THE LIFE JOURNEY OF OUR PATRIARCH, LATE ELDER HIGH CHIEF EGBE ALFRED NWITE (AKA Idu N’eme Anu) 20th Dec., 1938 – 30th July, 2024.
Elder High Chief Egbe Alfred Nwite was an exceptionally humble and peaceful man. The last son and fifth child of his Late parents Egbe Aneke and Nemba Nwaegbe of Nnaji Nwaonwe Family, Umueloko Kindred, Umuogbu Village in Iyonu Community, Ishielu L.G.A., Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
He was not born with anything close to a silver spoon but through grace and dint of hard work, he carved one for himself.
LATE ELDER HIGH CHIEF EGBE ALFRED NWITE (AKA Idu N’eme Anu)
EARLY AGE:
Life remains a great mystery to all humans. He was born on December 20th, 1938 and died on July 30th, 2024 after a brief illness aged 86 years.
Indeed, it is a celebration of a life so beautifully lived to be beautifully Remembered.
EDUCATION:
High Chief, Elder Alfred Egbe started his Western education, like most other children of that era, when his hand could reach across his head to touch his ear on the other side at St. John’s Catholic Mission School, Iyonu now, Central School Iyonu in the year 1948 – 1952. Due to his belief that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
He went further to complete his Standard Six (6) at Corpus Christi Umuhuali in 1954. He had a great passion for education. He starved to ensure that all his Children, Grand Children and Foster Children got the quality of education they desire.
LATE ELDER HIGH CHIEF EGBE ALFRED NWITE (AKA Idu N’eme Anu)
He was loved by many during his school days especially when it comes to sports as he was popularly known as “thunder”. The rest as they say, best left as history.
MARITAL LIFE:
High Chief Egbe A. N. was happily married to three wives (One late). Chief Mrs. Egbe Paulina Adani (first wife),
Late Chief Mrs. Egbe Janeth Ogo (second wife, Late) and
Chief Mrs. Egbe Josephine Nwuzor (third wife) and the marriage was blessed with 4 Sons, 5 Daughters, Sons/Daughters In-laws and numerous Grand and Great-grandchildren.
MERITORIOUS TITLES:
High Chief Alfred had several honours and titles bestowed upon him during his life;
*** He was an accomplished farmer both in large commercial and subsistence quantities in various crops during his prime which qualified him to be bestowed with the prestigious traditional title of Ozor Ji Ebule (the highest farming title in Iyonu bestowed only to men who distinguished themselves in Yam Crop Farming). Some of other notable titles include:
*** Onyibe;
*** Idu N’Eme Anụ;
*** Obarezhi;
*** Ofi Inya;
*** Ogbu Efi etc.
SOCIAL LIFE:
High Chief A. N. Egbe made friends and kept them till death separated them. He had them in quantum and in droves, both old and young, males and females, strong and feeble, rich and poor, particularly the latter. His friendship with Late Nnaji Joseph (Allah Dey) was something else. They were like soul mates and siamese twins. Also, Late Chief Ezeh Felix, though an In-Law to him, Elijah Umunna (Umunna Holdings) was like his twin brother. His Excellency Alhaji Abubakar Audu (Former governor of Kogi State), Chief Nnaji John Omebe (Ichie Omeru-Oha) and Chief Linus Omebe were his pet friends; His Excellency C. C. Onoh (former governor of old Anambra). He kept them till he went to rest eternally with his creator.
OCCUPATION:
High Chief A. N. Egbe made an indisputably rapid progress in life. He engaged in many occupations majorly on Timber Contractors, Cement Dealers, and especially Farming.
He started his farming career at an early age under the strict supervision of his Uncle/Name Sake (Una Nwannaji).
He rose to the status of a great farmer in the year 1964 and cultivated all varieties of cash crops in commercial quantities which he supplied to many community markets and cities in Ebonyi State, Ogbete Main market Enugu, Enugu State and beyond. He is a well known Timber Contractor as far back as 1960. He opened a virgin road in Anyigba, Kogi State and Agamede in Enugu State, they named the Streets after him.
POLITICAL LIFE:
Politically, Elder High Chief A. N. Egbe was stubborn and radical but earned for himself the reputation of standing by the truth and hate victimization of any kind.
In 1983, He was appointed the Agent of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) for the 1983 Gubernatorial election of Late Chief Christian Chukwuma Onoh popularly known as C. C. Onoh.
In 1986, Chief A. N. Egbe contested for a Ward councilor during the old Nkalagu/Iyonu Ward which he pulled crowd.
He was the first Traditional Prime Minister in Iyonu (ONOWU) to the HRH, Alexander Nnamchi Agbo (Eze Di Ora Mma 1)
His political ideology is anchored on altruism, patriotism, pragmatism and service to the people. He believes in equality and sovereignty of the people.
His political virtues are guided by the ideals of respect for the dignity of man and the rights of the individual and this made a way for him in 1998, when 85% Iyonuans nominated him as the next Ezeogo of Iyonu before the reverse turned to be the case when the people who thought that they were more Iyonuans than others hijacked the process. Yet, he believed in some fundamental principles that guided his conduct in public office and as a pragmatic man.
At that point in time, some people would regard his attitude to public office as very simple but the fact that people love him and continue to hold him in high esteem even till today shows he was right. He exemplified the qualities of a leader and not a looter.
He never touched public funds, rather, as a wealthy farmer, when the community had no money to complete a project, he used his personal money to do that and he never got back the money.
DEATH:
High Chief Elder Alfred N. Egbe came, saw and conquered!
He gave up the ghost at his Ndegu Umuogbu residence early in the morning on Tuesday 30th July, 2024 after a brief illness. His life was characterized with humility, hard work and dedication to the service of God, his Community (Iyonu) and Igbo-Esa Clan in general.
He was a voice to the voiceless, the less Privileged and the downtrodden in the society and a Social Crusader par excellence. His demise, no doubt, has created a huge vacuum in Iyonu Community, Igbo-Esa Clan and Ishielu Local Government Area at large.
He left an impact on every person he met even strangers. The love he spread on this Earth continues to grow and will live on and that is the ultimate measure of any human being.
He is survived by his two wives, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sister, in-laws and host of other relations.
Adieu The Hawk
Adieu Nwa Njoku
Adieu Obarezhi
Adieu Idu N’eme Anu
Adieu Onyibe
Adieu Ofi Inya
Adieu Ogbu Efi
Adieu Ozor Ji Ebule
Adieu Agu n’che Ibe 1.
Signed By Egbe Charles Nnaji For The Family And Sponsored By Egbe Felix Uchenna.
