The people of Arochukwu Kingdom of South East Nigeria have been recorded in history as one of the most traditionally and culturally endowed nations in Nigeria, nay Africa.
Aros as unique people with enviable culture
Their uniqueness as a people has been well established, particularly due to their cultural characteristics. Cultural anthropologists point to the fact that humans are generally a product of their culture and environment, and the Aro are not different.
One critical factor about the pervasiveness of culture in shaping the lives of a people is the fact that it finds expression through well-established societal processes and institutions. Of course, a typical cultural institution of the Aro through which other nations reckon with them as a special species of humans is their kingship stool, which has survived several centuries of existence.
The Eze Aro throne
The stool of the Eze Aro as the paramount ruler of Arochukwu Kingdom has existed for centuries and predated the arrival of the Portuguese and the British on the shores of West Africa.
The Aro Confederacy was the foremost in the entire Igbo speaking area of Nigeria. Through the founding of the modern Arochukwu Kingdom about the 14th century and their pre-eminent mercantile relationship with several communities within and beyond the shores of Nigeria, which birthed more than 250 Diaspora communities, and up till their well-documented resistance to the entry of the white colonialists into the hinterlands that resulted in the Anlo-Aro war of 1901, the Aro monarchy stood the people on a strong stead to contend successfully with the challenges of managing multicultural groups and business empires with modern vestiges.
It is, therefore, an enviable ancient kingdom; so it is not unexpected that its exalted stool of royalty would be coveted by many qualified princes when the throne becomes vacant in the event of an Eze joining his ancestors.
The culture of the Aro prescribes one full year as mourning period during which the immediate descendants of a late king would serve as the Arianzu – one who takes charge of traditional authority in the kingdom pending the selection and crowning of another Eze.
This process ensures that a vacuum does not exist for too long before another Eze takes over. As nature abhors vacuum, so does the Arochukwu Kingdom, in order that progress and wellbeing can be assured.
However, at times things do not work out seamlessly as they should, necessitating some adjustments to ensure that normalcy is reintroduced without much rancour or disequilibrium in societal activities.
Laid down process for emergence of Eze Aro
The processes that saw to the emergence of Engr. Eberechukwu Oji as the new king witnessed a lot of these occasional clashes between the forces of tradition and modernity when princes and interested outsiders line-up in favour or against particular candidates to determine whose turn it is to ascend the ancient throne of the Aro people.
Yet as would be expected, most issues eventually gets resolved based on the longstanding cultural practices, which have proved useful in dealing with similar issues several times in the past.
Delayed presentation of Eze Aro-designate
Arochukwu Kingdom witnessed these situations in recent times, particularly since October 18, 2023 when the processes for the selection of the new king entered its final stages.
Aro News learnt of several cases of falsehood, accusations, and misrepresentations propagated, especially, targeted against the leadership of Okennachi Kindred, which has been accused of ‘interference’ in the affairs of the palace.
However, Aro News gathered that Umu Aro were worried about the delay in presenting a new Eze Aro by the palace as expected, such that on November 23, 2022, the Nzuko Aro leadership wrote a letter to the Okennachi leadership on the matter.
On December 27, 2022, the body of Nzuko Aro National Patrons led by Prof. Okoro Ijoma followed up with a visit to the Okennachi leadership. The Okennachi Kindred was consequently seen as being incompetent because of their seeming inability to assist the palace resolve internal issues to produce an Eze Aro in a timely manner.
An Arochukwu elder statesman told Aro News that the concern of Umu Aro with the undue delay in the selection of a new Eze was understandable in the light of the ugly experience and tussle for the throne before the eventual emergence of the immediate past Eze Aro.
Hindsight
It would be recalled that following the passing of Mazi Kanu Oji – the legendary Eze Aro – there was a legal tussle over the throne, which lasted about eight years in the court, and created an unhealthy atmosphere in the palace and Arochukwu Kingdom worldwide. The animosity generated by that case persisted and actually seemed to have broken the Aro myth.
