Emeka Ibemere
Although it is generally said that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, many, especially in this part of the world, will prefer to wear the crown and allow their heads to suffer discomfort, so to say.
The foregoing scenario seems to be playing itself out in Imo State, where Governor Rochas Okorocha and a monarch’s personal differences are causing ripples. It is, indeed, a war of supremacy.
An Appeal Court victory of Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, a former chairman of the council of traditional rulers, Imo State and the chairman, Southeast council of traditional rulers, has divided the monarchs in the state and the Orlu zonal branch of the Imo State traditional council of Ndi-Eze, where he hails from.
A source close had claimed that the state governor, who singlehandedly removed Eze Ilomuanya, on assumption of office, was behind the recent altercations among the Orlu and the entire Imo State monarchs.
It was gathered that the Governor working on the Orlu zonal branch of Ndi-Eze allegedly asked one of them to refute in a recent newspaper publication (advertorial) the victory of Ilomuanya, as discussed in their mgba-nko (meeting).
But since Eze Okeke carried out that act, he has since been at war with the other Ezes from the state and his zone, who accused him of not serving their interest in the whole saga.
Eze Okeke, allegedly acting on the script of his hirers, denied any discussion on the Appeal Court victory of Eze Ilomuanya at their last meeting in Orlu. But the group actually discussed the matter and agreed to visit the governor so as to plead with to him to obey the court ruling by re-installing their former chairman.
Against this backdrop, some of the Ezes that attended the meeting, where the matter was discussed, are now spoiling for war wih Okeke over his alleged publication in which he referred to the monarch as a liar.
They maintained that they truly discussed Ilomuanya’s victory extensively at their meeting.
Reacting to the issue, the Orlu Local Government Chairman of Ndi-Eze, Eze Ugonna Iriele, expressed disappointment at the action of Okeke.
He wondered how an Eze of Okeke’s status would talk with the two sides of the mouths.
Eze Iriele disclosed that it was him (Eze Iriele), who raised the issue of Ilomuanya and it was discussed extensively, especially how to reconcile the Eze and the governor for the benefit of Imo in general and Ndi Eze, in particular.
It was gathered that during the meeting, Eze Okeke suggested that Ndi-Eze should meet with the governor and seek a way to bury the hatchets.
Also, Eze (Barr.) Anayo Durueburuo, Eze Okwudor, was quoted to have kicked against Okeke’s action, saying, “I was abashed by the publication because in the meeting at Orlu, we, the Ezes from Orlu Zone, had a motion concerning the Appeal Court victory of Eze Ilomuanya. We discussed and agreed that we are going to meet with Governor Rochas Okorocha and persuade him to adhere to the court judgment and reconcile with the authentic chairman of Imo State traditional rulers council, Eze Ilomuanya, who is his brother.”
According to him, he was shocked to hear that Eze Okeke went to the prints to deny the discussion of Ndi Eze Orlu Zone without their consent.
The two Ezes, therefore, referred to the publication as false and maintained that Eze Ilomuanya’s Appeal Court victory was discussed extensively in their meeting.
It will be recalled that the governor, two years ago, deposed Eze Ilomuanya as the chairman
of Imo State council of traditional rulers and relegated him to his autonomous
community in Orlu.
Eze
Ilomuanya’s problem started when he took a trip to South-Africa in a
peace-making mission.
Igbos in
South Africa then had been polarized over the leadership position of Ohanaeze
NdiIgbo in South Africa, which he personally went to settle.
Reports say
it took some eminent Igbo’s sons and daughters more than one year to forge a
fragile harmonization of the warring factions, which eventually saw a peaceful
election endorsed by all the Igbos in South Africa.
The issue
of Ezeigbo/Onyendu remains the remote cause of discord in the unity of the
factions in South Africa.
A source in
South Africa accused Ilomuanya of fomenting trouble among the Igbos by
supporting one faction of Igbos in South Africa. “Ilomuanya was the brain
behind the factions in South Africa on the grounds that he recognized one
person against the other, even when he abolished Eze NdiIgbo in Diaspora,” the
source said.
Prior to
Ilomuanya’s trip to South Africa, the Governor had placed a ban on foreign
trips by Ndi-Ezes in the state.
The
Governor extended the ban on those who ruled their kingdoms from abroad and
said they would lose their thrones, if they refused to return to their domains.
