Imo: Sacrilegious interference of state on traditional monarchy

By

Emeka Ibemere
They say that ‘Ibo as a tribe has no king’ is playing itself out in Imo State, where the traditional stool of some traditional rulers in the state may have been desecrated by the state authority allegedly supervised by the governor of the state, Chief Owelle Rochas Okorocha, in a protracted Chairman of Ndi Eze (Traditional rulers) crisis with the state government.
For the umpteenth time, the governor had stopped the authentic chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers to function as the state Council of traditional rulers had been functioning before the arrival of the governor in the state.
Despite the two rulings of the Appeal Court in the matter, Okorocha had allegedly refused to restate the Chairman of the Council he removed from office out of the alleged political interest.
 Last week, An Appeal Court holding in Owerri on Tuesday, 3 June unanimously rejected an application to stay its judgment delivered on July 5, 2013 reinstating Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, as the chairman of the state council of Ndi Eze.
Imo State Government under Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha lost another chance to stop Eze Cletus Ilomuanya from being reinstated. The state government went on Appeal to stop the enforcement of the July 5, 2003 judgment delivered by Florence Ekpe of the same Appeal Court. One Eze Ohiri was appointed by Okorocha to continue to be in office and act as chairman of Ndi Eze Imo pending the determination of the suit. But last week’s judgement sacked Eze Ohiri and replaced him with Ilomuanya. With the Tuesday’s outcome of the Appeal Court ruling, it’s reported that Ohiri risks contempt of court and liable to a jail sentence, if he continues to act in the office.
In the last one year, Ilomuanya has been literarily in purgatory waiting the time for him to take his throne. Ilomuanya was recalled back to the throne on July 5, 2013, through court ruling but is yet to resume as chairman of Ndi Eze Imo following refusal on the part of the government to allow him resume office.
Delivering his judgment on the matter, the presiding judge, Justice Raphael Agbo noted that the court was convinced and satisfied with the arguments of Eze Ilomuanya’s counsel, Obiora Obianwu (SAN) represented by Ogbonna Ajuzie.
 In the three-man panel of justices’ decision, the Governor’s application to stay action case was unanimously struck out The Owerri High Court presided over by Justice Ngozi Ukoha sacked Eze Samuel Ohiri as chairman of Imo State council of traditional rulers and reinstated Eze Cletus Ilomuanya as the authentic chairman on July 5, 2013. Not done yet, the court also ordered the sacked chairman, Samuel Ohiri, to pay to Eze Ilomuanya the sum of N20, 000.
Delivering judgment, the judge said the suit filed by Eze Ohiri, not only amounts to an abuse of court process, but that “it is detestable, frivolous and lacking in merit”.
“It will amount to judicial impertinence for me to sit in review of a matter already settled by the Court of Appeal,” she said.
Justice Ukoha  said since Eze Ohiri was aware that a higher court had resolved the matter but still went ahead to institute the suit, “it means that he has money to spend and should therefore pay Eze Ilomuanya, N20,000 as cost”.
Reacting to the judgment, the Senior Special Assistant, Media, to Eze Samuel Ohiri, Gift Nwokoro, said the matter was never entertained because of a pending suit at the Supreme Court. As the ruling was being celebrated by the Ilomuanya camp in the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha removed two traditional rulers from office. The removal was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Prof. A.G. Anwukah. The statement was released to newsmen in Abuja, by the state government.
“In accordance with Sections 11 and 14 of the Imo State Traditional Rulers Autonomous Communities Law No 6 of 2006, His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has approved the withdrawal of certificates of recognition and Staff of Office of Eze Cletus Ikechukwu Ilomuanya, the traditional ruler of Obinugwu Autonomous community in Orlu Local Government Area and Eze Cosmos Onyeneke, the traditional ruler of Lagwa Autonomous community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State with immediate effect”. The statement said.  “Accordingly, Chief Cletus Ikechukwu Ilomuanya and Chief Cosmos Onyeneke cease to be recognized traditional rulers of Obinugwu and Lagwa Autonomous communities, respectively. “The secretaries of the Community Government Council of the respective autonomous communities will be liaising with the government on behalf of each of the affected autonomous communities pending the selection and presentation of Eze-elect in accordance with the custom and constitution of each of the affected communities.
The latest knock was coming on the heels of the government perceived lost of power to contend the ruling of the Appeal Court. Instead of surrendering to the ruling, the governor went extra miles by deposing the elected traditional rulers without any charges of criminality, as was the case in the removal of traditional rulers. The latest hit has been condemned by opinion and community leaders alike in the State. Firing the first salvo, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, condemned in its entirety the purported withdrawal of the Certificates of Recognition of HRM Eze Cletus Ilomuanya and HRH Eze Cosmas Onyeneke.
Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, allegedly withdrew the certificates of Ilomuanya and Onyeneke as the traditional ruler of Obinugwu Autonomous Community, Orlu Local Government Area and Lagwa Okwuato Autonomous Community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area respectively.
In a release made available to Daily Newswatch, the statement stated that the attention of Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, has been drawn to the purported withdrawal of the Certificates of Recognition of the two monarchs by Okorocha. According to him, while he had maintained a studied silence over the manner of administration of Okorocha, since there can only be one governor at a time, it has become sadly clear to all and sundry that he has continued to take actions that rock the very foundation of good governance, peaceful coexistence and rule of law.
“Consequently, posterity will not be served positively if critical stakeholders and Imo leaders continue to keep quiet as the governor continues to trample on all structures that hold us together as a people, united in love, peace, unity and progress.