So with the passage of Eze Aro, Eze Ogbonnaya Okoro after 25 years on the throne, Umu Aro started demanding for a younger person as successor, especially when they considered that Mazi Oji Kanu Oji and Mazi Joshua Kanu Oji – the two eldest princes – were already aged, and were fiercely and bitterly seeking to outwit each other for the throne.
Again, there was, and still is, no love lost among the three royal family units, thus suspicion mostly fuelled by divisive gossips from outside the palace was rampant.
Okennachi intervenes to resolve lock jam
After considering the situation and the difficulties the lack of peace in the palace would present in finding a common ground to produce an Eze Aro, Okennachi commissioned in August 2021 a group of eight eminent persons namely Mazi Ike Okoronkwo, Mazi Obasi Lawson, Mazi PC Okoro, Mazi Nkem Okoro, Mazi Justice Anyalewechi Onwuchekwa (rtd), Mazi Bank Anthony Okoroafor, Mazi Kanu Ivi and Mazi Kanu Oji Awa with the mandate to interact with the Princes to broker peace and create the atmosphere to help them come up with a consensus candidate as the next Eze.
The Committee members spent their resources travelling all over the country, co-opted people and held several meetings.
After eight months, precisely on April 18, 2023, Okennachi summoned a meeting of this Committee to know the outcome of their efforts.
Their report showed that despite their efforts – troubles, expenses, travel risks – there was a total lack of appreciation or cooperation from the palace. There was no progress and no hope of the princes coming together for the common good. At that juncture, the Committee was asked to stay action for a while, allow for a reconciliatory process to be initiated from within the family circles.
Thus, the Utughugwu Committee, which comprised members who are family to the princes, was established to resolve the issues pertaining to the Eze Aro selection. The Utughugwu Committee was made up of 12 members: Mazi F. E. Ajunwa (Eze-Ogo Utughugwu), Mazi Kanu Oji Awah (P.G. Utughugwu), Mazi P.C Okoro (P.G Nde-Agor), Mazi Nkem Okoro (Ag. Eze Ezi Nde Agor), Mazi Hon Justice A. Onwuchekwa (Nde Agor), Mazi Obasi Lawson (Atani),Rev. Benjamin Okoroafor (Nde Agor), Mazi Chike B. Okoro (Nde Agor), Mazi Okereke Kanu (Chairman, Utughugwu Development Union), Mazi Nwago Ogbonnaya (Utughugwu Development Union), Mazi Ikechukwu Okorouga(Utughugwu), and Mazi Sunday Nwamuo Enyinta (Utughugwu).
The committee’s first meeting was on July 30, 2022, but as Aro News learnt, the Oji Okoro family did not attend while all other families were present. Those present made their submissions and the Utughugwu report was presented to Okennachi Kindred on September 20, 2023 for consideration and adoption.
Following the conclusion and submission of the reports of the two Committees, the larger Okennachi Kindred met on the eve of Eke Ekpe on September 21, 2023 and accepted the reports subject to a few modifications.
Consequently, a harmonization committee was constituted and the members were: Mazi Ugochukwu A. Okoroafor (Chairman), Mazi Dr. Azubuike Okoro (Member/Secretary), Mazi Alex Ezuma, Mazi Ken Ogbonna and Mazi Ikechukwu Okafor. The harmonized report was read to the princes/representatives of the three royal family units on September 22, 2023 at Arochukwu Civic Centre.
Royal families applaud Okennachi Kindred, go back to put palace in order
The royal families appreciated Okennachi Kindred for the efforts and sacrifices they made to find a solution to the problems at the palace.
The decision of September 22, 2023 meeting between the Okennachi Kindred and the Palace was: “Go back and discuss among yourselves and give us one candidate for Eze Aro. “However, if you are unable to do so, then let each house produce one candidate so that a committee would be set up to evaluate them and choose the best for Aro.”
In the event of failure to produce a consensus candidate, they had a deadline of October 5, 2023 to submit names of their best candidates for assessment, in order to pick one person.
