UNEME-UZANU TRADITIONAL COUNCIL
And UZANU COMMUNITY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A piece of write up with the caption: “Uzanu community kingmakers remove traditional ruler send notification in petition to LG Chairman” currently trending on the social media has just been brought to the attention of the above named traditional administrative council in Uzanu Kingdom and Southeast Uneme Clan with utmost shock and dismay.
The petitioners/kingmakers/removers claimed that the premise upon which their sacrilegious removal of our reverred traditional ruler were that:
1) he compelled one of his female subjects to feed on her excreta;
2) he ordered two other elderly women to be tied to a stake in the open village/town square where they were wiped and humiliated to confess as to their innocence or otherwise of being causes of sudden deaths of younger ones and backwardness of their respective family etc.
The questions we ask are: why, when, where and how were these inhuman acts committed; were these people forcefully removed from their homes on the order of His Highness? Was Oliola alone or he was with his Council members that heard the case against the alleged victims? If alone, were all other members of Oliola – in – Council away from the community on vacation so much so that none of the accusers/petitioners was bold enough to stop the highly despicable acts being perpetrated by the Oliola? For the records, those acts were said to have taken place since 2021.
We ask the above questions for we know as members and associates of the Council as well as the Palace, we are very familiar with the well entrenched disputes resolution mechanism that is usually invoked in resolving matters of this nature. Suffice to say that it is all inclusive of all the traditional rulers, all council members and all other relevant stakeholders as against what is being mischievously maligned today.
It is not strange to note that Chief Emma Ikemhe (Onotu), Chief Peter Ajegba (Anogie), Chief James Alugbe, Chief Kasimu Kadiri, Chief Jimoh Shaibu and other frustrated and disgruntled individuals and young men that paraded themselves as youth leaders, whose stock in trade is how to create crisis situation in the community are the self acclaimed kingmakers/signatories to the frivolous petition allegedly addressed to Etsako East Local Government Chairman to notify the office of the removal of HRH Benjamin Ikani as the Oliola of Uzanu.
If not for insanity that had eaten deep into their mental health, what is the connection between the Stool of Oliolaship and Office of the Chairman of LGA vis-a-vis the occupier of the throne? To us, their action was a testament to their ignorance and lack of knowledge of the working of Council’s management and administration.
Now, we come to the issues of King making, procedures and personalities involved. Firstly, let us state very emphatically that selection, enthronement and crowning of someone as King/Oliola in any of the Uneme Communities (Anegbette, Uzanu, Udochi), is not an all comers affairs. Secondly, we make bold to say that removal of a King is alien to Uneme custom and tradition. It is not in the character of any Uneme monarch to derobe or decap a Chief. It is a taboo, abominable and sacrilegious act with gravious consequences upon anyone that attempt it.
Now, let us look at the issue of who makes a King. The kingmakers in Uzanu are the Red Cap Chiefs with the Ogamode of Uzanu who is saddled with the sole responsibility of wearing the Crown on the head of the person being made the Oliola while the other Red Cap Chiefs provide him necessary support. It is important to note that this takes place after the performance of the required rituals and sacrifices. The assignment is never performed in the full glare of everyone and must be in the inner chamber. The Ogamode, Onotu, Olioko, Otaru, Oguma, Ogieagah, Ogwemoi and few others belong exclusively to the class of Red Cap Chiefs. They too belong to the high echelon of Uneme-Uzanu Traditional Council as well as Oliola – in – Council. Also in the council are the junior chiefs otherwise known as “Agbanusomi”
In all of the above, there’s practically no allowance or provisions for the removal or dethronement of an Oliola. But, in the dream of the renegades and those lazy and hunger stricken co -signatory chiefs that are acting the scripts of their benefactors, everything is possible irrespective of the hazard involved.
What is most intriguing is the involvement of Chief Emmanuel Ikemhe, Onotu of Uzanu, who is a member of Oliola – in – Council and respected voice at the Palace. Not too long was the problem between him, the Palace and other stakeholders which was resolved amicably. Meanwhile, he often prides himself as Second – in – Command . But, we are astonished that every of both his actions and inactions are aimed at the destruction of the same command. What that means, nobody knows except him. Today, for most people, the man could best be described as a “Merchant of Crisis.” In the opinion of many, his problems are self made – inordinate ambition. Ambition to be the head of Uzanu and constituent communities where he would be in control and management of resources on the entire environment of the Clan. We pray he place himself on serious medical checks to be able to overcome the shocks that may overwhelm in view of events that shall play out in the days and weeks ahead.
For the landlords of Uzanu Progressive Union (UPU) whose mischievous interest Mr Benjamin Salami claim to represent, the Traditional Council and Uzanu Assembly advise you to trend with caution and softly too.
Although we are all aware that the tenure of the last elected Exco of Mr Julius Athekamhe had since expired and, to our knowledge, no new Exco was elected to manage its affairs in recent years. That failure on your part to put in place another body vibrant, committed, patriotic and brilliant minds to pilot the affairs of that development platform tell so much how unpatriotic, mean, low and disingenuous your leadership was.
No surprise anyway!
We know when the Union, especially the leadership loose focus and direction. You stooped so very much low to have allowed yourselves (Leadership/Administrators of the Union) to be pocketed by someone as willing tools he used to fight perceived enemies and creating crises all over our community to enable him grab and take possession of our communal land and marine resources. We do not know where in UPU’s Constitution the section that gave you that sense of entitlement to criminally claim our commonwealth your benefit.
Thank God the ruler, chiefs, elders and stakeholders were able to put their feet on the ground against your wish.
For you, our sons and daughters, both at home and the cities, please be informed that the petition you all saw trending on the social media claiming that HRH Benjamin Ikani has been removed from the throne as Oliola as a result of certain infractions allegedly is frivolous, fictitious, malicious, wicked and senseless. It was recklessly put together to malign and tarnish the image of our reverred traditional ruler, the institution he represents and to a large extent Uzanu community as well as Southeast Uneme Clan, by some disgruntled elements within and around us. Again, many of us must have heard of how sacrilegious, unheard of, unknown and offensive it is to Uneme custom and tradition, that a king once installed can never be removed. As we are interacting, HRH Benjamin Ikani is hail, healthy and hearty and seating comfortably on the throne.
Peace we choose; Peace shall be with us!
Long live Uzanu!
Long live south East Uneme clan.
Signed:
Chief IKHILOR OBI-UZANU
Secretary Oliola – in – Council.
Pastor James BAJAH,
Chairman, Uzanu Community General Assembly.
UZANU, Southeast Uneme Clan.