By Prince Walters Eziashi



It has become important that I let the world know the exact events in Idumuje-Ugboko, from 2015 to date, particularly due to the falsehoods the public had been fed with in the last few days through the social media particularly facebook. These falsehoods are the handiwork of certain individuals being recruited to smear the name of an illustrious son of Idumuje-Ugboko, Prince Ned Nwoko. The townsmen know that God has continued to use Ned Nwoko to put smiles on the faces of both the indigenes of Idumuje-Ugboko and mankind in general.

INTRODUCTION

Idumuje-Ugboko kingdom, in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, was founded by Nwoko and others who migrated from Idumuje-Uno. A chieftaincy tussle that erupted in the 18th Century AD brought about the migration. The kingdom shares borders with other villages, which are Ekpon, Ewohimi and Ohordua communities of Edo State in the north; Igbodo and Ummunede Communities, both located in Ika North-East L.G.A, in the west. On its south, the kingdom borders Onicha-Ugbo Community, in Aniocha North L.G.A, while sharing boundaries with Idumuje-Uno and Ugbodu communities in the east, both of which are in Aniocha North L.G.A, all in Delta State. Idumuje-Ugboko is made up of four (4) federating villages, namely Ogbe-Obi. Ogbe-Ofu, Atuma, and Onicha-Ukwu.

As regards its traditional institution, Idumuje-Ugboko is headed by a king, who is to supported by four traditional chiefs. These chiefs are Iyase-Onowu, from Atuma; Odogwu-Abi and Ozah-Okita, from Ogbe-Ofu; Isama-Akwe, from Ogbe-Obi, and Uwolo-Agba, from Onicha-Ukwu. Each of them representing the four villages earlier mentioned. Aside the chiefs, the king, in consultation with the royal family, may elect deserving individuals within or outside the kingdom to be part of his governing council.

The role of these principal chiefs are as follow: the Iyase is the traditional prime minister. He is also the mouthpiece of the Kingdom and head over the other chiefs. In this wise, the Iyase is the king’s second-in-command. On his part, the Odogwu is the traditional defense minister. The others, being Ozah, Isama, and Uwolo, hold their designated titles till their deaths, except they are found wanting and removed from their positions. And where they are accused of any misdeed, the chiefs are given a fair hearing to make a defence. Equally, Omu is regarded as the spiritual head of the all women in the town and she is usually addressed as Her Royal Highness. The holder of Omu traditional title is nominated by the people of Ogbe-Ofu subject to the approval of the king (obi). Aside this, the Omu has control over markets and resolves disputes among women in the town. The distribution of roles among the traditional title holders is to ensure smooth administration of the kingdom. More so, the town’s traditional institution has other coordinating structures and responsibilities assigned to them. One is the Onotu, (in charge of land and other related matters). Members of the Onotu include Iyase Odogwu, Ozah, Isama, Uwolo, and others who are nominated by chiefs and the Obi. Another is Dibie, which is headed by Eze-Dibie and saddled with the role of handling spiritual matters in the kingdom. The other is Ikpala, a group of red cap chiefs occupying privilege positions and being exempted from communal works. Also is the Development Union, which oversees developmental efforts in the community. The head of the union is addressed as President-General and has other members, who form the National Executive Committee. The union has branches anywhere indigenes of the kingdom reside around the world. These branches are headed by Branch Presidents. In addition, the town has a Land Allocation Committee, which is headed by the Iyase (traditional Prime Minister). He is assisted by other principal chiefs and representatives of the four federating villages. The committee allocates community land to anyone or corporate organisation that applies to build any structure for developmental purposes and upon verification of such application. The categories of projects allowed for this purpose include schools, factories, recreational facilities, hospitals.



As regards decision-making, the highest policy-making organ of the town is the Town General Assembly, otherwise known as Izu-Ani. This organ comprises the Obi, the five principal Chiefs, other chiefs, members and representatives of the four federating villages. While participation in the meetings of the assembly is open to everyone, only representatives of the federating villages are allowed to vote anytime a decision is to be taken. Furthermore, ad-hoc committees are set up for specific purposes, if the considered necessary. Also, the modus operandi within individual federating units is to appoint a head, known as Diokpa. He has the power to summon village meetings, after consulting with major chiefs from the village and also with the heads of Idumus (Quarters), known as Diokpala-Eboh.

