My seat of traditional supremacy has become a product of jealousy, intimidation

 

By Okechukwu Onuegbu

A celebrated Igbo leader, Dr. Ramas Okoye-Asuzu has warned those trying to intimidate and push him aside because of exalted position he holds in society to have a rethink because he remains unstoppable.

Okoye-Asuzu, who stated this at his country-home, Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area, explained that as a Ezeoba Gburugburu crowned 13 years ago, his throne must be respected as sacred as it is.

According to the President of Foundation for World Peace and Cultural Re-orientation and Supreme Head of Obu-Ezumezu Of Igbo, speaking truth to power is part of what defines the exalted position he holds.

He said, " Well, I decided to open up on what bothers me as I recently celebrated my 13 years of occupying the seat of Ezeoba Gburugburu which I was coronated in November 7,2012 at Convent Primary School, Nri. This chieftaincy title was perfected by the Isi Adama, the Chairman of Oba Society of Ikenga Nri, Chief S. O. Mbanefo.

"This seat of traditional supremacy that I have been occupying has become a product of jealousy and intimidation, thus, subjecting me to some basic denials of my entitlements. It all started when I returned from my travel to abroad in 1993, I wasn't interested in the chieftaincy of our town, Nri, only decided to live all alone."

Continuing, he said "However, my father told me much about our tradition which I earlier felt it was something fetish but later discovered its genuineness because I was formerly an evangelist. Later, one of my father's senior brother told me that in Nri town, you will not be recognized and your submissions won't be regarded if you have not taken a chieftaincy title.

"Then, I felt the importance of being recognized as a traditional title holder, I decided to engage myself into Nri Nze na Ozo title process. Though, initially I hated the way the red cap chiefs were behaving due to their ill characters, they were not honest. It was the effort and conviction of my father's senior brother, Chief Gaius Okeke that encouraged me to acquire the chieftaincy title."

The spiritual leader also recalled how another group of elders led by Chief S. O. Mbanefo,(Oba Adama) came to hi house with other Obas to convince him on the need to also be initiated into Obaship title.

"They cited the gradual diminishing numbers in our side of the Nri town because we have 'Ogwemmuo Agukwu and Ogwemmuo Akamkpisi'. In my quest to know more about Obaship, I realized that someone to be crowned Ezeoba, would be an exhibition of affluence which indicates you are a great farmer that deals on large yam barns.

"I eventually became initiated into Oba title holders in Nri town, and after a year, the same group came back again. They expressed their gratitude to my goodwill and sought for my further engagement as Ezeoba na Nri, saying the only existing Ezeoba then was one Chief Atuanya who was second to late Eze Tabansi Udene Nrijiofor and they have all traveled to the world beyond.

"Therefore, according to them, there was no other Ezeoba around. I decided to arrange myself for the initiation. At that time, I had to ask the two parallel kings in Nri, the king of Ikenga Nri - Igwe Peter Ogbummuo and king of Agukwu Nri- Eze Obidiegwu Onyesoh, about the significance of Ezeoba.

" They said that somebody cannot be the king of Nri town without taking the title of Ezeoba. The late Eze Onyesoh advised me to take the Ezeoba if I had the money to offset other requirements. I then decided to perform the rites and I invited all the cabinet members of Eze Onyesoh and Igwe Peter Ogbummuo. I appreciated the two parallel kings with ram respectively."

He recalled that after emerging as Ezeoba, the monarch of Nri, Onyesoh pleaded with him to bring his costly seat in his palace as well as decorate himself with only 7 feathers as against his own 8 to differentiate between them.

"At the end, Eze Onyesoh said for the fact that I have taken the apex title in Nri kingdom, apart from Eze Nri, whereby my eagle feathers would be seven while Onyesoh as the king would be having eight eagle feathers distinctively.

"After that, he said I should bring one of my royal chairs to his palace and keep it there. In honesty , I am narrating this by my oath. Though, Onyesoh warned that my chair wouldn't be finer than his as the king because of the assorted types of royal chairs I have."