The dust raised by the purported selection of a traditional ruler for the people of Ozuzu autonomous community in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo state is yet to abate as Eze-Elect, Lawrence Ekeh have been rejected.
Following the balloting conducted for the position, stakeholders in Ozuzu has insisted Eze Lawrence Ekeh is not the authentic Monarch of the community.
The community said that rather than Ekeh, traditional prime minister, Anselem Nkwocha from Obokwe is the rightful Eze, having fulfilled all the conditions of the Imo State Chieftaincy Law No 6 (2006) viz-a-viz, having presented him to Ngor-Okpala LGA headquarters on April 2012.
In a statement endorsed by Nze Sunday Nkwocha, Nze John Okere, Nze Kevin Akujobi, it said that Nkwocha has been cleared by the State Security Service (SSS) and issued Certificate of Return by the Chieftaincy panel comprising Aboh-Mbaise and Ngor Okpala set up by Governor Rochas Okorocha. Part of the statement reads “Ezeship stool of Ozuzu has never been done by balloting or casting of lot, it is through a process or step by step laid down of Imo State Chieftaincy Law of 2006.
They called on other contenders such as Chief Rowland Okere, Chief Awii Nwanna and Adolphsus Nkwocha to go and settle their differences or issues with the rightful Monarch, Lawrence from Orishieze.
“Ozuzu Ezeship stool is not for sale. Orishieze person no matter how highly placed, height, rich or otherwise cannot smell the Eze Udo III title of Ozuzu Community. In 1985 to 1993 when it was the turn of Orishieze to produce the Eze-Udo II, no person from Obokwe or Umuikoro/Openi interfered or challenged the two aspirants, Chief Emmanuel Okere and late Eze Thomas Ekeh from Orishieze until Thomas Ekeh emerged as the Eze-Udo II of Ozuzu Autonomous Community”
The community noted that it would reject any attempt to impose any person as Eze-elect which did not follow laid down procedures and due process including cultural and traditional factors in selecting an Eze.
