By Austin Ogwuda
Prominent female political leader in Aniocha South local government area of Delta State, Nigeria, Joan Onyemaechi popularly known as Ada Anioma clocked 59 years today (Monday).
The management of Maris Trust Council (MTC) in a birthday message signed by its Secretary, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo stated that “The Maris Trust Council, MTC today celebrates an Amazon, a trailblazer and goal-getter.
“It would be recalled that in 202, Ada Anioma was a cynosure of all eyes when she attended the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture as a Discussant.
“At that lecture, the Vice Chancellor, University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor, Prof. Chinye Chiemeke spoke on the topic, ‘Flight Of Talents: Navigating Nigeria’s Brain Drain Predicament,’ and Ada Anioma with Dr Barry Gbe, the Chief Economic Adviser to Delta State Government, a renowned politician, Chief Philomena Ededey Ugheminiaye, the Senior Special Adviser to Delta State Government, Chief Tony Amechi, and a legal expert, Fred Erelu-Ede, Esq discussed the topic while a University Don, Prof. Kemi Emina who is the OdiEga of Ebu Kingdom, moderated the lecture.
“The Chairman, Delta State Civil Service Commission, Lady Rosaline Amioku was Mother of the Day and Very Revd. Fr. John Konyeke was Father of the Day at the lecture which took place on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.
“As Ada Anioma celebrates 59 years on Planet Earth, Maris Trust Council wish her many more years in good health, sound frame of mind and may God grant her the means to be happy and to keep making contributions for a better society to be achieved”, Egugbo stated.
Recall that Joan Onyemaechi was kidnapped on that fateful Tuesday, July 30, 2024, from King Jesus and I Church, off Delta Broadcasting Service DBS Road, Asaba at about 4.30 pm and was finally released after spending ten days in the kidnappers’ den in Bayelsa State.
The kidnappers during that bloody encounter killed her Driver and Police Orderly including a passerby before escaping through otu-ogwu, bank of the River Niger in a standby speedboat.
History has it that she is the first woman from Ubulu-Uku community, her hometown to represent Aniocha South local government in the State House of Assembly.
Hon. Joan Onyemaechi was a former Member of the Federal House of Representatives and the immediate past State Commissioner for Technical Education, a position she hurriedly relinquished to pave way for her junior brother, Pastor Jude Chukwunwike to contest for a second tenure as Chairman of Aniocha South Council.
Prior to that last local government Council elections across the State the protesters had accused her of single handedly grabbing and ensuring that virtually all the top political offices were allegedly concentrated within her family confines.