All the families – without exception – accepted the resolutions with gratitude.
Nominations for consideration as Eze Aro
Before the agreed deadline, Okennachi Kindred had received nominations for the throne of Eze Aro from the three family units.
The implication, as Aro News further learnt, was that they could not harmonise their interests and agree on one candidate, which only meant that they had accepted for their candidates be individually evaluated.
The panel received the following nominations: From Asi Eko Oke – Prince Obioha Ogbonnaya Okoro; from Kanu Okoro Oke – Prince Godwin Idei and from Oji Okoro Oke – Prince Oke Kanu Oji and Prince Eberechukwu Oji.
Prince Godwin Idei
The two nominations from Oji Okoro family highlighted the rift in the family. Sequel to above, the President General of Okennachi Kindred constituted a panel of seven eminent Okennachi sons to evaluate the candidates. Despite their submitting names, Okennachi Kindred still continued to encourage the Princes to discuss among themselves and agree on a consensus candidate. The members of the evaluation committee were: Mazi Obasi Lawson, Mazi Kanu Ivi, Mazi PC Okoro, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor, Mazi Dr. Azubuike Okoro, Mazi Nkem Okoro and Eze Ogo Utughugwu, Mazi F. O. Ajunwa.
On the first scheduled committee meeting of October 7, 2023 at the Council Hall, Oror, only Prince Oke Oji was present. Princes Godwin Idei and Ebere Oji sent messages requesting for rescheduling. After all considerations and pleas to members, a new date of October 17, 2023 was agreed for the assessment.
With Princes Oke Kanu Oji and Eberechukwu Oji coming from one family unit, the panel told them it would only accept one person, and urged them to go and reconcile their differences.
By the time the panel reconvened in the afternoon of October 17, Prince Godwin Idei had arrived, while Princes Oke Kanu Oji and Eberechukwu Oji had reached consensus, and Prince Oke Oji stepping down for Prince Ebere Oji to be the preferred candidate of Oji Okoro family unit.
The panel adjourned the morning proceedings and reconvened in the night to continue the consultation with the princes, to negotiate a consensus candidate.
At the resumption of proceedings, the duo of Princes Goddy Idei and Ebere Oji were again advised to meet privately and agree on one candidate with a proviso that they would only be evaluated if they failed to reach a consensus.
Interference
Aro New was reliably informed that trouble started in the early morning of October 18, 2023 when, before the commencement of the day’s proceedings, Okennachi Kindred received letters from Eze Ibom Isii, Mazi Kanu Nwa Kanu, and Eze Ezeagwu, Mazi Okorafor Uroh dictating to Okennachi who should become Eze Aro and who should not, a responsibility that is totally outside their traditional competence. Their argument was that, someone whose father is alive could not be a candidate for Eze Aro throne. The action of the duo of Eze Ibom Isii and Eze Ezeagwu N’Okwaragwu was considered as meddlesome and a breach of the independence of the federating kindreds in Arochukwu.
Besides, the action was also in violation of the January 2, 2015 vow entered and signed by Aro traditional rulers and Nzuko Aro Patrons, and validated by consent judgment of October 26, 2015 by Justice S.A. Nwakanma of Abia State High Court, Umuahia. The Panel considered the communication and resolved to proceed, noting that “the great ancestor Nnachi was alive when his son, Oke, became Eze Aro”.
Also, it was agreed that Mazi Prince Oji Kanu Oji, being the oldest and head of the family, had waived his right as Okwara Ezi and that confers traditional rights on the beneficiary.
Princes agree to participate in evaluation process
When the Panel resumed sitting, both candidates confirmed that they could not agree to one candidate, and thus agreed to submit themselves to be evaluated and voluntarily participate in the process.
They took turns and promised to support each other, and whoever that emerged winner. In the absence of the Panel’s Chairman, who did not participate in the assessment process and in order to introduce more balance and achieve even number in the Panel, a representative each of Otusi Bianko and Amaja was nominated and the Vice Chairman was excluded from voting.
