- Presentation of Ezeogo Ugwuakuma, Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni done and dusted.
- The Illegal Umu-Onoh royal family dies on arrival along sponsors and founding fathers.
- Ezearo, His Eminience, Eze (Dr.) Eberechukwu Oji orders immediate withdrawal of pending cases in court against eze ogo ugwuakuma.
- Note an omission in the last edition of Aro news where Ugwuaro Mazi I.K Onu was omitted on the list of the newly inaugurated Okpankpo Aro members. The error is regretted.
Ugwuakuma village, unarguably, is the beginning of Arochukwu Kingdom. That is Aro History. The (King) Akuma-nu-bi after fighting the war that brought Aro Kingdom with his brother Eze- obin, settled down in Ugwuakuma and later distributed his children to head the Administration of the rest of Aro villages under his Kingdom. Ugwuakuma Village therefore is not only significant in Aro history but the silver and gold of the Kingdom. We are not trying to narrate the history of Ugwuakuma and its significance in Aro. We are only concerned with the recent developments in the leadership of this very important village in the kingdom. Ugwuakuma have had several village heads (Nde-Eze ogo) from various compounds.
Indeed we have had very good and knowledgeable leaders like Chief Torty Nwa Torty of Nde Okoronkwo Compound, Mazi Alicho Oti of Nde nnam Alicho Compound, Mazi John Torty John of the same Nde nnam Alicho compound, Mazi Sunday Uvu of Nde Uvu compound who took over from Mazi John Torty John when he lost the trust of the community and was removed. The death of Mazi Sunday Uvu also brought back Mazi John Torty John on a second missionary journey. His journey to join the ancestors brought in Mazi Ogbonnaya Onoh of Nde Uvu Compound as Ezeogo Ugwuakuma. Mazi Ogbonnaya Onoh managed the village under pressure and tension and passed on in 2021 or so. May the souls of these great men who laboured that our community may live, rest in perfect peace.
In all sincerity the leadership brouhaha commenced shortly after the death of Mazi Ogbonnaya Onoh whose family in the first place rejected the mandatory one year respect accorded to a late Eze Ogo referred to as Iri-azi Eze. That refusal by Mazi Onoh’s family to accept the mandatory one year respect for the late Eze Ogo triggered off immediate search for a new Eze Ogo Ugwuakuma Community. Long story cut short, Mazi (Capt.) Eugene Okey Imuoh who was then the President General of Ugwuakuma Development Union was given additional responsibility to serve also as Aria Nzu meaning “Oje Ozi” of that community. He was later confirmed the Eze Ogo of Ugwuakuma because of his satisfactory performance as the President General of that Community as well as the Arianzu. Sadly, the Pronouncement of this gentleman as Ezeogo of Ugwuakuma Community was the origin of a sustained crisis on Ugwuakuma Ezeship stool. The story of what happened and all the politics played are common knowledge but will wait for another time. It should be noted however that the twelve (12) Umu-Onoh compounds who selects Eze Ugwuakuma when there is a vacuum, stood by their choice candidate Mazi Eugene Okey Imuoh as the only one capable of holding the village going by his experiences.
Thus the community was left naked again without a leader. There was no leader anymore and crisis took over the peace of the community. There was tension about who will take over the village leadership. Meanwhile, Mazi Captain Eugene Okey Imuoh who was chosen as Ezeogo earlier had taken his exit in peace while asking to know what this thankless Ezeogo Job can give to a progressive man like him. Therefore the Union began to search for a new Ezeogo using the Umu-onoh twelve (12) compounds. As the process was going on, a young man named Mr. Okoronkwo Okoro emerged with a campaign team made up of dissident groups from the community to be made Ezeogo Ugwuakuma. He is a qualified illiterate, a plantain merchant in Okobo Plantation at Ihechiowa. Incidentally, he cannot be a choice for the community at this digital age. Ugwuakuma village appear too big for a local champion of his caliber to manage as Ezeogo. Long story cut short, the union compelled the twelve (12) Umu-Onoh Compound who they assembled at Nde Alicho Hall on the 21st July, 2024 where they eventually selected Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni, a retired school principal as Eze Ogo designate.
