UMUOZIRI
By Benedict Ahanonu
My home, my pride,
Beautiful plain like Jerusalem
In ancient, alluvial Inyishi,
Where good things happen,
Blossoming and blessed land
Where God and peace reign,
Ageless land of hope
Full of modern architecture
That speaks with one voice,
Wonderful land, full of wonderful people,
We know ourselves, we love ourselves,
We eat from one pot, we drink with one cup - mmanya Orie,
We mourn and merry together
In Umuoziri,
Where Sun rises but never sets...
Resplendent Umuoziri,
My place, my joy,
Decorated with ancient landmarks,
Like Mkpara Azala Anyanwu, like Akpaka Ukwu, like Nwohii...
Watered by Onu Iyi Ude,
Our stream of life,
Where hope and dream intersect,
Fruitful Umuoziri and bountiful
Of Ama Nkwu and Aghidi,
Comprising ever resilient and expansive Ama Orji, enterprising Duruaku, irrepressible Durueke, gentle and high-ranking Ezealaji, buoyant and indomitable Ezealaodu, strategic Opara, peaceful Obinudo, overflowing and blessed Ogo na Aluma...
Umuoziri of mission and vision,
Interspersed with valleys of treasure,
Intellectual Umuoziri, outstanding...
With academics and sharp minds,
Too numerous, so many,
Both living and dead,
Like Erasmus Akudinobi - headmaster !
Geoffrey Agu - headmaster!
Moses Nwanguma - headmaster!
Jude Anunne -headmaster!
Jude Ahanonu - my gentle father and origin - headmaster!
Ecclesiastical Umuoziri,
Where faiths interface,
Umuoziri of arch deacon Aaron - Royal Priesthood!
Historical Umuoziri, political Umuoziri,
That shone and still shines,
You gave Ahanonu Nwaezeocha,
Audacious warrant Chief,
Who brought Anglican Church,
But never attended ,
You gave Chief Edwin Ukonu -
Courageous wise man,
You gave Chief Matthew Opara -
Sagacious strategist,
You gave Chief Ignatius Akujor -
Ever dogged and masterly,.
You gave Chief Julius Ahanonu -
Bold and brave,
You gave Alfred Opara - level -headed arbiter,
You gave Peter Njoku - faithful and patient man,
You also gave J. T. Maduakolam -
Successful contractor...
Umuoziri, my home, my pride,
Wonderland where everything is beautiful,
Holy land, where evil is abhorred,
Amazing land, where evil is cursed,
Industrious land, where criminals don't thrive, don't last,
Where everything is by dint of hard work,
It must be on merit,
Otherwise it is not Umuoziri,
On Afor Lolo, we converge,
At Eke Inyishi, we transact,
Umuoziri, obodo oma...
From Ogo na Aluma,
Home of Ike na Agubosim, Akudinobi na Ijezie, Iwuchukwu na Abiakam, Maduakolam na Ihejirika, Ikeogu, Abraham, Awurumibe, Ahunamuzo, Njoku tinyekwara igwe ndi ozo...
From Ama Orji,
Home of Opara na Anunne, Onyeargbulem, Ihejirika na Ohalete, Ebiriekwe, Ijezie, Nwachukwu, Nwanguma, Ezeala, Ogumere, Mbajiuka, Nwigwe, Osuji, Iwuchukwu, Ekushie, Uzocha,tinyekwara igwe ndi ozo...
From Obinudo,
Home of Obichere, Nwokoro, Igwe, Osuji, Nwanguma, Nwachukwu, Iwuchukwu tinyekwara igwe ndi ozo...
From Duruaku,
Home of Nwachukwu, Oguamanam, Obi, Amadi, Aaron, Akujor, Ohakwe, Mark, Meshack, Ihenacho, Dikeocha, Anumata tinyekwara igwe ndi ozo...
From Durueke,
Home of Agunobi, Njoku, Maranzu, Kammere,Ibe, Chukwuocha tinyekwara igwe ndi ozo...
From Umuopara,
Home of Anuforo na Njoku, Mgbigwe, Ihunyere, Mbanu, Ugwu, Arisikwu, Emereonye, Meke na Echenaikpeazu, Ukonu, Anumihe, Omire, Ihueze, Nnadi, Opara, tinyekwara igwe ndi ozo...
From Ezealaji,
Home of Aghalagbule, Ureme, Ugwoakpozu, Opara, Mbegbu, Ugwueleke, Okpoebo, Ekwonna, Njoku, Unegbu, tinyekwara igwe ndi ozo...
From Ezealaodu,
Home of Ahanonu Nwaezeocha, Emeribe, Abangaha, Uche, Anagaraku, Mmadu, Onyemekara, Oparaocha, Nwigwe, Elihe, Mbawuike, Ahutaragini, Nwachukwu Nwaezeocha, Ayoka, Mgbeahurike, Iroka, Opara, Asomugha, Onyejiuwa, Kamange, Njoku, Ukawuba, Ibe, Unachukwu, Onyenwoke, tinyekwara igwe ndi ozo...
We are great people,
We are godly people with pride,
We are pacesetters of good things,
Tenacious people who don't give up,
We are Umuoziri, stronger together,
We are Umuoziri, we are one,
God bless Umuoziri...
Copyright ©2023 Benedict Ahanonu
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