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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The kingmakers in Arochukwu kingdom of Abia State, the Okennachi Kindred has stated their stance on the crisis rocking the ancient community as a result of the Ezeship tussle.
The last Eze Aro, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro, died over two years ago, after 25 years on the throne and the selection of a new king has been met with crisis, with two persons laying claims to the throne after the selection process was concluded.
However, in trying to let people into what happened during the selection of a new king for Arochukwu which took place on October 18, 2023, during a press conference, Mazi Udo Chijoke, President General, Okennachi Kindred (the Kingmakers), said the person chosen as Eze Aro designate by the Kingmakers, is Prince Eberechukwu Oji.
Chijioke said the truth remains that the most qualified in line of succession to the throne, is 91 year old Mazi Oji Kanu Oji, but that since the people of Arochukwu wanted a younger person, it became an open contest to the three families that produce king for the kingdom.
He said after consultations, two persons, Goddy Idei and Oji Kanu Oji emerged from the ruling families to contest the vacant Eze Aro stool.
“It is important to emphasise that Umu Aro demanded a younger person as successor, especially when they considered that Mazi Oji Kanu Oji, the Okwara Ezi (Head of the Roya; family) and the most qualified in line of succession is over 91 years old.
“Faced with this situation, Okennachi Kindred commissioned a group of eminent persons with the mandate to interact with the Princes to broker peace and create the atmosphere to help the Princes come up with a solution on how to give Aro an Eze.
“The effort finally paid off and the older princes agreed that those over 70 years would not participate. We also got the most senior to bless and relinquish his claim to the throne.”
Chijioke said after the submissions of nominations, the President General of Okennachi Kindred had to constitute a panel of 7 Okennachi kindred sons, observing the three traditional units constituting the kindred, to evaluate the candidates.
“After the presentation of their profiles and taking questions from the two candidates, the seven-member selection panel did their evaluation and returned a verdict of 5 to 2 in favour of Eberechukwu Oji.
“In other words, Prince Eberechukwu Oji is the person the Okennachi kindred selected as the Eze Aro Designate”, he asserted, insisting that any person presenting himself as Eze Aro, is an imposter.
He said it was unfortunate that Idei, who had earlier before the selection agreed to abide by the decision of the Kingmakers, decided to reject the outcome of the process when it did not favour him and ran to Ibom Isii to be crowned.
“As I speak, Prince Eberechukwu Oji in line with the Arochukwu tradition of crowning an Eze, having fulfilled being accepted by Nde Oke at Oror, presented and accepted at Utughugwu with the traditional rites performed, presented to and accepted by Bianko and Amaja (that is having been accepted by the three units of Okennachi kindred) Prince Eberechukwu Oji immediately stands as Eze Aro Designate.
“This is Aro tradition. It was therefore in shock and utter disbelief that Okennachi Kindred learned that Prince Goddy Idei who failed at the selection process ran to Eze Ibom Isii on October 20, 2023 to put what he called Okpu Arunsi on his head and called him Eze Aro.
“This is unheard of in Aro Tradition. It is not only an abomination, this is pure gangsterism, a total illegality and a nullity.
“The Eze Aro stool is not for gangsters.Goddy Idei is an impostor since it was not him that Okennachi Kindred selected to be Eze Aro. Goddy Idei has political backers who are determined to set the Aro Kingdom on fire.
“They are not only providing funds, they are mounting vicious campaigns of lies and propaganda to deceive the world. The villains are playing the victim. Truth is under assault in the Aro Kingdom”, he lamented.
The kingmakers said they have sent a petition to Abia State Government to stop the parade of any imposter as Eze Aro.
