Indigenes of Oduma community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State on Saturday defied a supposed directive from the state government and went ahead to honour the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, with a chieftaincy title.

The Governor Sullivan Chime-led government had banned the conferment of traditional titles by any community in the state from April 7 to December 31, 2014.

However, Oduma people, even with the deployment of about 200 police officers to stop the event, honoured Ekweremadu and three others.

The elders of the community conferred the traditional title of Dike Eji Eje Mba 1 of Oduma (a worthy ambassador) on the deputy senate president, who hails from Mpu, a neighbouring community in Aninri LGA.

Others honoured on the occasion included the member representing Udi – Ezeagu Federal Constituency and House Committee Chairman on Works, Ogbuefi Ozongbachi; the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen; and the Group Managing Director of SETRACO Nigeria Limited, Fayez Khalaf.

In his acceptance speech, Ekweremadu said he was grateful to God that the event eventually held, saying, “despite efforts made by some people to frustrate it from taking place.”

He announced a donation of N6.3m for the completion of St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish in Oduma, venue of the event.

Ekweremadu said he would continue to partner with other Enugu State representatives at the National Assembly to attract dividends of democracy to the people.

He said, “I have not come to receive a chieftaincy title. No. I have come to celebrate with the people of Oduma because God has eventually heard their cries. You see this road? This Egyptian you are seeing today, you will see them no more; your problem is over. By this time next year, there will be asphalted road in the whole length and breadth of Oduma.”

The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Richard Uwakwe, said the people of Oduma were limited by human language to express their gratitude to Ekweremadu for attracting the Mpu-Uburu-Oduma-Nenwe road, currently under construction by SETRACO, through the assistance of the Federal Ministry of Works.

Meanwhile, the state government, as of the time of filing this report, had yet to react to the development.