By thompson agu, Abuja
Two prominent traditional rulers in Imo state, Eze Samuel Ohiri of Obi Orodo and his Nkwerre counterpart, Eze Chijioke Okwara, Eshi of Nkwerre are expected in Abuja on Friday in continuation of their interrogation by security agencies following petitions raised by Eze Cletus Ilomanya over threat to his life.
Trumpeta exclusively revealed in last weekend edition how two apex monarchs were held by security agencies in Abuja in connection to Ilomuanya. Our Abuja correspondent for a greater part of last week spotted two Ezes from Imo in the custody of a security outfit in Abuja. Further inquireies revealed that it is not unconnected to a petition raised by Eze Ilomuanya concerning attempts on his life by some suspected rival monarchs.
In apparent reaction to the Trumpeta story, Eze Ohiri further owned up to the newspaper’s report in a statement from Government House quarters claiming that he told reporters at the airport on his way back from Abuja that he and the Eshi of Nkwerre were actually invited to the SSS office, Abuja last week Thursday and repeated on Friday, to see the Director of operations of the agency.
According to Ohiri, their mission was to answer questions related to the Iriji cultural festival performed by Ilomuanya and other matters related to the traditional institution and security in Imo.
Trumpeta exclusively learnt that after making initial statements during the two-day sojourn in Abuja, the two monarchs were asked to go and repeat a week later which is today (Friday) for continued interrogation and investigation.
Though, it has not been ascertained if Ohiri and Eshi of Nkwerre have left their respective kingdoms to Abuja for the SSS appointment, but Trumpeta gathered that the issue of threat to life and matters related to the traditional institution in Imo will be the focus of the security operatives
The traditional institution in Imo state has been in tatters following altercations between the state government, Okorocha, Ohiri on one part against Ilomuanya. On getting mantle of leadership, Okorocha in one full swoop swept off the leadership of Ilomuanya as chairman of the Imo state council of Traditional Rulers, who still had more years to be incharge. Ilomuanya went to court and secured judgement declaring Okorocha’s action null and void and removing his surrogate, Ohiri. Subsequent court cases concerning the saw Okorocha, Ohiri and Imo government lose to Ilomuanya. The attempted re-instatement of Ilomuanya via court order not only saw government rename offices of Ndi Eze Imo but also led to the dethronement order clamped on the elite monarch who functions as chairman of South East council of traditional rulers Ilomuanya still functions as Obi of Obinugwu warranting the celebration of Iriji on August 14, 2015 at his Obinugwu palace. Scores of security operatives who stormed Obingwu chased away suspected miscreants and hired things equipped to halt the event.