In spite of its democratic structures, Idumuje-Ugboko has one king, whose heir apparent must not be seen nor heard while reign of his father-king lasts.


Read more here: http://www.societygists.com/2020/03/idumuje-ugboko-in-a-time-of-misinformation-facts-correct/[b][/b]

Walecoy write about what you know. Do not skew the facts because of a few pieces of bread.

Ned is an outcast and is using power to muscle up constituted authority. Arresting and locking up folks in Abuja.

REBUTTAL:
Dear Editor,
Please take a few moments to read my rebuttal to the above Headline and body story broadcast in your online medium Nairaland. "In A Time Of Misinformation, Facts Matter" is loaded with a childish defense of the indefensible. .
Perhaps, to understand how these shenanigans played out, let me present the Idumuje Ugboko’s case to you, backed with facts and credible sources that include Ned Nwoko’s stepfather, 93-year-old Pa Martin Nwoko.
In 2015, Ned Nwoko came to town and requested a meeting with elders of the Obi-In -Council, the governing body of Idumuje Ugboko traditional ethics. The elders agreed to his summon. Meanwhile, the Obi (King), His Royal Highness Albert Nwoko III instructed his younger brother, to represent him at the meeting. Please note that the King regarded Ned Nwoko as an illustrious son of the soil, hence his summon was respected.
The meeting was attended by Pa Martin Nwoko, the stepfather of Ned and the oldest Nwoko Family member, Engr Goode Omezi, Pa Emmanuel Ogbechi, John Ozah, Ikechukwu, Chris Ogwu, Prof Somayina Nwoko. At that meeting, Ned expressed his desire to build a Golf Course. He appealed to the elders to support his desire, pleaded for 99 hectares of land to build the proposed Golf Course.
Meanwhile, between 1999 and 2003, Ned Nwoko was a freshman Legislator, House of Reps. He used his influence as a Congressman to approach King Obi Albert Nwoko III. He informed the King of his desire to develop a Dairy Farm. He appealed for land to be given to him for the massive projects. His Royal Highness allegedly portioned 33 hectares (81.5 Acres ) of land from the town’s designated Commercial prime land area, to Nwoko. The first Dairy Farm in Aniocha Local Government.
During the meeting, the Crowned Prince, Justin Chukwunonso Nwoko informed elders that his father would not give further portions of land to Ned. The king, through his son, said that Ned was given 33 hectares of land earlier to develop a Dairy farm but had not actualized his imaginations of a dairy farm, so he could not in good conscience allow Ned another 99 Hectares of land when he had not developed an earlier 33 hectares were given to him. The King advised Ned then to go and develop the land already allocated to him, then he could come back after the land had initiated its reasons for the acquisition. The elders supported the King’s decision. The support angered Ned. How dared the Obi would say no to him?. He also raged at the Crowned prince for representing and delivering the message from his father.
Subsequently, Ned Nwoko began to nurse the clandestine plan for the King and his kingdom. He, alongside Prince Akaba Nwoko forged the King and the palace’s letterhead on a print paper. They used the forged official documents to produce a bogus proposal of their Golf Course to be submitted to the Idumuje Ugboko Development Union, in attempts to circumvent the King’s traditional powers. The dubious duo thought that the sick sage traditional ruler and institution, battered by old age and illness would unconsciously sign the forged document. King Albert was underestimated. Even in his state and on his sickbed, he was able to find out that Ned and his cohorts were undermining the Kingdom with their desperate forged documents. He was furious that Ned Nwoko would stoop so low and unintelligent to forge the letterhead and his signature on a dubious document. From his sickbed, King Albert Nwoko banished Ned Nwoko from his palace, effective immediately, then.
Ned, angered by the King’s rejection and humiliation, decided to go after Lion's cob, the crowned Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko. He vowed to his base that he would disrupt the ascension of the crowned prince at the right time. The king was dying. He knew that. So he waited patiently for the king to eternally exit planet earth.
King Albert Nwoko III died on February 6th, 2017. The town had to mourn their beloved great leader. They celebrated him with dignified burial. A few weeks after the burial Ned Nwoko activated his plans to deny the crowned prince his rights as the next King of Idumuje Ugboko.Ned found the right opportunity to torment, the Prince, the Obi-In-Council and the town. Ascension of the throne became a crisis. With his money and a team of loyalists, Ned Nwoko assaulted a hereditary tradition of the monarchy by sponsoring chaos, fueling desecration of a dear native land and the kingship institution, divided the town along with his pleasure and financial wealth. What did Idumuje Ugboko do to their own son, Ned? Nothing. The late King only told him to develop the 33 hectares of land he was given, first, before he could return to ask for more lands. That was Idumuje Ugboko’s crime. The King said no to a narcissistic land grabber and he let it rain on the King’s parade with his fury and violence.
He attempted to sponsor the younger son, Uche Nwoko, to the throne. But the town pushed back. Idumuje Ugboko indigenes would not support that abomination on an existing ancient tradition of their homeland. Ned wanted to rewrite history to please his desire.

