One of the Institutions the Democratic System of Governance in Imo State has helped to destroy, than to consolidate, is the Traditional Rulership. Instead of strengthening the Traditional stools that dates back centuries, democracy and politics have reduced the revered Institution to a two-a-penny market.
As I write this piece, there are over two hundred autonomous communities in the state, with Traditional Rulers. While any “Big Man” can approach the Government and be carved out his own autonomous community, some of those already made Traditional Rulers do not even qualify to “rule” their families, let alone a Kingdom.
Presently, there is a war of attrition raging among Traditional Rulers in the State, which was necessitated by an alleged investigation and expulsion of some First Class monarchs from participating in activities of Traditional Rulers in the State.
This war can be said to be between those Traditional Rulers that are benefitting and working for the incumbent All Progressives Congress, APC, Government in the State led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and the other Group of Traditional Rulers, said to be “loyal” to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The “PDP Royal Fathers” Group is led by His Royal Highness, Eze Cletus llomuanya of Obinugwu Kingdom in Orlu Zone.
llomuanya is the Chairman of Imo Traditional Rulers Council and that of the entire South East States, comprising Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu.
However, when the present administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha defeated the PDP Government which appointed Ilomuanya, in 2011 election, the incumbent Governor decided not to recognise Ilomuanya, but appointed his own man, Eze Samuel Ohiri of Orodo Community in Owerri Zone as the Chairman of Imo Traditional Rulers Council.
However, Ilomuanya resisted the sack and headed to Court to seek Justice saying his tenure had not elapsed. Luckily for Ilomuanya, the highest Court in the land, the Supreme Court gave a verdict in Ilomuanya’s favour as the authentic Chairman of the Traditional Rulers in Imo State.
Unfortunately, he who pays the Piper dictates the tune. Since Ilomuanya cannot operate smoothly without the backing of the Imo State Government, led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, he continues to operate like a General without troops, because Okorocha does not want him.
Even after the Supreme Court had ordered that Ilomuanya be given the full recognition as the Head of Imo Traditional Rulers, it has remained difficult for him because it has not been possible to reconcile Ilomuanya with the Government of Imo State which he dragged to Court. Nor does Okorocha trust Ilomuanya, to leave the Leadership of Imo Traditional Rulers in his hands, since a lot of waters have passed under the bridge, because of the litigation of who is the authentic Eze Imo which has gone viral in the public domain.
In the event, despite the fact that Okorocha refuses to accord Ilomuanya the respect he deserves as a Traditional Ruler, the Monarch gets Red Carpet treatment at Aso Rock, Abuja, from former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Therefore, during the period the hotly contested Presidential election looked elusive to Jonathan, Ilomuanya coordinated some sections of Imo Traditional Rulers to honour Jonathan who visited Imo State in search of votes, as the situation became dicey.
Even at that event, there were skirmishes between Imo APC women and Ilomuanya’s faction of the Traditional Rulers as they fought for the Traditional Ruler’s office, the designated venue for the Jonathan Parley with Imo Traditional Rulers, which had earlier been assigned to APC women as their office by Okorocha, in the name of Women Development Centre.
However, with the elections over and Jonathan sent packing from Aso Rock Villa, this appears the payback time for Ilomuanya and his loyalists in the Imo Traditional Rulers Council.
Indeed, as I write this piece, over fifty Traditional Rulers in Imo have been “investigated” and not only suspended, but may face “trial” soon. What Imo people are presently waiting for is the day they will appear before Eze Ohiri’s or the Conventional Court and their charges pronounced for Imo populace to note.
It was learnt that a Panel headed by Eze Chidume Okoro, the Deputy Chairman of Imo Traditional Rulers Council found these “erring” Monarchs culpable.
Among those said to have been marked for “trial” are two foremost revered Traditional Rulers in Imo State: Eze Emmanuel Emenyeonu Njemanze and Eze Desmond Ogugua.
But what were their offences? That they attended a meeting summoned by Ilomuanya, who in the eyes of Imo State Government, remains sacked and deposed as a Traditional Ruler, despite the pronouncement from the Supreme Court of Nigeria to the contrary.
With this latest imbroglio, there is no gain saying that there is trouble in some communities in Imo State, which if not properly handled may go out of hand.
The foundation of every given State is the communities, which is the aggregation of the entire society. From all indications, if this matter of suspension and dethronement of over fifty Imo Traditional Rulers are not nipped in the bud, the issue may lead to Communal disturbances which may escalate beyond redemption.
But unfortunately, in all these red signals, the Government of Imo State seems not bothered over what such desecration of Traditional Stools may portend for the State if the Communities explode into conflagrations for demeaning of their Traditional Rulers by the Eze Ohiri camp.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha even though aware of this time Bomb said it was beyond him, since it is a matter for Traditional Rulers.
Hear the Governor “The attention of the Rescue Mission Government in the State has been drawn to the reported suspension of Four Traditional Rulers in the State and the trial of more than fifty other Ezes by the State’s Eze’s Council.”
The statement signed by the Governor’s Press Secretary, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo went on to say, “The Government in the State with Rochas Okorocha as Governor has a culture. The culture of not being vindictive even at the height of provocation.”
With this statement, the Government felt it has washed its hands off this Traditional Rulers brouhaha in the State, pushing all the blames on the table of Eze Samuel Ohiri.
