THE NEW EZE ELECT OF EHUME OMAEGWU AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY SUE FOR PEACE SAYS THE THRONE OF EHUME IS HIS RIGHT

THE NEW EZE ELECT OF EHUME OMAEGWU AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY SUE FOR PEACE SAYS THE THRONE OF EHUME IS HIS RIGHT

David Maduako –Umuahia

The Eze Elect of Ehume autonomous community in Omaegwu Clan of Umuahia South LGA High Chief Silas Uwagbokwu have called for peace in Ngodo Ehume Community saying he is the rightful person to occupy the vacant stool of Ehume ancient kingdom.

Speaking recently in his Ngodo Palace, High Chief Uwagbokwu said he is the most qualified and most competent to occupy the throne as tradition demands . He maintained that it is the turn of his village Ngodo to produce the next king of Ehume autonomous community following the death of their last king HRM Eze Nwosu . He said on the demise and subsequent burial of HRM , it became the turn of Ngodo village as the second in seniority to produce a king for the community and as custom demand the most qualified Elder In the village is to ascend the throne .

High Chief Silas Uwagbokwu said in Ngodo village, he is the most qualified Elder according to the laws ,customs and tradition of the land . In circular activities of the community , High Chief Uwagbokwu said he was the President General of Ehume autonomous community from 1970 to 1980 and within this period he made notable contributions towards the overall development of the community . When he assumed the office of President General in 1970 he caused a bridge to be built accross the community to provide access way to the community and contributed to the renovation of their Secondry School which was destroyed during the war. He was actively involved in the reconstruction of the delapidated roads and was the first Chairman of Ngodo Welfare Union.

Traditionally , he explained that
he is a member of the Eze’s Cabinet with a Chieftaincy title from the king as demanded by the constitution of the community. He have represented the community ln various missions within and outside the community , without boosting he have devoted his Iife to the service of his Ehume Community and he knows the tradition and customs of Omaegwu and Ehume Communities .

He recalled that during the regime of governor Sam Mbakwe the then governor of old Imo state , he was at the fore front of the struggle for the creation of Omaegwu autonomous community . He later fought for the Creation of Ehume autonomous community. From all ramifications , he asserted that he is the most qualified and competent to be the next king of Ehume autonomous community.

Contributing , a prominent Legal Practitioner of the community Barr. Prince Nwaoma Uwagbokwu , said his father’s opponents are contributors to the problem of Ehume community . Saying they have not declared their intension to run for the stool of Ehume kingdom but merely go about instigating problems for the Eze Elect .

He noted that speaking from the legal instrument of qualification and competence to the throne of Ehume ancient kingdom , the constitution of Omaegwu Ward Council Leaders of 1982, stipulates that upon the death of a traditional ruler, the next Candidate for the throne must be one who is qualified and competent to occupy the throne of the community and must be selected in order of the next in seniority of the villages and persons.

He noted that the Candidate according to the constitution must have knowledge of the traditions , native laws and customs of Ehume community. He must have a Chieftaincy title bestowed on him by the king of the community and not a Chieftaincy title gotten from outside the community , and must be a member of the Eze’s Cabinet . The legal Practitioner went further to state that the Candidate must not have been convicted and cannot be a Public or Civil Servant.

Going by all these he said High Chief Silas Uwagbokwu has a Chieftaincy title from Ehume with numerous awards as a worthy Illustrious Son of the community , so I adjudged him the most qualified to occupy the throne of Ehume ancient kingdom, the Barrister stated .

A strong supporter of the Eze Elect High Chief Fubara John Onwugharandu said High Chief Silas Uwagbokwu is qualified to be the next king and advised the contender challenging Chief Uwagbokwu to sheath his sword and allow peace to reign since his family have produced the first village Head of Ngodo village so another family should produce the king of Ehume and High Chief Silas Uwagbokwu is the most outstanding in the race of the kingship .

Chief Okey Njoku is another astitute supporter of High Chief Silas Uwagbokwu. According to him , he now understand why God regretted after he created man , he said those challenging the Eze Elect are trouble shooters in the community who abhor peace .They indiscriminately drag people to court yet in all their cases they loose. They once attacked the late king of the community now they are challenging the Eze Elect yet they are not registered members of Ngodo Welfare Union an umbrella body that binds Ngodo people together.

They refused to appear before a screening committee set up for interested candidates of the village for the Kingship stool , only the Eze Elect appeared before the Committee . The contender and his group have never informed the Ngodo Community or the Welfare union that they wants to be king , they simply go about causing
unnecessary confusion in the village. Chief Okey Njoku maintained that the Eze Elect who has appeared before the screening committee and have gone for presentation in Umuahia South LGA is the only one qualified to be the king of Ehume autonomous community .

Attempts made to reach the opponent of Chief Uwagbokwu for comments proved abortive for now .
End .