But Daily Newswatch gathered that Eze
Ilomuanya, in defiance of a standing order against him not to leave his
autonomous community by the state governor, jetted out to South Africa on a
mission to accomplish an unfinished peace process going on among the Igbos.
Eze Ilomuanya, the
traditional ruler of Obinugwu Autonomous Community, Orlu Local Government Area
in Imo state, has constantly been fighting over his throne since the inception
of the incumbent administration.
Okorocha’s disdain
against Ilomuanya was his attempt to work against his governorship ambition. He
was allegedly pencilled down as one of those who teamed forces and provided
funds for ex-governor Ikedia Ohakim.
According to the
governor, Ilomuanya’s involvement in politics, even when he was a traditional
ruler, played against the rule of monarchy.
Eze Ilomuanya was
appointed chairman, Imo State traditional rulers’ council during the
administration of Chief Achike Udenwa.
It was gathered
also that it was during Udenwa’s tenure that he became chairman, South East
council of traditional rulers. His detractors said that he allegedly waged several
battles against some Igbo businessmen residing outside the south East, who gave
themselves the title of ‘Eze NdiIgbo’ in their respective towns and states of
abode.
Then, Eze
Ilomuanya had petitioned all the 36 state governors and warned them against
recognizing anybody as Eze NdiIgbo.
He made attempt to
abolish Eze NdiIgbo positions on the grounds that the tribe could not have
‘Ezeigbo’ outside Igboland.
He even threatened to drag the ‘impostors’ to
court.
But with the exit of former governor Ohakim, Ilomuanya’s empire and threat went into oblivion.
But with the exit of former governor Ohakim, Ilomuanya’s empire and threat went into oblivion.
Okorocha was said to have openly expressed his
anger over the traditional ruler’s open support for his political opponent’s
second-term bid.
He was alleged to have even joined the former governor’s campaign train, a development which many believed facilitated his removal as chairman of the state’s traditional rulers’ council when Okorocha became governor.
He was alleged to have even joined the former governor’s campaign train, a development which many believed facilitated his removal as chairman of the state’s traditional rulers’ council when Okorocha became governor.
But as a man, who
had fought so many battles, Eze Ilomuanya refused to surrender to his new fate,
as he was said to have fought tirelessly to regain his position by engaging in war
of attrition with his successor, Eze Samuel Ohiri, and the state government.
In an apparent
move to stop him, the state House of Assembly, acting on a petition submitted
by one Ikechukwu, a staff of Eze Ilomuanya, revoked his staff of office.
Ikechukwu had, in
his petition, claimed that Eze Ilomuanya was not qualified to be a royal
father, against the backdrop of his alleged past inappropriate acts.
Consequently, the
state House of Assembly invited the monarch to appear before it, in order to
respond to the allegations levelled against him.
He allegedly ignored the invitation, but a sent a lawyer, one Declan Madu, to represent him.
He allegedly ignored the invitation, but a sent a lawyer, one Declan Madu, to represent him.
But the lawmakers
were not satisfied with the answers provided by Madu, prompting them to pass a
motion at an executive session and requested Governor Okorocha to suspend him
from office.
But there were
unconfirmed reports that governor Okorocha worked on the lawmakers to recommend
the suspension of the controversial traditional ruler.
Meanwhile, Okorocha
disclosed that the major reason he distanced himself from the embattled
traditional ruler, even when he was yet to actualize the decision of the House,
was that Eze Ilomuanya had lost touch with his kingdom and people whom he was
their chief custodian of tradition and customs.
According to
Okorocha, Eze Ilomuanya was booed by the crowd, who also threw pieces of sachet
water at him, when he took him to a public function in Owerri recently.
This, therefore,
confirms the frosty relationship between the governor and the traditional
ruler.
It also showed
that the traditional ruler had lost the favour with the people whose mandate he
held as the foremost traditional ruler in the state.
The Governor added that some of the pieces of
sachet water meant for EzeIlomuanya fell on Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State,
who was his special guest.
Okorocha described
the situation as greatly embarrassing to both Governor Obi and the government
of Imo State.
After that
episode, the State House of Assembly asked the governor to stop Eze Ilomuanya
from parading himself as chairman, Imo state council of traditional rulers.
However, some members
of the People’s Democratic Party( PDP) in Imo State, fondly called ‘Abuja
politicians’ by Imo citizens, delved into the matter to stop the state governor
from implementing the decision of the law-makers.