Ned decided that the courts would be his best chances to overturn royalty. He was rich, well connected, influential and with massive affluence. So he went to court, first accusing the Crowned Prince of killing Late King Albert Nwoko, the Prince’ father, then filed another lawsuit alleging that Prince Chukwunonso drove his estranged father’s wife from the Kingdom. Ned Nwoko was desperately seeking the law by any means necessary. He would spray and spread his wealth and cash at any indigene that smiled at him or was subservient to his intents and purposes. His cash became his recruitment enticement to his thug life. In a few instances, he succeeded: at least he got the former president of Idumuje Ugboko Development Union, Walter Eziashi( One of the authors of the garbage I am rebutting) to write a petition against the Prince, alleging that Prince Chukwunonso forged his father’s signature. That junkyard attempt couldn't get mileage for him.
Ned Nwoko would come to town in convoys, protected by Nigeria Police sent from Abuja; he would hold secret meetings in Idumuje Ugboko; recruited village destitute, vulnerable and the deplorable, organized them, provided them with meager financial supports to carry out his clandestine deadly destructions and disturbances. Their responsibilities included absolute loyalty to Ned Nwoko, create chaos, confusion and deadly confrontation with those who resisted Ned.
Ned Nwoko appointed Chukwuma Nwoko as the Commander of his field of destruction. Their mission was to create mayhem in that town, violently disrupt traditional engagements of the newly coronated King Chukwunonso Nwoko, target the palace for desecration and violence. So in 2017, Nwoko’s hoodlums brazenly attacked the palace during a traditional ceremony. That attack was destructive and deadly. The thugs carried out their mission as designed by Ned Nwoko. A few days later, The Police raided the town, arrested innocent men.
The raid of the town continued daily. Ned Nwoko allegedly financed the apartheid-like kidnappings, disappearances and intimidations of Idumuje Ugboko men who protested the destruction and phony purchases of lands in the kingdom. At odd times, Armed Policemen allegedly ambushed these men or invaded their homes to arrest them, discharged guns inside the premises of these men, police were escorted to the operations by the loyalists of Ned. These men were humiliated before their children and family, violated their humanity, violently assaulted them with batons and threatened to shoot to kill any man that resisted the arrests. The Police officers allegedly claimed that they were executing outstanding terrorism warrants. These men would be blindfolded, near-naked, handcuffed and thrown in the back of Police patrol van and be driven in the heat of the nights, along with dangerous parts, to Abuja. The costs of the operations are allegedly paid for by Ned Nwoko. Most of these men are still inside the Force CID headquarters Gariki Abuja since their arrests. They have spent between 5 months and 3 years without due process.
These men are still waiting for due process. Editor, please if you think these are long gossips, assign your reporters to visit Idumuje Ugboko and Abuja CID headquarters where these men have been detained for more than two years. What are their crimes?.
I do not wish to waste your time by responding to Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko’s every line of unimpressed defense of his slave master. I am only disappointed that Nigerians may never experience the true functions and ideals of Human rights organizations with the likes of Onwubiko parading themselves as “Human Rights Writers and Activists”. That is a meal ticket for them and they go for the highest bidder, in this case, Ned Nwoko has the dough, so Emmanuel Onwubiko has the show, hence this nonsense.
I have no dogs in this fight but truth and justice.I have spent nearly six months investigating these atrocities. My dog is Truth Matters...My conclusions are thus: Can Ned Nwoko, as a Bini man issue a Terrorism or any Warrant on the Oba of Benin, or on the Oni of Ife as an Ife Indigene or to the Obi of Onitsha as an Onitsha Indigene.
I noticed that you did not in any way publish our campaigns for justice with our narratives. But you obliged Emmanuel Onwubiko and Eziashi unedited space to react to our campaigns not published in this medium. I would hope, for the integrity of your online publication and the interest of journalism, you would oblige our rebuttal the same privilege given these men. I await their second installment. Thank you
Azuka Jebose

