By hector obinna
The Obi of Obinugwu and Chairman, Imo State and South East Councils of Traditional Rulers, HRH, Eze (Dr.) Cletus Ikechukwu Ilomuanya, CON, raised alarm to an imminent plot being hatched by one HRH Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri of Obi-Orodo Autonomous Community in Imo State, to blackmail his person and bring him to public odium.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kennedy Eweama, the plot occasioned by Eze Ilomuanya’s refusal to be part of the perfidy and debasement of the Igbo traditional institution as witnessed on November 19, 2013, when over 100 Igbo traders from across the country were conferred with Ezeigbo/Ochigbo titles by His Excellency, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. In violation of the Chieftaincy Law of 1976 of Eastern Nigeria, the Governor on the prompting of Eze Ohiri,presented them with Certificates of Recognition and Staff of Office, which to any Igbo man, is not only a sacrilege but also an abomination never witnessed or heard of in the history of Ndigbo as a people. This action also attracted wide condemnation among Ndigbo both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
Consequently, on November 28, 2013, the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, in an emergency meeting of her Executive Committee, in Enugu, condemned in unmistakable language, the action of the Imo State Governor. All the State Chairmen of the State Councils of Traditional Rulers in the South East zone endorsed this document which from reports, has to a large extent, restored the dignity of the traditional institution in Igbo land.
Why Eze Sam Ohiri feels hurt by the position of the South East monarchs is indeed thought provoking. Does it mean that Eze Ohiri is no longer a traditional ruler in South East Nigeria?
The South East Council of Traditional Rulers as a responsible body, only appealed to Governor Okorocha’s sense of leadership as an Igbo man and pointed out the need for him to see the inherent dangers he is been lured into by some myopic sycophants around him like Eze Sam Ohiri, in a bid to please him(Governor). The communiqué issued by the Council was a wake up call to the Governor which did not in any way antagonize his person or office.
It is therefore, unfortunate to note that some traditional rulers in Imo State are now been forced to endorse a document against HRH Eze (Dr.) C.I. Ilomuanya against their wish. Many of them have raised alarm against this unorthodox, wicked, malicious and senseless plot against the person of the Chairman of Imo State and South East Councils of Traditional Rulers and have disassociated themselves from it. They have also expressed shock that their signatures may be scanned and pasted on the document to accord it semblance of validity.
We need to remind Eze Ohiri and co-sponsors of this heinous campaign of calumny that the law of Karma and nemesis are still efficacious. Like wise, the ancestors of Ndigbo are not dumb and deaf.
HRH Eze (Dr.) Ilomuanya has done so much to uplift the dignity and status of the Igbo traditional institution. He is a monarch widely respected in Nigeria and abroad. One therefore, wonders why some blind bats in Imo State out of petty envy, have resolved to debase the traditional institution in Imo State for their selfish reasons. What a reprehensible act!
We therefore, want to inform the public to be on the watch-out for any spurious or Kangaroo document which might be dished out to the media very soon. Desperation is indeed, a disease.
Most traditional rulers’ signatures in the purported document as hinted earlier, are forged. We are glad that Royal Fathers in Imo State have finally seen the truth and have therefore, resolved to follow the path of honour and decency.
HRH Eze (Dr.) Ilomuanya, as Chairman of the Councils both in Imo State and South East is only but a presiding officer. The decisions of the Councils are binding on him irrespective his position as Chairman.
Thus, if Eze Sam Ohiri in his pursuit for cheap relevance, has any reservation about the stance of the South East Monarchs on the abomination of November 19, 2013, perpetrated in Imo State, such should be channeled to the South East Council of Traditional Rulers as a body and not to its Chairman, who happens to hail from Imo State. It is not a personal thing. Hounding HRH Eze Ilomuanya for endorsing a just cause for the betterment of Ndigbo is most unfortunate.
We wish to also remind our respected Traditional Rulers in Imo State to desist from attending any meeting not authorized or convened by HRH Eze (Dr) Ilomuanya, Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers (Ndieze). This is to avoid any unpleasant confrontation by the law enforcement agencies. The law is no respecter of any person.
Finally, while HRH Eze (Dr.) C.I. Ilomuanya is not perturbed by the present plot against his person as such will definitely end in futility, we nevertheless, wish to advise Eze Ohiri to retrace his steps before it’s too late. To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed.