Not sure of his
position, Eze Ilomuanya went to court to stop his dethronement and after a
protracted legal battle, he seems to be victorious, following the Appeal Court
ruling on the matter last month.
The Court of
Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo
State sacked the chairman of Imo Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Agunwa
Ohiri and reinstated Eze Cletus Ilomuanya who was sacked by Governor Rochas
Okorocha.
The court
ruled that Eze Ilomuanya should remain the chairman, Imo State council of
traditional rulers until the lawful expiration of his tenure in 2015.
It
consequently restrained the state governor, his Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice as well as their aides and agents from interfering
with the activities of the council under Eze Ilomuanya until his tenure expires
in 2015.
Delivering
the unanimous judgment prepared by Justice Philomena Ekpe, the Court declared
the dissolution of the traditional rulers’ council under Ilomuanya as null
and void and of no effect.
The court
also submitted that section 17A of the Imo State Traditional Rulers and Autonomous
Law 2006 (as amended) provides “Resignation or Death” as the only two
conditions through which any member of the council could abdicate office.
“Eze
Ilomuanya neither resigned nor died, and therefore, wondered where the governor
got his powers to dissolve the council and remove the appellant from office”,
it ruled.
The court
expressed its displeasure that the Imo State Chief Judge, Justice Ben
Njemanze, resolved the matter in favour of the governor without input from
the parties in the suit, which is “a grievous error in law as the Chief Judge
had turned himself into a defendant and no longer an impartial Judge.”
The Igbo traditional
rulers in the Diaspora, popularly called Eze NdiIgbo, have accused Eze
Ilomuanya of being the architect of the disunity that has continued to rock the
traditional institution in the South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Owerri by the traditional rulers in the Diaspora, the national president, Eze Nwabueze Ohazuruike, Eze Npume 11 of Lagos State, said the self-acclaimed chairman of South-East Council of traditional rulers in pursuit of selfish agenda, destabilized the unity of the Igbos living in other states of the federation.
He maintained that the unity of NdiIgbo in the country remains paramount and will not be jeopardized by a self-seeking and power-drunk politician who parades himself as a traditional ruler, adding that Eze NdiIgbo in the Diaspora remains an institution that has continued to promote unity and welfare of NdiIgbo.
The monarch applauded the governor for his monumental achievements in the state, especially in the areas of infrastructural development and road construction.
Eze Ohazuruike described as unacceptable the constant killing of NdiIgbo, especially in the northern part of the country and appealed to the governor to reach out to the families that lost their loved ones to the violence by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
He also commended the governor for the establishment of Community Government Council in the state and asked him to extend the same to them in the Diaspora.
In his response, Okorocha urged NdiIgbo and Ezes in the Diaspora to always ensure a peaceful co-existence and unity in their host states.
He announced the endorsement of their positions by the state government and disclosed plans to issue them with proper staff of office to enable them operate and coordinate the affairs of NdiIgbo effectively.
The governor urged NdiIgbo to regard themselves as residents of the areas they found themselves in and to respect the traditions and cultures of their host communities.
Governor Okorocha used the opportunity to inform them that the Community Government Council of his administration is aimed at bringing development and government to the grassroots and assured them that his government would consider extending the same to NdiIgbo in the Diaspora.
He promised to liaise with other governors in the south east to put up a trust fund to help those affected by the unfortunate killings by the Boko Haram sect.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Owerri by the traditional rulers in the Diaspora, the national president, Eze Nwabueze Ohazuruike, Eze Npume 11 of Lagos State, said the self-acclaimed chairman of South-East Council of traditional rulers in pursuit of selfish agenda, destabilized the unity of the Igbos living in other states of the federation.
He maintained that the unity of NdiIgbo in the country remains paramount and will not be jeopardized by a self-seeking and power-drunk politician who parades himself as a traditional ruler, adding that Eze NdiIgbo in the Diaspora remains an institution that has continued to promote unity and welfare of NdiIgbo.
The monarch applauded the governor for his monumental achievements in the state, especially in the areas of infrastructural development and road construction.
Eze Ohazuruike described as unacceptable the constant killing of NdiIgbo, especially in the northern part of the country and appealed to the governor to reach out to the families that lost their loved ones to the violence by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
He also commended the governor for the establishment of Community Government Council in the state and asked him to extend the same to them in the Diaspora.
In his response, Okorocha urged NdiIgbo and Ezes in the Diaspora to always ensure a peaceful co-existence and unity in their host states.