azukaJ:
REBUTTAL:
Dear Editor,
Please take a few moments to read my rebuttal to the above Headline and body story broadcast in your online medium Nairaland. "In A Time Of Misinformation, Facts Matter" is loaded with a childish defense of the indefensible. .
Perhaps, to understand how these shenanigans played out, let me present the Idumuje Ugboko’s case to you, backed with facts and credible sources that include Ned Nwoko’s stepfather, 93-year-old Pa Martin Nwoko.
In 2015, Ned Nwoko came to town and requested a meeting with elders of the Obi-In -Council, the governing body of Idumuje Ugboko traditional ethics. The elders agreed to his summon. Meanwhile, the Obi (King), His Royal Highness Albert Nwoko III instructed his younger brother, to represent him at the meeting. Please note that the King regarded Ned Nwoko as an illustrious son of the soil, hence his summon was respected.
The meeting was attended by Pa Martin Nwoko, the stepfather of Ned and the oldest Nwoko Family member, Engr Goode Omezi, Pa Emmanuel Ogbechi, John Ozah, Ikechukwu, Chris Ogwu, Prof Somayina Nwoko. At that meeting, Ned expressed his desire to build a Golf Course. He appealed to the elders to support his desire, pleaded for 99 hectares of land to build the proposed Golf Course.
Meanwhile, between 1999 and 2003, Ned Nwoko was a freshman Legislator, House of Reps. He used his influence as a Congressman to approach King Obi Albert Nwoko III. He informed the King of his desire to develop a Dairy Farm. He appealed for land to be given to him for the massive projects. His Royal Highness allegedly portioned 33 hectares (81.5 Acres ) of land from the town’s designated Commercial prime land area, to Nwoko. The first Dairy Farm in Aniocha Local Government.
During the meeting, the Crowned Prince, Justin Chukwunonso Nwoko informed elders that his father would not give further portions of land to Ned. The king, through his son, said that Ned was given 33 hectares of land earlier to develop a Dairy farm but had not actualized his imaginations of a dairy farm, so he could not in good conscience allow Ned another 99 Hectares of land when he had not developed an earlier 33 hectares were given to him. The King advised Ned then to go and develop the land already allocated to him, then he could come back after the land had initiated its reasons for the acquisition. The elders supported the King’s decision. The support angered Ned. How dared the Obi would say no to him?. He also raged at the Crowned prince for representing and delivering the message from his father.
Subsequently, Ned Nwoko began to nurse the clandestine plan for the King and his kingdom. He, alongside Prince Akaba Nwoko forged the King and the palace’s letterhead on a print paper. They used the forged official documents to produce a bogus proposal of their Golf Course to be submitted to the Idumuje Ugboko Development Union, in attempts to circumvent the King’s traditional powers. The dubious duo thought that the sick sage traditional ruler and institution, battered by old age and illness would unconsciously sign the forged document. King Albert was underestimated. Even in his state and on his sickbed, he was able to find out that Ned and his cohorts were undermining the Kingdom with their desperate forged documents. He was furious that Ned Nwoko would stoop so low and unintelligent to forge the letterhead and his signature on a dubious document. From his sickbed, King Albert Nwoko banished Ned Nwoko from his palace, effective immediately, then.
Ned, angered by the King’s rejection and humiliation, decided to go after Lion's cob, the crowned Prince Chukwunonso Nwoko. He vowed to his base that he would disrupt the ascension of the crowned prince at the right time. The king was dying. He knew that. So he waited patiently for the king to eternally exit planet earth.
King Albert Nwoko III died on February 6th, 2017. The town had to mourn their beloved great leader. They celebrated him with dignified burial. A few weeks after the burial Ned Nwoko activated his plans to deny the crowned prince his rights as the next King of Idumuje Ugboko.Ned found the right opportunity to torment, the Prince, the Obi-In-Council and the town. Ascension of the throne became a crisis. With his money and a team of loyalists, Ned Nwoko assaulted a hereditary tradition of the monarchy by sponsoring chaos, fueling desecration of a dear native land and the kingship institution, divided the town along with his pleasure and financial wealth. What did Idumuje Ugboko do to their own son, Ned? Nothing. The late King only told him to develop the 33 hectares of land he was given, first, before he could return to ask for more lands. That was Idumuje Ugboko’s crime. The King said no to a narcissistic land grabber and he let it rain on the King’s parade with his fury and violence.
He attempted to sponsor the younger son, Uche Nwoko, to the throne. But the town pushed back. Idumuje Ugboko indigenes would not support that abomination on an existing ancient tradition of their homeland. Ned wanted to rewrite history to please his desire.

