Rivers
Community Seeks Fubara’s Intervention In Chieftaincy Crisis …Declares Support For Regent
Chiefs, Opinion leaders, and Elders of Okwuzi community in Ogba Egbema Ndoni local Government Area are calling for the intervention of Governor Siminalaye Fubara following the crisis over the Oruamara Chieftaincy stool of the community.
They also declared their support for Eze Victor H. C. Afaka as the Eze Oruamara or Regent of Okwuzi community.
They said this at a media briefing in the community.
It would be recalled that Okwuzi for the past six years has been without a paramount ruler following the alleged incapacitation of Eze Chukwuma SDG Nwanoka.
According to the chiefs, elders, and opinion leaders of the community, the emergence of Eze Victor Afaka was a result of the incapacitation of Eze Nwanoka, who was paramount ruler of the community.
They also alleged of attempt by some persons to ursup the traditional rulership of Okwuzi, adding that this situation is causing crisis in the community.
According to them, the attention of Governor Siminalaye Fubara is needed urgently to save Okwuzi from plunging into crisis.
Speaking, Chairman of Nzeobi of Egbema Ancient Kingdom Area Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Kingsley Obiye, said the appointment of Eze Victor Afaka followed the customs, tradition, and constitution of Okwuzi Community.
Eze Obiye said Okwuzi does not operate an Hereditary system of rulership, neither does it operate a Prime Ministership system of traditional administration.
He said following the vacuum created by the incapacitation of Eze Chukwuma, the community appointed Eze Victor Afaka as the Regent of Okwuzi.
He, however, alleged that one Nelson Ekperi, a former personal Assistant to the incapacitated Eze, has been trying to ursup the rulership of the community, something that is against the custom and tradition of Okwuzi Community.
Also speaking, Chief Chuks Ajari of Ohu/Ebocha Community, Okwuzi, said Government attention is needed to save the community from impending crisis.
“Our community is heading down to crisis if the Governor fails to come and rescue his people, because this is one of the Communities he governs”, he stated.
He noted that for over six years the community has not set its eyes on their Eze: “we have not seen him, we do not know where he is.
“The community sat down and through our constitution appointed Victor Afaka as a Regent”.
He added that ascension to the throne of Eze Oruamara or paramount rulership of Okwuzi is never hereditary but through election or selection.
Chief Ajari urged Governor Fubara to call Mr Nelson Ekperi and others to order before they plung Okwuzi into crisis.
“We are calling on Governor Fubara to use his office to call them to order.
“The community has gotten a Regent and every chieftaincy apparatuses should be handed to Eze Afaka so that Okwuzi can be in peace”, Ajari stated.
“Also, the Youth President of the Community, Comrade Princewilll Ifeanyi, said the community has not set its eyes on the incapacitated Eze for over six years, neither was there any information about his whereabout.
He also called on the Government to call those trying to plung the community into crisis to order, adding that they should respect the laws, customs and traditions of the people.