The royal fathers as well as the people if Ikwuano Umuahia in Abia state are asking for fairness in the appointment of Abia State Traditional Rulers chairman as SAM OBINNA writes.
Ikwuano Umuahia Traditional Rulers Council have said that they are laying claims to the exalted position of the headship of Abia state Traditional Rulers Council seat based on equity, justice and fairness.
This position was contained in a press statement issued by the leadership of the group obtained by Blueprint in Umuahia recently.
Ikwuano Umuahia Traditional Rulers Council from Abia Central Senatorial District said that chairmanship position of the council currently occupied by His Imperial Majesty, Eze Eberechi Dick from Obingwa in Abia-South would soon come to an end.This is after serving out almost six years of two tenures in that exacted office.
They further claimed that since the out going chairman is from the same Obingwa Local Government Area with the governor, they said that it can only be fair and natural if the governor appoints their Ikwuano Umuahia brothers to succeed their Ukwa Ngwa brothers to that number one seat of the state traditional rulers council.
It could be recalled that the forthcoming vacant position has elicited mixed feelings as to who would eventually be appointed by Governor Okezie Victor IKpeazu.
Because of this development, there have been arguments and counter arguments between the Ikwuano Umuahia axis and their Ngwa extraction of Abia Central to the extent that at the end of
of the day one wonders who will produce the occupant of this exalted office even though it is at the discretion of the state governor.
This is based on the premise that there are two distinct blocs that make up Abia Central of Ikwuano Umuahia, comprising Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Ikwuano on one side and Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma Ngwa on the other side of the three local government areas in each of the divide.
While the Ngwa axis, one of the divides, is scheming to be favoured to produce the next chairman after their kinsman who is the current holder of the office would have completed the remaining part of the tenure if not completed already, their counterparts from Ikwuano Umuahia axis are of the opinion that it is their turn this time around.
The traditional rulers council from this bloc based their arguments on the principles of equity, justice and fairness which they contend would give them a sense of belonging that the right thing should be done.
Some of the people who spoke to Blueprint under the condition of anonymity said that with expiration of the tenure of Eze Dick from Obingwa in Abia South who has spent almost six years on that seat, it would be foolhardy for the governor to still appoint another Ngwa man as the next head of Abia state Traditional Rulers Council granted that Ngwa people are one whether in Abia Central or Abia South.
“We know that our governor is a lover of peace and fairness and a beneficiary of equity must be seen to do the needful by allowing the people of Ikwuano Umuahia to succeed Eze Eberechi Dick for this coveted office of the royal fathers in the state,” one of them chipped in.
History of the stool
Another strong question which the traditional rulers council from Ikwuano Umuahia is holding is that the stool having gone round the the three senatorial districts in the state made up of two slots tenures in each zone, with Abia Central that taking the first chance through the person of Eze Bernard Enweremadu of Isiala Ngwa North of the Ngwa extraction and now that it is the turn of Abia Central, that conventional wisdom dictates that their brothers from the Ikwuano Umuahia divide should be considered.This they averred will give all and sundry a sense of belonging in line with rotation principle and equity.
For the records, HRM Eze Enweremadu from Isiala Ngwa North in Abia Central was the first chairman of Abia state Traditional Rulers Council from the military era up to the civilian dispensation. He was said to have occupied that position for a period of five years.
Thereafter, the baton shifted to Isuikwato from Abia North Senatorial District where Eze Uzo Ukandu held sway for three years of one tenure.
He handed over the mantle to HRM Eze Hope Onuigbo now late from Ossah Ibeku in Umuahia North of Abia Central.
Late Eze Onuigbo was on that seat for three years of one tenure before naturally shifted to Aba North in Abia South where Eze Isaac Ajuonu Ikonne directed affairs for three years and was rotated to Abia North for the second time where Eze John Akaliro from Ozuitem Bende called the shots for three years before handing over to the incumbent Chairman, Eze Dick from Obingwa in Abia South thereby completing the second term of the zone when he eventually leaves office. He is said to be serving out second tenures of almost six years on this seat.
The monarchs from Ikwuano Umuahia are saying that with the rotational zoning formula having gone through the three senatorial districts of two terms each, starting from Eze Enweremadu from Abia Central, an Ngwa man and outgoing chairman, Eze Dick, another Ngwa man of the same Obingwa from the same area as the governor, it therefore behoves common sense that their brothers from Umuahia axis should be encouraged and supported to replace the outgoing chairman from Ukwa la ngwa land of Abia South.
Ikwuano Umuahia Traditional Rulers Council are also saying that in demanding for equity and fairness, it must not be on a gold platter but must ensure they give the rest of the traditional rulers council in the state nothing but the best, given the sensitivity of the lofty office.
In this connection, they set a template to include but not limited to the following outstanding qualities as saying that the favoured person must be somebody who is well educated, younger and energetic and a royal father that can stand the rigours of the job. It also noted that the person should have the contacts and reach of other traditional rulers in the country and must have stayed up to 15 years on the throne.
Equally important, they said the person must be a widely travelled, exposed traditional ruler who has courage and can match other eminent traditional rulers in the country.
“The traditional ruler in question must be comfortable and not one who will depend on stipends from the government. Above all, must be somebody who knows God among other sterling qualities,” they noted.
