Abia, traditional ruler, Eze Charles Chionye Ngwuli, has been reported to have chastised and berated a cross section of the indigenes of his Umuegwu-
Obiohuru Autonomous community in Umuahia North Local Government Area
in relation to the petition that they wrote to the Abia State Ministry of Local
Government and Chieftaincy Affairs regarding the traditional ruler’s high-
handedness in imposing an unelected Village Head on them and dictating the
acceptance of practices inconsistent with the “Ipa Ọji” customs of the
community.
The traditional ruler is said to have told certain elders of the community who
visited him in his Umunemeze, Umuegwu-Obiohuru palace a few days ago that they [the elders] were “stupid to have written a petition against him and that he [Eze Charles Ngwuli] would carry on as he liked and deal mercilessly
with the aggrieved section of the community until he is either removed or
kept in office by the Abia Government”. According to the traditional ruler,
his friends in “high places” have assured him that “nothing will come out
of the petition”.
The recent developments come amidst preparations for the community’s
annual “Iri Iji” festival scheduled for September 21, 2024 and recent overtures by the Abia Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to have the dispute resolved amicably.
The traditional ruler’s outburst and recent activities including procuring his
protégé, Ikechukwu Obioma (identified as President-General, Afugiri Federated
Union), to offer kolanuts to a male youth at the “Iza Ahia” ceremonies preceding
the “Iri Iji” festival, jumping-over elders (over 70 years old) who were present
and who expressed shock and astonishment at the development.
This conduct, the elders said, portrayed the traditional ruler as irresponsible,
nonchalant and ignorant of age-old customs and traditions of the community.
When quizzed about the traditional ruler’s recent activities, lawyer to the
community from Dr. I. N. Ijiomah (SAN) & Co. Chambers impugned the
attitude of the traditional ruler and questioned his capacity and competence to lead the community.
The lawyer urged the Abia State Government to call the
traditional ruler to order not only to stop the desecration of the community’s
customs but also to avert a breakdown of law and order in the community.
At the time of writing this report, it is not certain if the Abia Ministry of Local
Government and Chieftaincy Affairs have made public its findings or taken a
decision on the traditional ruler’s activities.
