Invasion Council of Traditional Rulers Secretariat: Traditional Ruler in Hot Soup

HRH Eze Emmanuel Okeke ( Eze Udo of Amaifeke, Orlu ) has received serious bashing from Imo Patriotic Front (IPF) for his alleged involvement in the last Monday invasion of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers Secretariat along Mbari Street, Ikenegbu Owerri.

The group led by Barr Victor Opara in a press statement issued in Owerri, dated 17th June, 2020 and addressed to Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State reported that they were shocked to hear that a reverred traditional ruler like Eze Okeke could mobilized people including thugs to invade the State secretariat of the traditional institution on the premises that he has been appointed the State headship of the Council when no such announcement has been made by the Governor nor any of his aides.

The Group described the action as “an embrassement to the Traditional Institution and the State Government at large” and further called for proper investigation.

Accordingly to them "the action is not only demeaning to the traditional ruler, it's an indication of an over zealous ambition which is detrimental to the age-long respected Traditional Institution" they noted.

Meanwhile, HRM Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri (Eze – Imo), the Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers have confirmed the incident in a telephone interview.

Eze Ohiri said he was surprised when the staff of the Council called him last Monday saying that Eze Emmanuel Okeke is in their office with some unknown faces and thugs demanding key of the office of the Council Chairman and his Deputy telling them that he has been appointed as the Head of the State Traditional Rulers Council.

Eze – Imo as he is popularly called said he swiftly called Eze Okeke on the phone to ascertain the authenticity of the information and that Eze Okeke bluntly told him that he has been appointed the State headship of the Traditional Institution and that he Eze Ohiri should come and hand over to him.

Eze Ohiri reported that he reminded his colleague that he Eze Okeke was only sworn – in last Friday as a member of Imo State Police Community/Advisory Committee and how does that got to do with the Headship of the State Traditional Rulers Council ? And Eze Okeke vehemently told him that the Headship of the State Traditional Institution is part and parcel of the Committee.

The Chairman of the Imo State Council of Ndi – Eze noted how he told Eze Okeke that Government has a process of doing things insisting that there is an existing council with remaining three year tenure and that the Governor has the right to dissolve the council if he so desire and appoint traditional rulers of his choice and with a Chairman and his Deputy sworn in but non of this have been done and he is talking of handing over.

Eze Imo said he immediately called SA to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as well as the Secretary to the State Government and all of them felt embrassed and promised to call Eze To order and even promised to issue a statement against such over zealousness.

Similarly, the Chief Press Secretary to Eze Imo, Mr Gift Nwokoro confirmed the incident as an eye witness adding that he was shocked to see in the social media postings by Eze Okeke and his cohorts announcing and congratulating him as the new Chairman of the Council.

On why he did not issue a press statement alerting the public he said that he was advised not to as the anus lines on the office of the SA, to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs as well as the Secretary to Imo State Government arguing that the issue is a serious embrassement to both the State Government and the Council.

He reaffirmed that his boss has complained to relevant Government offices and they have promised to address the issue.

Reacting, HRH Eze Emmanuel Okeke in a telephone interview confirmed that Imo State Government has appointed him Chairman of State Traditional Rulers Council and that there’s nothing like rumour.

Accordingly to Eze Okeke ” I have been appointed the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers. It’s no longer rumour, it has been published in the all the Newspapers in the State . Have you not read it as a Journalists (referring to the reported.

Come to my palace now and see the number of Ndi-Eze congratulating me and playing solidarity. Infact we are in celebration mood”he said.

On the issue of alleged invasion of the State Traditional Rulers Secretariat, he swiftly said that he is busy with visitors as at then and advised the reporter to stop distracting him.