Umuahia North Traditional Council sanctions members for dabbling into politics

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

Umuahia North Traditional Rulers Council, the umbrella body of all traditional rulers in Umuhia North Local Government Area of Abia State, appear poised to descend on the seven traditional rulers from Ohuhu clan for dabbling into politics.

The Council has declared that the affected seven traditional rulers who visited Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to canvass for zoning of the governorship slot to Ukwa/Ngwa bloc did not speak for the Council and dissociated the itself completely from their activities of the seven monarchs.

At a Press briefing in Umuahia today, Monday, the Council said the affected Ohuhu traditional rulers would face be tried in line with provisions of the Council’s constitution and punished accordingly, if found guilty.

Last Saturday, seven traditional rulers from Ohuhu clan, led by the Chairman of Ohuhu Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu of Umudiawa Autonomous Community, paid a courtesy visit on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at Government House, Umuahia.

During the visit, Eze Ofoegbu said the traditional rulers were in support of the governorship position remaining with the Ukwa/Ngwa block in 2023.

Eze Ofoegbu who led the delegation said Ohuhu Traditional Rulers were of the opinion that since Old Bende Division has produced the Governor for 16 years, it was natural that the Ukwa/Ngwa bloc (Old Aba Division) be allowed to produce the Governor in 2023 to ensure equity and balance in the State.

Ofoegbu maintained that they would hold agitators responsible for any consequence of negligence of their advice, adding that they would resist any attempt to scuttle the peace and security being enjoyed by Abians.

The pronouncement by Eze Ofoegbu has sparked wide outrage both in Ohuhu clan and Ibeku clan, both of which make up Umuahia.

Already the remaining 20 traditional rulers in Ohuhu have dissociated themselves from the visit by their colleagues and their pronouncement.

Briefing newsmen on behalf of Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers, its Chairman, His Royal Highness, Eze John Ibezim of Amuzukwu Ibeku, expressed disappointment of Umuahia traditional rulers over the development.

Eze Ibezim, made it clear that traditional rulers were not politicians, stressing that it was not their responsibility to tell politicians how they should handle their political arrangement.

“What we want to put straight is that anything concerning Abia State, concerning Umuahia North Local Government traditional rulers that doesn’t come from this body is fake,” Eze Ibezim began.

“We have not sent any persons or group to say anything or promise anything on our behalf. The group of persons (traditional rulers who visited Ikpeazu) are not representing us. Our duty as Ndieze is to advise government based on situations at the grassroots. As Ezes (monarchs), we should not get ourselves into politics whether at the country or the state or the local government levels.

“We want to send the message that Umuahia North traditional rulers did not tell the political class how they should organize their political activities in terms of who gets what. That is left for the political parties to do themselves and we don’t have that right to enter into such dialogue.

“It is unfortunate that some people who, though they rightly belong to this local government Council, went too far with saying what they said in recent time. To be concise and precise, one thing they said is that it is still the turn of Ngwa people to produce the governor in 2023.

“And that they don’t believe in the present pattern of zoning. Whereas at the same time, they told the Governor that it is the turn of Ohuhu to produce the next member of the House of Representatives.

You can see the paradox. The other one should be done one way, the next one is to be done the other way. That tells you that they are confused.  

“The Council of Traditional Rulers of Umuahia North of Abia State is not involved in that utterance and will never be. All we pray is that government, please, you should follow the regular pattern which can be predicted. It is better than taking things without uniformity. We advise them, if there is a regular pattern they have taken, please do so in the interest of peace.”

Asked if the Council would discipline their colleagues who made the pronouncement, Eze Ibezim said that such a decision would be taked during the forthcoming meeting of the Council.

“We have our constitution which defines what constitutes an offence. We are going to convene a meeting within the next one week. We will conduct an internal review of what has transpired and know how far the constitution has been infringed upon. It is in the constitution, misbehavior. We cannot define misbehavior (here) but when we go to our meeting, we put it to motion and if the majority determines that they should be punished, that is it,” Eze Ibezim.

Present at the meeting were HRM, Eze Iheanyichukwu Ezeigbo (Ochima), Chairman of Ibeku Council of Traditional Rulers; HRM Eze (Sir) Donatus Aguiyi, Ofondu II of Ndume; Eze Eddy Ibeabuchi, Okwu 1 of Okwulaga and Chairman Emeritus, Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers; His Royal Kingship, Eze Iheanyichukwu Nwokenna, Oba the great of Ekeoba Kingdom, Ohuhu; and HRH, Eze Benson Ugochukwu Akabuike, Agu Egwu Uga 2, Egwuneleke Autonomous Community, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu, Ohuhu.

Individually, the affirmed their support for the position of the Council’s Chairman, that the seven Ohuhu traditional rulers who went on an unauthorised pilgrimage to Government House went on their own accord as they did represent the traditional institution either in Ohuhu or Umuahia North as a whole.