Ibeku Development Association, umbrella body for Ibeku ancient kingdom, has been enmeshed in crisis in the last one year. Special Correspondent, ONWUKWE EZERU writes on the controversy rocking the association.
Hitherto booming and well-organized Ibeku Development Association (IDA), umbrella body of the entire Ibeku ancient kingdom, Abia State, is currently in tatters. Until it found itself in its present piteous state, IDA was an organ where important decisions that could move the people and the town forward were taken. That, sadly is no longer the case.
In the last one year or thereabout, the union has been politicized culminating in sharp division among its rank. Fingered in the crisis afflicting the association are Senator Theodore Orji (former governor of the state), Charles Ogbonnaya, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and others. They are accused of supporting Emeka Enyiazu for the chairmanship of the union.
At the other end of the divide are former speaker of Abia State House of Assembly and erstwhile representative of Ikwuano Umuahia Federal Constituency in the House Representatives, Stanley Ohajuruka, the Traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku Land, James Uche Akwukwaegbu, the traditional ruler of the town, Eze Samuel Onuoha and others, who are supporting Princewill Ukaegbu for the position.
The crack among the contending groups became wider when the Akwukwaegbu group allegedly shifted loyalty from the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the faction sympathetic to Uche Ogah, particularly after the initial judgement of Justice Okon Abang which had recognised Ogah as the rightful candidate of the party in the 2015 governorship election. Ogah and Ikpeazu are still in court on who, actually, is the party’s lawful candidate.
Giving account of the development, Akwaegbu said, “the problem of Ibeku started because as the Traditional Prime Minister, I decided to join Uche Ogah-led Peoples Democratic Party in Abia. Immediately they saw me in the newspaper, they started saying, ‘He is no longer our Traditional Prime Minister. They gave Oguruibe (the traditional ruler) N5 million to remove me but he refused. Every individual has right to join any political party he likes. They equally lobbied the president general, he refused. Oguruibe is a man of integrity. Eze Onuoha is a truthful traditional ruler. He said if he perverts justice, he would die. They wanted to remove me so that they could install a rubberstamp Prime Minister who would dance to their tune. With their money bag, they have failed”.
Akwukwaegbu added that Ukaegbu defeated his opponent, Emeka Enyiazu, stressing that the former President General Onwunaruwa had even handed over the seal of office to him. Eze Onuoha, he added, has also given him his blessings.
Our reporter gathered that it was because of the alleged role by the Oguruibe during the election, that he was suspended by Commissioner Ogbonnaya.
The Commissioner, in a letter dated December 28, 2016, two days after the election, handed a six-month suspension to the traditional ruler. The letter accused Eze Onuoha of engaging in acts which culminated in the near violence, disruption of peace and breakdown of law and order, in the last three months.
“You are by this letter directed to desist from political activities but confine yourself to the duties of the traditional institution which you belong.
“Accordingly, all rights and privileges due to you as Ogurube IV of Ibeku are hereby suspended. In addition, you shall also reconcile all the warring parties in your community”.
Reacting to his suspension, Eze Onuoha denied engaging in partisan politics saying, “I ascended the throne in 1994 and had no problem with anybody and because of my honesty, I must say the truth.
“On the 26th December, there was town union election in Ibeku and I was not allowed to enter as the group that presented Emeka Enyiazu used security agents to lock the gate against the original delegates to the election.
“Ibeku people shifted to Egwu Ibeku and held the election where Princewill Ukaegbu emerged the new President General.
“My only offence was that I congratulated the new President General. That was why Charles Ogbonnaya went to air to announce my suspension.
“I have called Ibeku People to intervene and if January allowance was not given to me, I will call on Ibeku ancestors to intervene. I am not an autonomous Eze rather my kingdom cut across Ibeku. Again Umuopara and Ohafia kingdoms are under me.
“Even if I will die, I must be truthful. Princewill Ukaegbu won and I want to use this medium to congratulate him”.
On his part, Ukaegbu remarked that anybody parading himself as the President General of Ibeku is an impostor.
“I won convincingly and the former EXCO handed over to me. The executive gave me the seal of the association”.
However, Emeka Enyiazu who was announced the winner of the contest in the state radio stations, insisted that he won the majority votes, adding that the election was free and fair.
“All the presidents of the town unions in Ibeku land including the Ezes and women all supported me and since then, I have assumed office as the President General of Ibeku Ancient Kingdom.
Enyiazu who recalled that he was the Youth President of Ibeku for seven years, Transition Committee (TC) Chairman and Special Adviser (SA) to former Governor Orji for eight years, said he has the acumen to rule his people.
“My administration will carry everybody along despite financial and other challenges. Ibeku must come together under my rule.”
None of the two claimants to the office of the President General of Ibeku Development Association, seems willing to concede to the other, thus, leaving the ancient kingdom further divided.
