SPECIAL TRIBUTE AS WE COUNT DOWN TO PA SIMEON NWANKWO SOLUDO’S BURIAL CEREMONY (PART ONE)
…Blessed Beyond Measure: Nze Simeon Soludo’s Life and Times, Tracing His Epic Roots.
By Christian ABURIME
In the delicate ebb of human existence, there are individuals who etch their legacy into the very fabric of time. They carve their memories on the marble of history. Their benevolence enhances the meaning of life. One of them is Nze Simeon Nwankwo Soludo (Akukananwa 1), a luminary who graced this mortal realm for 92 remarkable years and transcended the boundaries of age to become an emblem of resilience, wisdom, and boundless inspiration.
With a spirit that knew no bounds and a heart that embraced the world with selflessness, Nze Soludo traversed the corridors of humanity, leaving indelible footprints upon the sands of time. As the man is laid to eternal rest on December 23, 2023; we reflect upon the life and times of this personable nonagenarian who passed on peacefully on Tuesday 6, November 2023, we uncover a symphony of triumphs, challenges met with unwavering resolve, and a legacy that resonates far beyond the realms of mortality.
Join us in celebrating the illustrious journey of a much beloved patriarch, whose luminous presence illuminated the path for generations of great achievers as children and grandchildren.
In tracing the lineage of the esteemed Nze Simeon Nwankwo Soludo (Akukananwa n’Isuofia), we venture into the ancestral essence that forms the bedrock of his heritage. Descending from a line of distinguished forebears, his ancestry weaves through generations rooted in Umueze village, nestled within the expanse of Isuofia Town, itself an integral part of the Aguata Local Government Area in Anambra State, Nigeria.
Umueze, a pivotal head-village of Isuofia Town, which comprises of six villages – Umueze, Ozala, Isiaku, Okpoko, Ezioka, and Akulu, with Umueze standing as the epicentre of this legacy.
Within Umueze resides the cradle of the Umu-Itesibe Kindred, of which Nze Simeon Nwankwo Soludo is an indelible part. This lineage traces its origins to Itesibe, the progenitor whose legacy resonates across the annals of time.
Itesibe, the forebear, fathered three sons – Nnabugwu, Umeojiakor, and Okpalanzekwe – from whom sprung three distinct extended families within Umu-Itesibe Kindred: Umu-Umeojiakor, Umu-Okpalaobi, and Umu-Okpalanzekwe.
Among these, Umu-Okpalaobi emerged from the lineage of Nnabugwu, whose eldest son, Okpalaobi, forged the beginnings of this lineage. Circumstances led to a familial shift, as tradition ordained the transfer of primogeniture to Nnabugwu’s younger brother, Umeojiakor, due to Nnabugwu’s demise during their father’s lifetime.
Consequently, Okpalaobi settled in the precincts of Umueze Isuofia, establishing the ancestral obi of Umu-Okpalaobi, from where his descendants would disperse to claim their inheritances.
From Okpalaobi blossomed six sons: Ezeonwuegbu, Anujeonye, Enwelum, Okafor, Uchendu, and Afoekezie. The lineage’s narrative unfolds through the progeny of these scions.
Anujeonye, the valiant son of Okpalaobi, etched his name in history as a fearless farmer and warrior. His tale resonates with valour, recounted through an episode where he confronted and vanquished seven formidable assailants who sought to usurp his allotted land at Obiuno (being the inheritance and current location of the country home of His Excellency, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, the Executive Governor of Anambra State).
Anujeonye’s triumph over adversity earned him the epithet “Ogbuntuko”, a tribute to his mettle.
Within the complex weave of family dynamics, Anujeonye married Akuano from the Ibeachusi family of Ifite Village, Nanka. Despite numerous wives, he bore only one son, Soludo. Akuano had no biological child of her own, but had to assume the role of forster mother for Soludo whose biological mother tragically passed away during his infancy.
This marked a pattern of singular surviving sons within successive generations in the family.
Soludo, akin to his father, bore an only son, Nwankwo, later christened Simeon. His birth on November 11, 1931, heralded hope amidst a familial history fraught with infant mortality.
Mgboli Anujeonye, Soludo’s wife from the Ofodile family in Ozala Village, encountered the anguish of losing all her children except Simeon, the solitary survivor.
Providentially spared, Simeon’s journey unfolded under the nurturing care of Akuano’s kin, particularly Obele, summoned to fill the void left by his mother’s untimely passing.
Obele’s arrival bestowed a newfound blessing upon the family, bridging the chasm left by tragedy. Her union with Soludo, despite her inability to conceive, marked a pivotal turning point, as she embraced Simeon as her own, fostering his growth with unwavering devotion.
Akuano and Obele, though childless, emerged as stalwarts in shaping Simeon’s life and fortifying the foundation of the Soludo lineage. Their influence, pivotal in bolstering the family through its trials, resonates as a demonstration of their instrumental roles in shaping the destinies of those they nurtured till date.
…to be continued.