“It is noteworthy that extant and relevant statute clearly stipulates the procedures and conditions precedent for the withdrawal of Certificate of Recognition of Traditional Rulers in Imo State. Sadly, none of the conditions including fair hearing which is a basic norm of jurisprudence has been met in this case,” Ihedioha stated.
According to him, the matter of Eze Ilomuanya, as the substantive Chairman, Imo State Traditional Rulers Council and Chairman South East Traditional Rulers Council, involves an office that projects the state positively and that of another respected traditional ruler are matters under litigation.
Indicating that the purported illegal de-recognition therefore portrays the governor as not only vindictive but engaging in a reckless exercise of naked power and disrespect to the rule of law, due process and disdainful of the culture and revered traditional institution.
“It also indicates thoughtlessness about the damage such unbecoming conduct does to our corporate image as a people in Imo State.” Ihedioha said it is pertinent to note that Okorocha had lost the litigation against his illegal and unjustifiable removal of the revered Traditional Rulers from office as the substantive Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council, Imo State, before the expiration of his tenure.
Tracing the genesis of the altercation between the Governor and the Monarch, it was reported that personal differences of the duo caused the prolonged ripples and desecration of the sacred traditional institution in Imo State. It would be recalled that the Appeal Court judgement in favour of Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, the embattled Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers, Imo State and Chairman, Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers once divided the Monarchs in Imo state and the Orlu Zonal branch of the Imo State Traditional Council of Ndi-Eze, where Eze Cletus Ilomuanya hails from.
A source closed to the Eze Ilomuanya camp claimed that the state governor Rochas Okorocha, who singlehandedly removed the Chairman of Ndi-Eze in Imo State, on assumption of office as the governor of the state, was behind the recent altercations among the Orlu and entire Imo state monarchs.
 Last year, it was gathered that the Governor working on the Orlu zonal branch of Ndi-Eze, allegedly asked one of them to refute in a Newspaper publication (advertorial), the victory of Ilomuanya, as discussed in their mgba-nko (meeting).
The advertorial as carried out by Eze Okeke, later pitched Eze Okeke against 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, allegedly denied any discussion on the Appeal Court victory of Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, at their last meeting in Orlu, while in actual fact, the group discussed the matter and agreed to visit the governor and appealed to him to obey the court ruling by re-installing their former chairman.
However, some of the Ezes that attended the meeting where the matter was discussed took offence against Eze Okeke, over his alleged publication, referring the monarch as a liar.
 The Orlu monarchs maintained that they truly discussed about Eze Ilomuanya’s victory extensively at their meeting.
Reacting on the issue, the Orlu Local Government Chairman of Ndi-Eze, Eze Ugonna Iriele, expressed disappointment on the action of Eze Okeke.
He wondered how an Eze of Okeke’s status would be talking with his two mouths at the same time and for whose interest.
Eze Iriele disclosed that it was him (Eze Iriele), who raised the issue on their former State Chairman, Eze Ilomuanya and it was discussed extensively, especially on how to reconcile the Eze and the governor for the benefit of Imo State in general and Ndi Eze in particular.
It was gathered that during the meeting, that Eze Okeke suggested that Ndi-Eze should meet with the governor and beg that everybody buries their hatchet and allow peace to rain.
Also, Eze (Barr) Anayo Durueburuo, Eze Okwudor was quoted to have kicked against Eze Okeke’s action in this way:
“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, it was discussed and it was 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 print to deny the discussion of Ndi Eze Orlu Zone without their consent. The two Ezes therefore referred to the publication as lies and maintained that Eze Ilomuanya’s appeal court victory was discussed extensively in their meeting.

