Delta State government has applauded Asaba chiefs for their 1,000 trees planting initiative in commemoration of the 100th birthday of the paramount ruler and Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Obi Chike Edozien, saying it will help in combating climate change.
The Director-General of Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Mr Patrick Ukah, gave the commendation during the tree planting exercise and reception, held at Ogwa-Uku, Asaba.
He said, “The state government will key in to the centenary celebration and we commend the initiative of the Asaba chiefs for the trees planting.
“There is need to also plant flowers, because of what climate change is doing to us now. We need to go green.”
Addressing the people of Asaba, the chairman of the Centenary Organizing Committee, Dr. Ben Okonta, said the week-long activity had been planned, beginning with a visit to the celebrant by Asaba traditional chiefs in order of hierarchy.
He said, “The trees planting event is part of the activities line up for the celebration of 100th birthday and 33-year coronation anniversary of the 13th Asagba of Asaba.”
President-General, Asaba Development Union, worldwide, who also doubles as co-chairman of the Centenary Organising Committee, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, said that 100 years in the life of any human being, irrespective of status or position was worthy of celebration.
Azinge called on sons and daughters of the community at home and abroad to support the initiative.Another co-chairman of the committee and Isama of Asaba, Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, noted that the Iyase of Asaba, Chief Patrick Onyeobi is the overall chairman of the organizing committee.
He said, “We have begun the centenary celebration. We decided to announce the celebration, beginning with the planting of 1,000 threes in the five Ebos (quarters) in Asaba.
“The choice of 1,000 trees is based on fact that 1,000 men were killed in Asaba during the war.”
He stressed the importance of trees to life, saying that it will serves as a historic reference for generation yet unborn, as the trees would remind them that the 13th Asagba of Asaba, in whose honour the trees were planted was a centenarian.
The symbolic 1000 tree planting was conducted by the Iyase of Asaba, Chief Onyeobi, supervised by Ukah and the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Ngozi Okolie.