Ned decided that the courts would be his best chances to overturn royalty. He was rich, well connected, influential and with massive affluence. So he went to court, first accusing the Crowned Prince of killing Late King Albert Nwoko, the Prince’ father, then filed another lawsuit alleging that Prince Chukwunonso drove his estranged father’s wife from the Kingdom. Ned Nwoko was desperately seeking the law by any means necessary. He would spray and spread his wealth and cash at any indigene that smiled at him or was subservient to his intents and purposes. His cash became his recruitment enticement to his thug life. In a few instances, he succeeded: at least he got the former president of Idumuje Ugboko Development Union, Walter Eziashi( One of the authors of the garbage I am rebutting) to write a petition against the Prince, alleging that Prince Chukwunonso forged his father’s signature. That junkyard attempt couldn't get mileage for him.
Ned Nwoko would come to town in convoys, protected by Nigeria Police sent from Abuja; he would hold secret meetings in Idumuje Ugboko; recruited village destitute, vulnerable and the deplorable, organized them, provided them with meager financial supports to carry out his clandestine deadly destructions and disturbances. Their responsibilities included absolute loyalty to Ned Nwoko, create chaos, confusion and deadly confrontation with those who resisted Ned.
Ned Nwoko appointed Chukwuma Nwoko as the Commander of his field of destruction. Their mission was to create mayhem in that town, violently disrupt traditional engagements of the newly coronated King Chukwunonso Nwoko, target the palace for desecration and violence. So in 2017, Nwoko’s hoodlums brazenly attacked the palace during a traditional ceremony. That attack was destructive and deadly. The thugs carried out their mission as designed by Ned Nwoko. A few days later, The Police raided the town, arrested innocent men.
The raid of the town continued daily. Ned Nwoko allegedly financed the apartheid-like kidnappings, disappearances and intimidations of Idumuje Ugboko men who protested the destruction and phony purchases of lands in the kingdom. At odd times, Armed Policemen allegedly ambushed these men or invaded their homes to arrest them, discharged guns inside the premises of these men, police were escorted to the operations by the loyalists of Ned. These men were humiliated before their children and family, violated their humanity, violently assaulted them with batons and threatened to shoot to kill any man that resisted the arrests. The Police officers allegedly claimed that they were executing outstanding terrorism warrants. These men would be blindfolded, near-naked, handcuffed and thrown in the back of Police patrol van and be driven in the heat of the nights, along with dangerous parts, to Abuja. The costs of the operations are allegedly paid for by Ned Nwoko. Most of these men are still inside the Force CID headquarters Gariki Abuja since their arrests. They have spent between 5 months and 3 years without due process.
These men are still waiting for due process. Editor, please if you think these are long gossips, assign your reporters to visit Idumuje Ugboko and Abuja CID headquarters where these men have been detained for more than two years. What are their crimes?.
I do not wish to waste your time by responding to Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko’s every line of unimpressed defense of his slave master. I am only disappointed that Nigerians may never experience the true functions and ideals of Human rights organizations with the likes of Onwubiko parading themselves as “Human Rights Writers and Activists”. That is a meal ticket for them and they go for the highest bidder, in this case, Ned Nwoko has the dough, so Emmanuel Onwubiko has the show, hence this nonsense.
I have no dogs in this fight but truth and justice.I have spent nearly six months investigating these atrocities. My dog is Truth Matters...My conclusions are thus: Can Ned Nwoko, as a Bini man issue a Terrorism or any Warrant on the Oba of Benin, or on the Oni of Ife as an Ife Indigene or to the Obi of Onitsha as an Onitsha Indigene.
I noticed that you did not in any way publish our campaigns for justice with our narratives. But you obliged Emmanuel Onwubiko and Eziashi unedited space to react to our campaigns not published in this medium. I would hope, for the integrity of your online publication and the interest of journalism, you would oblige our rebuttal the same privilege given these men. I await their second installment. Thank you
Azuka Jebose

So ned is a Benin man disturbing the peace of the community.