Dan Opara
Following the outcome of a protest to the Imo State Govt.House and to the Imo State House of Assembly complex Owerri,on Wednesday,Dec. 14th 2019,by some villagers under the aegis of Akuma United Citizens, Federated Oru-East LGA in Imo State, demanded the Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha,to reject the imposition of one Dr.Alloy Appah Onwuamaeze Nwokeji,as the Traditional Ruler of Akuma Akuma (Ancient Kingdom) Community in Oru-East LGA of Imo State.
The protest which attracted mammoth crowd of Akuma Community (Villagers) to Owerri(Govt.House) where they accused the Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Govt.and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon.Mayor Eze,of imposing one Nze Cyril A.B.Amasiatu,as the Eze-Elect of Akuma.
According to their protest letter, which read:”We are on this protest to reject in its totality the imposition and impunity from the SA to the Governor Ihedioha on Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon.Mayor Eze,who have sworn to install a person of questionable character, who is not and can never be accepted by the people of Akuma. Please, we the Akuma Community people are by this protest called on the Imo State Govt. to allow the Traditional Stool to be rotational instead of hereditary as claimed by the Nwokeji family. To remind the Governor that we have Ezeship Constitution which is strictly based on rotation amongst the 4 quarters including Akuma and the members of Nwokeji’s family and the Late Eze Dr. Ezekiel Nwokeji. Our Constitution in Section 4:1;provides that the late’s family of Eze Ezekiel should allow the next village not Erim(Allloy is from Erim) they have taken their own share,but recognizing is Akuma Traditional Ruler contrary to the Ezeship Constitution of Akuma. Our 14 villages that made up of Akuma have selected Eze Cyril A.B.Amasiatu as the Eze-Elect over 2 years ago. Letters in an official manners have been written to the office of the State Secretary to the Government of Imo State, SSG,over the year. We are calling of the SA to withdraw the letter of recognition he directed to Dr.Alloy Nwokeji,and the letter written to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of Oru-East. We are also urging and appealing to Governor Ihedioha to abide by the rule of law and wait the Owerri High Court/Supreme Court judgement. We want peace and tranquility in the land of Akuma”,signed by the President General of Akuma, Evangelist Elvis Agukwe,and the Secretary General of Akuma,Hon.Casmir Amasiatu.
Meanwhile, responding to the protest,on Friday, Dec.13th 2019,at his palace, HRH Eze Dr.Alloy Nwokeji, described and identified himself as the Ochiriozuo de 4th of Akuma,revealed that his late great grand fathers handed his traditional staff,mandate and authority to him and in agreement with the Akuma Council of Elders, the youths,men and women based on a hereditary traditional ancient stool.
Dr.Alloy,while speaking disclosed that he was selected by the entire Akuma people based on the following criterion:”Seniority, Acceptability, Integrity and Capability” by the ebullient and respected members of Akuma community.
“The Akuma king makers made me a king (Traditional Ruler of Akuma) based on hereditary not rotational and as such I emerged as the Traditional Ruler as the direct son late Eze Ezekiel. It is my late fathers heritage. It is a legal issue and Akuma Ancient Kingdom. We are seeking for peace and there must be peace”, Alloy submitted.
He therefore described those who took to protest against his kingdom as street urchins, imposters and foreigners who are not from Akuma.
Eze Alloy, who have practical experiences in Medicine as a Medical Doctor of over 45 years ago, called on the people of Akuma especially those instigation royal battle and crises to embrace his throne for the sake of peace,unity, development and love.
He said,” I have been recognized by the State Govt.as the Traditional Ruler of Akuma and I am passionately poised to lead the Akuma people to the path of peace and development, to protect lives and property of Akuma people”.
Dr.Alloy Nwokeji, however lamented against lack of government presence in Akuma, but promised to attract development into Akuma land.
He recalled that the protesters are not members of Akuma, rather hired individuals contracted to defame the Royal Dynasty of the Nwokeji’s.
I am using this opportunity to advise those fight against my Traditional Stool to desist.
“Many of them amongst the protesters have no occupation, they are renegades of the highest order who have nothing good to offer,and they should not be deceived, my throne have come to stay”, Eze Alloy insisted.
