A traditional ruler in Rumuokoro Clan, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Ejiowhor Bekwele has cautioned against attempts by some desperate persons to install Eze in some communities, insisting that the move will be firmly resisted to maintain peace and order
By Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The Principal Owhor holder in Rumuokoro Clan of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Ejiowhor Bekwele Owhondah, has warned those installing Ezes indiscriminately in some communities around the clan to desist forthwith or face the wrath of the land.
Ejiowhor Bekewle, who gave the warning at his residence in Rupkakulosi Community, disclosed that Rumuokoro Clan has five communities and that any of the communities that want to install any Eze must consult the Principal Owhor holder for the installation and blessings.
He maintained that in Rumuokoro Clan, an Eze does not crown another person as Eze, pointing out that it is the traditional responsibility and duty bestowed on the Principal Ejiowhor to conduct libation and crown any person as Eze.
He stressed that any person who called himself ‘Eze’ without passing through his inducement, libation, and installation as the Principal Ejiowhor of Rumuokoro, might incur the wrath of the gods and ancestors.
Ejiowhor Bekewle further explained that so far, those he installed who passed through traditional due process, include Eze Georgewill Ndubuisi-Amadi, from Rupkakulosi Community, Eze Bob Nwanwa, Nye-Nwe Eli Ogbolo-Rike, Eze Ogbolo and Eze Sunny Awo, who also comes from the Royal family of Aworlu, pointing out that he does not know about any Eze in Awala Community, as he did not crown any person there.
“Any person crowing any chief and or parading himself as Eze in Rumuokoro without the approval of the Principal Owhor holder and Ejiowhor Bekwele Owhondah does so at his own risk,” he said, noting that the three Ezes he mentioned remain the authentic, acceptable and recognized ones in Rumuokoro Clan.
He urged members of the public and the people of Rumuokoro Clan to ignore the purported installation and announcement by Eze Allwell Owhondah, insisting that he, Allwell Oguduwa Owhondah should be advised not to ignore the traditional importance and value of Ejiowhor Bekwele Owhondah.
In a related development, the chiefs, elders, opinion leaders, youths and women of Eligbolo Community have supported Eze Bob Nwoburuoke Nwanwa JP, as the authentic, recognized and generally accepted Paramount Ruler and Nye-Nwe Eli Eligbolo Community.
Chairman of Rumuoliagwa Family, Chief Gana Nna Ihundia, who spoke to Tentacle shortly after its meeting at the palace of Nwanwa JP, said the four families of Eligbolo Community, comprising Rumuoliagwa (First Son) Rumuachichi (Second Son), Rumuchiolu (Third Son) and Rumuoluwenre (Fourth Son), were in support of Nwanwa as their Paramount Ruler as revealed by the oracle of the gods) through the ancestors of Eligbolo Community.
According to Chief Ihundia, after the death of the former Paramount Ruler of Eiogbolo Community, the late Eze Ndubuisi Richard Nwanwa and his burial, the community sought a replacement of the king and the lot fell on Nwanwa.
Chief Ihundia further explained that the consultation of the oracle was to ascertain the authentic Paramount Ruler of Eiogbolo Community, because, according to him, the late Ndubuisi Richard Nwanwa was not the rightful occupant of the stole, which caused his death.
He said the quest to know the real king was as a result of the revelation by the Ojiofors of the Community, namely, the Ojiofor of Nwanwa Family, being the overall Ojiofor of Eligbolo Community, David Nwanwa and Lucky Ihundia, stressing that the community should follow the tradition and customs of the land in selecting the next king.
Chief Nna Ihundia said Elder Osisi Nwanwa and Elder Ogutum Ihundia were sent to consult the oracle, adding that after the consultation, the soothsayer came to the community and declared that the gods and the ancestors of Eligbolo chose Nwanwa as the Paramount Ruler and Nye-Nwe Eli Eligbolo Community.
Nna Ihundia expressed surprise that after the installation of Eze Nwanwa as the Paramount Ruler and celebration, one Tony Nwanwa, who was part of the process and who was present at the coronation of Eze Bob Nwoburuoke Nwanwa, later ran to the Paramount Ruler of Rumuokoro to be crowned as the king of Eligbolo, describing such an act as unacceptable to the Eiogbolo Community.
He noted that the anger of the community rose when they heard the recent announcement by HRH of Rumuokoro, Eze Allwell Oguduwa Owhondah, that one Tony Nwanwa has been crowned the Eze of Eligbolo.
He used the medium to declare, as the Chairman and first Son of Rumuoliagwa Family, that Eligbolo is totally, and absolutely in agreement with the revelation of the ancestors of the family, and subsequently affirmed through the pronouncement and declaration of Oracle of the gods, that Eze Bob Nwoburuoke Nwanwa is the authentic, recognized, approved and the acceptable Paramount Ruler and Nye-Nwe Eli Eligbolo, adding that anything short of that would be vehemently resisted, opposed, rejected, and keenly contested anywhere, even in the court of law.
Speaking on current happenings in the community, Eze Nwanwa, who said there is no contention because the ancestors have chosen him, maintained that no person from Eiogbolo Community can contest the stool of Eligbolo with him, while declaring that any person who chooses to contest the stool will be contesting with the ancestors.
He regretted that the Royal Highness of Rumuokoro Community, Eze Allwell Oguduwa Owhondah, has scattered the five communities in Rumuokoro Clan, alleging that Eze Owhondah, has caused a lot of problems in Eligbolo Community, noting that there is also chieftaincy tussles in Eligbolo and Rumuawhorlu, adding that all the problems were caused by Eze Owhondah.
He maintained that Eze Owhondah has no right to choose anybody as a chief in each of the five communities under Rumuokoro Clan to be crowned as a Royal Highness, pointing out that the gazette of the state government did not give him (Eze Owhondah) the powers and right to do so.
Eze Nwanwa, therefore, re-affirmed his stand with Eligbolo Community, based on their resolution and position that he is the authentic and acceptable Paramount Ruler of Eiogbolo Community and nothing can change it.