Aro News was further informed that the assessment continued, and it was videoed. The candidates took group photographs at Ukwu Ovo Aro where Mazi Prince Oji Kanu Oji poured libation for peace. It was all smiles and camaraderie until the evaluation was concluded and the verdict, which was a 5:2 votes in favour of Price Eberechukwu Oji.
Protestation, name calling
Prince Goddy Idei, led by Mazi Philip Kanu Okoro, stormed out of the Council Hall and began a campaign of calumny calling the process they willingly consented to “kangaroo”, and accused the Panel of bribery.
An executive member of the Okennachi Kindred, who spoke to Aro News on the condition of anonymity, pointed out that truly the process for the selection of Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom was concluded and Prince Eberechukwu Oji emerged as the Eze Aro-designate.
As part of the process, according to him, after his emergence, he was presented to Otusi Okennachi, Bianko and Amaja as Aro tradition requires, and activities for his coronation set in motion notwithstanding a few voices castigating the process.
However, an unexpected twist was added when the Eze Ibom Isii, in what many Aro saw as unilateral action, claimed that he had crowned Prince Goddy Idei outside the established process instituted by Okennachi and to which all the princes subscribed to. This was capable of resulting in a breakdown of law and order leading the Okennachi kindred to petition the state government.
Govt suspends Eze Ibom Isii, institutes probe panel
Meanwhile, the Abia State government has suspended Eze Ibom Isii, Mazi Kanu Nwa Kanu.
The government’s letter suspending the traditional ruler was signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, dated October 25, 2023, under the reference: MLGCA/CH/S.5/S.4/151 addressed to HRH Eze Dr. Kanu Nwa Kanu, Ibom Isii, Arochukwu Kingdom.
The letter read thus:
SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE AS TRADITIONAL RULER
“You are hereby suspended immediately from office as a traditional ruler, Ibom Isii, Arochukwu Kingdom for flagrantly flouting the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Traditional Rulers in Abia State, and the Autonomous Communities Law; via abuse of office and established cases of flagrant disregard of official directive of Government.
“A Disciplinary Committee has been set up to further investigate your activities and advice the Government on the next steps to be taken…”
Aro News gathered that the Abia State government has directed that all processes towards the planned coronation of the new Eze Aro be put on hold pending the conclusion of ongoing inquiry and the pronouncement of the government.
Preeminent culture
Our correspondent notes that the Aro are very proud and passionate about their origin and culture. Over the centuries, the Eze Aro royal stool was the preeminent monarchy existing among the Igbo.
The Aros were great traders and diplomats who maintained strong trade relations as well as social and political ties with a host of communities, kingdoms and nations of the world.
These ties were firmly linked up with the supremacy of their legendary deity – Ibini Ukpabi – which served as the court of final arbiter in most of the Eastern Nigeria.
The dominion of the Ibini Ukpabi in the dispensation of justice, helped to cement the primacy of place, which the Aros enjoyed before the Anglo-Aro War of 1901/1902 and even for a considerable length of time thereafter.
Arochukwu remains the ancestral home of all Aros, and the Eze Aro is the undisputed cultural and traditional head of the Aro Kingdom, regardless of where any Aro son or daughter may be domiciled.
The parlous situation in which the Aro monarchy finds itself can be traced primarily to the incessant insidious disputes that attended the selection of a new Eze in the recent past.
From her great heights of global stature and influence a few decades ago, the Eze Aro traditional stool has declined tremendously.
Though many Aro elites who spoke to Aro News agreed that it is a historical truism that kingdoms rise and fall, they also agreed that due to the current crisis in the throne, it has become an existential situation and a source of concern to all well-meaning Aro sons and daughters.
They, therefore, pray fervently that Aro ancestors and institutions charged with the responsibility to navigate the town out of the current turbulent situation should act with wisdom and objectivity for the sake of reinvigorated kingdom and greater posterity.
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