A row has broken out among members of Igbo community in Ghana over planned installation of an Eze Ndi Igbo in the former Gold Coast. Interestingly, two dates; September 9 and September 15, have been slated for the coronation of two rival aspirants. And these contestants' lore is a thriller, brimming with intrigue, complacency, obduracy, dynamism and antagonism; all rolled into one. Seeking to be crowned as Eze Ndi Igbo in Ghana on September 9, is Chief Geoffrey Nmuokwougwo alias Ichie Gburugburu, immediate-past president of Igbo Community in Ghana.


On the other hand, arrangements have also been concluded for the coronation of Chief Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu as Eze Ndi Igbo in Ghana on September 15. Billed to take place at Efua Sutherland Park, Ihenetu's coronation is an elaborate four-day affair interspersed with a lecture, New Yam Festival, display of Igbo cuisine, Igbo traditional dances and costumes as well as a pageant to pick Ada-Igbo Beauty Queen, among others.


Speaking with Travels in Accra, Chief Ihenetu enthusiastically declared that numerous social and political heavyweights, both Ghanaians and Nigerians, have accepted his invitation to grace the occasion with their presence. This should not come as a surprise, for Ihenetu said he is Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ghana Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and also the founder of Ambassadors' Club of Nigeria in Ghana.


However, where both coronation ceremonies take place, Igbo people in Ghana would have two kings, which naturally prompts the question: Can a ship have two captains? Interestingly, even as the issue of whether any of the two known aspirants is actually qualified was still being considered, more and more Igbos in Ghana were also warming up to be crowned Eze Igbo there. If allowed to continue, the situation could snowball into one with "More Chiefs than Indians" and this, probably, informed the decision by some respectable Igbo elders to wade in, to avert confusion.


This group of Nigerian elders and technocrats, living in Ghana for decades, is anxious to alert the world that they have no hands in what one septuagenarian described as "an attempt to create confusion". But, before Travels eventually encountered 11 of these established community leaders at a roundtable inside Paloma Hotel, Accra; we were treated to a primer inside a suite at Golden Oyster Hotel located in the Caprice neighbourhood of Kokomlemle in the Ghanaian capital. Apart from the 11 elders and leaders, who described themselves as Patrons; Travels also engaged Chief Hyacinth Nwoke, Chairman of Igbo Community in Tamale in a telephone conversation on the issue. Speaking during the preamble, before we set out for Paloma Hotel, venue of the roundtable proper; Hon. Joseph Obi, who is Asante Region President-elect of All Nigerians Community Union and 2nd Vice Chairman of Nigerian Union of Traders in Ghana (NUTAG); was keen to emphasise that the issue of a king for Igbo community in Ghana "is not our priority, now".


Chief Nwoke, Igbo Leader in Tamale, expressed similar sentiment. Also at the roundtable, aside Hon Obi, a former President of Nigerian Youth Association (NYA); were: Chief Onyema Ndaraku, incumbent President, Igbo Community in Ghana; Sir Raphael Nwosu, an alumnus of University of Ibadan who has been living in Ghana since 1967; Sir Festus Onyeaghala; Dim Ikenna Molokwu, an ex-President of NYA and currently, NYA Patron for Asante Region; Chief John Chukwu Okorie, President of Igbo Community in Kumasi; Chief Felix Egbochukwu, NYA Life Patron; Chief Edwin O. Odumodu; Prince Emmanuel Okeson; Mr. Benson Chika Okorie; and, Chief Francis Okoro. At these elders' and leaders' forum, everyone seemed to agree that; though the primary concern of all Igbo living in Ghana was their economic interest, it might not be a bad idea to have an Igbo king as a rallying point for the preservation of Igbo culture. However, the forum was unanimous that the current timing for coronation of an Eze ndi Igbo in Ghana was wrong.


Hear Mr. Okorie, a medical equipment merchant resident in Ghana since 1978: "We deserve to have a traditional leader, but; whoever wants to mount the saddle must meet certain criteria. Such a person must be law-abiding, and an active member of Igbo community in Ghana. The aspirant must be a personality known to all Igbos in Ghana. But, as of now; we don't have enough information on any aspirant. So, I'm against coronation of anyone as Eze ndi Igbo in Ghana; for now". Echoing similar reservation; Prince Okeson, resident in Ghana since 1985; declared: "I think Igbos should have a king in Ghana; after all, Hausa and Yoruba have their king here.


However, I am against any coronation now because the timing is simply not right". In the same vein, Chief Odumodu said: "For now, we don't need any eze because there are other more-pressing matters to address". On his part, Sir Onyeaghala opined: "I don't think kingship is our problem here. For now, there are more important causes to address. If, in the future; our people want an Eze ndi Igbo in Ghana, then they could have one.


For now, however, an Eze ndi Igbo in Ghana is the least of our needs". Further buttressing this position, Sir Raphael submitted: "With my 45-years' experience living in Ghana, I will not back any Eze ndi Igbo throne here, for now". But, when asked what time the installation of an Igbo king in Ghana could be considered auspicious in their opinion, none of these leaders was forthcoming with any future date, year or decade, even.


And, this lacuna would be seized upon by Chief Ihenetu and his protagonists. Hear the quip of Mr. Kelechukwu Ike, fondly called KK: "Even if these elders have all the time in the world; they may never come up with any king". Those who hold this view were quick to point out that for over half a century, opponents of any coronation never thought it necessary to have an Eze; therefore, even if "they (elders and patrons) are given another millennium, we will still not have an eze"; rued KK, who is author of a book on Nigeria, entitled, Where do we go from 50. In any case, the elders were keen to emphasise that they are not against any of the aspirants. In this regard, elders reminded that Igbos living in Ghana had other priorities. Perhaps, most pressing of all the challenges they face is the issue of registration of their businesses, over which the shops of countless Igbo merchants had been shut across Ghana in the last three years.

Continue reading story here.....http://odili.net/news/source/2012/sep/6/513.html

All these half-educated, money-miss road traders should stop messing around with Igbo virtues.

hungry people seeking relevance. what eze are they talking about

ojiofogana: hungry people seeking relevance. what eze are they talking about

Hungry people? The poorest among them could probably buy your house 5 times over plus everything that's in it.

Everyone wants to make themselves relevant. Eze ndi igbo of ghana? which one be that? mtchewww