The selection of Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni as Eze Ogo Ugwuakuma continued the trouble in double folds. Some members of Chief J.C Imuoh Committee on Ezeship harmonization in Ugwuakuma Community accused him of irregularities in the choice of Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni as Eze Ogo Ugwuakuma, adding that this “Ojoro” cannot be tolerated. This crisis divided the village and eventually resonated into an illegal group call Umu-Onoh Royal Family who came with weapons of destruction to the village. This Group has sponsors and God fathers, held periodic nocturnal meetings online all in a bid to change the narrative of Ezeogo stool in Ugwuakuma. The war continued on both sides, one side has Mr. Okoronkwo Okoro fighting for the Ezeogo stool in court and still in Court, and on the other side, was the illegal Umu-onoh Royal family which was later discovered to be one family fighting the entire community. Their aim was only to make the village ungovernable for the leader, Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni. So the war continued between Nde Ezeezi who made the New Ezeogo and the dissident group otherwise the Illegal Umu-Onoh Royal family. Those who do not mean well for the peace and development of our community.
Two things became the headache of Ugwuakuma Community now that Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni has been accepted by all as Eze Ogo Ugwuakuma Community. The first headache was that Umu-Onoh Royal Family decreed that Eze Ogo Maurice Ukwu Eni may be acceptable on condition that he cannot be presented to Eze Ibom Isii- HRH Ngwu Egbo Okoro as an obichie man who in the first place is not qualified to be made Eze Ibom – Isii because Obichie person cannot traditionally be made Ezeogo Ugwuakuma. In the same token, Eze Maurice Ukwu Eni cannot be taken to Eze Aro in council because the matter on Eze Ugwuakuma stool was still in Court. You will agree with me that both arguments holds no water because Ugwuakuma village cannot choose Ezeogo for another Aro Community. Our ancestors did not say so. The illegal Umu-Onoh royal family was not speaking the minds of Ugwuakuma ancestors. They erred and lied against them and should ask for forgiveness. I am sure our ancestors will forgive them for they know not what they are doing or saying. It is only in Ugwuakuma village that this rule is applicable – that an Obichie man cannot be made Ezeogo. That is Ugwuakuma tradition and that had remained a sustained momentum in Ugwuakuma Ezeogo selection from time immemorial. Summarily, the illegal Umu-Onoh royal family failed woefully in all their attempts and confusion.
Notwithstanding these front and back protests, threats and allegations, Ugwuakwuma presented their Ezeogo Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni to Ibom – Isii on the 21st of July, 2025 in a very colourful ceremony. This event also opened the flood gate for more protests and nocturnal meetings this time around to stop the movement of Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni to Eze Aro in Council. One thing is very clear about the chase of Eze Ibom Isii Eze Amos Ngwu Egbu Okoro by the Illegal Umu-Onoh Royal Family. These are individuals who had joined the war against Eze Aro’s stool using Eze Ibom Isii as an Ibibio Masquerade. But the Aro’s and Ugwuakuma people know members of the illegal Umu-Onoh Royal Family. Now the story has changed to how they can stop the community from presenting Eze Maurice Ukwu Eni to Eze Aro in Council. That was their next problem because they couldn’t punctuate the taking of Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni to Ibom Isii. Indeed, the illegal Umu-onoh Royal family changed their gear, wrote letters, sent text messages and made phone calls to Eze Aro in a bid to stop taking Ezeogo Maurice Ukwu Eni to Eze Aro in Council. That was their last attempt, but they also failed again because they had told Eze Aro in Council at the Palace during one of their visits that Eze Ogo Maurice Ukwu Eni was duly qualified and properly selected as Eze Ogo Ugwuakuma. They agreed with the selection process but their gross over the new Eze Ogo was his refusal to obey their advice not to appear before Eze Ibom Isii Mazi Amos who according to them is not qualified to wear the shoes of Eze Ibom Isii because he is an Obichie Man.
To cut very long story short, Eze Aro advised Chief J.C Imuoh to seek for peace in Ugwuakuma village and ensure the withdrawal of the Ezeship case in Court. Eze Aro therefore gave Ugwuakuma Community November 2025 to present Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni to the palace for recognition as Ezeogo Ugwuakuma.
We also noticed that this command by Eze Aro angered the illegal Umu-Onoh Royal family who returned to their trenches to attack the community and the Ezeogo designate. They prepared for war with Chief J.C Imuoh who was still listening to their unrehearsed sermons.