It would be recalled that Governor of Imo State, two years ago deposed Ilomuanya as the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional rulers, and relegated him to his autonomous community in Orlu. But last week, the governor went far by deposing the flamboyant traditional ruler loved by his people.

What are Eze Ilomuanya’s sins? A competent source in Imo State Douglas House, the seat of power claimed that Eze Ilomuanya’s problem started when he took a trip to South-Africa in a peace mending mission.

It was alleged that Igbo’s 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 remain the remote cause of discord in the unity of the factions in South Africa.

According to a source in South Africa, who accused Ilomuanya of shooting trouble among the Igbos by supporting one faction of Igbos in South Africa, Ilomuanya was accused to be the brain behind the fractions in South Africa by recognizing one person against the other even when he abolished Eze Ndi-Igbo in Diaspora, in 2008.

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 kingdom from abroad and said they would lose their thrown if they refused to return to their domain. But Daily Newswatch gathered that Eze Ilomuanya in defiant 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 in that Nelson Mandela’s country.

The traditional ruler of Obinugwu Autonomous Community, Orlu local government area in Imo state, Ilomuanya, has constantly been fighting over his throne since the inception of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration.

Also seen as one of his sins, was Ilomuanya’s attempt to work against the Okorocha’s governorship ambition and his election. He was allegedly pencilled down as one of those who teamed forces and provided funds for the 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, as the custodian of people’s culture and tradition.

Eze Ilomuanya was appointed chairman, Imo State traditional rulers’ Council, during the administration of Chief Achike Udenwa. It was gathered also that during Udenwa’s tenure, 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 Ilomuanya had petitioned all the 36 State governors and warned them on recognizing anybody as Eze NdiIgbo, when it was becoming obvious that the Igbo businessmen in other states were killing themselves over who becomes the Eze Igbo of a particular state. He also saw the act as denigration of Igbo tribe and culture when in actual facts Igbos never fights over traditional stool. He made the move to salvage the tradition and custom of Ndigbo both at home and in diaspora. 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 ruins and desecrated by Okorocha. 

 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 chairman of the traditional rulers’ council when Okorocha became governor. But as man who had fought so many battles, 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 apparent move to stop him, the state House of Assembly acting on a petition submitted by one Ikechukwu, a staff of Ilomuanya to the state House of Assembly, revoked his staff of office. Ikechukwu had in his petition claimed that Ilomuanya was not qualified to be a royal father, against the backdrop of his alleged past inappropriate acts.

Consequent upon this allegation, the state House of Assembly, invited the monarch to appear before it, to respond to the allegations levelled against him.
He allegedly ignores the assemblymen but rather send 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, requesting 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 why he distances himself from the embattled traditional ruler even when he was yet to actualize the decision of the House; was that the traditional ruler had lost touch with his kingdom and people whom he was their chief custodian of tradition and customs.

According to the governor, Eze Ilomuanya was booed by the crowd, who also threw sachet of water at Ilomuanya when the governor took him to a public function in Owerri recently which explains the smearing relation between the governor and the traditional ruler; which means the traditional ruler lost the favour of the people whose mandate he held as the foremost traditional ruler in the state.

The   Governor added that some of the sachet water meant for Ilomuanya fell on Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, who was his special guest; a situation which he said was 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 Ilomuanya from parading himself as chairman Imo state council of traditional rulers. However, some People’s Democratic Party members in Imo State, fondly called ‘Abuja politicians’ of Imo citizens, delved into the matter to stop the state governor from implementing the decision of the law-makers.

Not sure of his position, Ilomuanya went to court to stop his dethronement and after a protracted legal battle, Ilomuanya’s laugh comes last with the Appeal court ruling on the matter last year.

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 Ilomuanya should remain the chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers until the lawful expiration of his tenure in 2015.

It consequently restrained the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, his Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice as well as their servants, agents from interfering with the activities of the council under 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 pleasure 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 Diaspora popularly called Eze NdiIgbo have accused Eze Cletus 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.

