By Orji Sampson
Following the reports making rounds in some local tabloids over the explosion of Eze Njemanze accusing Onyeaguocha, Ndubuaku and Bob Njemanze of allegedly masterminding his ejection from his palace, Prince Bob Njemanze has replied the Monarch.
In an advertorial published Monday May 25, 2020 in one of the Local tabloid (Newspoint) the Legal Luminary outlined facts which he noted should be of common knowledge and of interest including;
“Rochas Okorocha being alien to the tradition and culture of Igbo land never knew the difference between Ibari-Njemanze and Mbari- the centre for culture artifacts”.
That then state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha relocated Eze Emmanuel Emenyonu Njemanze, the paramount ruler, Ozuruigbo V of Owerri Nchi-Ise before his demise from his palace to government quest house from his palace promising to rebuild his palace (Ibari-Njemanze) with an adjourning guest house at Mann Street Primary School.
Bob Njemanze further outlined that contrary to his promise, that Okorocha’s apparent show of love was a Greek gift to enable him, acquire and convert to his personal use most of Owere Nchi-Ise ancestral lands.
While explaining the drama that ensured after the demise of Eze Emenyonu Njemanze, he disclosed that Okorocha was to further desecrate the stool of Eze Njemanze, Ozuruigbo of Owere when he balkanized the community.
The press release further states;
“When he tried to acquire the various lands for his personal use this was resisted He then suspended Eze Njemanze Ozuruigbo V of Owere for some untenable reasons. This was the reason for his sudden and untimely death.
Okorocha then went ahead to create a non-existent title of Eze Imo, and located him at the supposed Palace at the Mban center meant for Eze Owere now designating it as Eze Imo Palace-Obi Eze Imo. Meanwhile ne situated a puppet whom he needed his signature on land matters at the Mann Street Primary School the supposed quest house of Eze Owere
“He did this to break the age-long tradition of courtesy calls by visiting dignitaries on Eze Njemanze-the Paramount Ruler of Owere.
“He situated Eze Agunwa Ohlri of Orodo Autonomous Community to pour libations and break kolanuts on Owere ancestral land. An Abomination!’
“The Ihedioha- led administration had started redressing this anomaly; by ejecting the impostor who is parading himself as Eze Owere -Ozuruigbo VI as evidenced by those publications.
“Rochas destroyed the ancestral Eke-ukwu Owere market. An original market for the up-keep of the Eze’s Palace and a binding force of the unity of all Owere people.
“Owere Municipal is made up of 5 villages hence the name Owere Nchi -Ise (Nchi – Village – Ise – five)
“To further destroy the bond of the people, he handpicked indiscriminately loafers with hardly any pedigree from the five
villages including a traducer from the Njemanze family purporting to have made them Eze regardless of the customs and tradition of the Owere people., process or procedure.
Owere Nchi-lseh has Five Traditional and Hereditary village heads and one Paramount ruler as follows
“The Ozuruigbo who is the Paramount ruler from the Njemanze Dynasty of Owere.
“The head village Umuororonjo (OparaOworo) with the Traditional hereditary head from Oparaugo family now occupied by Chief T.O.S Oparaugo.
“Amawom village with the Traditional hereditary head from family Dike Owere Emenyi and currently occupied by Chief Denis Dike.
These two Umuororonjo and Amawom make up Ikenegbu the major land owners of the Government Reserved Areas.
“Umuonyecho Village with the Traditional hereditary head from More family and currently occupied by Chief Herbert Mere.
“Umuodu Village with the Traditional hereditary head from Anozle-Emeto family and currently occupied by Chief Ikofuaku Anozio-Emoto
“Umuo|imma village with the Traditional hereditary head from Ukaegbu family and currently occupied by Chief Cyril
“The other traditional institutions are-
The Chief Priest (Onve Ishi Ala) headed by the Eiiogu family of Umuihugba Umuodu village.
The Legislature (Oha Owere) headed by the Oparanozie family of Umuorornjo village led by Oha Boniface Anukam of Oparanozie family
The King makers of Owere {Ochi-Eze from the Eke-n’ Okorie kindred of Amawom village) who install the Paramount Ruler from the selected Njemanze son.
“These Traditional Institutions with the President General of Owere Community Assembly (OCA), the Woman Leader (Onye Ishi-Ndom Owere). The head of Hausa community and his Yoruba counterpart all together constitute the cabinet of the Paramount Traditional Ruler of Eze Owore. The inclusion of the Non-Indigenes reflects the Municipal status of Owere.
It has become necessary to bring all this to public notice to forestall the activities of some dubious elements in our community, land speculators some of whom bear the Njemanze name in one guise or another.
One even parades as traditional Ruler claiming* to have powers to dissolve and reconstitute committees for land allocations e.t.c
“These type of characters also exist in other communities. Ours, therefore is no exception I therefore seize this opportunity to bring to the attention of the government and the general public the traditional and statutory position away from the bastardization by Chief Ethelbert Anayo Okorocha