It is not enough. What Okorocha’s Government is doing in this circumstance is just playing the Ostrich.
Who does not know that Eze Ohiri has not got the power to suspend his fellow Traditional Rulers without the express backing of the Chief Executive of the State?
Where have you heard a Commissioner or Minister suspending his colleague? As a concerned citizen of Imo State, I am appealing to the Governor, to solve this matter now, before the crippling crisis explodes out of hand.
Unfortunately for Eze Ohiri and the Government, they picked the wrong elements in Ezes Njemanze and Ogugua.
These are renowned Traditional Stools that their present occupiers and Subjects cannot fold their arms and watch to be desecrated. Both Njemanze and Ogugua Stools are not these “Ballot Traditional Rulers”. These are hereditary stools existing years before democracy set foot in Nigeria.
For instance, the Njemanze Stool has been in existence for over Four Hundred Years. Nobody existing now in Imo State can tell you when that Stool was first “inaugurated”. Therefore, all the parties involved must be careful. I see trouble brewing!
No matter what you give an “Owerre” man or woman, they cannot join in destroying their Ezeship Stool. Owerri people could be in disagreement among themselves, but not when it comes to their Traditional Rulership. The Owerri Traditional Stool is one of the few in the State that has remained hereditary till date.
Attempts by past administrations to balkanise the Kingdom and the stool by “appointing” another Eze in Owerri domain has failed because no real son of Owerri-Nchi-Ise would connive to create another Ezeship Stool, outside that approved by their forefathers, which has remained sacrosanct till date.
Is Eze Desmond Ogugua not that revered Traditional Ruler which Sir Warrior and Oriental Brothers Band sang with his name, when we were toddlers? Trouble Sleep, Yanga wan wake am!
The office of the Chairman of Ezes in Imo ought to be a Ceremonial one whose holder could be called once in a while by the Governor to advise on Cultural and Traditional Affairs.
But unfortunately, some of our Traditional Rulers have been converted to Personal Assistants, PAs, by politicians which is caused by the modalities the Governments in the State use in creating autonomous communities, and selecting Traditional Rulers.
Before now, Traditional Rulers were revered not because of how much they have but for being the Cultural and Traditional representatives of the people. It does not matter how old or rich such persons are provided their people have chosen them as their king.
When we were growing up here, it was not easy to see Eze Onuegwunwoke, Eze Emeana of Naze, Eze Njemanze of Owerri, Eze Agumannu of Nekede, Eze Obi of Emekuku, Eze Nwaturuocha of Mbaise, Eze Egbukole of Egbu and other revered Traditional Rulers.
Even during the Military regimes, the Military Administrators go to their Palaces to see them. How many times did we see Eze Ibenye-Ugbala roaming around Government House looking for a PA to the Governor? Was it not Eze Njemanze that told late Governor Amadi Ekweche in his face “Na Kwa Echecki”? How many Traditional Rulers now can dare a Civilian Governor, much more a military Governor?
However, the Imo Traditional Rulers are suffering these humiliations because some of them allowed Politicians to lure them deep into real politics. Most of them are the creations of Politicians, therefore are being used by them for political battles, which destroys the Cultural and Traditional neutral role expected of a respected Traditional Ruler.
But talking about partisanship. Even if some Traditional Rulers were involved in identifying with a particular political party or individual, it does not warrant all the trouble going on in the State now.
Does Eze Ohiri think of tomorrow? What if another administration comes and decides to destroy him because of the roles he played during Okorocha’s regime? That is why all parties should thread with care, for the future is unpredictable.
And the Governor cannot fool anybody by saying that he knows nothing about this contentious issue. If he does not, he will soon hear of it when the matter goes out of hand soon. After all, he is the Chief Security Officer of the State.
Nobody should be persecuted for being friends to any Group or individual. I see the hand of persecution in this matter. These Traditional Rulers are being “tried” for working for other political parties other than the incumbent APC in the State. Nothing more, no less.
But it may lead to communal chaos which will do no one any good. Any matter that touches communal and Traditional arteries of a State is delicate and dangerous.
Confronting the Traditional Stool of Owerri, which hosts the Imo State Government House, is a frontal assault on Owerri people. And they will not tolerate that. This is like touching the Tiger by the Tail. Whoever checks the pulse of Owerri people will know that this is a wrong time to try their patience.
Please, Governor Okorocha take charge and pull this chestnut out of the fire before it gets late.
Owerri people have been complaining how their lands have been taken away from them by the Government, to the extent that they do not have where to bury their loved ones.
They once lamented how the Palace of their Traditional Ruler got burnt and the State Government looked away.
They have complained of being marginalised in Government appointments and even of systematic plot going on to ease out their people from the public service top positions.
For Mbaise Clan, any attempt to disgrace Eze Desmond Ogugu will “unite” Mbaise people, who are still raging that their son was denied the Governorship of Imo State through ungodly machinations.
The atmosphere is too charged in the state for anybody to stir up any trouble now. And unfortunately, Eze Ohiri is from Owerri Zone, and may be accused by posterity of being used to disorganise the Cultural heritage of two respected Traditional Stools in Owerri zone and Igboland.
Let wisdom prevail in this circumstance. Let the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha intervene and reduce this tension building up in Owerre-Nchi-Ise and Mbaise Clan, as the after-effects will touch all in Imo people. Caution! Caution! Caution!
