RIP

HRH Eze Charles Onwukwe Iheke - Nkalukwu 1 of Amankalu Igbere is survived by his wife Ugoeze Comfort Iheke, and his son Christian Nnanna Onwukwe Iheke.  He leaves behind his brothers and sisters Chief Alexander Iheke, Publisher of Igbo Basics, Chief John Ndubueze Iheke, Mrs Ijeoma Obiegwu, Ms Erimma Ukeje, several aunts and uncles, including
Engr. M. C. K. Awa, of, Igbere Progressive Association International, Inc.,  Barrister Ifeanyi Iboko, and Dr. Madukwe Iboko and many cousins and friends who will miss him.

The funeral will take place in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria on Saturday, April 17 & 18, 2020.  Condolence messages may be sent to the Iheke Family care of Alexander Iheke at E-mail: igbobasics@aol.com or call 908-344-9193.

 

HRH Eze Charles Onwukwe Iheke, Nkalu-ukwu 1 of Amankalu Igbere honored in Elizabeth, New Jersey

Chief, Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman (Agu-Di-Na-Mba of Amankalu Igbere) and Lolo Janice Spearman were in the City of Elizabeth, New Jersey on Friday, March 20, 2020 to receive honors on behalf of late HRH Eze Charles Onwukwe Iheke, Nkalu-ukwu 1 of Amankalu Igbere, Abia State, Nigeria. Reverend Dr. Anthony Spearman who is President of the NAACP, North Carolina State Conference and a kinsman of the Iheke family was welcomed at Elizabeth City Hall by Hon. Council Woman-At-Large Patricia Perkins-Auguste and members of Committee of Friends For HRH Eze Charles Iheke amongst whom were: Dr. Harris Enabulele, Chief Veronica Anyanwu Iruwa, Mrs. Barbara Miller, Deacon Gordin Nwako, and Fr. Steve Aribe.

About Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman
After finding through DNA analysis that he had Igbo ancestors, he made contact with Past District Governor Lemmy Ijioma of Rotary District 9120 who was able to reconnect him with his ancestral base.
On arrival in Igbere, he was taken to the local stream to have a swim (bath). This is an African tradition that requires that any descendant who had wandered away must be purified by this “bath” before he/she is re-accepted as part of the community. Shortly afterwards he was greeted by the entirety of the Amankalu Igbere Autonomous Community and embraced by Eze Charles Iheke himself.  Dr. Spearman was then made a chief and given the title of Agu Di Na Mba (The lion that is in a foreign land) and immediately inducted as one of the Cabinet Chiefs.

Spearman addressing as Congress woman Auguste-Perkins and Dr. Harris Enabulele admires
Memorial For The Eze As a member of the Eze’s Cabinet, he came to Elizabeth to memorialize Eze Iheke with his local family.  In a ceremony conducted at the City Council Chambers in City Hall, Dr. Spearman eulogized the late Eze Iheke saying, “He loved mankind and lived for his people. He had many dreams he accomplished, but many of these dreams still linger on.” Dr. Spearman went on to praise the Eze for his efforts to bring his village to the cutting edge in medicine, education, technology, and commerce and furthermore to remember the projects that would remain unfinished in the Eze’s wake.
Council Woman-At-Large, Patricia Auguste-Perkins reading the commendation
Congress woman Patricia Auguste-Perkins reading the commendation for Eze Iheke as Agu-di-na-Mba and Opiegbe admires attentively
Rev. Dr. Anthony Spearman thanking the Council Woman-At-Large and the Elizabeth City Council for the condolence and commendation
Agu di na Mba and Lolo Janice Spearman
l to r Opiegbe Congresswoman Patricia Augute-Perkins and Chief, Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman (Agu Di na Mba)
America and Nigeria flags displayed at the City council Chambers in Elizabeth NJ 3/ 20/ 2020. l-r Chief Alexander Iheke(Opiegbe) Publisher of Igbo Basics, Hon. Council Woman-At-Large Patricia Auguste-Perkins, Lolo Janice Spearman, Dr. Harris Enabulele, Chief, Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman (Agu-Di-Na-Mba), President NAACP North Carolina State Conference
Chiefs Agu di na Mba and Opiegbe before heading to Elizabeth City Hall 3 20 2020
Lolo Gail Iheke and Lolo Janice Spearman done the Eze Iheke burial George uniform

Dreams of Eze Iheke

He had thought of getting a dialysis machine for the health clinic, and providing ultra sound machines and incubators for the same clinic. He dreamt of installing MRI machines.
Building school blocks for the 300 pupils and construction of teachers quarters for the school staff were part of his dreams. He even wanted to start a computer training scheme for the school.
His plan for empowering the village women saw the establishment of garri processing plants but until he died it was not possible for him to raise funds to start a micro finance loan scheme for the rural women.
He even talked about constructing a 5km road to the local farm to enable the 40,000 farmers to have easy access to their farms.
Before departing City Hall, Rev. Dr. Spearman along with Chief Alexander Iheke (Opiegbe), publisher of Igbo Basics Publications paid a brief courtesy visit to Mayor J. Christian Bollwage and left with an indelible memory of Elizabeth, New Jersey back to North Carolina.

Isaac Iheke before going to Elizabeth City Hall	Chief Veronica Anyanwu Iruwa before going to Ciity Hall