community for considering him worthy of a chieftaincy title in recognition for his contributions towards sports development in Nigeria.
In his emotional speech at the event witnessed by some palace chiefs including Chief Paul Umeh, the Chairman of Ohanaeze in Mushin, Eugene Omeje and Chief Titus, who is Chairman of Igbo Speaking Community, Obisia said he never knew that he was appreciated and loved by his people until the conferment of the chieftaincy was announced on air.
He said he had waited for several years when he was winning titles all over the world but nobody remembered him until recently when Eze Nwosu visited him and announced the chieftaincy title to his family.
He said that he will forever appreciated the gesture and have come to realize that he was loved by the Igbo Community as led by Eze Nwosu in Lagos.
In reaction, Eze Nwosu thanked Nwankpa for the visit with his entourage and said it was the beginning of showing him that his people appreciated his contributions and loved him.
He said that the Igbo Community wants to announce to the world that Obisia Nwankpa was still alive despite the years of neglect and abandonment by the society he meritoriously served for over 35 years in sports.
“We want to honour and appreciate your contributions because you played a great role for Nigeria in the map of the sports world” Nwosu said.
It would be recalled that Eze Nwosu and his Council of Obi Eziokwu had paid a courtesy visit to Nwankpa, where they announced the intention to confer him with a chieftaincy title during the Igbo Cultural Festival coming up at Bishop Aggrey Memorial Secondary School, Mushin, Lagos.
The event will attract Igbo people from all walks of life including traditional rulers. Masquerades and traditional dances from the South East will be on display that day to showcase the Igbo cultural heritage.
The Igbo people in Lagos will also use the event to honour distinguished Igbo folks indeed Nigerians, who have contributed in various capacities to the development and progress of the society.