The last time I checked, the long
awaited election among the overall royal fathers in Imo State had eventually
been conducted. It took place on Thursday, 17th January 2018. Prior
to the exercise, Imolites couldn’t wait to embrace the scheduled date, and were
equally filled with mixed feelings as regards what the outcome would be.
The election was meant to usher in the
substantive leadership of the revered Imo Traditional Rulers’ Council, an umbrella
body of all the royal fathers in the state. It suffices to say that, since the
election had already taken place, the substantive Chairman of the association
alongside its other officials had emerged.
Let’s quickly go back to history. It would be
recalled that before the election, the Chairman of the body in the person of
Eze Samuel Ohiri became the leader via appointment. The moment the Executive
Governor of the state Chief Rochas Okorocha came on board in 2011, he
outrightly dissolved the then Executive Council (EXCO) of the union, stating
that their tenure had elapsed.
At the
time, the union was led by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya who is now dethroned by the
Okorocha-led government. Upon the dissolution, the governor appointed Eze Ohiri
to man the affairs of the body. Since that gesture occurred till last Thursday,
it’s noteworthy that that very leadership selected by Governor Okorocha – that
could best be described as interim – had been in charge of the union’s
day-to-day activity.
From
the moment the drama happened, Imo as a people were clamouring for an election
to be conducted among the traditional custodians towards ensuring that a
substantive leader was produced. According to them, the anticipated exercise
would enable the association to duly function as an independent body compared
to when its leadership emerged through mere appointment.
We were promised the election would take
place sometime last year being 2017. We patiently waited, hoping the election
would be conducted based on the promise but at the end, nothing that looks like
election was witnessed. Probably, the proposed exercise was marred by
contingencies. Owing to the lapse, Imolites began to mutter once again that it
was unfair for an apolitical union like the Imo Council of Traditional Rulers
to share similar fate with the state’s Local Government Areas (LGAs) that were
yet to enjoy elections since the emergence of the Rescue Mission
Administration.
Based on their argument, the lacuna
experienced by the LGAs could be overlook as a result of the fact that it had
to do with political matters. But for a socio-cultural body to suffer from same
condition was uncalled for and unacceptable, to assert the least. Such a
scenario made the concerned citizens to inadvertently become lachrymose.
Perhaps in the spirit of 2018, or in
the spirit of a new odyssey, or in the spirit of a New Year resolution, the
long awaited election was finally conducted. When we were notified of the new
date, everyone remained jittery and sceptical, thinking it might still be a mirage
just like the previous ones, though we were consoled by the fact that a stronger
plan was outlined for the awaited exercise. It’s therefore needless to state
that Imolites are at the moment deeply elated that the body eventually
witnessed an election as its constitution stipulates.
It’s worth noting that the election had
three contestants for the chairmanship position namely, Eze Oliver Ohanwe, Eze
Samuel Ohiri and Eze Chidume Okoro. Among these three, courtesy demanded that
one person would emerge the winner of the race. After all said and done, Eze
Ohiri, who had been the interim chairman of the body for over six years, still
emerged victorious. This implies that constitutionally, he would continue to
lead the union for the next five years.
However,
I’m not here to occasion an argument or criticism but to let the entire royal
fathers understand what is expected of them at this time the election had been
successfully conducted as planned. If I failed to tell them what I feel, my
conscience shall remain restless unabated.
Before the election, I told them that
issues related to it must not be treated as political. In other words, I made
them realized that the election was expected to usher in the leadership of a
socio-cultural group, and not socio-political platform. My candid words meant
that since culture and politics are like two parallel lines that have no
meeting point, they needed to tread with caution before and during the
election.
Now that the election had truly come and
gone, and a winner produced, we ought to be more concerned about way forward.
It’s not anymore news that after any election irrespective of its nature,
grievances must be harboured in some quarters whilst some would be seen
jubilating; hence, that of the Imo royal fathers wouldn’t be an exception. I’m
trying to say that I can’t be explicitly convinced that every member of that
union is currently pleased over the conduct cum outcome of the election.
Against this backdrop, I want to use
this medium to sincerely appeal to the aggrieved ones to sheath their sword
with a view to coming together as an indivisible family. We cannot fold our
arms and watch them argue or quarrel over electoral issues because certainly
such an altercation would bring a division among them. And acknowledging that
division would negatively affect the state either directly or indirectly, we
forbid such occurrence.
These traditional custodians must
comprehend that everyone is keenly watching them at such a critical time like
this, hence the need for them to respect their grey hairs. If there is any
dirty lily they have within them, it must be buried therein, thus shouldn’t be
exposed to the public. The state cannot afford to see anyone of them go to
court over an electoral case or any other matter whatsoever. The new leaders on
their part must equally extend an olive branch to everyone, particularly their
co-contestants.
Inter alia, as the new leadership
assumes duty, I enjoin them to passionately look into one particular anomaly I
have observed among the royal fathers. A situation whereby a traditional ruler
would reside abroad thereby allowing his palace to be manned by his Prime
Minister or Secretary is really an aberration that must be put to stop in
earnest. It’s no longer news that most of our royal fathers only go home when
there is a serious case to settle among his warring kinsmen. Funnily enough,
sometimes the dwellers in dispute would be invited to the city where the ruler
resides towards settling the case in question.
So as I congratulate the newly emerged
leadership of the union, I equally want them to know that it’s high time they
understood the reason they are called traditional rulers with a view to saving
their respective autonomous communities from any form of collapse or crisis.
Think about it!
Comrade FDN Nwaozor
Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri
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Twitter: @mediambassador
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