Last year, while speaking during a courtesy visit to Governor Rochas Okorocha at the Government House, Owerri by the traditional rulers in 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 Ndigbo in the country remains paramount and would not be jeopardize by a self-seeking and power drunk politician who parades himself as a traditional ruler, adding that Eze Ndigbo in Diaspora remains an institution that has continued to promote unity and welfare of Ndigbo in Diaspora.
The monarch applauded the governor for his monumental achievements in the State especially in the areas or infrastructural development and road construction.
He also commended the governor for the establishment of Community Government Council in the State and asked him to extend same to them in Diaspora.
In his response, the Imo State governor, Okorocha urged Ndigbo and Ezes in 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 by government to issue them with proper staff of office to enable them operate and coordinate the affairs of Ndigbo effectively.

The governor urged Ndigbo to regard themselves as residents of the areas they found themselves and to respect the tradition and culture of their host communities.
Governor Okorocha used the opportunity to inform them that the Community Government Council of his administration was aimed at bringing development and government to the grassroots and assured them that his government would consider extending same to Ndigbo in Diaspora.

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 would ensure that justice prevails.

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, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers.

Uzodimma, who is the senate committee chairman on Aviation, in a statement in Abuja, 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 pleaded with Governor Rochas Okorocha to uphold justice and the rule of law.

Eze   Ben Nwaneri and Eze   Chinedu Osuebi have persistently contended that the court’s judgement was unambiguous; stating that nothing short of its enforcement would be acceptable to traditional rulers from Owerri zone.

It was gathered that the monarchs from Owerri zone, including Eze Ohiri’s erstwhile deputies have all pledged their support for Eze Ilomuanya, adding that it was imperative that the state government appreciates the wish of the royal fathers in the zone.

A source also told our correspondent that the traditional rulers from Orlu zone have also 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’, adding that during Ohiri’s unlawful reign, monarchs from Orlu zone were treated with disdain.

They accused Ohiri of distancing himself from them as he forgot that in life; nothing is ever permanent, and said that they no longer have any business with Eze Ohiri as he remains sacked by the Court of Appeal judgment in the recent judgement and the July 5, 2013.

It was also gathered that the chairman of Orlu LGA traditional rulers, Eze Ugonna Iriele, is backing his support to Ilomuanya and he was claimed to have asked his colleagues to rise up in defence of justice, noting that Eze Ohiri failed them.

More traditional rulers from Orlu are said to have supported Ilomuanya to reclaim his position. Our source said one Eze Dele Odibo and Eze I.O. Asoh allegedly claimed that the Orlu royal fathers support Eze Ilomuanya.

Eze Ilomuanya had explained that he resorted to the law court not because he desired to fight anybody, but to ensure that justice prevails against so many misgivings and misplaced aggression against him. He retreated that the Council under him would work harmoniously with Governor Okorocha, assuring that he owes the governor his commitment and support so that Imo State can move forward.


Okorocha’s latest action, has brought to fore, the increasing politicization of the traditional monarchs in Nigeria. Prior to independence, Nigerian traditional rulers derive their powers from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern Nigeria. Then, they have no formal political power but they command respect from their people and have considerable influence.
But followed by alternating democratic and military governments, the status of the traditional rulers evolved even further.
 In the north, the emirs started losing power to the government administration. Traditional rulers had previously acquired office strictly through inheritance or through appointment by a council of elders, but presently out of fear of the overwhelming influences of some traditional rulers, the government now increasingly became involved in the succession.
In May 1994, the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha deposed Awwal Ibrahim, Sarkin Zazzau of the Suleja Emirate, although he was subsequently reinstated in January 2000. Also, the military dictator deposed the Sultan of Sokoto, one morning.
In some cases, the government has merged or split traditional domains. For example, there had been two rulers of the Efik people in the area around Calabar, but in December 1970, it was agreed to combine the office into a single one that was to be held by a ruler known as the Obong.
 When Yobe State was created, there were just four emirates, but in January 2000, the state governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim restructured the state into 13. The successive governments have maintained colonial classifications in the matters of traditional rulers. It would be recalled that when the former Kwara State governor, Bukola Saraki appointed three new monarchs in August 2010, the new Emir of Kaiama was designated a first class traditional ruler while the Onigosun of Igosun and Alaran of Aran-Orin were designated Third Class monarchs.
Traditional rulers today are still highly respected in many communities, and have considerable political and economic influence.  The rulers play useful roles in brokering between the people and the state, enhancing national identity, resolving minor conflicts and providing an institutional safety-valve for often inadequate state bureaucracies.  By June 2010, Akwa Ibom State had 116 traditional rulers with official certificates from the state. They had received new cars on their appointment, among other perks. The chairman of the Akwa Ibom council of Chiefs said that in return, the traditional fathers were responsible for preventing robberies and kidnappings in their domains.