HRM Eze Ofoegbu Advices Eze E C Okeke to Desist from Exposing further himself Ignorantly to the public
HRM Eze Ofoegbu Advices Eze E C Okeke to Desist from Exposing further himself Ignorantly to the public
The Chairman, Southeast Progressive Traditional rulers, HRM Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu Diawa 1 of Umudiawa, Oroko Abia has faulted a ban on centralized Igbo ceremonies and celebration as a result of deaths of some prominent personalities in the Southeast.
Eze Ofoegbu who is one of the foremost custodian of the tradition is reacting to a press release captioned, “BAN ON CENTRALIZED IGBO CEREMONIES /CELEBRATIONS, FESTIVALS STILL SUBSIST AS MOURNING PERIOD FOR DEPARTED ILLUSTRIOUS IGBO LEADERS NOT YET OVER”, signed by EZE E.C Okeke, Ezeudo ll of Amaifeke Ancient Kingdom, Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers
The said release partly read, “It has become necessary to formally inform the General public, especially Heads of various Igbo Associations/Organizations in Igboland (Comprising the five South East States) that a mourning period has since been declared by the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Ohaneze Ndigbo in honour of our illustrious sons and daughter; Chief Engr (Dr) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu CFR, President –General of Ohaneze Ndigbo,Chief Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former Governor of Abia State, and immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Lady Onyeka Onwenu who transited this year and have been successfully been buried.
Eze Ofoegbu reminded the traditional ruler that the demise of the most distinguished personality like the late Premier of the region, Dr. Michael Okpara, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe among others who were given the most prestigious funeral service did not cause the traditional institution to place a ban on the celebration of Igbo cultural recreation let alone an individual who is not a traditional ruler.
According to him, late Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s predecessor Chief Obiozor’s demise never stopped Igbo cultural activities including other Igbo prominent sons.
Eze Ofoegbu maintained that Eze Okeke has no right outside his autonomous community to question the cultural activities of Ndi Igbo across southeast.
HRM Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu Oroko Ndi Igbo used the medium to remind Eze Okeke to think outside the box by encouraging igbos across the globe to promote Igbo culture which he has shown the way.
He question the whereabouts of Eze Okeke in the year 1990, 91 and 92 when he hosted Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu ikemba Ndi Igbo in his home town Umuahia, Enugu and Lagos,
His words, “I’m yet to see the law that gave Eze Okeke such power. Besides, . We are the custodian of our culture and tradition and we also have the Government seal to promote the Igbo Cultural activities in Nigeria and beyond”.
He advised the traditional ruler to be properly guided before going to the press to issue press releases and also consult well experienced traditional rulers anytime he wants to take a decision in order not to be seen as operating from the ivory tower and expose his ignorance to the public.
Furthermore, the Southeast Progressive Traditional Rulers chairman advised Eze E.C. Okeke to stop being myopic by demarketing the tradition, as Igbo political leaders are enjoying the good romance with the traditional rulers who are the cultural leaders to ensure south easterners makes first in the list of the country’s affairs.
Eze Ofoegbu pointed out the likes of His Excellency Chief Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Joe Irukwu, Obiozo demise did not lead to ban on Igbo culture for mourning them and wonder why Eze Okeke should be arrogating powers to himself, HRM Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu called on Igbo leaders not to relent in their efforts in promoting the Igbo culture everywhere they are, adding that Eze Ndi Igbo outside the country and those in Lagos, Abuja and other locations should make bold of their only natural inheritance which is Igbo culture. Oroko Abia said.