He announced the endorsement of their positions by the state government and disclosed plans to issue them with proper staff of office to enable them operate and coordinate the affairs of NdiIgbo effectively.
The governor urged NdiIgbo to regard themselves as residents of the areas they found themselves in and to respect the traditions and cultures of their host communities.
Governor Okorocha used the opportunity to inform them that the Community Government Council of his administration is aimed at bringing development and government to the grassroots and assured them that his government would consider extending the same to NdiIgbo in the Diaspora.
He promised to liaise with other governors in the south east to put up a trust fund to help those affected by the unfortunate killings by the Boko Haram sect.
Meanwhile, traditional
rulers in Imo State, particularly those from Owerri and Orlu geo-political
zones, have reacted angrily to the delay in the enforcement of the Court
of Appeal judgement, which sacked Eze Samuel Ohiri and reinstated
Eze Cletus Ilomuanya as the lawful chairman of Imo State council of
traditional rulers, vowing that they will ensure that justice prevails.
This came as
Senator Hope Uzodimma, representing Imo West Senatorial District in the
Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, sent in
his congratulations to Eze Ilomuanya over his
re-instatement by an Appeal Court in Owerri, Imo State as the chairman of
Imo State council of traditional rulers.
Uzodimma, who
is the Senate committee chairman on aviation, in a statement in Abuja at
the weekend, said the court verdict was victory for justice.
He applauded the
Appeal Court justices for their forthrightness in ensuring that justice
prevailed at last, stressing, however, that “the reign of terror is usually
temporary.”
Meanwhile, the Imo
monarchs, in two separate meetings, have vowed not to trade off again the
restoration of the chairmanship seat to Eze Ilomuanya, pointing out that with
the court’s judgement, Eze Ohiri’s days as chairman are over.
They argued that as royal fathers, they are
bound to comply with the court’s order and plead with Governor Okorocha to
uphold justice and the rule of law.
Speaking after a
meeting of Owerri zonal council of traditional rulers at Ezinihitte Mbaise
Local Government Area, Eze Ben Nwaneri and Eze Chinedu
Osuebi contended that the court’s judgement was unambiguous and stated that
nothing short of its enforcement would be acceptable to traditional rulers from
Owerri zone.
They disclosed
that the monarchs from Owerri zone, including Eze Ohiri’s erstwhile deputies,
have all pledged their support for Eze Ilomuanya, adding that it is imperative
that the state government appreciates the wish of the royal fathers in the
zone.
In the same vein,
at the meeting held at Orlu Local Government headquarters, the traditional
rulers from Orlu zone resolved that, in accordance with the Court of Appeal
judgement, Eze Ilomuanya remains the chairman of Imo State Council of
traditional rulers, even as they described the sacked chairman, Eze Samuel
Ohiri as “anti-Orlu.
They
also stressed that during Ohiri’s unlawful reign, monarchs from Orlu zone
were treated with disdain by him.
They accused Ohiri
of distancing himself from them, as he forgot that in life, nothing is ever
permanent.
The Orlu monarch
further resolved to send a delegation to Governor Okorocha on the need to
enforce the court’s directive, pointing out that both of them are illustrious
sons of Orlu zone.
They also
expressed optimism that their teaming-up together would bring positive
dividends to Orlu geo-political zone and her people.
Justifying their
positions, the chairman of Orlu LGA traditional rulers, Eze Ugonna Iriele,
maintained that since God had restored the chairmanship of the state council,
through the court to its rightful owner, everybody is bound to comply.
He urged his
colleagues to rise up in defence of justice, noting that Eze Ohiri failed them.
Eze
Dele Odibo and Eze I.O. Asoh further assured that the Orlu royal fathers would
accompany Eze Ilomuanya to formally assume office after discussions with
Governor Okorocha.
According to them,
“God has given us an exceptional chairman with charisma and personality whom we
are well pleased with. What more do we need?”
They maintained
that the court judgment is binding on everybody.
While
addressing the monarchs earlier, Eze Ilomuanya assured the monarchs that the
glorious days are back again with his reinstatement.
He explained that he resorted to the law
court not because he desired to fight anybody, but to ensure that justice
prevailed against the misgivings and misplaced aggression against him.
He retreated that the Council under him would
work harmoniously with Okorocha, assuring that he owes the governor his
commitment and support so that Imo State could move forward.
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