Eze Aro Stool: No Chieftaincy tussle, keep off, Abia govt. warns trouble makers
Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State government says it has put security operatives on red alert to deal with “unscrupulous individuals” planning to disrupt the peace in Arochukwu Ancient Kingdom of Arochukwu local government area of the state.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, made this known in a statement in Umuahia. He said that some people in Arochukwu were arranging to disrupt the peace in the Kingdom over a “non-existent Chieftaincy tussle.”
The five paragraph-statement reads:
“It has come to the attention of Abia State Government that some unscrupulous individuals who have been masquerading themselves as traditional rulers in Arochukwu, Arochukwu Local Government Area, are arranging to disrupt the peace and tranquillity of the town.
“Government has it on good authority that these imposters are planning to use thugs and drug addicts to intimidate and harrass innocent citizens of the community under the guise of a non- existent chieftaincy tussle.
“The Abia state government wishes to use this medium to warn all those who are involved in these unwholesome plans, along with their sponsors to desist from their despicable act in their own best interest
“The security agencies are hereby directed to enforce law and order in the community and to ensure that those who disrupt the peace are brought to book accordingly.
“The Abia state government hereby reiterates it’s commitment to protect the lives and property of all Abia citizens and residents at all times.”
Recall that Arochukwu Ancient Kingdom was locked in a serious Chieftaincy tussle over who becomes the Ninth Eze Aro.
Sources claimed Prince Goddy Idei had earlier earlier emerged and was crowned as the Ninth Eze Aro.
But the state government faulted the process that produced Prince Idei as flawed and ordered another process which later produced Dr. Eberechukwu Orji as the new Eze Aro, who was also installed as the Ninth Eze Aro last January.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Prince Idei approached an Abia High Court in Umunneochi which granted his prayer for an injunction restraining Eze Eberechukwu Orji from parading himself as Eze Aro, pending the determination of the substantive case.
The injunction also restrained the state government from recognizing the new Eze Aro but the government dismissed the case, saying it reserves the right to recognize the traditional ruler of any community.