But soon, their back bones were broken and their wings clipped when Eze Aro through his Palace Secretary Ikemba Mazi Ugochukwu Okoro wrote a letter dated 3rd Nov. 2025 to Ugwuakuma Community to present Ezeogo Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni to Eze Aro in council on Friday 21st Nov. 2025. That letter traumatized them. The planning committee was put in place with Mazi Raphael Onoh Okpankpo Aro as Chairman. Indeed the planning was top notch and all the requirements for that event was complete. Three cultural dances, Ekpe dance, Obinwanne dance and the new Cultural music sensation in Ugwuakuma, the ten fingers accompanied the village to Eze Aro in council for that ceremony. On security, the police, the army, the civil defense, the DSS, the NDLEA, the correctional center, and the Aro Internal Security Outfit led by Mazi Jideoffor Kanu were all positioned for the event. By 8:00am, Ugwuakuma community headed to Eze Aro’s Palace at Oror Village in Arochukwu with Eze ogo Maurice Ukwu Eni for his official recognition as Eze Ogo Ugwuakuma. The team stopped over at Ibom Isii where they were received and blessed before proceeding to the palace for the eventual crowning as Eze Ogo Maurice Ukwu Eni as Ezeogo Ugwuakuma.
At the palace, Eze Maurice Ukwu Eni became the toast of the people. Eze Aro asked a few questions to Chief J.C Imuoh about the peace in his village and the withdrawal of the Court Case against Eze Ogo’s Stool, Chief J.C answered that he was still making efforts adding that all remaining issues would be settled internally. Eze Aro therefore demanded to hear from the illegal Umu-Onoh Royal family but none of them was available. Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni was asked some relevant leadership questions on how he will manage the affairs of his village. He answered all leadership questions satisfactorily from other Ezes in the kingdom. Also Ugwuakuma Women, the youths and the community union (UDU) each testified that they were all parties to the selection of Eze Maurice Ukwu Eni. Before Eze Maurice was handed over to Eze Ibom Isii by the outgoing Arianzu Ugwuakuma, Mazi Christopher Umoham, the price of “Olu Okuko” (Neck of a chicken) was beaten. Ugwuakuma village out of joy offered 100,000 as against the conventional N30,000. In line with Aro Tradition this is to enable Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni eat the “Olu Okuko” of other villages when they come to present their own Eze Ogo in future.
The process was getting interesting and the next was the handing over of Eze Ogo Ugwuakuma, Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni, to Eze Ibom Isii – HRH Eze Amos Ngwu Egbu Okoro through the outgoing Arianzu Ugwuakuma, Mazi Christopher Umoham. The end was near and the relay race was about to get to an end. The handing over by the outgoing Arianzu Ugwuakuma was peaceful.
Eze Ibom Isii Mazi Amos Ngwu Egbu Okoro thereafter handed over Ezeogo Maurice Ukwu Eni to Eze Aro, His Eminence, Eze Dr. Eberechukwu Oji for recognition and who eventually declared Maurice Ukwu Eni as a confirmed Ezeogo Ugwuakuma village henceforth before his council and the crowd of Umu Aro who besieged the palace to watch the festival. It was all over done and dusted. Eze Aro called on the new Ezeogo Ugwuakuma village to brace up to the challenge, seek the face of one and all and carry everyone along in his administration. Accepting this onerous responsibility, Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni thanked one and all for the support and encouragement and promised to be a good servant to all adding that he will work acidulously for the peace and development of both his village and Arochukwu kingdom as a whole. He was grateful to all. The event ended in praise. It is now common knowledge and confirmed that Mazi Maurice Ukwu Eni has now been confirmed Ezeogo Ugwuakuma of Aro Kingdom. To God be the Glory.
Many thanks to the following people for making Ugwuakuma dream come true, Eze Ibom Isii – Eze Amos Ngwu Egbu Okoro, the President General of Ibom Isii, Mazi Paul Ogbonnaya, (Ponneco), ugwuakuma men and women, the youth, the cultural groups, Ekpe, Obinwanne and Ten Fingers Music Groups, the BOT Chairman of UDU, Chief J.C Imuoh (Ugwuaro), the President General of UDU, Mazi Fidelis Nwosu and his deputy Mazi Jolly Okeh, who represented him at the event, Pastor James Ezuma Onoh and his amiable wife Mrs. Josephine Ezuma Onoh for being the major sponsor of this event, the community owe you special prayers and cannot forget you in a hurry. The planning committee headed by Mazi Raphael (Onoh, Okpankpo Aro) for a very credible job, we thank the press team as well, the palace media team represented by Mazi Eugene Okey Imuoh. To other Ugwuakuma village friends and well-wishers who were at the palace on solidarity, we recognize you and ask God to bless all of you. To Eze Maurice Ukwu Eni, you are now Ezeogo Ugwuakuma village confirmed. The ball is in your court. Endeavor to leave your footprints on the sands of history as you decide the fate of Ugwuakuma people. Goodluck to you and Congratulations once again.
