In the good old days, when Ezeship was by merit and popular will, Ndi Eze had influence and authority. As true custodians of the culture and identities of their communities, they ruled with the fear of God. They were strong advocates and defenders of truth and justice and usually stood up for them and other natural principles not minding whose ox was gored.
They were exemplary and lived above board. Their lifestyle earned them loyalty and deep respect from their subjects. When they speak their words not only had the force of law, but were potent as well. When an Eze blessed you, you would see its manifestation. And when they invoke curse on anyone they face the consequences . Similarly, if there’s vexed or urgent issue that should to be taken up with political leaders Ndi Eze then were never afraid to do so. They freely communed with God and sought divine assistance when the need arose too and because their hands and hearts were clean God never shamed them.
A good example of what i am saying here was late Ozuruigbo the fourth of Owere HRM Alexis Njemanze. He stopped the then military governor Amadi Ikwuecheh from relocating Ekeukwu Market. Ikwuecheh woke up one morning and said he was relocating the Market, but Eze Njemanze said it’s not possible.
Ikwuecheh thought he would bulldoze his way, but one day a call came from the presidency, warning him against that. And that was the end of the matter.
Late Eze Mgbemere first traditional ruler of the then Obiangwu/ Logara Autonomous Community, Ngor Okpala LGA, wasn’t lettered but was another perfect example of monarchy. He knew his rights and boundaries and respected political leaders but didn’t fear them. And so when those in government during his time tried to deny him his rights to dragged them to court and defeated them.
Imo first generation Ndi Eze symbolized what Eze is meant to be – they were courageous, they had character and dignity and were honest; they were people and progress oriented and godly.
Sadly, the good times have passed away. The once revered and sacred institution has become the proverbial “Ogwe” “(public convinence) that everyone could saunter into and defecate into. A good number of Ndi Eze today are the opposite of their predecessors. Ndi Eze now have two tongues, are sycophantic, inclined to supporting evil, timid, ungodly and selfish.
However, it’s not hard to trace how Ezeship institution in Imo State got to this lowest ebb, that has seen Ezes completely lose their moral and traditional authority. Which in turn has led to near total loss of respect and regard. Ndi Eze are hardly respected by their subjects, government institutions and politicians today, whether elected or appointed. As a matter of fact, they have transformed into hirelings and praise singers for politicians.
Politicization of the institution and weaponization of poverty by successive governors are behind the demystification of that institution.
Successive administrations politicized it with the seeming reckless granting of autonomous status to almost every kindred and hamlet. And worsened it by discarding the selection criterias of merit, character and acceptability and crowning of men of questionable personality and means as Eze. They discarded the value driven process because of their selfish political interests.
However, While governor’s before Owelle Rochas Okorocha like him indulged in the politicization mishap, it was him who turned Ndi Eze into emergency comedians and sycophants by weaponizing poverty against them.
Chiefs Achike Udenwa and Ikedi Ohakim created new autonomous communities. But they didn’t touch the constitutional entitlements of Ndi Eze as enshrined in Joint State Local Government Allocation Committee, JAAC.
Owelle Okorocha disbanded JAAC and stopped monthly allocation of Ndi Eze. When he saw that he had cowed them into submission, and being man given to dramatization, he quickly converted them into comedians. And they staged many hollow and empty rituals and comedies during his time.
Today, his successor Gov Hope Uzodinma has taken the foundation he laid to new heights. He has deepened the unraveling game and the outcome of that is the series of sycophantic comedies Ndi Eze, are staging now and then, to humour and flatter him in order to cash out.
The most recent of the hollow drama’s of the Ndi Eze that caught the public eye, was the one they titled “Pouring of libation” against any individual or group that will kick against a so called ” Imo Charter of Equity”.
These days whenever i hear the governor and his praise singers talk about equity, it evolves mixed feelings in me. It amuses me; but more seriously it saddens me it shows truly that the average Igbo politician is desperately selfish and greedy. Four years ago Imo people restored this same equity they now crave; after Okorocha sought to bury it with ex Gov Ihedioha’s election.
But, this same Uzodinma grandstanding over it rose and used the court to truncate that equity. If he truly loves equity as he wants us to believe now, will he have rubbished that hard fought victory of Imo people?
No. he’s only pretending to be advocate of equity, just because of his selfish second term interest. But that gimmick won’t work.
So, all the drab drama his sycophants are staging on the issue will end up being meaningless and fruitless. The one Eze Ilomuanya cobbled up with their self styled elders flopped as soon as it was released into the market. This one by Ndi Eze Imo led by Eze Emmanuel Okeke is also not jelling with Ndi Imo.
The libation stunt will surely fail because those who poured the wine didn’t go to equity with clean hands. They know the document was not a consensus product of Imo people, but rather packaged by the governor to lure and deceive people to support his tottering second term bid. As a Christianis Eze Okeke saying God endorses fraud and deception? I feel that is what his action suggests. That is not true sir.. God is righteous and seriously frowns at any action steeped in deceit, selfishness and falsehood.
Even when we speak politically and morally the libation comedy can’t still fly. In Imo right now the only equitable stand anyone can take is rooting for Governorship to go to either Owerri or Okigwe Zones. After a whooping twenty years it is a heartless and godless fellow that can campaign for an Orlu man to mount the seat again from January 2024. it is a sin against God and humanity.
For me if Eze Okeke is looking for what to engage in, i think he focus on advising the governor to tackle the insecurity holding the state at the jugular in a humane and dogged manner. The institution he chairs has seriously being bloodied by the scourge, as more than fifteen Ezes have been murdered in the last four years, without any convincing reaction from the ruling government. His house literally is on fire and it doesn’t make sense to be chasing rats. Never have Ndi Eze been murdered as is happening now, and doing anything legitimately to reverse the ugly trend ought to be the priority of Eze Imo.
By Chinedu Opara
Edited.
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