Follow Us on Google
The traditional ruler of Aro kingdom, Eze Eberechukwu Oji, has cautioned his people, both at home and in the Diaspora, against the condemnation of the upright cultures and traditions of the people because of their christian belief.
Eze Aro stated this during the first all Aro global virtual meeting recently. He spoke from Arochukwu, Abia State, the ancestral home of Umu Aro all over the world.
Eze Aro said: “The traditional institutions are the vestiges of our people, which we hold dear, to be preserved and not condemned.”
Reacting to a question on his propriety as a pastor visiting the Awada Aro sacred ground at Ugwuakuma, Arochukwu, the monarch said: “You asked if I know where the Awada Aro is located. Yes, I know where it is. My house is in Baraki, if you want, I will take you to Ugwuakuma, where Awada is. You asked if I know the heads of Awada. One of the consultations that we have been doing is on how to bring peace and progress to Arochukwu, and we have been doing that with the Eze Awada, Mazi Onoh. Mazi Onoh is the head of the Otusi, he is the one that organises the Awada Aro.”
He further stated: “I have answered the questions on whether as an ordained pastor, I can enter the Awada. I am a full, autochthonous son of Aro, I am Eze Aro. There is no spot in Aro that I cannot visit.
That one is not an issue at all. That you visited the Awada or not, does not take away your calling as a child of God. These things are the vestiges of our customs and traditions
“Despite all of these, I have said it many times, that you are a son of Aro, or a child of God, or a Christian or a pastor does not mean that you will destroy your tradition or your culture. The Bible says, give unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and what belongs to God unto God. I have responded to this question many times, but anytime it comes up, we will explain it again. It is good that as Umu Aro, we do what is right, and jettison those that are contrary to our progress.”
